How Can We Be A Friend Of God? Series

Alpha and Omega, Part 21

How can we be a friend of God?

Genesis 18:1-15

Introduction

- 2023 has had one primary “purpose”: To know there is a God!

-- Continuing our series, “Alpha and Omega”; examining the beginning to the end

- Last time we examined the roots of impatience and how it can affect us all

-- We looked at the causes, the consequences, and the solution to impatience

-- BIG APP: We must go before God and confront our sin; we must repent!

-- Simple question to ask God around this is, “What have I done?”

- Bottom line … We must obey God by being patient …

-- Even when the times are tough, and we feel like God should act … must wait!

- Today, we are going to examine the importance of being a friend of God

-- Abraham was truly a man who sought the Lord, and hopefully we’ll see this

Let’s dive in … Read Genesis 18:1-15 / Pray

- One of the greatest challenges we face today is growing closer to God

-- Yes, it is possible to have a more intimate relationship with a holy God

-- It is possible to call upon Him as your Friend, your Provider, as your Strength

- What gets us in trouble is not following Him, or not drawing closer to Him

- Now, it is not all bad, some do treat God with respect and reverence

-- But there are many who look at God as one to be occasionally close to

-- Abraham desired to be close to God; it burned in Him actually

-- And this passage is exactly about that intimacy

- Prayerfully you’ll hold on with me to the end

-- Yes, it is a familiar story, but I’d like us to see the deeper implications here

-- See this: God’s word gives us more than realize; gives us exactly what we need!

Point 1 – God appeared and sought Abraham’s friendship

- How do we become a friend of God? Know that God seeks our friendship!

-- It was the Lord Himself who appeared and sought Abraham’s friendship (v1)

-- Scripture uses the word “friend” to describe this relationship

- Abraham is called a friend of God in three places in scripture:

• Josephat said in one of his prayers: 2 Chron 20:7, “O our God, did you not drive out those who lived in this land when your people Israel arrived? And did you not give this land forever to the descendants of your friend Abraham?”

• God said it to Israel: Isaiah 41:8, “But as for you, Israel my servant, Jacob my chosen one, descended from Abraham my friend.”

• James referred to this relationship also: James 2:23, “And so it happened just as the Scriptures say: “Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.” He was even called the friend of God.”

- Jesus deliberately called us His friends IF we would do what He says

-- John 15:14-15, “You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me.”

- The Lord appeared to Abraham to strengthen their relationship

-- Why? Because God desires a closer walk with His creation

-- It is what we have studied for 20+ weeks now … He does this for us!

- What God wished for Abraham, He also wishes for you, to have a relationship

-- To have that close tie that is more than a casual knowledge

-- Rather, it becomes the most important relationship that we have

- This appearing in v1 shows that – God came down to be a part of Abraham’s day

-- The Hebrew word used here is Yahweh, the Lord, God in His person

-- Some have suggested this is a pre-incarnate Jesus, but isn’t that (He) also God?

-- Scripture is clear … the Lord appeared – Abraham was personally visited

-- By whom is not up for debate – it affirms that God was personally invested

- TR: How can we become a friend of God? Spending time with Him!

-- Look how Abraham was found spending his time in the heat of the day

Point 2 – Abraham sat, bowed his head, and meditated

- We see that Abraham was taking a break from the heat of the day

-- And when He looked up, He saw three men standing nearby where he was

-- The implication here is that Abraham was deep in thought, pondering, resting

- Having received the news a short while ago that Ishmael is not the promised seed

-- I am certain this was on his mind, and he would often be found in prayer