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
-- Naturally, any of us would have done the same, and this is where we find him
- Fact: Meditation and prayer always draws us closer to God
-- Psalm 19:14, “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.”
- Why? Because it is there that we find comfort, rest, and assurance for tomorrow
-- John 15:7, “But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted!”
-- TR: So, when God appears to Abraham, how do he respond?
Point 3 – Abraham served and met the needs of the men
- We are not sure how Abraham knew this was the Lord, but He knew it
• Perhaps it is the promise reiterated in v10 about him having a son?
• Perhaps they appeared in shimmering clothes?
• Perhaps it was just their very presence that radiated the love of God?
- Either way, Abraham took off at breakneck speed to run and meet these men
-- He bowed before them, taking on the position of a humble servant
-- RE: Abraham is a powerful sheik: owned land, livestock, great wealth
-- But here, we see him take on a humbler role vs. “Get off my lawn …”
- Then, he calls out to Sarah to begin to prepare a meal for these men
-- He chooses the finest young calf, and even does the cooking himself
-- And he becomes personally involved by serving the men the meal himself
- Don’t miss this: Abraham does NOT sit down to join them in eating!
-- He takes on the role of a servant, allowing the men to enjoy while he serves
-- It’s the ultimate act of servanthood – to serve God with your very best
- That is what we see Abraham do, and why we need to live this lesson today
-- Jesus even gives us this gem: Luke 22:27, “Who is more important, the one who sits at the table or the one who serves? The one who sits at the table, of course. But not here! For I am among you as one who serves.”
-- RE: What did Jesus come to do? Not to be served, but to serve!
- TR: How can they, and we, see the next steps to being a friend of God?
-- Hang with me, and prayerfully we’ll have something to consider this week
Point 4 – Abraham and Sarah had to conquer unbelief
- We can draw closer to being a friend of God by believing what He has said
-- It is in that we find comfort, and joy, and peace to go on
- The men asked about Sarah, specifically, “Where is Sarah, your wife?” (v9)
-- Then the Lord repeated the promise that Abraham has received several times
-- In a year’s time, a son will be born to Sarah – and now she hears it specifically
-- RE: Before the promise was given to Abraham only, and now she was hearing it
- RE: This is what got her thinking about Haggar and Abraham having a child
-- She wasn’t sure of God’s promise, so in impatience she tried to help God out
-- But now she is hearing for herself what God’s promise is
- The challenge though … is one that we all face … it’s a matter of unbelief
- Becoming a friend of God means that we conquer unbelief once and for all
-- We must assert that God knows - God cares - and lean to Him for our strength
- The causes of unbelief are seen clearly – especially within Sarah:
1. Humanly speaking, childbirth was nearly impossible right now
a. Abraham is 100, Sarah is now 90
b. Laughable as it is, this is just not feasible. (see v12)
2. Sarah allowed negative thoughts to enter her mind – this causes her to laugh
a. See this: It is a laugh of unbelief, of certainty in God’s foolishness
b. She did not belief God could do this, and her thoughts were rebellious
c. Get this: Mary didn’t believe God either - she too focused on biology
d. Sarah is no different, having the same thoughts (she’s also human)
- But, naturally, the answer to unbelief is straight forward:
1. God’s omniscience
a. God knew that Sarah laughed privately to herself
b. RE: (doubting) Thomas had the same problem … he wouldn’t believe
c. And when he spoke, Jesus called him out on it when He appeared
d. God did the very same thing to Sarah and to Abraham (omniscience)
2. God’s omnipotence
a. He has the power to do all things! (v14)
b. The disciples also challenged this too: Matthew 19:26, “Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible.”
c. This was in response to who can be saved, who can be redeemed!
- See this: The cost of unbelief now has Sarah lying to Abraham, and to God
-- What God was doing was calling Sarah to repent - to confess her sin
-- This is exactly what He does for you and me today
- He calls us to confess, to draw closer to Him, to seek His strength (be a friend)
-- Sarah could overcome unbelief if she confessed and sought God’s forgiveness
- Unbelief will always keep us from trusting and drawing closer to God
-- It is here, even in the life of the great Abraham, that we must see our need also
- We need to confess that God is supreme, that God can overcome
-- And we must realize that because He is all-powerful, everything is possible
-- The challenge, just like we saw last time, was patience and belief in Him
-- This is how we draw closer and truly become a friend of God!
- CH: Are you willing to surrender your wants for His provisions?
- Pray
