The Friend of God
Genesis 12:1-3
For the last two and a half years, NMBC has been the most blessed church in SW MS—we’ve had Philip Alford as our Minister of Music. During this time, Philip has become very special to all of us there as he has been to so many of you for so long. He as been the object of many a joke, and he has tried to tell a few of his own. But as we all know, sometimes Philip has a little trouble with the punch lines of those he tries to tell. In fact, Philip when to Angola with me one day and he heard the inmates shout out a number and all of them would laugh. This went on for some time and Philip asked one of them what they were doing. He told him that they had heard all the jokes so often that they had numbered all the jokes and when they wished to tell one they just called out the number and everyone would have a good laugh. He encouraged Philip to just call out a number and he did-15. No one laughed. The inmate said that that one wasn’t very funny and told him to call out a higher number—a newer joke, so to speak. Philip called out 76, still no one laughed. Philip tried several others, but he kept getting the same response. Finally, one of the inmates stood up and said, “Some can tell them and some can’t.”
We haven’t come here tonight to roast Philip, so let’s move on. In our text tonight we have the story of Abram, more readily known as Abraham, the friend of God. In Isaiah 41:8, God refers to him as such. Jesus called His disciples “friends” and we can also we Friends of God if we follow the example of Abraham.
First, the friend of God lives his life in such a way that he is pleasing to God.
A. Hebrews 11:6—without faith it is impossible to please God.
B. Abraham believed God and it was reckoned to him as righteousness—Genesis 15:6
C. Abraham was not always a God follower—at one time he was an idol worshipper—Joshua 24:2
D. But, when God spoke to him, he had a change, and though he was not perfect—he lied at least twice about Sarah being his sister to save his own neck—Abraham lived his life by faith.
E. That’s why he is known as the father of the faithful and three religions consider him as their spiritual patriarch.
F. But how about us? Is your number one goal in life to please God or self? Two weeks ago I challenged the members of NMBC to start each day by praying, not the prayer of Jabez or anything like it, but to simply say to God, “I want to be pleasing to you today with my life.”
G. I believe that if we determine that our number one goal is to please God with lives, then every other aspect of our walk will fall into place.
H. Will we fail, occasionally. But do we stop trying, no. Abraham was called the friend of God because he lived a life of faith which was pleasing to God.
I. Will that be your number one goal in life? I’m sure that it is Philip’s.
Second, the friend of God hears God’s voice.
A. It is unfortunate that two many of God’s people are like old Boudreaux who went to the doctor complaining about his wife’s hearing. Marie said, “Boudreaux, for the third time we having chicken and dirty rice.”
B. To hear properly, our spiritual hears, first must be turned on by faith and then tuned into the proper frequency.
C. There are many sound waves bouncing all around us here tonight, and if you can hear me, then your physical ears are tuned into the proper frequency so to speak. It’s like your car radio, you’ve tuned into your favorite station and your listening to your favorite song, and then it starts to fade and become distorted. Why? It’s because you gotten out of range.
D. The friend of God, not only has his spiritual ears tuned into the proper frequency, but he doesn’t let temptation and sin lead him out of range.
E. The friend of God is tuned into God all the time. God’s voice only gets distorted when we are in sin.
F. Now there are two kinds of calls on a person’s life—the universal call to salvation and ministry and then the special call to a special ministry, and we’ll see in a moment that there are two options that we have in responding to these calls. We can hear, heed and heel or we can hear, reject and run.—Dog training illus.
Third, the friend of God responds positively to God’s call.
A. Now let’s return Abram—in verse 4 we have his response—So Abram went forth—there’s no discussion, there’s no decision that has to be pondered and prayed over.
B. He heard God’s call, he heeded the words, and he heeled—he followed without question.
C. How do we respond today? Now, I’m talking to those who have been dealing with a unique call to a unique ministry—not the universal call to salvation.
D. We usually respond a little differently than did Abram—we’re not as quick as Abram was, maybe not as sure of the voice of God calling us.
E. Sometimes we are not as quick because we are reluctant, as Moses was—as I was—we’d rather let someone else do it.
F. Sometimes we are very stubborn and we dig our heels into the ground and we start negotiating with God.
G. Not yet God—let me finish school—one of the ones I’ve heard most often, especially dealing with those who have been called later in life—let us get the kids grown and gone. I don’t want to leave my family—look what God said to Abram—12:1
H. However, we don’t have that luxury—when we hear God’s call, we must heed and heel or else be the most miserable people on the planet. I know I was for 1.5 years. I ran—I didn’t try to negotiate—I just refused.
I. Abram went forth as the Lord had spoken to him. How about you? Has God spoken to you, to your mate and you’ve refused or tried to negotiate with God?
J. Hear, heed, and heel—it is the greatest reward you’ll ever receive in this lifetime—being obedient to God’s call to a specific ministry.
Finally, the friend of God is a blessing to others.
A. This is one our boy Philip has no problems with—Three times God says that He would bless others because of Abram—what a promise—what a reward—sometimes in ministry we may not feel like we’ve been a blessing, but God promised Abram and I believe it applies to those in ministry today—he uses us to bless others.
B. Turn to Psalm 1:3 and let’s look and what I believe to be the best illustration of what “being a blessing” is that’s found in the Old Testament.
C. Here’s the psalmist declares that we have been firmly planted by streams of water—that is the happy man—it is the passive voice in the Hebrew which means that someone else has done the action upon us—God has planted us into his kingdom by faith in Christ, therefore we will yield our fruits in the proper season, our leaves will never wither and here it is—and in whatever he does, he prospers—literally it means and what ever he does, he causes to be better.
D. The friend of God, by his hearing and obedience to God’s call, therefore becomes, in God’s hand, an instrument of blessing to others.
E. Friends, do you think Abram fully understood the impact his obedience would have on the entire world when he left Haran?
F. Neither do we know what lives we will touch and how those lives will impact the future.
The friend of God, therefore lives his life in such a way that is pleasing to God. He hears the voice of God and he responds positively to it and becomes a blessing to others. Without any doubt, I believe that Philip Alford is such a man—Philip, in all sincerity, I know that God has called you and I pray that you will continue to be the blessing to others as you have been to me. God Bless you.
