Sermon Tone Analysis

*01-GENESIS 18:17* \\ \\ Date: 3~/20~/1990 \\ Keywords: Abraham, faith, friend, Intercession, obedience, prayer, relationship, revelation \\ \\ 3~/20~/1990 \\ 18:17 \\ \\ "And the LORD said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do..." \\ \\ And the LORD said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do; seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him?

For I have chosen Him in order that he would (NAS & NKJ) command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him."

\\ \\ Abraham was called the friend of God.

God initiated the friendship.

He called the man, visited him at various times, made promises to him and kept those promises.

Of course Abraham responded by believing and obeying.

\\ Friendship is defined here as revealing one's self to another with the appropriate response being made to the revelation.

That is, God told Abraham what was going on and Abraham responded by intercession for the people in the cities that faced destruction.

\\ A few centuries later, God again talked about this with His people: John 15:14-16 "Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.

Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.

Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and [that] your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you."

\\ illustrating the same principles of friendship with God as in Genesis.

\\ OBEDIENCE: those who are friends of God do whatever God asks them to do.

\\ REVELATION: God gives insight into His work to those who are His friends.

\\ PURPOSE: This relationship exists in order that lasting fruit may come from it.

\\ In other words, God does not cozy up to certain people just so they may feel good about having Him for a buddy.

He opens up His truth to them so they will respond in obedience and bear fruit in keeping with what He has shown them about His plans.

\\ I'm not sure this means a general revelation to all believers regarding His purposes for the ages, the return of Christ and so on, or a specific kind of revelation such as the specific destruction of cities whose people are flagrantly disobedient and in great need of intercession.

It seems that those who need prayer are so very obviously in need that their situation hardly merits a special revealing from God. \\ There are times when faith tells me a thing is secure.

Last time I prayed for Scott to get a job, my heart knew I had only to ask once.

It was as good as done.

God showed me what He would do by that assurance.

This year, I don't know as I did then, at least not specifically and with the same kind of assurance.

I feel I am out of touch with God's plans for Scott.

\\ Does that mean that I am no longer a friend of God?

Or does it mean that my knowing will not significantly contribute fruit to the plan?

In either case, my obedience needs checking and my faith still needs to be in the One who makes the decisions whether or not to let me in on His plans.

\\ APPLY: Keep on drawing near to God.

Pray specifically regarding that which I have been privy to and allow God to be God, not demand or lament concerning the things I don't know about His plans.

There is so much out there that is a concern: the political state of our nation, the events in Europe, the moral decay throughout the world, and the state of the church (we have almost become invisible).

\\ The general revelation is in His Word.

And the specifics are up to Him.

Of note is the underlined scripture.

God made Himself known in order that His servant COULD obey.

There is a sense of helplessness when I realize that even as I desire to be in the know and in harmony with God, even that depends so much on His will, not mine.

I cannot MAKE it happen apart from His grace.

\\ Lord, grant to me the knowledge of You that will change my life.

It isn't just that I need you, even though that is so very true... but that there is a world out there in great need of intercession.

Most of the time I do not know how to pray.

I could say I will not let go until You bless me, however it may be better to say, I will not let go until You show Yourself to me, that I might understand You and adjust my life and my prayers accordingly.

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