sf953 - The Prayer Of Faith (Genesis 18 1-33)

Genesis 18:1-33

Introduction

The time comes in the history of all places like Sodom when God acts. Before proceeding against Sodom, God took Abraham into His confidence and revealed to His servant a new type of truth, apocalyptic truth. That is the truth concerning the impending overthrow of a sinful civilization.

The revelation of that truth was an interesting test of Abraham’s growth in grace and his increase in the knowledge of God.

How does a child of God respond to such a revelation?

Jonah was glad.

Jesus wept.

Abraham prayed!

1A. Abraham was a Perceptive Man (18:1-8)

1B. What he saw (18:1-2)

Abraham recognized God’s presence (18:1)

Matthew 18:20 "For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them."

Abraham responded to God’s presence (18:2)

Ø His haste (he ran)

Ø His humility (he bowed)

2B. What he did (18:3-8)

He welcomed the Lord. (18:3-5)

He gave the Lord the best he had to offer. (18:6-8a)

He put himself at the Lord’s disposal. (18:8b)

2A. Abraham was a Privileged Man (18:9-15)

1B. He was privileged to be God’s chosen. (18:9-10)

This was the same promise God had given before.

Except here a specific time was given.

2B. He was privileged to experience God’s grace (18:11-15)

Romans 5:20 Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more

Sarah’s sin

Ø The sin of unbelief, Sarah’s laughter revealed her unbelieving heart. (18:11-12)

1 John 5:9-10

Ø Sin will lead to more sin; Sarah compounded her sin of unbelief with the sin of lying to God. (18:15)

God’s response

Ø God does not treat unbelief lightly. (18:13)

Isaiah 59:1-2 Behold, the LORD's hand is not shortened, That it cannot save; Nor His ear heavy, That it cannot hear. 2 But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear.

Ø God however does treat our sin graciously can you imagine anything too hard for God? (18:14)

3A. Abraham was a Praying Man (18:16-33)

Abraham’s prayer was based on his faith and his fellowship with God. The theme is justice (25). Four lessons from this prayer…

1B. It was a modest prayer

Abraham does not pry into matters that are none of his business.

Abraham did not demand knowledge of God’s secret purposes in election.

Nor did he think this knowledge was necessary for making his petitions.

There is no need for us to feel hindered in praying for unconverted individuals or cities or the world just because we do not know what God’s ultimate purpose may be concerning them.

We are never more like the Lord or more pleasing to God than when we pray for others.

2B. It was a humble prayer (18:27)

God was under no obligation to hear Abraham and he knew it.

3B. It was a persistent prayer

Abraham intercedes for Sodom six times.

God encourages him to continue to pray, in fact He draws Abraham along revealing to him His grace and mercy and purpose.

“If they [lost sinners] will not hear you speak, they cannot prevent your praying. Do they jest at your exhortations? They cannot disturb you at your prayers. Are they far away so that you cannot reach them? Your prayers can reach them. Have they declared that they will never listen to you again, nor see your face? Never mind, God has a voice which they must hear. Speak to Him, and He will make them feel. Though they now treat you despitefully, rendering evil for your good, follow them with your prayers. Never let them perish for lack of your supplications” (Metropolitan Pulpit, vol. 18, pp. 263–264).[1]

4B. It was a persuasive prayer

It was persuasive not because Abraham has some sort of spiritual high ground, but because he pleaded God’s own character!

This is the essential meaning of verse 25!

Application

God did vindicate His name!

He did not destroy the righteous!

He did destroy the guilty!

When sinners object, “Why doesn’t God do what’s right?” they mean, “Why doesn’t God overlook my sin?”

But God doesn’t overlook sin!

What happens when the Judge of all the earth does right?

Sodom is destroyed, the earth is overwhelmed by the Flood, men and women are punished in the lake of fire.

But there is hope.

In Christ Jesus, our Lord