Sermon Tone Analysis

A couple in high school – moony eyes

A new married couple – excitement holding hand /contact

A old married couple – a settle enjoyment of one another

What does it look like to have a close relationship with God?

I.

An intimate relationship with God: Enjoying God’spresence

A. The Lord showed up in ordinary life Gen 18:1-2a

(ESV) Genesis 18 1 And the Lord appeared to him by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat at the door of his tent in the heat of the day. 2 He lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, three men were standing in front of him.

…

1.

The Lord shows up in life

2.

In the common place

3. Perhaps unexpectedly

B. Responded eagerly when He appeared Gen 18:2b

(ESV) Genesis 18 2 … When he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them …

1. Excited when He appears – see this throughout

C. Worshipped Him Gen 18:2c

(ESV) Genesis 18 2 … and bowed himself to the earth

1.

More than a friend / He is God / respected / focus is on Him

D. Desired extended time with Him Gen 18:3, 4b

(ESV) Genesis 18 3 and said, “O Lord, if I have found favor in your sight, do not pass by your servant.

4 … rest yourselves under the tree,

1.

Does want Him to leave / enjoy Him

E. ServedHim Gen 18:4a, 5

(ESV) Genesis 18 4 Let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, … 5 while I bring a morsel of bread, that you may refresh yourselves, and after that you may pass on—since you have come to your servant.”

So they said, “Do as you have said.”

1.

What can I do for you?

2. Coincides with worship - active worship

F. Followed through on his commitments Gen 18:6-7

(ESV) Genesis 18 6 And Abraham went quickly into the tent to Sarah and said, “Quick!

Three seahs of fine flour!

Knead it, and make cakes.”

7 And Abraham ran to the herd and took a calf, tender and good, and gave it to a young man, who prepared it quickly.

8 Then he took curds and milk and the calf that he had prepared, and set it before them.

And he stood by them under the tree while they ate.

1. Commit and live it out

2. With zeal and excitement

3. Real proof – of relationship --- engage life to do what I say I will do for Him

II.

An intimate relationship with God: Hearing from God

A. Words of blessing Gen 18:9-13

1.

In spite of weakness

(ESV) Genesis 18 9 They said to him, “Where is Sarah your wife?”

And he said, “She is in the tent.” 10 The Lord said, “I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife shall have a son.”

And Sarah was listening at the tent door behind him.

11 Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in years.

The way of women had ceased to be with Sarah.

12 So Sarah laughed to herself, saying, “After I am worn out, and my lord is old, shall I have pleasure?”

13 The Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Shall I indeed bear a child, now that I am old?’

a. Reproduce sins of Abraham – he had laughed previously at the same promise / Unbelievable what He wants to do / why can we not trust Him?

2. Based on God’s ability

(ESV) Genesis 18 14 Is anything too hard for the Lord?

At the appointed time I will return to you, about this time next year, and Sarah shall have a son.” 15 But Sarah denied it, saying, “I did not laugh,” for she was afraid.

He said, “No, but you did laugh.”

a. Faith is trusting in His ability and His desire to deliver on His promises

B. Words of judgment Gen 18:16, 20-21

(ESV) Genesis 18 16 Then the men set out from there, and they looked down toward Sodom.

And Abraham went with them to set them on their way.

(ESV) Genesis 18 20 Then the Lord said, “Because the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great and their sin is very grave, 21 I will go down to see whether they have done altogether according to the outcry that has come to me.

And if not, I will know.”

1. Judgment is part of the character of God

a. Appropriate judgment

b.

Sudden judgment

2. Opportunity to listen to the judgment of what is to come

3. Implies an ability to influence the judgment to come

III.

Observing an intimate relationship with God: Influencing God

A. Recognized privilege of influence Gen 18:17-19

(ESV) Genesis 18 17 The Lord said, “Shall I hide from Abrahamwhat I am about to do, 18 seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him?

19 For I have chosen him, that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing righteousness and justice, so that the Lord may bring to Abraham what he has promised him.”

1.

An opportunity to engage with God about what He intends to do

2.

We are intimate and able to participate in God’s plan

B. Access to God Gen 18:22-23a

(ESV) Genesis 18 22 So the men turned from there and went toward Sodom, but Abraham still stood before the Lord.

23 Then Abraham drew near …

1. Abraham in the presence of God

2. Standing with access to God / to listen / to speak / to influence

C. Based appeals on the character of God Gen 18:23b-26

(ESV) Genesis 18 23 … and said, “Will youindeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked?

24 Suppose there are fifty righteous within the city.

Will you then sweep away the place and not spare it for the fifty righteous who are in it?

25 Far be it from you to do such a thing, to put the righteous to death with the wicked, so that the righteous fare as the wicked!

Far be that from you! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is just?” 26 And the Lord said, “If I find at Sodom fifty righteous in the city, I will spare the whole place for their sake.”

1. Knew Him well enough to appeal to His character / Grace / just

2. Experienced His character personally

3. Surprise – an ability to shape what the Lord is going to do

D. Approached God with humility Gen 18:27-28

(ESV) Genesis 18 27 Abraham answered and said, “Behold, I have undertaken to speak to the Lord, I who am but dust and ashes.

28 Suppose five of the fifty righteous are lacking.

Will you destroy the whole city for lack of five?”

And he said, “I will not destroy it if I find forty-five there.”

1. Speak with humility – not an equal relationship – still just a man

2. But a special relationship granted by God to appeal to Him

E. Dealt with specifics Gen 18:29

(ESV) Genesis 18 24 Suppose there are fifty righteous … 28 Suppose five of the fiftyrighteous are lacking … 29 Again he spoke to him and said, “Suppose fortyare found there.”

He answered, “For the sake of forty I will not do it.”

1. Very specific praying – not some general worthless sentence

F. Persisted Gen 18:30-32

(ESV) Genesis 18 30 Then he said, “Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak.

Suppose thirty are found there.”

He answered, “I will not do it, if I find thirty there.”