Introduction

Open your Bibles, please, to chapter 18 of the book of Genesis. We would like to remind you that Abraham, called of God, left the land of Ur of the Chaldees and started out on his pilgrim journey, looking for that city which has foundations whose builder and maker is God. He was a stranger and a pilgrim all the days of his life, but he was blessed in that he was not alone.

Three times in the Bible is Abraham called the friend of God. Abraham had the privilege of having seven distinct, definite visits from God when God left Heaven and came down to the earth and actually visited with him.

One of the accounts of a visit is presented in chapter 18, and this chapter is indeed precious. If we were to take this chapter out of the book of Genesis and put it by itself, it would be a wonderful illustration of several things that I trust you will be able to grasp.

By way of introduction to the chapter, without attempting to read it all immediately, we might remind you that here in chapter 18 of the book of Genesis we have presented to us the four essential ingredients of every Christian experience, and I want to give you those four things.

In this chapter we have sonship, worship, stewardship, and fellowship. Those are the four ingredeients. The emphasis is placed on the last, which is the highest order of Christian experience…fellowship.

If I were to ask you what you think is most important in relation to Christian experience, you might say service, because that is the trend today. You are told consistently and constantly that you ought to stay busy for the Lord, and nine out of ten people say to you, “What have you done for the Lord?” The emphasis is all on stewardship or service.

I want to suggest to you, and I think you will be able to see as we consider this chapter, that the highest kind of spiritual experience is the experience of fellowship.

We are going to read a portion of this chapter and then talk about it as the Lord directs. I must give you a little outline of the chapter, however, that you may be thinking about it, because in this chapter we are going to see Abraham providing refreshment for the Lord. Does that sound strange, God's needing to be refreshed? Well, He does, and there is nothing that refreshes Him like our communion with Him.

Communion is the second thing presented in this chapter verse-wise. Will you notice Genesis, chapter 18, verse 1:

Genesis 18:

Abraham Provides Refreshment for Jesus

In the first part of the chapter, we see Abraham providing refreshment for the Lord. “Oh,” you say, “I do not know about that. Verse 2 says there were three men.” They had the appearance of men, but in verse 3, you find Abraham addressing not three men, but one man. He said:

Genesis 18:

Those who do not believe in theophanies, the appearances of God upon the earth, several of which we have already looked at in the Old Testament, tend to say that all Abraham was doing was exercising the Oriental custom of extreme politeness. He did not consider these three any more than men, and when he said, “Lord,” he was just being polite.

I want to dispel that illusion, should it exist in any of your minds, by reminding you, as you glance at verse 3, that the word Lord is the Hebrew word Adonai, one of the names of God. Remember that there are three names: Joehovah, Elohim, and Adonai.

We have pointed out to you at other times, and we would remind you again, that when you see this word Lord with the first letter capitalized and the other letters small, it always indicates that the Hebrew word back of the English text is the word Adonai. We will show you some additional proof of that if we anticipate ourselves for the moment, without going into detail. Will you notice verse 13:

Genesis 18:

Notice that word LORD . Every letter is capitalized. That means it is a translation of the Hebrew word Jehovah, and no one would dare say, regardless of how polite Orientals might be, that they would take the name Jehovah and apply it to a mortal man. So if you will recognize that the Jehovah of verse 13 is the Adonai of verse 3, you will recognize that God was there.

As we have explained to you before, the member of the Godhead who is the friend of Abraham is none other than the Lord Jesus Christ. We find in this passage of Scripture that three individuals came to visit Abraham in his tent door, and one of them was the Lord Jesus Christ.

We have been noticing in our study of the book of Genesis the significance of names and titles, and have reminded you that they were never given carelessly. They were always given purposely. Did you notice where Abraham had his tent fixed when the Lord Jesus Christ visited him? It was in the plains of Mamre. You will remember that several chapters back we told you that the word Mamre means vigor . Abraham was in the place of victorious spiritual experience when God appeared to him.

How To Be In Fellowship

Those who have the opportunity of fellowship with the Lord are those who are living close enough to God for that purpose, as we are going to see before we are through with this chapter.

Before we go any further, I would like to remind you of how the Spirit of God takes chapter 18 of the book of Genesis and uses it for a sermon in chapter 13 of the book of Hebrews.

Hebrews 13:

This is a reference to that experience of Abraham's in the plains of Mamre. Suppose Abraham had been so dull of insight that he would not extend his hospitality to these three strangers. He would have missed a tremendous blessing. I am not going to make too deep or too detailed an application, save to say that I wonder how many of us miss the blessing our Lord has for us because we are not in the tent door when the strangers come.

Chapter 3 of the book of Revelation says:

Revelation 3:

We use that verse of Scripture quite frequently as a Gospel invitation, and we tell people that Jesus is standing at their hearts' door; open the door and let Him in. We are not going to argue with that, but I would remind you that that verse of Scripture is addressed not to the unsaved, but to Christians. The Lord Jesus Christ is standing at hearts' doors just as the Lord Jesus Christ was standing at Abraham's door seeking refreshment. He is seeking it now. I wonder if we are so busy about so many things that we do not hear that knock. He does not knock too loud!

Oh, how interested Abraham was to refresh the Lord, to provide the refreshment that was needed. You were listening as I read how he had Sarah make the cakes and how he himself ran and got the tenderest, best calf and hastened to dress it, and took butter, milk, and the calf and set it before them.

You say, “Well, what did they do with it? They were angels. They didn't eat it, did they? One of them was the Lord Jesus Christ. He didn't eat it, did He”? Yes, He did. You will notice the last part of verse 8:

Genesis 18:

Why did the Lord Jesus Christ need to eat? Well, certainly not because He needed to be nourished, but because He enjoyed the fellowship.

Will you turn with me to the Gospel of Luke, chapter 24, and notice the other recorded incident when the Lord Jesus Christ, in His glorified body on the earth, actually ate:

Luke 24:

This is the Lord Jesus Christ in His resurrection body. You will notice further down in the chapter:

Luke 24:

Why? Because He wanted to encourage their hearts and because He enjoyed this fellowship of refreshment with those who were His own.

It is not likely that the Lord will appear to us as He did to Abraham. This is the age of faith and not of sight. But spiritually speaking, there are times when the Lord Jesus longs for the time of communion with us which would refresh His own spirit.

How long has it been since you had a talk with the Lord? I do not mean how long has it been since you prayed. I do not mean how long has it been since you asked Him for something. I do not mean how long has it been since you confessed your sins. I do not mean how long has it been since you said your night prayers when you went to bed. How long has it been since you have just gotten away by yourself and spent a time of communion with the Lord, meditating on Him and the Word and His glory and the blessings He provides for your lives? That was Abraham's refreshment.

But now there is going to be communion. What is communion? It is when the Lord talks to you, and you talk to the Lord. That is communion. Notice in verse 9:

Genesis 18:

This paragraph presents the communion that was held between Abraham and the Lord. Those of you who have been studying the book of Genesis know exactly what this paragraph is about. Abraham had been promised by God that he would be the father of a son who would be the forebear of many, many nations. But Abraham was an old man and Sarah an old woman, and there would have to be a miracle. Each time God appeared to Abraham, He gave him a little more information.

For example, we learned that Sarah was to be the mother of the child and that Isaac was to be his name. Now the Lord Jesus Christ says in verse 10:

Genesis 18:

Here is the distinct and definite promise as to the exact time of the birth of this child. Sarah, listening in the tent door (not eavesdropping, but certainly those visitors were too important to pass over), heard what was said, and in verse 12 she laughed within herself. Previously we noticed Abraham laughing in himself, but it was laughter of amazement. Sarah's laughter was the laughter of unbelief. There is a vast difference. Remember, the children of Israel said that when God brought them back from the land of Babylon, he caused them to laugh, to rejoice, to be amazed at the mighty power of God working in their behalf. This laughter on Sarah's part was the laughter of unbelief, and you will notice in verse 13 that it did not go unnoticed. Sarah, bless her heart, was frightened when she heard the Lord Jehovah say, “Why did Sarah laugh?” And she said, “I didn't laugh. I didn't laugh.”

You will notice how the Lord (and you will notice this is another indication of the fact that this is the Lord, and not just Abraham being polite to three strangers), who knows everthing said, “Nay, but thou didst laugh.” He did not accept her lie as truth. He said, “Yes, you did laugh.” It was the laughter of unbelief, and it displeased the Lord. But He did not leave displeased. You will notice that He said in verse 14:

Genesis 18:

Nothing Is Too Hard For God

Notice the first phrase in that verse, “Is anything too hard for the Lord?” Do you know what Sarah's problem was? She was looking at Abraham. According to the laws of nature he could never be the father of a son. She was looking at her own life and her own age. Humanly speaking, it was another impossibility. It was just as if God said, “Yes, it is too hard for you and Abraham, but is anything too hard for the Lord?” That answer was not given in the Scripture until many, many years later.

You might like to know where the answer is. Turn to chapter 32 of the book of Jeremiah. The answer to that question has been found in the hearts and the lives of many of God's children down through the centuries, and we have the answer in our own hearts in relation to whether a thing is too hard for the Lord. But as far as the Scripture is concerned, the answer is found in chapter 32 of the book of Jeremiah. Notice in verse 16 an incident in the life of Jeremiah and his secretary, Baruch:

Jeremiah 32:

You see, God said, “Abraham, is anything too hard for the Lord?” Jeremiah said, “Lord, You made the heavens and all those planets in space. Nothing is too hard for you.” Nothing is too hard for the Lord! Will you remember that? When you come face to face with unbelief, even to the extent of laughter, remember that nothing is too hard for the Lord.

I think we ought to be fair, and I do not think we ought to leave Sarah in a predicament. Aren't you glad that God does not hold it against us? Aren't you glad that when you make a mistake God does not write you off the books and say, “Well, you made a mistake. There is no use fooling with you.” In fairness to Sarah, I would like for us to notice the sequel to this story.

Believers Receive Another Chance Through Faith

Turn with me to the book of Hebrews, chapter 11. This is God's record of all these saints of the Old Testament and how they believed God. Someone has referred to chapter 11 of the book of Hebrews as God's Hall of Fame…men and women who were known for their faith.

You say, “Well, you surely do not expect to find Sarah here, do you? She laughed in unbelief.” But you see, she repented of her unbelief, and she found her faith. So in verse 11 of Hebrews, chapter 11, we read:

Hebrews 11:

Did you notice what happened to Sarah? You say, “Oh, yes, the doctor explained to her how she could do it.” No, he did not. She received strength to conceive and was delivered of a child when she was past age, for one reason and one reason alone. She judged Him faithful who had promised! Do you see where the emphasis is? She said, after the angels and the Lord Jesus had left Abraham, “I do not see how in the world it can be. But there is one thing I know, and that is that God does not lie. If God said it, I am going to believe it.”

We Can Have Assurance of Personal Salvation

Can you believe God? May I remind you that if you do not, you are making God a liar. Will you turn with me, please, to I John as I remind you that there are many of God's dear children going through life without the assurance of their salvation. They do not know from one minute to the next whether they are saved. Today they feel like it, and tomorrow they do not. If you ask them whether they are going to Heaven, they say, “I hope so.” If you ask them whether they are saved, they say, “Can anyone know that now?” Their assurance fluctuates with their feelings.

How do I know that I am saved? “Oh,” you say, “you feel like it.” Well, sometimes I do not feel like it. How do I know I am going to Heaven? How do I know positively, absolutely, that my destiny is settled? You say, “You are trying to do good.” Well, I can't get enough done. How do I know? If you will open your Bibles to I John, chapter 5, verse 10:

I John 5:

How do I know that I am saved? Because I believe the record that God gave of His Son. What is the record?

I John 5:

What is the record that God gave? God said, “I want to give you eternal life, but I am going to wrap it up in Jesus. If you take Jesus, you take eternal life. If you do not take Him, you will not have it.”

Someone says, “Well, I have not been baptized yet.” He did not say He was going to wrap it up in water. He said He was going to wrap it up in Jesus. Someone says, “You know, I fail so often. I make so many mistakes. I do so many things wrong. I do not want to be, but I am old, falling and stumbling.” Well, He did not say He was going to wrap it up in your efforts. He said He was going to wrap it up in Jesus Christ.

Life is in Jesus Christ, and that is the record that God gave. If you believe the record that God gave, then you have the asssurance of your salvation. If you get on your knees, literally or figuratively, and say, “Oh, God, I do now receive Jesus Christ as my Savior,” you have eternal life.

Many times, right in this room, I have dealt with people about their relationship to Jesus Christ, and have told them these things that I am telling you now. Then we would get on our knees, and an individual would say a little prayer, similar to what I have suggested, indicating to God that he was willing to take God's Son as his Savior. Then after we had said, “Amen,” I sometimes have said, “Now, why don't you get back on your knees and thank God for saving you?” And he might say, “Well, I do not know whether I am saved or not. I cannot thank Him. I do not know whether I am saved or not.” Or sometimes before we get off our knees I might say, “Are you a Christian now?” I would expect him to say, “Yes, I am.” But he might just look at me and say, “I don't know.” I am not intentionally rude, but sometimes you have to be drastic, so I might say, “Do you mean to tell me that you believe God lies?” “Oh, no, I don't believe that,” he might say. I reply, “Well, then, you are saved.” He might say, “Oh, I don't know whether I am or not.” So then I might say, “Why don't we get down on our knees again and let me pray first, and then you pray.” I then pray something like this: “Dear God, this dear man has something to tell You. He wants to tell You that You are a liar.” The man might say, “I am not going to tell God He is a liar.” “Well, ” I say, “that is what you say if you do not believe the record that God gave of His Son.” The record that God gave of His Son is that this life is in His Son.

We have not left the book of Genesis yet. Let us go back. Sarah did not remain in the laughter of unbelief. She rejoiced in God, not because she felt any different physically, but because she judged Him faithful that had promised.

Now, Beloved, that is faith! Faith is judging Him faithful that has promised, not expecting explanations that are suitable for our own minds. Sarah won the victory.

I would like for us to look at the part of this chapter which deals with the last phrase. Remember, we have been talking about refreshment for the Lord and communion with the Lord, and now we want to say a word about interceding before the Lord.

There is much that could be said about this paragraph. We mention only a few things, perhaps to guide you in your thinking while we meditate upon it. Notice verse 16:

Genesis 18:

Let us pause there. Abraham and the Lord were alone. How do you know that they were alone? In chapter 19, verse 1, we read:

Genesis 19:

They warned Lot of the destruction of those two cities. Where was the Lord Jesus? He was back with Abraham listening to him intercede on behalf of Sodom and Gomorrah.

Abraham Becomes An Intercessor

Notice this carefully, because to my mind it is exceedingly precious. How was it that Abraham became in intercessor? You find your answer in verse 17:

Genesis 18:

What is He saying? “I cannot do what I am about to do without telling Abraham about it. I cannot destroy Sodom and Gomorrah without telling Abraham about it.” Did you notice, He did not tell Lot about it? He did not tell Lot what He was going to do. Why? Because Lot was so far out of fellowship with God that he was not on speaking terms with Him. But Abraham was God's friend. Does that make any difference?

Friendship With God Precedes Intercession

Listen closely now. If you want to be an intercessor, if you want the privilege of standing before God on behalf of men, then seek friendship with God. Those are not empty terms. Let me suggest a verse or two of Scripture that amplifies what I am going to say. We will just mention these passages to you and let them say in a few words what it would take me many words to say;

John 15:

I do not say this lightly, but very seriously: I covet the privilege of being a friend to God. It is one thing to be a servant of God. It is another thing to be a friend of God. God has many servants, but He has very few friends. Very few people are in the place of fellowship with Him where He can count them friends and discuss things with them and let them know what He is going to do before He actually does it.

Will you turn with me, please, to Psalm 25, verse 14:

Psalms 25:

The word fear is not awesome fear. It is reverence…that fear that causes us to want to obey Him. Did you notice what that verse said?

Psalms 25:

He will reveal things to them that He will not reveal to everyone else.

Turn, please, to the book of Amos, chapter 3. Amos is one of the minor prophets, so called. We read in verse 7, and what a precious verse it is indeed. If you are in the habit of marking your Bibles, you might like to mark this verse:

Amos 3:

Turn back to the book of Genesis as I remind you that God could not find it in His heart to destroy the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah without telling Abraham what He was going to do. What did Abraham do? Immediately he began to intercede with the Lord. Oh, the Lord was not going to be unjust about it. He said in verse 20 that the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great…that is, the cry for justice…because their sin is very grievous. Then in verse 21 He says:

Genesis 18:

Then notice in verse 22:

Genesis 18:

My this is a marvelous illustration of the grace of God…the Lord Jesus Christ standing there overlooking the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah and listening to an ordinary man as he talks with Him about those things.

You are familiar with the prayer of Abraham, the prayer of intercession in relation to these cities. In verse 24, Abraham says:

Genesis 18:

God Always Does Right

You might like to mark, Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right? This was not a question that Abraham was asking with the idea that he did not know. He was reminding God, “God, I know that the Judge of all the earth does right.”

Someday that may be the only thing upon which you can hang your faith. God may lead you through some valley. He may lead you through some trial so deep and so terrible that you find yourself saying, “God, why?” He may lead you through some trial for which there will be absolutely no explanation and no promise with which you can be encouraged, and the only thing you can say is that you know this, that the Judge of all the earth does right! You cannot explain it, but you know that God does right. Here Abraham reminds God of that.

Now I want you to notice verse 26:

Genesis 18:

And so Abraham prayed…fifty, forty, thirty, twenty, ten. “Oh,” you say, “he was having a hard time persuading God, wasn't he?” No. Read this carefully. He was not persuading God. God did not need any persuasion. God was leading him out. He was challenging him to greater things in prayer. I think that one of the saddest incidents recorded in all the Word of God is this one. Did you notice who terminated the conversation? God did not say to Abraham, “Abraham, that is all the time I have to talk. I have to be about My business.” He did not do that, did He? It was Abraham who stopped the conversation. I cannot help but wonder what might have happened if Abraham had not stopped with ten. There were not ten people in Sodom and Gomorrah who were righteous, evidently, but oh, if Abraham had only gone on and stood before the Lord in behalf of Sodom and Gomorrah there is a possibility that the cities would never have been destroyed. Abraham stopped too soon.

May I drive home that parallel? I wonder how many of us stop too soon in our prayer life. I wonder how many of us are satisfied with too little? I wonder how many of us stop with ten. God might gladly give us the whole city. I wonder. I think Abraham stopped too soon.

Intercession Is Not Commanded

One last thing I would like to leave with you. The reason I say that Abraham stopped too soon is that the responsibility was his. Will you look at verse 27:

Genesis 18:

The ministry of intercession is not something that is commanded in the Word of God. The ministry of intercession is not something to which God calls people in a special way. The ministry of intercession is something which God's children take upon themselves when they have all the facts in hand. God said to Abraham, “I am going to destroy the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah.” Now Abraham could have gone on just as most of us go on in the face of the burdens of the world. We say, “Well, I had better run and get lost.” But he didn't. Right away he began to intercede. Right away he began to pray. He himself said that he took it upon himself to do it.

Oh, the patience of the Lord with our intercession. Someone says, “I have been praying for him for years. I am sure that God must be tired of hearing me pray for him.” Someone says, “I have been praying for my wife for a long time. I am sure that God must be tired of hearing me pray.” Well, the Devil would love to have you think that.

Notice the last verse of the chapter:

Genesis 18:

The Lord did not leave until Abraham was through. Abraham made the last request. I say this reverently: I believe that God would have stayed there forever if Abraham had interceded forever. God never gets tired.

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