If you have your Bibles, I want you to turn to Genesis chapter 15.
Genesis chapter 15, the other day, or yesterday actually, as I was reading, I read numbers and I read some numbers.
And I read about Paul preparing to speak to Agrippa.
And then I turned to Proverbs 18.
And I read Proverbs 18, 24, a man of many companions may come to ruin, but there's a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
I posted that, and one time I posted that before on social media, and somebody asked me in the comments, is that talking about Jesus?
I said, it sure is.
Now, the reality is Solomon didn't know the details of Christ when he wrote that.
He didn't know what we know about him, but that's who he was speaking of.
He was talking about this friendship that we can have with the Lord.
And we see that kind of friendship with the Lord in our passage today in Genesis 15.
I want you to see this morning how that friendship with God played out for Abram and how also it plays out for us.
Now, there's a lot in this passage of Scripture.
We're not going to cover it all today.
I know where my cutoff point is.
I want to focus on the faithful friend that we have in God.
Genesis 15, beginning in verse 1.
It says, after these things, remember what these things are?
Abram went to rescue Lot with 318 men.
Lot's been going on.
He's fought a battle.
After these things, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision.
Fear not, Abram.
I am your shield.
Your reward shall be very great.
And Abram said, O Lord God, what will you give me?
For I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Eleazar of Damascus.
And Abram said, Behold, you have given me no offspring, and a member of my household will be my heir.
And behold, the word of the Lord came to him, This man shall not be your heir.
Your very own son shall be your heir.
And he brought him outside and said, Look toward heaven and number the stars, if you're able to number them.
Then he said to him, So shall your offspring be.
And he believed the Lord, and God counted it to him as righteousness.
Now let me just say this.
Let me just make a commercial here, okay?
Although we have modern technology that is excellent, there is value, and I'm going to show you what it is.
There is value in bringing a copy of God's word with you.
There is.
And I want to encourage you to do that.
That's not a chastisement.
It's just an encouragement, okay?
And one of the reasons why is because when you get to a verse like verse 6, you need to underline it.
Because it is crucial to understand the relationship that God had with Abram and what he gave to Abram.
And how that relates back to us.
And every time you come across that passage, it needs to beam in your life.
He goes on and says,
And he said to him, I am the Lord who brought you out from Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land to possess.
But he said, O Lord God, how am I to know that I shall possess it?
He said to him, bring me a heifer three years old, a female goat three years old, a ram three years old, a turtle dove, and a young pigeon.
And he brought him all these, cut them in half, and laid each half over against the other.
But he did not cut the birds in half.
And when birds of prey came down on the carcasses, Abram drove them away.
And as the sun was going down, a deep sleet fell on Abram.
And behold, dreadful and great darkness fell upon him.
And then the Lord said to Abram,
Know for certain that your offspring will be sojourners in a land that is not theirs, and will be servants there.
And they will be afflicted for four hundred years.
But I'll bring judgment on the nation that they serve.
And afterward they shall come out with great possessions.
As for you, you shall go to your fathers in peace.
You shall be buried in a good old age.
And they shall come back here in the fourth generation.
For the iniquities of the Amorites is not yet complete.
When the sun had gone down, and it was dark,
Behold, a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch passed between these pieces.
On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying,
To your offspring I give this land,
From the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates,
The land of the Kenites,
The land of the Kenizzites,
The Kamanites,
The Hittites,
The Perizzites,
The Rephram,
The Amorites,
The Canaanites,
The Gerbushites,
The Jebusites,
And the Termites.
That's why you need a copy of God's Word.
The covenants of the Bible are precious.
And there's a difference in the covenants and a contract.
A contract can be breached.
But God's covenants are kept and fulfilled by the Lord.
He's faithful.
He made a covenant with Noah
And promised the earth would never be destroyed by a flood again.
And he put a rainbow in the sky to mark it.
He made a covenant with Moses that actually reestablished and backed up the one that we have here.
He made one with David to establish the Davidic throne which would be fulfilled through Christ.
Which is also promised in the new covenant that is found in Jeremiah 31, 31-34.
This covenant is the promise for the nation of Israel.
And it is carried out in a profound manner.
And we'll get there.
But more than that, I want you to just know today three truths about God that are blessings.
I really just want you to be blessed today to know what a friend you have in the Lord.
It is quite precious, the opportunity that we have in God.
God is a comforting friend.
He knows there will still be battles.
And no king that goes to war likes to lose.
And this was an alliance of kings.
So you knew they were coming back.
There was going to be more battles.
That's why this begins in verse 1 by saying,
After these things.
and in the midst of that not knowing what the future would hold and not knowing what battles
that Abram would continue to face and knowing that he just came through a very difficult one
but yet God was with him and empowered him beyond measure in order to succeed after these things
after the successes there's still things that you have to face and God responds by saying I am your
shield so when you come combine that the word of the Lord came and you see the shield there it is used
numerous times in scripture but this is the first time it's used Abram needed to be comforted
one because he didn't know what was ahead the other thing is is because he's waiting
for 10 years he has waited it has been a decade since God had promised him a bunch of stuff and
yet he hadn't got any of it yet he he waits he's not possessed the land not not any of it he has
not started a nation he did not have his promised son he didn't have anything that God had promised
him and God comes to him I am so glad that when it seems like God's silent his word will come through
and speak just in the nick of time I'm so glad the word came to Abram that tells me that we don't all
always have to come to God let me go further than that we don't come to God he comes to us he always
comes to us he may require a step of faith on our behalf but he is always the one that initiates that
he didn't come to God on his own you didn't come to God on your own he came to you Romans tells us we
were dead in our trespasses and sins we could not come to God thank God he met us where we were and
brought us to where we are and we'll continue thank God as a shield he'll go before us you remember the
disciples in the midst of the storm in the midst of the storm Jesus told them in Matthew 14 verse 27
take heart it is I it is I don't be afraid yeah yeah but what about the storm I'm going through
what about that alliance of kings that we just defeated that will continue what about the fact
that I haven't conquered the nation that you told me that I was going to get and I haven't taken on
those properties yet what about all that what about and in the midst of that God says he brings his
word and says I'm your shield in the midst of the storm Jesus said don't be afraid they didn't recognize
Jesus at first in that storm but just because they didn't recognize him does not mean that he was not
there I want you to understand that even when you don't recognize the hand of God upon you even when
you don't recognize his presence even when you don't recognize the movement of God around you he
is there he is a shield that is spoken of again and again and this is the first time but it's spoken of
again and again and again in scripture and I want you to notice how it's spoken of in Psalm 28 verse 7
it says the Lord is my strength and my shield in him my heart trust and I am helped my heart exhorts and
with my song I give thanks to him in Proverbs chapter 30 verse 5 says every word of God proves true
he is a shield to those who take refuge in him so I'm telling you today that God is a shield he's a
protector he's a guard he's a defender he's a shelter he's a screen and I love the way Proverbs 30 verse 5
puts that every word of God puts the word of God in there as well as the shield not only is God a shield
a protector a guide a defender a shelter a screen of protection but thank God his word is
if you'll hide the word of the Lord in your heart and you'll live by it he'll keep you out of a bunch
of mess that you would otherwise go into he protects you from that every word proves true and you can rest in
the word of God when you have difficulty run to it when you get confused by the sways of the world
run to it when your life gets hit by a blizzard of heartache and difficulty run to the word of God
even better yet just start the day with the word of God let it be implanted in your life before the
junk of the junk of the day hits you you'll be amazed but in those times of distress and in those
times of hurt and in those times of difficulty you run to the word of God trust him at his word
the lack of clarity in our country today is absolutely amazing you know what clears up all the mess
the word of God it's clear it's clear yeah but preacher I just don't feel I don't it don't really
matter what you feel it's based on the word of God period he is a comforting friend but not only that
but God's a faithful friend he's faithful from the time God told him that he would not only bear a son
but that a nation would come through him I want you to hear me today it was 25 years until he saw the
signs of pregnancy in his wife 25 years last time I looked that's a long time
we can glorify that all we want to I'm gonna tell you the truth it was tough
it's tough waiting a decade
and that's what he waited for to hear the word that we're reading today it's tough to wait two and a
half decades for the promises of God to come through but that's what he did it's tough
but holding on to the promises of God when you see no evidence of his moving that's tough
but God's movement is not based on what we see
God's movement is not based on what we recognize
it's based upon his faithfulness
but the silence of God which I want you to understand
the silence of God is not connected to his absence
he is present whether you hear him or not
the silence of God is broken when the word of God comes and the first thing that Abram asked him
is what about that air remember what you promised me
and God pointed him to the sky
and he said as numerous as the stars is in the sky so will your offspring be
Abraham never thought that children would call him father Abraham and would sing father Abraham had many sons
and many sons had father Abraham man he didn't feel like it that day
so where's my hair
and God then said and
and not only that I'm going to give you this land
and Abram asked how will I know and God showed him and and what he described in verses 9 and 10 and 17 is a covenant
it was to be a pact between two usually in front of their own people
and he took these animals that God instructed him and he laid them out in a systematic fashion
and typically when a covenant was made both parties would walk through
those those animals that had been split and divided
both parties would walk through that and they would form a bond
the best way I know how to describe it is it was as if they were saying if I break this covenant with you
I'll be like one of these animals
I'm dedicated to to what I'm doing it was a public event
it was a lot more elaborate than just signing a piece of paper
a lot more elaborate than a handshake
although it meant the same thing it was just weightier
but I want you to notice the difference in this covenant that God made with Abram
Abram didn't walk through the split animals
only God did
and his presence was made known through a flaming torch
it was God's way of saying I won't break my promise
Abram didn't participate
it was based on God entirely
God makes unbreakable promises
and that's the grace of God
God doesn't do what he does for us based on us
God does what he does for us based on who he is
and God keeps his promises
we break our promises
God keeps his promises
and we misuse what God has entrusted to us
but thank God
in response
God is steady
he is faithful
he walks alone
when no one else walks with him
I want you to notice two more things about God's faithfulness
one is
he works on his timetable
not ours
now that bothers me
but that's the truth
verse 13 and 14 says
then the Lord said to Abram
get this now
know for certain that your offspring will be sojourners in a land that is not theirs
and will be servants there
and they will be afflicted for 400 years
but I will bring judgment on the nation that they serve
and afterward they shall come out with great possessions
in other words
it's going to take a long time Abram
for the promises that I've made to you to be fulfilled
the Egyptians will overtake them
they will become slaves for 400 years
that's easy to get past when you just turn the page from Genesis 50 to Exodus 1
but I got news for you
America is 246 and a little over half years old
246 years old
and they were in slavery for 400
and God raised up Moses to deliver them
and Abram
he says I will give you the land
and more descendants than you can count
on my timetable
the second thing about God's faithfulness is this
he works even when we can't see him work
now
I've said this before
and I'll probably say it again
because we got to get this
God was going to fulfill his promise
but Abram wouldn't see the fullness of those promises in his lifetime
but God's faithful
God's faithful
you do what you do for the Lord
you trust the Lord
you live for the Lord
you honor the Lord
you sacrifice yourself and your own desires
and you serve the Lord and do what he'd have you do
do what you do for the Lord
and you trust him for the results
because God
is faithful
he's faithful
and lastly
God is a saving friend
it's the best part
God's a saving friend
James chapter 2 verse 23
when he talks about this passage
he says
and the scripture was fulfilled
that says Abraham
Abraham believed God
and it was counted to him
as righteousness
and he was called a friend of God
now if you notice chapter 15 closely
you'll see the dialogue back and forth
between God and Abram
it was friend to friend
that's how God communicates with us too
but he does it through his word
when we share our burdens with the Lord in prayer
and then we open up the word of God
asking him to lead us
just like in verse 1
it says
the word of God will come
he will dialogue with us
through the Holy Spirit of God
leading us in his word
just like a friend
but I want you to notice the best thing
and there is so much more here
Genesis 15 verse 6 says
and he believed the Lord
and he counted it to him as righteousness
God credited him with the righteousness
it's not that Abram got it right
he didn't get it all right
he messed up again and again
but he believed the Lord
and he trusted him with things
that he could not see
and when he did not know
how it was all going to go down
he trusted God
he trusted him
his trust and his faith
is what he needed
to get him the credit
that God would give him
with the righteousness of God
that is just like the salvation
that we find in Christ
as a matter of fact
all of this scene
prophesies to our hope in Christ
the sacrificing of those animals
that led to the covenant
with the Lord
speaks of the sacrifice of Christ
that gives us opportunity
the Lord working through
the sacrifice alone
points to the fact
that our salvation
is in Christ alone
the promises of God
being beyond what Abram could see
and beyond his lifetime
speaks to the eternal promises
that we have in God
the credit of righteousness
speaks to having faith
to believe in the Lord
and in return
the Lord bless us
with the righteousness of Christ
in other words
he washes all of our sins away
that's a friend
a friend that is willing to comfort
a friend that is faithful
thank God
a friend and a Lord
that saves
as I was pondering
on all this yesterday
thought of an old hymn
that says this
have we trials and temptations
is there trouble anywhere
we should never be discouraged
take it
to the Lord
in prayer
can we find
a friend so faithful
who will all our sorrows share
Jesus knows
our every weakness
take it
to the Lord
in prayer
are we weak
are we heavy laden
cumbered with a load of care
precious Savior
still our refuge
take it to the Lord
in prayer
do your friends
despise and forsake you
take it to the Lord
in prayer
in his arms
he'll take
and shield you
you'll find
a solace there
friend today
I don't want to
chase you
I don't want to
correct you
I don't want to
try to convict you
I just want to
bless you
to tell you
you've got a wonderful
friend
in the Lord
and he'll walk with you
through the valleys
that you walk through
and he'll comfort you
and I'll let you down
and the person sitting next to you
will let you down
and anybody else you know
will sometimes let you down
but I know one
that will never let you down
and that's the Lord
he loves you
but not only that
but he'll meet you
where you are today
and he'll change your life
for all eternity
if you're here today
and you don't know
the Lord Jesus
I didn't ask you
if you was a member
of this church
I didn't ask you
if you came from
a different denomination
I didn't ask you
if you've been in church
all your life
or how much
your grandpa loved God
if there's never been
a time in your life
when you surrender your life
to the Lord Jesus
and ask him to
cleanse you of your sins
to come into your life
and to change you
I want you to know
today's the day of salvation
he'll do that
he is your friend
he meets you where you are
he'll make you
what he'd have you to be
and you come to him
are you burdened today
you come to this altar
and you lay it down before him
he's your friend
he'll meet you here
he'll walk with you
he loves you dearly
I don't know about you
but when somebody
loves you that much
and is always there for you
you want to do
everything you can for him
you know what we can do
for him
we can live for him
we can celebrate him
we can share him
thank God for a friend
that we have in Jesus
every head bowed
and every eye closed
I just want you to
obey God
this morning
no matter what he'd have
to say to you
what he'd have you to do
just be faithful
Lord Jesus
let your sweet spirit
move and work in this place
as only you can
God have your will
and your way
in our midst
bless us with the power
of your presence
God save the lost
convict the saved
as needed
help each one of us
to simply be obedient
to follow you
as you lead us
oh God I pray
in Jesus precious name
Amen
marvelous
you