Abraham, a Friend of God

TEXTJames 2:23

INTRODUCTION:

A.      NO GREATER COMPLIMENT - 3 TIMES CALLED A FRIEND OF GOD.

          ( 2 Chron. 20:7;  Isa. 41:8;  James 2:23 ).

B.      ABRAHAM'S ATTITUDE SET HIM APART.  WE NEED TO SEE HIS

          ATTITUDE IN 4 RELATIONSHIPS AND IMITATE HIM.

I.      ABRAHAM'S ATTITUDE TOWARD OTHERS.

A.      ABRAHAM WAS PEACEFUL( Gen. 13:1-8 ).

          ( Matt. 5:9;  Heb. 12:14;  Rom. 12:18 ).

B.      HE WAS UNSELFISH( Gen. 18:22-33 ).

          1.       Physical goods( 1 John 3:16-18 ).

          2.       Spiritual things( James 5:19-20 ).

II.     ABRAHAM'S ATTITUDE TOWARD RICHES AND GLORY.

A.      HE GAVE UP SOME THINGS TO SERVE GOD( Gen. 12:1;  Heb. 11:9 ).

B.      HE LOOKED BEYOND THIS LIFE AND ITS MATERIAL PROMISE

          ( Heb. 11:10, 13-16 ).

C.      2 Cor. 4:16 -- 5:1.

III.    ABRAHAM'S ATTITUDE TOWARD HIS FAMILY.

A.      ABRAHAM LOVED HIS CHILDREN( Gen. 21:8-14 ).

B.      GOD KNEW ABRAHAM'S CHARACTER( Gen. 18:19 ).

C.      HE ALSO LOVED HIS WIFE( 1 Pet. 3:5-6;  Gen. 23:1-2 ).

D.      1 Tim. 5:8 -- Eph. 6:1-4;  5:25-33.

IV.   ABRAHAM'S ATTITUDE TOWARD GOD.

A.      GOD CAME BEFORE FAMILY, FRIENDS, AND WEALTH.

B.      HE TRUSTED GOD'S PROMISES AND BELIEVED HIM( Gal. 3:6 ).

          1.       What were God's promises?( Gen. 12:1-3;  Heb. 11:8 ).

          2.       All promises depended on obtaining seed and its survival.

          3.       His faith was twice tested( Heb. 11:11, 17-19 ).

C.      BECAUSE OF HIS FAITH ABRAHAM OBEYED GOD( Heb. 11:8, 17 ).

          1.       The perfection of faith is obedience, without works it is dead( Jas. 2:21, 22 ).

          2.       Faith justifies when it produces obedience( James 2:23-24 ).

D.      OBEDIENCE IS NECESSARY FOR US, TOO( Matt. 7:21;  John 15:14 ).

CONCLUSIONWHAT IS GOD'S WILL FOR ME?

A.      IT IS IN THE BIBLE WE MUST LOOK( 2 Tim. 3:16-17 ).

B.      ARE WE PREPARED TO FOLLOW?( James 1:22 ).