Abraham, a Friend of God

TEXT: James 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 ).

CONCLUSION: WHAT 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 ).