Faith Made Abraham A Friend Of God Lesson 5 Series

“By obedient faith, Abraham offered his only son Isaac as a sacrifice to God, who was testing him. God had promised Abraham that through his seed his descendants would be counted and would bless the world. Abraham reasoned that if Isaac died, God was able to bring him back to life again, and in that sense, he received him from the dead.” Hebrews 11:17-19, ELT

A. ABRAHAM TRUSTED GOD WITH THE POSSESSION GIVEN HIM

1. God gives us trials and our obedience makes us stronger. Satan gives us temptations, and our disobedience will weaken or destroy us.

2. Abraham’s faith obedience is his shining example of devotion to God.

3. Always give up wrong things. Sometimes give up good things.

4. Had Isaac taken first place in Abraham’s heart? God wants first place. God demands first place. “Jesus asked, ‘Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?” (John 21:15). These fish, or nets, a friend or the occupation he went back to.

B. ABRAHAM TRUSTED GOD’S PURPOSE FOR HIM

1. God gave Abraham a son with the promise of uncountable children (Genesis 12:2-3; 13:14-16). God said, put it on the altar.

2. Informed faith. God said, “Take your son … go to Moriah … sacrifice him as a burnt offering” (Genesis 22:2, NLT).

3. Immediate faith. “The next morning Abraham … set out for the place God had told him" (Genesis 22:3, NLT).

4. Obedient faith. “Abraham built an altar … tied up his son … picked up the knife to kill his son as a sacrifice” (Genesis 22:9-10, NLT).

5. Rewarded faith. “Abraham … don’t lay a hand on the boy” (Genesis 22:11-12, NLT).

C. ABRAHAM TRUSTED GOD’S PROMISES TO HIM

1. Faith-claim. “The boy and I will … worship there … then we will come right back” (Genesis 22:5, NLT). “Abraham … accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead” (Hebrews 11:17, 19, KJV).

2. Abraham did not know how God would do it, only that He would.

3. Faith’s reward. Jesus said, “If you cling to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for Me, you will find it” (Matthew 10:39, NLT).

4. What did God see? Not Isaac on the altar, but Abraham was on the altar.

5. Abraham became the friend of God (2 Chronicles 20:7, Isaiah 41:8, James 2:23). Jesus said, “You are My friends if you do what I command” (John 15:14, NLT).

6. What is a friend?

a. Care most for each other.

b. Care first for each other.

c. Put the other before self.

If you have never really accepted Jesus as your personal Savior, would you do it right now? Do not delay or put it off. If you would like to receive Christ by faith, pray this simple prayer in your heart:

Dear Lord, I acknowledge that I am a sinner. I believe Jesus died for my sins on the cross, and rose again the third day. I repent of my sins. By faith I receive the Lord Jesus as my Savior. You promised to save me, and I believe You, because You are God and cannot lie. I believe right now that the Lord Jesus is my personal Savior, and that all my sins are forgiven through His precious blood. I thank You, dear Lord, for saving me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

If you prayed that prayer, God heard you and saved you. I personally want to welcome you to the family of God and rejoice with you.

Dr. Towns’ email is eltowns@liberty.edu.

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