Sermon Central
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The Friend Of God
Contributed by Ken Alford on Nov 28, 2017 (message contributor)
Summary: The FOG is a fraternity whose presiding officer is a man named Abraham. I am talking about the Friends of God. James 2:23 says Abraham was called the friend of God. The phrase is also found in II Chr 20:7 and Is 41:8. Why was Abraham called the friend
B. The glory for spiritual work - even that which has a physical manifestation - must be left for and given to God Almighty. If we know who God is, it affects our walk. Do we know who God is? An old Sicilian proverb says that only your real friends will tell you when your face is dirty. God is friend enough to tell us when we are not walking before Him perfectly. Reflect on who He is and it will affect your walk before Him. Contemplate the greatness of Almighty God:
1. He controls all nature and fashions it unlike man at his best is able to. I remember being in awe of Him as I stood at the top of a large slope with a lake at the bottom about a mile below. The hillside was like one giant meadow tilted on its edge in the
Gifford -Pinchot National Forest.
2. I am amazed at the sweet spirit with which He enables people to endure through tragedy.
3. None but Almighty God can turn, change, and convert a sinful heart. But He does it.
4. His word is to be spoken by the man of God with authority because He is the Almighty.
5. He can restore the wayward soul. Wherever it crashes it is never so lost that He does not know the way back home.
6. He is able to display His power in the crash of thunder and lightning or the convicting quiet of the still small voice. His greatness is present whether viewed through the telescope or the microscope, whether measured by the minute or the century.
7. He is the God of Abraham and the God of the Resurrection. He alone is awesome!
Spurgeon said it so well: “There is no dynasty to follow His dynasty; no successor to take up the crown of our Melchizedek. My immortal spirit rejoices in the hope of rendering endless homage to the eternal King.
-Spurgeon’s Sermon Illustrations
VI. Abraham was God’s friend Because he believed God (Rm 4:2-3; Gal 3:6; Jms 2:23).
A. Of all the distinguishing characteristics in Abraham’s friendship with God, this one has to be the greatest. For all time and eternity, Abraham will be known as the man who was a friend of God. He had to believe the Lord for this testimony to be had of him. Without belief there would have been no imputation of righteousness. Without belief there would have been no way to please God or even come to Him for help (Heb 11:6). Without belief there is no way for a friendship to go anywhere.
B. He who would be a friend of God must choose to believe what He says about Salvation and everyday life and eternity and ....
CONCL: (1) If He is your God, He is your friend. Building for, calling on, sharing with, identifying with, knowing, and believing the Lord demonstrate friendship with Him.
(2) Moses was the great lawgiver, who received from God and gave to the Nation of Israel the Ten Commandments, and led them out of Egyptian slavery to the very threshold of the Promised Land.
Joshua, as a great general, guided more than one-half million men, women, and children across the Jordan in conquest of the land flowing with milk and honey.
David was not only a brilliant king, but also the sweet psalmist of Israel.
