Her belief in the promise would affect the coming of the Seed and, therefore, generations after her. This was the name God gave Sarai not too long ago. James 2:23 - And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. This is true for us as well. Ephesians 1:11 says that he works all things according to the purpose of his will. In 2 Corinthians 9:8, Paul says this about the cheerful giver: “And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.” God promises that through his grace the cheerful giver will never lack (having all that you need), and also that he will abound in every good work. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. As we live in prayer, the Word, fellowship, and service, the fruit of love will naturally grow in us, and we will find apathy slowly, if not quickly, drifting away, as we walk in submission to the Spirit. No doubt, this title refers to Abraham’s whole life, but it seems to have particular reference to this chapter. Crossway is a not-for-profit Christian ministry that exists solely for In other words, God will be deciding who your true friends are going to be in this life and who will not. Why were Abraham, David, and Daniel friends of Jehovah? Despite our sinful condition, Jesus desires a relationship with us. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. The phrase “friend of … (Amos 7:1–6). In the summer, I will attend a mission trip to experience and serve God.”, We must plan to develop intimacy with God. It seems like these three men appear out of nowhere. Jesus talked to his disciples about how God provides clothing for the lilies of the field and food for the birds of the air (Matt 6). I could say that it is because I moved halfway across the country a few years ago and since, I work from home, I don’t get out much to meet new people. It’s the same with the Lord. Abraham had known God for over twenty years; he knew God’s beauty and his characteristics. It’s easy to forget that every good and perfect gift comes from above (James 1:17). God had a deep friendship with Abraham, which afforded him many great privileges. God had appeared to Abraham before, and therefore, he had a greater familiarity with God’s presence and how he appeared. We cannot be the friend of God and the friend of the world at the same time. Abraham will surely become a great and powerful nation, and all nations on earth will be blessed through him. When verse 19 says, “I have chosen him,” it can literally be translated, “For I know him,” as in the KJV. It is not possible to be intimate with the Lord and not feel the pain He feels over people dying without the revelation of Jesus Christ in their lives. (Romans 12:11 ), Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Sarah denied laughing and God rebuked her, “Yes, you did laugh.” The implication from Sarah’s unbelief is that Abraham, at this point, has failed to convince her of God’s promise.4 In Genesis 17, God promises Abraham that the seed would come through Sarah; however, Sarah did not yet believe. Are you a friend of God? (Luke 16:9–11), He tells us to use our money to make friends in heaven. Traveling long distances could be dangerous, and therefore people relied on hospitability. “Where is your wife Sarah?” they asked him. He had just met these gentlemen. God had heard the “outcry” caused by their great sins. Friendship—true friendship—requires intentionality and even skill. We must intercede to be filled with the knowledge of God’s will and for God to reveal it to others. He is just like me!” John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son…” Abraham was generous just like God is, and this brought great intimacy with God. How Radically Ordinary Hospitality Changed Rosaria Butterfield’s Life. We have seen this with Abraham before. It’s always an honor to be friends with someone important, such as a president. Listen to what God says about Abraham in Genesis 18:17–19: Then the LORD said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do? His hand is everywhere, sustaining and guiding all things, and unless we recognize this, we will not continually worship. For starters, the God of the Bible is all about friendship. Why are they this way? A servant will bring the food to the table, but a friend eats it with you. We get a picture of this in the extreme respect Abraham gives to God. OBJECTIVES: Each hearer should be able to understand what it takes to be a friend of God. This is true of our friendships as well. How can we grow in intimacy and friendship with God, as seen in God’s relationship with Abraham? 5 Hughes, R. K. (2004). My wife and I have to plan dates. If you are really a friend of Jesus, then you will obey Him. Some might declare, “There is nothing that we can do to be more intimate with God!” However, this would be illogical even from a practical stand point. Application Question: How can we grow in zeal, as we serve the Lord? Application Question: When were you most zealous in your service of the Lord? What burdens has God put on your heart? We should constantly be praying about and setting goals to give more. God reveals his covenant to his friends. What does this mean? God listens – “In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation” – Psalm 5:3. He wrote almost half of the New Testament, traveled on many great missionary journeys to reach Gentiles, and suffered a great deal for Christ. Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books. 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