Abraham – A Friend of God Speaker: Pastor Tan Choon Seng

4 Main Events (Genesis 1 – 11) The Creation The Fall The Flood The Tower of Babel

4 Main Characters (Genesis 12 – 50) Abraham Isaac Jacob Joseph

Abraham A Friend of God

Importance of Friends / Friendship

Abraham A Friend of God

1) Abraham’s Faith in God He was even called the friend of God. …the Scriptures say:, “Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.” He was even called the friend of God. (James 2:23 NLT)

1) Abraham’s Faith in God 8 By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.  (Hebrews 11:8)

1) Abraham’s Faith in God 9 By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. (Hebrews 11:9)

Prayer of Jehoshaphat O LORD, God of our ancestors, You alone are the God who is in heaven. You are ruler of all the kingdoms of the earth. You are powerful and mighty; no one can stand against You! ? (2 Chronicles 20:6)

Prayer of Jehoshaphat Are You not our God, who drove out the inhabitants of this land before Your people Israel, and gave it to the descendants of Abraham Your Friend forever? (2 Chronicles 20:7)

1) Abraham’s Faith in God But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. (Hebrews 11:6)

2) Abraham’s Love for God 21 Don’t you remember that our ancestor Abraham was shown to be right with God by his actions when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see, his faith and his actions worked together. His actions made his faith complete. (James 2:21-22)

2) Abraham’s Love for God “your only son” (Genesis 22:2) “your only son” (Genesis 22:12) “your only son” (Genesis 22:16)

2) Abraham’s Love for God If you love Me, keep My commandments. (John 14:15)

3) Abraham’s Loyalty to God But you, Israel, are My servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the descendants of Abraham My Friend. (Isaiah 41:8)

3) Abraham’s Loyalty to God A Divine Visit (Genesis 18:1-8)

A Divine Visit

3) Abraham’s Loyalty to God And the LORD said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do (Genesis 18:17)

3) Abraham’s Loyalty to God For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which He has spoken of him. (Genesis 18:19)

3) Abraham’s Loyalty to God 4 You adulterers! Don’t you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? I say it again: If you want to be a friend of the world, you make yourself an enemy of God. (James 4:4)

3) Abraham’s Loyalty to God Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world. (James 4:8)

3) Abraham’s Loyalty to God No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon [money] (Matthew 6:24)

3) Abraham’s Loyalty to God 28 Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name?... 29 But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: “We ought to obey God rather than men. (Acts 5:28,29)

3) Abraham’s Loyalty to God And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve… But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD men. (Joshua 24:15)

3) Abraham’s Loyalty to God How can I be a Friend of God? Faith in God

3) Abraham’s Loyalty to God How can I be a Friend of God? Faith in God Love for God

3) Abraham’s Loyalty to God How can I be a Friend of God? Faith in God Love for God Loyalty / Allegiance to God

3) Abraham’s Loyalty to God You are My friends if you do what I commnd. (John 15:14)

Abraham A Friend of God

Abraham A Friend of God Are You?