Site hosted by Angelfire.com: Build your free website today!

Being God's Friend

James 2:20-26 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? 22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? 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. 24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. 25 Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? 26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

A concept not usually reflected upon is that God is a person. Man was made in God’s image and carries some of God’s personality traits, desires, and needs. One of these needs and desires is needs of fellowship. God said it is not good for man to be alone. God also desires to have companionship.

In fact, God created man with a purpose. That purpose was fellowship. God created man to fellowship and be with man. Because of sin, however, the fellowship was broken. That is one of the reasons why Christ came from Heaven and died for us. Jesus came to restore that fellowship between God and man. Because of the shed blood of Jesus, we can have fellowship with God!

Abraham was God’s Friend – James 2:20-26

One of the most amazing thoughts is how close of a relationship the Old Testament saints had with God. Think about Adam who walked with God in the cool of the evening with God. Enoch walked with God. Moses spoke to God face to face like as to a man.

Then there was Abraham. Abraham had such a close walk with God that Himself gave testimony several times that Abraham was God’s friend! What a testimony! Abraham had a special privilege to speak with God, to share his heart and allow God to share God’s heart back to Abraham.

What is Required to be Friends with God

If someone honestly desires to be friends with God, what is required? What makes a friendship? How does friendship work?

The first requirement is to show yourself friendly. Proverbs 18:24 A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother. This verse is sometimes tossed about a lot to encourage people to initiate contact with other people. Notice the last part of the verse. It says there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother? Who is this talking about? Jesus. Now apply the first part of the verse to the last. There is a friend we can have by the name of Jesus. If we want to be friends with Him, we must show ourselves friendly.

What does this mean? If you are going to be friends with someone it requires a major main ingredient: time. To truly develop and cultivate a friendship time must be spent with that person. If we are going to be friends with Jesus, we must spent time with Him. How do we spend time with Jesus? Time is spent with God through prayer and Bible reading. When we pray, we speak to God. When we read our Bible, He speaks to us. If we want to be friends with God we must spent time with Him.

A second requirement needed to develop a friendship is trust. Look at the passage in Genesis 18:17-19: And the LORD said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do; 18 Seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him? 19 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 hath spoken of him.

What a great testimony from God! God knew how Abraham was going to run his house and God knew He could trust Abraham. God knew that He could tell Abraham something and Abraham would obey. God knew if God shared His heart with Abraham, Abraham would make it His heart. Imagine that God felt so comfortable with Abraham that God could share His heart with Abraham. Have you ever considered what was on God’s heart? Have you ever asked Him and talked with Him about it?

God is Looking for a Friend to Trust Today

Ezekiel 22:30 And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none.

One of the saddest verse is the entire Bible is the one found in Ezekiel 22:30. In this day God searched and desired to find a man among the people that He could trust. A man who was willing to stand before God and plead and beg and pray for the people and turn around and deliver God’s message to the people and help them understand and obey. In that day God found not a single man whom He could trust to be faithful at it. What must God think about the Christians of today!? God today is still looking for a man or women that He can trust. God desires fellowship with man. He desires to spend time with man. God is seeking to find a man whom He could trust. Will you be that person? Would you spend real time with God developing a relationship? Not just fifteen minutes to read a chapter and pray for your day, but real time? Can God trust you to be obedient to the clear commands of the Bible? Can He trust you to plead for the people and the land for God to send revival? Can God trust you?