Prayer Point for Intimacy to Be Called the Friend of God like Abraham? Prayer Point for Faith That Is Imputed For Righteousness? Prayer Point for Access to Divine Secrets and Plans?

Advertisements

Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends

God’s Best Friends

OPENING PRAYER: Father, please draw me closer to You, make me Your special friend, like Abraham.

MEMORY VERSE: 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. – James 2:23 (KJV)

BIBLE TEXT: Genesis 18:17-33 (KJV)

17 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.

20 And the Lord said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous;

21 I will go down now, and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come unto me; and if not, I will know.

22 And the men turned their faces from thence, and went toward Sodom: but Abraham stood yet before the Lord.

23 And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked?

24 Peradventure there be fifty righteous within the city: wilt thou also destroy and not spare the place for the fifty righteous that are therein?

25 That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?

26 And the Lord said, If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sakes.

27 And Abraham answered and said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord, which am but dust and ashes:

28 Peradventure there shall lack five of the fifty righteous: wilt thou destroy all the city for lack of five? And he said, If I find there forty and five, I will not destroy it.

29 And he spake unto him yet again, and said, Peradventure there shall be forty found there. And he said, I will not do it for forty’s sake.

30 And he said unto him, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak: Peradventure there shall thirty be found there. And he said, I will not do it, if I find thirty there.

31 And he said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord: Peradventure there shall be twenty found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for twenty’s sake.

32 And he said, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak yet but this once: Peradventure ten shall be found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for ten’s sake.

33 And the Lord went his way, as soon as he had left communing with Abraham: and Abraham returned unto his place.

LESSON INTRODUCTION: It may surprise you to know that God has best friends. They are so close to Him that they know things about Him that no one else knows. They are people with experiential knowledge of God that most people do not have. They do not talk deeply on how much they know God so that people will not misunderstand them.

LESSON AIM: To help members have knowledge of being God’s best friend.

TEACHING OBJECTIVES: At the end of the lesson, members should be able to:

Know their attributes as God’s best friends.

Know their exploits as God’s best friends.

TEXT REVIEW: Genesis 18:17-33

a. God does not hide from His close friends.

b. They have a mandate to become great and mighty in their chosen careers and assignments.

c. God’s best friends have a positive impact on their family members.

d. God even seeks for their input before deciding on issues.

LESSON OUTLINE ONE: KNOW THEIR ATTRIBUTES – GOD’S BEST FRIENDS

Abraham was one of God’s best friends; he was so close to God that God said He could not do anything significant on earth without first informing him (Genesis 18:17). Moses was also one of God’s best friends; he was so close to God that God Himself testified in Numbers 12:8 that He spoke to Moses mouth to mouth. Their attributes are:

They always say ‘yes’ to the Lord’s command.

They had a close relationship with God and saw other sides of God that others never saw.

They heard things from God that they never told others and made God change His mind. Genesis 18:24-32.

They are people of faith, Hebrews 11:5, 6, Romans 4:18, 19.

They prioritize prayers over complaints; they always stand for others in deep intercession. 1 Corinthians 3:5-9.

God’s best friends are pruned by God till they are genuinely humble. John 15:2.

Nobody can get close to God without going through intense discipline.

LESSON OUTLINE TWO: KNOW THEIR EXPLOITS – GOD’S BEST FRIENDS

God’s best friends have long-standing exploits that are yet to be dethroned, such as:

Parting of the Red Sea and safe crossing by the Israelites. Exodus 14:21-22.

Bringing water out of the rock. Exodus 17:6.

Shutting the mouth of lions. Daniel 6:22.

Reading the handwriting on the wall and seeing deep prophetic secrets. Daniel 5:12, Daniel 9-12.

Multiplying oil for the widow, making an iron head to float. 2 Kings 4:1-7, 2 Kings 6:5-7.

Stopping rain from falling, calling down fire from heaven 1 Kings 17:1, 1 Kings 18:36-38

SUMMARY: Are you willing to be pruned by God so you can get closer to Him and produce more fruit as His best friend?

CONCLUSION: Every person who became God’s best friend walked in obedience, intimacy, purity and consistent fellowship. These led to exploits – things beyond human ability.

PRAYER POINTS

Father, reveal Your secrets to me and grant me insight into Your plans.

Father, remove every barrier between You and me and deepen my intimacy with You.

Lord, give me unwavering faith that pleases You and qualifies me as Your friend.

Father, help me to walk with You daily, never to drift from Your counsel.

Father, arise and defend me as Your friend against all opposition.

HOUSE FELLOWSHIP ANTHEM

1 I love this family Of God,

So closely knitted into one,