How To Deepen Your Friendship With God

James 2:23

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.

1. Abraham had his priorities in the right position.

Genesis 13:8-11

8 And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we[ be] brethren. 9[ Is] not the whole land before thee? separate thyself, I pray thee, from me: if[ thou wilt take] the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if[ thou depart] to the right hand, then I will go to the left. 10 And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it[ was] well watered every where, before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah,[ even] as the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar. 11 Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot journeyed east: and they separated themselves the one from the other.

2. Abraham and God knew how to talk to each other and they talked to each other all the time.

Genesis 18:22-23

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?

3. God found in Abraham the quality of faithful obedience.

Genesis 12:1

1 Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee:

Genesis 12:4

4 So Abram departed, as the Lord had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him: and Abram[ was] seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran.

10 irrational ideas we must give up if we want to be the Christians that God would have us to be.

Irrational- something that is senseless or illogical.

1.Dire necessity, loved, approved, everyone, everything.

2.Competent, Adequate, Achieving

Alternative 2- seek progress through pressing on. 1 Corinthians 10:31

3.Bad, Wicked, Villainous

Alternative 2- Reject the evil ideas but accept people

4.Terrible, horrible, catastrophic

Romans 8:28

Alternative 2- Know that God is in control

Irrational idea= irrational thinking= irrational living

5. Reject the hypothesis that human happiness is externally caused and that you have little or no ability to control your sorrows or rid yourself of your negative feelings.

• alternatives:

•Realize that most of your misery is a result of your own irrational thinking (taking place internally)

• your joy should be Christ centered.

• Luke 10:20 Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.

6. Rid yourself of the idea that if something is or maybe dangerous or fearsome, you should be terribly occupied with and upset about it.

• 80% of the things we fear never happen.

• 15% are self-fulfilling prophecies.

• 5% imagine

• Alternatives

• think through real dangers, don't allow your imagination to take control.

• 1 John 4:18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. -Realize the love of God overpowers fear

7. stop trying to run away from many life difficulties and self-responsibilities

(Avoid short term hedonism)

• alternatives:

• determine necessary activities and then perform the activity no matter how hard it may seem.

•Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. Endure by the awareness that you can do all thing through Christ.

8. We must give up the idea that the past is all-important and that

because something once strongly affected your life it should do so

indefinately.

Alternative: Work daily on the renwing of your mind and stop living in

the past.

Romans 12:2

9. Give up the idea that if you have to wait, God has forgotten about

you.

-God may be saying no to the lesser to say yes to the greater.

Alternative: When waiting, seek the wisdom of God.

James 1:5

10. Give up the idea that Maximum human happiness can be achieved by

passively and uncommittedly enjoying yourself.

Alternative: Roll up your sleeves and get involved with others

Actively pursue the fulness of God.

2 Timothy 2:20-21