Faith man called friend by God: Abraham. He heard and was heard by God. He saw the unseen City of God (the New Jerusalem). He was a spiritual man. He knew the reality of God and what God had promised. He never doubted God. How else would he have done what he did, even willing to give up his only son (after waiting 100 years for his birth)? God called him “My friend”!
Prophet with spectacular supernatural power that shook a nation: Elijah. He conversed with God and knew with full confidence beforehand the three years’ drought, and thereafter the arrival of rain, called down fire from heaven to destroy soldiers from an evil king, built altar for God and expected fire from heaven to accept his offering, multiplied food, raised the dead, and his prayers were answered. He was one man against the whole nation of Israel (king, priests and people), singlehandedly executing 450 Baal’s prophets. At the end of his ministry, God sent chariot of fire to chauffeur him home to heaven!
Wiseman with many gifts with prayers that shook the second heaven: Daniel. He lived his whole life (holding high official positions in the courts of three powerful foreign kings) with great competence and supernatural wisdom. He lived for God’s glory. He feared God more than men. He received messages from God. He saw vision. He interpreted dream (even knowing what a king had dreamed), read unknown supernatural writings on wall and interpreted them, saw the spiritual world and conversed with spiritual beings (including high ranking angels like Gabriel), and even the Lord Himself. He watched, prayed interceded and sought God’s presence three times a day. He fasted before God. His words were heard by God and his prayers were answered instantly. His prayers were spiritually powerful enough to warrant high ranking wicked rulers and principalities (evil princes/ territorial spirits of the air – Prince of Persia and Prince of Greece) in second heaven to come out to interrupt, trying to prevent them coming to pass! Daniel was the ‘beloved’ in God’s eyes.
Some relevant Bible verses to note:
2 Chronicles 20:7 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? Isaiah 41:8 “ But you, Israel, are My servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, The descendants of Abraham My friend.
Hebrews 11:8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. 11:10 for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God. 12:22-24 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, 23 to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, 24 to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel.
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Daniel 5:11-12 (NKJV) 11 There is a man in your kingdom in whom is the Spirit of the Holy God. And in the days of your father, light and understanding and wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods, were found in him; and King Nebuchadnezzar your father—your father the king—made him chief of the magicians, astrologers, Chaldeans, and soothsayers. 12 Inasmuch as an excellent spirit, knowledge, understanding, interpreting dreams, solving riddles, and explaining enigmaswere found in this Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar, now let Daniel be called, and he will give the interpretation.”
Daniel 10:19 And he said, “O man greatly beloved, fear not! Peace be to you; be strong, yes, be strong!” So when he spoke to me I was strengthened, and said, “Let my lord speak, for you have strengthened me.”
Daniel 12:3 Those who are wise shall shine
Like the brightness of the firmament,
And those who turn many to righteousness
Like the stars forever and ever.
Daniel 12:13 “But you, go your way till the end; for you shall rest, and will arise to your inheritance at the end of the days.”
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1 Kings 17:1 [ Elijah Proclaims a Drought ] And Elijah the Tishbite, of the inhabitants of Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the LORD God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, except at my word.”
1 Kings 17:8 [ Elijah and the Widow ] Then the word of the LORD came to him, saying, 17:13 And Elijah said to her, “Do not fear; go and do as you have said, but make me a small cake from it first, and bring it to me; and afterward make some for yourself and your son. 17:15 So she went away and did according to the word of Elijah; and she and he and her household ate for many days. 17:16 The bin of flour was not used up, nor did the jar of oil run dry, according to the word of the LORD which He spoke by Elijah.
1 Kings 17:22 Then the LORD heard the voice of Elijah; and the soul of the child came back to him, and he revived. 17:24 Then the woman said to Elijah, “Now by this I know that you are a man of God, and that the word of the LORD in your mouth is the truth.”
1 Kings 18:1 [ Elijah’s Message to Ahab ] And it came to pass after many days that the word of the LORD came to Elijah, in the third year, saying, “Go, present yourself to Ahab, and I will send rain on the earth.” 18:21 And Elijah came to all the people, and said, “How long will you falter between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.” But the people answered him not a word. 18:22 Then Elijah said to the people, “I alone am left a prophet of the LORD; but Baal’s prophets are four hundred and fifty men. 18:40 And Elijah said to them, “Seize the prophets of Baal! Do not let one of them escape!” So they seized them; and Elijah brought them down to the Brook Kishon and executed them there.
2 Kings 1:12 So Elijah answered and said to them, “If I am a man of God, let fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty men.” And the fire of God came down from heaven and consumed him and his fifty.
2 Kings 2:11 Then it happened, as they continued on and talked, that suddenly a chariot of fire appeared with horses of fire, and separated the two of them; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.
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