Bible Message/Preaching : Friends of God
23"But the hour is coming, and now is, when the TRUE worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.
(Jn 4:23)
23And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, "Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness." And he was called the friend of God. (Jas 2:23)
What does it comes to your mind when you hear the word "friend"?Can you mention some of the friendships in the Bible?
In the Garden of Eden, God was a friend for Adam. Gen 5:24 And Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him. Gen 6:9 This is the genealogy of Noah. Noah was a just man, perfect in his generations. Noah walked with God. Is 41:8 "But you, Israel, are My servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, The descendants of Abraham My friend.
What are the advantages of having a friend? - help, sharing (special things), fellowship/ companionship
Gen 18:17 And the LORD said, "Shall I hide from Abraham what I am doing,
Dan 2:19 Then the secret was revealed to Daniel in a night vision. So Daniel blessed the God of heaven.
7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, 8 which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9 But as it is written: "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him." 10 But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. (1 Cor 2:7-10)
Exo 33:11 So the LORD spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. And he would return to the camp, but his servant Joshua the son of Nun, a young man, did not depart from the tabernacle.
JOB 29:4 Just as I was in the days of my prime, When the friendly counsel of God was over my tent;
Jesus ... a friend of tax collectors and sinners!' (Lk 7:34)
We can approach Him & He'll not let us down -> come to me all of you who are heavy laden...
24 Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished; and he rose in haste and spoke, saying to his counselors, "Did we not cast three men bound into the midst of the fire?" They answered and said to the king, "True, O king." 25 "Look!" he answered, "I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God." 28 Nebuchadnezzar spoke, saying, "Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, who sent His Angel and delivered His servants who trusted in Him, and they have frustrated the king's word, and yielded their bodies, that they should not serve nor worship any god except their own God! (Dan 3:24-25,28)
13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 14 For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. 15 And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them. (Heb 11:13-16)
How do we develop a friendship?
Desire, time & energy in developing any relationship.
Essential elements in our relation with God
Constant conversation - we should communicate with the one we love
1 The 5:17 pray without ceasing,
Continual meditation - we can't love someone whom we don't know
19 So Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground. 20 And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba knew that Samuel had been established as a prophet of the LORD. 21 Then the LORD appeared again in Shiloh. For the LORD revealed Himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the LORD (1 Sam 3:19 - 21)
Ps 119:97 Oh, how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day.
Choose to be honest with God - even our -ve emotions/disappointments!
6 But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: "God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble." 7 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. (Jas 4:6-8)
Job 42:7 And so it was, after the LORD had spoken these words to Job, that the LORD said to Eliphaz the Temanite, "My wrath is aroused against you and your two friends, for you have not spoken of Me what is right, as My servant Job has.
7 O LORD, You induced me, and I was persuaded; You are stronger than I, and have prevailed. I am in derision daily; Everyone mocks me. 8 For when I spoke, I cried out; I shouted, "Violence and plunder!" Because the word of the LORD was made to me A reproach and a derision daily. 9 Then I said, "I will not make mention of Him, Nor speak anymore in His name." But His word was in my heart like a burning fire Shut up in my bones; I was weary of holding it back, And I could not. (Jer 20:7-9)
Choose to obey God in faith - what ever it may cost
15:11 "These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. 12 "This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 "Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends. 14 "You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. 15 "No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you. (Jn 15:13-15)
1 Sam 15:22 Then Samuel said: "Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, As in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed than the fat of rams.
Lk 2:51 Then He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was subject to them, but His mother kept all these things in her heart.
2:52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.
Value those that God values
Ps 69:9 Because zeal for Your house has eaten me up, And the reproaches of those who reproach You have fallen on me.
Jesus overturned the money-changers and those who bought & sold in the temple (Mt 21:17-13, Mk 11:15-17, Lk 19:45-46)
2 Cor 11:2 For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. 3 But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
20 O Timothy! Guard what was committed to your trust, avoiding the profane and idle babblings and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge; 21 by professing it some have strayed concerning the faith. (1 Tim 6:20 - 21)
Desire God's friendship than anything else
1 O God, You are my God; Early will I seek You; My soul thirsts for You; My flesh longs for You In a dry and thirsty land Where there is no water. 2 So I have looked for You in the sanctuary, To see Your power and Your glory. 3 Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, My lips shall praise You. 4 Thus I will bless You while I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name. (Ps 63:1 - 4)
11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. 12 Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. 13 And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. (Jer 29:11-13)
(to be continued...)
Delivered 28 Aug 2011
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