God
Is A Friend (1)
God’s
Greatest Desire Is for You to Be His Friend
Jim
Davis
Quality friendships are hard to come by. Someone
said, "With money you can buy all the friends you want, but they are never
worth the price." Another said, "Having money and friends is easy. Having
friends and no money is an accomplishment." A true friend will strengthen
you with prayers, bless you with love, and encourage you hope.
When the average person becomes thoroughly
acquainted with self, it is not difficult to understand why he/she has
so few friends. A true friend is someone who knows all you faults and remains
your friend. You will never have a friend if you must have one without
a fault.
We may want us to ask ourselves, "What are
some necessary ingredients for a relationship with God?
God is a real friend that will tell you your
faults and follies, and assist you with his hand and heart in times of
adversity.
God
Has Already Befriended You
God
chose us for a relationship.
John 15:15-17
I have called you friends, for
everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You
did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and
bear fruit-fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever
you ask in my name. 17 This is my command: Love each other. NIV
Why is it significant
that Jesus said, "I chose you?"
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Jesus took the initiative to initiate the relationship.
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You don’t have to wonder if God wants a relationship
with you since he took the initiative. God seeks to draw every person to
him.
John 6:43-46
43 "Stop grumbling among yourselves,"
Jesus answered. 44 "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me
draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day. 45 It is written in
the Prophets: 'They will all be taught by God.' Everyone who listens to
the Father and learns from him comes to me. NIV
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God also demonstrated the value of his friendship
through the gift of Christ.
God chose
to have a relationship with us before we were born.
Ephesians 1:3-6
Praise be to the God and Father
of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with
every spiritual blessing in Christ. 4 For he chose us in him before the
creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5
he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance
with his pleasure and will- 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which
he has freely given us in the One he loves. NIV
This promise is not for a chosen few. God
chose to save the world through Jesus Christ. He planned a place of refuge
for sinners, that place of refuge is in Christ (Galatians 3:27).
What is the significance
of God choosing us before creation?
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It gives life an eternal dimension.
2 Cor 4:16-18
16 Therefore we do not lose
heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being
renewed day by day. 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving
for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 So we fix our eyes
not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary,
but what is unseen is eternal. NIV
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Seeing life’s eternal dimension gives us a proper
perspective.
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God’s eternal purpose means that God has a rock
solid plan for our lives. We are designed to be God’s new creation, since
the old creation was corrupted by sin.
Ephesians 2:8-10
8 For it is by grace you have
been saved, through faith-and this not from yourselves, it is the gift
of God- 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God's
workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared
in advance for us to do. NIV
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God’s eternal plan assures us that we can find
fulfillment in living by that plan.
How do we
allow God to sanctify our relationship with him?
2 Thessalonians 2:13-14
13 But we ought always to thank
God for you, brothers loved by the Lord, because from the beginning God
chose you to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through
belief in the truth. 14 He called you to this through our gospel,
that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. NIV
God
is a friend that will never leave you.
Hebrews 13:5-6
5 Keep your lives free from
the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said,
"Never will I leave you;
never will I forsake you."
6 So we say with confidence,
"The Lord is my helper; I will
not be afraid.
What can man do to me?" NIV
What is the significance
of God never leaving you?
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God’s plan is irrevocable; he cannot renege
on his promises.
Romans 11:28-30
28 As far as the gospel is
concerned, they are enemies on your account; but as far as election is
concerned, they are loved on account of the patriarchs, 29 for God's gifts
and his call are irrevocable. NIV
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This means that God is a true friend in
good times and bad.
Isaiah 41:10
10 So do not fear, for I am
with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am
your God.
I will strengthen you and help
you;
I will uphold you with my righteous
right hand. NIV
Isaiah 43:1-3
But now, this is what the LORD
says--
he who created you, O Jacob,
he who formed you, O Israel:
"Fear not, for I have redeemed
you;
I have summoned you by name;
you are mine.
2 When you pass through the
waters,
I will be with you;
and when you pass through the
rivers,
they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
you will not be burned;
the flames will not set you
ablaze.
3 For I am the LORD, your God,
the Holy One of Israel, your
Savior;
I give Egypt for your ransom,
Cush and Seba in your stead.
NIV
Philippians 4:12-13
12 I know what it is to be
in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret
of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry,
whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do everything through him
who gives me strength. NIV
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God is just as committed to his eternal
plan to save us after a life of sin as he was before we sinned.
God’s choosing means that he chose to save you from every sin you would
ever commit before he created the world.
Proof
of God’s Friendship Is the Gift of Christ
What is the significance
of God choosing to befriend his enemies through the gift of his Son? What
are your desires for your enemies?
John 15:13
13 Greater love has no one
than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. NIV
Romans 8:32
32 He who did not spare his
own Son, but gave him up for us all-how will he not also, along with him,
graciously give us all things?
NIV
What is the significance
of God giving Christ as a gift to his enemies?
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It reveals that no matter how terrible
we sin God seeks to maintain his relationship through the righteousness
of Christ.
Romans 5:20-21
20 The law was added so that
the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all
the more, 21 so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might
reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ
our Lord. NIV
1 Timothy 1:16-17
16 But for that very reason
I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might
display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe
on him and receive eternal life. NIV
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It reveals the richness of God’s grace.
Ephesins 1:7-8
7 In him we have redemption
through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the
riches of God's grace 8 that he lavished on us with all wisdom
and understanding. NIV
Ephesians 2:7
7 in order that in the coming
ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace,
expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. NIV
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It motivates God’s enemies to make peace
with God through Jesus Christ.
2 Corinthians 5:14-15
14 For Christ's love compels
us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died.
15 And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves
but for him who died for them and was raised again. NIV
God
is a friend that takes the initiative to direct us to him.
John 17:16-18
16 They are not of the world,
even as I am not of it. 17 Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.
NIV
2 Timothy 3:16-17
16 All Scripture is God-breathed
and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,
17 so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
NIV
God
has given us his life giving Spirit to insure our relationship with him
as we seek to obey his word.
John 14:15-18
16 And I will ask the Father,
and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever- 17 the Spirit
of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor
knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.
18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. NIV
John 6:63
63 The Spirit gives life; the
flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and
they are life. NIV
Romans 8:14-17
15 For you did not receive
a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit
of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father." 16 The Spirit himself testifies
with our spirit that we are God's children. 17 Now if we are children,
then we are heirs-heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share
in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. NIV
Romans 8:26-27
26 In the same way, the Spirit
helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but
the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.
27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because
the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will. NIV
What is the significance
of the Holy Spirit interceding for us in prayer to God?
Conclusion:
How would you like to have God as your friend?
God
desires to enter into a relationship with you.
Revelation 3:20
20 Here I am! I stand at the
door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come
in and eat with him, and he with me. NIV
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