God’s Greatest Desire Is for You to Be His Friend

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?”

•	Jesus took the initiative to initiate the relationship.
•	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

•	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? 

•	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

•	Seeing life’s eternal dimension gives us a proper perspective.
•	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

•	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?

•	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

•	This means that God is a true friend in good times and bad.

Isa 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

Isa 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

Phil 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

•	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

Rom 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?

•	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

•	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

•	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

Rom 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