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Faith 2.0 - Friendship with God
Key Thought: A healthy fear of the Lord is an attitude and posture of honor, respect, awe and submission.
Acts 2:42-43 And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles.
Acts 9:31 So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied.
The Fear of the Lord in the Early Church and Church Today:
- God’s Word: Apostles Teaching - Authority of the Word of God
- God’s House: Fellowship - The Ekklesia Gathering
- God’s Family: Breaking Bread - Community and Belonging
- God’s Heart: Prayer - God is here. God is able. God is good.
Psalm 25:14 (ESV) The friendship of the Lord is for those who fear him, and he makes known to them his covenant.
(The Living Bible) Friendship with God is reserved for those who reverence him. With them alone he shares the secrets of his promises.
Key Thought: You and I can be friends with God!
Proverbs on Friendship:
- Proverbs 17:17 A friend loves at all times, And a brother is born for adversity.
- Proverbs 18:24 A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticks closer than a brother.
- Proverbs 22:11 One who loves a pure heart and who speaks with grace will have the king for a friend.
- Proverbs 27:17 Iron sharpens iron; so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.
Some of the Friend Company:
ABRAHAM
James 2:23 and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “ And Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called a friend of God.
MOSES
Exodus 33:11 So the Lord used to speak to Moses face to face, just as a man speaks to his friend. When Moses returned to the camp, his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, would not depart from the tent.
THE DISCIPLES
John 15:13-15 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.
Key Thought: Acceptance from God is freely given; Friendship with God has a condition.
Matthew 25:21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’
Mark 10:45 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Luke 22:27 For who is the greater, one who reclines at table or one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at table? But I am among you as the one who serves.
Key Thought: Aspire to be a servant before presuming to be a friend.
3 Proven Pathways to Friendship with God:
- Time
- Obedience
- Service
James 4:4 You have become spiritual adulterers who are having an affair, an unholy relationship with the world. Don’t you know that flirting with the world’s values places you at odds with God? Whoever chooses to be the world’s friend makes himself God’s enemy!
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