CLOSE FRIENDSHIP (3)
(Message by Tanny Keng)
0. Introduction
a) For believers it is easy to think of ourselves as God's servants or his children. However, is that ALL God wants? Can we be a FRIEND, a very close friend, with our Father in heaven? This article will show that God wants FAR MORE from us than most people think.
b) The book of Revelation is almost always studied from a prophetic point of view. There are, however, statements within it that reveal God's character and his purpose for creating man. One such statement, spoken by Jesus, is in Revelation 3.
i) if any hear my voice and open the door, I will come into their house and eat with them, and they will eat with me. (Revelation 3:20)
c) Jesus is giving us a hint at the kind of special relationship he ultimately wants with each of us. He wants us to recognize his voice, open the door and invite him in. Once inside he is more than willing to sit down, enjoy a meal, and fellowship with us ONE TO ONE. How fantastic! Notice it does not say Jesus will come to our residence, pound on the door to demand we let him in, then when inside start commanding we do certain things - or else. Jesus comes to us in friendship with a desire to commune with his creation and to enjoy their presence. Our Savior also promised this intimate relationship with us while he was on the earth (John 14:22-23).
d) God and Jesus greatly want a close relationship with those who believe and love them. They wants to be our close personal friends! Those people throughout history who are friends of God are able to effectively interceded with him. The most striking of one of God's closes friends is Abraham.
i) "And the LORD said, 'Shall I hide from Abraham the thing which I do (visit Sodom and Gomorrah to see how great is their sin) . . . For I KNOW HIM, that he will command his children and his house after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment'" (Genesis 18:17, 19)
e) The fact that we humans like and greatly enjoy friendships is evidence that God wants the same thing.
1. A friend in time of trial and trouble
a) The book of Proverbs tells us what it means to be a friend regardless of the situation.
i) Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart; so does the sweetness of one’s friend by advice from the heart. (Proverbs 27:9-10)
ii) A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. (17:17)
iii) A man who has friends must show himself friendly, and there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. (18:24)
b) One of the most well-known friendships in all the Bible - King David and Jonathan - was a friendship that endured in spite of the trouble that came their way. They were truly friends who stuck closer together than brothers. Their relationship was such that the Bible states the following.
i) "And it came to pass when he had finished speaking to Saul (his father, who hated David and wanted him dead), the soul of Jonathan was joined with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as he did his own soul." (1Samuel 18:1)
c) Upon learning of Jonathan's tragic death in the battle of Gilboa, David was inspired to write a touching song dedicated to his friend (2 Samuel 1).
d) You and I have a friend in God. In time of need He is always there. He senses when things are wrong. He knows when trouble is near.
i) "'Am I a God Who is near,' says the LORD, 'and not a God afar off? Can anyone hide himself in secret places so that I shall not see him?' says the LORD. 'Do I not fill the heavens and earth?' says the LORD." (Jeremiah 23:23-24).
The End ...
0. Introductiona) For believers it is easy to think of ourselves as God's servants or his children. However, is that ALL God wants? Can we be a FRIEND, a very close friend, with our Father in heaven? This article will show that God wants FAR MORE from us than most people think.
b) The book of Revelation is almost always studied from a prophetic point of view. There are, however, statements within it that reveal God's character and his purpose for creating man. One such statement, spoken by Jesus, is in Revelation 3.
i) if any hear my voice and open the door, I will come into their house and eat with them, and they will eat with me. (Revelation 3:20)
c) Jesus is giving us a hint at the kind of special relationship he ultimately wants with each of us. He wants us to recognize his voice, open the door and invite him in. Once inside he is more than willing to sit down, enjoy a meal, and fellowship with us ONE TO ONE. How fantastic! Notice it does not say Jesus will come to our residence, pound on the door to demand we let him in, then when inside start commanding we do certain things - or else. Jesus comes to us in friendship with a desire to commune with his creation and to enjoy their presence. Our Savior also promised this intimate relationship with us while he was on the earth (John 14:22-23).
d) God and Jesus greatly want a close relationship with those who believe and love them. They wants to be our close personal friends! Those people throughout history who are friends of God are able to effectively interceded with him. The most striking of one of God's closes friends is Abraham.
i) "And the LORD said, 'Shall I hide from Abraham the thing which I do (visit Sodom and Gomorrah to see how great is their sin) . . . For I KNOW HIM, that he will command his children and his house after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment'" (Genesis 18:17, 19)
e) The fact that we humans like and greatly enjoy friendships is evidence that God wants the same thing.
1. A friend in time of trial and trouble
a) The book of Proverbs tells us what it means to be a friend regardless of the situation.
i) Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart; so does the sweetness of one’s friend by advice from the heart. (Proverbs 27:9-10)
ii) A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. (17:17)
iii) A man who has friends must show himself friendly, and there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. (18:24)
b) One of the most well-known friendships in all the Bible - King David and Jonathan - was a friendship that endured in spite of the trouble that came their way. They were truly friends who stuck closer together than brothers. Their relationship was such that the Bible states the following.
i) "And it came to pass when he had finished speaking to Saul (his father, who hated David and wanted him dead), the soul of Jonathan was joined with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as he did his own soul." (1Samuel 18:1)
c) Upon learning of Jonathan's tragic death in the battle of Gilboa, David was inspired to write a touching song dedicated to his friend (2 Samuel 1).
d) You and I have a friend in God. In time of need He is always there. He senses when things are wrong. He knows when trouble is near.
i) "'Am I a God Who is near,' says the LORD, 'and not a God afar off? Can anyone hide himself in secret places so that I shall not see him?' says the LORD. 'Do I not fill the heavens and earth?' says the LORD." (Jeremiah 23:23-24).
Comments
Post a Comment