Lesson 4: The Joy of Friendship:
By Pastor James
February 13, 2004
There are many wonderful songs of praise that we can enjoy at different times but now and then a particular one can just burn in our minds. There is a wonderful song that I recently heard and the chorus says, I am a friend of God, I am a friend of God, He calls me friend! As the choir was singing, I am a friend of God I began to search myself and ask, does God call me friend?
Now, how do you define friend? We all have an idea of the definition of the word friend but I am told that if I have just one true friend in life then I am blessed. In the book of John chapter 15 and verse 13 Jesus tells us, ‘Greater love hath no man then this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.’ The example of this was set later when Jesus did lay down His life so that all people
would have the opportunity to be, His friends. Verse 14 says, ‘Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.’ In verse 15 Jesus says, ‘Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what the lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.’ Notice the closing of verse 15 when Jesus said, ‘I have made all things known unto you. Here He sets the example of sharing information from God Himself to His "FRIENDS." This is what friends do, they communicate!
So if we are a friend of God and He calls us friend, then we must be walking, talking and sharing time with Him. Question is, how much of my time do I give to God? In Psalm 46 and verse 10 we read, Be still and know that I am GOD. (Be still and know.) (Be still,) and know that I am God. I find this most difficult to do, (be still.) Time does not allow me to be still. So when do we meditate on God? Jesus said, ‘Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.’ Matthew 11 verses 28 & 29.
A good time for me is when I am wakened at 3 to 4 am and just can't get back to sleep. Rather than toss, turn and be discouraged it is a most wonderful time to just think about God. Just you and God at a quiet time. Our spirit is willing but as we begin to recognize this quiet time with God and we will see that the flesh is weak. If you do not know how to pray then just let your thoughts become focused on God, meditate with God, spend time with God and just say, here I am Lord I reach out to you I do not know what to pray or how to pray. Help my unbelief and teach me how to grown in the faith. God will come and abide with you and desires to be your friend. Allow your heart, mind and soul to reach out to God and you will receive the peace and promises of God in your life. Jesus said, ‘I will not leave you comfortless.’
Oh that I had wings like a dove! For then would I fly away, and be at rest. Psalms 55 & 6. Allow you mind and soul to mount upon wings as a dove and fly away from this world of cares and trouble and rest in the tree of Life. In the arms of God alone you will find rest. God has been referred to as, the Ancient of Days, before we were He was, is now and will continue to be.
It is my prayer that you will allow God to come to you and become the very center of your life. Do find time in your life for meditation on God, reach out to Him. It is important that we know who God is but it is more important the God knows who we are and that He calls us friend.
Let us close with a reading from Isaiah 55 & 12, For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.
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Please feel free to contact me if I may be of any assistance to you. address: Pastor James 9109 Curtis Rd. Strawberry Plains, TN. 37871 At your service, for Christ-Pastor James |
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