FORMED TO BE FRIENDS OF GOD (4 OF 8)
by Jeff Strite
Scripture: John 15:9-16
This content is part of a series.
Formed To Be Friends Of God (4 of 8)
Series: Purpose Driven Life
Jeff Strite
John 15:9-16
OPEN: Friendship is an elusive commodity. I have sought quotes and illustrations on this topic and found only a few observations I found to be enlightening... but the few that I did find were enlightening:
One Native American Indian Tribe described a friend as: "someone who carries my sorrows on his back."
Someone else has observed: A real friend is one who walks in when the rest of the world walks out
One little boy gave this definition: "A person who knows us - and still likes us."
But my favorite definition of friendship is one given by famous philosopher - Winnie the Pooh:
If you live to be a hundred,
I want to live to be a hundred minus one day,
so I never have to live without you.
APPLY: Friendship.
True friends are as precious as jewels because they are the ones that stay close beside you, when you need them the most.
Jesus said - that when you and I became Christians... we became His friends. And that got me to thinking... What exactly is a friend of God? What do friends of God do? What do you DO as a friend of God?
I. Then I remembered some other friends of God...
Exodus 33:11 tells us that when Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt, "The LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks with his friend..."
God spent time with His friends and He talked with them - people like Moses and Abraham and others. And that's what He did with Adam and Eve. Before they sinned, God walked in the Garden with them - and He talked with them
And I believe that's part of the reasoning behind one of the great songs of our faith. Sing it with me:
"And He walks with me, and He talks with. And He tells me I am His own. And the joy we share, as we tarry there none other has ever known."
Remember that? It's a beautiful song. And it tells of one of the greatest privileges we have God's friends:
- The privilege to talk with God and know that H ...
Series: Purpose Driven Life
Jeff Strite
John 15:9-16
OPEN: Friendship is an elusive commodity. I have sought quotes and illustrations on this topic and found only a few observations I found to be enlightening... but the few that I did find were enlightening:
One Native American Indian Tribe described a friend as: "someone who carries my sorrows on his back."
Someone else has observed: A real friend is one who walks in when the rest of the world walks out
One little boy gave this definition: "A person who knows us - and still likes us."
But my favorite definition of friendship is one given by famous philosopher - Winnie the Pooh:
If you live to be a hundred,
I want to live to be a hundred minus one day,
so I never have to live without you.
APPLY: Friendship.
True friends are as precious as jewels because they are the ones that stay close beside you, when you need them the most.
Jesus said - that when you and I became Christians... we became His friends. And that got me to thinking... What exactly is a friend of God? What do friends of God do? What do you DO as a friend of God?
I. Then I remembered some other friends of God...
Exodus 33:11 tells us that when Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt, "The LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks with his friend..."
God spent time with His friends and He talked with them - people like Moses and Abraham and others. And that's what He did with Adam and Eve. Before they sinned, God walked in the Garden with them - and He talked with them
And I believe that's part of the reasoning behind one of the great songs of our faith. Sing it with me:
"And He walks with me, and He talks with. And He tells me I am His own. And the joy we share, as we tarry there none other has ever known."
Remember that? It's a beautiful song. And it tells of one of the greatest privileges we have God's friends:
- The privilege to talk with God and know that H ...
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