A Friend of God - Peace Church, Loyal OK

Jesus said, "Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."
John 14:27 NIV

Loyal, OK

Pastor Leon Seaton

A Friend of God

A friend is one that sticks closer than a brother, and one who is always there. But you also have to love yourself… take care of your responsibilities for yourself.

A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. Proverbs 18:24

My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.

Greater love has no one than this – that he lay down his life for his friends. You are My friends if you do what I command.

I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from My Father I have made known to you.

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.

This is my command: Love each other. John 15:12-17

Jesus was speaking to His disciples – the friends that He had been traveling with for three years of ministry. He said that they were His friends. We consider ourselves Children of God – and we are. We call ourselves God’s servants/slaves, and that we are. But think of it. God wants to be our friend. Jesus the Christ, Son of the Living God wants a friendship relationship with us.

Someone has noted that a friend is someone that knows all about you and likes you anyway. That’s Jesus!

Can anyone other than an apostle be Jesus’ friend? Certainly!

Moses was a giant of a man. He walked so closely with God that God confided in him. We read that God talked “face to face” with Moses as a man would talk with his friend. Exodus 33:11 states, “The LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks with his friend.”

Why was Moses so blessed? We all know that he got off to a rocky start because he wanted to do things his way. At age 40 he killed an Egyptian that was abusing an Israelite. When he realized that he had been seen, he headed for the back side of the desert where he stayed for 40 years. However, when God called him to lead Israel out of Egyptian bondage Moses became totally committed to knowing God – he wanted to know how God felt about things.

As I studied this section of scripture I began to wonder how God looks at things when I take time out to pray. Does God think, “There is my friend, Leon? Or does he think, “I see that beggar Leon coming again – he is always wanting something!”

When the Amalekites fought the Israelites, Moses held up his staff as the warriors battled the enemy. The staff represented prayer and trust in God. However, when Moses grew weary and lowered his arms, the battle went against the Israelites. Aaron and Hur sat Moses on a rock and held up his hands until the battle was won. (Exodus 17:8-16)

This relationship certainly worked out well for the people following Moses across the desert! When God got fed up with their complaining and bitterness He told Moses to step aside because He was going to destroy the whole nation and start over with Moses. Moses asked God a powerful question!

“What will the nations (Gentiles) think? They will think that You are not powerful enough to bring your people across the desert!

God spared them!

As believers we must realize that we are all part of the team. We have to hold each other up, not straighten each other out!

Abraham had that same relationship. God said that He could not destroy Sodom and Gomorrah without letting Abraham know. Abraham is known as the father of faith – and as our spiritual father.

2 Timothy 1:1-14

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, according to the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus, to Timothy, my dear son: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

I thank God, whom I serve, as my forefathers did, with a clear conscience, as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers. Recalling your tears I long to see you, so that I may be filled with joy. I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.

For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline. So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, who has saved us and called us to a holy life--not because of anything we have done but because of His own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus. As before the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.

And of this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher. That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him for that day.

What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus. Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you--guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.

*~*

Luke 17:5-10

The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!”

He replied, "If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it will obey you.

“Suppose one of you had a servant plowing or looking after the sheep. Would he say to the servant when he comes in from the field, 'Come along now and sit down to eat'? Would he not rather say, 'Prepare my supper, get yourself ready and wait on me while I eat and drink; after that you may eat and drink'? Would he thank the servant because he did what he was told to do? So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, 'We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.'"

The Old Testament is not out of date. Yes, it is the old covenant, but there is some very valuable information for us. In fact Paul wrote that the Old Testament is there for our benefit.

Just as Moses, Abraham and David were friends of God, so we can be too. But it takes an honest effort.

If that is your goal – or my goal – we should plan on spending time with God. We will need to listen to the very heart of God as we pray, meditate, and think about what the Bible says.

Joyce Meyer said that during her prayer time God asked here a question that really started her thinking. She was reading about Jesus asking Peter three times, “Peter, do you love me?”

God spoke to Joyce’s heart and asked her, “Joyce, do you really believe in the power of prayer?” He asked her that three times.

As she reflected on the meaning of the question she thought about all the times that we try to figure out things by ourselves instead of seeking God’s wisdom.

As I reflected on her comments I had to wonder if I really believe in prayer. As I continued to search my heart and the scriptures the Holy Spirit led me to the verses we have talked about… we can – and should seek to be God’s friend.

“Friend”:

1. A person whom one knows, likes, and trusts.

2. A person whom one knows; an acquaintance.

3. A person with whom one is allied in a struggle or cause; a comrade.

4. One who supports, sympathizes with, or patronizes a group, cause, or movement: friends of the clean air movement.

We are certainly allied with God in the conflict with Satan and the desire to bring everyone to Christ. In my view, however, the church has failed to teach us how difficult the Christian walk can be if we truly set out to accomplish all that God has called us to do! The battle will be won in the prayer closet.

Sincerely, Pastor Leon

Sunday, October 7, 2007