GOD’S FRIENDS - GOOD FRIENDS - BAD FRIENDS : INTERNATIONAL FRIENDSHIP DAY MUSINGS
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OUTLINE
A. GOD’S FRIENDS
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1. WE BECOME GOD’S FRIENDS WHEN WE OBEY HIS COMMANDS AND THEN WE WILL RECEIVE HIS REVELATIONS LIKE ABRAHAM DID AND WE WILL LIVE A FRUITFUL LIFE AND GET ANSWERS TO ALL OUR PRAYERS
2. WE BECOME GOD’S FRIENDS BY DEMONSTRATING AN UNWAVERING FAITH IN HIM AND HIS PROMISES THROUGH OUR WORDS AND DEEDS, LIKE ABRAHAM DID
3. WE BECOME GOD’S FRIENDS WHEN WE RENOUNCE OUR FRIENDSHIP WITH THE WORLD. IF WE BECOME A FRIEND OF THE WORLD WE WILL BECOME AN ENEMY OF GOD.
4. WE BECOME GOD’S FRIENDS WHEN WE LOVE HIM MORE THAN ANYONE ELSE IN THIS WORLD INCLUDING OUR CLOSEST FAMILY MEMBERS, LIKE ABRAHAM WHO WAS READY TO SACRIFICE HIS SON ISAAC IN OBEDIENCE TO GOD.
5. WHEN WE BECOME GOD’S FRIENDS , GOD WILL BLESS EVEN OUR DESCENDANTS WITH WONDERFUL PROMISES LIKE HE DID FOR ABRAHAM AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
6. WHEN WE BECOME GOD’S FRIENDS , GOD WILL DELIVER EVEN OUR DESCENDANTS FROM THEIR ENEMIES AND FIGHT THEIR BATTLES , LIKE HE DID FOR THE ISRAELITES IN THE TIME OF JEHOSHAPHAT.
7. WHEN WE BECOME GOD’S FRIENDS , HE WILL DEFEND US AND VINDICATE US IF ANYONE SPEAKS AGAINST US LIKE HE DID FOR MOSES
B. GOOD FRIENDS
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1. GOOD FRIENDS WILL SHOW US THEIR TRUE LOVE AT ALL TIMES
2. GOOD FRIENDS WILL SHARE OUR JOYS AND SORROWS. THEY WILL NOT BECOME JEALOUS OF OUR BLESSINGS NOR WILL THEY REJOICE AT OUR SUFFERINGS.
3. GOOD FRIENDS WILL BE EVEN MORE CLOSER AND FAITHFUL THAN OUR FAMILY MEMBERS. WE MUST RECIPROCATE THEIR FRIENDSHIP MUTUALLY TO DEVELOP AND MAINTAIN SUCH FRIENDSHIP
4. GOOD FRIENDS WILL WARN US AND REBUKE US FOR OUR OWN GOOD WHEN WE GO ASTRAY , LIKE THE SERVANTS OF NAAMAN DID WHEN HE WAS ABOUT TO TAKE A WRONG DECISION.
5. GOOD FRIENDS WILL GIVE US GOOD ADVICE AND VALUABLE COUNSEL WHICH WILL ENRICH OUR LIVES.
6. GOOD FRIENDS WILL HELP US IN THE TIME OF TROUBLE. WE MUST TREASURE SUCH FRIENDSHIPS AND NOT LOSE THEM.
7. GOOD FRIENDS WILL REMAIN TRUE FROM GENERATION TO GENERATION , LIKE DAVID WAS TO JONATHAN AND HIS DESCENADANTS
C. BAD FRIENDS
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1. BAD FRIENDS WILL BE UNGODLY AND WILL LEAD US AWAY FROM GOD AND HIS BLESSINGS. WE MUST NOT HAVE INTIMATE FRIENDSHIP WITH UNGODLY PEOPLE. HOWEVER WE MUST BE LOVING TOWARDS EVERYONE AND NOT ADOPT A SELF RIGHTEOUS ATTITUDE.
2. BAD FRIENDS WILL NOT BE TRUSTWORTHY AND WILL BETRAY US LIKE JUDAS BETRAYED JESUS
3. BAD FRIENDS WILL GIVE BAD ADVICE WHICH WILL RUIN OUR LIVES LIKE THE FRIENDS OF REHOBOAM , AMNON AND HAMAN DID TO THEM
4. BAD FRIENDS WILL NOT HELP US IN THE TIME OF NEED AND THEY WILL AVOID US AND DESERT US IN OUR TIME OF SUFFERING , LIKE THE FRIENDS OF JOB DID TO HIM
5. BAD FRIENDS WILL NOT REMAIN TRUE AND WILL OFTEN TURN INTO ENEMIES . THEY WILL BE UNGRATEFUL , LIKE THE ISRAELITES WHO WERE UNGRATEFUL TO THE FAMILY OF GIDEON.
6. BAD FRIENDS WILL BE FAIR WEATHER FRIENDS AND THEY WILL ASSOCIATE WITH US ONLY WITH A SELFISH MOTIVE
7. BAD FRIENDS WILL HAVE BAD QUALITIES LIKE ANGER AND SLANDER AND DIVISIVENESS THAT WILL DESTROY GOOD RELATIONSHIPS
THE MESSAGE
GOD’S FRIENDS - GOOD FRIENDS - BAD FRIENDS : INTERNATIONAL FRIENDSHIP DAY MUSINGS
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A. GOD’S FRIENDS
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1. WE BECOME GOD’S FRIENDS WHEN WE OBEY HIS COMMANDS AND THEN WE WILL RECEIVE HIS REVELATIONS LIKE ABRAHAM DID AND WE WILL LIVE A FRUITFUL LIFE AND GET ANSWERS TO ALL OUR PRAYERS. JESUS IS OUR BEST FRIEND BECAUSE HE LAID DOWN HIS LIFE FOR US AND PROVED HIS LOVE TOWARDS US.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
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JOHN 15:13-16
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�â€fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my
name.
GENESIS 18:17-19
Then the LORD said, "Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do?
Abraham will surely become a great and powerful nation, and all nations on earth will be blessed through him.
For I have chosen him, so that he will direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing what is right and just, so that
the LORD will bring about for Abraham what he has promised him."
2. WE BECOME GOD’S FRIENDS BY DEMONSTRATING AN UNWAVERING FAITH IN HIM AND HIS PROMISES THROUGH OUR WORDS AND DEEDS LIKE ABRAHAM DID
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
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JAMES 2:20-24
You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless ?
Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar?
You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did.
And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness," and he was called God’s friend.
You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone.
ROMANS 4:18-22
Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, "So shall your offspring be."
Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead�â€since he was about a hundred years old�â€and that Sarah’s womb was also
dead.
Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God,
being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.
This is why "it was credited to him as righteousness."
3. WE BECOME GOD’S FRIENDS WHEN WE RENOUNCE OUR FRIENDSHIP WITH THE WORLD. IF WE BECOME A FRIEND OF THE WORLD WE WILL BECOME AN ENEMY OF GOD.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
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JAMES 4:4
You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of
God.
4. WE BECOME GOD’S FRIENDS WHEN WE LOVE HIM MORE THAN ANYONE ELSE IN THIS WORLD INCLUDING OUR CLOSEST FAMILY MEMBERS LIKE ABRAHAM WHO WAS READY TO SACRIFICE HIS SON ISAAC IN OBEDIENCE TO GOD.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
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MATTHEW 10:32-39
"Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven.
But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven.
"Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.
For I have come to turn " ’a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law -
a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’
"Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me;
and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.
Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
GENESIS 22:1-18
Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, "Abraham!" "Here I am," he replied.
Then God said, "Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the
mountains I will tell you about."
Early the next morning Abraham got up and saddled his donkey. He took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac. When he had cut enough wood for the
burnt offering, he set out for the place God had told him about.
On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance.
He said to his servants, "Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you."
Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife. As the two of them went on
together,
Isaac spoke up and said to his father Abraham, "Father?" "Yes, my son?" Abraham replied. "The fire and wood are here," Isaac said, "but where is the lamb
for the burnt offering?"
Abraham answered, "God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son." And the two of them went on together.
When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the
altar, on top of the wood.
Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son.
But the angel of the LORD called out to him from heaven, "Abraham! Abraham!" "Here I am," he replied.
"Do not lay a hand on the boy," he said. "Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only
son."
Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his
son.
So Abraham called that place The LORD Will Provide. And to this day it is said, "On the mountain of the LORD it will be provided."
The angel of the LORD called to Abraham from heaven a second time
and said, "I swear by myself, declares the LORD, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son,
I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession
of the cities of their enemies,
and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me."
5. WHEN WE BECOME GOD’S FRIENDS , GOD WILL BLESS EVEN OUR DESCENDANTS WITH WONDERFUL PROMISES LIKE HE DID FOR ABRAHAM AND HIS DESCENDANTS.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
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ISAIAH 41:8-10
"But you, O Israel, my servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, you descendants of Abraham my friend,
I took you from the ends of the earth, from its farthest corners I called you.I said, ’You are my servant’; I have chosen you and have not rejected you.
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
6. WHEN WE BECOME GOD’S FRIENDS , GOD WILL DELIVER EVEN OUR DESCENDANTS FROM THEIR ENEMIES AND FIGHT THEIR BATTLES.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
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2 CHRONICLES 20:1-30
After this, the Moabites and Ammonites with some of the Meunites came to make war on Jehoshaphat.
Some men came and told Jehoshaphat, "A vast army is coming against you from Edom, from the other side of the Sea. It is already in Hazazon Tamar" (that is,
En Gedi).
Alarmed, Jehoshaphat resolved to inquire of the LORD, and he proclaimed a fast for all Judah.
The people of Judah came together to seek help from the LORD; indeed, they came from every town in Judah to seek him.
Then Jehoshaphat stood up in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem at the temple of the LORD in the front of the new courtyard
and said: "O LORD, God of our fathers, are you not the God who is in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. Power and might are in your
hand, and no one can withstand you.
O our God, did you not drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham your friend?
They have lived in it and have built in it a sanctuary for your Name, saying,
’If calamity comes upon us, whether the sword of judgment, or plague or famine, we will stand in your presence before this temple that bears your Name and
will cry out to you in our distress, and you will hear us and save us.’
"But now here are men from Ammon, Moab and Mount Seir, whose territory you would not allow Israel to invade when they came from Egypt; so they turned away
from them and did not destroy them.
See how they are repaying us by coming to drive us out of the possession you gave us as an inheritance.
O our God, will you not judge them? For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon you."
All the men of Judah, with their wives and children and little ones, stood there before the LORD.
Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jahaziel son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite and descendant of
Asaph, as he stood in the assembly.
He said: "Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the LORD says to you: ’Do not be afraid or discouraged because of
this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s.
Tomorrow march down against them. They will be climbing up by the Pass of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the gorge in the Desert of Jeruel.
You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the LORD will give you, O Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be
afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the LORD will be with you.’ "
Jehoshaphat bowed with his face to the ground, and all the people of Judah and Jerusalem fell down in worship before the LORD.
Then some Levites from the Kohathites and Korahites stood up and praised the LORD, the God of Israel, with very loud voice.
Early in the morning they left for the Desert of Tekoa. As they set out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, "Listen to me, Judah and people of Jerusalem! Have faith
in the LORD your God and you will be upheld; have faith in his prophets and you will be successful."
After consulting the people, Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the LORD and to praise him for the splendor of his holiness as they went out at the head of
the army, saying:"Give thanks to the LORD, for his love endures forever."
As they began to sing and praise, the LORD set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated.
The men of Ammon and Moab rose up against the men from Mount Seir to destroy and annihilate them. After they finished slaughtering the men from Seir, they
helped to destroy one another.
When the men of Judah came to the place that overlooks the desert and looked toward the vast army, they saw only dead bodies lying on the ground; no one had
escaped.
So Jehoshaphat and his men went to carry off their plunder, and they found among them a great amount of equipment and clothing and also articles of
value�â€more than they could take away. There was so much plunder that it took three days to collect it.
On the fourth day they assembled in the Valley of Beracah, where they praised the LORD. This is why it is called the Valley of Beracah to this day.
Then, led by Jehoshaphat, all the men of Judah and Jerusalem returned joyfully to Jerusalem, for the LORD had given them cause to rejoice over their enemies.
They entered Jerusalem and went to the temple of the LORD with harps and lutes and trumpets.
The fear of God came upon all the kingdoms of the countries when they heard how the LORD had fought against the enemies of Israel.
And the kingdom of Jehoshaphat was at peace, for his God had given him rest on every side.
7. WHEN WE BECOME GOD’S FRIENDS , HE WILL DEFEND US AND VINDICATE US IF ANYONE SPEAKS AGAINST US LIKE HE DID FOR MOSES
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
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EXODUS 33:11
The LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks with his friend. Then Moses would return to the camp, but his young aide Joshua son of Nun did
not leave the tent.
DEUTERONOMY 34:10
Since then, no prophet has risen in Israel like Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face,
NUMBERS 12:1-10
Miriam and Aaron began to talk against Moses because of his Cushite wife, for he had married a Cushite.
"Has the LORD spoken only through Moses?" they asked. "Hasn’t he also spoken through us?" And the LORD heard this.
(Now Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth.)
At once the LORD said to Moses, Aaron and Miriam, "Come out to the Tent of Meeting, all three of you." So the three of them came out.
Then the LORD came down in a pillar of cloud; he stood at the entrance to the Tent and summoned Aaron and Miriam. When both of them stepped forward,
he said, "Listen to my words: "When a prophet of the LORD is among you, I reveal myself to him in visions, I speak to him in dreams.
But this is not true of my servant Moses; he is faithful in all my house.
With him I speak face to face, clearly and not in riddles; he sees the form of the LORD. Why then were you not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?"
The anger of the LORD burned against them, and he left them.
When the cloud lifted from above the Tent, there stood Miriam�â€leprous, like snow. Aaron turned toward her and saw that she had leprosy;
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B. GOOD FRIENDS
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1. GOOD FRIENDS WILL SHOW US THEIR TRUE LOVE AT ALL TIMES
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
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PROVERBS 17:17
A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
1 CORINTHIANS 13:4-7
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
2. GOOD FRIENDS WILL SHARE OUR JOYS AND SORROWS. THEY WILL NOT BECOME JEALOUS OF OUR BLESSINGS NOR WILL THEY REJOICE AT OUR SUFFERINGS.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
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ROMANS 12:15
Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.
1 CORINTHIANS 12:26
If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.
LUKE 15:3-9
Then Jesus told them this parable:
"Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he
finds it?
And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders
and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ’Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’
I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to
repent.
"Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Does she not light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it?
And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ’Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’
3. GOOD FRIENDS WILL BE EVEN MORE CLOSER AND FAITHFUL THAN OUR FAMILY MEMBERS. WE MUST RECIPROCATE THEIR FRIENDSHIP MUTUALLY TO DEVELOP AND MAINTAIN SUCH FRIENDSHIP
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
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PROVERBS 18:24
A man who has friends must himself be friendly, But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
4. GOOD FRIENDS WILL WARN US AND REBUKE US FOR OUR OWN GOOD WHEN WE GO ASTRAY , LIKE THE SERVANTS OF NAAMAN DID WHEN HE WAS ABOUT TO TAKE A WRONG DECISION.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
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PROVERBS 27: 6
Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses.
2 KINGS 5:1-14
Now Naaman was commander of the army of the king of Aram. He was a great man in the sight of his master and highly regarded, because through him the LORD had
given victory to Aram. He was a valiant soldier, but he had leprosy.
Now bands from Aram had gone out and had taken captive a young girl from Israel, and she served Naaman’s wife.
She said to her mistress, "If only my master would see the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy."
Naaman went to his master and told him what the girl from Israel had said.
"By all means, go," the king of Aram replied. "I will send a letter to the king of Israel." So Naaman left, taking with him ten talents of silver, six
thousand shekels of gold and ten sets of clothing.
The letter that he took to the king of Israel read: "With this letter I am sending my servant Naaman to you so that you may cure him of his leprosy."
As soon as the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his robes and said, "Am I God? Can I kill and bring back to life? Why does this fellow send someone to
me to be cured of his leprosy? See how he is trying to pick a quarrel with me!"
When Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his robes, he sent him this message: "Why have you torn your robes? Have the man come to me
and he will know that there is a prophet in Israel."
So Naaman went with his horses and chariots and stopped at the door of Elisha’s house.
Elisha sent a messenger to say to him, "Go, wash yourself seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh will be restored and you will be cleansed."
But Naaman went away angry and said, "I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of the LORD his God, wave his hand over
the spot and cure me of my leprosy.
Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than any of the waters of Israel? Couldn’t I wash in them and be cleansed?" So he turned and went
off in a rage.
Naaman’s servants went to him and said, "My father, if the prophet had told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more, then, when
he tells you, ’Wash and be cleansed’!"
So he went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times, as the man of God had told him, and his flesh was restored and became clean like that of a
young boy.
5. GOOD FRIENDS WILL GIVE US GOOD ADVICE AND VALUABLE COUNSEL WHICH WILL ENRICH OUR LIVES.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
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PROVERBS 27:9
Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart, and the pleasantness of one’s friend springs from his earnest counsel.
PROVERBS 27:11
As iron sharpens iron, So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.
PROVERBS 22:11
He who loves a pure heart and whose speech is gracious will have the king for his friend.
6. GOOD FRIENDS WILL HELP US IN THE TIME OF TROUBLE. WE MUST TREASURE SUCH FRIENDSHIPS AND NOT LOSE THEM.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
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PROVERBS 27:10
Do not forsake your friend and the friend of your father, and do not go to your brother’s house when disaster strikes you�â€better a neighbor nearby than a
brother far away.
ECCLESIASTES 4:9-12
Two are better than one,because they have a good return for their work:
If one falls down,his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!
Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm.But how can one keep warm alone?
Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
7. GOOD FRIENDS WILL REMAIN TRUE FROM GENERATION TO GENERATION , LIKE DAVID WAS TO JONATHAN AND HIS DESCENADANTS
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
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1 SAMUEL 18:1
After David had finished talking with Saul, Jonathan became one in spirit with David, and he loved him as himself.
1 SAMUEL 20:12-17
Then Jonathan said to David: "By the LORD, the God of Israel, I will surely sound out my father by this time the day after tomorrow! If he is favorably
disposed toward you, will I not send you word and let you know?
But if my father is inclined to harm you, may the LORD deal with me, be it ever so severely, if I do not let you know and send you away safely. May the LORD
be with you as he has been with my father.
But show me unfailing kindness like that of the LORD as long as I live, so that I may not be killed,
and do not ever cut off your kindness from my family�â€not even when the LORD has cut off every one of David’s enemies from the face of the earth."
So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, "May the LORD call David’s enemies to account."
And Jonathan had David reaffirm his oath out of love for him, because he loved him as he loved himself.
2 SAMUEL 9:1-13
David asked, "Is there anyone still left of the house of Saul to whom I can show kindness for Jonathan’s sake?"
Now there was a servant of Saul’s household named Ziba. They called him to appear before David, and the king said to him, "Are you Ziba?" "Your servant," he
replied.
The king asked, "Is there no one still left of the house of Saul to whom I can show God’s kindness?" Ziba answered the king, "There is still a son of
Jonathan; he is crippled in both feet."
"Where is he?" the king asked. Ziba answered, "He is at the house of Makir son of Ammiel in Lo Debar."
So King David had him brought from Lo Debar, from the house of Makir son of Ammiel.
When Mephibosheth son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, came to David, he bowed down to pay him honor. David said, "Mephibosheth!" "Your servant," he replied.
"Don’t be afraid," David said to him, "for I will surely show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan. I will restore to you all the land that
belonged to your grandfather Saul, and you will always eat at my table."
Mephibosheth bowed down and said, "What is your servant, that you should notice a dead dog like me?"
Then the king summoned Ziba, Saul’s servant, and said to him, "I have given your master’s grandson everything that belonged to Saul and his family.
You and your sons and your servants are to farm the land for him and bring in the crops, so that your master’s grandson may be provided for. And
Mephibosheth, grandson of your master, will always eat at my table." (Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.)
Then Ziba said to the king, "Your servant will do whatever my lord the king commands his servant to do." So Mephibosheth ate at David’s table like one of the
king’s sons.
Mephibosheth had a young son named Mica, and all the members of Ziba’s household were servants of Mephibosheth.
And Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem, because he always ate at the king’s table, and he was crippled in both feet.
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C. BAD FRIENDS
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1. BAD FRIENDS WILL BE UNGODLY AND WILL LEAD US AWAY FROM GOD AND HIS BLESSING. WE MUST NOT HAVE INTIMATE FRIENDSHIP WITH UNGODLY PEOPLE.HOWEVER WE MUST BE LOVING TOWARDS EVERYONE AND NOT ADOPT A SELF RIGHTEOUS ATTITUDE.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
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PSALMS 1:1
Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers.
2 CORINTHIANS 6:14-18
Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?
What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever?
What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will live with them and walk among
them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people."
"Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you."
"I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty."
LUKE 15:1-2
Now the tax collectors and "sinners" were all gathering around to hear him.
But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them."
LUKE 7:34
The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and you say, ’Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and "sinners." ’
1 CORINTHIANS 5:9-13
I have written you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people�â€
not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world.
But now I am writing you that you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a
drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat.
What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?
God will judge those outside. "Expel the wicked man from among you."
LUKE 18:9-14
To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable:
"Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.
The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: ’God, I thank you that I am not like other men�â€robbers, evildoers, adulterers�â€or even like this tax
collector.
I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’
"But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ’God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’
"I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself
will be exalted."
MATTHEW 21:28-32
"What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, ’Son, go and work today in the vineyard.’
" ’I will not,’ he answered, but later he changed his mind and went.
"Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, ’I will, sir,’ but he did not go.
"Which of the two did what his father wanted?" "The first," they answered. Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, the tax collectors and the prostitutes
are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you.
For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you
saw this, you did not repent and believe him.
2. BAD FRIENDS WILL NOT BE TRUSTWORTHY AND WILL BETRAY US , LIKE JUDAS BETRAYED JESUS. WE MUST AVOID BECOMING A SURETY FOR SUCH FRIENDS.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
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MATTHEW 26: 47-50
While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived. With him was a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and the
elders of the people.
Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: "The one I kiss is the man; arrest him."
Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, "Greetings, Rabbi!" and kissed him.
Jesus replied, "Friend, do what you came for."
Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested him.
MICAH 7:5-6
Do not trust a neighbor; put no confidence in a friend. Even with her who lies in your embrace be careful of your words.
For a son dishonors his father, a daughter rises up against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law�†a man’s enemies are the members of his
own household.
PROVERBS 6:1-5
My son, if you have put up security for your neighbor, if you have struck hands in pledge for another,
if you have been trapped by what you said, ensnared by the words of your mouth,
then do this, my son, to free yourself, since you have fallen into your neighbor’s hands: Go and humble yourself; press your plea with your neighbor!
Allow no sleep to your eyes, no slumber to your eyelids.
Free yourself, like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter, like a bird from the snare of the fowler.
3. BAD FRIENDS WILL GIVE BAD ADVICE WHICH WILL RUIN OUR LIVES LIKE THE FRIENDS OF REHOBOAM , AMNON AND HAMAN DID TO THEM
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
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2 CHRONICLES 10:1-19
Rehoboam went to Shechem, for all the Israelites had gone there to make him king.
When Jeroboam son of Nebat heard this (he was in Egypt, where he had fled from King Solomon), he returned from Egypt.
So they sent for Jeroboam, and he and all Israel went to Rehoboam and said to him:
"Your father put a heavy yoke on us, but now lighten the harsh labor and the heavy yoke he put on us, and we will serve you."
Rehoboam answered, "Come back to me in three days." So the people went away.
Then King Rehoboam consulted the elders who had served his father Solomon during his lifetime. "How would you advise me to answer these people?" he asked.
They replied, "If you will be kind to these people and please them and give them a favorable answer, they will always be your servants."
But Rehoboam rejected the advice the elders gave him and consulted the young men who had grown up with him and were serving him.
He asked them, "What is your advice? How should we answer these people who say to me, ’Lighten the yoke your father put on us’?"
The young men who had grown up with him replied, "Tell the people who have said to you, ’Your father put a heavy yoke on us, but make our yoke lighter’-tell
them, ’My little finger is thicker than my father’s waist.
My father laid on you a heavy yoke; I will make it even heavier. My father scourged you with whips; I will scourge you with scorpions.’ "
Three days later Jeroboam and all the people returned to Rehoboam, as the king had said, "Come back to me in three days."
The king answered them harshly. Rejecting the advice of the elders,
he followed the advice of the young men and said, "My father made your yoke heavy; I will make it even heavier. My father scourged you with whips; I will
scourge you with scorpions."
So the king did not listen to the people, for this turn of events was from God, to fulfill the word the LORD had spoken to Jeroboam son of Nebat through
Ahijah the Shilonite.
When all Israel saw that the king refused to listen to them, they answered the king:"What share do we have in David, what part in Jesse’s son? To your tents,
O Israel! Look after your own house, O David!" So all the Israelites went home.
But as for the Israelites who were living in the towns of Judah, Rehoboam still ruled over them.
King Rehoboam sent out Adoniram, who was in charge of forced labor, but the Israelites stoned him to death. King Rehoboam, however, managed to get into his
chariot and escape to Jerusalem.
So Israel has been in rebellion against the house of David to this day.
2 SAMUEL 13: 1-29
In the course of time, Amnon son of David fell in love with Tamar, the beautiful sister of Absalom son of David.
Amnon became frustrated to the point of illness on account of his sister Tamar, for she was a virgin, and it seemed impossible for him to do anything to her.
Now Amnon had a friend named Jonadab son of Shimeah, David’s brother. Jonadab was a very shrewd man.
He asked Amnon, "Why do you, the king’s son, look so haggard morning after morning? Won’t you tell me?" Amnon said to him, "I’m in love with Tamar, my
brother Absalom’s sister."
"Go to bed and pretend to be ill," Jonadab said. "When your father comes to see you, say to him, ’I would like my sister Tamar to come and give me something
to eat. Let her prepare the food in my sight so I may watch her and then eat it from her hand.’ "
So Amnon lay down and pretended to be ill. When the king came to see him, Amnon said to him, "I would like my sister Tamar to come and make some special
bread in my sight, so I may eat from her hand."
David sent word to Tamar at the palace: "Go to the house of your brother Amnon and prepare some food for him."
So Tamar went to the house of her brother Amnon, who was lying down. She took some dough, kneaded it, made the bread in his sight and baked it.
Then she took the pan and served him the bread, but he refused to eat. "Send everyone out of here," Amnon said. So everyone left him.
Then Amnon said to Tamar, "Bring the food here into my bedroom so I may eat from your hand." And Tamar took the bread she had prepared and brought it to her
brother Amnon in his bedroom.
But when she took it to him to eat, he grabbed her and said, "Come to bed with me, my sister."
"Don’t, my brother!" she said to him. "Don’t force me. Such a thing should not be done in Israel! Don’t do this wicked thing.
What about me? Where could I get rid of my disgrace? And what about you? You would be like one of the wicked fools in Israel. Please speak to the king; he
will not keep me from being married to you."
But he refused to listen to her, and since he was stronger than she, he raped her.
Then Amnon hated her with intense hatred. In fact, he hated her more than he had loved her. Amnon said to her, "Get up and get out!"
"No!" she said to him. "Sending me away would be a greater wrong than what you have already done to me." But he refused to listen to her.
He called his personal servant and said, "Get this woman out of here and bolt the door after her."
So his servant put her out and bolted the door after her. She was wearing a richly ornamented robe, for this was the kind of garment the virgin daughters of
the king wore.
Tamar put ashes on her head and tore the ornamented robe she was wearing. She put her hand on her head and went away, weeping aloud as she went.
Her brother Absalom said to her, "Has that Amnon, your brother, been with you? Be quiet now, my sister; he is your brother. Don’t take this thing to heart."
And Tamar lived in her brother Absalom’s house, a desolate woman.
When King David heard all this, he was furious.
Absalom never said a word to Amnon, either good or bad; he hated Amnon because he had disgraced his sister Tamar.
Two years later, when Absalom’s sheepshearers were at Baal Hazor near the border of Ephraim, he invited all the king’s sons to come there.
Absalom went to the king and said, "Your servant has had shearers come. Will the king and his officials please join me?"
"No, my son," the king replied. "All of us should not go; we would only be a burden to you." Although Absalom urged him, he still refused to go, but gave him
his blessing.
Then Absalom said, "If not, please let my brother Amnon come with us." The king asked him, "Why should he go with you?"
But Absalom urged him, so he sent with him Amnon and the rest of the king’s sons.
Absalom ordered his men, "Listen! When Amnon is in high spirits from drinking wine and I say to you, ’Strike Amnon down,’ then kill him. Don’t be afraid.
Have not I given you this order? Be strong and brave."
So Absalom’s men did to Amnon what Absalom had ordered. Then all the king’s sons got up, mounted their mules and fled.
ESTHER 5: 9-14
Haman went out that day happy and in high spirits. But when he saw Mordecai at the king’s gate and observed that he neither rose nor showed fear in his
presence, he was filled with rage against Mordecai.
Nevertheless, Haman restrained himself and went home. Calling together his friends and Zeresh, his wife,
Haman boasted to them about his vast wealth, his many sons, and all the ways the king had honored him and how he had elevated him above the other nobles and
officials.
"And that’s not all," Haman added. "I’m the only person Queen Esther invited to accompany the king to the banquet she gave. And she has invited me along with
the king tomorrow.
But all this gives me no satisfaction as long as I see that Jew Mordecai sitting at the king’s gate."
His wife Zeresh and all his friends said to him, "Have a gallows built, seventy-five feet high, and ask the king in the morning to have Mordecai hanged on
it. Then go with the king to the dinner and be happy." This suggestion delighted Haman, and he had the gallows built.
ESTHER 6:6-14
When Haman entered, the king asked him, "What should be done for the man the king delights to honor?" Now Haman thought to himself, "Who is there that the
king would rather honor than me?"
So he answered the king, "For the man the king delights to honor,
have them bring a royal robe the king has worn and a horse the king has ridden, one with a royal crest placed on its head.
Then let the robe and horse be entrusted to one of the king’s most noble princes. Let them robe the man the king delights to honor, and lead him on the horse
through the city streets, proclaiming before him, ’This is what is done for the man the king delights to honor!’ "
"Go at once," the king commanded Haman. "Get the robe and the horse and do just as you have suggested for Mordecai the Jew, who sits at the king’s gate. Do
not neglect anything you have recommended."
So Haman got the robe and the horse. He robed Mordecai, and led him on horseback through the city streets, proclaiming before him, "This is what is done for
the man the king delights to honor!"
Afterward Mordecai returned to the king’s gate. But Haman rushed home, with his head covered in grief,
and told Zeresh his wife and all his friends everything that had happened to him. His advisers and his wife Zeresh said to him, "Since Mordecai, before whom
your downfall has started, is of Jewish origin, you cannot stand against him�â€you will surely come to ruin!"
While they were still talking with him, the king’s eunuchs arrived and hurried Haman away to the banquet Esther had prepared.
ESTHER 7:1-10
So the king and Haman went to dine with Queen Esther,
and as they were drinking wine on that second day, the king again asked, "Queen Esther, what is your petition? It will be given you. What is your request?
Even up to half the kingdom, it will be granted."
Then Queen Esther answered, "If I have found favor with you, O king, and if it pleases your majesty, grant me my life�â€this is my petition. And spare my
people�â€this is my request.
For I and my people have been sold for destruction and slaughter and annihilation. If we had merely been sold as male and female slaves, I would have kept
quiet, because no such distress would justify disturbing the king. "
King Xerxes asked Queen Esther, "Who is he? Where is the man who has dared to do such a thing?"
Esther said, "The adversary and enemy is this vile Haman." Then Haman was terrified before the king and queen.
The king got up in a rage, left his wine and went out into the palace garden. But Haman, realizing that the king had already decided his fate, stayed behind
to beg Queen Esther for his life.
Just as the king returned from the palace garden to the banquet hall, Haman was falling on the couch where Esther was reclining. The king exclaimed, "Will he
even molest the queen while she is with me in the house?" As soon as the word left the king’s mouth, they covered Haman’s face.
Then Harbona, one of the eunuchs attending the king, said, "A gallows seventy-five feet high stands by Haman’s house. He had it made for Mordecai, who spoke
up to help the king." The king said, "Hang him on it!"
So they hanged Haman on the gallows he had prepared for Mordecai. Then the king’s fury subsided.
4. BAD FRIENDS WILL NOT HELP US IN THE TIME OF NEED AND THEY WILL AVOID US AND DESERT US IN OUR TIME OF SUFFERING , LIKE THE FRIENDS OF JOB DID TO HIM
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
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PSALMS 38:11
My friends and companions avoid me because of my wounds; my neighbors stay far away.
JOB 19:14
My kinsmen have gone away; my friends have forgotten me.
5. BAD FRIENDS WILL NOT REMAIN TRUE AND WILL OFTEN TURN INTO ENEMIES . THEY WILL BE UNGRATEFUL , LIKE THE ISRAELITES WHO WERE UNGRATEFUL TO THE FAMILY OF GIDEON.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
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PSALMS 41:9
Even my close friend, whom I trusted, he who shared my bread, has lifted up his heel against me.
JOB 19:19
All my intimate friends detest me; those I love have turned against me.
LAMENTATIONS 1:2
Bitterly she weeps at night, tears are upon her cheeks. Among all her lovers there is none to comfort her. All her friends have betrayed her; they have
become her enemies.
ZECHARIAH 13:6
If someone asks him, ’What are these wounds on your body ?’ he will answer, ’The wounds I was given at the house of my friends.’
JUDGES 8:22-23 , 32-35
The Israelites said to Gideon, "Rule over us�â€you, your son and your grandson�â€because you have saved us out of the hand of Midian."
But Gideon told them, "I will not rule over you, nor will my son rule over you. The LORD will rule over you."
Gideon son of Joash died at a good old age and was buried in the tomb of his father Joash in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.
No sooner had Gideon died than the Israelites again prostituted themselves to the Baals. They set up Baal-Berith as their god and
did not remember the LORD their God, who had rescued them from the hands of all their enemies on every side.
They also failed to show kindness to the family of Jerub-Baal (that is, Gideon) for all the good things he had done for them.
6. BAD FRIENDS WILL BE FAIR WEATHER FRIENDS AND THEY WILL ASSOCIATE WITH US ONLY WITH A SELFISH MOTIVE
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
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PROVERBS 14:20
The poor are shunned even by their neighbors, but the rich have many friends.
PROVERBS 19: 4,6,7
Wealth brings many friends, but a poor man’s friend deserts him.
Many curry favor with a ruler, and everyone is the friend of a man who gives gifts.
A poor man is shunned by all his relatives�†how much more do his friends avoid him! Though he pursues them with pleading, they are nowhere to be found.
7. BAD FRIENDS WILL HAVE BAD QUALITIES LIKE ANGER AND SLANDER AND DIVISIVENESS THAT WILL DESTROY GOOD RELATIONSHIPS
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
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PROVERBS 22:24
Do not make friends with a hot-tempered man, do not associate with one easily angered,
PROVERBS 17:9
He who covers over an offense promotes love, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends.
PROVERBS 16:28
A perverse man stirs up dissension, and a gossip separates close friends.
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