Friendship of the Lord

The friendship of the Lord is with those who fear Him, 

and His covenant, for their instruction. 

PSALM 25 : 14

The Lord is the strength of His people, the saving refuge of His anointed (Ps 28:8). God wills everyone to be saved and to come to knowledge of the truth. For there is one God. There is also one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as ransom for all (1 Tim 2:4-6). 

Jesus said, "You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. This I command you, to love one another." (Jn 15:14-15,17)

I charge you before God, who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus to keep the commandment without stain or reproach until the appearance of our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Tim 6:13-14). Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teach and admonish one another in all wisdom, and sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs with thankfulness in your hearts to God (Col 3:16). Lead a quiet and tranquil life in all devotion and dignity. This is good and pleasing to God our savior. (1 Tim 2:2-3)

I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach (Acts 1:1). That the blessed and only ruler will make manifest at the proper time, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, and whom no human being has seen or can see. To Him be honor and eternal power. Amen. (1 Tim 6:15-16)

To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of His call, and may fulfil every good resolve and work of faith by His power, so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ (2 Thes. 1:11-12) . 

Lord, hear the sound of my pleading, when I cry to you, lifting up my hands toward your holy shrine. (Ps 28:2). Save Your people, and bless Your inheritance; feed them, and carry them forever! (Ps 28:9)

FRIEND OF TAX COLLECTORS AND SINNERS

"But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the market places and calling to their playmates, `We piped to you, and you did not dance; we wailed, and you did not mourn.'

For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, `He has a demon'; the Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, `Behold, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!' Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds."  - Matthew 11:16-19

Published:

December 10, 2010, 5:06 AM

GOD CALLS YOU FRIEND

"No longer do I call you servants, 

for the servant does not know 

what his master is doing; 

but I have called you friends, 

for all that I have heard from my Father 

I have made known to you." 

(John 15:15)

The friendship of the LORD is for those who fear him, and he makes known to them his covenant. (Psalm 25:14)

The LORD used to speak to Moses face to face, 

as a man speaks to his friend.

(Exodus 33:11). 

Moses used to take the tent and pitch it outside the camp, far off from the camp; and he called it the tent of meeting (Ex 33:7). When Moses entered the tent, the pillar of cloud would descend and stand at the door of the tent, and the LORD would speak with Moses (Ex 33:9).


 

"You are my friends 
if you do what I command you." 
(John 15:14)

I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach. (Acts 1:1).


Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teach and admonish one another in all wisdom, and sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs with thankfulness in your hearts to God. (Colossians 3:16)

"This I command you, 

to love one another." 

(John 15:17)

Pericope:
THE VINE AND THE BRANCHES - John 15:1-7
MOSES' INTIMACY WITH GOD - Exodus 33:7-23
CONFIDENT PRAYER FOR FORGIVENESS AND GUIDANCE - Psalm 25:1-22
THE PROMISE OF THE SPIRIT - Acts 1:1-5
RENUNCIATION OF VICE - Colossians 3:5-17

Published: 
May 19, 2017, 5:58 AM
May 08, 2015 - 8:43 AM
July 30, 2013-7:58AM
June 21, 2010-9:11AM

LOVE OF A FRIEND

"Greater love 
has no man than this, 

that a man lay down his life 

for his friends." 

(John 15:13)

Chosen and Appointed

"You did not choose me, 

but I chose you and appointed you 

that you should go and bear fruit 

and that your fruit should abide".

(John 15:16)

Published:
May 14, 2011, 7:25 AM

PLEADS FOR HIS FRIEND

On behalf of a man he pleads with God 

as a man pleads for his friend. 

Job 16:21

When you perceive that God is chastening you, fly not to his enemies...but to his friends, the martyrs, the saints, and those who were pleasing to him, and who have great power in God (John Chrysostom: Orations 396AD).

Eating and drinking don't make friendships - such friendship even robbers and murderers have. But if we are friends, if we truly care for one another, let's help one another spritually....Let's hinder those things that lead our friends away to hell. -- St. John Chrysostom


Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil but what is good. Anyone who does what is good is from God. Anyone who does what is evil has not seen God (2 Jn 1:11).

Do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God (Jas 4:4).





Published:
October 30, 2010 - 6:44AM

SECRETS REVEALED!

The friendship of the LORD 

is for those who fear him, 

and he makes known to them 

his covenant.

Psalm 25:14

A true friend is one who can keep a secret.

In other bible translations of this verse, the word "friendship" refers to "secrets" of the Lord.

God knows all our secrets for nothing is hidden that will not be made manifest, nor is anything secret that will not be known and come to light (Lk 8:17 NASB). What is amazing is when you come to a degree of closeness and friendship with the Lord where He Himself will reveal to you His secrets!

Anyone can read the Bible but not all can fully understand and comprehend its depth. Each person would have a different understanding of what he has read depending on his level of relationship with the Lord. This is why the Lord said, "while seeing they do not see, and while hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand" (Mt 13:13 NASB).

I am just thankful to the Lord that He has made me His friend, built upon the trust that I will keep His words in my heart all the days of my life.

To God be the glory now and forever. Amen.

ASK AND IT WILL BE GIVEN

And he said to them, "Which of you who has a friend will go to him at midnight and say to him, `Friend, lend me three loaves; for a friend of mine has arrived on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him'; and he will answer from within, `Do not bother me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot get up and give you anything'?

I tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him whatever he needs. And I tell you,

Ask, and it will be given you; 

seek, and you will find; 

knock, and it will be opened to you.

Luke 11:9

For every one who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.

What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion?

If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"

-- Luke 11: 5 - 13

GOD SENT

In John 13:20, Jesus said, "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who receives any one whom I send receives me; and he who receives me receives him who sent me."

Whenever we need help, a person comes along whom we acknowledge as God sent. This is how we see Jesus in others and we thank the Lord for bringing such persons to us at a precise time and moment.

My friendship with the Lord has brought me to new places and communities where I continue to learn and grow in faith. I have found new friends whom I believed were all God sent. We all share on thing in common, our love for God!

With Jesus you are never alone. He will surely send a suitable partner or companion who understands what you are going through and will help you solve anything that bothers you.

In receiving whoever the Lord sends, the flood gates of heaven are opened up for you to receive all of God's blessings, healing and miracles.

Lord Jesus, thank you for all the people you have sent that have made my life full and complete.

The Teacher

Jesus said, "Go into the city to a certain one, and say to him, `The Teacher says, My time is at hand; I will keep the passover at your house with my disciples'" (Matthew 26:8).

A specific instruction was given by the Lord to His disciples. He wants them to take action that will lead them to a certain person who has regarded Jesus as his Teacher. This person although not named in the bible is a true believer of Christ for he willingly opened his house for the Lord. He is a friend of God!

Whatever his Teacher says, he obeys unselfishly.

Friendship with the Lord is a relationship that requires continues learning and obedience. You must unselfishly give up all things that matters to you and allow God to fill you up with new things. Only then will you experience the awesome greatness of God's presence in your own dwelling place.


Lord, thank you for your word that teaches me everyday.

I open up my house to you today so that you may dwell in it. Fill this house with grace and blessings and use it for your greater glory and honor.

This house and all that is in it is yours for you alone is the giver of all things!

Friend of God in Service

These many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command; yet you never gave me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends (Luke 15:29). And he said to him,

"Son, you are always with me, 

and all that is mine is yours. 

It was fitting to make merry and be glad, 

for this your brother 
was dead, and is alive; 

he was lost, and is found." 

Luke 15:31-32

Alas, my dear brethren, the man who lives according to the direction of his passions and abandons the service of God is both unhappy and capable of so little!

Put an army of one hundred thousand men around a dead man and let them employ all their power to bring him back to life. No, no, my dear children, he will not come to life again.

But let someone who is despised by the world, but who enjoys the friendship of God, command this dead man to take up life again; immediately you will see him arise and walk.

We have other proofs of this too. If it were necessary to be wealthy or to be very learned to serve God, a great many people would be unable to do it. But, no, my dear children, extensive learning or great wealth are not at all necessary for the service of God. On the contrary, they are often a very big obstacle to it. Yes, my dear brethren, let us be rich or poor, in whatever state we may be, learned or otherwise, we can please God and save our souls. -- St. John Vianney

Jesus pleads for His Friend

On behalf of a man he pleads with God as a man pleads for his friend (Job 16:21).

He calls together his Friends

Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. And the Pharisees and the scribes murmured, saying, "This man receives sinners and eats with them."

So he told them this parable:

"What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost, until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, `Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost.' Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.

"Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it? And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, `Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin which I had lost.' Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents."

-- Luke 15: 1 - 10

Friend, Go Up Higher

Go and sit in the lowest place, so that when your host comes he may say to you,

`Friend, go up higher'; 

then you will be honored 

in the presence of all 

who sit at table with you.

For every one who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."

-- Luke 14:10-11

Be true to yourself.

Truth and honesty is your gateway to victory. These sets you free from all the worries and anxieties that bothers you today.

If you are true to yourself, all your works and undertakings will be done in honesty and in truth.

I tell you my friend, you are more valuable to God than those who pretend to be somebody that they are not.

Inspiration: Luke 12:1-7

Mind of Christ in you

God has revealed to you through the Spirit who searches everything, even the depths of God.

No one can comprehend the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God which he has placed in you so that you will understand the gifts he has given you.

Words you impart were not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit. Only those who possess the same Spirit will understand them because they are spiritually discerned.

This is the mind of Christ that is now in you.

Read:1 Corinthians 2: 10 - 16