Previously, I informed you that sowing in and reaping from a JESUS-centered MARRIAGE & FAMILY in Christ in this World involves you focusing on growing one another in the fear of God, accepting and forgiving one another in the love of God, managing all things in line with the words, ways and wills of God, inspiring one another to discover and fulfill his or her life purpose in Christ, living to please God and not man and yielding to the guidance and direction of the Spirit of God (at all times) in Christ in this World. Read write-up (2) of this series for more.
The Bible says that:
Be not DECEIVED. God is not MOCKED (fooled). For whatsoever a man (or a woman) SOWS, that shall he (or she) also REAP.
For he (or she) that SOWS to his (or her) FLESH (lustful desire) shall of the FLESH (lustful desire) REAP CORRUPTION (death). But he (or she) that SOWS to the SPIRIT (love of God desire) shall of the SPIRIT (love of God desire) REAP LIFE everlasting.
And let us not be WEARY (tired) in WELL (right and godly) doing. For in DUE SEASON we shall REAP, if we FAINT not... (Galatians 6:7-10; James 1:12-15).
For today, I will be informing you about SOWING in and REAPING from a JESUS-centered FRIENDSHIP as one of your sacred and sacrificial LIVING in Christ in this World.
A real and true FRIENDSHIP is a relationship that has moved from casual to close and from close to intimate between two persons or more.
The Bible reveals that:
...There is a FRIEND that STICKS closer (intimately) than a BROTHER. (Proverbs 18:24).
And first and foremost than any other(friend ypu have or will make), that FRIEND is JESUS CHRIST. He will always be there for you and even be there for you, when you are not really or truly there for Him. He says to you and I thus:
Greater LOVE has no man (or woman) than this, that a man (or woman) lay down his (or her) LIFE for his (or her) FRIENDS.
You are My FRIENDS, if you DO whatsoever I COMMAND you.
Henceforth (now on) I CALL you not SERVANTS. For the servant knows not what his lord does. But I have CALLED you FRIENDS. For ALL things that I have heard of My Father I have made known unto.
You have not CHOSEN Me, but I have CHOSEN you and ORDAINED you, that you should GO and BRING forth fruit and that your fruit should remain. That whatsoever you shall ASK of the Father in My name, He may give it to you.
(John 15:13-16; Ephesians 2:5-10; Mark 16:15-20; 1 John 3:16).
What a comforting Word from the Master Himself!
FRIENDSHIP is so important that the Bible reveals thus:
You ASK and RECEIVE not, because you ASK amiss (wrongfully), that you may CONSUME it upon your LUST.
You ADULTERERS and ADULTERESSES, know you not that the FRIENDSHIP of the WORLD (Males and females who have strayed away or backslide from their intimate and spiritual relationship with God to things of the World) is ENMITY with GOD? Whosoever therefore will be FRIEND of the WORLD is the ENEMY of GOD. (James 4:3,4).
Why are we in Christ commanded not to be in FRIENDSHIP with the World?
It is because the Bible reveals that we should:
LOVE not (don't be in FRIENDSHIP with) the WORLD, neither the THINGS that are in the WORLD. If any man (or woman) LOVE (be in FRIENDSHIP with) the WORLD, the LOVE (FRIENDSHIP) of the Father is not in him (or her).
For ALL that is in the WORLD, the LUST of the FLESH, the LUST of the EYES and the PRIDE of LIFE, is not of the Father, but of the WORLD.
And the WORLD passes away and the LUST thereof. But he (or she) that does the WILL of GOD abides forever.
(1 John 2:15-17).
Do you get it!
Hence, the Bible begs thus
I BESEECH (beg) you therefore, brethren (brothers and sisters in the Lord), by the MERCIES of GOD, that you PRESENT (humbly submit) your bodies a LIVING SACRIFICE, HOLY, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable SERVICE.
And be not CONFORMED (by friendship) to the WORLD. But be you TRANSFORMED (by friendship with GOD in Christ) by the RENEWING of your MIND (with His WORD by the help of His SPIRIT within you), that you may PROVE (know convincingly) what is that good, acceptable and PERFECT WILL of God (concerning you par time and situation). (Romans 12:1,2; 2 Corinthians 6:14-18).
Furthermore, the Bible counsels thus on FRIENDSHIP:
Be you not UNEQUALLY (intimately) yoked (friendly related) together with UNBELIEVERS. For what FELLOWSHIP has righteousness with unrighteousness? And what COMMUNION has light with darkness?
And what CONCORD has Christ with Belial? Or what PART(nership) has he (or she) that believes with an infidel?
And what AGREEMENT has the temple of God with idols (demons)? For you are the temple of the Living God. As God has said, I will DWELL (live) in them and WALK in them and I will be their God and they shall be My People.
Wherefore COME OUT from among them and be you SEPARATE, says the Lord and TOUCH NOT the unclean thing and I will RECEIVE you.
And will be a FATHER unto you and you shall be My SONS and DAUGHTERS, says the Lord Almighty. (2 Corinthians 6:14-18).
Do you see how important our FRIENDSHIP with people and with GOD in this World matters to GOD?
Therefore, it should matter to you also, if truly you LOVE God or in a genuine FRIENDSHIP with Him (God) in Christ in this World. Yes, you will! (Mark 12:28-31).
Therefore, to SOW in and REAP from a JESUS-centered FRIENDSHIP in Christ in this World that will please and profit God, your FRIENDSHIP will have to:
FOCUS in helping one another to know Him (God) better in terms of His Words, Ways and Wills to do and pray them. (James 1:22-25; 1 John 5:14,16).
RESPECT one another's differences in terms of each person's God-given personality and potentials. (Romans 12:3-21; 1 Corinthians 12).
INSPIRE one another to discover and fulfill each other's life purpose in Christ in this World. (Colossians 4:17; 2 Timothy 4:5-8).
EXPECT accountability from one another on how far each one makes progress in God and life as related to his or her life purpose discovery and fulfilment in Christ in this World. (Proverbs 27:9).
NOTIFY and help one another overcome any character trait, which is detrimental to his or her spiritual growth and life purpose fulfillment in Christ in this World. (Proverbs 27:5,6; James 5:16).
DETERMINE that everyone wins and succeeds in Christ and in life in this World. (Philippians 2:1-11).
SPECIFY limits and boundaries that must not be crossed or exceeded. (1 Corinthians 11:31,32).
HIGHLIGHT strengths and weaknesses of one another with mind to help one another make it through. (Proverbs 27:17).
INQUIRE of one another's welfare and wellbeing from time to time. (Proverbs 17:17).
PARTNER together on earth to fulfil one another's life purpose in Christ and to make heaven someday. (Proverbs 27:10).
To achieve the above statements about sowing in and reaping from a JESUS-centered FRIENDSHIP:
1. Show unconditional LOVE to your FRIENDS by the help of the Holy Spirit of God (Christ) within you. (Romans 5:5).
2. Be JOYFUL among your FRIENDS by the help of the Holy Spirit of God (Christ) within you. (Romans 14:16-19).
3. Be PEACEFUL among your FRIENDS by the help of the Holy Spirit of God (Christ) within you. (Hebrews 12:14).
4. Be LONGSUFFERING (patient long enough) with your FRIENDS by the help of the Holy Spirit of God (Christ) within you. (Ephesians 4:1-7).
5. Be GENTLE to your FRIENDS by the help of the Holy Spirit of God (Christ) within you. (1 Thessalonians 2:5-8).
6. Be GOOD (kind) to your FRIENDS by the help of the Holy Spirit of God (Christ) within you. (Romans 12:10; 1 Corinthians 13:4).
7. Have FAITH and be FAITHFUL to your FRIENDS by the help of the Holy Spirit of God (Christ) within you. (Hebrews 11:6; 1 Corinthians 4:1,2)
8. Be MEEK (humbly) among your FRIENDS by the help of the Holy Spirit of God (Christ) within you. (Matthew 11:28-30; 2 Corinthians 10:1).
9. Be TEMPERATE (Self-control) among your FRIENDS by the help of the Holy Spirit of God (Christ) within you. (2 Timothy 2:1-7; Galatians 5:14-26).
Always remember that the Bible says that:
A man (or woman) that has FRIENDS must show himself (or herself) FRIENDLY... (Proverbs 18:24).
However, note:
1. FRIENDSHIP can be positive and profitable when GOD connects you to the right person or persons purposefully. Therefore, be receptive and humble. (1 Samuel 18:1-5; Matthew 19:3-6).
2. FRIENDSHIP can be negative and demoting when SATAN connects you to the wrong person or persons purposefully. Therefore, be watchful and spiritually smart. (2 Chronicles 20:35-37, Psalm 41:5-10; Ephesians 5:15-18.
3. FRIENDSHIP can be neutral and lonely when YOU connects to nobody but just yourself alone. This is not ideal for you, because we are designed and created by GOD for relationship. Therefore, gets connected. (Genesis 2:15-18; Ecclesiastes 4:7-12).
Now, it is true that COMMUNICATION and INFORMATION are the bedrock or lifeline of any real and true FRIENDSHIP. However, the Bible counsel thus:
Be not DECEIVED. EVIL (ungodly) COMMUNICATIONS corrupt good manners (behaviour).
AWAKE to RIGHTEOUSNESS and SIN not. For some have not the KNOWLEDGE (INFORMATION) of GOD. I speak this to your SHAME.
(1 Corinthians 15:33,34; Psalm 1:1-3).
Therefore, the Bible counsels further thus:
BEWARE lest any man (or woman in the name of FRIENDSHIP) spoil you through Philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments (principles) of the WORLD and not after CHRIST.
For in Him (Christ) dwells ALL the FULLNESS of the GODHEAD bodily.
And you are COMPLETE in Him (Christ), which is the HEAD of ALL principality and power. (Colossians 2:8-10.
Finally, the Bible counsels you and I thus:
Make no FRIENDSHIP with an ANGRY man (or woman). And with a FURIOUS man (or woman) you shall not go.
Lest you LEARN his (or her) WAYS and get a SNARE to your SOUL.
(Proverbs 22:24,25).
Do you get it?
The counsel on ANGER of the above scriptural verses is also true and applies to any other ungodly behaviour that is held to by anyone you know and refusing to get go of it for Christ's sake. Yes!
Remember, the Bible asks that:
Can two WALK TOGETHER, except they be AGREED. (Amos 3:3)
Now, if you choose FRIENDSHIP with GOD in Christ instead of FRIENDSHIP with the WORLD and the things in the world and you run ALL your FRIENDSHIPS based on pleasing and profiting Him (God) in Christ in this World as one of your sacred and sacrificial LIVING in Christ in this World, no good information and things will He (GOD) hide or withhold from you in Christ in this World. True! (Isaiah 41:8; Genesis 18:17-19; Psalm 84:11,12).
Will you?
God bless you.
MODIBO GODWILL
Divine Destiny Messenger
(Author & Speaker)
Phone/Whatsapp: +234 802 827 8092
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