Fearlessly Courageous
Desk of Dennis Piller
4/27/2022
FRIENDS OF GOD
As we continue to press in with our men's group to growing friendships, which requires building relationships, and accountability so that we can grow in our purpose in living for God and his directives, I sometimes wonder if we are intent enough in our obedience to the criticalness of it all?
"We are a product of our past but don’t have to be prisoners to it". (*1) Although too many of us have established habits and protocols that just don’t belong in a Christian life anymore as they have continued to grow in their Christian walk. Not because someone is necessarily in their face but because they have this innate desire within to make a change. They know they will be better for it. Closer to God for it. They know that God is calling them to that change but their flesh is screaming, slow down, you're moving too fast boy! Don’t go to the extreme. Come on, God knows that you're in his camp and this is not THAT important. So cruise a little, let’s think about this tomorrow or next week when this other project of must-do’s are finished. That's reasonable isn’t it?
The truth is the more we listen to THAT voice the less we listen to God. The less we feel the urge of cracking your dusty bible or attending the next small group of believers. I’ll go next week or next month. I want to go but I have things I must get done and I’m tired after work and I'm not so good at this stuff, I get embarrassed at times.
Look, you know this. Almost everything we do at first is done poorly, isn’t that how we learn and grow. Growing does require coming out of your comfort zone, breaking down old strongholds of seeming comfort and pleasure. But don’t you know that road already? It took you here. And where is God in your here.? And where will you be in God in your tomorrow?
“Those who follow the crowd usually bet lost in it” (*2).
I read once that we are the composite of four things. The books we read, the TV we watch, the friends we hang around, the music we listen to and we may need to add a fifth…social media. What is that for you.? What does your escape look like? How do you see 5 or 10 more years of that inspiring your growth as a human being or a human being for God?
Solomon Prays for Help to Speak Worthily of Wisdom. He said, "her riches I do not hide away; 7:14 For she is an unfailing treasure; those who gain this treasure win the friendship of God, being commended by the gifts that come from her discipline”.
I don’t claim to know all the keys to success, but a single, solitary road to failure is to try to please everyone…and that includes you.(*3)
2 Timothy 3:16-17 "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work".
That doesn’t mean those people we might aspire to be more like walk on water or don’t make mistakes or speak out of turn”.
Proverbs 12:15. "The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice”.
Proverbs 27:9 "Oil and perfume make the heart glad, and the sweetness of a friend comes from his earnest counsel.”
But too many of us don’t have true wise counsel in our lives. I know that you won’t find them in the bar during happy hours trash talking. They are like a finished pearl of great price and value. You have a chance at finding them, but are you diligently seeking God and seeking men to walk with you and hold you up along the way? But let's understand there are no perfect men but one!.
“If God only used perfect people, nothing would get done.
God will use anybody if you're available”.(*4)
But the real issue is knowing your purpose in life.
“You were made by God, for God, and until you understand that – life will never make sense”. (*5)
You will never be satisfied. You will always be hitting that proverbial wall of discontent with a veil of disillusionment and emptiness in your soul.
Listen to what the book says about friends:
Proverbs 20:6 "Many a man proclaims his steadfast love, but a faithful man who can find?”
John 15:13 “ Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.”
James 4:4 "Adulterers! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God."
John 15:15 “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!”
And that includes Godly people to walk with. But you must move forward in making yourself available to be a friend also. To put yourself out there beyond your comfort zone and trust God to meet you there. There is another person who needs you, in your imperfect state, to be there for them and they need you in the same way. It may take a few to discover the right ones but God is faithful to guide you when you will be obedient to keep knocking on the door of fellowship and make it a priority in your life.
It begins with wanting to be a friend of God. Wanting to be more like that friend. Listen to that friend. Trust that friend…no matter what. He will never leave you or forsake you.
Believe that first and start moving to find the right set of friends.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zAxPm64Vrb8
Jershika Maple Performs for KING & COUNTRY's
"God Only Knows"
