Friendship

Sarah and Hagar - Friends Turned Rivals (Genesis 16)

12:00 PM

 



The apostle Paul, in Galatians 4:31, uses the sons born by Sarah and Hagar as examples between the old covenant and the new. Ishmael, born to Hagar, is an example of those trapped in the bondage of trying to earn salvation through works. While Isaac, born to Sarah, is an example of the freedom and eternal life we receive through faith in the promises of Jesus Christ. But apart from Paul’s wonderful analogy, there is a sadness to the story of these two women. For theirs is one of a friendship gone wrong.


Sarah and Hagar - Friends Turned Rivals (Genesis 16)


The childbirth was excruciating, and many thought she wouldn’t make it through. After all, at 91 years old, how many women would? But the delivery was a success, and as Sarah held dearly the son she so desperately wanted, she looked around the room at the admiring faces. Yet she couldn’t help but notice one missing. 


It had been 14 years ago that Hagar had given birth. Sarah’s once handmaiden and dear friend had provided her husband with the one thing, until now, that Sarah couldn’t; a son. But that was before the Lord appeared to Abram, and in a time when Sarah and Hagar were as close as sisters.


Sarah remembered it well. As Abram’s wife, Sarah held a position of honor and respect within the community. But as the years passed and she remained barren, her inability to bear children brought shame. Not only was Sarah frustrated, she was also devastated. How could God withhold from her the one thing she wanted most? Especially after His promise to make Abram’s descendants as numerous as the stars? 


Knowing it was wrong, yet unable to bear the sadness and shame any longer, Sarah took matters into her own hands. She gave Hagar to Abram in order that he would lie with her and conceive a child. It seemed like the perfect solution. Abram would get his heir, and Sarah and Hagar could embrace the joy of motherhood together. And she could trust Hagar right? For she was more than a maid, Hagar was one of Sarah’s dearest friends and closest confidants. Surely Hagar would never betray her.


Nine months later, Hagar bore Ishmael. But things were far from the paradise Sarah has envisioned. Abram’s attention had turned to Hagar and the baby, leaving Sarah feeling as an outcast and alone. And the people now looked at Hagar, a mere servant, with honor and respect, while looking at Sarah with eyes of pity. And worse yet, this once loyal friend now stood before Sarah haughty, superior, and reveling in her own blessing and Sarah’s misfortune. 


Broken hearted, angry, and fed up, again Sarah took matters into her own hands. She treated Hagar so horribly, the maid took Ishmael and fled into the wilderness. So imagine Sarah’s distress when a short time later, back came Hagar with Ishmael in tow, plans to stay, and a fresh promise from God Himself.  


Yet God remembered Sarah. And proving that with Him nothing is impossible, opened Sarah’s womb in her old age, blessing her with Isaac. This new beautiful baby boy so full of hope and possibilities. Yet Sarah’s joy came at a cost. If things had been different, Hagar would still be by her side celebrating this great miracle. Instead, things between them only grew worse and carried on through their sons. Friends became rivals, and both women learned the hard way that whatever we do outside of God’s will is costly, and often turns to ashes. 


3 John

The Blessing of Being a Friend (3 John)

11:30 AM




Strangers are friends you have yet to meet. ~Anonymous


Have you known the blessing of a genuine, loving , Christian friend? John had such a friend. His name was Gaius and the short book of 3 John is actually a letter he sent to this treasured friend. In this letter, he commends him for reaching out to others and including them. “Dear friend, you are faithful in what you are doing for the brothers and sisters, even though they are strangers to you.” (v5). 


I remember 5 years ago when I moved to NC. It was a very hard transition for me. I was lonely, grieving what I left ( family, coworkers, friends) and I was unsure of what my future would hold in a new place. My husband and I decided to visit a local church. This church was much bigger than what we were used to and I remember feeling like I was lost in the bigness and overwhelmed by so many unfamiliar sights, sounds, and faces. And then, I met Holly. 


Holly wasn’t just a person giving me a quick greeting and then not a second thought.  No, from the first moment she saw me, Holly was intent on being my friend. She got to know me and she also introduced me to other women, who took me under their wing and included me in a bible study out of one of their homes. In a time of deep personal struggle, God surrounded me with the love of genuine sisters in Christ. And, I also had the women of this ministry, praying for me, emailing me, calling me, and encouraging me. 


Reaching out to others with the genuine love of Christ is powerful stuff. God wants to use the bonds we form with each other to deepen our spiritual growth and transformation.  The value of friendship is found throughout God’s Word.


“Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart, and the pleasantness of a friend springs from their heartfelt advice.”Proverbs‬ ‭27:9‬ ‭


“Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.”  Romans‬ ‭12:10-13‬ 


“How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!” Psalms‬ ‭133:1‬ 


Unfortunately, within the same body of fellowship that we find Gaius, there was a man named Diotrephes who did not want to welcome new believers. John described him as one who “loves to be first”. The love of God is not focused on self but others. It involves leaving our comfort zone to recognize and intentionally seek to minister to others. Christian love is not exclusive  but inclusive. We have to be careful to not form   social “clicks” that push others away. That’s what Diotrephes was doing.  “....he even refuses to welcome other believers. He also stops those who want to do so and puts them out of the church.” (v10)


Oh, dear sisters in Christ, I pray that we will be like Gaius and not Diotrephes. May we  have a great burning passion to recognize that all around us are people who have needs. We are the ambassadors of Christ to a broken, needy world. From our willingness to reach out to others, God can minister His love, compassion and understanding. If making friends with others is not easy, don’t be disheartened. God can bring the right person, the right moment, the right opportunity your way. Just be willing when that nudge from Him comes and remember... Strangers are friends you have yet to meet. 


God bless you my wonderful friends! 

Friendship

You’ve Got A Friend In Me {Galatians 6}

4:00 PM


Monday March 16, “Walking In Wisdom”


I love the quote that says, “Sometimes just spending quality time with good friends is the only therapy you need.” From the beginning God created us for fellowship. Fellowship with Him, and with others. And so He gifted us the blessing of friendship. Friends are those special people in our lives who we trust with our secrets. The ones who know our hopes and dreams, who share our tears of joy and pain, and are the ones we can depend on when the going gets tough. Here in Galatians, Paul gives us instructions on being a real friend and how such a friendship fulfills, “the law of Christ.” (vs. 2) Now although the Bible never truly defines what this law is, and we know that we live under grace, we do know that Jesus gives us one simple command; to love. “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it, you shall love your neighbor as yourself.”  (Matt. 22:37-39) So how can we be the loving friend to others that Jesus wants us to be? By bearing one another’s burdens. 

A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.” (Prov. 17:17) They say you find out who your real friends are when you’re at your lowest. Real friends are the ones that not only stay through the bad times, they offer to help carry the load. And if that load is due to falling in sin, Paul tells us to “restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness.” (vs. 1) Friends set aside their pride, remembering that we all fall short daily, all have moments of weakness, and all need help from time to time. And knowing that one day our works will be examined by God, (vs. 5) friends help friends with loving hearts that want to honor the Lord.

“The truth is, we need each other. We need to trust, rely on, and depend upon other believers. God gave us each other to walk alongside, encourage, and spur one another on in the faith. The writer to the Hebrews says, ‘And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near’. (Hebrews 10:24-25). James 5:16 says, ‘Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.’ We are to care for each other's practical needs (Romans 12:13, Hebrews 13:16), warn each other of sin (1 Thessalonians 5:14) and rejoice and mourn with each other.” (Romans 12:15)....christianity.com

Sometimes it can be hard being the friend who’s always helping another; especially when we all have our own burdens to bear. But  Paul encourages us by saying, “Let us not lost heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.” (vs. 9)


On the night before His death, Jesus and His disciples shared one last meal together. As they reclined around the table the Lord spoke to them saying. “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. 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.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, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. These things I command you, so that you will love one another.” (John 15:12-17) To be a servant of the Lord is a great honor, but Jesus gives us an even greater honor by calling us friends. So out of thankfulness, love, and friendship, “while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people.” (vs. 10)


earthly possessions

SoulSearching Sunday~Value

12:00 AM

Sunday, December 2, 2018


Week Forty-eight...

Welcome!  We pray that you have all had a precious time worshipping the Lord this morning!  Below you will find some thought provoking questions that will provide you a starting point to your journal writing to complete this week.  We hope that you will find this time soul satisfying!

Our reading this week was Philippians 3 - 1 Timothy 3...

 1. Think back to the last bag of garbage you sent off to the dump. How does your description compare with the way you look at your earthly possessions and accomplishments? Worship Christ for His supreme worth, and ask Him to help you remember where your value really lies.

 Yes, everything else is worthless when compared to the priceless gain of knowing Christ Jesus my LORD. I have discarded everything else, counting it all garbage, so that I may have Christ and become one with Him. (Philippians 3:8)

 2. Finish this statement, “Because God is my friend, I have…” Rejoice in the gift of His friendship today. Spend time with Him. Talk to Him. Share with Him your gratitude for all He has done for you.

 You were His enemies, separated from Him by your evil thoughts and actions, yet now He has brought you back as His friends. (Colossians 1:21-22)

 3. What will it be like to worship Jesus in person? How can you use your worship time as a dress rehearsal for heaven?

 And you will be among those praising Him on that day, for you believed what we testified about Him. (2 Thessalonians 1:10)



Friendship

How NOT to Win Friends and Influence People! {Luke 14}

12:00 AM



By Sue Desmarais

I find that often some of the meaning of a passage can be lost over 2000 years. Take this passage for example;

“And there went great multitudes with him: and He turned, and said unto them,
 ‘If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. And whosoever does not take up his cross, and follow me, cannot be my disciple.’” Luke 14:25-27 (emphasis mine)

Let’s examine this picture before us… A “great multitude”, too many to count, were following after Jesus and He turns and says to the crowd, “Come, join Me and be My disciple and your life will be glorious from this point on!!”

OK, those weren’t quite His words, but some would like to believe they were today! Just think how Jesus’ words actually impacted this great multitude!! The cross was the most horrible, heinous and hated form of punishment reserved for only the very worst criminals, but you and I could probably imagine that the corrupt Roman officials probably liked to use it from time to time to set an example for the Jewish citizens at the time; to keep them in check sort of speak, for thousands of Jews were crucified during that time and not all could have been for murders. Therefore, can you imagine how repulsive Jesus’ words must have been to this multitude pressing in to see and hear Jesus?

“If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and even his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.
And whosoever does not take up his cross, and follow me, cannot be my disciple.”

I imagine a collective gasp of horror could be heard at that moment especially coming from His own disciples, for yes, Jesus had said the same to them in so many words a few chapters back (Luke 9:23), but clearly Jesus must have known this was no way to make converts and influence people!! Surely not! Could you just imagine how this must have thinned the size of the crowd? Just how many do you think were still following after Him then?

Only, Jesus did know the impact His words would have, for He goes on to list several examples where it’s feasible to count the cost before proceeding further. Choosing to follow Jesus will be hard! All will face some sort of persecution; some will loose friends, loved ones, even businesses and some would loose their lives. To say that life would be wonderful the moment you give your life to Jesus would be a lie! Therefore, we too would be wise to follow Jesus’ example here, for too many have bought into a lie, and later fall away when the journey becomes difficult.

Those who choose to follow in spite of the possible hardships must after all, “…deny themselves, take up their cross daily and follow” Him (9:23). Which simply means; we must surrender all (our rights, wants, desires etc,) placing Him first and foremost in our lives and pick up our cross (our mission and reason we’re here) and follow Him each day.


Being a disciple of Jesus, or a Christian, is more than learning about him; it includes following His leading. The disciples had already “left everything” to follow Him, and the Lord had promised them “a hundred times as much” blessing in return (Mark 10:28-30). Jesus also promised that they would have trials in this world (John 16:33). But He also promised He would never leave nor forsake them and assured them that He had already overcome the world!


The Christian life is not an easier life, but the joy often times outweighs the hardships. We fix our eyes on Jesus, who “for the joy set before him . . . endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2).


God has set His followers free from the bondage of sin and through the Holy Spirit; we receive wisdom and understanding on how to go forward, encouragement, and the ability to persevere. And we trust that our “present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed” (Romans 8:18).

There is so much more I’d like to say, but let me close with just a bit of a personal note:

Psalm 1 begins,
“Blessed is the one

    who does not walk in step with the wicked…
 but whose delight is in the law of the Lord,
    and who meditates on his law day and night.
 That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,
    which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither—
    whatever they do prospers.”- Psalm 1:1-3


My husband and I began following Jesus together after we had been married for more than five years and our children were still young. That was over thirty years ago and I can honestly say, our lives haven’t always been easy, but God has definitely blessed us! When asked, I like to say that our marriage is as good as two sinners can get, for I can’t imagine a marriage being any better, though the Lord often enjoys proving me wrong. We’re also blessed with a wonderful close-knit family that also follows Jesus.

I know that had we not chosen to follow Jesus back then we would not be experiencing the joys we do today! I have been blessed far beyond my wildest dreams! (Eph 3:20) There is nothing more I seek or desire in this life that I haven’t already been given! Therefore, should God call me home today I am good to go! But I need to ask, are you?


There were many, I imagine, that turned away and stopped following Jesus that day, but I’m confident that those who chose to remain and follow Him never regretted their decision!

Friendship

What a Friend we have in Jesus {Matthew 26}

2:33 AM



By Lisa Moore

"What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear! What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer." This hymn by Joseph M. Scriven, is one of my absolute favorites. It always brings up wonderful memories of my Grandmother and her sisters gathered around the organ singing with glee. And it's also the first thing that enters my mind when I read Matthew chapter 26.

In Proverbs 17:17 Solomon says, "A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born at a difficult time." What a beautiful verse. Who doesn't want a friend like that; one who loves you at all times? Not just through the good ones, but especially through the bad ones. Jesus is that friend. He accepts us, shelters us, loves us, and died for us. Fully knowing the betrayal, brutality, and rejection He would face, Jesus willingly left His glorious throne in heaven to ransom His life to bring us forgiveness and reconciliation with the Father.

Reading this chapter always fills me with a swirl of emotions. Anger at the chief priests and elders. Sadness at the betrayal of Judas. Pain at the grief Jesus faced in the Garden of Gethsemane. Humility at the grace and strength Jesus exhibited. Rage at the Roman soldiers. Disappointment at the fleeing of the disciples. My heart breaks over all that our Lord endured. Matt. 26:53 tells us that with one word Jesus could have summoned more than twelve legions of angels for His rescue. Instead, He bore our burdens and much more for the sake of our salvation. And that is why what I feel most of all when reading this chapter, is thankful. Thankful for His love and sacrifice. Thankful because even though He knew everything about me, the good and the ugly, He chose me for His own. And not only did He choose me, He calls me friend! (John 15:15-16).

This sacrificial act of love and friendship demonstrated by Jesus is one which I do not deserve. I fail Him daily. I am selfish, self-centered, and bent on my own needs and wants. Yet despite all of this, He wants a close personal relationship with me. He willingly paid my sin debt, suffering unimaginable horrors. He asks nothing in return, and instead offers His friendship and gift of eternal life. 

The love Jesus exhibits in this true friendship, makes me want to be more like Him. To honor His sacrifice by walking as He teaches. I want to learn to be less about me and more about Him. To be the woman humbly and in faithful devotion, adorning Him in costly perfume. And hopefully in learning these things, I can experience the fullness of God's unconditional love and become who God has called me to be.