THE DANGER OF FRIENDSHIPS … The Other Side of the Coin

We have been talking the past couple of days about the value of friendship. Here is the “other side of the coin” so to speak written by the late theologian, FENELON:

“It is natural to want to have a good friend whom you admire and like. It is a great pleasure in life to have friends, but friendships can be full of danger, especially if you line in community with a close circle of people.

As a member of the Body of Christ, you no longer belong to yourself. In a group that meets to honor the Lord Jesus Christ, you must guard against special friendships. These will lead to cliques or a party spirit. Sometimes, when someone you like has been hurt, you become emotionally involved and ‘pick up their offense.’ This will cause division in a house faster than anything I know. You are soon plotting and chatting in secret and a sense of divisiveness permeates the entire affair. Of course you appear to yourself without blame, and insist you are only standing up for what is right.

Others watching this are harmed. You set a bad example for them and usually force them, in a way, to take sides. On top of this I just want to tell you that jealousy comes between two people who are devoted to the same friend. Each fears the other will be preferred. And what problems that causes!

Furthermore, when you have a special or favorite friend, it puts that person in a difficult spot. A person who is loved by another often makes the whole community jealous or critical. They either want to enter into a special friendship also, or are critical for what they think that person to be. Often there is suspicion and misjudgment. Everyone is caught up in looking at someone other than JESUS.

Finally, you harm yourself. You can become so preoccupied with others that you lose sight of the lordship of Jesus in your life. You spend less time alone with Him. You think of your friends and neglect your Lord.

Try not to single people out to love them. Love equally all those God asks you to love. If you know you are preoccupied with a friendship, try to cure yourself little by little. See all people as they are — with their good and bad points. Then you will not romanticize them. What is your self-nature getting out of these unhealthy attachments? There is something you ought to look at. Love your friends in and for God, and not for what they give you. Don’t be so selfish.” from THE SEEKING HEART by Fenelon.

Good words to ponder as you think about “the other side” of friendship. Have a great Lord’s day.

THE VALUE OF FRIENDSHIP

It never ceases to amaze me how what I am reading seems to always get tied into my devotional readings. Yesterday’s Freedom Fighter was on VITAL FRIENDSHIPS. “Coincidentally” here was the reading today from the devotional, OUR DAILY WALK, by one of the great KESWICK speakers, the late Dr. F. B. Meyer:

“Two are better than one … for if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow.” — Ecclesiastes 4: 9,10

“We cannot have many inner friends, but sad is the life that has not been its other self. The friendship of David and Jonathan, has passed into the current talk of the world. It is especially good for the Christian disciple to travel to heaven with a comrade.

A friend is INVALUABLE if we stumble or fall on the path of life. “Woe to him that is alone when he falls.” “Brethren,” says the Apostle, “if a man may be overtaken in a fault, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in the spirit of meekness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.’ Let us watch for each other’s souls; if any is falling away from the truth or into some insidious trap, let us lift him up. Let us exercise the brotherly solicitude that Barnabas, the encourager, did for Paul.

Friendship should make our spirits glow. “How can one be warm alone?” Of course, in a spiritual sense there are divine resources of spiritual heat. The love of Christ kindles to vehement heat. But it is certainly easier to keep up the temperature when we have a kindred heart beside us. Perhaps this is one reason why our Lord sent forth His disciples by two and two. (Mark 6:7)

Without companionship material things cannot satisfy. The ties of nature, friendship and religious communion give a zest to a poor man’s life, which the miser with all his wealth forfeits. It is all-important, not only in ordinary life, but pre-eminently in the pilgrimage of the spirit, to have fellowship with some kindred soul.

In temptation a true friend makes us more able to withstand the devil. It is a help in the hour of trial to have a friend who will appropriate the words of our Lord, saying, ‘ I have prayed for YOU, that your faith will fail not.’ There is no fellowship like that of Jesus, our Faithful Friend, who lifts us when we fall, chafes us when chilled with cold, and assists us against the tempter. Does He not make the third in the THREEFOLD cord? “Where two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them.” (Matthew 18:20)

Good word for today. Take time today to thank that special friend in your life.

Great Quote: If the spiritual life be healthy, under the full power of the Holy Spirit, praying without ceasing will be natural. Andrew Murray

FRIENDS

I just read an article in the USA Today about a new book entitled VITAL FRIENDS … THE PEOPLE YOU CANNOT AFFORD TO LIVE WITHOUT. Men are not usually good with the friendship thing. Many of us have “acquaintances” but few have allowed themselves to get close and personal with someone who they can call “friend.”

In the book, the author lists 8 characteristics of a friend that I thought were worth sharing with you this morning. They are good things for you to consider if you are looking for a friend or if you are someone’s friend.

A vital friend is a:

1. Builder — one who motivates you in your life.
2. Champion — one who sings your praises.
3. Collaborator — one who shares his passions and dreams.
4. Connector — one who always widens your circle.
5. Companion — one who is always there for you.
6. Energizer — one who gives you a boost and makes you laugh.
7. Mind-Opener — one who helps you to expand your horizons and embrace new ideas.
8. Navigator — one who helps you to make decisions.

As you think about your role as a friend today, which one of these characteristics describe you? Good thoughts to ponder for today. Your friendship CAN make a difference in someone’s life.

Have a great day.

WAITING

I do not know about you, but over the years I have not been good at waiting. It can be waiting in line at the grocery store or waiting in traffic — I tend to be impatient. Yesterday’s reading in STREAMS IN THE DESERT addressed this issue. Some of us also have trouble waiting for the Lord. What struck me was that waiting and patience seem to go hand in hand . . .

“I waited patiently for the Lord.” Psalm 40:1 “Waiting is much more difficult than walking, for waiting requires PATIENCE (I knew it!), and patience is a rare virtue. We enjoy knowing that God builds hedges around His people, when we look at the hedge from the aspect of protection. But when we see it growing higher and higher until we can no longer see over it, we wonder if we will ever get out of our little sphere of influence and service where we feel trapped. Sometimes it is hard for us to understand why we do not have a larger area of service, and it becomes difficult for us to “brighten the corner” where we are. But God has a purpose in all of HIS delays for ‘the steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord’ (Psalms 37:23).

Next to this verse, in the margin of his Bible, George Mueller made this note: ‘And the stops too!’ It is a sad mistake for someone to break through God’s hedges. It is a vital principle of the Lord’s guidance for a Christian never to move from the spot where he is sure God has placed him, until the ‘pillar of cloud’ moves. (Exodus 13:21)

Once we learn to wait on for the Lord’s leading in EVERYTHING, we will know the strength that finds it HIGHEST POINT IN AN EVEN AND STEADY WALK. Many of us are lacking the strength we so desire, but God gives complete power for every task He calls us to perform. Waiting — keeping yourself faithful to His leading — this is the secret of strength. And anything that does not align with obedience to Him is a waste of time and energy. Watch and wait for His leading.

Must life be considered a failure for someone compelled to stand still, forced into inaction and required to watch the great, roaring tides of life from shore? No — victory is then to be won by standing still and quietly waiting. Yet this is a thousand times harder to do than in the past, when you rushed headlong into the busyness of life. It requires much more courage to stand and wait and still not lose heart or lose hope, to submit to the will of God, to give up opportunities for work and leave honors to others, and to be quiet, confident, and rejoicing while the busy multitude goes happily along their way.”

The greatest life is: ‘after YOU have done everything, to stand.” (Ephesians 6:13)

Powerful words for you and me to ponder today.

We are now accepting registrations for the fall semester of KESWICK INSTITUTE OF BIBLICAL STUDIES in partnership with Lancaster Bible College. For information, visit our website: http://www.americaskeswick.org.

CAN WE CONTINUE IN SIN?

“What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?” Romans 6:1-2

“A Christian has died to sin! Sin has no control over a corpse. Temptation can present itself enticingly and persistently, yet a corpse will not succumb! Before you were a Christian you were keenly susceptible to sin. Sin held you in its grip. When you became a Christian, your old self died (Galatians 2:20). Sin now has no more control over you than temptation has over a corpse. You can still sin, but you are no longer in sin’s power. If you choose to succumb to temptation, you are rejecting the freedom from sin that Christ gained for you by His death.

God’s grace is a further motivation for us to resist sin. It was God’s grace that enabled Jesus to endure mocking, beating, and crucifixion at the hands of those who He had come to save. It was grace that led God to forgive our sin DESPITE our rebellion against Him. It is this same grace that God expresses towards us each time we sin against Him. Knowing this grace, we cannot continue to practice sin (Romans 6:1-2). We cannot presume upon God’s forgiveness by committing further offenses.

You are no longer the helpless victim of your sin. The VICTORY has already been won. God does not have to win a victory over your sin; He already has! You need only to apply HIS victory to each area of your life. If there is a sinful habit, an ungodly attitude, or an unrighteous relationship that you need to put to death, claim the victory of Christ’s resurrection today. Then you will be free to experience the abundant life that God intends for you.” — EXPERIENCING GOD DAY BY DAY — The Devotional by Dr. Henry Blackaby — published by our friends at Broadman Holman.

Good words to ponder again and again.

Great quote: “Our first point about adoption is that it is the highest privilege that the gospel offers: higher than justification…that justification, by which we mean God’s forgiveness of the past together with His acceptance for the future, is the primary and fundamental blessing of the gospel is not the question…but this is not to say that justification is the highest blessing of the gospel. Adoption is higher, because of the richer relationship with God that it involves…Justification is a forensic idea, conceived in terms of law, viewing God as judge…justification does not of itself imply any intimate or deep relationship with God the judge…but Adoption is a family idea, conceived in terms of love, and viewing God as father. In adoption, God takes us into His family and fellowship, and establishes us as His children and heirs…to be right with God the judge is a great thing, but to be loved and cared for by God the father is a greater blessing.” J I Packer, Knowing God.

THE EXUBERANT OMNIPOTENCE OF GOD . . . REASSERTING GOD’S RIGHTFUL PLACE IN ALL OF LIFE

Today’s Freedom Fighter comes from the writings of one of my favorite authors, Dr. John Piper.

“Where is God in your daily newspaper or in your talk radio show or the network TV programming or TIME or NEWSWEEK or the theater or the public school classroom? God is the most important reality in the universe. But he is almost totally ignored. And if not, he is as likely belittled as reverenced. Yet he is the most crucial factor in every issue facing the nation. There would simply be no nation without God. But he is regarded by our cultural leaders in almost all they do. Disregard for God is the greatest evil in the West today. It is as though an ant on his anthill should disbelieve in the earth.

If the church is going to reassert God’s rightful place in the soul of a man and the center of all life, we will need a sharpened focus of who HE is and what HE is like/ One of the reasons our witness to God’s reality is minimal is that our UNDERSTANDING of God’s reality is minimal. In the name of quick and relevant impact we minimize the very greatness that would he his renown. Without this, we will not boldly and graciously assert his rightful place in all of life.

What we need is a big picture of a great God who is utterly committed to joyfully demonstrating his greatness is doing us good. That is, we need to see the MAJESTY of God and know the SPLENDOR of God overflowing toward us with exuberant omnipotence. It is not enough to believe that God is big and strong and fearsome — which he is. We must experience this magnificence as the explosion of God’s uncontainable zeal to satisfy his creatures by showing them himself.

We need a vision of the God that Jonathan Edwards had already at the age of twenty when he preached a sermon titled ‘Nothing Upon Earth Can Represent the Glories of Heaven.’ He revealed in the God of this sermon so much that he preached the same message in at least six towns outside his own parish of Bolton.

The ‘doctrine’ of the sermon he stated like this: ‘The godly are designed for unknown and inconceivable happiness.’ This he discerns from the purpose of God to glorify himself in creating the world and from his conviction that ‘this glory of God, [consists] in the creature’s admiring and rejoicing [and] exulting in the manifestation of his beauty and Excellency. For God has not glory actively from those that beheld his glory and take no pleasure in it; but the essence of [the] glorifying of God consists, therefore, in the creature’s rejoicing in God’s manifestations of his beauty, which is the joy and happiness we speak of.’ In other words, the CERTAINTY and Greatness of the happiness of God’s people is as sure as God’s zeal for his own glory.

This is the vision we need. And we would do well to meditate on some of the great texts that capture the wonder of God’s exuberant omnipotence in doing good to those who hope in him:

Zephaniah 3:17-18
Jeremiah 32:40-41
2 Chronicles 16:9
Deuteronomy 30:9
Psalm 149:4
Psalm 147:10-11
Psalm 35:27
Philippians 4:19
Ephesians 2:7
Isaiah 62:4-5

God’s omnipotent exuberance to do us good is one of the most freeing discoveries a human can make. Oh, that we might believe it and savor it and bring it to mind again and again until it is our very nature to feel the truth that ‘the godly are designed for unknown and inconceivable happiness.’ Unremitting confidence in this truth would surely transform our attitudes and keep is steady in the face of great adversity.” from TASTE AND SEE … Savoring the Supremacy of God in All of Life by Dr. John Piper, published by our good friends at Multnomah.

Take some time today to look up the verses and meditate on the truth contained in them. Have a great day!

Great quote: Wherever you are, be all there. Live to the hilt every situation you believe to be the will of God. Jim Elliot

SECRET DUTIES — OPEN REWARDS

Matthew 6:6 — ” . . . And Your Father, which sees in secret, shall reward you openly . . . “

I have been laboring through a wonderful book about prayer written by Puritan preacher Thomas Brooks. It is a labor because there is so much meat to chew, but it has been so helpful. God loves it when His kids pray in secret. Around the world there are men and women who do not have the freedom to pray openly because if they did, they would be persecuted or even killed for their faith.

Thomas Brooks writes that “God, in the great day, will recompense his people before all the world, for every secret prayer, and every secret tear, and secret sigh, and secret groan that has come from his people. God, in that great day, will declare to men and angels, how often his people have been pouring out their souls before him in such and such holes, corners and secret places; and accordingly he will reward them.”

He goes on to say, “Ah, Christians! Did you really believe this, and seriously dwell on this, you would:
1. Walk more thankfully.
2. Work more cheerfully.
3. Suffer more patiently.
4. Fight against the world, the flesh, and the devil, more courageously.
5. Lay out yourselves for God, his interest and glory, more freely.
6. Live with what providence has cut out for your portion, more quietly and contentedly. And,
7. You would be in private prayer more frequently, more abundantly.

Good words to ponder as we begin this new week. Join is this week on KESWICK TODAY as Colony grad, Chris Hughes and his wife, Kathy, share what God did in their lives through the ministry of the Colony of Mercy. If you cannot get the broadcast in your area, you can listen right from our website: http://www.americaskeswick.org.

GIVE ME THIS MOUNTAIN

“Now therefore, GIVE ME THIS MOUNTAIN of which the Lord spoke in that day; for you heard in that day how the Anakim were there, and that the cities were great and fortified. It may be that the Lord will be with me, and I shall be able to drive them out as the Lord said.” Joshua 14:12

There are time when we face what seem to be insurmountable obstacles in our lives. It is during these times that we rely on God to give us the courage to face those obstacles and trust Him to see us through.

Several years ago, God renewed our vision to begin a residential program for women similar to what we have been doing for men for the past 108 years. We have been taking baby steps to move forward, and Lord willing, in the next few weeks, we will be standing in front of the mountain as we submit a proposal to two major players to seek approvals to move forward.

Humanly speaking, it is a bit intimidating standing at the foot of the mountain. But with God all things are possible. Dr. Henry Blackaby in says this about asking for mountains: “Caleb’s faith in God never wavered, though everyone around him doubted. God convinced Caleb that the children of Israel should enter the Promised Land, but the people were intimidated by GIANTS and FORTIFIED CITIES (Numbers 13:28-22). Their disbelief forced Caleb to wait forty years in the wilderness before he finally entered the Promised Land. Even after all those years, Caleb was as confident as ever in GOD’S POWER!

When God was dividing the land among the Israelites, the people were asking for the lush valleys and grassy plains. Caleb asked for a mountain. The Israelites had driven their enemies into the mountains, where they had built fortresses. This did not intimidate Caleb — he asked for a challenge! He did not trust in his own strength but in God’s presence. Caleb longed to see God work power, and he knew he would be less likely to rely on God if he would have to trust God. Caleb KNEW his inheritance from was on a mountain. He refused to allow the difficulty of gaining it to stop him from enjoying all that God had promised him.

If you always choose the easy way, asking for the peaceful valleys, you will never see God’s power displayed to enable you to take a mountain. Seek out the mountains, and you will witness God doing things through your life that can be explained only by HIS mighty presence.” from EXPERIENCING GOD DAY BY DAY.

I needed that encouragement today. Trust it will encourage you too!

PLEASING GOD, PLEASING OTHERS

“For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ.” Galatians 1:10

I have struggled throughout my life with being a people-pleaser. Dr. Ed Welch wrote a powerful book with the title: WHEN PEOPLE ARE BIG, GOD IS SMALL. Today’s reading by Dr. Henry Blackaby, in his daily devotional EXPERIENCING GOD DAY BY DAY spoke to my heart today.

“At times you will have to make a choice between pleasing GOD and pleasing those around you, for God’s ways are not man’s ways (Isaiah 55:8-9). As important as it is to strive for good relations with others, it is more important to maintain a steadfast and obedient relationship with Christ. Disobeying God to keep peace with other people is never wise. Peace with God is always paramount.

Jesus warned that obeying Him might cause division in your relationships (Matthew 10:35-36). If Paul’s primary goal had been to please others, he would never have become an apostle of Jesus Christ. Paul went completely against the wishes of his colleagues in order to obey Christ. At times, obedience to God sets family members at odds with each other (Matthew 10:35-36). When you follow Jesus’ lordship, your family may misunderstand, or even oppose you, yet your obedience to God reflects your identity as His child. Jesus said that those who obey His will are His brothers and sisters (Luke 8:21). God does not intend to divide the home, but He places obedience before domestic harmony.

It is important to get alone in quietness with God so that you understand what pleases Him. The WORLD’S thinking will mislead you more easily when you are not clear about what God desires. It broke Peter’s heart to know that the opinion of a servant girl had mattered more to him that the approval of His Lord! If the desire to appease others tempts you to compromise what you know GOD wants YOU to do, learn from Peter’s mistake. Determine that you will please the Lord regardless of the opinion of others.”

“The fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord will be kept safe.” Proverbs 29:25

NOTE: The Memorial Service for Dave Shoppy, our Director of Development, will be held on Monday, August 14, 2006 at Bayside Chapel in Barnegat. The service will begin at 2:00 PM.

Great quote: The key to lasting happiness and real pleasure in this world is not found in seeking gratification, but in pleasing God. And while the Lord desires that we enjoy His gifts and the people to whom we are joined, He wants us to know that we were created first for His pleasure.

WIT’S END CORNER

Yesterday I shared with you what the Lord had given me in the morning, the promise that “My grace IS sufficient.” The turned out to be another day of testing and challenges. At one point during the day I felt like I had really reached the limit of what I could handle. It was like I was at my wit’s end. It was in the still small whisper that God spoke to my heart and reminded me that His grace IS sufficient.

This morning in my time with the Lord, the phrase “WIT’S END” showed up. How timely! God knows what we need when we need it. Oswald Chambers said today, “When you come to your wit’s end and feel inclined to panic — don’t! Stand true to God and He will bring out HIS truth in a way that will make your life and expression of worship.”

David in Psalm 107:28 said: “They were at their wits end. Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and He brought them out of their distress.” Psalm 107:27-28. I was reminded of a poem that I read in STREAMS IN THE DESERT …

Are you standing at “Wit’s End Corner,”
Christian, with troubled brow?
Are you thinking of what is before you,
And all you are bearing now?
Does all the world seem against you,
And you in the battle alone?
Remember — at “Wit’s End Corner”
Is just where God’s power is shown.

Are you standing at “Wits End Corner,’
Blinded with wearying pain,
Feeling you cannot endure it,
You cannot bear the strain,
Bruised through the constant suffering,
Dizzy and dazed, and numb?
Remember at “Wit’s End Corner”
Is where Jesus loves to come/

Are you standing at “Wit’s End Corner”
You work before you spread,
All lying begun, unfinished,
And pressing on heart and head.
Longing for strength to do it,
Stretching out trembling hands?
Remember at “Wit’s End Corner”
The Burden-Bearer stands.

Are you standing at “Wit’s End Corner”?
Then you’re just in the very spot
To learn the wondrous resources
Of Him who fails you not:
No doubt to a brighter pathway
Your footsteps will soon be moved,
But only at “Wit’s End Corner”
Is the “God who is able” proved.

Well my friend, are you at Wit’s End Corner? I was yesterday. And God met me at my point of need! His grace WAS sufficient, it will be … and it is!!! Rejoice in that promise today.