17 As iron sharpens iron,17 As iron sharpens iron,      so a friend sharpens a       so a friend sharpens a

friend. friend. Proverbs 27:17 (NLT)Proverbs 27:17 (NLT)

Definition – Definition –

1. 1.  person attached to another by feelings of affe person attached to another by feelings of affection or personal regard.ction or personal regard.

2. 2.  person who gives assistance; patron; support person who gives assistance; patron; supporterer

3.  person who is on good terms with 3.  person who is on good terms with 

another; a person who is not hostileanother; a person who is not hostile

4.  member of the same nation, party, etc.4.  member of the same nation, party, etc.

14 “So fear the Lord and serve him 14 “So fear the Lord and serve him wholeheartedly. Put away forever the idols wholeheartedly. Put away forever the idols your ancestors worshiped when they lived your ancestors worshiped when they lived beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt. beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt. Serve the Lord alone. 15 But if you refuse Serve the Lord alone. 15 But if you refuse

to serve the Lord, then choose today whom to serve the Lord, then choose today whom you will serve. Would you prefer the gods you will serve. Would you prefer the gods

your ancestors served beyond the your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates? Or will it be the gods of the Euphrates? Or will it be the gods of the

Amorites in whose land you now live? But Amorites in whose land you now live? But as for me and my family, we will serve the as for me and my family, we will serve the

Lord.” Lord.” Joshua 24:14-15 (NLT)Joshua 24:14-15 (NLT)

16 The people replied, “We would never 16 The people replied, “We would never abandon the Lord and serve other abandon the Lord and serve other gods. 17 For the Lord our God is the one who gods. 17 For the Lord our God is the one who rescued us and our ancestors from slavery in rescued us and our ancestors from slavery in the land of Egypt. He performed mighty the land of Egypt. He performed mighty miracles before our very eyes. As we miracles before our very eyes. As we traveled through the wilderness among our traveled through the wilderness among our enemies, he preserved us. 18 It was the enemies, he preserved us. 18 It was the Lord who drove out the Amorites and the Lord who drove out the Amorites and the other nations living here in the land. So we, other nations living here in the land. So we, too, will serve the Lord, for he alone is our too, will serve the Lord, for he alone is our God.”God.”

Joshua 24:16-18 (NLT)Joshua 24:16-18 (NLT)

  19 Then Joshua warned the people, 19 Then Joshua warned the people, “You are not able to serve the Lord, for “You are not able to serve the Lord, for he is a holy and jealous God. He will he is a holy and jealous God. He will not forgive your rebellion and your not forgive your rebellion and your sins. 20 If you abandon the Lord and sins. 20 If you abandon the Lord and serve other gods, he will turn against serve other gods, he will turn against you and destroy you, even though he you and destroy you, even though he has been so good to you.”has been so good to you.”

  21 But the people answered Joshua, 21 But the people answered Joshua, “No, we will serve the Lord!”“No, we will serve the Lord!”

Joshua 24: 19-21 (NLT)Joshua 24: 19-21 (NLT)

  22 “You are a witness to your own 22 “You are a witness to your own decision,” Joshua said. “You have decision,” Joshua said. “You have chosen to serve the Lord.” “Yes,” they chosen to serve the Lord.” “Yes,” they replied, “we are witnesses to what we replied, “we are witnesses to what we have said.”have said.”

  23 “All right then,” Joshua said, 23 “All right then,” Joshua said, “destroy the idols among you, and turn “destroy the idols among you, and turn your hearts to the Lord, the God of your hearts to the Lord, the God of Israel.” 24 The people said to Joshua, Israel.” 24 The people said to Joshua, “We will serve the Lord our God. We “We will serve the Lord our God. We will obey him alone.” will obey him alone.”

Joshua 24: 22-24 (NLT)Joshua 24: 22-24 (NLT)

  24 There are “friends” who destroy each other,24 There are “friends” who destroy each other,      but a real friend sticks closer than a brother.       but a real friend sticks closer than a brother.

Proverbs 18:24 (NLT)Proverbs 18:24 (NLT)

  10 Never abandon a friend—10 Never abandon a friend—      either yours or your father’s.      either yours or your father’s.   When disaster strikes, you won’t have to    When disaster strikes, you won’t have to ask your brother for assistance.ask your brother for assistance.      It’s better to go to a neighbor than to a       It’s better to go to a neighbor than to a brother who lives far away. brother who lives far away.

Proverbs 27:10 (NLT)Proverbs 27:10 (NLT)

17 This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!

2 Corinthians 5:17 (NLT)

Aug 29, 2005Aug 29, 2005A day that changed my life…A day that changed my life………The day my refrigerator went outThe day my refrigerator went out

……the day I lost two finger tipsthe day I lost two finger tips……painful painful

Change most times Change most times is…is…

……cutting things away…cutting things away…

  14 Don’t team up with those who are 14 Don’t team up with those who are unbelievers. How can righteousness be a unbelievers. How can righteousness be a partner with wickedness? How can light partner with wickedness? How can light live with darkness? 15 What harmony can live with darkness? 15 What harmony can there be between Christ and the devil? How there be between Christ and the devil? How can a believer be a partner with an can a believer be a partner with an unbeliever? 16 And what union can there unbeliever? 16 And what union can there be between God’s temple and idols? For we be between God’s temple and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God are the temple of the living God. As God said:   “I will live in them and walk among said:   “I will live in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they will be them. I will be their God, and they will be my people.my people.

2 Corinthians 6:14-16 (NLT)2 Corinthians 6:14-16 (NLT)