FRIENDSHIP WITH FRIENDSHIP WITH GODGOD

MN NgcoboMN Ngcobongcobmn@unisa.ac.zangcobmn@unisa.ac.za

0825871177082587117724 May 200924 May 2009

Becoming best friendsBecoming best friends

• Romans 5:9-11, through the blood of Jesus Romans 5:9-11, through the blood of Jesus we are restored to friendship with Godwe are restored to friendship with God

• God is the Creator, Maker, Lord, Master, God is the Creator, Maker, Lord, Master, Judge, Redeemer, Father, Saviour and much Judge, Redeemer, Father, Saviour and much moremore

• But the most shocking truth: Almighty But the most shocking truth: Almighty yearns to be our friendyearns to be our friend

• The scene in Eden before the fall: Adam and The scene in Eden before the fall: Adam and Eve had an intimate relationship with GodEve had an intimate relationship with God

• There were no rituals, ceremonies or There were no rituals, ceremonies or religion – just a simple relationshipreligion – just a simple relationship

Becoming best friends…Becoming best friends…

• We were made to live in God’s We were made to live in God’s continual presence, but after the fall continual presence, but after the fall the ideal relationship was lostthe ideal relationship was lost

• Few people in the OT had the Few people in the OT had the privilege to experience friendship with privilege to experience friendship with God – Moses and Abraham were called God – Moses and Abraham were called ‘friends of God’ Ex 33:11,17, 2 Chr ‘friends of God’ Ex 33:11,17, 2 Chr 20:7, Isaiah 41:8 and James 2:2320:7, Isaiah 41:8 and James 2:23

• David was called a man after God’s David was called a man after God’s own heart, Acts 13:22own heart, Acts 13:22

Fear vs. friendshipFear vs. friendship

• Many other people in the OT lived in fear of Many other people in the OT lived in fear of God, not friendship God, not friendship

• Jesus changed the situation - he paid for our Jesus changed the situation - he paid for our sins on the cross, the veil in the temple (a sins on the cross, the veil in the temple (a symbol of separation from God) was split symbol of separation from God) was split from top to bottom – symbolising that direct from top to bottom – symbolising that direct access to God is now availableaccess to God is now available

• Before this only priests were allowed to meet Before this only priests were allowed to meet God after spending hours of preparationGod after spending hours of preparation

• Now we can approach God at any time, Now we can approach God at any time, Romans 5:11 and Heb 4:14-16Romans 5:11 and Heb 4:14-16

Only because of GRACEOnly because of GRACE• The grace of God and the sacrifice of Jesus, 2 The grace of God and the sacrifice of Jesus, 2

Corith 5:17-19Corith 5:17-19• We are called to have friendship and fellowship We are called to have friendship and fellowship

with all three persons of the Trinity (Father, the with all three persons of the Trinity (Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit), John 15:15, 2 Corith 13:14Son and the Holy Spirit), John 15:15, 2 Corith 13:14

• It is only those who know and understand God are It is only those who know and understand God are allowed to boast, Jeremiah 9:23-24allowed to boast, Jeremiah 9:23-24

• Intimate relationship between an omnipotent, Intimate relationship between an omnipotent, invisible, perfect God and an finite, sinful human invisible, perfect God and an finite, sinful human being – difficult to comprehendbeing – difficult to comprehend

• But knowing and loving God is our greatest But knowing and loving God is our greatest privilege, and being known and loved is God’s privilege, and being known and loved is God’s greatest pleasuregreatest pleasure

Secrets of friendship Secrets of friendship with Godwith God

• Constant conversation – beyond attending Constant conversation – beyond attending church and having quiet timeschurch and having quiet times

• Share Share allall experiences with him – He experiences with him – He wants more than an appointment in your wants more than an appointment in your scheduleschedule

• He wants to be included in every activity, He wants to be included in every activity, every conversation, every problem and every conversation, every problem and every thoughtevery thought

• We need to converse with God while We need to converse with God while doing everything, that is the meaning of 1 doing everything, that is the meaning of 1 Thessalonians 5:17Thessalonians 5:17

Secrets of friendship Secrets of friendship with God…with God…

• In Eden – worship was not an event to attend In Eden – worship was not an event to attend but a perpetual attitude – a constant communion but a perpetual attitude – a constant communion with Godwith God

• How is it possible to pray all the time? Breath How is it possible to pray all the time? Breath prayers (short simple repeatable sentences, You prayers (short simple repeatable sentences, You are with me, I receive your grace, etc.) – pray are with me, I receive your grace, etc.) – pray until this is rooted in your heart – but your until this is rooted in your heart – but your motive must be to honour God not to control himmotive must be to honour God not to control him

• Sometimes you sense God’s presence, Sometimes you sense God’s presence, sometimes not – we don’t praise God to sometimes not – we don’t praise God to feel feel good but to good but to dodo good good

• The goal is not a feeling, but a continual The goal is not a feeling, but a continual awareness of the awareness of the realityreality that God is always that God is always presentpresent

Secrets of friendship Secrets of friendship with God…with God…

• Another way – continual meditation – thinking about God’s Another way – continual meditation – thinking about God’s Word throughout the day, Psalms 23:4, 143:5, 1:1-2, Word throughout the day, Psalms 23:4, 143:5, 1:1-2, Joshua 1:8Joshua 1:8

• We need to know what God says in his word – he reveals We need to know what God says in his word – he reveals himself through his word 1 Samuel 3:21himself through his word 1 Samuel 3:21

• Recall the verses you have read and memorised instead of Recall the verses you have read and memorised instead of thinking about a problem over and over againthinking about a problem over and over again

• God treasured his relationship with David because he God treasured his relationship with David because he meditated on God’sword, Psalm 119:97,77:12meditated on God’sword, Psalm 119:97,77:12

• God will share secrets with you as you meditate on his God will share secrets with you as you meditate on his word, 1 Corinth 2:6-10word, 1 Corinth 2:6-10

• Friendship with God goes hand in hand with reverence and Friendship with God goes hand in hand with reverence and not fearnot fear

• Prayer lets us speak to God, meditation lets God speak to Prayer lets us speak to God, meditation lets God speak to us – both are essential to becoming a friend of Godus – both are essential to becoming a friend of God

Love that defeats fearLove that defeats fear• The power of motivationThe power of motivation• Motivational factors: Covey 2004Motivational factors: Covey 2004MeaningMeaning______________________Creative excitement______________________Creative excitementLoveLove______________________Heartfelt commitment______________________Heartfelt commitmentDutyDuty______________________Cheerful cooperation______________________Cheerful cooperationRewardReward______________________Willing compliance______________________Willing complianceFearFear______________________Unwilling obedience______________________Unwilling obedienceAngerAnger Rebel or quit Rebel or quit