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DANGERS OF FRIENDSHIP WITH THE WORLD

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INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTION

The lesson of this day seeks to highlight the inherent dangers (evils) in making friendship with the people and things of this present world by Christians.Jesus Christ says “ 14 I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 15 I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them

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from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.”( John 17:14-16).

Jesus’ prayer meant that His disciples (now Christians) are completely different from world’s patterns of living and doing things.

The ‘million question’ would be “Is it possible to live with people without being in friendship?”

JESUS AND HIS FRIENDSHIPJESUS AND HIS FRIENDSHIP

The Lord demonstrated His life on earth that a

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man can live together with people or around him without being friends. Christ related with all persons, even attended their functions yet He never made friendship with them. Notwithstanding Christ preached His message and also influenced the world.

The only friends Christ had were His disciples whom He called His friends. He also left them behind to spread the gospel. “14 You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. 15 No

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longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you. (John 15:14-15 NKJV).

The Lord set a pattern of friendship for the Christian. “21 For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps.” (1 Peter 2:21).

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“The former account I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach” (Acts 1:1).A person who truly obeys the gospel should be in friendship with you. When you relate with people in any environment, they do not necessarily become your friends, that is, either colleagues or neighbours.

Friendship requires sacrifices a lot “...If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.”(Matt 16:24).

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What friendship does Christ made? Friendship with Christ is sufficient. The message of Christ was reinforced by apostle Paul “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” (Romans 12:2).Yes, Christians can stay in the world, relate with people and do things without actually becoming in friendship with the world and its passions.

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Otherwise how do you relate the gospel to the lost world? Generally, friendship is good as all that God created is good (Genesis 1:31).

However, friendship with the world’s evil practices is absolutely bad and condemned by God.

Let us understand the basic terms of the lesson. Many words are commonly used but we do not really know them deep enough to apply them.

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BASIC TERMSBASIC TERMSDangerHarmful, hurtful, causing injuries. In Bible terms, it refers to evil things that happen. God urges the Christian to flee from every appearance of all evil (I Thess. 5:22). So, evil friendship must be avoided by all.friendship

It is a state or fact of being friends. A friend is an intimate (very close) and trustworthy

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companion. In other words, a friend is one who knows you and you know him or her very well, share mind and trusted, may not necessarily be your family member. What makes friendship is trust and love.world

Any environment, surrounding and its content (people and things) (cf. Matt. 13:38). People who are not true Christians and do not do the will of God at all are often regarded as the

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people of the world. They do things without the least fear of God - “4 You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. 5 They are of the world. Therefore they speak as of the world, and the world hears them.” (1 John 4:4-5). Our God is strongly against friendship with the world!

THE VALUE OF THE VALUE OF FRIENDSHIPFRIENDSHIPA true friendship would demonstrate value.

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However, friendship with the world does not show the real value. Abraham was regarded as a friend of God. ‘And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God.’ (James 2:23).

“And he believed in the LORD, and He accounted it to him for righteousness.” (Genesis 15:6).

No friendship can be better or greater than the one with God. God will not lie to you. He will

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neither fail nor disappoint you at all. He is trustworthy in all situations. “...For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5).

“The LORD will give them over to you, that you may do to them according to every commandment which I have commanded you.” (Deuteronomy 31:5).

The friendship between Jonathan and David was of value. “Now when he had finished speaking to

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Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. 2 Saul took him that day, and would not let him go home to his father’s house anymore. 3 Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul.4 And Jonathan took off the robe that was on him and gave it to David, with his armor, even to his sword and his bow and his belt. 5 So David went out wherever Saul sent him, and behaved

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wisely. And Saul set him over the men of war, and he was accepted in the sight of all the people and also in the sight of Saul’s servants. 6 Now it had happened as they were coming home, when David was returning from the slaughter of the Philistine, that the women had come out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with tambourines, with joy, and with musical instruments.” (1 Samuel 18:1-6).

“Tell it not in Gath, Proclaim it not in the streets

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of Ashkelon—Lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, Lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph.” (2 Samuel 1:20).

Don Quixote once said in 1516 – 1616 “Tell me what company thou keepest and I will tell thee what thou art.”The word of God is much more encompassing in this regard “ A man who has friends must himself be friendly, But there is a friend who sticks closer

WHAT THEN IS YOUR WHAT THEN IS YOUR FRIENDSHIP?FRIENDSHIP?

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than a brother.” (Proverbs 18:24).

The true friendship in this regard is the one with Christ. Therefore make friendship of Him and His children (true Christians). 

There are many evils associated with worldly friendship. Friendship can have overwhelming influences!

POSSIBLE DANGERS OF FRIENDSHIP POSSIBLE DANGERS OF FRIENDSHIP WITH THE WORLDWITH THE WORLD

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“Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.” (James 4:4).

Adulterers and adulteresses refer to physical sexual immoral people and denote deep pleasure in the world affairs as well as spiritual adultery, that is, those visiting and worshipping

Enmity With God

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in denominational churches.

When one becomes too pleasurable, God’s place in the heart may be sacrificed. “Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.” (Matthew 13:22).

But it is more important to be friend with God than man because one with God is majority.

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“Do not be deceived: “Evil company corrupts good habits.” (1 Cor. 15:33).

Many Christians (young and old) have deviated from godly ways of life to what seemed ‘OK’ to them through the influence of worldly friendships.

Corrupt Attitude And Character

Imagine dressing, talking of people e.t.c. “He who walks with wise men will be wise, But the companion of fools will be destroyed.” (Proverbs 13:20).

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“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” (Proverbs 9:10).“The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life....” (Proverbs 14:27). “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man’s all.” (Ecclesiastes 12:13).

Lack of the Fear of God

The lack of the fear of God by Christians brings

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about carnality. “Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be.” (Romans 8:7).Carnality is the deep rooted interest and pleasures in the worldly affairs – this includes friendship.The level of carnality or friendship with the world affairs could be seen from the syndrome “I must belong or you must belong to the latest in town.”

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Friendship with the world can create disinterestedness in the services or worship of God. Those who are so inclined to worldly friendships often time find excuses.

Friendship with the world leads many to question God, refuse to be spiritually minded in prayers, evangelism, study the word or be encouraged in the spiritual affairs. “But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor

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can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned” (1 Corinthians 2:14).

Friendship of the world has led and still can lead to misused opportunities and extravagant use of your life and resources God has put at your disposal.

Wastefulness of Life and Resources

Many boys and girls even adults have turned waywards as a result of the influence of worldly relationships. “Whoever is a partner with a thief

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hates his own life; He swears to tell the truth but reveals nothing.” (Proverbs 29:24).“Whoever loves wisdom makes his father rejoice,But a companion of harlots wastes his wealth.” (Proverbs 29:3).

A Falling Away From The FaithPeer and pal group influence can and do help many to fall away from the faith. When your friendship begins to agitate your mind, it leads to absenteeism and excuses with God.

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Words like “Your church is not powerful,”“Your church is not powerful,” ““the the worship is too dull,”worship is too dull,” “come to our church you will “come to our church you will like it,”like it,” or “the teaching is too attacking and “the teaching is too attacking and judgmental”judgmental” are used many a time to attack you from denominational churches’ friendship. So, we need to be careful. “Be careful for nothing....” (Philippians 4:6).“12 Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; 13 but exhort one another daily, while it is

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called “Today,” lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. 14 For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end.” (Hebrews 3:12-14).

The social and economical sabotage in our society today results from the companionship of the world.

Cultism and Other Vices

Cultism is a secret oath with demonic people in

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order to attain greatness in the society. Friendship with the world leads to this. For example, you need to be among the ‘Big Boys.’ Gangsterism, rape, stealing, lesbianism are consequences of company a man keeps.

Economic crime of ‘419,’ ‘Yahoo,’ ‘Wayo’ e.t.c. many a time are derivable from friendships of the world. “Wisdom is the principal thing; Therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding.” (Proverbs 4:7)

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Hell is real. Those who would not listen to the voice of God and repent are doomed for hell fire on the last day. This includes those in friendship with the world and the passions “And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” (Matthew 25:46).

“11 He who is unjust, let him be unjust still; he who is filthy, let him be filthy still; he who is righteous, let him be righteous still; he who is holy, let him

Eternal Destruction

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be holy still. 12 “And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to everyone according to his work.” (Revelation 22:11-12).

CONCLUSIOCONCLUSIONNYou can be friend to all but a friend to nobody. Yes! Just copy Christ’s pattern.

But if you must make friendship, mind it! True Christians’ friendship - that it should be. “7 Therefore do not be partakers with them. 8 For

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you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), 10 finding out what is acceptable to the Lord.” (Ephesians 5:7-10). 

Thank you and God bless us in Thank you and God bless us in Christ Name – amen!Christ Name – amen!

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