The Bible highlights why friends are significant and the need for godly friends. We previously considered the friendship of David and Jonathan, which spurred a covenant that even death couldn't destroy. We looked at the relationship between Jesus and His disciples and learned that godly friendships mean sharing wisdom and genuinely caring for a companion's interests.
Then, we also examined ungodly friendships and learned that such relationships result in failure and great loss. Examining these relationships taught us that we should pray for godly friends and be godly friends to those the Lord places in our lives.
Nowhere are these lessons more glaring than in the story of Job and his friends. The Bible recounts Job as God's servant more than once. He was described as blameless, upstanding, God-fearing, and a man who shunned evil (Job 1:8). When his friends heard he'd lost all his children and possessions, three of them visited him. Like Job, Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar also believed in God. However, an act intended to comfort Job ended up being a series of condemnations.
This happened because they could not understand why Job would claim to be sinless in light of his situation. The more he insisted he was blameless, the more they maintained he must have been the most sinful. Their failure to understand that God could indeed allow His servant to suffer and a desire to counter Job's narrative caused them to speak untruthfully about Him. God later told Eliphaz that this made Him angry. He nevertheless instructed him and his friends to let Job pray for them so they would receive His mercy.
And therein lies a lesson about godly friendships. Yes, godly friends are to comfort one another. They should also be careful not to condemn. The word teaches us in Matthew 7:1 - Do not judge, or you too will be judged. It is easy to forget this in the face of people displaying pride, especially nowadays when hubris is the order of the day. However, the role of godly friends is to pour out God's love and not pour out their pettiness.
And if a godly friend receives guidance from the Holy Spirit that indeed their companion and fellow believer has sinned against God, or they have clear evidence of this based on God's word, then how they express that wisdom is important. A God-fearing person must remember 2 Timothy 2:24 - And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. If, after taking this approach, the friend remains stiff-necked, then the godly friend has every right to walk away (1 Corinthians 5:11; 2 Thessalonians 3:6; 2 Thessalonians 3:14; Romans 16:17). Arguing back and forth is not the godly solution. Proverbs 20:3 - Any fool can start arguments; the honorable thing is to stay out of them.
Job's story also reveals that godly friends can and should play a role in the deliverance of their companions. Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar forgot the reason they came to see Job. It seems they equally forgot that they'd been so horrified when they initially saw the state he was in that they'd sat in silence for seven whole days.
Once they realized Job was convinced of his innocence, they should have allowed God to be the judge instead of trying to humble him. It would have been better to pray with and for him to be delivered from his affliction. Notice God used Job to pray for them so that they would receive His mercy. That is because godly friends are to be a person's prayer support team and intercede on their behalf, not sit in judgment. Indeed, believers are not to war alone.
In our relationships, we must remember what Jesus taught us to love our neighbors as we love ourselves (Matthew 22:39). This commandment applies to our friends. As those who profess our belief in the Lord and His Son, Jesus, we should be led by His word in how we interact with our friends. May the Lord help us all to be godly friends and to be surrounded by godly friends, IJMN. Amen. See you at Noon EST for fellowship when we will worship God and be godly friends to those whom we will pray for.
To learn more, please click the hyperlinks above and read the posts below:
From M22 - God bless you all Fam! Till Friday!!
From M22 - May God's hand continue to rest up on our community. Maybe never cease in prayer, praise and worship. I pray that God clothes us with garment of praise and grace. I pray that wherever they have gathered against us, God will answer on our behalf and scatter them in seven ways. I pray that we will fulfil God's calling over our lives. I pray that we will see God's hand in our lives and that of our loved ones. Our Jehovah Shammah with be with us wherever we go by day or night IJMN Amen
From M22 - May God continue to bless you sis @FFJ. As you pour into this community, may God continue to replenish you in every area of your life. Your anointing will continue to increase supernaturally. God will empower you with supernatural strength to never grow weary in running this heavenly race. IJMN Amen
From M22 - Thank you so much for today's word sis @FFJ . Seeing how the social climate is, it is important to have godly friends that will keep us accountable and help us grow in our walk with Christ. It is important we are also the godly friends we expect people to be for us. Job's friends set a standard for me because they taught me to have healthy standards asides Godliness in friendships. I also admire David and Jonathan's friendship. Jonathan is the standard of godly friendship for me. He knew David was going to be king yet he was never envious of questioned his motives. He was supportive and this is what made David adopt his son later in life. I just pray that we learn from Jonathan's story. It is not easy but I pray that God grants us supernatural strength, grace and ease to be godly friends IJMN Amen.
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CLOSING PRAYER
Thank You Lord for everyone You've brought to fellowship today. Put honey in their mouths oh Lord. Give their tongues a song of praise to sing. Lighten their feet to dance to Your glory. I praise You oh Lord and call on You to lift any and all spirits of heaviness oppressing any participant.
Anoint them afresh with Your oil of joy. Put clean garments on them, oh Lord, removing all dirty clothes from their persons. Lord, rebuke satan for their sakes and declare them sticks removed from the flame. All to Your glory and by Your grace, IJMN, Amen!
Give God your dance and praise! We've prayed and He is the God who hears and answers us.
Joy is coming!
LAST 10 MINUTES
Today we learned that godly friends have a responsibility to pray for each other and to not condemn one another. Godly friends are to remember the Royal Law and treat others as they want to be treated. They are to use the wisdom of God in how they deal with one another and allow God to be glorified through them.
I want to encourage you to pray for yourself. Pray to be the reflection of a godly friend to that person God has sent or will send your way. Pray with great zeal. Don't let anything distract you.
Use what happened between Eliphaz, Bildad, Zophar, and Job as a guide. Then go glance at the post on David and Jonathan, Jesus and His disciples, and the message on Amnon and Rehoboam. See the petitions that stemmed from those posts and pray them.
God bless you.
From JIR - Please Lord look over all widows and orphans. Please turn their mourning and sorrow into joy and happiness. Please bless them with the strength and courage to keep pushing through and bless them with the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness. Please touch their hearts Lord to turn to You and rely on You for strength and guidance. IJMN. Amen.
Philippians 4:7 - And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Heavenly Father, You are our Rock and Salvation. The only One to whom we call and belong to. Dear God, our nations are suffocating under the weight of satan's schemes. We have thought ourselves capable of creating the very problems we've created.
Good God, the earth is the Lord's and everything in it, the world and all who dwell in it (Psalm 24:1). Father, we call on You for peace. God, still the turmoil of the nations. Come down, Lord, let Your presence fill the lands and overwhelm the darkness thus that it comprehended it not (John 1:5). Let the wicked be steeped in deep darkness and stumble in their schemes to destroy that which You created, God.
The violence, the anger, the antipathy, the lies...every work of the devil trying to keep Your light and Your truth from reaching people - we decree those weapons of the enemy impotent in Jesus' Name, Amen. We plead the blood of the Lamb and decree that it speaks a better word than that of Abel and cleanses the rot, to Your glory and by Your grace, IJN, Amen.
From JIR - I pray for world leaders including Trump, to humble themselves to You, God. I pray that You open their hearts to genuinely seek You and call on You in all that they do. I pray that they turn away from their wicked ways and come to the realization that they need You. Please give them supernatural experiences in where they cannot deny You, Lord. Please call them to You so that they may repent, be baptized and be saved. Please use them to carry out Your will Lord. May Your will be done no matter what. IJMN. Amen.
You've been faithful Lord, from the ages past. That is why Your name is forever more. Glory be to You El Shaddai!
Isaiah 38:16 - Your words and your deeds bring life to everyone, including me. Please make me healthy and strong again. (CEV)
Father, the enemy enjoys seeing people sick and dying. However, You pleasure in healing the sick and raising the dead. You have proved this through Your servants who came before and after Jesus, including Christ the Lamb of God Himself.
And so, it is with this knowledge that I lift up my prayer subjects who are in need of healing. Jehovah Rapha. Jehovah Ropheka. The Great Balm of Gilead. The Mighty Physician. I lift up the words of King Hezekiah, a king You loved so much that You heard his anguish and not only healed him but extended His life.
Lord, work that miracle in the lives of my prayer subjects. Please make them healthy and strong again. And restore to them the good health they've lost and need. Remember You are He who has promised fullness of life, good health is an intrinsic part of that promise Messiah. And so it is to You I come with this request in gratitude that You would indeed hear and answer.
Strong and Mighty God, I give You praise because I will hear word of miracles and the bedridden rising from their beds. Miraculous healing that stupefies science, doctors and naysayers. Testimony that acknowledges that my God is the only God. IJMN Amen.
Father, You see and know the troubles of this world and I come before You to ask for Your help to reach Peppers
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Lord lift the trouble of this world from the shoulders of Your children. Restore to them what was lost and let them be like those who dreamed when You restored Zion (Psalm 126:1). May they remember the promise of Christ made in John 16:33 - “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
Through Him, all those who call Him Lord have overcome the world. Thank You for that privilege and grace, IJMN, Amen.
Father, You are great and mighty. You alone have authority over everything. All things are subject to You.
Lord, the enemy is busy stealing, killing, and destroying all it can. Nevertheless, You are the Almighty. You alone can do all things and Your purpose can not be thwarted.
We lift nations up to You knowing that You want us to pray for all men as stated in 1 Timothy 2:1-4. We know Abba that You want people saved and that they come to a knowledge of the truth that is You. As such, we call on You to still the turmoil in the nations (Psalm 65:7). Bring peace. Replace those who think they can stand in the way of Your purpose.
Your Word tells us You channel the hearts of leaders like a stream toward those You favor (Proverbs 21:1). Place leaders in positions to serve and honor You. Let them be faithful to You, oh God. That they may fear You and obey You to the fulfillment of Your purpose for nations, organizations, schools, families, and every other level of society. IJMN, Amen.
From JIR - I pray for the Body of Christ to harmonize and be one with each other. I pray the Body of Christ is successful in touching the hearts of many through the Holy Spirit. I pray that we bear plentiful good fruit - 30 fold, 60 fold or even 100 fold. I pray that we remain rooted in You and endure to the end, Lord. IJMN. Amen.
PRAYER TIME
Come, let us pray for folks together.
From JIR - “I love you, Lord; you are my strength. The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety. I called on the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and he saved me from my enemies.”
Psalms 18:1-3 NLT
Holy Spirit, thank You for being my Remembrancer. Thank you for all the ways You do God's work in my life.
I am grateful.
From JIR - The God Who does not lie. The God Who does not fail. I am in bliss with You Lord. Thank You for being with me all the time. It means everything to me. I give You all of me to use as You please. I am Yours. I surrender to You. My love for You keeps getting stronger. Thank You for continuing to open up my heart to You. I’m amazed by You. You are so good to me. What did I do to deserve this kind of love? Thank You Lord. IJMN. Amen.
Lord Jesus, thank You for standing at the right hand of the Father. Thank You for advocating and interceding on my behalf.
Thank You for making the ultimate sacrifice that enabled all that and more to bless me.
From JIR -
Sovereign Lord, You are Holy. You are righteous. You are worthy of all my praise and worship.
God, I bow at Your feet and say thank You for all You are, all You have ever been, and all You will always be.
Hallelujah!
From JIR - Lord, thank You for Your grace and mercy. I am absolutely no one, nothing, without You, without Your grace. The love that You show me can’t be measured to anything on earth. You are fair. You are just. I thank You for having mercy and compassion on me. You give my life meaning. Although man may disappoint You remain consistent. Your unfailing and unwavering love is all I need in this life. You are all I need. Thank You Lord for always being with me to guide me and correct me and teach me. I am so grateful. I worship You, my King, my Lord, my God. You are becoming my everything in where I see no one but You. Slowly but surely. Thank You for transforming me. All glory belongs to You. IJMN. Amen.
Great and mighty God, we are gathered this day to give You praise. We do this to glorify and exalt You.
Hallowed be Your Holy Name. May our praise and thanksgiving rise as a sweet-smelling incense to You.
PRAISE TIME
Come, let us worship our God and His Son, Jesus Christ, together.
From JIR - Thank You Lord for breathing life into us this morning. Every breath of life that You bless us with is a gift which we do not take for granted. Thank You Lord for showering us with Your love and guiding us in here today to learn the dos and the donts on healthy godly friendships. We thank You and we praise You, Lord. All glory is Yours. IJMN. Amen.
Thanks for today’s message sis @FFJ. I appreciate you pointing out how godly friends are important to have and how we shouldn’t judge or condemn them but rather intercede and stand in the gap if we believe they are not acting in a manner that is pleasing to God. This message really just gave us the blueprint on how to approach different situations with godly friends so we don’t anger God, which we should fear and be mindful of doing.
I am still working on meeting and making godly friends but will keep what I learned today in the back of my mind. I pray that if those of us with godly friends ever experience a disagreement that we first seek God for His guidance and instead of passing judgment to pray for them and their situation. IJMN. Amen.
From EC - Amen and good morning ladies!
ALTAR CALL
The primary friendship you need to establish is a relationship between God Almighty and yourself. Jesus died to make that possible. You might think you have such a relationship with God already. If you do, I praise the Lord!
However, if you're not certain, why not learn more? Here's a hint, if you don't have the Holy Spirit and aren't being led by Him each day of your life, then you need to watch the video below. The Holy Spirit is the ticket to heaven and the secret sauce you've always needed.
The only way to get the Holy Spirit and all His wisdom is by giving your life to Jesus Christ. Not sure what that means? Again, watch the video below. It explains why and how to submit to Jesus Christ and become a member of God's royal family.
If you watch the video to the end and say that prayer, then welcome to being a child of God! Send me a message and I'll answer questions and send you more material, okay?
God bless you.