Moving in Friendship with God

New Creations Saints, Not Sinners

We used to be sinners, but when we receive Jesus, we become saints.

• 2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”

• Before we deserved it, Jesus died for us. Once we received Jesus, we were transformed into new creations.

• We are no longer prone to sin, but to righteousness.

• John 8:31-36 • 1 John 3:4-10 “Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. You know that he appeared in order to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him. Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in him; and he cannot keep on sinning, because he has been born of God. By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.”

• Sinning does not make you a child of the devil. If you know Jesus, you cannot be stuck in sin.

• The “feeling” of being stuck in sin is not reality.

• Since we are born again, our DNA is righteousness.

Pruning

Pruning Is Cleansing

• John 15:1-8 ““I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.”

• “Clean” and “prune” is the same word.

• We can overextend ourselves, killing the fruit in our lives.

• God’s spoken Word cleans us. • Pruning allows you to influence God to the depth of your friendship with Him.

• Hebrews 12:11 “For the moment, all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.”

• Everyone wants a promise, but they do not want to be pruned. We need to see pruning as the process to the promise.

Friendship With God The Highest Level of Life

Being a slave to righteousness is the lowest level of life.

• Being led by the Spirit is not the highest level of life; it’s the beginning of life. Friendship with the Spirit is maturity with life.

• Revelation is the child of friendship.

• Revelation cannot be studied, it can only be revealed. Friendship and Influence

• Genesis 18 “And the Lord appeared to him by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat at the door of his tent in the heat of the day. He lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, three men were standing in front of him. When he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them and bowed himself to the earth and said, “O Lord, if I have found favor in your sight, do not pass by your servant. Let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree, while I bring a morsel of bread, that you may refresh yourselves, and after that you may pass on—since you have come to your servant.” So they said, “Do as you have said.” And Abraham went quickly into the tent to Sarah and said, “Quick! Three seahs of fine flour! Knead it, and make cakes.” And Abraham ran to the herd and took a calf, tender and good, and gave it to a young man, who prepared it quickly. Then he took curds and milk and the calf that he had prepared, and set it before them. And he stood by them under the tree while they ate…”

• Sometimes when God speaks to us to test our hearts.

• Friends have a dialogue with God. Friends influence friends.

• God is getting us ready for the bridegroom that does not want to marry a slave-girl but a Proverbs 31 woman.

Influencing God Equal Influence

• 1 Samuel 3:19

• The Lord wants us to move into a place where we can influence Him as well as Him influencing us.

• Prayer can be an exchange with the Lord and the outcome is a homogeny of both of your wills. Choices Reflect Friendship

• The goal of Christianity is not to cut down the bad tree in the Garden of Eden. Heaven was originally created to come to earth.

• There is a difference between a will and a choice.

• The only way to get a reward for doing the right thing is to have the opportunity to do the wrong thing.

• David’s friendship with the Lord allowed him to break the norm and build a tent for the Presence instead of Moses’ tabernacle.