Monday, November 2, 2009

A TRUE FRIEND PROVIDES FREEDOM


The Work He has called me to do is never going to be larger than the Power that He has provided me to do the Work with.

I've learned to say thank You Not just on the bright sunny days when no cares, concerns or troubles come my way, but also on the grayest of days.

Each and Every day is One deserving thanks unto Him... for I do not want to repeat any lessons that He is teaching me...This is not required for everyone to do..but truly it is for those who have asked to serve Him Well. There is great and careful training for those called to do a Great Work for Him.

The Lord will test you--He Will use these tests to stretch you in order to Build in you the Character that is supposed to be in you. To relearn how to do things His Way.
This is to make sure that your Character matches your gifts, talents, abilities and anointing that He has placed within you.

A True Test of Faith is coming. How you grow through it by accepting it, will determine if you shall receive the desires that you have prayed for.
He wants us to be prepared before He delivers His promises..Which He Will and they will arrive On Time. But the question is....Will you be ready for them when they come? If you deny and reject His preparation you will lose them, allow them to be stolen, which will not allow you to use them to produce the Fruit that He designed them to do. What ever God gives Grows! Love Grows but many want it to be one way.

I read a quote by Gwendolyn Brooks and it made me think about the truth that a real friend will bring to you....Especially a friend that Works for the Lord and is sent by the Lord with His truth.

No matter how much you do not want to hear the truth, you may not want to face what is wrong in you...will not change the person sent speaking what you need to hear. If you reject the truth of a truth bearer then you merely will re-enforce the lies that you live by.

From the Gwendolyn Brooks quote I set out looking in the Bible for Wisdom concerning friends....And of course the Lord provided what I was seeking.

Her quote spoke about people not wanting to hear the truth in full, but in fact would rather it be sugar coated which allows us to ignore the fullness and the depth of the truth in order to continue to "Feel Good' and to stay in the midst of some lies.

And I pray that we are successful Every Day in killing off self, flesh , ego and pride for the only thing that lasts as long as Truthful UnconditionaLove is stupidity born of ego, pride, and fears which keeps So many from seeing, accepting and living the Truth--that they say they want for their lives....


Proverbs 27:5-6 (Amplified Bible)

5Open rebuke is better than love that is hidden.A)">(A)

6Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but the kisses of an enemy are lavish and deceitful.

Proverbs 27:5-6 (New King James Version)
5
Open rebuke is better Than love carefully concealed.
6
Faithful are the wounds of a friend, But the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.

These verses from Proverbs tell us that true friendship includes honest rebuke when needed, and states that it is better that a True friend correct you than to hold on to the insincere compliments from an enemy, who may also be masquerading as a friend.

Even though a friend's words of correction may wound us, it is in fact an act of love.
The Lord sends us His truth in order to spare us from present and approaching trouble and pain. Preparation is the key here and a willingness to receive it and grow in maturity.

The friends who are close to us know us better than others who are just acquaintances and also those others that use manipulative love against us and are really enemies. These people are toxic and keep us from growing, from facing out truths that are sent to better us. They always have a selfish, controlling love to offer and so many are fooled into thinking that is Real Love. And the many who hang onto people supplying this kind of toxic human love will indeed be transformed into a toxic waste dump allowing everything good to be killed and replaced with a growing selfishness, a neediness that produces bitterness spreading to everything and everyone in your life.
You Deserve better than this.
People confuse and twist need to make it try and look like love.
Need and Love are not the same thing.


Our true friends are able to see both our good and our bad sides and know that is a part of being human. True friends will never try to use our past experiences as tools against us--they will never try and manipulate us nor lie to us....And we should be the same way with them. Many true friendships/relationships are ruined for a lack of accepting self-truth, And many toxic friendships/relationships are held onto for the same reason.

Most times our 'bad sides' are places and areas of our character that are immature; whether it be emotionally, Spiritually or mentally immaturity. These are places in which the Truth needs to be allowed to Come In and Make All Right. For without the Truth there will be No positive forward moving growth.

I know there are Many who are comfortable with their sadness, misery, disappointments, struggles and complaining about how their life is--Yet they Never do anything that is Possible to change their circumstances even when these opportunities are given to them....And when that becomes a person's language I will step our of the way, as that is a toxic way of living and Will contaminate my life. I cannot And will not allow that to happen to me nor my family.

A true friend will give us the space to grow without judgment or taking things personally, even when words and actions that are spoken and done Are in a personal manner.
Friends are a Gift from God and it is important to maintain our friendships. A true friendship requires time spent together in order to maintain it and to allow healthy growth to proceed. It is during those times that we are able to see into the souls of those whom we can count on. When we truly love our friends, we will always want the very best for them and they us.

True Christian friendships have an added element that makes them even more blessed. That Spiritual ingredient is the presence of the Lord Jesus in the midst of All our relationships. Friendships in Christ are some of the most blessed gifts we can experience as they continue to grow and produce Fruit for the Lord that is to be shared with all.


Proverbs 17:17 "A Friend loveth At All Times, and a brother is born for adversity."

A True Christian friend will love us At All times, even those times when we are not being so loving. They will even be to us equal to a sister or brother who will stand with us when we go through adversity. They are not to carry our crosses for us, but to assist us when we carry our own, Faithfully following the Lord Jesus.

This kind of friend will also speak the truth to us in love, when we are doing something that is wrong. As the Holy Spirit directs a truth bearer to speak His truth in order to warn us of upcoming tests, troubles and hidden traps of sin; Please do not confuse their act of obedience to the Lord as one of trying to hurt you or shame you.
They come on feet of peace, love and faith obedient to Pleasing the Lord, not to please you. If you attempt to shift some blame or fault them, there again the Lord is revealing in YOU what needs to be corrected.

When they speak the truth--it Is a Time in which We need to hear it. It is done as an act of loving kindness to us, as it can prevent us from going astray. The other purpose is to help us to mature in Christ, The Lord said that is one way to help us Spiritually grow up.

Ephesians 4:15 "But speaking the truth in Love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ."

Iron Sharpens Iron! Proverbs 27:17

Proverbs 18:24 "A person who has friends must show them self friendly: and there is a friend that sticks closer than a brother."

For us to have true friends, we must reach out and be a true friend to others. We also must nurture those friendships by demonstrating loving kindness, understanding, and forgiveness to name a few of the Gifts of the Holy Spirit. (Gal. 5)

The Bible tells us that there is a friend that will stick to us closer than a sister or brother, closer than a father or mother, that friend is Jesus.

Be careful how you treat your human friends, for that is exactly how you are treating Jesus also!
Have you ever had an old friend that you have not heard from in years call you up in some kind of need? Is that when you call up Jesus? When you are only in need? No other time to you spend with Him, allowing long lengths of time to pass in between troubles and then you call on Him? And/or call on everyone around saying you need them to pray for you Before you call on Him?
That strengthens their relationship and faith with Him, not yours.

Our friendships in the natural have limitations, but ours with Jesus has no limitations at all, unless we set some in place--He never does.
Every True Christian has been given the opportunity to cultivate a relationship with Jesus in order that He will become our closest and dearest friend. This relationship must be given our time, and space willingly, a wanting desire for His company and teachings in order to strengthen and nurture us and the friendship/relationship.

There are many True friendships in the Bible, and there was a man who was known as a true friend of God. How wonderful it will be to be known as God's friend.

Going to church every Sunday won't make you one, reading the bible every now and then won't make you one, saying Christian quotes and sayings won't make you one, appearing to look like a friend of His wont make you one, helping others only at Thanksgiving and Christmas or Easter won't make you one....It is going below the surface of memorizing a few scriptures, and doing what He tells you to do that is a sacrifice for you, that which is not convenient for your daily plans, to Please Him first Every Time...that will get you headed in the right direction.

Spending time with Him every chance you have...
Like Abraham did and to this day He is known as a True friend of God.


James 2:23-24 (Amplified Bible)

23And [so] the Scripture was fulfilled that says, Abraham believed in (adhered to, trusted in, and relied on) God, and this was accounted to him as righteousness (as conformity to God's will in thought and deed), and he was called God's friend.A)">(A)

24You see that a man is justified (pronounced righteous before God) through what he does and not alone through faith [through works of obedience as well as by what he believes].



In the name of my Lord Jesus I pray to You, God my Mother and my Father, and I know that You have heard and answered my prayers.

1 Thessalonians 2:3-4 RKJV
3
For our appeal [in preaching] does not [originate] from delusion or error or impure purpose or motive, nor in fraud or deceit.

(Amplified Bible)
4But just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the glad tidings (the Gospel), so we speak not to please men but to please God, Who tests our hearts [a]">[a]expecting them to be approved].


On feet of Faith & Peace
Joshua 1:9/ Isaiah 52
Resting In His Faithfulness,

One Day At A Time By Faith.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

It is rather interesting for me to read the article. Thank author for it. I like such themes and anything connected to them. I definitely want to read more on that blog soon.

Unknown said...

Powerful post that is making me take a harder look at the way I'm living my life. Thank you for taking time to put these thoughts in writing on your blog...

peace, Villager

wisdomteachesme said...

@Villager,
ahhh it is good to have your presence here at the place of encouragement!
And I am glad that you have been touched and given food to eat--to feed your Spirit with and learn from.
As i write these messages i also examine myself and find places that are in need of growth and change..one day at a time by faith in the Lord. I read these over and over myself to encourage myself.
Thank you for you comment and I hope you will return again.

@ Anon,
thank you for your comment and for visiting this place of encouragement!
I am glad that you found food to feed your Spirit here, i hope to 'see' you around again.
Yes the Lord will provide what we need right when we need it...if we are expecting Him to do so!