Title: Your Friends Matter
Memorize: Do not be deceived: “Evil company corrupts good habits.” 1 Corinthians 15:33 (Nkjv)
Bible Reading: 2 Corinthians 6:14-18 (Nkjv)
[14] Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?
[15] And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever?
[16] And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will dwell in them And walk among them. I will be their God, And they shall be My people.”
[17] Therefore “Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you.”
[18] “I will be a Father to you, And you shall be My sons and daughters, Says the Lord Almighty.”
Message:
An adage says, “Show me your friend, and I will tell you who you are.” This is true because, no matter who you claim to be, the friends you keep say a lot about your personality.
Many years ago, I and my best friend at the time were notorious among our school mates for living an unhealthy lifestyle. While I was nicknamed ‘Adesco’, he was nicknamed ‘Emmanuello Morgana’. We were sinners, and we drank alcohol excessively, had many girlfriends, went clubbing regularly, and generally made a mess of our lives until Jesus had mercy on us. Truly, there is no enjoyment in the world other than in Jesus because I could easily have contracted incurable sexually transmitted diseases or had liver problems due to excessive drinking. However, God decided to show me mercy.
The moment I gave my life to Christ, my friends knew. They initially thought I was pretending until they came to my house one day and asked to be served the usual alcoholic drinks, but I only served them soft drinks. Gradually, they stopped being my friends when they realised that our lifestyles no longer aligned. Thankfully, I made friends with some godly people thereafter. My dear child, do not be deceived; your lifestyle and those of your friends must also reflect that you are a child of God.
Key Point:
The friends you keep are a reflection of who you are.
Hymn 27: What A Friend We Have In Jesus
1 What a Friend we have in Jesus,
All our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
Everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit,
O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer!
2 Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged,
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful
Who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness,
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
3 Are we weak and heavy-laden,
Cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge—
Take it to the Lord in prayer;
Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?
Take it to the Lord in prayer;
In His arms He’ll take and shield thee,
Thou wilt find a solace there
Bible Reading In One Year: Job 34:1-36:33 2 Corinthians 4:1-12
Authors: Pastor E. A. Adeboye and Pastor Folu Adeboye