Friendship with God The Benefits and Blessings of being a Friend of God

Friendship with God Reconciliation Def: An exchange of a life separated from God, to a life united with Christ. An exchange of a life in a state of enmity toward God, to a life of FRIENDSHIP with God. An exchange of a life which is deserving the wrath of God, to a life which is blessed by the divine favor of God. Friendship with God The Benefits and Blessings of being a friend of God

1. Our friendship with God blesses us with PEACE The Benefits and Blessings of being a friend of God

Peace Defined = The tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, fearing nothing from God and consequently content with its earthly lot, whatever it is. This is the direct result of redemption by Christ and consists primarily of a state of conscious reconciliation with God, although it is often used in a broader sense to denote all the blessings which accompany and flow from that reconciliation. Friendship with God The Benefits and Blessings of being a friend of God

2. Our friendship with God has blesses us with GRACE The Benefits and Blessings of being a friend of God

Grace = of the merciful kindness by which God, exerting his holy influence upon souls, turns them to Christ, keeps, strengthens, increases them in Christian faith, knowledge, affection, and kindles them to the exercise of the Christian virtues - What is due to grace? - The spiritual condition of one governed by the power of divine grace Friendship with God The Benefits and Blessings of being a friend of God

3. Our friendship with God leads us to boast in our SUFFERINGS The Benefits and Blessings of being a friend of God

1. What does it mean that we boast in our sufferings? Friendship with God The Benefits and Blessings of being a friend of God

Rejoice or Consider it JOY James 1:2–4 Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 4 And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. Friendship with God The Benefits and Blessings of being a friend of God

2. Our perseverance produces PROVEN CHARACTER Friendship with God The Benefits and Blessings of being a friend of God

Luke 21:19 19 By your endurance you will gain your lives (souls). Friendship with God The Benefits and Blessings of being a friend of God

1 Thessalonians 1:2–3 We give thanks to God always for all of you, making mention of you in our prayers; 3 constantly bearing in mind your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the presence of our God and Father. Friendship with God The Benefits and Blessings of being a friend of God

3. Our perseverance produces PROVEN CHARACTER Friendship with God The Benefits and Blessings of being a friend of God

James 1:12 Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. Friendship with God The Benefits and Blessings of being a friend of God

4. Our provenness produces HOPE Friendship with God The Benefits and Blessings of being a friend of God

Hope Def: = A desire of some good, accompanied with at least a slight expectation of obtaining it, or a belief that it is obtainable. hope differs from wish and desire in this, that it implies some expectation of obtaining the good desired, or the possibility of possessing it. Hope therefore always gives pleasure or joy; whereas wish and desire may produce or be accompanied with pain and anxiety. Friendship with God The Benefits and Blessings of being a friend of God

Put your HOPE in God Friendship with God Psalm 43:5 Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my help and my God. Friendship with God The Benefits and Blessings of being a friend of God

Our blessed Hope - Friendship with God Titus 2:11–15 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all, 12 training us to renounce impiety and worldly passions, and in the present age to live lives that are self-controlled, upright, and godly, 13 while we wait for the blessed hope and the manifestation of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. 14 He it is who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purify for himself a people of his own who are zealous for good deeds. 15 Declare these things; exhort and reprove with all authority. Let no one look down on you. Friendship with God The Benefits and Blessings of being a friend of God