1. New Victory Begins . . . by choosing better relationships
“But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
[1 Corinthians 15:57]
[read the scripture with me]

2. Victory Finishing a time of prayer and fasting for new victory.
And God has begun it
He has planted the seeds in the ground
They are there. They are real.
Eyes may not see them.
Now it is time to nourish & protect the soil around the seed
And that happens through our choices in relationships as we follow Christ
So let’s get to it!

3. To have Christ’s ongoing victory
you need better frenemies
Christ’s ongoing and growing victory is dependent on this
Without the right frenemies in your life – the seed will never get to grow and have a full life in you
What is a frenemy
New Victory Begins by choosing better relationships

4. “Frenemy” Someone who is: a friend to your soul, and an enemy of your sin
World uses this world to talk about someone who is acting like your friend but not
I’m using it as a word to describe your very best and truest friend
Someone who loves you enough to be an enemy to your sin that will deceive and destroy you and all the good God put in your life
Another way to say it . . .
New Victory Begins by choosing better relationships

5. “Frenemy” Someone who: energizes God’s ways in your life & discourages sinful/selfish ways
They don’t put up with pride and lies in your life
Bible talks about having this person in your life all the time
New Victory Begins by choosing better relationships

6. “Wounds from a [true] friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses.” (Pr 27:6) “Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.” ( Pr. 11:14) “He who gets wisdom loves his own soul; he who cherishes understanding prospers.” (Pr 19:8)
Someone who truly loves you
Someone who
will tell you like it is in God’s eyes
So that your soul will prosper

7. Jesus is your “Frenemy”
Jesus is a friend to your soul and worst enemy of your sin
He loved you enough to die for your sin
He’s an enemy enough of your sin to ask you to die to your self
Look at how He was a frenemy to Peter in Matthew 16 (funny)
New Victory Begins by choosing better relationships

8. Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven. (Mt 16:17-18)  Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.” (Mt 16:23)
Jesus blessed Peter’s connection with God
Jesus cursed Peter’s connection with Satan
No one was more faithful to Peter
And no one confronted so much in him
Well, its great that Jesus does that but then look what he asks of us . . .

9. “A new command I give you: Love one another
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” (Jn 13:34)
He calls us to be frenemies!
To love each other the same
Today – why, how and what of frenemies
Frenemies will grow the victory of your soul and defeat the slavery of sin
First why?
New Victory Begins by choosing better relationships

10. Making better frenemies needs to be a higher priority in 2017 for you because:
You can’t trust you!
Look at this leadership quote
New Victory Begins by choosing better relationships

11. “People who lead themselves well know a secret: they can’t trust themselves.” ~John Maxwell “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” ~ Jesus (Lk 9:23)
Jesus – don’t trust you – deny your instincts (sinful nature seems natural to you)
Don’t take Jesus word for it – let’s just think about this

12. Why you can’t trust yourself
You’re selfish
Body of Christ
You’re in pain
Blind spots
Insecurities
Really?
Shout out the answers like in the game show
6. Really – trusting yourself – How’s that working out for you? / over time-family
5. Blind spots – can’t see back of my head – you can (every week)
In your life – things people see but you don’t
WHY? – Mostly Pride – how satan keeps generations from blessing each other
4. Body of Christ – you are one part – you were never every part – you need others
3. Insecurities – (FEAR) – worst way to make a decision
Satan – manipulates your insecurities all the time
Makes you give up in living in faith
2. You’re in pain – impossible to see correctly in pain
Pain distorts more than anything else
See in couples on brink of divorse – hurt each other so much
Not just now – but rewrites their past – not in love – you were
Pain – why we need JESUS THE HEALER
You’re selfish
Sinful nature – natural for you to only think of yourself
Hurt others to get what you want
Always hurt yourself most
(BBALL – hurt myself – no one else)
SO I NEED A FRENEMY TO PROTECT ME FROM ME!!!!
SO MY SOUL CAN PROSPER
That’s the why.
How about the what – what does a frenemy really do
Why you can’t trust yourself

13. A true frenemy will: #5 Rejoice with you #4 Recover with you
#3 Really pray God’s will for you
Rejoice in God - #5 because lots of people will do that
#4 – Recover – be by your side
#4 – because some will do this misery loves company
don’t know how to get out of pain
but great with you in pain
(feed it –
#3 Really pray – not just say
pray not for you to just feel better – soul to be better
- to not just get through but get the good God is giving you
NEXT SLIDE – like to be your frenemy
New Victory Begins by choosing better relationships

14. Pastor Shawn wants to be your “Frenemy”
Please send me an updated picture for
my personal Cornerstone family prayer book
New Victory Begins by choosing better relationships

15. A true frenemy will: #5 Rejoice with you #4 Recover with you
#3 Really pray God’s will for you
#2 Refocus you
#1 Rebuke sin in you
Refocus – cut through world & circumstances
What does God want for me
Here is the #1 / REBUKE
Not because want to – love you
That’s the what
Now the HOW - improtant
New Victory Begins by choosing better relationships

16. How do you make better frenemies?
Build relationships around Christ
Focus on mutual character not interests
Serve in the church
Invest when you don’t have the time
Give them permission & responsibility
#1 – others can be blessing but never a frenemy (appreciate them who are)
#2 – world way vs God’s – if you want someone who calls you to same character
#3 – Serve – if they don’t serve others, not going to serve you
(stop running after popular and run after principled)
#2 Invest – frenemies take time / share life
- your calendar is killing your future!!!
#1 Book
That’s the how in theory
Here is is practically
So just look at why this is part of Christ’s victory

17. Cornerstone small groups
Isolation to Relationship
to Friendship to Frenemies
All your defenses and fears hit between each step
Book – Public to Social (acquaintance) to Friend to Intimacy
Satan fight this process in you
Look at bulletin – how will find your frenemies?
(intention needs to turn to action)
So remember the big picture of victory
New Victory Begins by choosing better relationships

18. To experience the victory of Jesus in our daily lives we need:
A loving relationship with Jesus
Practical obedience to God’s Word
Consistent spiritual warfare (next week)
Soil to grow
Final thoughts – favorite quotes on relationships

19. Show me your friends And I’ll show you your future
If your friend is an enemy of sin – s/he will do the same for you
If your friend lives in sin – encourage the same thing
New Victory Begins by choosing better relationships

20. You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with
Who are they?
How does that make you feel?
How does that make your future look?
New Victory Begins by choosing better relationships

21. If you’re the smartest person in the room, you’re in the wrong room.
Love it –
Humble yourself and be a learner
Don’t act like you’ve arrived
New Victory Begins by choosing better relationships

22. He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm. (Pr 13:18-20)
Your friends are your future
New Victory Begins by choosing better relationships

23. “I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.” (Jn 15:15)
Come to communion – this friend is your future
He gave it to you
Join me