Identity in Christ Series: Week Four. I am a Friend of God

John 15:15 (NLT) I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me.

When electricity became available in remote rural areas, one woman went to great trouble and expense to have electricity installed in her home. 

 

A few months after the wiring was installed and the power was turned on; the power company noticed that the home didn’t use very much power. Fearing that there was a problem they sent a meter reader to check on the matter. 

The meter reader saw that the power was indeed working properly and then asked the woman, “Do you use your electricity?” The woman replied, “Of course we do. We turn it on every night to see to light our lamps and then we turn it off.” (I am a friend of God by Charlie Roberts – Sermon Central)

Imagine having all that power and only using it sparingly.  How like Christians of today was this woman?  She had access to 24/7 power and yet she tapped into it only long enough to light lamps once a day.  We too have 24/7 power available to us and how often do we walk in our own strength and only call on God when something “major” arises?  How often do we needlessly struggle in our daily lives waiting for Sunday to roll around so we can be “refreshed”?  

To experience God’s power we must experience His presence.  Electricity is powerful when it is turned on; however, when the switch is set to off it is powerless.  We are powerless when we are removed from the presence of God.  Remove the presence, remove the power.  It’s that simple. Jesus said, “Apart from me you can do nothing.”(John 15:5)

Exodus 33:12-23 (AMP) Moses said to the Lord, “See, You say to me, ‘Bring up this people,’ but You have not let me know whom You will send with me. Yet You have said, ‘I know you by name, and you have also found favor in My sight.’

 

Now therefore, I pray you, if I have found favor in Your sight, let me know Your ways so that I may know You [becoming more deeply and intimately acquainted with You, recognizing and understanding Your ways more clearly] and that I may find grace and favor in Your sight. And consider also, that this nation is Your people.”

 

And the Lord said, “My presence shall go with you, and I will give you rest [by bringing you and the people into the promised land].”

 

And Moses said to Him, “If Your presence does not go [with me], do not lead us up from here.

 

For how then can it be known that Your people and I have found favor in Your sight? Is it not by Your going with us, so that we are distinguished, Your people and I, from all the [other] people on the face of the earth?”

The Lord said to Moses, “I will also do this thing that you have asked; for you have found favor (lovingkindness, mercy) in My sight and I have known you [personally] by name.” 

 

Moses said, Please, show me Your glory!” And God said, “I will make all My goodness pass before you, and I will proclaim the Name of the Lord before you; for I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show compassion (lovingkindness) on whom I will show compassion.”

 

But He said, “You cannot see My face, for no man shall see Me and live!”  But He said, “You cannot see My face, for no man shall see Me and live!”  and while My glory is passing by, I will put you in a cleft of the rock and protectively cover you with My hand until I have passed by.

 

Then I will take away My hand and you shall see My back; but My face shall not be seen.”

 

God promised Moses that His presence would go with the Israelites as they entered the Promise Land. He told Moses that he (Moses) had found favor in His sight.  God considered Moses His friend.  We know this is true because in John 15:15 Jesus told his disciples that they were His friends because He shared His thoughts and heart with them.  God brought Moses into the “know” as he lead the Israelites through the wilderness.  

God created all mankind to have a personal relationship/friendship with Himself.  In Genesis we read that Adam and Eve walked with God in the cool of the evening. They enjoyed close, intimate fellowship with God.  He shared His thoughts with them, they felt His presence every day, and they knew His voice.  

 

Genesis 18:17-18 (AMP) tells us, The LORD said, “Shall I keep secret from Abraham [My friend and servant] what I am going to do, since Abraham is destined to become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth will be blessed through him?

 

Here we see that God shared His thoughts and plans with Abraham, His friend. If you continue reading in Genesis 18 you will see that Abraham also asked questions and received answers from God. Abraham walked in the fear of the Lord, however, he understood God’s love for him and was thus able to have a conversation with God.

 In James 2:23 we are again reminded that God called Abraham His friend.  It was Abraham’s faith in God that caused God to call him His friend.  Abraham was obedient and trusted God even when the outcome didn’t look favorable.  He knew that the God who promised would keep His promises.  God desires for us to have that same kind of relationship with Him.

My husband is not a muscle builder, he doesn’t carry a big gun, however, when I am with him I feel safe.  Why? I know his character and I know he loves me.  He would willingly give his life to protect me if that was called for.  Jesus did just that when He came to earth and gave His life for ours.  He opened the way for us to have intimacy with the Father. 

 

God not only wants us to know His presence and power, He wants to talk to us as His friends.  He wants us to know His nature and be so intimate with Him that we, like Abraham, can trust even when things do not look favorable.

Jeremiah 29:13 (NIV) You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

In Exodus 33 Moses reminded God of His promise to be with him because God had stopped allowing His presence to be felt by the Israelites because of their rebellion.  The people had stopped seeking God and were relying on their own strength.  They complained against God at every turn.  

How many people behave like the Israelites?  They attend church each week but don’t experience His presence.  Like having electricity but not flipping the switch, they rely on their past experience with God and fail to grow.  Our past experiences are not intended to last us a lifetime; His mercies are new every day.  

Exodus 16:4, 19-20, Then the Lord said to Moses, “Look, I’m going to rain down food from heaven for you. Each day the people can go out and pick up as much food as they need for that day. I will test them in this to see whether or not they will follow my instructions.

 

Then Moses told them, “Do not keep any of it until morning.”  But some of them didn’t listen and kept some of it until morning. But by then it was full of maggots and had a terrible smell. Moses was very angry with them

 

Just as the Israelites had to go out each day to gather manna, we need to seek God’s presence and His power each day too.  Yesterday’s manna is old and stale today.  God has fresh, new manna for us each day.  Intimacy with God is how we receive this fresh, new manna.  Having conversations with our Father takes an investment of our time, however, the rewards far outweigh the cost!!! 

One problem we see in our culture is that we want all the blessings and privileges of the grownup life but we don’t want to invest the energy, time, and hard work necessary to achieve them.  College students expect to graduate from college and then be set up in a home like/or better than the one their parents have worked 20-40+ years to establish.  

Debt is at an all-time high because instead of working hard to get what we want our culture encourages us to borrow, get a credit card (or 5) and get what we want instantly.   

This attitude has crept into the church as well.  We want God’s presence and we want to be called friends of God, but too many are unwilling to invest the time in seeking God’s face and studying His Word. 

Being a friend of God involves give and take.  Moses talked with God daily, sometimes hourly, even minute by minute at times. Friendship is an investment.  

 

I have many friends and relatives who live in other parts of the country.  Due to the advancements in technology, I can chat via text message, as well as talk to them from anywhere at any time.  Not only can I hear their voices, I can now see their faces in real time through FaceTime or some other video chat app.  Why??? To build and maintain relationships with them.  I want to know about my nieces and nephews (great nephews and niece too J).  I want to share my life and the amazing things God is doing with them.  I want to feel like I’m a part of what is happening in their lives and I want them to be a part of what is happening in my life. 

Friends, we don’t need a fancy iPhone or an app to spend time with our Best Friend!  Jesus is with us 24/7. God’s power and presence are available to us 24/7.  We don’t have to wait until Sunday to get refreshed, we can have that refreshing anytime, anywhere.   

When we seek Him we will find Him!!!   You are a friend of God! Keep in constant communication with Him and allow Him to talk to you every day! Fresh, new manna is waiting for you!!!!