Download... July 25, 2010. Sunday Morning Service. Bro. Dave Goble.
Friendship is so much more than a mere association, or affiliation of any kind. It is also what God desires to have with each of us, and will, if we are fully and zealously surrendered to His will!
TEXT: EXODUS 33:9-12
9 And it came to pass, as Moses entered into the tabernacle, the cloudy pillar descended, and stood at the door of the tabernacle, and the Lord talked with Moses.
10 And all the people saw the cloudy pillar stand at the tabernacle door: and all the people rose up and worshipped, every man in his tent door.
11 And the LORD spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend. And he turned again into the camp: but his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, departed not out of the tabernacle.
12 And Moses said unto the LORD, See, thou sayest unto me, Bring up this people: and thou hast not let me know whom thou wilt send with me. Yet thou hast said, I know thee by name, and thou hast also found grace in my sight.Verse 10 All who saw God’s presence in the form of a cloudy pillar, rose up at their doors and commenced to worship. verse 11. God had spoken to Moses, Friend to Friend! Are you a friend of God? A loaded question if you are not certain of your spiritual condition. Each person’s heart is today,..a “tabernacle.” Is it made holy unto God? Where do you stand? There must be a burning desire, to accomplish this friendship.
Exodus 33:17 And the LORD said unto Moses, I will do this thing also that thou hast spoken: for thou hast found grace in my sight, and I know thee by name.
Moses pleaded with the Lord to have his request honored, ..to keep the Israelites as His people. Exodus 33:11 This is where Moses was in the tabernacle with God. God here spoke to Moses,.. as a friend. When you are friends in a visit, you have a communion that is safe, and not hurtful. Your time will not be spent in an unfair “judgment.” Your true friends will have your best interest at heart. God’s way of speaking here and with all of His children, is as with a friend. “Pleasant associations” are usually so by the supported formal conduct of respect. Conversely there is a way to speak to those you are more intimately endeared to. Not by a formality “afar off”, but closely on an intimate basis. As in a loving father child relationship. Again, Exodus 33:12-17 An important relationship is going on here. Verse 13 Moses here is petitioning God, for His people. Moses was speaking to God as a man speaks to his friend, and vice versa. God can help us, that we would truly be also a friend to God!
James 2:23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.
A title of being known as A Friend of God. Br Goble told how in a previous employment, it was discussed concerning the different titles people would bear. With Br Goble that was not an issue of importance. Yet, he would desire the title before leaving this life, that.. he was a Friend of God. The question again,..Are you a friend of God? It is one of vital importance. Either to God you are a friend,..or an enemy! The bible, (new and old testaments) speaks in many places of God having enemies. God doesn’t choose this, people’s choices in life do! God does choose though, after the fact. II Thessalonians 2: 10-11 10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
God will not stoop down to unrighteousness, other than to deliver from that condition! If and when, a soul will recognize their undone condition. God is only a friend of righteousness. Are you a friend of God? It is one friendship where we will recognize the awesome worthiness and honor of God! A friendship with the creator of the universe, the all of where we live, and how. Knowing this does not cause us to discount science, the substance of which comes from God. Yet we must only have real trust in the faith of God,..the origin of all. God made humanity with the ability to recreate itself. The enormity and minuteness... of God. Yet God spoke to Moses, as a man to a friend. All the temporal “powers” now illustrated in our times, is nothing compared to what is demonstrated with the power of a friendship with God. Are you His friend? Consider now your condition, and come and find rest. Matthew 11:28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Communication and rest with the Creator of the universe! Revelations 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. A friendship ensures an invitation.
To be a friend to anyone, you must first be introduced. Introduction is Always the beginning. God told Moses that He knew his name. Friends often think very much alike. There is a commonality between the two. With God, friendship is of a closeness beginning with that necessary personal “introduction.” True friends have meetings on an intimate level, as God has with any and all of His true children.
There are many affiliations today, employers, medical care, clubs, churches, special markets, etc. How do we validate these associations, other than by the frequent interactions? In the "world" often a business friendship on a power level is demonstrated by a “power handshake” which incorporates both hands grasping another's hand symbolizing that “connection.” God wants more than just an affiliation, ..He wants a true friendship, and partnership. Are you a friend of God? Again, it requires a personal introduction, that will incorporate a warm intimacy of spirituality.
Exodus 3:3-6 3 And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt. 4 And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here [am] I. 5 And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest [is] holy ground. 6 Moreover he said, I [am] the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God.
Moses was drawn to God by the burning bush. God called him by his name, therefore it was a personal introduction. Similarly the apostle Paul first was introduced to Christ on the road to Damascus. (Acts 9th chapter.) People need a “burning bush” etc., to have a personal introduction, and to truly possess a friendship with God.
God lovingly desires this personal and intimate relationship with us. It is so we can experience His knowledge by His name, which requires a conversion. It must be that, to be more than just a religious “mindset.” This scriptural account was seen as Moses first introduction to God. We must come to God with all of our sins, and recognize our shameful condition. It is not a popular message in our more current times. Many generations ago though, it was a more well known message in many different denominations. If one wants an intimate relationship with God, they must fully recognize the affliction of their sinful condition. It is the only way any can be delivered from sin, and get to know God as a friend. This is the only way God can separate one from their undone condition. It is the only way to that personal introduction,.. enabling one to spend that intimate time with God.
John 17:6-12 6 I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word. 7 Now they have known that all things whatsoever thou hast given me are of thee. 8 For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me. 9 I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine. 10 And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them. 11 And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are. 12 While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.
Verse 11 If you are a friend of God, you will have a different name, born from a conversion. It will be a spiritual name, if your name is written in the book of life. A new birth of spirituality with God. Have you had that new birth spiritually? The new birth of salvation is a process that is instantaneous, and not one that is an ongoing “affiliation.” Verse 12 God’s children are kept in God’s name. Kept to be not of the world, although still in the world. Kept,..from all evil. John 10:14 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. Kept as a good shepherd knows and keeps his own sheep.
To be a friend of God, we need to stand for all.. of who God is. Not a “backstabber.” We stand for all that God stands for. We will not continue to act as God’s enemy. This does not preclude our humanity, which was created with obvious limitations. But it is based in our motivations of heart. Beyond just our humanity,.. sin is a willful transgression. John 9:41 Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.
Similarly, an oft repeated “infraction” projects a willful motive. God wants a friend that will stick closer than a brother and is obedient. Proverbs 18:24 A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.
If you don’t want to let God down, you will always be completely open and honest to all, especially to Him. The way I treat my brother is how I treat God. To be motivated in any way of selfishness towards a brother, is an offense to God. If you can forgive others, then God can forgive you. Many may think this is too high of a “standard,” yet God gives the “instructions” and grace to obey and be clear with Him. Living free from sin is not only possible but required, even though we are human. Again sin is more than merely being human or making mistakes, it is a willful transgression. A pure life is possible because Christ paid the price with His very own blood, to deliver us and impart His power. A conversion, is more than an “affiliation,” but a friendship by spiritual birth. Can all say here this morning,..I am not an enemy, but a friend of God?
