“As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend. (Prov. 27:17, NLT)

A true friend is hard to find

“Many will say they are loyal friends, but who can find one who is truly reliable? (Prov. 20:6, NLT)

A true friend is always loyal

“A friend is always loyal, and a brother is born to help in time of need.” (Prov. 17:17, NLT)

A true friend sticks closer than a brother

“There are “friends” who destroy each other, but a real friend sticks closer than a brother. (Prov. 18:24, NLT)

A true friend is godly and gives good advice

“The godly give good advice to their friends; the wicked lead them astray.” (Prov. 12:26, NLT)

A true friend speaks the truth in love, even when it hurts

“An open rebuke is better than hidden love! Wounds from a sincere friend are better than many kisses from an enemy.” (Prov. 27:5-6, NLT)

A true friend brings heartfelt counsel

“The heartfelt counsel of a friend is as sweet as perfume and incense.” (Prov. 27:9, NLT)

God is the truest friend!

“For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son.” (Rom. 5:10, NLT)

“Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent.” (Rev. 3:19 ESV)

God is treating you as sons

“And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.” It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.” (Heb. 12:5-11 ESV)

Therefore…

“My son, do not despise the Lord's discipline or be weary of his reproof, for the Lord reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights.” (Prov. 3:11-12 ESV)

“Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid.” (Prov. 12:1 ESV)

“I will not set before my eyes anything that is worthless. I hate the work of those who fall away; it shall not cling to me.” (Psalm 101:3 ESV)

Be careful

With all that is shown in movies and TV, advertiser’s commercials and electronic devices, it is almost impossible to avoid seeing a lot of stuff that is “worthless”. But, never the less, we are commanded in Scripture to be careful what we put before our eyes because it will affect us negatively.

The eye is a lamp of the body

“Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is full of light, but when it is bad, your body is full of darkness. Therefore be careful lest the light in you be darkness. If then your whole body is full of light, having no part dark, it will be wholly bright, as when a lamp with its rays gives you light.” (Luke 11:34-36 ESV)

Therefore…

“Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things; and give me life in your ways.” (Psalm 119:37 ESV)

“Let your eyes look directly ahead And let your gaze be fixed straight in front of you.” (Prov. 4:25)

“…’The Lord knows those who are His,’ …” (2 Tim. 2:19)

We are not alone because God has many faithful followers

“…Elijah the prophet complained to God about the people of Israel and said, ‘Lord, they have killed your prophets and torn down your altars. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me, too.’ And do you remember God’s reply? He said, ‘No, I have 7,000 others who have never bowed down to Baal!’” (Rom.11:2-4 NLT)

Elijah thought he was alone, but wasn’t

In the passage above Elijah the prophet complained to God and said that he was the only one left who was faithful to Him. But, God told him he was not alone and there were actually 7,000 others who were faithful to God. Imagine how that revelation must have made Elijah feel. He was not alone and there were thousands of other faithful followers of God!

It is not good to be alone so God made us helpers

“Then the Lord God said, ‘It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.’” (Gen. 2:18 ESV)

We are not alone because God is present and knows us

“…but if anyone loves God, he is known by Him.” (1 Cor. 8:3)

“I am the good shepherd, and I know My own and My own know Me,” (John 10:14)

“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me…” (John 10:27)

Therefore…

“Nevertheless, I am continually with you; you hold my right hand.” (Psalm 73:23 ESV)

“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” (Psalm 23:4 ESV)

“I and the Father are one." (John 10:30)

Jesus is the exact representation of the Father

“The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word.” (Heb. 1:3 NIV)

Jesus came from the Father

“I came forth from the Father and have come into the world; I am leaving the world again and going to the Father." (John 16:28)

Jesus does what He sees the Father doing

“Therefore Jesus answered and was saying to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner.” (John 5:19)

Jesus came to do the will of the Father

“For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.” (John 6.38)

Therefore…

“If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love.” (John 15:10)

“Jesus answered and said to them, "Do not grumble among yourselves.” (John 6:43)

Do not complain

“Do not complain, brethren, against one another, so that you yourselves may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing right at the door.” (James 5:9)

Instead…

“Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.” (Eph. 4:31)

“Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation. Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life.” (Phil. 2:14-16 NIV)

“Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear.” (Eph. 4:29)

“Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.” (Mark 4:23 NLT)

Faith comes from hearing the Word of Christ

“So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” (Rom. 10:17 ESV)

Listen to Jesus’ teaching and receive more understanding

“Then he added, ‘Pay close attention to what you hear. The closer you listen, the more understanding you will be given—and you will receive even more. To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them.’” (Mark 4:24-25 NLT)

Therefore…

“He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” (Matt. 11:15 ESV)

“As for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience.” (Luke 8:15 ESV)

“We have received all of this by coming to know him.” (2 Peter 1:3 NLT)

Three questions often asked

Over the years I’ve found that there are three questions often asked by believers: First, “How can I live a Godly life to please the Lord?” Secondly, “How can I keep from falling as I’ve seen happen to others?” Thirdly, “How can I be productive and useful?” There’s a wonderful passage of Scripture found in 2nd Peter 1:3-11 that answers these questions.

God has given you everything you need to live a Godly life

“By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence.” (2 Peter 1:3 NLT)

God has provided you great a precious promises to enable you

“And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires. In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises.” (2 Peter 4-5 NLT)

Continue to grow by supplementing your faith generously with the following things

“Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone. The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But those who fail to develop in this way are shortsighted or blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their old sins.” (2 Peter 1:5-9 NLT)

Work hard to prove you are among God’s called and chosen

“So, dear brothers and sisters, work hard to prove that you really are among those God has called and chosen.” (2 Peter 1:10 NLT)

Therefore…

“Do these things, and you will never fall away.” (2 Peter 1:10 NLT)

“Then God will give you a grand entrance into the eternal Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” (2 Peter 1:11 NLT)

“Sing to the LORD a new song; Sing to the LORD, all the earth.” (Psalm 96:1 NASB)

New Song: “The newness theme is reflected throughout Scripture. Isaiah prophesied of a new order that would bring new blessings to the people of God. This new order with its attendant blessings is expressed by the climax of the newness theme in the New Testament Book of Revelation: a new name (2:17 ; 3:12 ); the new Jerusalem (3:12 ; 21:2); a new heaven and a new earth (21:1); and "all things new" (21:5).” - Bible Dictionary

Sing a new song

• Sing a new song because He has done wonderful things

“O sing to the LORD a new song, For He has done wonderful things, His right hand and His holy arm have gained the victory for Him.” (Psalm 98:1 NASB)

• Sing a new song with praise in the congregation of the godly ones

“Praise the LORD! Sing to the LORD a new song, And His praise in the congregation of the godly ones.” (Psalm 149:1 NASB)

• Sing a new song with a shout if joy

“Sing to Him a new song; Play skillfully with a shout of joy.” (Psalm 33:3NASB)

Therefore…

“The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and I am helped. Therefore my heart rejoices, and I will thank Him with my song.” (Psalm 28:7 ESV)

“He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God; Many will see and fear And will trust in the LORD.” (Psalm 40:3 NASB)