12/03/2023
A DOSE OF FAITH IN FRIENDSHIPS
Mark 2:1-12
Friendship began centuries before now. It is the oldest way of communicating with one another with or without blood (relatives), yet the bonding will still be heavenly.
We have seen how friendship turned things around for an individual, and how deadly it was for another. Nonetheless, no human can say he/she has not in one way enjoyed the bliss friendship gives.
The best of love relationships or marriages which have witnessed unflinching beauties of life started as friends. It then grew to being more than friends and eventually they became ONE in body, spirit, and soul.
There is an enormous gain in friendship. Take your time to ask any great personality and you'll be surprised or not surprised that the greatness seen in the person, flowed out like rivers unceasingly due to the right friends kept by the person.
This wise words are still very correct — "Show me your friends and I will tell you who you are."
The arrival of one's destiny depends on the friendship at the disposal of who you are. If you don't keep right friends who will affect you positively, you'll be surprised at the negativity you will manifest.
Time will fail me to tell you how friends have helped me thus far — some I have met physically and some I haven't (Prov. 18:24).
So, I pray for y'all – you'll enjoy uncommon, tireless, and unchanging friendships that will change things more positively for you, in Jesus name. Amen!
No more living in wretchedness, no more acting as mediocres, no more trying to make waves alone, no more having it all to yourself — when you have friends you can thrive together into spotlights of outstanding all-round prosperities.
I know you don't feel like having anyone to call a friend. It is not about feelings. In the past, you might have encountered frenemies, but now; you know better about where are heading to with God. You don't need those who can't travel on the path with you.
If they don't inspire, encourage or motivate you to BECOME MORE of who you are right now, they should excuse themselves or you move away from them.
Building and repairing friendships are long-term investments. You can't joke with wrong vibes of friends around you. They won't build or repair you.
Remember, if you can't be like them, then be yourself. No matter what, you will see who will connect with you to achieving greatness.
The Bible reference to this teaching blessed me greatly and I'm sure it will bless you too.
Open your Bible to Mark 2:1-12.
In summary, you'll see the dose of faith that the four friends of the man with the palsy had. They knew exactly how to get their friends delivered from the disease. So, they went to do the unimaginable by a reckless faith in themselves, that if they can go this far, the healing will be as fast as flash of light.
Do you have a dose of faith in your friends for their deliverance of any kind?
It's not a must you begin to rally around for the reason behind the predicament. Making people know about it here and there.
Why have you not bring that friend of yours to Jesus?
Note that, it was their faith Jesus saw. How come will these friends have this kind of faith. No wonder, he gave the cure speedily — forgiveness of sins.
Sinners are like the paralytic man. They need help. Hence, you're the friend of God sent to them as a rescue to deliver them from the doom to come upon them.
Are we really friends with God?
If yes, when last did you do the work of a lovely friend to bless His heart and make Him smile with just a soul?
You and I need to show ourselves friendly too. Since Jesus laid His life for us as friends to Him. Then, we should try to bring eternal Word to dying souls.
Yes, He will undoubtedly forgive them and set them free (Mark 2:5, 11-12).
Read what John Gill's says about this:
"Pointing and striking at the root of his disorder, his sins. Christ calls him son, though, in this afflicted condition a person may be a child of God, and yet greatly afflicted by him; afflictions are not arguments against, but rather for sonship: "for what son is he whom the Father chasteneth not?" He scourgeth every son whom he receiveth, and by chastising them, dealeth with them as with sons; and such as are without chastisement are bastards, and not sons, ( Hebrews 12:6-8 ) , yea he calls him a son, though a sinful creature, and who had not, as yet, until these words were spoken by Christ, any discovery and application of pardoning grace unto him: he was a son of God by divine predestination, being predestinated to the adoption of children: he was a son by virtue of the covenant of grace, he was interested in, as appears by his enjoying pardon of sin, a blessing of it; which runs thus, "I will be their Father, and they shall be my sons and daughters", ( 2 Corinthians 6:18 ). "
Moving on... ☺️
Mark 2:6-9 sheds more light on the fact, that so many people like the scribes will be mad at you for responding to the call of friendship, by doing your quota in bringing sinners to Jesus.
So, they will do all they can to discourage you and not allow you go the long mile in fulfilling your mandate ambassador of Christ and friend of God.
Refuse to look at them. Don't wait to chat with them. Act as if they are not around you.
The double portion of the anointing for Exploits Of Faith is close like Elisha whom the sons of the prophets wanted to discourage. Your focus should be on Daniel 12:3.
Jesus will now crown your efforts with laughter of joy by telling them that you are doing His will. He will fight for you (vs 9), help the sinner by the Holy Spirit to be convicted, forgiven and saved (vs 10), then He will perfect the healing (vs 11).
In an astonishing way, Jesus will make people rejoice at your outstanding work of reconciliation by people glorifying God on your behalf (Matt. 5:16, Mark 5:12).
They will be awed and scream: We have never seen anything like this before! (Mark 5:12c)
In conclusion, let us see... ☺️
• Ways Of Developing Friendship Skills
1. Keep secrets and build trust.
2. Develop lovely acts of respect and honesty.
3. Practice active listening skills.
- establish eye contact with the other person
- listen to the person without interrupting
- listen without thinking of what you'll say next
- empathize with the person as he/she is speaking
4. Use "I" statements.
5. Learn to be of support to him/her, especially heartfelt in prayers.
With this, I hope you'll desire to have a dose of faith in friendship for God's will to be done on earth.
Thank you very much for your time.
I really appreciate you.
God bless you.
Don't forget, I love y'all.
Yours In Friendship,
Olasunkanmi Hotonu
• Question: Having a friend you want to establish something with but today she is good and tomorrow she is acting like you guys have issues, how do you handle such friendship?
Ans 1: I don't know what's truly between both of you, but it depends on how well you know this lady. If you know her well. You'll have to meet with her. Let her know how you feel about the whole matter, and settle with her, if she will still love to establish with you or not.
Why?
You can't assume her state of mind. You need to be sure before conclusion. So, you'll know if you'll stay in such a relationship or not.
Ans 2: It could be mood swings, hence She needs to know herself and know the person. She need not assume. Before establishing anything with anyone you must first understand or under study the person.
® Grow To Glow Int'l, 2023
