Are They For Popularity or Purpose? - Rev. Dr. Trish McLeod

[Music] invite you all to bring your minds and your thoughts in as we get ready to start a holy place service amen and your brothers to see here thank you for standing in the appropriate place as we bring the service before the Lord thank you lord thank you Lord isn't God good isn't the Lord truly wonderful amen amen father we adore you we bow before you God we glorify your name we declare that you alone are God you are the mighty God the everlasting father you are our good good father we thank you we praise your name thank you for every opportunity Lord to come in the sanctuary of praise to lift up holy hands and to tell you thank you you're so awesome you're so amazing you keep us Lord you watch over us even between services God's something could have happened and we don't take that for granted we tell you thank you God you're keeping us for a reason give us the grace to present our bodies before you as a living sacrifice that he can spend us for your honor and for your glory use the service tonight God to draw somebody closer use the service than that God to cause somebody to drink deeper in the mighty name of Jesus have your way touch the singing and the preaching God even the testimonies - we pray Lord that you move among us tonight that when believe this place we can see I was glad when they said unto me let us go back into the house of the Lord we thank you for what you would do this evening in Jesus name Amen good evening Saints good evening if we can all can stand for the reading of God's holy word which will be coming from the book of Jude verses 20 through 25 that's Jude verses 20 through 25 if you need a Bible please lift your hands and I assure we'll accommodate you amen you may also look our along with me on the screens to my left and my right once again that is Jude chapter Jude verses 20 through 25 here begins the reading of God's Holy Word but ye beloved building up yourselves on your most holy faith praying and the Holy Ghost keep yourselves in the love of God looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life and of some having compassion making a difference and others save with fear pulling them out of the fire hating even the garment spotted by the flesh now unto him that is able to keep you from falling and to present you faultless before his presence before his presence before his glory with exceeding joy to the only wise God Our Saviour be glory and Majesty Dominion and power both now and forever amen so far the scripture please remain standing okay good evening Beth Rafa John's just read us the benediction we might as well go home now read us the benediction thank you stay here we are going to worship the Lord and song is that all right put your hands together we're gonna talk about how he brought us out of the miry clay [Music] [Music] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Music] [Music] to say [Music] [Music] [Music] way my bracelet [Music] to say Oh to Oh [Music] [Music] the same [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] thank you you may have in this Lord is here the presence of the Lord is in this place thank you Lord thank you look welcome to our holy blazed service we welcome our streamers welcome everyone into the house of the Lord we thank the Lord for his presence you don't ever want to take that for granted some people gather cuz they might not be gathering in his name but at least we know he's in the house and Men thank God for our Bishop who is flying in any minute now she might get off the plane and let us know she's all the way we'll find that out but you're here and there are testimonies in the house now here's how we do it if you have one you jump up and go to that side of the church just kind of hang out over there and come one by one I just need to know you're very intentions and then we can close it down so if you're going to testify come on now and come along this side here there are testimonies in the house the Lord is good sometimes you just need one person to say it and it just kind of jars our memory but let's just take a minute and just think on his with his goodness 60 seconds just think on it's goodness 30 seconds Thank You Lord and the testimonies will pop up just have to think on his goodness and what he's done amen [Music] [Music] [Music] welcome the Beth Rafa reaching beyond ourselves is a part of the believers responsibility Jesus reached all the way down to gather us unto himself we were so far away from God due to sin and rebellion yet in his love and mercy he came and gave His life so that we might live closely to him with this in mind we should extend ourselves to others who are broken wounded disappointed and discouraged anytime you feel that reaching is too much just remember that his reaching for us was extremely far because we were way down low on behalf of our senior pastor Bishop Jacqueline I McCulloch welcome to Beth Rafa where you can experience healing to heal by loving Christ [Music] [Music] yeah I don't know Piper just hey Beth Rafa is deacon Josh and you know if I'm here it's for a pretty good reason ladies and gentlemen it is our 18th church anniversary let's get excited everybody 18 years God has blessed us 18 years God has favoured us 18 years God has been with us so everybody let's get excited it's gonna be a jam-packed weekend November 8th through the 10th it's gonna be spectacular in Jesus name I'm [Music] okay I can't run with the microphone so I gotta stay put this year's anniversary theme is a generation of Watchers and our theme scripture is taken from first Peter chapter 4 verse 7 here begins the reading of God's holy word but the end of all things is at hand be ye therefore sober and watch unto prayer on Friday night we're gonna be meeting at the Hilton Woodcliff Lake at 8:00 p.m. the address is 200 types Boulevard and woodcliff lake new jersey that's our Rafah alliance night so come out to hear a dynamic word from Pastor Lenny Harvey of charity cathedral international of Bronx New York and on Saturday morning at 11 a.m. were back at Beth Rafa for none other than bishop Anthony Jin right of the garden at numa Life Center in Charlotte North Carolina now on Sunday morning November the 10th at our 7:30 a.m. and 11:15 a.m. service we have Bishop Julia McMillan of new dawn restoration center and on Sunday night at our 6:30 holy blaze service to culminate our anniversary celebration none other than Pastor Steven Samuel of Westbury Gospel Tabernacle in Westbury New York listen guys I am excited about our church anniversary God has done so much for us during these years and he's going to do even more in the years to come yeah I don't know Piper just hey Beth Rafa is deke [Music] [Music] you Jamaica Jamaica we have one of the greatest opportunity that God can give any nation and that is to make our nation well again let's band together and make Jamaica well hello Jamaica we're so happy to be here this is Word Alive health and wellness festival what does that mean that we're here to minister to people in terms of intervention we have doctors nurses dentists touching people making them well but we're also talking about prevention how can we eat them how can we exercise differently how can we live better with each other how can we worship God with a different attitude that's what we mean by making Jamaica well again it's a holistic approach to life Jesus died to give us the power to live differently in a pool in world and we came to help you live in Jamaica differently so we have this clinic and walked it under the leadership of Bishop Courtney McLean in partnership with best Rest chicken and hydro and so many others making sure that we leave an impression on your heart that you deserve to be well God died to make you well and we are working with you in the area of changing your way of thinking changing the way we deal with each other no more violence no more cut less about peace we want to make this country well god bless you you know goddess said that the church should let its light shine that men may want see or good work and glorify the father and that's what worship and faith International Coalition in collaboration with Word Alive is doing right now lights are being touched lives are being transformed we want to make Jamaica well again Marsha Canfield has always had this vision of impacting lives building people and listen the church is in the church we are located we sell chicken across to make our number one chicken provider but our mission is never to just sell chicken as impact lives so this partnership was just a no-brainer for us you know so when Bishop came to us it was like for sure it's in our community it's what we do we take care of people are we take care of lives while giving you to shine we see a lot of people out and so we're just looking forward to just you know it's back-to-school time and all the time this is hard for people to get like I mean to see people come out and just to give them the care that they needed to get him back to school already so that's why we really wanted to partner for this mission Christophe Don Minister of Health Jamaica it's really a wonderful experience weakness the significant contribution to public health and wellness that Bishop McCullough and her world alive team have brought here to Saint Catherine they are here they are getting counseling they're getting advice they're getting treatment they're getting medication they're getting equipment in some instances make oh let me use this opportunity to say how much gratitude and thanks to the organizers of this event they sponsors the participants I see hundreds of people both adult middle-aged old age kids that are being cared for I see persons getting dental care person's getting optical care persons being treated for lifestyle diseases diabetes hypertension also I see persons been cared for wellness and I just want to say on behalf of the citizens that this kind of venture is the kind of thing that keep this country alive and well i'm bevvan morrison president of the coal foundation for the environment and sustainable development know more than ever jamika needs Jesus word alive is making the word come alive in our families in our communities and in the nation of Jamaica the role of the cross foundation was to be one of the local partners for Bishop McCullough and best rapper and Word Alive we were pleased to work with government private sector and other charitable organizations to make this thing happen so we work with a Ministry of Health ensure that we could help to clear the two containers of with medicines pharmaceuticals and other materials they had in the containers we worked to register all the medical team reacts Jamaica Transworld and the airport's authorized to meet and greet delegates so when they come in to Jamaica do no good jamaican hospitality we look forward to seeing this mission come again and to hold hands and to extend hands between Jamaicans here and abroad thank you our team has been working very closely with Word Alive ministries from earlier this year in helping to collaborate for this very important mission Heron Spanish Town Jamaica you have been very very privileged to be a part of the team working alongside the Word Alive Ministries team and also being afforded the privilege to be able to help this very important community what is also very interesting too was that you have a pharmaceutical component so persons who were in need of medicines and so on they could have been able to access those well needed supplies and so it all Ronit has been a very very positive experience making a tremendous impact and difference for the people here it's environment our mission through Lions Clubs International is that off-site preservation and so when were asked to partner with this group it was our joy and pleasure and we're so happy to be a part of this that we came in on board to be here every day of this clinic thing is I've really been somewhat stumped by the enormity of this clinic I've not seen one like it before and it may be difficult to rival what we have seen here because the outreach is so massive that has been on over the last four days and we're still without space to take very many others who'd want to come in so as LANs we're here given off ourselves to this mission and this mission is one that is very well received by the people here in Spanish tone but then I've also been advised that most people are coming from Red Cross Island to avail themselves of these services has been a wonderful four days and we are proud as lands from last comes international to be here serving this course indeed if not made my heart very glad this morning just last year I prayed on the institution and a lot to really resonate it and so on and this morning when I got the call I didn't expect it so quickly but I'm happy that you are here I must give a very special thank you to Bishop Jacqueline McCullough who put up 52 ourselves however in the institution in with the parish and especially knowing that we have been having a lot of issues with resources and they're tryna I'm happy for the public partnership that we are having here I'm so I believe in it and soon it is happening so I give thanks for our times to have this shop Jacqueline McCullough organization Word Alive indeed I can see you're doing a great job across the river the world were already bored alive it's worth a lot to me cuz you're making us all remember what you do organization so that today surely in the March our day with director of nursing services can be our recipient of this awesome job that you've done and also my one of my nurses with the use of stage and the first one day destroyed so thank you thank you [Music] thank you for loving us we thank you for caring for us we thank you for giving us the power and the ability to bring changes you came to earth to give us the power God to be transformed therefore we're seizing the opportunity to change our nation our children can have a secured future because our nation has been transformed by your power in US and through us give us the power give us a result give us your word give us your strength so that we can make Jamaica well again in Jesus name Amen you then ie my disciples indeed it's amazing how we can be faithful to other things some appointments we never miss but we miss her appointment with the word then you wonder why you're so upset and miserable you know I'm saying you can't really backslide but you don't want to grow so you're gonna be miserable you understand go ahead 32 and you show what know what look at that Jesus that's another sermon you shall know the truth and the what now you know why you're not free come on now you know why you've been bondage why are you going back to that relationship why are you still on the phone why are you doing certain things that you used to do cuz you left off truth truth with what but you have to what continue is that a one-time deal it's on a Sunday morning only experience okay then the next this cannot be gained without the help of the Lord you cannot you cannot know the word understand the word or even want the word without the help of the Lord romans romans 11:33 move with me quickly romans 11:33 here's how you get help all the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God how unsearchable are his judgments and his ways are what pass finding out you can't know this by your own knowledge or your some book or experience you can't evaluate what is truth what is God's Word unless the Holy Spirit let's look at verse 34 for who has known the mind of the Lord or who has been his counselor hey we have this new thing around here now that every time you get ready to do something I have confirmation I have confirmation consummation I have confirmation and it's an arrogant spirit have confirmation and it is taken out of context you don't even come to Bible study you never came to hermeneutics class but you have confirmation come on and you don't even study it properly so but my hope the Holy Spirit has to what open up your understanding you can get mad all you want to visit talking about your friend but I'm telling you right now we're in trouble in this church because that poison has ran through the church and some of these weak young people are making major tragic decisions because there were influenced by the wrong person you don't like it meet me after church lady we don't have a discussion everybody got confirmation and they can't hardly live holy all right the only way that I can understand the Word of God is what through the Holy Spirit you have read many passages and missed it I've read something over and over and didn't see it and then one day I read it oh my god this is what you mean and I'm saying this is what you're saying even with the blue letter Bible and the commentaries it takes the Holy Spirit to turn it on so I could watch embrace it it's mighty funny the Lord only gives you scriptures to boost you but never correct you that lets me know something wrong come on you get all these visions and all these things but your net are you hate correction you hate correction I get corrected every day I got corrected this morning I don't pass Robin ouch I gotta share this with you the Lord correct me for I couldn't even open my eyes you understand it is acquired only when God shows himself man discovers what God reveals God reveals man discovers this is his word not yours this is his word not Beth Rafa's so he's the one that has to what open it up what does reveal mean to expose it to open it up so I can't go to skim off skim off and take what I want and leave what I don't want that's heresy did you hear what I say that's heresy I've got to find out what did God say through these original authors I can't change the author I can't change their their their their information it was all scripture was what given by what the inspiration of who not me not you and it is profitable here's a dirty word doctrine anybody who doesn't like doctrine they're heretical doctrine keeps you from heresy you understand for dolphin here's another reason for what reproof that means I've got to be corrected for correction and for what instruction in righteousness that I may grow up and be thoroughly equipped to live a consistent Christian life that's why people are not consistent because they don't believe the word they make it up as they go do you understand now there there are different ways to acquire knowledge from God you see God in nature all right we know the heavens are clear into what glory of God and the firmament show it forth is handy where that Psalm 19 and of course you can read about that in Romans 1 19 through 20 you see him in history or Providence you see God working in history Deuteronomy 6:20 Daniel 221 and of course you seem in the Bible some 119 amen more to be desired are they than go away even more than what fine gold praise the Lord then the next way is mental knowledge mental knowledge is not is not capable of having giving you what God is saying mental knowledge only pops you up what do we mean by mental knowledge education experience all the stuff that we learn on the outside that's necessary for your occupation so you could pay your tithes and offering that's all it is that's always that's that's all we're going after these careers for ourselves and that's why it's not successful cuz we're not using the career to further the gospel that's why he gave you that career to give you a platform to further the gospel but that mental knowledge that acquired knowledge whether it's social work whether it's nursing whether it's medical science whether it's law or whatever that knowledge cannot be compared to the knowledge of the truth of God's Word and those kinds of knowledge usually professor FAFSA makes us proud maura knowledge okay that affects your will but having an experience with God touches your soul and your conscience all right so let's look at the Ephesians 1:17 to support that that the god of our Lord Jesus Christ through the father of glory may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him the eyes of your understanding being what enlightened that's what truth comes to do enlighten you you don't know nothing I don't care what school you went to and how many degrees you don't know anything you God has to what enlighten that you may know what is the hope of your calling why do you think educated people are committing suicide they have no hope they may have a career they may have all kinds of stuff eaten in the church but if you don't study the word you will not have the hope why am I called why am i chosen why am i different why did the Lord save me he all of that comes through what knowing the Lord the hope of your calling go ahead uh-uh-uh-uh-uh and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance you get to know who you are and what God has for you that's one of the biggest discouragement I don't have anything I don't have anybody I don't know what's gonna happen to me I'm getting older I don't get the income like I used to they cut my check I lost my job you know when you don't have that relationship with the Lord through his word you can't navigate through those rough times without losing your mind those things will make you lose your heart and your mind you need to know where your help comes from and to know what is the exceeding greatness of its power to us word who believe according to the working of his mighty power and then finally our scription and i'm going to go into my conclusion Matthew 13:23 one [Music] [Applause] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] go to God [Applause] Friday night prayer after catechism is not in vain oh you need to know it you need to know your prayers yes from your lips to God's ears it is the prayer of the righteous and he will answer you yes he will he will work your situation out for you just make sure that when you pray you don't have no doubt what God can do for you don't you what they can't do I was gonna work it out ooh [Music] [Music] God just came by to encourage both of you who are Warfare's fairing prayer warriors lift up a prayer even in the midnight hour in the midnight hours not a time its position in your life you come across this midnight hour in your life you understand where everything is not easy and things are difficult and you got pain and your body your pain your mind feed your ocean it's a midnight hour but God said I can work that out too there's nothing too hard for our God nothing too hard we love to know the Lord we love you with the love of the Lord we're gonna receive our evening offering tonight you know we'll do announcements in a minute but I just wanted to say that anniversary is coming and we really need you to give your assessment in advance not often you hear us to say give it in advance I mean we do say to you you know budget it out over time so that it's not a burden to you when anniversary arrives but we're asking you beseeching you to give it up front in advance of November 8 9 and 10 and on November the 8th that's Friday you all know we're going to be over in the Hilton in Woodcliff Lake we're gonna have prayer prayer is gonna start at 7 p.m. it hasn't been announced but I'm a mountain down to get and making it clear because you all need to get there 7 p.m. so that we can set that atmosphere in that hotel ballroom that we'll be in just for this special occasion it's 18 years later it's 18 years that is significant that is sick sniff again it is significant it is a very very significant so we want you to be on board we're gonna ask you if you need an offering you weren't able to give your ties and your wife I'm a little perlier today please do so if you didn't give an offering in the white envelope you can do it tonight and if you haven't put anything in the blue envelope come on and make sure you move so on today put something towards anniversary tonight if you haven't done so already and if you're finished we thank you the Lord bless you and He will bless you real good if you're giving online we're gonna ask that you um just come by the basket and touch your phone to the basket you know there's so many things that goes on in technology today with our phones and things there are hackers really real hackers phone too that only Baxton and peradventure the Lord covers your phone so that when you drop it in the sink or in the toilet you ain't gotta go spend another $900 $1200 to get a new phone yes I'm saying against them saying it's very interesting today during the seven 15 year service Reverend Vinita was giving online so she was asking me how does she do her anniversary online well I thought she asked me where do we put it on the white envelope so I was saying no don't put it on the white I will put it on she says no one she showed me her phone I said oh I never seen what it look like I had never seen what it look like they give online I've never gone online to do it I said anniversary right there she said okay but so I know it's their anniversary is there building fun is there there were a few other things there I didn't have time to look at I want the grab her phone and say what how many has ever given online Wow look at you hands up in the back yeah we think out for these envelopes we thank God for checks in for cash and we will continue to use it so long as we can use it amen but we're not going to discourage you from using your online methods the point of the matter is that you use them is that you give and give cheerfully can I ask them to bring the bucket at this time [Music] probably just exalt your holy name and we honor you tonight Lord we reference you Lord we esteem you high we know that there is none like unto you Almighty God and we know Lord Jesus that you are with us God we thank you Lord for your indwelling Holy Spirit Lord God that leads and guides us into all truth we thank you for the truth that is preached in this house we thank you for deliverances that come in this house we thank you for liberty oh god that comes through in this house that sets the captives free we thank you Lord God because you have set a standard in this house Lord and because of that standard our lives are better and so Lord God because we are vessels of Honor unto you because we know that we are the Temple of the Living God we Lord God week week we we we commend our gifts over to you on tonight and we give them to you freely and willingly and with joy and cheerfully and we ask you just have your way do Lord God with you and only you can do for your people o God those who are here under the sound of my voice and those who are not Lord we're asking o God that you touch lives today in a special way and release up to your people Oh God healings and deliverances Oh God and just peace that surpasses all understanding and will give your name O God the praise and the honor because you're doing you're doing and you're worthy of Jesus name Amen come on a directive from the rear [Applause] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] who has doubt in their heart today let's be honest your bunks family you're in a community of friends there's anything any little thing that you have a doubt about on tonight I just need to see your hand I see your hands sistercrystal it's okay it's alright it's okay ah okay you need to get in line now yeah Wow mm-hmm it's okay come on we have doubts we have doubts I have Reverend Trish I have Reverend Carson I have Reverend Amy I have pastor Dana amen and these people have doubt is something that they are struggling with in the transformation class I have ever since my god I don't wanna play revenues Reverend Doreen Reverend Doreen ribbon during the transformation class catechism class the three services on Sunday not quite getting to that doubt so what I'm asking now for you to do is to come and I want to prepare the ministers you can't put your finger on it necessarily unless the Holy Ghost news for you to do so and if he does do so otherwise what I'm asking is that you invoke the Holy Spirit to touch that down so if they when they leave here today they won't return with that doubt and so on next Sunday when they come for the testimonial services they'll have a testimony and I'm believing God for the testimonies now you can share what that situation is with these ministers or you don't have to but what you must do is yield yourself to the Holy Spirit because when you release that when you when you when you and there's a repentance that has to happen here because whatever is blocking that doubt may have to do with some unconfessed sin you see their sins of commission and sins of omission all right so I just want to set that clear so that you can come expecting everybody expecting all right put your hands up came over here to live right yes I came over here to live right because it's a holy place [Applause] came over here to live right came over here to walk right Oh [Music] don't stay here raise ooh ooh bless you bless you [Music] Jesus he's all right he's all right he's all right right all right [Music] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Music] well the water my my well of water oh Jesus is that what time put those hands together we believe today we can see what he is doing we can see what he is doing what he is doing we can feel what he is doing he's sanctifying me he's sanctifying me he sanctified me he's sanctify me holy holy holy [Applause] one day Mondays my neighbor [Music] [Music] I'm here to tell you 18 years old [Music] [Music] oh yeah hey divide in here thank you buddy you [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] freedom in the house [Music] [Music] thank you lord come on one let's praise hallelujah thank you lord Thank You Lord hallelujah hallelujah thank you thank you for that reminder past angel for the assessment I thought about it and I had my assessment I said oh I forgot to put it in thank you for that reminder tonight and I just want to go by way of announcements very quickly hallelujah Fest is this Saturday this Saturday venue to be determined we will let you know but please get your children ready to come out this Saturday and the chat to I believe is also this Saturday but it's closed but we do want to remind you that it is this Saturday don't miss it if you are supposed to if you already signed up and I think that's it [Music] this Wednesday transformation oh yes and the ministers pastors deacons Wednesday night mandatory meet the bishop here and so we'll meet immediately following transformation class amen okay I think that is that's it we do have a speaker we will continue to pray for traveling mercies for our bishop was in the car all right and knowing her she'll turn this way we'll see what happens all right our speaker for tonight you can see general here so he must be the speaker he must be the speaker he gives the word I tell you so we'll give you some slack tonight and we'll let your wife take it come on I stand and stretch our hands towards the Reverend Trish amen thank you lord that there's a word in death Rafa tonight God we thank you for your maidservant God who prepared God to feed us sumptuously tonight on it god I thank you that you're going to anoint her lips of clay and that as she brings your word tonight God and everyone that walked into this house tonight well good will grab that word and use it for your honor your glory God and Jesus name we pray amen praise the Lord everybody praise the Lord everyone let's just give a God a Handclap of praise while you're standing truly his presence is in this place tonight we thank you for coming out we do give honor to God and to our bishop who is enroute and our overseer pastor George and all the other pastors pastor angel and and and you all the people of God we give honor to God for you tonight to my husband I'm so grateful that you're here with me will you just turn your Bibles right away to proverbs chapter 18 very familiar passage we're going to look at tonight for a few moments and see what thus saith the Lord is that okay okay let's go to chapter 18 verse 20 for just one verse and I'm gonna read it in your hearing when you have it say a man here begin if the reading of God's Holy Word a man that hath friends must show himself friendly and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother so far the read the Word of God you may have your seats I've taken as a topic tonight popularity or purpose say that with me popularity or purpose a man I am truly fascinated by the varying degrees of human friendships I really am I always have been I'm fascinated by our expectations for them and our need and our longing for friendships our passion even past the angel to keep them and for many of us the feelings of life lost without them I'm really looking deeply into God's patterns for friendships his order his timing his purpose this is something that he unleashed upon me years ago and I just got to that place where he said now is the time so we're going to be looking at God's patterns his order timing and purpose and so far just to share a be some brief insight because some of this may pop up into message tonight he's identified five facets of this study for me and actually six he gave me one this morning the first one I'll be looking at is the instantaneous bonding in some friendships you know how you can meet people and instantly it's as if you've known them forever such as David and Jonathan who were knitted at the soul I'll be looking at the transitional nature of some friendships when Jesus told his disciples that henceforth meaning going forward I no longer call you servants I now call you friends so it had to transition into that we'll be looking at that at some point the seasonal nature of some friendships some friendships are meant to be for a season and we're still forcing people in our lives that should have long been gone they were seasonal people that once might have counseled you may not be able to do that anymore particularly if they're not saved and particularly if they're not planted in the same soil where you you'll find difficulty trying to follow them we'll be looking at the pains of many friendships the book of Zachariah says I was wounded in the house of a friend we'll be looking at that and we'll be looking at the requirements of Christians to be friends with some people who are incapable of befriending you back do unto others as you have them do unto you there are some friendships where you are the giver not the taker and the problem that we have and the thing Deacon linen that fascinates me is our misinterpretation of which is which are you with me I truly believe it is the will of God that we be clear of his plan and purpose for our friendships for when we misinterpret God's intent for friends we open ourselves to confusion to pain sorrow disappointment so we're gonna begin to all those things I just shared with you they may not be in messages they may be in messages I'm gonna do a work with this I don't know what that work is gonna look like it'll be up to the Lord but tonight we're gonna begin our examination in the book of Proverbs looking at this text we're going to look at King Solomon's wisdom on the topic of friendship and looking at his lessons to us on the distinctions between popularity and purpose amen all right let's go for a few minutes a man that hath friends must show himself friendly and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother now this is a challenging verse pastor George to examine because of the translations of the words for friend and friendly at first glance we might conclude that the word friendly means a person that makes him or herself pleasing one that is kind and pleasant to others this would lead us to believe that the first part of the text then means in order for us to have friends we must please them always be pleasant to them which unfortunately for many constitutes our false expectations of what it means to be friendly you don't please me you're not being friendly that's what many of us think is the definition of friendly however this passage is something called an antithetic parallelism now what that means in simple terms it contrasts the first line contrasts with the second I said contrast they're not just the light so in order for a man that has friends must show himself friendly but there's a friend that's to get closer than a brother they're diabolical opposites that's this parallelism because it is trying to illustrate something for us to show us something very important which we will begin to see by doing this brief word study friends in the first part of the text means neighbors right it means companions fellow-citizens associates the common term that we believe friends to be and then it says a man that have many of these many neighbors many companions many associates must show himself friendly he's got to present himself a certain kind of way and that presentation the showing of himself friendly that means guess what this is where it just blew my mind show himself friendly means evildoer listen listen this is this is powerful verónica stay with me honey this is powerful referred to as having an evil disposition friendly must show himself friendly look I look this thing up I must have looked this up in 10 commentaries 8 or 9 translations blue letter black letter you name the letter because I could not believe what I was seeing so I had to see and find out whether there was consistency across the interpretation of the theologians that had studied this and there is my god Nelson's listens that would mean listen blue letter says evil disposition to be displeasing to be injured yes meaning I'm willing to inflict injury upon another that's what being friendly means in this context ethically evil to do mischief punishment and there's a breaking that's imply so a man showing himself friendly means he must present himself as one that is willing to be injurious afflicting and ethically evil you attract a whole lot of people when you act crazy you know that no no stay with me stay with me Nelson Study Bible defines this phrase like this to beat each other up guess what it says pad to beat each other up and to break each other into pieces to bring to ruin yeah friendly selecia Denise friendly this is what friendly means it's gonna make sense to us in a minute it didn't make sense to me at first I couldn't believe it most scholars agree that this is the proper interpretation the New Living Translation says there are friends who destroy each other but a real friend sticks closer than a brother the new American Standard Bible says a man of too many friends comes to ruin but there's a friend who sticks closer than a brother pointone the need for too many friends [Applause] this this right here y'all crazy this right here comes from Thank You Bishop I hear I just feel your Bishop I feel you the text is actually a polemic against popularity yeah watch this popularity is a state or condition of being liked being admired and accepted by many people so we're going to examine the difference between that group that constitutes popularity and the other group that is divinely assigned as spiritual brothers and sisters now these two groups I need to warn you are polar opposites in connection longevity and purpose polar opposites now you're you're really looking at a person who has been popular all of my life I know what this is popularity attracts a whole lot of people every place I've ever been from a little child all the way up popular popular popular it was always the McKenney twins and we always had a following you know except when trouble came interesting things would happen the following could not be found that's right you know like Peter you had to go to the cross I don't know him who Angie I don't know that man never seen him a day in my life laia that's what happens popularity can get you in trouble but anyway it's not about me let's see what this text says polar opposites in connection longevity purpose let's just ponder this question for a second as I move further how realistic is it that the saints of God those who have been called out from among them separated apart for his services his purposes and his glory how realistic is it that we got a posse ha how realistic is that mom we've been separated out called out how realistic is it okay let's look let's look countless examples show how God separated men and women from friends and family in order to accomplish his purposes countless countless countless in many cases he actually isolated them for a season Mary Mary I just gave you this heavy assignment you're gonna carry the baby Jesus I want you to go to Elizabeth and I want you to stay there for three months we don't see anywhere in the text that he told Mary take your friends with you we don't see anywhere he said you go to Elizabeth I'm telling you where to go I'm telling you to get there now and stay there for three months she just got this heavy heavy assignment most look girl you ain't gonna believe what they just called me and asked me to do and unfortunately Vanessa some of those people on the other end don't know how to handle that that's why God said go to Elizabeth it's one of those examples of friendships where where where where is the seasonal situation I just want you to be there for three months we don't read anywhere else in the text that Mary took Elizabeth with her to Bethlehem Egypt or any of other places that you have to go no place that don't we pasta J no place else but that first three months this is where you got to go here's another example Abraham leave my family and my kindred just get out of the land that you know go to a land that you know not uh and by the way leave a lot at home [Music] just like Abraham we trying to drag somebody else into another season it has no business being there none whatsoever none whatsoever here's another one here's another one here's another one esta taken out of her community right away from her people away from everything that she knew for the purposes of God here's Ruth and Naomi they just go on and on and you know the story of Ruth and Naomi Ruth Ruth and Naomi go out with Naomi I mean Naomi and her husband and sons go to Moab and they marry the sons marry Ruth and Orpah that the sons die and so does Naomi's husband Naomi's gonna come back to Bethlehem and she tells the girls or PHA and Ruth who are now now our widows go back to your mother's house you stand a better chance of being cared for it because of course husbands in those days people needed a man in those days to take care of them women didn't have those means and of course that's the famous text of Ruth telling Naomi stop trying to force me to go with my sister if you interpret that scripture that's what she's saying three times Naomi said to her go back with or pas or posture okay got no problem with it you ain't got none for me I'm out Paula and all pot kissed her and left she kissed her and left cuz all pot wasn't there for purpose you was popular at one point you gave me a husband out of your womb I needed you to give me my man now you can't give me nothing so see you Ruth on the other hand says please entreat me never to leave you and furthermore this isn't about you it's about your God where you go I will go your people will be my people right yeah your God shall be my God matter of fact death can't even separate us where you're buried I'm gonna be there this is real stuff purpose was rude so we see this countless examples of God separating people when he's about to give you a real job an assignment in the kingdom of God he separates the very meaning of sanctification means separated and set apart the very meaning of the word so you don't have to be headed to the king's palace like Esther to be separated if you're called to be a saint you're gonna be separated so what irony is it that we get separated with a posse with a crowd now don't get me wrong we need friends we need companions in this life Ecclesiastes 4 9 through 10 says two are better than one because they have a good reward for their labor for if they fall the one will lift up his fellow right but woe to him that is alone when he falleth for he doesn't have anybody to help them up so you need people you need people yes you do but this text is telling us that too many of these people can bring us to ruin they can distract listen I don't know about you I'm telling you I've been popular all my life so I noticed I can teach this from my toes people distract me people can easily distract what when you have a list they calling you and calling you and Carmela telling one of the young ladies years ago girl you put him find the Lord that's why you need to know the Lord because in the middle of the nineteenth one will answer this call cuz I ain't answering it's necessary for us to have relationship with the Lord because we look for too much in friends that thing we call friends listen they're distracted they can be distracting and in the name of love oftentimes oftentimes the Lord call you like Mary let's just keep Mary upfront that was a heavy assignment look girl you're gonna be pre impregnated by the Holy Ghost who can you tell that oh yeah people would look at you like you got ten heads and we run it trying to tell all of them why cuz we want to be popular so so so so too many of them they demand your time time that you don't have create drama you don't need and then can be found unreliable when the rubber meets the road totally unreliable nobody's home nowhere to be found our expectations of the persons that we have attracted as our friends is off listen things change they change life happens they don't last as Bishop said Thank You bishop they are only experiences along the way some of these people were trying to put in a suitcase for eternity their experiences along the way nothing more and nothing less our Lord but because many of us expect them to provide for us forever we're set up for Payne his way that definition is going to begin to make sense to us we're set up for the pains and destruction because of the misinterpretation of purpose let me say it again we are setting ourselves up for the pains of friendship because the misinterpretation of purpose is this one seasonal is this one that I don't like too much right now going to be transitional is this one that I'm gonna bond with instantaneously because you know if we don't like somebody we just put them kick them out to the curb forever when that could be the one that in a transitional sense ten years from now I thank God more for her than anybody else than many others I got one right here to my left it'll bring me to tears just to think about it I didn't see anything that we had in common and I was carnal so I didn't understand what God was doing all I knew is that I was assigned to him when I first got here I said Wow I mean you know a nut person but I did it I did it but you know today today in our 18th year her value in my life unbelievable that's why we don't pick friends God assigns them that popularity foolishness a number foolishness let me just keep going my god so we're setting ourselves up for the Paynes watch this and destruction because of misinterpretation of purpose Psalm 55 12 to 14 an idea for it is not an enemy who taunts me then I could bear it it is not an adversary who deals with me insolently then I could hide from him but it is you a man my equal my companion my familiar my best friend my BFF we used to take sweet counsel together in God's house we walk together in the throne it's you and let me just drop this this BFF language is a sign of gross spiritual immaturity let me say it again I don't care if you don't like me i'ma love you anyway this BFF language is a sign of gross I said gross spiritual immaturity let me tell you why because it suggests that one person is able to meet your ranges of needs in all seasons of your life on a permanent and lasting basis foolishness only God can do that to think that anyone per ton of people marriages do not last because we go into them with a false expectation that man is supposed to meet all of my needs are you kidding me I'd wear him out he can't handle it he wasn't put in my life to do that that's what God does only God can do that to think that any one person is assigned to you to do that is both idolatrous and unbiblical let me say it again it is idolatrous because you make that person of God and put that person in the position where only God belongs and it is unbiblical furthermore it reduces God's position in your life you go to your BFF when you need to be going to God in her half the time you'll be F F ain't got a clue not one clue when you need to be going to God and stop using that ridiculous language that's why King Solomon advises us in the second part of the scripture there is indeed a friend that sticketh closer than a brother now many theologians refer to this friend as being Jesus but that's not conclusive but what is conclusive and what is clear is that we need him and not more friends we say it again for you people that like popularity we need him and not more friends it is after you get him that he leads you to your friends he is the eternal everlasting one not to BFF what he is the same today yesterday and forever not your BFF they changed like you change your clothes y'all know some of you that you know kind of hang out with me sometime I have to ask you y'all friends this week I can't be having you up in my house with your little quarrels you know are you two friends this week that's right that's right I have to go through and ask are these two getting along Elsie are these two fighting this week cuz you know they want to come to my house I can't be happen but they're crazy are y'all friends this week because you changed based upon what somebody can do for you they're not doing for you or being pleasant with you this week they're no longer your friend kindergarten first grade I won't even give them six when we refuse to find what we're looking for in Jesus and seek it in others we just which is a self-serving ungodly point to do you show yourself friendly now I'm dealing with friendly out of the text okay recall the word friendly in the first part of this verse means an evildoer one who hurts and it flicks pain breaks into pieces of right Carmen injurious now so does this mean that a person who desires many friends must show himself as one who is capable of inflicting pain and destroying another according to the definitions that's exactly what it means so if I'm friendly according to this context if I'm hanging out with your pastor angel if this is our criteria I got to be willing to hurt other people to be your friend and the sad part is this behavior is attractive text said many friends a man that hath many friends that's plural that's many people right Solomon issue I asked this question pastor George why would this personal presentation this willingness for injurious behavior attract so many friends I had a time with this what is going on why would anger a bitter hurtful people be ever considered friendly God Solomon is showing us the destructive nature of needing affirmation when we seek affirmation from people it is self-destructive it's self-destructive and this is what Solomon is showing us he says proverbs 13:20 he that walketh with wise men shall be wise but a companion of fools shall be destroyed see a posse of fools shall be destroyed Solomon continues to admonish us and warn us of this pattern he said in in proverbs 22:24 25 make no friendship with an angry man and with a furious man thou shalt not go lest thou learn his ways and get a snare to your soul Paul even tells us in 2 Corinthians don't fool yourselves bad friends bad company will destroy you and we want to be friends with sick people not wise people now listen yeah obviously because the way they dress because of these superficial commonalities superficial empty commonalities oh you like the same food I like so that means we can hang out no you you from you from from the south so you know y'all think some of y'all think that the south is just one place so you from the south so that means we can hang out no you know what unites us purpose purpose is what unites us God is the nucleus of our friendships we govern our lives according to his word that's what unites us how can two walk together except they agree so why do many of us sell out to become their friends the desperate for a friend I'll tell you in the beginning some of us feel like life is over without him it's simple the desperate need for affirmation and acceptance rules your heart and your mind desperate need I said desperate desperate need see me affirm me don't nobody in that church like me I need you to like what I do I need you to like how I look I need you to like everything about me cuz some of us for some of us friendships mean another mini-me let me make you me because if you don't care if you don't act like me then we can't hang out you don't come from my background then we can't hang out that's cuz we don't study we don't look at the word all those disciples came from everywhere all kinds of floor walks of life Bishop used to call him a motley crew that was put together and here's a memo this is a motley crew - we all have varying backgrounds thank God for diversity we all come with different different giftings and different this and different experiences and different likes and all of that but the commonality is God's Word do you do what God says do cuz if you're not Paul said don't even eat with them but we're so busy being popular we're so busy wanting to be popular so badly because desperation you know desperate people do desperate things we're so busy to be popular light accept it that will go right down that road that overseer talked about earlier today right off the beaten path Stella sitting up in catechism and transformation transformation being rooted getting that word so that you can be prepared for the storms that God already knows lie ahead you're hanging out with a bunch of empty people actually the the scripture that got me into the face of God and I never got back was the very one you alluded to but Jesus told me right there in that chair in front of Carmen one night get out of the boat with a bunch of people that ain't going nowhere no way get out of the boat but read the rest of the story the rest of the stories after he gets there and locks arms with Jesus and turns around and comes back to the boat everybody that he left in the boat starts worshipping and praising God meaning they're watching your example don't be afraid to launch in the deep [Applause] you gotta jump on out and you know I swim a lot I can't go to the water and just be standing there like it's cold got to jump on in there cuz you ain't got time for all this ooh I'm going under and that's what you have to do that's what you have to do and nobody's going with you did we read in that text if they all just started diving into the ocean they all just started diving into the deep no what did they do stayed in the boat all those popular people all of them stayed in the boat jumped out the boat and found out I was out there all by myself I said oh lordy you know when you in the middle of the water everything drifts you turn around you can't see them nobody out there but me and Jesus that's what this walk is all about you cannot be afraid to be alone when you walk with Jesus you cannot be afraid to be alone when you walk with Jesus it is by design if you got too many people around you you need to reevaluate it something is off you don't fit the pattern of the Bible just saying some of us will do anything for a hit just show me a little of the day I go home home you got love to say okay rub two sticks together just give me a little love the game today you know I just need love song don't be fooled now bad friends will destroy you Adam Clark's commentary caused this kind of facetious friendship which is worldly and prevails among many of us in the church it is expensive based upon what one can give another it is in every way unprofitable as it yields no godly edification the conversations are surrounded with materialistic fans expensive parties that are intended to impress and sustain the so called Fellowship is based upon backbiting and tale-bearing anything scandalous is good for conversation this is why these relationships will bring you to ruin that's why they bring you to ruin because that stuff is self-destructive and with some of us too many of us are feeding our spirits with that kind of thing all in the name of friends I hate them to say what did you talk about today at dinner anyway that's why these relations just bring a man to ruin the soul is captured as the scripture says in a snare now watch this when the parties are over and the goods run out so do they look at the prodigal son left with all this you know daddy gave him the inheritance and he left by becauseit riotous living riotous living attracts a lot of people for some odd reason so he goes out with all these riotous people squandered all his money you know the story wakes up in a Pigpen and decides he wants to come home the Bible doesn't tell us that not one of those people not one of his companions not one of his superficial friends not one of his riotous ungodly non praying don't go to church don't want to go to class kind of friends just want some shoes with a red bottle those people when the money ran out right when the money ran out nobody came back nobody with the prodigal son came home alone and let me put it in this context so he can bring it home nobody led him back to the Father none of them not one so what happens when you don't present yourself in this destructive superficial manner the one we call friendly well here's the answer you will find yourself with very few friends very few but here's the good news when you find yourself with very few companions know this you are now positioned to become the godly friend and person you were designed to be last point don't sit down called to be a godly friend you're called to be a godly friend it is interesting that in the B Clause of this passage the word friend becomes singular the beginning said friends friends plural many but now when we get to the one that sticketh closer than a brother it becomes singular a friend see so and also the definition definition shifts to a focus on God rather than simple temporary companions this friend now means is it is it it is implicit of love it exhibits God God's love towards man for his righteousness for his holiness for his chosen people now we all need friends who stick close in good times and bad right but this is teaching us tonight that it is better to have one such friend who genuinely cares for the future of your soul yes let me stay right there for about 30 seconds they really care about the future of your soul not what you have not where you were not how much money you can flaunt it just make sure your light bill is paid please not all of that this is the one that cares for your soul and not not temporarily but permanently that's why the Bible says of Jonathan and David they were knitted at the soul different kind of friendship they care about the soul right Jonathan saw who David was in God and this takes the Spirit of God to show us though he was the son of the first king heir to a throne he acquiesced for the causes of his friend listen listen this is where big girls and boys come in most of us are little girls and boys and we stay that way for rest our life you mean to tell me I'm gonna take off my robe I'm gonna lay it all down I'm a resign permanently from this long career that I've had for the purpose somebody else's call the answer is yes if that's what God calls us to do that's what we do because we trust God go back to Ruth and Naomi who said I I'm not in your life because of what you can give me that's the inference in the text you don't have to worry about trying to find me another husband to take care of me your God who becomes my God is going to take care of me and lord have mercy did he ever acquiesced Jonathan acquiesced to David that is a great biblical story to read about what godly friendship looks like later on in that story Jonathan and David have a conversation selecia as they're growing they've been in this relationship now you know Jonathan went against his father his father's trying to kill David Jonathan went against his father because God said befriend that one right there went against his father later on in the story they had a conversation they really value ated the Covenant just in case we got off let me just make sure God is still the nucleus of this relationship let me just make sure I'm steadfast and immovable because this is where I've been called to be I'm not going anywhere you still good that's how they evaluate a godly relationship covenant they evaluated it all we do is have false expectations of it they talk about it where do you see God taking me if it's still the same path just in case you had a little doubt pastor angel he respected any nurtured their friendship he gave up his glory for someone else is there anybody in your life that you've given up your own possibility and potential for for the call of God on somebody else's life other than yours there's no greater love than a man lay down his life for his friend who have you laid your life down for you might go home tonight and say I ain't got no friends cuz I don't even understand what friends mean and you would be healthy to do that to go home and here evaluate the superficiality of what you're calling friends the misinterpretation of the purpose for which God has assigned him to your life because if you misinterpret that you're damaged God's people and you're going to have that on your hands over this foolishness surround me so I won't feel alone and I'm gonna drop this room right here some of us need to stop this stop trying to make us affirm you I've had people like that who are so insistent pastor angel I'm gonna get next to you one way or the other cuz I got to have your attention so bad because I need affirmation from you so bad I'm gonna do everything I can to manipulate undermine and force you to affirm me because I'm going to get my affirmation from you one way or the other stop it here's a memo once you get in their face I'm promising you this right now we're gonna drop you just like that you know what cuz it's bad design we are not your God don't make us your god and for us that need the same kind of affirmation don't allow them to make us their God because we need popularity two leaders don't allow them to make you their God I think one of the reasons the lord pulled me out of my former career I remember walking into a building one day an elementary school and all these people the security and all them was sitting out there Doreen as I walked in the door with my colleagues my Posse and that one lady said God just walked in the door I said you just went a little too far there now you need to calm down but the issue is this people will do that they will put you on a pedestal and if you allow it because you're so needy yourself you're damaged God's people it works on both sides there for me and one that needs to be affirmed we'll give the affirmation don't do it protect God's people we have a responsibility to protect God's people relationships have to be protected friendships have to be cherished they have to be nurtured they have to be understood and I'm finished right now here's the close of Solomon's summation on friendship he says iron sharpens iron so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend same definition for friends found in the a clause tonight the interpretation is quick and simple when iron is rubbed against another piece of iron its shapes and sharpens it some people similarly people can help each other grow in the things of God by sharpening their friends according to his word listen to this in bold in your mind not always pleasant but always sharp not always pleasant but always sharp ask your people are the people ask yourselves are the people in my life in my life for popularity or purpose god bless you [Applause] [Music] we're going to hear from our bishop [Music] [Music] wasn't that a word but he notes taken okay we make the adjustment [Music] thank you come pass the agent [Music] can we just put our hands together for the word of God almost don't wanna step back here I got now come up with your hands together forever Trish she did preach that out of her tones she breached that out of her toes I really could hear from the bishop myself right now but everybody needs this tape everybody oversee yet you have to make sure everybody in that Rafah gets this you gotta get this and the interesting thing is that what I finally you know after services I have a little assignment I do and that assignment was done I came in here messed around with bad and sister Claudia and then I went out to get myself something to eat and I had this conversation with God in the car and what if we was what we were talking he you know was that nobody else can satisfy nobody but him nobody but him can satisfy and it's because I'm in a seat I'm at a new season Reverend Trish I'm in and I'm in a new season I have never been alone my whole life I have never from a child from the time I was born and then grew up you know and popular you know I was I was a big fish they called me queen bee I was the queen bee so I was a big fish in a little pond in high school when I got to college I was I was a little fish in a big pond but I was still Oh mom and you know I grew up I had eight brothers and sisters I have a huge family but when I accepted Christ into my life that started to shrink and shrink and shrink and shrink and then when I got ministry oh my god I looked and there was nobody but my son who is now full grown and gone some in a new season I'm all alone I go home alone and I'm in the house alone because my son used to live with me in case y'all didn't know he used to they used to use this is so surreal for me it's so surreal for me and I'm not I'm not one that hangs on the phone you know I don't have no digits to dial remand Trish thank you thank you this message was for me because God knows I'm at up I matter I'm at it I'm in a new season yeah and I've been talking very I've been talking very deeply to him because I don't want to make the wrong turn you know nobody in the house but me god I don't know that I just don't know that you know I mean I wanted him to go trust me I was I couldn't wait till he got out but now he's gone in mmm well I can't explain it here but let me just say there are some folks who looking long for this world richer there are some folks who look for power position too but I have a Christ who paid the price way back on Calvary for Christ is all and all this world to me [Music] Christ is all he's everything to me crisis he rules the land and sea crisis all without him nothing could be crises this world four-time prices on crisis [Music] [Music] see Christ is all [Music] this world ladies and gentlemen may Christ your all make him your all make him your all right now you may be young and not get this message you might not get me not get this message because you know people like to run in posses and like be bffs in an FF B's you can ask me after church what that is come on let us shake the preachers hand Ervin Trish general come please glory to God and we shake the preachers hand you have to relist into this message over and you need to go study that text that text was WOW I want to thank Reverend Trish for putting that time in there yeah come on put your hands together everybody standing I am a friend of God help me overseer [Music]

Channel: Beth Rapha

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Length: 137min 20sec (8240 seconds)

Published: Sun Oct 20 2019