Friendshipe Effect pt. 2 - I've got Friends in Low Places

Title of my message today: I’ve Got Friends in Low Places.    Characteristics of Friendships in Low Places:   1.    Build their life on false teaching 2.    Belong to no one 3.    Become someone they hate 4.    Behave based on feelings   (Psalm 68:5-6) (CEV) “Our God, from your sacred home you take care of orphans and protect widows. You find families for those who are lonely. You set prisoners free and let them prosper, but all who rebel will live in a scorching desert.”   (Psalm 68:5-6) (GOD’S WORD Translation) “The God who is in his holy dwelling place is the father of the fatherless and the defender of widows. God places lonely people in families. He leads prisoners out of prison into productive lives, but rebellious people must live in an unproductive land.”   Having friends in church helps me:   1.    Build my beliefs   (Ephesians 4:14) “Then we will no longer be little children, tossed and carried about by all kinds of teachings that change like the wind. We will no longer be influenced by people who use cunning and clever strategies to lead us astray.”   (2 Timothy 4:3-4) (LB)  “There is going to come a time when people won’t listen to the truth but will go around looking for teachers who will tell them just what they want to hear.  They won’t listen to what the Bible says but will blithely follow their own misguided ideas.”   2.    Belong to a real family   (Romans 12:3-5) “For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.”   3.    Become all that God wants me to be. (Galatians 6:9-10) (NLT) “So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith.” Are my friends helping me become all God wants me to be?    4.    Behave in a Godly way (Romans 13:13-14) “Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature.” 5.    Live a bigger life.   (Psalm 92:12-14) (NLT) “But the godly will flourish like palm trees and grow strong like the cedars of Lebanon. For they are transplanted to the Lord’s own house. They flourish in the courts of our God. Even in old age they will still produce fruit; they will remain vital and green.”