COMPANIONSHIP WITH GOD!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

FRIDAY APRIL 22, 2022.

SUBJECT : COMPANIONSHIP WITH GOD!

Memory verse: "Can two walk together unless they are agreed?" (Amos 3 vs 3.)

READ: John 15 vs 4 - 10:

15:4: Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; neither can you unless you abide in Me.

15:5: I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit: for without Me you can do nothing.

15:6: If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast forth as a branch and is withered; and they will gather them, and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.

15:7: If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.

15:8: By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.

15:9: As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love.

15:10: 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.

INTIMATION: 

A companion is one who walks side by side with another. Not tagging along far behind, but together—united. As believers, we walk in light with Christ. We were in darkness, but He has brought light into us. As a companion to the Author of Light, you reveal the effects of that light in your inner being. You demonstrate His goodness. You walk in uprightness. You manifest the truth. This is when your participation begins to come.

God is ready to teach us, to let us be with Him, to be a true and faithful companion, if we will seek such a relationship. Companions come in all sizes and shapes and for various reasons. A dog can be your companion, an elderly person can hire a companion to accompany him. You can even pick up a hitchhiker and have him be your companion for a long stretch of driving. But we will examine a very specific kind of companion: the teacher-mentor, which is God's kind of companionship.

Four areas are major ingredient for a relationship that would be described as a companionship. These areas are: (1) Agreement (2) Experience (3) Conversation (4) Learning. These ingredients are required in our companionship with God.

(1) The Scripture notes: "Can two walk together, unless they are agreed?"(Amos 3 vs 3) So agreement is the first requirement. You have to want to spend time together. With God we know this is the desire of His heart. He tells us in many different ways in the Word that He desires to be with us.

(2) You would share experiences together because you are together by definition. One of the special privileges we have as believers is sharing our heart with God, and in turn learning more about His heart toward us and others. We get to see His overwhelming goodness, infinite patience, unchanging love, and unending mercies as we read the Bible—His "Code of Conduct," and "Owner's Manual" to us. The Holy Spirit makes the Word come alive in our hearts and points things out from it that are specifically for us and our situation. 

(3) The third ingredient is conversation. There should be conversation between you and God. Not just one way, but rather an exchange of ideas from both parties. Think of your own experience. When you have been with someone who monopolizes the conversation, or who does not let you talk but only wants you to listen, you feel uneasy, dominated, and useless in the conversation. You may feel you are only a listening board, and your opinion matters little since it is rarely sought.

Sometimes we are guilty of doing this to God: We rush into His presence with our "want" list and then, in essence, after presenting our requests and/or complaints, we close the time with "In Jesus' name, Amen." No time to hear His input, no time to seek His advice. Only a time to "dump" on Him. Yes, Peter advised us in First Peter 5 vs 7 to give the Lord all our burdens and cares. Surely, we are to present our anxieties to Him, but then, we are to wait for His response.

(4) Another ingredient is learning. A relationship that culminates into companionship entails learning from superior partner. As we spend time with God, our relationship allows us to learn about Him, about ourselves, and about others. We come to appreciate Him more as we get to know Him better. We become more relaxed in His presence as we now are His companion.

We understand ourselves better; our strengths and weaknesses, how to overcome them, why we do things the way we do, how to change our negatives responses, and the likes. We also learn much about others and how better to interact with them, showing forth all the fruit of the Spirit.

Somebody will quickly ask, 'How do we hear from God or learn from Him?' A classical illustration is made with a product you bought from the store. The manufacturer is in Germany, but has included a manual in the package to enable you study and know more about the product and how to use and/or operate it. The same is true of our relationship with God. He has given us His 'Code of Conduct,’ and ‘owner's Manual,' the "Bible" for our study. In it God speaks and you hear from, and learn about Him. As the spiritual relationship develops, God can speak to you in a vision, an audible voice, or even through others in such relationship with Him.

Prayer: Abba Father, You are my faithful companion, and has promised to be with m till the end of age. Thank You Lord for fighting my unseen battles, and giving me victory. Help me to walk humbly with You at all times, in Jesus' Name. Amen. 

PRAISE THE LORD!