Choose Your Friends Wisely

Live your life for God and don’t let people persuade you otherwise. Tell others that you follow Jesus and not the world. This also means choosing who you associate with on a regular basis. It is our friends that can lead us close to the Lord or believe in false teachings and do wicked things that we know God doesn’t approve of. So why are people letting the enemy win the battle here? It is because they are not seeking God daily through reading His words in the Bible, praying and going out and doing things for Him. Instead, they stay home or hang out with friends that are bad influences on their lives. Please know that the devil wants to bring these bad people into our lives, in order to lead us off the path of God. He does this in order to distract us and help change what is right and wrong in our minds and hearts. And if he can do this in your life, then he has surely won the battle. This is when people stop doing what God says and instead do what they think is right. How sad is this? Surely, the people we hang out with can be a big determinate to our faith and also our salvation in heaven. I don’t want any of you to go astray and die in this fashion like millions of people have. These people have lost their salvation and are now suffering in hell because of it. So please read and understand what Paul said on this topic. He said, 1“be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?” (2 Corinthians 6:13,14)

If you love the Lord, then choose to hang out with the right people, which are brothers and sisters in the faith. In doing this, you can still be a good example to others, of course. So while those in the faith, start doing what God desires for you. Paul taught this also, when he said, 1“but in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings; by pureness, by knowledge, by long suffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned, by the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, by honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true; as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed; as sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.” (2 Corinthians 6:4-10) So the question is, how can we think these characteristics from God can be a part of our lives if we are not living each day for the Lord and trusting in Him in the process? Do not think that the Holy Spirit can be with you if sin abounds in your life. This must be taken care of now. As Paul said, 1“now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” (2 Corinthians 6:2) Tomorrow is not guaranteed, but today we repent of our sins and start living our lives for Jesus. Will you make this decision today? Don’t hold back, but give your life to Christ today.

Let us pray:
Oh Lord, I pray for people in the faith that are now struggling with their beliefs and are now walking in the world.  The influences in these people’s lives are what has caused them to stumble and fall into sin.  It could be the bad friends they are hanging out with and also what they spend their time doing outside of school or work.  Because our friends have a great influence upon our thinking, this is why so many people have left You and gone astray into dark paths.  They people have also put what their fleshly desires ahead of you and therefore they walk willfully for the world and against You.  Please help these people be convicted of the wickedness in their lives.  In this way will they, will they wake up to their sins and repent.  May they see and understand the bad choices that they have made.  Help them be delivered from their addictions, that they may come whole heartedly back to You.  Truly, there is forgiveness and mercy for every sinner that calls upon Your Name, Jesus.  I just pray that they will make the right decision and call upon You now.  In these confessions, may they begin to fear You and know how far they have stumbled against their mighty God.  In this way will they fully repent and turn from their wicked ways once and for all.  In this broken state, I pray that they will come and be refreshed Your peace, oh God.  Fill their minds and hearts with Your goodness and grace.  There is mercy to be had, because of what You have done for us on the cross, Jesus.  You bled and died for our sins that we might have forgiveness.  You are our Redeemer and Savior of this world.  In You, do I trust and give my life to.  I love You so much Lord.  All the praise and glory to Your holy Name.  You are my rock upon which I stand.  You are my guide and have led me into green pastures.  I am safe, because You are with me.  Thank You Lord.  Amen.

Let us read the Bible:
Note: Any Numbered References, found above, are listed below.

12 Corinthians 6 (KJV)
1 We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.
2 (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)
3 Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed:
4 But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,
5 In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings;
6 By pureness, by knowledge, by long suffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned,
7 By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,
8 By honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true;
9 As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed;
10 As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.
11 O ye Corinthians, our mouth is open unto you, our heart is enlarged.
12 Ye are not straitened in us, but ye are straitened in your own bowels.
13 Now for a recompence in the same, (I speak as unto my children,) be ye also enlarged.
14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.
18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

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