Lord Teach us to pray 🙏 Be Careful who your friends are!

Lord Teach us to pray 🙏 Be Careful who your friends are!

By Pastor and Mrs Chifamba

SOMEONE HAS SAID “BY THE COMPANY YOU KEEP I CAN TELL WHAT LIFE YOU LEAD” AN ENGLISH IDIOM PUTS IT THIS WAY: “BIRDS OF A FEATHER FLOCK TOGETHER”

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭15:33‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.”

Psalm 1:1-3

Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. 2But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. 3And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

Proverbs 1:10

My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.

Genesis 39:10

And it came to pass, as she spake to Joseph day by day, that he hearkened not unto her, to lie by her, or to be with her.

Proverbs 5:3-5

For the lips of a strange woman drop as an honeycomb, and her mouth is smoother than oil: 4But her end is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a twoedged sword. 5Her feet go down to death; her steps take hold on hell.

If we were to cherish an habitual impression that God sees and hears all that we do and say and keeps a faithful record of our words and actions, and that we must meet it all, we would fear to sin. Let the young ever remember that wherever they are, and whatever they do, they are in the presence of God. No part of our conduct escapes observation. We cannot hide our ways from the Most High. – {Patriarchs and Prophets p. 217.4}

THE PRODIGAL SON WAS DESTROYED BY BAD COMPANY

Luke 15:13

And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.

Luke 15:30

But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.

Isaiah 8:19-20

And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? for the living to the dead? 20To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.

Deuteronomy 13:1-4

If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder, 2And the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them; 3Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the LORD your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul. 4Ye shall walk after the LORD your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and ye shall serve him, and cleave unto him.

Psalm 119:115-116

Depart from me, ye evildoers: for I will keep the commandments of my God. 116Uphold me according unto thy word, that I may live: and let me not be ashamed of my hope.

Proverbs 13:20

He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.

Psalm 26:4-5

I have not sat with vain persons, neither will I go in with dissemblers. I have hated the congregation of evil doers; and will not sit with the wicked.

Jeremiah 15:16-17

Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts. 17I sat not in the assembly of the mockers, nor rejoiced; I sat alone because of thy hand: for thou hast filled me with indignation.

Song

Take time to be holy, speak oft with the Lord;

Abide in him always, and feed on his word;

Make friends of God’s children; help those who are weak,

Forgetting in nothing, his blessing to seek

Proverbs‬ ‭18:24‬ ‭RSV‬

“There are friends who pretend to be friends, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.”