IT IS WELL | WEEK 5 | BRITT SILCOX
Perseverance
Patience
Prayer
Peace
Presence
Presence
In God’s presence,
There is a friendship with God so deep
that even cannot steal joy.
You can believe in God without walking closely with Him
Why does god share His “presence” with us?
He desires Friendship
Friends of God choose his presence over success
Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness — and he was called a friend of God. - James 2:23
And he said to him, “If your presence will not go with me, do not bring us up from here.” - Exodus 33:15
And the LORD said to Moses, “This very thing that you have spoken I will do, for you have found favor in my sight, and I know you by name. - Exodus 33:17
Friends of God share his heart
Friends begin carrying what He carries
The Lord said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do?” - Gen 18:17–19
“Suppose five of the fifty righteous are lacking. Will you destroy the whole city for lack of five?” And he said, “I will not destroy it if I find forty-five there.” - Gen 18:22-33
Not so with my servant Moses. He is faithful in all my house. With him I speak mouth to mouth, clearly, and not in riddles, and he beholds the form (glory) of the Lord. - Num 12:7–8
Friends of God are brought into the conversation.
Friends hear His heart
Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you.
No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. - John 15:13–15
Friends of God are called to participate with Him.
We are children of God...and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. - Romans 8:16-17
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. - Romans 8:18
Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. - Romans 8:26-27
Creation groans. The Spirit groans. Believers groan and hope patiently.
We grieve over the same brokenness He grieves over.
When Jesus breathed his spirit on his followers, he said, “as the Father has sent me, so I send you”. And where had the father sent him?
To the place where the world was in dire pain, so that he could take it upon himself. Our vocation, by the spirit, places us, right now, where the world is in pain, so that we can be in prayer right there. - NT Wright
Friends of God learn the reward is God Himself.
Steadfast love. Fullness of joy. God working with us.
The friendship of the Lord is for those who fear him, and he makes known to them his covenant. - Psalm 25:14
You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore. - Psalm 16:11
We know that in everything God works for good with those who love him, who are called according to his purpose. (RSV) - Romans 8:28
