(Proverbs 17:24 GN)\xa0 \u201cAn intelligent person aims at wise action, but a fool starts off in many directions.\u201d\xa0
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\nGod wants me to move within His purposes.
\nTitle of My Message:\xa0 Friendships Pt. 1\xa0
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\n\xa0\u201cWhat kind of life do you want?"
\xa0\xa0\xa0 \u201cWhy don\u2019t you have it?\u201d
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\n(Matthew 5:48)\xa0 \u201cBe perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.\u201d\xa0
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\n(Matthew 5 Message)\xa0 \u201cWhen Jesus saw his ministry drawing huge crowds, he climbed a hillside.\xa0 Those who were apprenticed to him, the committed, climbed with him.\xa0 Arriving at a quiet place, he sat down and taught his climbing companions.\u201d\xa0
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\n\u201cYou\u2019re blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight.\xa0 That\u2019s when you discover who you really are, and your place in God\u2019s family.\xa0 Here\u2019s another way to put it:\xa0 You\u2019re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world.\xa0 God is not a secret to be kept.\xa0 Now that I\u2019ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand--shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives.\xa0 By opening up to others, you\u2019ll prompt people to open up with God.\u201d\xa0
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\n\u201cThis is how I want you to conduct yourself in these matters.\xa0 If you enter your place of worship and, about to make an offering, you suddenly remember a grudge a friend has against you, abandon your offering, leave immediately, go to this friend and make things right.\xa0 Then and only then, come back and work things out with God.\u201d
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\n\u201cYou\u2019re familiar with the old written law, \u2018Love your friend,\u2019 and its unwritten companion, \u2018Hate your enemy.\u2019\xa0 I\u2019m challenging that.\xa0 I\u2019m telling you to love your enemies.\xa0 Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst.\xa0 If all you do is love the lovable, do you expect a bonus?\xa0 Anybody can do that.\xa0 If you simply say hello to those who greet you, do you expect a medal?\xa0 Any run-of-the-mill sinner does that.\xa0 In a word, what I\u2019m saying is, \u2018Grow up.\u2019\xa0 You\u2019re kingdom subjects.\xa0 Now live like it.\xa0 Live out your God-created identity.\u201d
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\nGrowth Questions:
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\n1. Am I willing to change?
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\n(2 Corinthians 5:17-18)\xa0 \u201cTherefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!\xa0 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ\u2026"
\n2.\xa0 Am I willing to put others first?
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\n\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 (Mark 9:35)\xa0 \u201cIf anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all.\u201d
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\n3.\xa0 Am I willing to let go of the past?
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\n(1 Corinthians 13:5)\xa0 \u201c(Love)\u2026 keeps no record of wrongs.\u201d
\n(Colossians 3:13)\xa0 \u201cBear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another.\xa0 Forgive as the Lord forgave you.\u201d
\n4.\xa0 Am I willing to live for the other person\u2019s good?
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\n\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 (John 15:13)\xa0 \u201cGreater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.\u201d
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5.\xa0 Am I willing to value people?
\n\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 (Ecclesiastes 4:9)\xa0 \u201cTwo are better than one, because they have a good return for their work.\u201d
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