Friends

Proverbs 27
6 Wounds from a friend are received as well-meant, but an enemy's kisses are insincere.

Friends,
Sometimes the Truth hurts. Take an honest look around you. Who do you see?

Here is a wise saying:

Proverbs 27
17 Just as iron sharpens iron, a person sharpens the character of his friend.

Who is a true friend?

Proverbs 18
24 Some friends pretend to be friends, but a true friend sticks closer than a brother.

What does a true friend do?

John 15
8 This is how my Father is glorified -- in your bearing much fruit; this is how you will prove to be my talmidim.

Messiah said that true friends bear much fruit!

But what is "fruit"?

Gal 5
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 humility, self control. Nothing in the Torah stands against such things.

Are your friends bearing this fruit?

Or are your friends bearing evil fruit?

Gal 5
19
When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, your lives will produce these evil results: sexual immorality, impure thoughts, eagerness for lustful pleasure, 20 idolatry, participation in demonic activities, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, divisions, the feeling that everyone is wrong except those in your own little group, 21 envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other kinds of sin. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of YHWH.

Look at what Messiah did:

Mark 3
22 The Torah-teachers who came down from Yahrushalom said, "He has Ba..alZibbul (a demon) in him," and "It is by the ruler of the demons that he expels the demons." 23 But he called them and spoke to them in parables: "How can Satan expel Satan? 24 If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom can't survive; 25 and if a household is divided against itself, that household can't survive.

So, while the Torah teachers sought to discredit righteousness, Messiah Yahusha exposed what is evil! For He was a friend to Righteousness! Therefore He sought to protect His friends from evil and instead, hand them the fruit of Righteousness!

Who were Messiahs true friends?

Matt 12
48b "Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?" 49 Pointing to his talmidim, he said, "Look! Here are my mother and my brothers! 50 Whoever does the will of my Father in heaven, that person is my brother and sister and mother."

What is the will of our Father in Heaven?

The answer is:

To have a heart like our Heavenly Fathers heart!

My friends, who should you avoid as friends?

Matt 7
16 You will recognize them by their fruit. Can people pick grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles? 17 Likewise, every healthy tree produces good fruit, but a poor tree produces bad fruit.

Why should you avoid people who bear "bad fruit"?

Again:

Proverbs 27
17 Just as iron sharpens iron, a person sharpens the character of his friend.

My friends, look at the fruit of your "friends" and do not be afraid to do what is right. Trust in YHWH and seek out a heart like His!

Romans 2
29b ...True circumcision comes from the heart, spiritual not physical; such a man does not seek praise from men, but from YHWH.

My friends,

2Cor 2
9 I wrote this to you for a special reason. I wanted to see if you could stand the test. I wanted to see if you could obey everything that was asked of you.


Shalom my friends!
Barabba