We are a Pentecostal Church in Kansas City and we love the Holy Spirit! As a church, we believe that the Holy Spirit empowers us to do what we normally could not and gives us leading…even leading toward right relationships.
The beginning of the year is when we start setting goals. As we near the end of January some have already broken their New Year’s resolutions. They had personal goals for themselves or their families these are important but the main goal for all of us ought to be one thing…making it to heaven.
I admit that I haven’t yet acquired the absolute fullness that I’m pursuing, but I run with passion into his abundance so that I may reach the purpose that Jesus Christ has called me to fulfill and wants me to discover. I don’t depend on my own strength to accomplish this; however, I do have one compelling focus: I forget all of the past as I fasten my heart to the future instead. I run straight for the divine invitation of reaching the heavenly goal and gaining the victory-prize through the anointing of Jesus. So let all who are fully mature have this same passion, and if anyone is not yet gripped by these desires, God will reveal it to them. And let us all advance together to reach this victory-prize, following one path with one passion. Phil 3: 12-16
People who are serious about achieving their goals know they need to surround themselves with the right people. So if you want to be successful you need to have some Squad Goals. You need a squad of people who support your goal to get to heaven.
God’s Word says that the steps of a righteous man are ordered by the Lord. God brought you to your church. He wants you to be surrounded by people who can help you in your Christian walk. He wants to give you good friends.
The Bible tells us of two men who were the best of friends.
David and Jonathan.
These two men could not have been more different but were connected by God. David was the youngest of his brothers. Jonathan was the oldest. David was a shepherd. Jonathan was royalty. David was overlooked. Jonathan was honored. Add to all this the fact that David’s worst enemy was Jonathan’s father. If Jonathan had been prideful or if David had been insecure this relationship would never have worked. Do you have a friendship like this?
Do you remember your relationships in the world? You were so close. You were loyal to each other. But these may have been the same people that persuaded you to drink, or do drugs, or fornicate. Or maybe it was your family that pushed you in the wrong direction. Could it be that God saved you so that now you can be the one who is doing the influencing? Listen if you can’t influence those around you maybe you need to change your playmates and your playground.
A man who has friends must himself be friendly, But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. Prov 18:24 NKJV
David knew he would be king. There are things that he learned from Jonathan that he could not learn have learned from anyone else. The best friends you can have are those that understand your calling and your purpose. You can’t learn to serve God from those who don’t know God.
Now when he had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. Saul took him that day, and would not let him go home to his father’s house anymore. Then Jonathan and David made a covenant because he loved him as his own soul. And Jonathan took off the robe that was on him and gave it to David, with his armor, even to his sword and his bow and his belt. 1 Sam 18: 1-4 NKJV
Jonathan honored David. His giving to David was more than a nice gesture it was a covenant. Jonathan knew David was anointed and called to be king. It was almost as if Jonathan was taking off his royalty and giving it to David. What Jonathan was doing was elevating his friend as his equal. Real friends will help you get to your next level. And as a friend, you should reciprocate.
In the natural, David was a threat to Jonathan’s way of life. Jonathan knew God’s will and as David’s friend, he wanted to help David walk in God’s will for his life. You should have friends who are excited about what God is doing through and for you.
We all need people in our lives who are loyal when everything is going wrong. Selfishness or jealousy should not divide us. True relationships are open and honest. And when there is an exchange of Godly criticism it is to help us grow.
And Jonathan answered Saul his father, and said to him, “Why should he be killed? What has he done?” Then Saul cast a spear at him to kill him, by which Jonathan knew that it was determined by his father to kill David. 1 Sam 20: 32-33 MSG
You need friends who will stand up and defend you. Jonathan had nothing to gain and everything to lose; his family, his inheritance, and the kingdom. Yet he chose to be loyal to a friend in need.
Are you in need of a good loyal friend? To have a friend like that you need to be one. Look to help someone be better than you. David went on to be a great king. All Jonathan is known for is being David’s friend. But David never would have made it without Jonathan. David’s legacy was to was to rule the kingdom. Jonathan’s legacy was to be a friend of the king.
We need each other!
PRAY THIS
Father, I pray that you surround me with godly friends and help me to be a godly friend. Help me to be loyal, transparent, truthful, and selfless. Use my life to help someone else get to heaven. I thank You for the friend You are to Your people. You always stick closer than a brother. In the name of Jesus, Amen.
MEDITATE ON THIS
For if they fall, one will lift up his companion.
But woe to him who is alone when he falls,
For he has no one to help him up. Ecclesiastes 4:10 NKJV