July 8, 2019 – Counterfeit Friends

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Counterfeit Friends

 July 8
 Daily Reading – Ezra 4-7 / Acts 11

GOD SAID:

Ezra 4:2 Then they came to Zerubbabel, and to the chief of the fathers, and said unto them, Let us build with you: for we seek your God, as ye do; and we do sacrifice unto him since the days of Esarhaddon king of Assur, which brought us up hither.


GETTING INTO GOD’S WORD:

       I remember as a young boy my dad saying things like, ”those aren’t your friends son, they’re moochers.” Another one was, “you have a bunch of fair weather friends, they’ll not be there if you really need them.” He wasn’t trying to be mean. He was being a loving father, warning his son about the realities of life. Today, I still find his words to ring true. Some people are not really friends. They’re moochers, and are just there as long as they can get something from you. Some people only want to be around when things are going great, but when the going get rough, they’re gone. These are counterfeit friends. Today I also see a lot of Counterfeit Christians.

       In Ezra 4:2 some of these fake friends show up. How do we know they are fake? First, these people were brought there by the King of Assyria to occupy the land when the children of Israel were carried away. They had been there for years, yet in all that time they had no interest in building a temple or altar to God. Next we find them trying to slow down the work being done in verses 4-5. Finally they send a letter to the King of Persia asking to have the work stopped. They’re a clear picture of the lost world today and the church. First they infiltrate the church as Counterfeit Christians. Next they hinder any spiritual work with worldly ways. Finally, they attempt try to stop anyone else who is currently serving. Also known as wolves in sheep’s clothing.


GETTING GOD’S WORD INTO ME:

    In Ezra 4:3 the people of Israel told them, we can do this without your help. The church today should also say, we can worship without the worlds help. God isn’t looking for a new “Form of Worship,” as much as He is seeking a true “Friend to Worship.”


Will you be God’s Real Friend?

     
Living In His Word Ministries
    “Getting people into the Word of God…
                               … and the Word of God into people.”

Dr. Franklin J. Senters Th.D.
Founder and Executive Director
Hebrews 2:12

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