Scripture Read:  Psalm 141, 142

Key Verse:  Psalm 141:4

⁴Do not let my heart incline to any evil, to busy myself with wicked deeds
in company with men who work iniquity, and let me not eat of their delicacies!”

Observation:

Who we associate with and have as friends matters.  It is one thing to be friends with those who work iniquity.  Someone has to reach them!  It is a whole other thing to let them begin to influence you and trash your integrity.  Intentions matter to God.  Run with whomever you can influence to Christ and the intentions of them man will be honored by God.

Application:

Most of us need MORE friends who are well, honestly, pagan, crazy outrageous sinners.  This is what I love about our church family.  We can be honest with each other and celebrate the intentions and the heart behind our actions.  Legalism must never take a foothold in our church.  If there is a sin to confess, then a rebuke from a Christian brother or sister is encouraged (vs. 5).  It is “oil for our heads”  we must not hide our sins and at the same time we must understand the great opportunity that exists for us to tell our stories that reveal our heart intentions to love people.  As  we go into the fall with 217church, we must realize this is our opportunity to take the tickets & door hangers and INVITE, INVITE, INVITE

Prayer:

Lord, help us not to isolate ourselves but make us to infiltrate and infuse life into those who have no hope. Give me more friends to win to you!

By Josh 217staff team