Friendship With the World II Corinthians 6:14 Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? (NIV)

The Lord Said – “Commit No Adultery!” James 4:4 You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. (NIV) You can’t be a friend of God and a friend of the world. If you try to do that, God counts you as an enemy. This is a form of adultery which is part of the commandments. Pastor Joe J. Corrales Heart of Worship COG7D

Does the World Love You? John 15:19 If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. (NIV) If the world loved you then you would be a part of the world. The closer you are to God, the further apart you become with the world. This leads to conflicts at times. Pastor Joe J. Corrales Heart of Worship COG7D

Why Can’t We Have Worldly Friends? Pastor Joe J. Corrales Heart of Worship COG7D

They Could Bring You Harm Proverbs 13:20 He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm. (NIV) Bad company can be hazardous to your health. Many people would not talk to strangers or the ungodly if you met the on the street. But they would think nothing of chatting with them on the chat lines or emailing them. This too is friendship with the world. Internet friendships have created dangerous situations for many people today – including Christians Pastor Joe J. Corrales Heart of Worship COG7D

They Can Corrupt Your Character 1 Corinthians 15:33 Do not be misled: "Bad company corrupts good character.” (NIV) The more you associate with the wrong people, the more it influences your character. We become the mirror image of those we associate with. This occurs especially among those whose character is still forming. Pastor Joe J. Corrales Heart of Worship COG7D

They will Corrupt Your Speech Proverbs 14:7 Stay away from a foolish man, for you will not find knowledge on his lips. (NIV) We also find that the more we converse with worldly people, the more we talk like them. Often this is a subtle change that happens a little at a time. Soon bad words or rough harsh language becomes easy and familiar to us. Pastor Joe J. Corrales Heart of Worship COG7D

You Will Learn Their Ways Proverbs 22:24-25 Do not make friends with a hot-tempered man, do not associate with one easily angered, or you may learn his ways and get yourself ensnared. (NIV) Hot tempered people will cause you to learn a bad temperament too. Bad temper is truly contagious. It is the opposite of a spiritual temper which is kind, long-suffering, and patient. Pastor Joe J. Corrales Heart of Worship COG7D

The Eagle and the Chickens Pastor Joe J. Corrales Heart of Worship COG7D

The Eagle and the Chickens There is a story about an eagle that was wounded and he was put in to heal among the chickens. The idea was to get him to regain his strength so that he could fly away and live among his own kind as before. But in time the eagle learned the way of the chickens and began to behave like them. This is what happens to Christians who associate with worldly people. Pastor Joe J. Corrales Heart of Worship COG7D

Be an Eagle Not a Chicken! Fly Among the Eagles! Pastor Joe J. Corrales Heart of Worship COG7D

Good Friends Make Each Other Stronger Proverbs 27:17 As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. (NIV) When good Christians associate with each other, they tend to make one another stronger in faith, and sharper in spirit. Pastor Joe J. Corrales Heart of Worship COG7D

A Good Friends Bring Joy and Good Counsel Proverbs 27:9 Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart, and the pleasantness of one's friend springs from his earnest counsel. (NIV) Good fellowship provides clean, wholesome fun. Even out of this comes good counsel and support. You can find a lot of that in your own family – but not all of it! Pastor Joe J. Corrales Heart of Worship COG7D

A Good Friend Tells You the Truth – Even If It Hurts Proverbs 25:11-12 A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver. Like an earring of gold or an ornament of fine gold is a wise man's rebuke to a listening ear. (NIV) Worldly friends tell you what you want to hear but true friends tell you what you need to hear. Some times the truth can hurt. Pastor Joe J. Corrales Heart of Worship COG7D

Worldly Friendships Can Separate You From God 2 Corinthians 6:17-18 "Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.“ "I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.“ (NIV) Bad friendships can be the reason we drift away from God. God sets a condition for his relationship with us! Separate yourself from the world and God will receive you. Are you prepared to do what it takes to get closer to God? Pastor Joe J. Corrales Heart of Worship COG7D