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8-Take The Lord As Your Friend:
If you did this, it would strengthen your faith because you will build a relationship with God and talk with Him without fear.
Many look unto the Lord as God or master, as we have discussed this issue before here on st-takla.org in other sections. But did you look unto Him as a loving friend, having confidence in Him and in His loyalty. He knocks at your door and asks you to open the door as a friend. He win enter and eat with you and you with Him (Rev. 3:20). If you accepted God's friendship and love, you will enter the real faith... you will look forward to seeing Him as a friend, to tell Him your secrets, and enjoy His companionship and love... you will take care as a friend not to hurt His feelings or make Him angry. He, Himself, will reveal His secrets to you as He did with Abraham (Gen. 18:17).
God wants you like this because He said “No longer do I call you servants... but I have called you friends." (John 15:15) so take Him then as a friend or Father, and believe in His sovereignty and power, and share your secrets with Him, and He will share His with you.
From the stories of friendship and truth with God is the anointment of Elijah to Elisha as a prophet.
One day the Lord told Elijah, the great prophet, “anoint Jehu the son of Nimshi as king over Israel. And Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel Meholah you shall anoint as prophet in your place.” (1 Kin 19:16).
Elijah did not say well, Lord I will anoint Jehua a king, but how can I anoint a prophet in my place? Are you not in need of my services? Does this happen now after my great efforts for your sake, and after standing before King Ahab and his wife Jezebel, and after freeing the land from all the Baal prophets? Did Your love for me change?
Elijah did not say anything of the sort, and did not doubt in God's love, but did what God ordered, having confidence in God's love and wisdom. Elijah considered it familiarity and friendship with God. God made Elijah participate with Him in carrying out the Godly plan, even if he had to anoint a prophet in his place. This does not mean that the friendship between him and God is finished or reduced.
The proof is that God raised him, later on, in glory to Him in heaven (2 Kin 2:1 1). Further evidence that He appeared talking with him on mount Carmel. It is love that God made clear to him even in the matters concerning him. The anointment of a prophet in his place was the beginning of his promotion to a better state greater than being a prophet.
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