Do you have my back?
Ruth 1:16
By: Pastor Dwayne White
Many teens go through life thinking that friends are with them in the good times and bad, but when the pressure is on it turns out that those friends “Don’t really have their back.” The message below teaches teens how to recognize a loyal friend so they can avoid the hurt that comes from disloyalty.
Definition of Loyal
-Steadfast in allegiance or duty
-Inspired by love for your
-Unwavering in devotion to
-Faithful to a person, ideal, custom, cause, or duty
Loyalty consists of:
- Love/unconditional love.
- Prov. 3:3-4 – Love is merciful & truthful. Favor Comes
- Prov. 17:17 – a true friend love you all the time. In spite of….
- Trust/Faith/Courage
- Josh 1:16-18
- Fear of God
- Judges 2:16-19 – Cycle of disloyalty
i. (1) rebelling against God, (2) being overrun by enemy nations, (3) being delivered by a God-fearing judge, (4) remaining loyal to God under that judge, and (5) again forgetting God when the judge died. We tend to follow the same cycle—remaining loyal to God as long as we are near those who are devoted to him. But when we are on our own, the pressure to be drawn away from God increases. Determine to be faithful to God despite the difficult situations you encounter.
ii. Canaanite religion appeared more attractive to the sensual nature and offered more short-range benefits (sexual permissiveness and increased fertility in childbearing and farming). One of its most attractive features was that people could remain selfish and yet fulfill their religious requirements
Loyalty is a trait that Christians should have. Jesus was loyal to God.
Luke 4:2-4, 5-8, 9-12
Your loyalty in natural relationship may indicate your loyalty to God.
- Jesus demands loyalty of those who want to follow him
- Matt. 8:21-22 – Loyalty to God override Family loyalties.
- I Corn. 10:21 – Can’t eat at both Tables.
Benefits of Loyalty to God
- You will be fruitful, productive. (Ruth 4:13-17)
- Favor – (Ruth 2:7-10)
- Miracles will manifest. (Mark 1:40-42)
John 15:1- 16