WHO IS YOUR FRIEND?
FRIENDSHIP
John 15: 12-17; 11 Chronicles 21:1-13; James 2:19-23
The Bible speaks often of friends. In some cases the picture is dark; in others it is bright. Jesus was betrayed by his friends; Jesus was wounded in the house of his friends; Jesus was forsaken of his friends. Yet the Bible speaks of the sweet relationships between friends. The poorest man in the world is a man who has no friends. Jonathan and David is one of the greatest friendships of all times. Earthly friendships are precious, but they cannot compare to the friendships of Heaven. Isn't it wonderful when God can say about a person, "He is my friend.
I. THE BASIC OF FRIENDSHIP
"A friend loveth at all times." Prov. 17:17
"A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly, and there is a friend sticketh closer than a brother." Prov. 18:24
A. Unending Love
"Greater love hath no man than this that a man lay down his life for his friend." John 15:13
B. Unswerving Loyalty
"Ye are my friends if ye do whatsoever I command you." John 15:14
C. Uncompromising Faith
1. Abraham trusted God; God trusted Abraham. Gen. 18:16-22
2. Abraham trusted God
Promised land, Promised child
3. Abraham and God talked with each other.
"Shall I hide the thing that I do?"
No friendship can survive without communication.
4. Abraham and God assisted each other
He called upon Abraham to give His son. God, in turn, gave His son for Abraham.
II. THE BLESSINGS OF FRIENDSHIP
A. Blessing of Security
We feel secure with our friends. "Fear not, I am thy shield."
God was Abraham's protection.
Jesus is our friend and security.
B. Blessing of Success
The person who follows the Lord faithfully never fails. Abraham's friendship with God produced a nation.
C. Blessing of Reward
Lot chose fertile land; twenty years later, Abraham was rich, Lot was poor.
III, THE BENEFITS OF FRIENDSHIP
Abraham was a friend of God and inherited the promised land. We can be a friend to Jesus and inherit the Heaven land.
An old man once lay dying in a hospital room. On the chart attached to his bed, there was a notation which read, "no kin; no friends." A preacher visiting the old man, leaned over and whispered into his ear, "How sweet the name of Jesus in a believer's car." The old man smiled faintly and quietly and confidently exclaimed, "YES, I KNOW HIM."
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