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We Need True Friends. 1 Cor 15:33 Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners. The challenge is that there are more and more evil companions and fewer and fewer good ones We are social beings: Gen. 2:18 Job 19:14 ... my familiar friends have forgotten me.
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We Need True Friends • 1 Cor 15:33 Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners. • The challenge is that there are more and more evil companions and fewer and fewer good ones • We are social beings: Gen. 2:18 • Job 19:14 ...my familiar friends have forgotten me. • Some have forsaken family and friends to become Christians (they need church friends)
The Friend of God • 2 Chron 20:7 Art not thou our God, who didst drive out the inhabitants of this land before thy people Israel, and gavest it to the seed of Abraham thy friend for ever? • Isa 41:8 But thou, Israel, art my servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the seed of Abraham my friend. • James 2:23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.
Common Interests • Activity that two people enjoy and share • At first the activity is valued above the relationship • In time the relationship is prized above the activity • Challenge (serving God faithfully must remain above the relationship with the members) • Prov 22:11 He that loveth pureness of heart, for the grace of his lips the king shall be his friend. • People in all places admire goodness
Caring For One Another • Prov 18:24 A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother. • Friendship is mutual, reciprocal Lk. 14:12-14 • Prov 17:17 A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. • Prov 27:10 Thine own friend, and thy father's friend, forsake not; neither go into thy brother's house in the day of thy calamity: for better is a neighbour that is near than a brother far off.
Character • Compliment to Abraham (Jms. 2:23) • Lack of Character kills friendships • 1. Gossip: Prov. 16:28, 17:9 • 2. Always Taking: Prov. 19:6-7 (crutch or enabler) • 3. Money Matters: Prov. 6:1-5 (compelled) • 4. Stupidity: Prov. 27:14 (exaggerated admiration)
Cost • Friends pay the price for friendship: • Pity for the suffering: Job 6:14 • Protection for the threatened: Acts 19:31 • Provisions for the needy: Acts 27:3 • Promoting the improvement of their friend at all times Prov. 27:17, 6, 9
John 15:12-15 • 12 (Caring for one another) Love • 13 (Cost of friendship) Die (Rom. 5:6-8) • 14 (Common interests) Obey • 15 (Character) Knowing (Jn. 10:3-4) • James 2:23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.