How Important Are We As Friends?

How Important Are We As Friends?

Scripture

Jn 15:13-21 ¹³Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

^{14Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.
^{15Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.
^{16Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.
^{17These things I command you, that ye love one another.
^{18If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.
^{19If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.
^{20Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.
^{21But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not him that sent me.

INTRO: Several years ago, we visited Greg and attended his Church for the first time. We, I was a bit apprehensive. I was sure the church was too big for everyone to talk, speak, sing, and sit up front-- or in the back, to know everyone, and I was most certain that it was too large to be friendly.
Even though everyone was shaking hands, smiling, and talking as we entered (just on time), I was sure they were just pretending, faking, being ostentatious. I am confident they were not really a friendly as they certainly appeared.
Even though their music and songs were lively, worshipful, moving and LOUDLY SUNG…WITH ENTHUSIASM -- I was sure they were simply putting on a show just to impress some other visitors and me. I was sure all those clapping and the few raising their hands were only doing so to wave at gnats or bugs or maybe just to show off and look IMPORTANT for the people around them they were wanting to impress. I was confident there were just there because they had to be, they probably wanted to be elsewhere, and they were just as uncomfortable as I was!
And the PREACHER! In his fancy suit…. He wanted to tell us something about prayer. How could he know anything about prayer. The pastor of a big church, why would he have to pray anyway? What could he share that could be on my level? Of course, he did tell us it was something about what Christ talked about…The Lord's Prayer of something like that.
And after the service…All those people were standing around talking not rushing for the door. I mean there was somewhere around 1000 people there. It was going to take forever to get out. Come on Greg, let's get out of here while we can!
I really had desired to visit another church in the Toledo area, but Greg wanted us to see his church. I suggested the early service. He shot that down. Not only it was earlier, but also he said he did not know hardly anyone in that service.
So as I pondered this, I asked my self what had attracted him to such a church anyway? FRIENDS. HE HAD AND HAS FRIENDS THAT GO THERE.

Tonight I want to talk about friends. HOW IMPORTANT ARE FRIENDS? HOW IMPORTANT ARE WE AS FRIENDS??????? Do friends make that much of a difference?

What is a friend? Webster's New World Dictionary tells us it is, "1. A person whom one knows well and is fond of; close acquaintance. 2. A person on the same side in a struggle; ally: opposed to foe. 3. A supporter or sympathizer: as a friend of labor."}}}}}}}} We can see from my scripture that…
Christ felt friends are very important
We find John's observation of Christ's feelings about friends…

Jn. 13:1 Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end.

John 11:5 Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus.

11:35 Jesus wept.

11:36 Then said the Jews, Behold how he loved him!

John 13:23 Now there was leaning on Jesus' bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved.

Friends can be closer than a brother

Prov 18:24 A man that hath friends must show himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.

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.

Friends can be an encouraging influence

Prov 27:17 Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.

Friends help friends

Eccl 4:9-10 ⁹Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.

^{10 For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.

2 Tim 1:16 The Lord give mercy unto the house of Onesiphorus; for he oft refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain:

Friends attract friends
Mat 27:55 And many women were there beholding afar off, which followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering unto him:

Mat 27:56 Among which was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee's children.

As we look at all these we can see that…
A friendly attitude…

Makes
Keeps
Builds
Strengthens
And IS friendship's greatest friend

Do you remember the popular song several years ago…"YOU'VE GOT A FRIEND." By Carol King

When you're down and troubled
And you need some loving care
And nothing, nothing is going right
Close your eyes and think of me
And soon I will be there
To brighten up even your darkest night

You just call out my name
And you know wherever I am
I'll come running to see you again
Winter, spring, summer or fall
All you have to do is call
And I'll be there
You've got a friend

If the sky above you
Grows dark and full of clouds
And that old north wind begins to blow
Keep your head together
And call my name out loud
Soon you'll hear me knocking at your door

You just call out my name
And you know wherever I am
I'll come running to see you
Winter, spring, summer or fall
All you have to do is call
And I'll be there

Ain't it good to know that you've got a friend
When people can be so cold
They'll hurt you, and desert you
And take your soul if you let them
Oh, but don't you let them

You just call out my name
And you know wherever I am
I'll come running to see you again
Winter, spring, summer or fall
All you have to do is call
And I'll be there
You've got a friend

Friendship?????

If we want a church that is right, doing good things, helping each other, then…

Cultivate friendships.
Let people have your friendship.
Be friendly.
Act friendly.
Do friendly.
BE A FRIEND.

Know this…

The world seeks friendship.

BE A FRIEND TO THE LORD, AND BE A FRIEND TO THOSE YOU KNOW AND THOSE YOU MEET}

Gary Marcum - New Beginnings Church - 111807pm - First used 030500am