1 00:00:00,800 --> 00:00:02,100 It's good to see everyone that's here. 2 00:00:02,100 --> 00:00:03,600 This morning, we're glad you're here. 3 00:00:03,600 --> 00:00:07,400 And those that are visiting from other congregations or the 4 00:00:07,400 --> 00:00:09,500 community or wherever you are from. 5 00:00:10,100 --> 00:00:14,200 We welcome you and invite you back at every opportunity. 6 00:00:14,900 --> 00:00:22,700 We're glad you're here. Listen to what Jesus says in 7 00:00:22,700 --> 00:00:27,100 John, the 15th chapter and verses 13 through 15. 8 00:00:28,400 --> 00:00:32,900 Jesus says greater love. Has no one than this than to lay 9 00:00:32,900 --> 00:00:36,500 down. One's life for his friends, you 10 00:00:36,500 --> 00:00:39,100 are my friends. If you do whatever I command 11 00:00:39,100 --> 00:00:42,200 you, no longer do I call you servants. 12 00:00:42,600 --> 00:00:46,900 For a servant, does not know what his master is doing, but I 13 00:00:46,900 --> 00:00:51,400 have called you friends for all things that I hear heard from my 14 00:00:51,400 --> 00:00:53,500 father, I have made known to you. 15 00:00:55,900 --> 00:01:00,300 You know, one of the greatest things that we can have on this 16 00:01:00,400 --> 00:01:03,500 Earth today is a friend, a friendship. 17 00:01:04,500 --> 00:01:07,300 You know, and I know what a true friend is. 18 00:01:08,900 --> 00:01:13,700 And one of the sweetest hymns, I think that has ever been written 19 00:01:13,700 --> 00:01:19,400 is the one that that we're all familiar with what a friend we 20 00:01:19,400 --> 00:01:22,800 have in Jesus. And I believe that the basis for 21 00:01:22,800 --> 00:01:28,200 that him is found here in John 15 where Jesus said, you are my 22 00:01:28,200 --> 00:01:31,400 friends. If you do whatever I command you 23 00:01:31,700 --> 00:01:35,100 and then he said, henceforth, I call you not servants but I've 24 00:01:35,100 --> 00:01:38,900 called you friends. We not only have friends here on 25 00:01:38,900 --> 00:01:43,600 this Earth. That we call true friends, but 26 00:01:43,600 --> 00:01:48,800 we have a friend in heaven. We have Jesus as a friend, he 27 00:01:48,800 --> 00:01:51,600 not only States what kind of friend he is and other ones. 28 00:01:51,900 --> 00:01:54,800 In other words, one that would lay down his life for his 29 00:01:54,800 --> 00:01:57,800 friends. The Lord is also inviting us 30 00:01:57,800 --> 00:02:03,000 into a relationship with him. When we have a friend here on 31 00:02:03,000 --> 00:02:07,700 Earth, we have a relationship. It's not just an acquaintance, 32 00:02:08,100 --> 00:02:12,500 but it is a relationship. It it has been said that our 33 00:02:12,500 --> 00:02:18,000 lives are a tapestry lined with the faces of friends when we 34 00:02:18,000 --> 00:02:21,200 think of memories. When we have memories in life. 35 00:02:21,200 --> 00:02:25,400 Usually that brings up people that we remember as friends and 36 00:02:25,400 --> 00:02:28,600 things that we've done with our friends and acquaintances. 37 00:02:29,700 --> 00:02:33,700 But I wonder how many real friends do you really have? 38 00:02:35,700 --> 00:02:39,100 I'm not talking about the superficial kind of 39 00:02:39,200 --> 00:02:43,900 acquaintance. The person next door or who's 40 00:02:43,900 --> 00:02:46,700 working in the work station, right? 41 00:02:46,700 --> 00:02:50,200 Next to you. Or the person you talked to an 42 00:02:50,200 --> 00:02:54,700 occasion at some kind of family gathering or or church Gathering 43 00:02:54,700 --> 00:02:56,900 or whatever, maybe even a gospel meeting. 44 00:02:58,400 --> 00:03:01,500 I'm not talking about those that we consider sometimes just 45 00:03:01,600 --> 00:03:03,800 Kindred Spirits. I'm talking about, the kind of 46 00:03:03,800 --> 00:03:06,100 friendship that goes beneath the surface. 47 00:03:06,100 --> 00:03:12,000 Will you have a heart felt connection with that person and 48 00:03:12,000 --> 00:03:15,800 a spiritual connection? I'm talking about where you have 49 00:03:15,800 --> 00:03:22,300 all things in common and that person with that person and a 50 00:03:22,308 --> 00:03:25,800 lot of times, that's because of our relationship with Jesus 51 00:03:25,800 --> 00:03:29,100 Christ. This is a kind of relationship 52 00:03:29,100 --> 00:03:32,700 that when we talk about true friends, it's a relationship 53 00:03:32,700 --> 00:03:36,800 that a husband has with his wife and a wife has with her husband. 54 00:03:39,100 --> 00:03:42,100 These are the kind of relationships that Jesus desire 55 00:03:42,100 --> 00:03:48,000 desires to have with you. And I today Friends really are 56 00:03:48,000 --> 00:03:51,200 one of the most precious gifts that God gives to us. 57 00:03:52,100 --> 00:03:57,500 They know us for who we really are and love us anyway. 58 00:04:00,100 --> 00:04:04,100 They know us. And love us just the same. 59 00:04:04,600 --> 00:04:07,400 They accept us for who we are. Even though we act, silly and 60 00:04:07,400 --> 00:04:12,800 goofy and we make mistakes and we have problems in our life but 61 00:04:12,800 --> 00:04:18,000 without suspecting us to be putting up a front and being 62 00:04:18,000 --> 00:04:23,300 someone other than who we are really, they still accept us for 63 00:04:23,300 --> 00:04:27,400 Who We Are. Friends allow us to make to let 64 00:04:27,400 --> 00:04:30,500 our hair down and be comfortable without worrying about how we 65 00:04:30,500 --> 00:04:34,800 look. I've been blessed with having 66 00:04:34,800 --> 00:04:38,800 many friends through the years, and hopefully still have a few 67 00:04:39,900 --> 00:04:43,900 in this world, I can sit down with one of my friends and I can 68 00:04:44,200 --> 00:04:47,800 pour out my heart to them. Let them know, my deepest 69 00:04:47,800 --> 00:04:51,600 feelings, and my deepest concerns, my problems, my 70 00:04:51,600 --> 00:04:56,300 struggles, my things that that hurt me. 71 00:04:56,300 --> 00:05:01,500 And and they'll listen to me You may have a friend just like 72 00:05:01,500 --> 00:05:06,300 that. That's what friends do. 73 00:05:07,800 --> 00:05:11,500 They give us they give of themselves to us and they also 74 00:05:12,000 --> 00:05:16,900 listen they carry us when we need to be carried, they know 75 00:05:16,900 --> 00:05:19,600 everything about us, the good and the bad and still remain our 76 00:05:19,600 --> 00:05:22,200 friends. The beautiful thing about 77 00:05:22,300 --> 00:05:26,500 friends is that the relationship usually is a two-way street. 78 00:05:28,100 --> 00:05:33,300 They're truthful with you. Let's notice some scriptures 79 00:05:33,300 --> 00:05:39,200 about friends and Ecclesiastes for in verses 9 through 12 to 80 00:05:39,900 --> 00:05:43,800 are better than one. Because they have a good reward 81 00:05:43,800 --> 00:05:47,900 for their labor. For if they fall one will lift 82 00:05:47,900 --> 00:05:50,300 up His companion. But woe unto him. 83 00:05:50,300 --> 00:05:54,000 Who is alone. When he falls for, he has no one 84 00:05:54,000 --> 00:05:58,100 to help him again. If to lie down together, they 85 00:05:58,100 --> 00:06:01,200 will keep warm. But how can one be warm alone 86 00:06:01,900 --> 00:06:03,700 for though? One may be overpowered by 87 00:06:03,700 --> 00:06:06,000 another? To can withstand him. 88 00:06:06,700 --> 00:06:09,700 A three-fold cord is not quickly broken. 89 00:06:10,800 --> 00:06:13,200 You see friends are nice to have around to. 90 00:06:13,500 --> 00:06:17,100 When we have problems in one, we are discouraged and all that 91 00:06:17,100 --> 00:06:20,300 that lifts us up, they help us, they encourage us and all these 92 00:06:20,300 --> 00:06:25,000 kinds of things. Proverbs 18 verse 20, for a man 93 00:06:25,000 --> 00:06:29,000 who has friends must himself, be friendly, but there is a friend 94 00:06:29,000 --> 00:06:33,100 who sticks closer than a brother Proverbs 27. 95 00:06:33,100 --> 00:06:37,200 And six faithful are the wounds of a friend but the kisses of an 96 00:06:37,200 --> 00:06:40,300 enemy are deceitful. Kisses of an enemy are 97 00:06:40,300 --> 00:06:43,500 deceitful. Eful Proverbs 27, and verse 98 00:06:43,500 --> 00:06:45,700 nine. Join button and perfume, 99 00:06:45,700 --> 00:06:48,900 Delight, the heart. And the sweetness of a man's 100 00:06:48,900 --> 00:06:57,100 friends friend gives Delight by Hardy Council. when we truly 101 00:06:57,100 --> 00:07:06,100 have a lasting relationship with Jesus, we give and we get we 102 00:07:06,100 --> 00:07:10,700 take and receive we carry and were carried and the beautiful 103 00:07:10,700 --> 00:07:15,300 thing about knowing Jesus and knowing god is that we have a 104 00:07:15,308 --> 00:07:18,500 close and personal relationship with them. 105 00:07:19,300 --> 00:07:23,300 What kind of friend is Jesus? One. 106 00:07:23,300 --> 00:07:27,800 He's a friend forever. He's also a friend you can count 107 00:07:27,800 --> 00:07:31,300 on is the kind of friend that sticks with you through thick 108 00:07:31,300 --> 00:07:35,400 and thin. the kind of friend that's there when you need him, 109 00:07:35,400 --> 00:07:42,400 the most When we ask ourselves a question of who, can I call on 110 00:07:42,800 --> 00:07:48,800 in an emergency or tragedy when you really need someone, who 111 00:07:48,800 --> 00:07:52,900 would you call? Who can you really count on when 112 00:07:52,900 --> 00:08:01,300 you need the help? You may have heard this before, 113 00:08:01,300 --> 00:08:04,500 there's a man by the name of Joseph scriven. 114 00:08:05,800 --> 00:08:14,500 He was a man that centuries ago on the Streets of Port. 115 00:08:14,500 --> 00:08:19,700 Hope Ontario man, could be seen walking along carrying a saw and 116 00:08:19,700 --> 00:08:22,800 a sawhorse. And one day a rich man from 117 00:08:22,800 --> 00:08:24,400 across. The street, saw him and said to 118 00:08:24,407 --> 00:08:26,600 a friend, he looks like a sober, man. 119 00:08:26,600 --> 00:08:28,700 I think I'll hire him to cut wood for me. 120 00:08:29,800 --> 00:08:33,200 The man replied that's Joseph scriven, the friend replied, he 121 00:08:33,200 --> 00:08:34,799 couldn't, he wouldn't cut wood for you. 122 00:08:34,799 --> 00:08:38,500 He only Cuts would for those who don't have enough to pay and 123 00:08:38,500 --> 00:08:41,299 that sends up sums up. The philosophy of Joseph 124 00:08:42,200 --> 00:08:46,300 medlicott scriven, a man who Took The Sermon on the Mount 125 00:08:46,400 --> 00:08:51,300 literally scriven was born in Dublin Ireland in 1819. 126 00:08:51,900 --> 00:08:55,400 He fell for a lovely young woman but on the eve of their wedding, 127 00:08:55,900 --> 00:09:01,200 she accidentally drowned Scriven never recovered from the shock 128 00:09:01,700 --> 00:09:04,800 and the Irish man began to wonder hoping to forget his 129 00:09:04,800 --> 00:09:07,600 sorrow at age. 25, he finally settled in Canada. 130 00:09:08,800 --> 00:09:12,500 His faith led him to do. Menial tasks for poor, widows in 131 00:09:12,500 --> 00:09:16,000 and the sick, he often worked for no wages and was regarded by 132 00:09:16,000 --> 00:09:20,500 the people of the community, as a kind, man, albeit odd. 133 00:09:21,700 --> 00:09:25,200 He later fell in love and again and planned to marry a wonderful 134 00:09:25,200 --> 00:09:29,900 Christian, Canadian woman, but again, tragedy struck his fiance 135 00:09:29,900 --> 00:09:32,200 died after Contracting pneumonia. 136 00:09:33,400 --> 00:09:38,500 In 1855, a friend visited an ill, scriven and discovered, a 137 00:09:38,500 --> 00:09:42,000 poem that had been had written for his ailing mother. 138 00:09:42,000 --> 00:09:46,000 In Faraway Ireland scriven didn't have money to visit her 139 00:09:46,600 --> 00:09:49,600 but he sent her the poem as an encouragement. 140 00:09:49,800 --> 00:09:53,900 He called it pray without ceasing when the friend enquired 141 00:09:53,900 --> 00:09:56,100 about the poems are origin scriven. 142 00:09:56,400 --> 00:09:59,800 Reportedly answered the Lord and I did it between us. 143 00:10:01,000 --> 00:10:04,200 Scriven never intended for the poem to be published, but it 144 00:10:04,200 --> 00:10:08,800 made its rounds and it was set to music in 1868 by Music 145 00:10:09,000 --> 00:10:12,500 musician. Charles Converse, who titled it? 146 00:10:12,500 --> 00:10:19,000 What a friend we have in Jesus. it has since become one of the 147 00:10:19,000 --> 00:10:24,000 greatest hymns scriven died in 1886, are Ironically in an 148 00:10:24,000 --> 00:10:29,100 accident accidental, drowning In his memory of the town and the 149 00:10:29,100 --> 00:10:31,900 town of Port. Hope they erected a monument 150 00:10:31,900 --> 00:10:35,000 with the inscription from Scrivens famous song. 151 00:10:35,500 --> 00:10:38,900 In his arms, he'll take and shield thee out, will find a 152 00:10:38,908 --> 00:10:43,200 Solace there. The verses to that word are 153 00:10:43,200 --> 00:10:46,100 this? What a friend we have in Jesus 154 00:10:46,400 --> 00:10:50,300 all our sins and griefs to Bear? What a privilege to carry 155 00:10:50,300 --> 00:10:53,700 Everything To God In Prayer. O, what peace? 156 00:10:53,900 --> 00:10:56,700 We often forfeit. Oh, what needless pain? 157 00:10:56,700 --> 00:11:00,800 We Bear all because we do not carry Everything To God In 158 00:11:00,800 --> 00:11:03,000 Prayer. Have we trials? 159 00:11:03,000 --> 00:11:05,600 And temptations is there trouble anywhere? 160 00:11:06,100 --> 00:11:09,600 We should never be discouraged. Take it to the Lord in prayer. 161 00:11:10,100 --> 00:11:14,100 Can we find a friend? So faithful who will all our 162 00:11:14,100 --> 00:11:17,900 sorrows share. Jesus knows our every weakness, 163 00:11:18,400 --> 00:11:22,800 take it to the Lord in prayer. Are we weak and heavy laden 164 00:11:22,800 --> 00:11:26,400 cumbered with a load of care? Precious savior still, our 165 00:11:26,400 --> 00:11:31,100 refuge take it to the Lord in prayer, do thy friends, despise 166 00:11:31,200 --> 00:11:35,000 forsake thee, take it to the Lord in prayer in his arms, 167 00:11:35,300 --> 00:11:38,700 he'll take and shield thee, thou Wilt find a Solace there. 168 00:11:40,600 --> 00:11:44,300 This old song has been sung. Hundreds, if not thousands of 169 00:11:44,300 --> 00:11:46,400 times. And if not, maybe ten thousands 170 00:11:46,400 --> 00:11:50,700 of times, it is still more than expresses the blessings that we 171 00:11:50,700 --> 00:11:58,200 have in Jesus and having Jesus as our friend Not only as a 172 00:11:58,200 --> 00:12:01,300 friend but I helped her a strength to call upon when were 173 00:12:01,300 --> 00:12:06,500 weak and too weak to carry our own burdens alone? 174 00:12:07,600 --> 00:12:10,000 What other friends do? We have that? 175 00:12:10,000 --> 00:12:16,500 We can turn to expecting to see our every weakness and our 176 00:12:16,500 --> 00:12:20,700 problems. What will shield us and come to 177 00:12:20,700 --> 00:12:24,900 our side and protect us and help us and encourage us and lift us 178 00:12:24,900 --> 00:12:29,900 up in times of distress. Some other of our friends will 179 00:12:29,900 --> 00:12:34,300 leave us when the problems started and when things don't go 180 00:12:34,300 --> 00:12:37,200 right, but Jesus is always there. 181 00:12:37,500 --> 00:12:42,200 Ready to listen to us, ready to encourage us and help us even 182 00:12:42,200 --> 00:12:48,400 when we stumble and fall and fall short of serving him, you 183 00:12:48,400 --> 00:12:56,900 know, there's also a friend that we call sometimes the fair 184 00:12:56,900 --> 00:13:02,000 weathered friend, and Jesus is not a fair weathered friend. 185 00:13:04,300 --> 00:13:09,400 They'd only shares the better times and walks away from us 186 00:13:09,400 --> 00:13:14,100 when the Trials come. And The Temptations and grief 187 00:13:14,100 --> 00:13:20,600 come our way more than all this. He lifts us up when we fall and 188 00:13:20,600 --> 00:13:25,000 he encourages us to try again. He refer gives us our sins even 189 00:13:25,000 --> 00:13:30,100 against him. And our text of John 15 and 14. 190 00:13:30,100 --> 00:13:33,100 Jesus says, you are my friends. If you do whatever I command 191 00:13:33,100 --> 00:13:36,000 you. And some think that if I just do 192 00:13:36,000 --> 00:13:40,200 what God commands me, Then he'll be my friend. 193 00:13:41,800 --> 00:13:43,800 We've seen that kind of friendship before the kind of 194 00:13:43,808 --> 00:13:47,900 friendship that there are only the the friends, then the person 195 00:13:47,900 --> 00:13:51,500 that will be your friend if they have something to gain. 196 00:13:51,500 --> 00:13:54,700 If they have something to prosper out of the friendship. 197 00:13:56,200 --> 00:14:00,100 They'll be your friend till they're done with you till 198 00:14:00,100 --> 00:14:03,600 they've used you up and they're finished with you. 199 00:14:04,200 --> 00:14:08,700 Their friendship is based on conditions and nothing else and 200 00:14:08,700 --> 00:14:11,900 if you don't give them what they want and they're not going to be 201 00:14:12,200 --> 00:14:13,900 a loving person. They're not going to be a 202 00:14:13,900 --> 00:14:15,400 friend. They're not going to be there. 203 00:14:15,800 --> 00:14:19,500 Helping you And they'll be very hypocritical. 204 00:14:21,200 --> 00:14:26,700 But sometimes we put conditions on God. we made tell God, if 205 00:14:26,700 --> 00:14:31,700 you'll just help me through this, I'll be loyal friend 206 00:14:31,700 --> 00:14:35,400 forever. We put conditions on God. 207 00:14:37,200 --> 00:14:41,100 But it is this loyalty only going to be there as long as you 208 00:14:41,100 --> 00:14:44,100 get what you want. And then when you don't get what 209 00:14:44,100 --> 00:14:47,700 you want then you will not serve God you won't be as friend. 210 00:14:47,700 --> 00:14:52,000 You won't have that relationship with him that he desires to have 211 00:14:52,000 --> 00:14:55,200 with you. You see it's not good for us to 212 00:14:55,200 --> 00:15:01,100 put conditions on God. That we will be his friend only 213 00:15:01,300 --> 00:15:03,600 if we get out of God, what we want. 214 00:15:06,800 --> 00:15:10,900 God becomes sometimes to some people more, no, more than an 215 00:15:10,900 --> 00:15:16,200 errand boy, to get what they want. but you see God is 216 00:15:16,200 --> 00:15:21,000 inviting us to be his friend and we can't tell God that we will 217 00:15:21,000 --> 00:15:26,000 only be his friend if he'll do something for us to True 218 00:15:26,000 --> 00:15:30,000 friendship and love our best manifest by what a man is 219 00:15:30,000 --> 00:15:34,300 willing to do on behalf of others, even when there's no 220 00:15:34,500 --> 00:15:39,400 return, even when there's no joy, sometimes even when there's 221 00:15:39,400 --> 00:15:46,900 no reward and there's no benefit for us, That's the best 222 00:15:46,900 --> 00:15:50,400 manifest, a friendship. And that's exactly what Jesus 223 00:15:50,400 --> 00:15:56,400 did for us. When we don't deserve, what we 224 00:15:56,700 --> 00:16:05,000 are given And that is eternal life. what kind of friend that 225 00:16:05,000 --> 00:16:08,900 Jesus, Jesus is a friend forever, Jesus said in Matthew 226 00:16:08,900 --> 00:16:14,500 28 and verse 20, excuse me, I should have Got behind on this. 227 00:16:17,100 --> 00:16:21,400 I am, I Am With You Always even to the End of the Age. 228 00:16:22,200 --> 00:16:26,600 So regardless you know, some friends just come and go. 229 00:16:28,600 --> 00:16:31,300 Something happens in your life. And some of the friends that you 230 00:16:31,300 --> 00:16:35,100 thought were true friends, they just vanish and they go away and 231 00:16:35,100 --> 00:16:38,700 you never see them or hear from them again, or maybe later on 232 00:16:38,700 --> 00:16:41,400 when they need something you finally hear from them. 233 00:16:41,400 --> 00:16:46,800 Again, Jesus is not like that. Jesus is a friend forever. 234 00:16:48,700 --> 00:16:53,500 Not today. Only, but he'll be a friend 235 00:16:53,500 --> 00:16:58,800 tomorrow and he'll be a friend to the End of the Age. 236 00:16:59,100 --> 00:17:03,500 Hebrews 13 and verse 8. Jesus Christ is the same 237 00:17:03,500 --> 00:17:07,900 yesterday today and forever. He's not going to change his 238 00:17:07,900 --> 00:17:12,000 friendship with you just because something happens in your life. 239 00:17:12,599 --> 00:17:16,599 So if Jesus is your friend today, he will be your friend 240 00:17:16,599 --> 00:17:20,500 forever. Jesus is also a friend that will 241 00:17:20,500 --> 00:17:22,300 be with us through thick and thin. 242 00:17:23,300 --> 00:17:28,000 Hebrews 13 Verse 5, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee, we 243 00:17:28,000 --> 00:17:31,700 have those friends that, you know, when the when the problems 244 00:17:31,700 --> 00:17:35,600 come and when you need their help, the most they don't show 245 00:17:35,600 --> 00:17:38,400 up. Or they don't call, or they 246 00:17:38,400 --> 00:17:42,100 don't return the call, or they don't come by, when you need 247 00:17:42,100 --> 00:17:46,100 them, the most when you're having struggles in life, but 248 00:17:46,100 --> 00:17:52,200 Jesus says, I will never leave you. and never forsake, you 249 00:17:54,000 --> 00:17:57,000 Jesus is a friend that will be honest with us Hebrews 12 and 250 00:17:57,000 --> 00:18:01,000 verses 5 through 6 and you have begotten, the exportation, which 251 00:18:01,000 --> 00:18:05,400 speaketh speaks to you as two sons, my son's do not despise 252 00:18:05,400 --> 00:18:08,100 the chastening of the Lord nor be discouraged. 253 00:18:08,100 --> 00:18:13,500 When you are rebuked by him for whom the Lord, loves he chastens 254 00:18:13,800 --> 00:18:20,400 and scourges every son whom he receives He will be honest with 255 00:18:20,400 --> 00:18:24,300 us and tell us when we're wrong so we can correct it. 256 00:18:25,800 --> 00:18:29,500 You know, all I can say, is, you know, he talks about here, 257 00:18:29,500 --> 00:18:33,600 chasing the Lord, do not despise the chastening of the Lord nor 258 00:18:33,600 --> 00:18:38,300 be discouraged, when you are reviewed by him, because he 259 00:18:38,300 --> 00:18:42,100 chastens whom, he loves. All I can say, is when I was a 260 00:18:42,100 --> 00:18:47,900 little kid, I knew I was loved because of all the chastening I 261 00:18:47,900 --> 00:18:51,500 got. And a lot of us are that way. 262 00:18:53,300 --> 00:19:00,100 We were really, really loved, but Jesus and God tell us what 263 00:19:00,100 --> 00:19:02,500 we're doing wrong. You know, a good friend, does 264 00:19:02,500 --> 00:19:06,900 that they tell you you're wrong. You need to, you need to fix 265 00:19:06,900 --> 00:19:12,000 this. The one that's not a true friend 266 00:19:12,000 --> 00:19:17,100 will just let you bury yourself and God and Jesus are not like 267 00:19:17,100 --> 00:19:18,800 that. Jesus will let you know. 268 00:19:22,100 --> 00:19:25,600 But Jesus is merciful and faithful and dependable a 269 00:19:25,600 --> 00:19:30,000 friend, Hebrews 2 and his 16 through 17 for verily. 270 00:19:30,200 --> 00:19:33,200 He took not on him, the nature of angels, but he took on him, 271 00:19:33,200 --> 00:19:36,500 the Seed of Abraham wherefore in all things. 272 00:19:36,500 --> 00:19:40,300 He it behooved him to be made like unto his Brethren that he 273 00:19:40,300 --> 00:19:46,200 might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining 274 00:19:46,200 --> 00:19:50,300 to God to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. 275 00:19:51,900 --> 00:19:56,300 Notice second, Thessalonians 3. And verse 3, we shall finished a 276 00:19:56,300 --> 00:20:01,400 study with on this verse last Lord's evening. 277 00:20:02,800 --> 00:20:08,200 But the Lord is faithful. Who will establish you and guard 278 00:20:08,200 --> 00:20:11,300 you from the evil one. He's not going to be the one 279 00:20:11,300 --> 00:20:15,800 that takes off when Trouble Comes our way, he will 280 00:20:15,800 --> 00:20:21,100 strengthen us, he will establish us, he will better strengthen 281 00:20:21,100 --> 00:20:23,400 our foundation so that our faith is strong. 282 00:20:23,400 --> 00:20:28,700 So when troubles come our way, He will guard us. 283 00:20:30,700 --> 00:20:34,800 When I think about this verse, what pops into my mind, is a 284 00:20:34,800 --> 00:20:38,600 football game. And the person that has, where's 285 00:20:38,600 --> 00:20:42,500 the, the position name guard, his whole purpose is to guard 286 00:20:42,500 --> 00:20:46,500 the quarterback. And when when the other players 287 00:20:46,500 --> 00:20:49,300 come running towards the quarterback, he's there to knock 288 00:20:49,300 --> 00:20:51,000 him down and to knock him out of the way. 289 00:20:51,100 --> 00:20:54,000 Now, that doesn't mean that sometimes that he gets knocked 290 00:20:54,000 --> 00:20:57,000 out, doesn't get knocked over. But the thing is, when our faith 291 00:20:57,000 --> 00:21:03,600 is strengthened by God and by Jesus when we're stablished, 292 00:21:04,200 --> 00:21:09,500 like he says, here in this verse And when things come our way, we 293 00:21:09,500 --> 00:21:14,100 don't get knocked over. It's by him and through him that 294 00:21:14,100 --> 00:21:18,600 we are guarded from the evil one and that is the kind of friend 295 00:21:19,200 --> 00:21:23,800 that we want. We all maybe have seen I can't 296 00:21:23,800 --> 00:21:26,200 remember. This just came to mind this. 297 00:21:27,800 --> 00:21:33,700 This movie that was on here a few years ago, about this, this 298 00:21:33,700 --> 00:21:38,500 large guard. And, and he was really didn't 299 00:21:38,500 --> 00:21:40,200 have much of an education did better. 300 00:21:40,200 --> 00:21:43,800 But but the person is stepmother. 301 00:21:43,800 --> 00:21:45,800 If you want to say, I wish I could remember the demon. 302 00:21:45,800 --> 00:21:52,200 This had a little talk with him and told him your position is to 303 00:21:52,200 --> 00:21:53,900 not. Let them get to your 304 00:21:53,900 --> 00:21:55,500 quarterback. That's that's who you're 305 00:21:55,500 --> 00:21:59,400 protecting, right there. Do you understand me? 306 00:22:00,900 --> 00:22:05,500 And so, that's what Jesus is. He's a friend that will not let 307 00:22:05,900 --> 00:22:09,900 the evil one get to us. Also, Jesus is a compassionate 308 00:22:09,900 --> 00:22:15,100 friend, Matthew 11 verses 28 through, 30, come to me, all you 309 00:22:15,100 --> 00:22:18,600 who labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest. 310 00:22:19,000 --> 00:22:21,200 Take my yoke upon you and learn of me for. 311 00:22:21,200 --> 00:22:24,800 I am gentle and lowly in heart and you will find rest for your 312 00:22:24,800 --> 00:22:26,800 souls. For my yoke is easy and my 313 00:22:26,800 --> 00:22:32,000 burden is light. He's a compassion friend you 314 00:22:32,008 --> 00:22:33,700 know, when we have problems there's nothing better than 315 00:22:33,700 --> 00:22:37,600 having somebody come up and give you a big hug and give you some 316 00:22:37,600 --> 00:22:40,400 compassion, give you some love, give you some help. 317 00:22:40,400 --> 00:22:43,900 Give you some encouragement, give you the strength that you 318 00:22:43,900 --> 00:22:48,800 need and that's what Jesus is. He is a compassionate friend. 319 00:22:51,300 --> 00:22:53,800 Why? Because Jesus is a friend that 320 00:22:53,800 --> 00:22:56,600 will help us through the trial. Because in Hebrews 2 and verse 321 00:22:56,600 --> 00:23:02,700 218 for in that he himself, has suffered being tempted, he is 322 00:23:02,700 --> 00:23:05,600 able to Aid. Those who are tempted. 323 00:23:05,900 --> 00:23:10,100 Why is he compassionate friend? Because he knows He was tempted 324 00:23:10,100 --> 00:23:13,200 just like we are Hebrews 4 verse 15. 325 00:23:13,300 --> 00:23:17,200 For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our 326 00:23:17,200 --> 00:23:22,700 weaknesses. But was in all points tempted as 327 00:23:22,700 --> 00:23:28,600 we are yet without sin. We don't have a high priest that 328 00:23:28,600 --> 00:23:32,200 didn't go through the same problems. 329 00:23:33,600 --> 00:23:37,000 The same Temptations, the same trials, the same 330 00:23:37,000 --> 00:23:41,000 discouragements. Because he did. 331 00:23:42,600 --> 00:23:45,800 Who better to sympathize with than someone that's gone through 332 00:23:46,400 --> 00:23:47,900 the same thing you're going through. 333 00:23:52,000 --> 00:23:55,900 Also, Jesus is a powerful friend Hebrews 2 and verses seven 334 00:23:55,900 --> 00:23:59,600 through eight. You have made him a little lower 335 00:23:59,600 --> 00:24:02,900 than the Angels you have crowned him with Glory and Honor. 336 00:24:04,000 --> 00:24:07,500 And set him over the works of your hands. 337 00:24:08,200 --> 00:24:11,200 You have put all things in subjection under his feet. 338 00:24:11,800 --> 00:24:15,900 For in that he put all in subjection under him. 339 00:24:17,000 --> 00:24:21,200 He left nothing that is not put under him, but now we do not 340 00:24:21,200 --> 00:24:23,800 yet, see all the things put under him. 341 00:24:24,700 --> 00:24:27,600 He's power bill because he is the most powerful. 342 00:24:28,200 --> 00:24:30,100 He is power more powerful than the devil. 343 00:24:30,100 --> 00:24:34,400 He is, he has become Victorious over death, hell and the grave. 344 00:24:35,000 --> 00:24:37,900 He is a powerful friend, you know, when I when I have 345 00:24:37,900 --> 00:24:43,600 problems in life, you know, if I don't have the strength to do 346 00:24:43,600 --> 00:24:47,900 something, I call a friend. Not someone that's necessarily 347 00:24:47,900 --> 00:24:51,600 weaker than me, but someone is stronger than me to help me pick 348 00:24:51,600 --> 00:24:57,100 something up. To help me push something out of 349 00:24:57,100 --> 00:25:01,600 the way. You know, if I was going into 350 00:25:01,600 --> 00:25:07,100 the battle today, I would want the strongest meanest. 351 00:25:09,400 --> 00:25:16,200 Soldier by my side, the fiercest battle Warrior at my side. 352 00:25:16,200 --> 00:25:21,300 And that's who Jesus is. He is a powerful friend, and 353 00:25:21,300 --> 00:25:24,000 everything is under his subjection. 354 00:25:26,700 --> 00:25:31,000 Jesus is a friend that gave his life for you, John, 15 and verse 355 00:25:31,000 --> 00:25:33,000 13. Our text greater love has no one 356 00:25:33,000 --> 00:25:36,800 than this than to lay down one's life for his friends. 357 00:25:37,200 --> 00:25:41,300 Arbor also Hebrews, 9 verse 14, how much more shall the blood of 358 00:25:41,300 --> 00:25:45,200 Christ? Who through the eternal spirit 359 00:25:45,300 --> 00:25:48,000 offered himself without spot to God? 360 00:25:48,500 --> 00:25:52,700 Cleansing your conscience from dead Works to serve the Living 361 00:25:52,700 --> 00:25:58,400 God. Jesus, proved he was in his, our 362 00:25:58,400 --> 00:26:03,000 friend, when he gave his life for us, as a sacrifice for our 363 00:26:03,000 --> 00:26:07,900 sins, that we may have the hope of being reconciled to God and 364 00:26:07,900 --> 00:26:13,500 living eternally in heaven. If we are Jesus friends, we will 365 00:26:13,500 --> 00:26:26,200 follow him wherever he leads us. Jesus is a friend that gave His 366 00:26:26,200 --> 00:26:30,200 Life For All Mankind. Not only me, but all mankind, 367 00:26:30,200 --> 00:26:34,900 Hebrews 10 and 10. By that, we have been Sanctified 368 00:26:35,300 --> 00:26:39,900 through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ, once for All 369 00:26:40,000 --> 00:26:43,500 For All Mankind. Even the person that is living 370 00:26:43,500 --> 00:26:48,500 in sin. Now, Those who have done things 371 00:26:49,200 --> 00:26:51,600 that they think they could never turn to God. 372 00:26:52,200 --> 00:26:55,100 Jesus gave his life for them as well. 373 00:26:57,000 --> 00:27:01,000 Jesus is a friend that can save everyone and intercedes for 374 00:27:01,000 --> 00:27:02,900 them. Hebrews 7 and 25. 375 00:27:03,400 --> 00:27:08,400 Therefore he is able also able to save to the uttermost, those 376 00:27:08,400 --> 00:27:12,200 who come to God through him, since he always lives to make 377 00:27:12,200 --> 00:27:16,900 intercession for them. We see so much sin in the world 378 00:27:16,900 --> 00:27:24,700 today and and it just it just absolutely amazes me how deep 379 00:27:24,700 --> 00:27:30,400 into sin. People can get And some just 380 00:27:30,400 --> 00:27:35,400 absolutely reject. Every thing that has to do with 381 00:27:35,400 --> 00:27:40,700 God or Jesus. But also, there have been people 382 00:27:40,700 --> 00:27:45,100 that have been transformed. From that sinful life. 383 00:27:45,700 --> 00:27:49,300 Maybe they were at the very bottom of the pit. 384 00:27:50,300 --> 00:27:56,100 But Jesus raised them up and Jesus died for those as well, as 385 00:27:56,100 --> 00:28:01,200 you and me. He died for those who are in 386 00:28:01,200 --> 00:28:05,500 such deep sin. As well as you and me. 387 00:28:08,100 --> 00:28:14,800 And he intercedes for all. Well, Jesus ought to be our 388 00:28:14,800 --> 00:28:17,700 friend because of the mock trial. 389 00:28:17,700 --> 00:28:21,200 He endured the beating that he took for us. 390 00:28:21,200 --> 00:28:25,000 The humiliating treatment he took for us across that. 391 00:28:25,000 --> 00:28:30,100 He carried the nail scarred hands and feet the scars on his 392 00:28:30,100 --> 00:28:33,700 head from the crown of thorns the scar on his side from the 393 00:28:33,700 --> 00:28:38,400 spear that pierced his side. He proved he is our friend by 394 00:28:38,400 --> 00:28:44,800 what he did for us. Jesus, I hope we can all say 395 00:28:44,800 --> 00:28:50,300 this. Jesus is my friend because he 396 00:28:50,300 --> 00:28:55,800 knows all my faults. He accept me as I am and that is 397 00:28:55,800 --> 00:29:00,700 imperfect. He sees my weaknesses and he 398 00:29:00,700 --> 00:29:05,400 never gives up on me. I can trust him to lead me all 399 00:29:05,400 --> 00:29:08,400 the way home. I can follow him wherever he 400 00:29:08,400 --> 00:29:13,900 goes, I can confess every sin and every failure and every 401 00:29:13,900 --> 00:29:19,500 problem that I have in my life, And he still is my friend with 402 00:29:19,500 --> 00:29:20,700 him. I share my thoughts, and 403 00:29:20,700 --> 00:29:25,400 feelings, and frustrations, and fears, and joys and sorrows. 404 00:29:27,000 --> 00:29:31,900 To him, I confide my deepest needs things that that maybe I 405 00:29:31,900 --> 00:29:37,000 can't express to others. He always understands he hears 406 00:29:37,000 --> 00:29:39,000 my thoughts, as well as my prayers. 407 00:29:39,600 --> 00:29:43,600 He tells me the truth even if it hurts Jesus rejoices with me 408 00:29:43,600 --> 00:29:47,900 when I'm happy in him. And when I'm sad, he shares my 409 00:29:47,900 --> 00:29:52,900 grief, when I'm too tired to go on, he holds me up when I lose 410 00:29:52,900 --> 00:29:55,800 my way, he finds my hand and guides me. 411 00:29:57,700 --> 00:30:01,300 In his path, he's my friend and he's always there. 412 00:30:02,100 --> 00:30:05,900 He shows me why he gave his life for me so that he and I can be 413 00:30:05,900 --> 00:30:11,200 together for all eternity. Because he joined me to himself 414 00:30:11,200 --> 00:30:15,000 through the Crossman, his friends are my friends, his 415 00:30:15,000 --> 00:30:19,100 enemies are my enemies, his battles or my battles and he 416 00:30:19,100 --> 00:30:23,200 always wins even when I must share his wounds and bear, some 417 00:30:23,900 --> 00:30:26,000 little bit of scars in this life. 418 00:30:28,100 --> 00:30:30,100 Every morning we plan our day together. 419 00:30:31,800 --> 00:30:37,900 All day long, we talk. To each other, we work together 420 00:30:38,800 --> 00:30:43,600 or Inseparable my friend is wise, patient, loving and kind. 421 00:30:43,800 --> 00:30:47,600 He's faithful, consider it unchanging. 422 00:30:48,200 --> 00:30:52,900 Pure a strong Dependable, loyal and true. 423 00:30:53,700 --> 00:30:59,500 Jesus truly is a friend of mine and I hope a friend of yours. 424 00:31:01,000 --> 00:31:04,700 If you don't have Jesus as a friend today, I hope you'll 425 00:31:04,700 --> 00:31:10,000 consider becoming his friend by taking the invitation to be his 426 00:31:10,000 --> 00:31:14,000 friend. Once you hear the word in Romans 427 00:31:14,000 --> 00:31:16,800 10 verse 17. So then faith comes by hearing 428 00:31:17,200 --> 00:31:22,700 and hearing by the word of God, once you believe and Hebrews 11 429 00:31:22,700 --> 00:31:24,700 verse 6. But without faith, it is 430 00:31:24,700 --> 00:31:28,000 impossible to please him. For he who comes to God, must 431 00:31:28,000 --> 00:31:32,200 believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them who did 432 00:31:32,200 --> 00:31:37,900 diligently seek him. You want to repent of your life 433 00:31:37,900 --> 00:31:40,600 and look 13 and 3. I tell you no but unless you 434 00:31:40,600 --> 00:31:43,900 repent you will all likewise perish. 435 00:31:44,400 --> 00:31:46,900 We need to confess the name of Jesus Christ. 436 00:31:47,100 --> 00:31:51,000 In Matthew 10 verse 32, therefore whoever confesses me 437 00:31:51,000 --> 00:31:55,400 before men him, I will also confess before my father who is 438 00:31:55,400 --> 00:31:59,800 in heaven and then we need to be baptized into Christ, Acts 2, 439 00:31:59,800 --> 00:32:03,600 and verse 38 and Peter and said to them, repent and be baptized 440 00:32:03,600 --> 00:32:06,900 and let every one of you be. Baptized in the name of Jesus 441 00:32:06,900 --> 00:32:11,700 Christ for the remission of sins and you shall receive the gift 442 00:32:11,800 --> 00:32:14,900 of the Holy Spirit. Once we have obeyed, the 443 00:32:14,900 --> 00:32:18,300 commands of Jesus, we are his friend. 444 00:32:19,800 --> 00:32:23,100 He will be your friend and he invites you into a relationship 445 00:32:23,100 --> 00:32:26,600 with him. We have to accept the invitation 446 00:32:26,900 --> 00:32:30,000 of that relationship to be his friend. 447 00:32:31,000 --> 00:32:35,600 Once you consider these things this morning, we thank you for 448 00:32:35,600 --> 00:32:40,400 listening to our podcast, put on by the Church of Christ at 22:15 449 00:32:40,400 --> 00:32:43,300 plans. Road in Bakersfield, if you 450 00:32:43,308 --> 00:32:46,500 would like any additional information or you would like to 451 00:32:46,500 --> 00:32:49,600 receive a free Bible correspondence, course by mail. 452 00:32:50,200 --> 00:32:54,100 Please email us at info at True Church of Christ 453 00:32:54,100 --> 00:32:58,000 Bakersfield.com. Our service times are on Sundays 454 00:32:58,000 --> 00:33:03,700 at 10:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. and Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m. 455 00:33:04,300 --> 00:33:07,800 Please make plans to join us. We would love for you to be our 456 00:33:07,800 --> 00:33:08,700 honored guest.