Liberty's Library

Originally written February 27, 2005


Introduction: Read Joseph Scriven story. (Mentioned 107 times in OT/NT) I’d like to share with you the 7 aspects of God’s influence on our Friendships.

1. God gave us a model: Jesus is the greatest of friends
a. John 15:9 says, “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love.”
b. Jesus is always there (Camp Song: Jesus Never Fails).
c. Christ will never quit loving us, just as God will never quit loving Him.
d. John 15: 13-15 says, “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.”

2. God gave us some Insight: Some Proverbs of Friendship
a. The Hebrew word for friend (Rea) also means, neighbor, companion, fellow, brother, lover…etc.
b. Proverbs 17:17 says, “A friend loves at all times”.
c. Proverbs 17:18 says, “A man lacking in judgment strikes hands in pledge and puts up security for his neighbor.”
d. Proverbs 18:24 says, “A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.”
e. Proverbs 22:11 says, “He who loves a pure heart and whose speech is gracious will have the king for his friend.”
f. Proverbs 27:6 says, “Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses.”
g. Proverbs 27:9 says, “Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart, and the pleasantness of one’s friend springs from his earnest counsel.”
h. Proverbs 27:10 says, “Do not forsake your friend and the friend of your father, and do not go to your brother’s house when disaster strikes you – better a neighbor nearby than a brother far away.”
i. Proverbs 27:17 says, “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.”

3. God reminds us that people aren’t perfect: There are circumstances where even our best friends will desert or disappoint us.
a. Proverbs 19:4 says, “Wealth brings many friends, but a poor man’s friend deserts him.”
b. Proverbs 19:6 says, “Many curry favor with a ruler, and everyone is the friend of a man who gives gifts.”
c. Proverbs 19:7 says, “A poor man is shunned by all his relatives—how much more do his friends avoid him! Though he pursues them with pleading, they are nowhere to be found.”
d. Proverbs 27:14 says, “If a man loudly blesses his neighbor early in the morning, it will be taken as a curse.”
e. Luke 15:11-32. The prodigal son. As long as the money was there, the friends were there. But when the money ran out and hard times came, no friends were there to bail him out. Hired himself out to a pig farmer.

4. God tells us to be patient: Friendships are developed
a. That’s why there are so many degrees of familiarity.
i. I know their face…but I don’t know their name.
ii. I only know their name because I overheard someone talking about them.
iii. Yea, they are an acquaintance. I say “hi” in passing.
iv. I have a few classes with them…or…he/she is in my department at work.
v. I know them fairly well, but we’re not close.
vi. I was just talking to her yesterday. Yea we are good friends.
vii. Oh, he’s my best friend in the whole world. We talk almost everyday and twice on Sundays.

5. God shows us how to do it right: Friendships take communication
a. The more you talk and get to know each other, the stronger the friendship becomes.
i. So be careful whom you befriend.
1. James 4:4 says, “You adulterous people. Don’t you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God?”
b. Just the reverse is also true.
i. Old college friends that I’ve fallen out of touch with over the years.
c. Our relationship with Christ is the same way. So was His relationship with His Father.
i. Prayer, prayer, and more prayer.
ii. Simply talking to God is a great way to get started.
iii. God is never going to come alive to you as a living, breathing friend if you don’t talk to Him.
1. Sometimes it is short and sweet.
2. Sometimes it’s heartfelt and deep.
3. Sometimes it’s not for you but for someone else.
4. Sometimes its formal maybe during a worship service.
5. Sometimes prayer is accompanied by tears (joy or sorrow).
d. Christ Prayed to His Father all the time.
i. The Lord’s Prayer in Matt. 6
ii. John 17 in the garden
iii. John 11:41 Jesus’ prayer at Lazarus’ resurrection (very informal).
iv. Luke 24:50 Christ blesses the disciples before ascending.
v. Luke 22 prayers at the Lord’s Supper.
vi. Luke 11 Christ teaches his disciples how to pray.
vii. Luke 9:29 While Jesus was praying, he was transfigured.
viii. Luke 9:16 Christ blesses the 5 loaves and 2 fish.
ix. Mark 1:35 Jesus prays in a solitary place.
x. Matthew 15:36 Christ prays over the 7 loaves and few fish.

6. God give us the gift of Friends: Our Church is a Community of Friends/Family
a. Christians who serve God serve people.
i. Matthew 7:12 says, “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the law and the prophets.
b. The way we treat others is the way we treat Jesus
i. Matthew 25:40 says, “The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for the least of these, you did for me.”
c. We must take advantage of our bond and reach out as friends to the lost.

7. God wants us to use our gifts for His kingdom: Using our friendships as a tool for Evangelism
a. By far the most effective way to touch people today is through the association of friendship.
b. In America, friendship association is the key that unlocks the door of opportunity to saving souls.
c. A Man was sitting at a gospel meeting and heard a sermon on the text in Acts 26.
d.[Paraphrase Acts 26]
e. Acts 26:28 says, “Then Agrippa said to Paul, ‘Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?’ Paul replied, ‘Short time or long – I pray God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains.”
f. That man was a man by the name of Philip Bliss.
g.[Finish reading the Philip Bliss selection with closing.]