FRIENDS!
Friends Day
Probably one of the greatest movies of all time that dealt with the topic of friendship was Frank Capra’s It’s A Wonderful Life. Throughout his whole life George Bailey showed himself to be an exemplary friend and family member. He made sacrifices for the good of his family, friends, and the community of Bedford Falls.
There was a villain in this movie by the name of Mr. Potter. He stole money that led George Bailey to the brink of suicide. That’s when Clarence the Angel appeared, and showed George Bailey how important he really was, and that he really did have a wonderful life.
The final scene of the movie is a gathering of all of George Bailey’s friends. They were there to support him emotionally and financially. I want you to watch as we see what good friends George Bailey really had. And take careful notice of the note that Clarence the Angel wrote.
(Show clip – It’s a Wonderful Life – Approximately last 2 ½ minutes of the film starting RIGHT AFTER Mary Bailey says “Mr. Mantini, How about some wine?” It is my understanding that you can show up to 3 minutes of a copyrighted movie legally.)
Did you notice the toast that Harry Bailey, George’s Brother, gave? “To my big brother George, the richest man in town.” George Bailey was rich in friends!
Did you notice what was written on the inside of the book Clarence left? It said, “Remember, no man is a failure who has friends.”
Today is “Friends Day” in church and it is very fitting that we talk about friends. When you have true friends you are rich. When you have true friends you are not a failure.
Let’s talk this morning about some of the positive aspects of friendship. As we do, we want to remind you of the best friend of all, the Lord Jesus Christ.
We also want to show you what qualities you need to have in order to be a good friend. And you can use these same qualities to decide if a person really is your friend. If he or she shows these qualities he or she is a true friend. If he or she does not show these qualities, the chances are that the person is not a true friend.
FRIENDS ARE SELECTED
It has been said that you can choose your friends but you can’t choose your family.
It makes sense to choose your closest friends well.
· They will have the greatest influence on you.
· They will either build you or pull you down.
· They will either encourage or discourage you.
· They will either help you or hurt you.
I have seen many a person go down hill because they have hung with the wrong kinds of friends.
I have seen many a person experience God’s best because they have chosen the right kind of friends.
It makes sense to choose the very best friend available who is willing to be my true friend.
That person is the very Son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ.
It boggles my mind to think that the God who made the universe wants to be my friend.
It boggles my mind to think that the God who holds all things together wants to live inside of me and be my friend.
It boggles my mind to think that Jesus would call me, “friend”.
How do I select Jesus as my friend?
John 15:14 - Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.
The most important commands Jesus gave concerned eternal life. If we do not follow His commands concerning eternal life, we can’t possibly be Jesus’ friend.
John 10:9 - I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.
John 14:6 - Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
John 3:16-18 - For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. [17] For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. [18] He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
· Jesus says that He is the only way to Heaven.
· Jesus says that when a person places their faith in Him they have everlasting life.
· Jesus says that if a person does not place their faith in Him they are condemned because of their lack of belief.
To have faith in Christ is to admit that you are a sinner who can’t save himself.
Isaiah 64:6 - But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
To have faith in Christ is to believe that he paid for all of your sins when He died on the cross.
Romans 5:6-8 - For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. [7] For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. [8] But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
To have faith in Christ is to trust Christ alone for forgiveness and eternal life.
Ephesians 2:8-9 - For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: [9] Not of works, lest any man should boast.
To have faith in Christ is to have your life changed by Him.
2 Corinthians 5:17 - Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
Are you Jesus’ friend because you have trusted Him as your Savior?
If you have chosen Him as friend, He has chosen you as friend, and has great plans for you.
John 15:16 - Ye 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.
If you are wise you will select your friends carefully.
You will not select friends who will bring you down, but those that will build you up and that you can build up.
If you wise, you will also select the best friend of all, the Lord Jesus Christ.
FRIENDS ARE SELECTED
FRIENDS SACRIFICE
· A friend, without me asking, once lent me two thousand dollars in order to pay my income taxes.
· Another friend traveled from Lancaster PA to Wayne, New Jersey in order to be with me when my dad died.
· In two cases we’ve had friends help us when our garage and/or basement were flooded.
· We had friends take us out for lunch at just the right times that lunch was needed to encourage us.
· I’ve had friends who’ve listened for a long time so I could vent frustration and hurt.
My friends have made sacrifices for me.
I have made sacrifices for my friends.
A friendship that costs nothing is no friendship at all.
Jesus said in John 15:13, Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
This is exactly what the Lord Jesus did for us. He laid down His life for His friends, you and I who have trusted Him as our Savior.
Isaiah 53:3-5 - He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.[4] Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. [5] But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
To be Jesus friend will also mean sacrifice.
Luke 14:26-27 - If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. [27] And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.
To be Jesus’ friend will require sacrifice.
· The sacrifice of time
· The sacrifice of talent (used for Him).
· The sacrifice of thought (that pleases Him)
· The sacrifice of treasure
· The sacrifice of tasks done for Him
It will cost everything to be Jesus’ friend.
It cost the Lord Jesus everything to be your friend.
I have done many funerals. One of the things I’ve often heard said about the deceased, and I hope it will be said of me, “He would do anything for anybody.” That is being a true friend when the things done are true and right.
If you will not sacrifice for a friend, you are not much of a friend.
If your friend will not sacrifice for you, he is not much of a friend.
We are not suggesting that we can always do what our friends ask. If a friend asks me to do what is illegal, immoral, or in any way contrary to the will of God, I should not make that sacrifice.
If a friend asks me to lie or to cheat for him or her I should not make that sacrifice.
If a friend asks me to do something that will hurt him or her, I should not make that sacrifice.
FRIENDS ARE SELECTED
FRIENDS SACRIFICE
FRIENDS STICK
This week I talked to 3 friends. Two of these friends have been my friend for over 40 years. The other friend is a newcomer. He’s only been my friend for almost 25 years.
True friends stick with you. You stick with them.
When things are going well, your friend is there to enjoy it with you.
When things are going poorly, your friend is there to suffer with you.
My first day of vacation will be spent with a friend whose wife will have very serious surgery done near the brain.
Proverbs 18:24 - A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.
The ultimate friend who sticks closer than a brother is none other than the Lord Jesus Christ.
Matthew 28:20 - …and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Hebrews 13:5-6 - Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. [6] So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.
The Lord Jesus never leaves.
The Lord Jesus never forsakes.
The Lord Jesus will stick with you to the end.
That encourages me to be faithful to Him.
I am to stick with Him as a loyal friend.
I am to do what He wants me to do.
I am to serve Him all of my days.
John 14:21 - He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.
You can tell a person is a good friend when he sticks with you.
You can tell that you are a good friend when you stick with them.
Who is the good friend that you need to get in contact with this week? Maybe one of your friends has unintentionally “fell through the cracks.” Go! Find your friend! Let him know that you are sticking with him or her.
FRIENDS ARE SELECTED
FRIENDS SACRIFICE
FRIENDS STICK
FRIENDS SHARE
True friends do more than talking about hunting, sports, the weather, girl things, guy things, movies or food.
True friends communicate what is on their hearts.
True friends talk about things of substance and importance.
True friends share the joys and the sorrows, the ups and the downs of life.
Jesus is the friend of those who have trusted Him as their Savior.
Jesus, because He is a friend, shares.
John 15:15 - Henceforth 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.
John 16:13-14 - Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. [14] He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
Through His Holy Spirit Jesus is still sharing with you.
He wants it to be a reciprocal sharing.
Jesus is your friend. He shares with you.
Are you are Jesus’ friend? Share with Him!
There isn’t anything that you can’t share with Him!
John 15:7 - If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
1 Peter 5:7 - Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
Remember, a good friend shares. Let your friends share their burdens and joys with you, even when it hurts.
And don’t you let things get so bottled up inside that you can’t share with a friend.
Sometimes God places that friend in the right place at the right time so you can share your burden!
FRIENDS SHARE
FRIENDS SPEAK UP
A friend will speak up for a friend.
He will defend him. He will plead in his behalf.
He will say “a good word” for his friend.
If Jesus is your friend He speaks in your behalf in Heaven.
1 John 2:1-2 - My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: [2] And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
Hebrews 7:24-25 - But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. [25] Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.
Jesus speaks up for you.
If you are Jesus’ friend, you need to speak up for Him!
Psalm 107:2 - Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy;
1 Peter 3:15 - But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
If Jesus is your friend, speak up! Others need His friendship too!
If you have a friend, don’t be afraid to speak up in his or her behalf.
In the movie, It’s a Wonderful Life, George Bailey was a good friend and had good friends. In order for you to have a wonderful life, you need Jesus as your friend. Is He?
FRIENDS ARE SELECTED
FRIENDS SACRIFICE
FRIENDS STICK
FRIENDS SHARE
FRIENDS SPEAK UP
How good a friend are you?