When You Need A Friend

Today we rarely use the word “friendship” to describe our relationship with God.

John 15:13-15, NIV.

“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.”

• Friendship with Jesus is more than a casual acquaintance. God has always wanted a close friendship with people.

We see the friendship with His creatures began way back in the Garden of Eden.

In Genesis 3 we have the picture of God walking in the Garden in the cool of the evening so that He could spend time with Adam and Eve.

God wants us to be more than his servants or his creatures; He wants us to be close, intimate friends.

In this world, there are numerous types of friendships.

There is a faucet friendship that people turn on and off.

There is fake friendship wherein folk will fake you out when you need them most.

There is a fair weather friend that will remain so long as the weather is fair..

Let us consider the meaning of a genuine friendship.

• Friendship is the caring commitment between two people.

• Friendship is always preceded by self-giving.

The first friend in the bible was God Himself. The first gift of the first friend was another friend. It was God who determined from the beginning that "it was not good for man to be alone." He then made woman to be a friend of man, from man.

• Friendship is based on the agape’ or what is more aptly called the biblical love.

It is the love of God that is shed abroad in the believer’s heart. Love is a desire for and a delight in the well-being of the one loved; leading to an active and a self-sacrificing effort of on their behalf. God Himself is the very essence of friendship. The God-head is a perfect unity, wherein God is in relationship with Himself. A friend is someone you can be yourself with.

• A friend is someone who knows your weakness and respect your strength.

• Ralph Waldo Emerson said: "The only way to have a friend is to be one."

• A friend is one who is a source of sunshine when you are under the weather.

• A friend is one who believes in you, when you cease to believe in yourself.

• A friend is a source of celebration when you feel that there is nothing to celebrate.

• A friend is one who answers your call before you call.

Friendship is of two categories.

• It is first vertical or God-ward and

• Second horizontal or a reaching outward.

Friendship thrives upon sacrifice. You can give without love but you cannot love without giving.

True friendship is when two friends can walk in opposite directions, and yet remain side by side.

A friend is one who walks in when the rest of the world walks out.

A friendship with Jesus is truly the only unsinkable-ship.

Jesus promises to walk with us every step of our journey. He is caring about our problems and he promises to protect and guide us. We can proudly say, “The King of Kings is my big brother.”

James 2:23

This verse says Abraham was called the friend of God.

There are those in the Bible who were called friends of God. You may see yourself in some that God has called friends in the past.

1st Abraham was called a Friend of God. James 2:23

Three T’s for lasting friendships.

1. Friendship is based upon trust.

James 2:23 tells us how the friendships between God and Abraham was established. It says Abraham believed God. Believe is trust. If you trust someone you believe in that person.

2. Friendship is based upon truth.

Lies destroy. Truth builds up. Truth improves friendships. Truth is the foundation upon which all lasting relationships and friendships are built.

3. Friendship is built over time.

Deep abiding lasting friendships are built over time. Since friendships are based upon trust and trust develops over time, friendships are built over time.

2nd Another person in the Bible who was a friend of God is Lazarus.

Jesus called Lazarus friend. John 11 Jesus told his apostles our friend Lazarus has died. When Jesus heard the news of Lazarus’ death he wept. Jesus wept.

What does this tell us about friends? It tells us that a friend is compassionate and caring. A friend rejoices with their friends and they weep with their friends.

When something good happens to them they rejoice with them. When something bad happens to their friends they weep.

A true friend is compassionate and caring. They are kind, and considerate.

3rd A third person who was called a friend of God in the Bible was Moses.

Exo 33:11 says, God spoke to Moses as a friend.

Friends enjoy talking to each other. In fact, friends will spend hours talking and when it’s time to go, they hate to say goodbye.

There are some more people called the friends of God in the Bible. The 12 apostles of Jesus Christ were called friends of God.

Jesus said to the 12 one day, "I no longer call you servants … but friends.” John 15:15

Who were the apostles? They were Jesus’ companions in life.

Three C’s of friendship:

1. Communication.. God wants you to talk to him every day.

2. Companionship. God wants you to spend time with him.

3. Compassion. Friend are caring. Helpful. Encouraging.

 A friend brings out the best in you

“Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” James 4:8, NIV.

As we spend time with God in prayer through Jesus Christ, we are sharpened, strengthened sanctified, and supported. He delights in hearing what we have been doing. He wants us to share with Him our problems and needs.

“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:7, NIV. “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6, 7, NIV.

A friend makes you happy

Good friends, by their presence, words and actions, make us happy. We get a special feeling from our friends that makes us want to be with them, even just to enjoy simple things.

“You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence” Psalms 16:11, NIV.

A friend is interested in your spiritual health

“His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.” 2 Peter 1:3, NIV.

Jesus wants to be your friend and he wants you to be his friend. Pro 18:24 There is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.

His name is Jesus. I encourage you to establish and build a deep, lasting, and  loving friendships with him. He’s the best friend you’ll ever have. He’s always you, He’ll never leave thee nor forsake thee and he loves you more than you’ll ever know.

Is Jesus Your Friend Today?