Are You a Friend to Jesus? True friends are not easily found! We must be a friend to others before we can ever expect to have friends ourselves (Proverbs 18:24), “A man who has friends must himself be friendly, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” It is vitally important that we choose our friends wisely. Our souls (and theirs) are at stake. We can easily deceive ourselves that our friends have no influence over our spiritual condition when in fact they are among the most influential people in our lives. Unbelieving friends can lead us into sin. (1 Corinthians 15:33-34), “Do not be deceived: “Evil company corrupts good habits.” 34 Awake to righteousness, and do not sin; for some do not have the knowledge of God. I speak this to your shame.” True friends help friends to go heaven. Jesus called His apostles His friends (John 15:15), “No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.” He had great affection and love for them. Abraham was called a friend of God Of course, that means that God was a friend TO Abraham. He blessed him and protected him. But, another aspect of that friendship is emphasized in James 2. (James 2:21-24), “Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? 22 Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? 23 And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God. 24 You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.” We often emphasize, that it was Abraham’s obedient faith that made him God’s friend. Key here, not emphasizing that he was merely a friend of God, but that through his works, his faithfulness, he acted as a friend. I.E. – He was a friend OF God because he was a friend TO God. [ON CLICK] The Question we need to ask ourselves, as we friends TO Jesus? Based on the article, “Are You a Friend to Jesus?” By Joe R. Price, The Spirit’s Sword, December 5, 2010 Are You a Friend to Jesus?

Are You a Friend to Jesus? Friends stick close to each other Prov. 18:24; 1 Tim. 4:13-16; Psa. 122:1-4 Friends stick close to each other (Proverbs 18:24), “A man who has friends must himself be friendly, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” Friends are companions; they spend time together. A friend of Jesus spends time with the Lord through prayer, through worship, through serving others and by reading, learning and meditating on his word. (1 Timothy 4:13-16), “Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. 14 Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership. 15 Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all. 16 Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.” (Psalm 122:1-4), “I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let us go into the house of the Lord.’ 2 Our feet have been standing within your gates, O Jerusalem! 3 Jerusalem is built as a city that is compact together, 4 where the tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord, to the Testimony of Israel, to give thanks to the name of the Lord.” Are you sticking close to Jesus?

Are You a Friend to Jesus? Friends stick close to each other Prov. 18:24; 1 Tim. 4:13-16; Psa. 122:1-4 Friends sacrifice for each other Jn. 15:12-13; Matt. 16:24-25; Matt. 6:33-34 Friends sacrifice for each other (John 15:12-13), “This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends.” Jesus is that kind of friend to us. But our question is: Am I a friend to Jesus? Would you and I give up our lives for Jesus? (Matthew 16:24-25), “Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. 25 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.” What about giving up a concert, a dinner or a sporting event to do His will? Would I give up a job if it caused me to become weak in my faith and sporadic in my worship? Would you? (Matthew 6:33-34), “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”

Are You a Friend to Jesus? Friends stick close to each other Prov. 18:24; 1 Tim. 4:13-16; Psa. 122:1-4 Friends sacrifice for each other Jn. 15:12-13; Matt. 16:24-25; Matt. 6:33-34 Friends are loyal to each other 1 Sam. 18:1; 2 Sam. 1:26; Jn. 15:14 Friends are loyal to each other They are devoted as they care for one another’s well being. Example: The love and loyalty of David and Jonathan for one another is a fitting example of a friendship forged out of common faith and mutual concern (1 Samuel 18:1), [Immediately after David’s defeat of Goliath, David came before Saul the King], “Now when he [David] had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.” (2 Samuel 1:26-27), [David’s lament at the death of Jonathan in battle against the Philistines] “I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan; you have been very pleasant to me; your love to me was wonderful, surpassing the love of women. 27 “How the mighty have fallen, and the weapons of war perished!” Friends are devoted and united The devotion of friendship is notable in the agreement friends share. Friends share similar values, goals and spirit (if not, they won’t remain friends for very long). Are we so devoted to Jesus that we will not allow anything to separate us from Him? Or do we make every excuse not to be loyal and faithful to Him? (John 15:14), “You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.” We must obey Jesus to be His friend. That is true loyalty. 

Are You a Friend to Jesus? Friends stick close to each other Prov. 18:24; 1 Tim. 4:13-16; Psa. 122:1-4 Friends sacrifice for each other Jn. 15:12-13; Matt. 16:24-25; Matt. 6:33-34 Friends are loyal to each other 1 Sam. 18:1; 2 Sam. 1:26; Jn. 15:14 Friends have faith in each other James 2:23; Isaiah 41:8 Friends have faith in each other Abraham was called the friend of God because of his faith (James 2:23), [Referencing Abraham’s offering of his son Isaac on the altar at God’s command], “And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God.” This reference in James is to Isaiah 41:8 (Isaiah 41:8), [The words of Jehovah God to Israel], “But you, Israel, are My servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the descendants of Abraham My friend.” Note that God called him “my friend” Is your faith like Abraham’s so that Jesus calls you His friend? Stick close to Jesus. Sacrifice yourself for Him. Trust Him. Be loyal, faithful and obedient to Him. Then you will truly be a friend to Jesus. [Offer invitation here]