Randall Caselman
Bella Vista Church of Christ
May 12, 2002 PM
Cultivating A Friendship With Jesus
Reading - Proverbs 18.19-24
This is not the sermon that I had worked on for tonight... However, in light of what our church family has been going through the past few days, I want us to talk about the friendship of Jesus. I want us to work on feeling emotionally, what we know intellectually, that God is present in our lives.
The good news tonight is that there is one who understands our need for FRIENDSHIP... In our text Solomon says... There is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. I wonder who that could be? I think we know who it is... Don't we? Indeed!... What a friend we have in Jesus.
Listen to these scriptures which tell us that Jesus... God… is with us...
- Matthew 28.18-20... Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
- John 14.23... If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.
- Hebrews 13.5-6... Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." So we say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?"
- Psalms 118.6-8... The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me? The LORD is with me; he is my helper. I will look in triumph on my enemies. It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man.
You see, scripture tells us that Jesus was a friend of tax collectors and sinners. Church, if Jesus was a friend of sinners, then he is a friend to us... Because each of us fits that category... RIGHT?
Someone once said... If Jesus hadn't been a friend to sinners... Then he would have been absolutely lonely... Because that is all there were... and are... Sinners!... Right?
- Some of us are alien sinners in need of salvation...
- Some of us are saved sinners in need of continual forgiveness.
INDEED.... INDEED... Jesus is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. QUESTION... ARE YOU A FRIEND TO JESUS?
Notice with me now... Some barriers to friendship with Jesus...
The first barrier is SIN
Now, it should be obvious that just because Jesus was a friend to sinners, doesn't mean that He condoned sin. In fact, scripture tells us that He is our friend because...
- He came to call sinners to repentance.
- He came to seek and save the lost sinner.
- He came to purchase our pardon.
- To make atonement for our sins... So that we could be friends.
Paul says... Jesus came into the world to save sinners... Of whom I am the worst... I am the chief of sinners. In the next verse Paul reasons like this... If Jesus can... and WILL... Save... Forgive... The worst of sinners... Like me... Then He CAN... And WILL forgive anybody... Any sinner... Regardless of how ugly his or her sin might be.
I think we see an illustration of this in John chapter 8.... The woman taken in adultery. The Jews brought her to Jesus asking... What should we do with her? The law says she should be stoned... What do you say? Before Jesus answered, he bent down and started writing on the ground. They kept hounding Him.... Rabbi... What do you say? So Jesus answers... Let the one of you that is without sin cast the first stone. Then he stooped down and continued to write in the dirt. We don't know what he wrote... I would like to believe...
- That he wrote the sins of those in the crowd. Those private sins that each would recognize in his own heart.
- Maybe he wrote the names of those in that crowd who had slept with this lady. That would be pretty powerful stuff... Wouldn't it?
What we do know is that as he wrote the crowd dispersed. When he looked up, he asked the lady...Where are your accusers? Is there none to condemn you?... NO SIR!... Then neither do I.
Now, here is the key... GO NOW AND SIN NO MORE... YOUR SINS ARE FORGIVEN.
You see, Jesus came making friendship with Him possible because HE FORGIVES OUR SINS. Paul says... IN HIM WE HAVE REDEMPTION THROUGH HIS BLOOD... EVEN THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS.
The second barrier to a friendship with Jesus is PRIDE.
Solomon lists seven things that God hates, and PRIDE tops the list.
- Pride keeps us from acknowledging our sins.
- Pride keeps us from admitting that we are sinners.
And until we acknowledge our sins, Jesus can't and won't do anything about them... So there is no friendship. Listen to 1 John 1.9-10... If we confess... If we acknowledge our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. However... If we claim we have no sin... His word has no place in our lives.
This idea of pride destroying our friendship with God can be seen in Jesus' parable of Luke Chapter 18... Listen as I read from verse nine forward... To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable: Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: "God, I thank you that I am not like other men--robbers, evildoers, adulterers--or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get." But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, "God, have mercy on me, a sinner." I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.
Church, what was the difference between the Publican and the Pharisee? Why did one go home justified... A friend of Jesus... And the other go home condemned? The Pharisee's PRIDE would not let him acknowledge... confess... his sins. The tax collector freely confessed his faults and asked for God's forgiveness.
Remember what David said in Psalm 51?... God is searching for a broken contrite heart. No wonder John said... If we will confess our sins... He is just and will forgive our sins. HOW SIMPLE... HOW SIMPLE friendship with Jesus is... Yet so few of us will submit.
Church, do you know what keeps US... Any one of us from walking church aisles? Our own PRIDE. Oh yes... We may give this excuse or that excuse... But the bottom line is we do not want to admit that we are sinners. And here it is church... JESUS CANNOT... WILL NOT... FORGIVE SINS that are NOT ACKNOWLEDGED WITH BROKEN HEARTS.
No... I am not saying we must name every sin in order to be forgiven. I am not saying that we must walk church aisles to be forgiven. But we must acknowledge our sins. And the same pride that keeps us from walking church aisles, also keep us from acknowledging and confessing our faults to God with broken... contrite hearts. Indeed... PRIDE is a barrier to our friendship with Jesus.
Another barrier is the idea that God is UNAPPROACHABLE.
Some good people think that God is...
- So SOVEREIGN...
- So MIGHTY...
- So HOLY...
- So BUSY...
- So ABOVE IT ALL...
That we could not possibly become His friend. Don't you think one of the reasons for the incarnation was to dispel such a notion? You see, Jesus came to:
- Show us God...
- Explain God...
- Demonstrate God...
Listen to these scriptures that dispel the concept of an unapproachable God.
* Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD. Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.
* Come unto me all you that labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest.
* Come learn of me... My yoke is easy... My burden is light.
* Permit the little children to come unto me, for of such is the kingdom of heaven.
* If one will come to Me ... I will in no wise cast him out.
* For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Does this sound like Jesus or God are approachable? Jesus came to tell us that God IS approachable. I like the way today's English Version renders 2 Corinthians 5.18: Christ has changed us from enemies into His friends and gave us the task of making others His friends also.
Now let's quickly note some of the BLESSINGS of our friendship with Jesus.
For this I want to use the passage in Ecclesiastes chapter 4... Look at it with me.
Now I know that these verses are speaking of friendship man-to-man. But if these concepts hold true for human friendship... Think of the powerful truths it holds in our friendship with God.
Read it with me again... Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
First... We note that two are better than one for they have a good return for their work. Friendship with Jesus helps us with our duties--our labor in the kingdom of God. Listen to Ephesians 3 & Philippians 4... He is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine according to HIS POWER that is at work IN US.... We can do all things through Jesus who gives us strength.
You see... These verses tell us that God gives us strength for our labors. I need this kind of friendship help... don't you?
Secondly... Friendship with Jesus means help in DISASTER.
Note Verse 10... If one falls... His friend can help him up... But pity the man who falls with no one to help! Jesus is a friend in DISTRESS. In 1968, Francis Schaeffer wrote a book titled... The God Who Is There. Folk... When life tumbles in... Jesus is there:
- When we lose loved ones in death... Jesus is present.
- When we have a fearful diagnosis... Jesus walks with us.
- When we suffer a financial collapse... Jesus will help us work through it.
- Jesus is there for those who suffer ruptured relationships... He will heal the hurt.
- Jesus is there when we are lonely and depressed... He will lift us up and comfort us.
David said... Yea though I walk through the valley in the shadow of death, I'll not fear because Jesus is there. In the Great Commission... Jesus promised to be with us always... Even to the end of time. The Hebrews writer promises... He will never leave us... He will never forsake us.
I want such a friendship with Jesus... Don't you?
Thirdly... Jesus wants to help in our DISCOURAGEMENT.
Verse 10... If two lie down together... They will keep warm but how can one keep warm alone?
I don't know what it is like to be without a companion to help when I am discouraged.
- Georgia is my encouragement.
- Mom... Dad... the children... grandchildren are my encouragement.
- You are my encouragement.
But when we don't have earthly companions and friends... Folk... We need Jesus. AND listen to me... There are some private discouragements... There are some times when ONLY HE... Only He... Can help us. I need this kind of friendship... don't you?
Then... Number four... Jesus wants to help us with our DEFENSE.
One may be overpowered... But two can DEFEND themselves... A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
You see... God, plus one equals a majority... I want Jesus with me!
- I want Jesus with me in temptation
- I want Jesus with me in trials.
- I want Jesus with me in sickness.
- I want Jesus with me in death.
- I want Jesus to stand beside me in Judgment.
What a friend we have in Jesus!
Then finally... As a friend, Jesus forgives us. Hey... I don't know what an atheist does with his sins... But I know what we can do with ours... Bring them to Jesus... He will forgive.
John tells us in 1.12 of his gospel... To as many as received Jesus... To them He gave power to become the sons of God... Even to them that believe on his name.
- Jesus tells us... Unless you believe I am He... You will die in your sins.
- Paul says... We are children of God by faith.
- James tells us... Abraham believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness... And he was called the Friend of God.
Audience... If we want God as our friend... We must... Like Abraham... Have faith. The Hebrews writer says... Without faith it is impossible to please Him.
Without faith it is impossible to have Jesus as our friend... RIGHT?
As we mentioned earlier...Friendship with Jesus means that we must be willing to ACKNOWLEDGE.... and do what Jesus asks to remove our sins
- Jesus said... I tell you... Unless you repent... You will perish.
- Those in Acts had killed the Son of God. They had rejected the message and messenger of reconciliation that God had sent. When they realized what they had done... They cried out... Men and brethren what would you have us do? They wanted to know what it would take to get back into a friendship with God. Peter told them to repent and be baptized and their sins would be forgiven... And God would come live within them.
Will you become a friend to Jesus by... Faith... Repentance...and Baptism
Most of us have already done this... Our friendship verse is found in John 14.23... Where Jesus said... You are my friend if you do what I ask.
You see folk... We cannot enjoy a friendship with God and go on living like we want to... We must be willing to do what He asks.
The invitation is ours as we stand and sing together... Will you come!!
