WEBVTT 00:00.000 --> 00:04.580 Alright, well once again it's great to be back here at Faithful Word Baptist Church 00:05.120 --> 00:08.940 and it's great to see people that you know I've known from long ago 00:08.940 --> 00:11.860 you know it's been a long time but also just so many new faces 00:12.360 --> 00:16.000 and what I want to preach on here tonight is sermon called Friends Come 00:16.000 --> 00:19.780 and Go. Friends Come and Go. Now when you think of friendship 00:19.780 --> 00:23.540 probably the most quintessential verse in the Bible you think of is found here 00:23.540 --> 00:23.960 in Proverbs 00:24.760 --> 00:28.480 18 where it says here in verse 24, a man that have friends 00:28.480 --> 00:33.660 must show himself friendly and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a 00:33.660 --> 00:33.800 brother. 00:34.100 --> 00:38.100 See the Bible says if you're gonna have friends you need to be friendly. 00:38.500 --> 00:41.900 Instead of being the sort of person who's not going out there and trying to be a 00:41.900 --> 00:44.760 friend to other people and just waiting for people to be a friend to you 00:44.760 --> 00:49.280 the Bible says if you want good friends you've got to go out there and be a 00:49.280 --> 00:49.540 friend 00:49.540 --> 00:52.880 on to other people. Okay, now we're gonna look at that verse later on in the 00:52.880 --> 00:53.080 sermon 00:53.080 --> 00:56.780 but turn your Bible to Luke chapter 23. Luke 23 01:02.040 --> 01:06.200 and when it comes to friendship you know I looked on A.I. you know what is the 01:06.200 --> 01:08.540 definition of friendship according to the 01:08.540 --> 01:11.820 average person in this world. Here are the four things that it mentions 01:11.820 --> 01:15.740 on chat GBT it says someone who's there for you 01:16.260 --> 01:20.080 someone you can count on someone who has your back 01:20.780 --> 01:24.200 someone you can trust I think all of us would say those are good 01:24.200 --> 01:29.180 definitions about being a friend. The thing I thought of before I looked on 01:29.180 --> 01:30.280 chat GBT was this 01:30.280 --> 01:33.440 someone who is there for you when you need them 01:33.440 --> 01:36.760 is probably how I would define friendship. Okay, 01:37.220 --> 01:41.140 now obviously depending on what age you are it kind of means something a little 01:41.140 --> 01:41.620 bit different. 01:42.280 --> 01:44.620 You know my kids have friends in the neighborhood 01:45.120 --> 01:49.700 that they consider good friends. Why? Because they play with them. 01:50.100 --> 01:52.920 It's not really because they can count on them but just because they enjoy 01:52.920 --> 01:53.900 spending time with them. 01:54.100 --> 01:57.860 I think we'd agree that friendships at a young age are usually based 01:57.860 --> 02:02.540 on very shallow things. It's not like the people you're friends with in elementary 02:02.540 --> 02:03.100 school 02:03.100 --> 02:06.620 you're wondering well I wonder not if they're saved 02:06.620 --> 02:11.160 I wonder what they believe about you know politics or abortion 02:11.160 --> 02:15.160 or the LGBT. Now you're friends with people that you hang out with 02:15.160 --> 02:18.660 right. Now of course you know friendships at a young age 02:18.660 --> 02:23.760 they come and they go and of course they're based on very 02:23.760 --> 02:27.340 shallow things you know things that are not really that important 02:27.340 --> 02:30.920 okay. As you get older you start to form 02:30.920 --> 02:34.160 more friendships you kind of reach that age you kind of solidify 02:34.160 --> 02:38.860 who you are and what you believe right you know we've seen that on the college 02:38.860 --> 02:39.520 campuses 02:39.520 --> 02:44.680 it can be very receptive to the gospel. When I was in college you know we would 02:44.680 --> 02:49.220 often go to the college campus and we find kids that were freshmen and 02:49.220 --> 02:49.760 sophomore 02:49.760 --> 02:55.060 and we found them to be very receptive. Now once you got past sophomore the 02:55.060 --> 02:56.980 chances of getting saved drastically 02:56.980 --> 02:58.540 decreased because they kind of figured out 02:58.540 --> 03:01.960 who they are and what they believe they've already kind of decided on that 03:01.960 --> 03:05.720 you know as freshmen and sophomore they were very receptive and I remember just 03:05.720 --> 03:06.160 forming 03:06.160 --> 03:10.880 good friendships people that love God people that are Christians people I went 03:10.880 --> 03:11.540 to church with 03:11.540 --> 03:14.380 and I kind of just assumed you know you form friendships 03:14.380 --> 03:18.800 and they're gonna kind of last forever. Why? Because they're based on real 03:18.800 --> 03:19.320 things 03:19.320 --> 03:22.380 it's based on Christianity and serving God 03:22.380 --> 03:26.180 and soul winning. But you know what you find in all stages of life 03:26.960 --> 03:29.800 friends come and friends go 03:30.440 --> 03:34.040 that's just reality. I mean I wish I could stand up here and tell you that 03:34.040 --> 03:37.080 everybody you're friends with today you're gonna be friends with in ten 03:37.080 --> 03:37.740 years from now 03:37.740 --> 03:41.440 it's just not true. And of course being a member at this church 03:41.440 --> 03:45.000 you've seen people come and you've seen people go 03:46.040 --> 03:48.680 and it happens it's just like every year 03:48.680 --> 03:52.220 new people are here new people leave people come people go 03:52.220 --> 03:56.260 and reality is friends come in life and friends go 03:56.260 --> 04:00.800 okay. Now notice what it says here in Luke 23 verse 12 04:01.540 --> 04:04.520 it says in the same day Pilate and Herod 04:04.520 --> 04:07.920 were made friends together for before that 04:07.920 --> 04:12.520 they before they were at enmity between themselves. See the Bible says with 04:12.520 --> 04:13.580 Pilate and Herod 04:13.580 --> 04:16.820 they were enemies they didn't get along 04:16.820 --> 04:20.760 they weren't friends but they became friends. Why? 04:20.760 --> 04:25.340 because they had a common enemy and boy don't you see that online 04:25.340 --> 04:29.100 you've got all these people the only thing they have in common 04:29.100 --> 04:34.240 is they hate this church. They hate soul winning churches 04:34.240 --> 04:38.880 they hate your pastor and it's like they've got a friendship formed 04:38.880 --> 04:44.060 on hate. That's not really a good recipe for a long lasting friendship is it 04:44.060 --> 04:47.400 it's based on hatred of other people 04:48.120 --> 04:50.640 right. Now go in your Bible to Matthew 26 04:50.640 --> 04:56.400 Matthew 26. That verses kinda like the 04:56.400 --> 05:01.900 NIFB archives friendship right it's like their whole friendship is based on just 05:01.900 --> 05:02.460 hatred 05:02.460 --> 05:06.100 you know people doesn't matter what they believe it's like well we hate the 05:06.100 --> 05:06.760 same person 05:06.760 --> 05:11.660 so we're gonna be friends right. Obviously that's a stupid reason to form a 05:11.660 --> 05:12.000 friendship 05:12.000 --> 05:15.200 what I want to do is give you just four reasons here today 05:15.680 --> 05:20.280 of why friends come and go and honestly this is not a negative sermon 05:20.280 --> 05:24.140 because at the end of the sermon I'm gonna give you three applications that are 05:24.140 --> 05:28.840 very encouraging in my opinion okay. Now obviously no matter who you are 05:28.840 --> 05:33.080 whether you're a Christian or not friends come and friends go 05:33.080 --> 05:36.940 but I want to look at the perspective from being a fundamental Baptist 05:36.940 --> 05:41.400 someone who loves God why is it that many of your friends 05:41.400 --> 05:45.740 are not gonna be your friends in five years and why is it that many people 05:45.740 --> 05:47.380 you're friends with five years ago 05:47.380 --> 05:51.000 are not your friend today. I mean is that not true for those of you that have 05:51.000 --> 05:52.040 been around here for a while 05:52.040 --> 05:55.160 many people that you consider good friends 05:55.160 --> 06:00.080 and close friends five years ago you're not friends with them anymore are 06:00.080 --> 06:00.280 you 06:01.560 --> 06:04.460 why friends come and friends go 06:04.460 --> 06:09.220 we're number one one reason why friends come and go you're in Matthew 26 go to 06:09.220 --> 06:09.900 verse 47 06:11.680 --> 06:15.260 because some of your friends might be Judas Iscariots 06:15.260 --> 06:18.800 some of your friends are actually just bad people 06:18.800 --> 06:22.600 wicked people and honestly you're not really friends with them 06:22.600 --> 06:26.920 they're just pretending to be your friend but actually they're a bad person 06:26.920 --> 06:30.180 they're a wicked person notice what it says in Matthew 26 verse 47 06:30.180 --> 06:35.020 and while he yet spake low Judas one of the twelve came and with them a 06:35.020 --> 06:36.320 great multitude with swords 06:36.320 --> 06:39.340 and staves from the chief priests and elders of the people 06:39.340 --> 06:43.900 now he that betrayed him gave them a sign saying whomesoever I shall kiss that 06:43.900 --> 06:44.540 same as he 06:44.540 --> 06:49.640 hold him fast and forthwith he came to Jesus and said hail master 06:49.640 --> 06:53.960 and kissed him and Jesus said unto him friend 06:54.980 --> 06:59.660 wherefore art thou come then came they and laid hands on Jesus and took 06:59.660 --> 07:00.320 him look the Bible 07:00.320 --> 07:03.480 says here Jesus referred to Judas 07:03.480 --> 07:07.240 as a friend obviously Judas was a wicked person 07:07.240 --> 07:11.260 he was an evil person and the Bible says Jesus was aware of that 07:11.260 --> 07:16.120 but Jesus spent time with him he hung out with him 07:16.120 --> 07:19.680 and what the reality is that in our lives 07:19.680 --> 07:23.020 they're gonna be Judas Iscariots at a church like faithful word Baptist 07:23.020 --> 07:23.420 church 07:24.180 --> 07:27.440 and honestly if you go way back in time 07:27.440 --> 07:30.400 fifteen years ago even when the church was small 07:31.100 --> 07:34.340 I mean it's kind of crazy that even in the early days 07:34.340 --> 07:39.140 I mean this church with the truth was attracting some bad people to it 07:39.140 --> 07:43.060 even in the early days the church right towards the beginning 07:43.060 --> 07:47.040 and look any real church and bonafide church that is doing something for God 07:47.040 --> 07:48.080 you know what's gonna take place 07:48.080 --> 07:53.260 the devil's gonna try to stop it so how does he stop it well I mean one 07:53.260 --> 07:54.020 way he does it 07:54.020 --> 07:58.420 is he sends Judas Iscariots in your path and they act like you 07:58.420 --> 08:02.300 they pretend to be like you they pretend to love the church 08:02.300 --> 08:06.380 they pretend to love the preaching and then all of a sudden one day it's like 08:06.380 --> 08:10.220 a 180 or it's not a 180 in one day 08:10.220 --> 08:14.760 maybe they just suddenly try to cause problems in church until their cover is gone 08:14.760 --> 08:18.160 and then all of a sudden they're just out of here and said man that church is 08:18.160 --> 08:19.200 evil or whatever 08:19.200 --> 08:22.360 right you know what I'm talking about you've seen it many times haven't you 08:22.920 --> 08:25.700 right now go in your Bible to Psalm 41 08:25.700 --> 08:36.640 Psalm 41 I think one thing that's cool in 2026 08:36.640 --> 08:39.880 is that you can do soul-winning events and missions trips 08:39.880 --> 08:43.120 and a great way to remember that is to get a picture 08:44.620 --> 08:46.640 awesome right you get you go soul-winning 08:46.640 --> 08:50.820 then you get a picture with a nice backdrop it's a wonderful experience 08:50.820 --> 08:51.780 you remember man we had 08:51.780 --> 08:55.460 you know what is it on here 21 soul winners 08:55.960 --> 09:00.740 and 18 salvation I mean praise God for those things you got the picture you 09:00.740 --> 09:01.340 remember it 09:01.340 --> 09:05.360 and unfortunately many times you look back at pictures from five years ago and 09:05.360 --> 09:06.360 it's like well there's a Judas 09:08.100 --> 09:11.520 there's a Judas and it kinda ruins the picture 09:11.520 --> 09:14.520 you know we've got you know a lot of pictures on our wall at the church 09:14.520 --> 09:17.800 and it's like you got missions trip pictures and it's like 09:17.800 --> 09:21.520 you know there's one photo in particular there's like nine people in the 09:21.520 --> 09:22.080 photo it's like 09:22.080 --> 09:26.640 five of them are bad and it's like man that picture is tainted for all 09:26.640 --> 09:27.020 eternity 09:27.020 --> 09:31.320 right but it happens where people you think are your friend you think 09:31.320 --> 09:33.760 they're good people they act like you and in reality 09:33.760 --> 09:38.640 they're actually a Judas they're just a bad person some 41 verse 9 the Bible says 09:38.640 --> 09:43.020 yay my own familiar friend in whom I trusted which did eat my bread have 09:43.020 --> 09:45.000 lifted up his heel against me 09:45.000 --> 09:48.500 look I believe this is ultimately fulfilled in Jesus Christ but I also 09:48.500 --> 09:49.680 think it's mentioned in Psalms 09:49.680 --> 09:53.100 because the fact David he had a lot of enemies 09:53.100 --> 09:56.980 and honestly anyone that lives godly is gonna have enemies they're gonna 09:56.980 --> 09:58.560 have Judas's that come around 09:58.560 --> 09:59.980 and it's frustrating 10:00.560 --> 10:02.520 I wish I could say something different today 10:02.520 --> 10:04.160 but you know this is true 10:05.000 --> 10:08.460 it's a lot of people they want to just kind of pretend things are not real and 10:08.460 --> 10:09.320 they don't want the truth 10:10.620 --> 10:14.540 last I checked the Bible says that the church is the pillar in the ground of 10:14.540 --> 10:14.920 the truth 10:16.300 --> 10:21.660 look nobody wants to go to a hospital go to the doctors and find out 10:22.060 --> 10:24.880 you know what you've got a major problem you need surgery 10:25.440 --> 10:25.740 immediately 10:25.740 --> 10:30.120 but here's the thing I mean if you actually need surgery 10:30.120 --> 10:32.340 isn't it just better to know that 10:33.820 --> 10:37.820 then have this major problem and the doctor didn't tell you because he didn't 10:37.820 --> 10:38.720 want to hurt your feelings 10:39.920 --> 10:42.960 I mean you need triple bypass heart surgery 10:42.960 --> 10:46.080 but I don't want to hurt your feelings so yeah you're doing good 10:47.700 --> 10:51.280 yeah maybe lose a few pounds you know drink some you know grape juice 10:51.280 --> 10:53.420 eat more protein you know less sugar 10:53.420 --> 10:55.580 you're gonna be good nothing much major 10:56.140 --> 10:59.500 and that's ridiculous and yet that's the way churches operate 11:00.160 --> 11:04.340 they don't say things that are negative why because they want to just give a 11:04.340 --> 11:06.740 positive message because that's what people want to hear 11:08.140 --> 11:12.400 you know one thing I find amazing is people come and visit church 11:13.220 --> 11:15.000 and sometimes they love the preaching 11:15.560 --> 11:18.080 they love the sermons they love the preaching 11:18.600 --> 11:21.540 they're coming every week they're loving the preaching and then that one 11:21.540 --> 11:22.260 sermon comes 11:22.980 --> 11:25.760 that hits on their sin and they hate it 11:26.480 --> 11:29.360 and they're gone never to come again 11:29.360 --> 11:33.160 see why would you want to go to church to just hear things that you already 11:33.160 --> 11:33.560 believe 11:34.140 --> 11:37.860 and levels you've already attained and not be told 11:37.860 --> 11:40.660 you need to change this is what the Bible says 11:40.660 --> 11:44.940 if you want to grow you need preaching that preaches against your sin 11:44.940 --> 11:48.940 I mean how do you expect people to change unless you say hey it's wrong 11:48.940 --> 11:49.900 you gotta make a change 11:50.580 --> 11:53.620 but yet people don't want churches like that 11:54.160 --> 11:57.980 they just want to be lied to and look obviously there's people that want the 11:57.980 --> 11:58.520 truth though 11:59.060 --> 12:03.160 you say what's the proof I mean look there's plenty of people that want the 12:03.160 --> 12:03.500 truth 12:03.920 --> 12:06.940 they want to hear the word of God preached but there's 12:06.940 --> 12:10.760 a larger amount of people even save people that they don't really want the 12:10.760 --> 12:10.960 truth 12:11.500 --> 12:14.820 they don't want to know what the Bible says go to 2nd Samuel 13 12:15.640 --> 12:29.740 excuse me 2nd Samuel 13 look I don't think this is in my notes but you 12:29.740 --> 12:33.980 know the Bible says he that walketh with wise men shall be wise 12:35.100 --> 12:38.460 but a companion of fools shall be destroyed 12:39.520 --> 12:43.660 one thing that's great about a church like this is that when you have a soul 12:43.660 --> 12:46.080 winning culture at church and people are kind of new 12:46.410 --> 12:48.520 it's like well what activities do you have a church 12:49.090 --> 12:50.660 it's like well you know let's see 12:51.260 --> 12:56.440 on Monday we got a 5 p.m. activity on Tuesday on Wednesday on Thursday on 12:56.440 --> 12:58.060 Friday on Saturday on Sunday 12:58.060 --> 13:01.840 and we've got events if you want to go to them and look I get that's not the only 13:01.840 --> 13:02.200 events 13:02.860 --> 13:06.240 but it's like the main focus of this church has always been 13:06.800 --> 13:07.320 so winning 13:08.640 --> 13:12.060 me honestly you know one of the big things I liked about this preaching when 13:12.060 --> 13:16.260 I first started listening and you know either 2007 or 2008 13:16.260 --> 13:19.360 was just a big emphasis on soul winning 13:20.040 --> 13:23.620 because honestly I was trying to go soul winning I was talking to people 13:23.620 --> 13:25.440 I didn't really know what I was doing 13:25.440 --> 13:28.920 and nobody else is really doing it and it's kind of hard to motivate yourself 13:29.800 --> 13:33.420 even if you know you should do it it's kind of hard to just motivate 13:33.420 --> 13:35.040 yourself right 13:35.960 --> 13:40.300 but if you walk with wise men and you walk with people that love God you know 13:40.300 --> 13:40.880 what's the result 13:40.880 --> 13:42.960 they rub off on you in a good way 13:44.300 --> 13:46.000 but if you walk with fools 13:46.920 --> 13:48.520 they're also going to rub off on you 13:48.520 --> 13:49.660 in a bad way 13:50.700 --> 13:53.320 notice what it says here in 2 Samuel 13 verse 1 13:54.380 --> 13:57.920 and it came to pass after this that Absalom the son of David had a fair 13:57.920 --> 13:59.240 sister his name was Tamar 13:59.240 --> 14:04.340 and Amnon the son of David loved her and Amnon was so vexed that he fell sick 14:04.340 --> 14:08.080 for a sister Tamar for she was a virgin and Amnon thought it hard for him to do 14:08.080 --> 14:08.880 anything to her 14:11.020 --> 14:12.580 but Amnon had a friend 14:13.300 --> 14:17.220 whose name was Jonah dabb the son of Shimea David's brother and Jonah dabb 14:17.220 --> 14:17.880 was a very 14:18.500 --> 14:22.340 subtle man and in this story Jonah dabb is basically a picture of the devil 14:23.150 --> 14:26.280 he's a bad person and Amnon realizes 14:26.280 --> 14:30.140 hey I shouldn't do anything it's wrong it's wicked 14:30.140 --> 14:33.820 obviously fornication is wrong but he had 14:33.820 --> 14:37.980 a friend a friend that basically put him in a position where 14:37.980 --> 14:41.560 that was the inevitable result cause 14:41.560 --> 14:45.960 Amnon had a friend well let's see how good of a friend 14:45.960 --> 14:49.220 Amnon really was now I'm not going to go through this entire story but jump 14:49.220 --> 14:50.240 down to verse 32 14:50.880 --> 14:55.280 after everything's taken place and obviously Amnon 14:55.280 --> 14:59.800 not Amnon but Jonah dabb has or Amnon has forced his half sister 14:59.800 --> 15:04.720 and then Absalom gets mad and he gets killed and he's dead and remember his 15:04.720 --> 15:05.200 friend 15:05.920 --> 15:10.560 Jonah dabb his best bud his best friend and notice what it says here in verse 32 15:11.320 --> 15:14.660 and Jonah dabb the son of Shimea David's brother answered and said 15:14.660 --> 15:18.020 let not my Lord suppose that they have slain all the young men the king 15:18.020 --> 15:18.420 sons 15:19.040 --> 15:20.720 for Amnon only is dead 15:21.220 --> 15:25.600 for by the appointment of Absalom this has been determined from the day that he 15:25.600 --> 15:27.160 forced his sister Tamar 15:27.980 --> 15:31.480 now therefore let not my Lord the king take the thing to his heart to think 15:31.480 --> 15:32.860 that all the king's sons are dead 15:33.440 --> 15:34.860 for Amnon only is dead 15:35.520 --> 15:38.560 I mean can you imagine if your supposed best friend died 15:39.000 --> 15:41.860 and then all the sudden after he's dead it's just like well let me just 15:41.860 --> 15:45.140 spill the beans on exactly what took place no big deal not all your sons 15:45.140 --> 15:45.500 are dead 15:45.500 --> 15:47.940 I mean he died because this is what he did 15:48.460 --> 15:48.700 right 15:49.160 --> 15:52.920 I think the Bible said that he that covered a transgressions he could love 15:53.480 --> 15:55.440 and you would expect a friend to love you 15:55.780 --> 15:56.800 and care about you 15:57.300 --> 16:00.480 but not Amnon's friend he's just like well you know this is what he did 16:01.300 --> 16:01.780 why 16:02.340 --> 16:03.260 he's a bad person 16:03.760 --> 16:04.800 he wasn't a real friend 16:05.280 --> 16:06.820 he did what benefited him 16:06.820 --> 16:08.040 right he was a Judas 16:08.660 --> 16:10.620 and go in your Bible to 1st John 2 16:10.620 --> 16:12.360 1st John 2 16:17.220 --> 16:21.000 you know one thing you need to realize is that it's it's often hard 16:21.700 --> 16:24.440 for a pastor to tell if someone is a Judas 16:25.520 --> 16:26.600 you know why that is 16:27.520 --> 16:27.980 because 16:28.680 --> 16:29.140 Judas's 16:29.660 --> 16:32.000 acts a certain way in front of the pastor 16:32.740 --> 16:35.220 and they act a different way in front of other people 16:36.100 --> 16:38.840 I mean there's this guy we kicked out of our church five years ago 16:39.380 --> 16:41.220 and I really like the guy 16:41.220 --> 16:43.180 I mean he was always super nice to me 16:43.780 --> 16:44.660 he's super friendly 16:45.140 --> 16:48.940 and then all of a sudden everybody said yeah him and his wife talk trash about you 16:48.940 --> 16:50.900 at every church service to everybody 16:51.720 --> 16:52.900 I'm like what in the world 16:52.900 --> 16:56.940 I mean they acted like my friend I mean they pretended to be my friend 16:57.520 --> 16:58.420 but in reality 16:58.420 --> 17:00.980 no they're just talking trash about me all the time 17:02.120 --> 17:05.280 right and whether that not they were Judas they were certainly a wicked person 17:06.660 --> 17:10.500 and you know sometimes it's hard because people act a certain way and the other thing is 17:10.500 --> 17:11.820 sometimes you know church members 17:12.380 --> 17:17.020 might have information and they might just not tell the pastor because they're like well I don't want to involve the pastor 17:17.600 --> 17:18.880 I don't want to bother him 17:18.880 --> 17:21.700 you know sometimes you got to let the pastor know about things 17:22.280 --> 17:25.100 because you might think that they're aware of things and oftentimes 17:25.100 --> 17:28.300 they're just not they haven't been told because everyone's thinking 17:28.940 --> 17:30.600 I'm sure somebody else told him 17:30.600 --> 17:32.300 and yet nobody has 17:32.300 --> 17:36.360 so what do you do if you find out somebody is 17:36.980 --> 17:38.140 a Judas Iscariot 17:38.680 --> 17:40.980 you say well how do you know somebody is Judas Iscariot well 17:41.720 --> 17:44.660 one thing is if they leave a church that's preaching the truth 17:45.220 --> 17:46.460 after being here for years 17:47.020 --> 17:50.860 and then they join some heretical church like the Pentecostal church or the 17:50.860 --> 17:51.960 Orthodox church 17:51.960 --> 17:55.160 or the Catholic church I mean they've been here for years 17:55.160 --> 17:59.680 they've gone soul-inning with you and then they do a complete 180 on what it 17:59.680 --> 18:00.480 takes to get to heaven 18:02.220 --> 18:03.720 it's like what what in the world 18:04.420 --> 18:07.940 I heard that person give the gospel and nothing they said was wrong 18:08.680 --> 18:11.840 and now all the sudden they're saying this you got to keep the sacraments 18:12.440 --> 18:16.000 like what in the world is going on well they were Judas Iscariot 18:16.940 --> 18:19.860 and here's what the Bible says in 1 John 2 verse 18 18:21.520 --> 18:25.040 little children it is the last time and as you have heard that anti-Christ 18:25.040 --> 18:25.600 shall come 18:26.060 --> 18:29.400 even now are there many anti-Christ whereby we know that it is the 18:29.400 --> 18:30.040 last time 18:30.660 --> 18:32.380 they went out from us 18:33.900 --> 18:38.020 but they were not of us for if they had been of us they would no doubt have 18:38.020 --> 18:39.160 continued with us 18:39.160 --> 18:42.960 but they went out that they might be made manifest that they were not all of 18:42.960 --> 18:43.240 us 18:44.280 --> 18:46.620 a lot of people look at these verses and they say well wait a minute 18:47.000 --> 18:49.440 this is saying that if you leave the church 18:50.100 --> 18:51.800 that means that you were never saved 18:52.800 --> 18:56.000 wait a minute does the Bible say that you have to be in church until the 18:56.000 --> 18:56.940 day you die to go to heaven 18:58.080 --> 19:01.800 I mean is being a member of church evidence of being saved 19:01.800 --> 19:04.320 or evidence of that you're on your way to heaven 19:05.160 --> 19:05.640 no 19:06.240 --> 19:10.000 but the context in 1 John 2 is about the things you believe 19:10.000 --> 19:13.860 because it said in verse number 18 it said that anti-Christ shall come 19:13.860 --> 19:16.240 see the Bible is talking about doctrine and things you believe 19:16.240 --> 19:19.480 and the Bible is saying hey somebody is at the church 19:19.480 --> 19:22.860 and believes certain things and then they leave and all of a sudden they're 19:22.860 --> 19:23.800 like man you know what 19:24.380 --> 19:25.820 I believe in the Orthodox Church 19:26.820 --> 19:28.560 I believe in the Catholic Church 19:29.580 --> 19:31.560 it's like man you were never of us 19:32.900 --> 19:35.980 now look if somebody leaves this church and becomes a drunkard there's no 19:35.980 --> 19:37.260 reason to question their salvation 19:38.000 --> 19:39.160 they got into sin 19:39.860 --> 19:42.880 but if they leave this church and change their beliefs 19:43.720 --> 19:48.680 specifically about salvation or other major doctrines associated it's kind 19:48.680 --> 19:49.460 of like wait a minute 19:50.040 --> 19:51.160 you went out from us 19:51.680 --> 19:52.920 but you are not of us 19:53.500 --> 19:56.580 you know one of the things that's scary about this is somebody can be at a 19:56.580 --> 19:58.260 church for a long time 19:59.140 --> 20:00.020 as a Judas 20:00.760 --> 20:02.080 and you don't realize it 20:02.820 --> 20:06.760 when I started reading the Bible I just kind of assumed that a Judas 20:07.420 --> 20:09.020 like three years was the maximum 20:10.200 --> 20:13.580 I just kind of figured the Bible is showing you hey he lasted three years 20:13.580 --> 20:16.280 and so if you're around for more than three years it means that you're 20:16.280 --> 20:17.180 not really a bad person 20:18.860 --> 20:21.720 but I think we've all seen that that's not really the case 20:23.420 --> 20:25.900 I mean I just remember when I was here I mean 20:25.900 --> 20:27.940 you know Garrett Kirchway was a member of the church 20:28.920 --> 20:32.800 I mean he was going to be a missionary I liked him at the time I thought he was a 20:32.800 --> 20:34.380 great guy and then all of a sudden it's like man 20:34.380 --> 20:37.300 you know we used to joke about it it's like you know that Pentecostal soul 20:37.300 --> 20:38.100 winning demonstration 20:38.100 --> 20:42.060 it wasn't really a demonstration it was the real thing but he never actually 20:42.060 --> 20:42.400 believed 20:43.640 --> 20:46.460 because he still was on this he was still into that doctrine 20:46.460 --> 20:49.040 it's like but wait a minute you were with us for years 20:49.700 --> 20:52.480 and yet you never actually really believed 20:53.580 --> 20:54.320 and yet 20:54.920 --> 20:55.760 this happens 20:56.380 --> 20:58.220 go in your Bible to Luke chapter eight 20:58.220 --> 20:59.080 Luke eight 21:12.120 --> 21:15.440 look you know I wish this weren't true but you just got to realize it that 21:15.440 --> 21:18.760 there will be people that will be bad people in church and they'll be at 21:18.760 --> 21:21.540 the church and then all of a sudden it gets revealed and they're gone and 21:21.540 --> 21:23.400 you know the thing is people hear this preaching 21:23.960 --> 21:26.220 but before they experience it 21:26.720 --> 21:28.700 it's like they believe it intellectually 21:29.980 --> 21:31.300 but they don't really get it 21:32.940 --> 21:35.400 and then you're at the church and you see it happen 21:36.120 --> 21:37.600 it's like okay I got it 21:38.260 --> 21:39.760 I thought I got it before 21:40.520 --> 21:44.220 but now I've experienced it with my own eyes it's like I get it now 21:44.640 --> 21:46.360 okay someone is just pretending 21:46.960 --> 21:48.140 to be like us 21:48.600 --> 21:51.920 for their own personal benefit or whatever reason that they choose but 21:51.920 --> 21:53.960 they're actually a Judas Iscariot a bad person 21:54.420 --> 21:55.220 but number two 21:56.460 --> 21:57.880 friends come and go because 21:58.480 --> 21:59.560 some people backslide 22:00.120 --> 22:01.840 somebody might love God now 22:01.840 --> 22:05.840 they go soul winning now they love the church now but they might just backslide 22:05.840 --> 22:06.700 one day and just 22:06.700 --> 22:07.560 quit the church 22:08.100 --> 22:10.840 here's what it says in Luke chapter eight verse fourteen 22:11.320 --> 22:12.560 Luke eight verse fourteen 22:14.920 --> 22:18.480 and that which fell among thorns are they which when they have heard 22:19.200 --> 22:20.080 go forth 22:20.680 --> 22:24.720 and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life 22:24.720 --> 22:26.320 and bring no fruit to perfection 22:26.900 --> 22:30.600 so the parable of the sower you've got four people listed the first does not get 22:30.600 --> 22:33.700 saved the last clearly get saved and people debate on the second third 22:34.060 --> 22:36.360 I believe the second and the third get saved but 22:36.880 --> 22:38.880 they don't end up zealously serving God 22:38.880 --> 22:41.220 and see the Bible says here in verse fourteen 22:41.700 --> 22:43.820 that they go forth so the thing is 22:43.820 --> 22:45.160 they start to 22:45.820 --> 22:46.800 they start to do 22:46.800 --> 22:50.640 serve God they start to do something but what happens they are choked with the 22:50.640 --> 22:51.160 cares 22:51.160 --> 22:53.900 and riches and pleasures of this life 22:54.600 --> 22:57.160 and what's the result they bring no fruit to perfection 22:58.120 --> 23:00.760 now of course the Calvinist would look at this and say no wait a minute 23:01.320 --> 23:02.060 no fruit 23:02.940 --> 23:03.780 no salvation 23:04.660 --> 23:06.560 but is that what the Bible saying here in Luke eight 23:07.460 --> 23:10.800 see the thing is if you're gonna be a soul winner and bring forth fruit 23:10.800 --> 23:14.220 as the Bible says the fruit of the righteous is a tree of life and he 23:14.220 --> 23:15.480 that when its souls is wise 23:16.000 --> 23:18.000 you gotta go all out serving God 23:18.660 --> 23:22.700 I remember you know when I first got saved and you know I start to make some 23:22.700 --> 23:24.440 changes in my life but honestly 23:24.440 --> 23:29.240 the biggest thing that caused me to make changes is I started to preach the 23:29.240 --> 23:30.060 gospel to people 23:30.700 --> 23:33.880 and I just thought to myself you know what I feel like I'd be much more 23:33.880 --> 23:34.420 effective 23:34.920 --> 23:36.740 if I got sent out of my life 23:37.300 --> 23:40.260 and I just felt like you know what it's just kinda holding me back 23:40.780 --> 23:44.360 and then because of soul winning that is actually what motivated me 23:44.800 --> 23:46.760 to start living more for God 23:47.400 --> 23:50.960 because I said man I don't want somebody to go to hell because I'm not zealous 23:50.960 --> 23:51.280 enough 23:51.280 --> 23:55.540 I'm not right with God I was like I need to make some changes in my life 23:56.180 --> 24:00.520 I wish I could say that when you first get saved immediately you just get 24:00.520 --> 24:01.940 rid of all your worldliness 24:01.940 --> 24:05.260 and all your sin and just all you do is serve God 24:06.040 --> 24:08.860 but honestly if you're serving God today you know what that means 24:08.860 --> 24:11.520 it means you got saved and you started to grow 24:12.280 --> 24:17.060 and it is a slow process and all of us hopefully are still growing and growing 24:17.060 --> 24:18.520 closer to God right now 24:19.040 --> 24:20.620 rather than backsliding 24:20.620 --> 24:21.560 see the Bible says 24:21.560 --> 24:22.900 people go forth 24:22.900 --> 24:27.080 but they're choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life 24:27.080 --> 24:27.980 verse 15 24:29.100 --> 24:31.980 but that on the good ground are they which in an honest and good heart 24:31.980 --> 24:33.740 having heard the word keep it 24:34.360 --> 24:35.840 and bring forth fruit with patience 24:36.500 --> 24:40.120 so the Bible says in verse 15 this is the person that ends up really 24:40.120 --> 24:40.820 serving God 24:40.820 --> 24:41.880 what happens 24:41.880 --> 24:45.500 well you know those on the good ground you know these people get saved and then 24:45.500 --> 24:46.740 they have an honest heart 24:46.740 --> 24:48.060 and a good heart 24:48.060 --> 24:51.320 so every time they hear the word of God you know what they do 24:51.320 --> 24:52.520 they keep it 24:52.520 --> 24:53.700 they slowly grow 24:53.700 --> 24:55.920 and then they bring forth fruit with patience 24:56.580 --> 24:57.680 year by year 24:57.680 --> 24:59.960 thirty sixty a hundred or whatever the number 24:59.960 --> 25:01.420 just keeps all winning 25:01.420 --> 25:06.260 keep getting people saved week after week after week after week after week 25:06.900 --> 25:08.280 go to 2nd Timothy chapter 4 25:14.220 --> 25:16.060 I mean just think about this logically 25:16.060 --> 25:17.720 let's say you're at church 25:17.720 --> 25:20.500 and there's someone that you become very close to 25:21.060 --> 25:23.840 because every Sunday you go soul winning with them 25:23.840 --> 25:26.460 you're in the same group you go soul winning with them 25:26.460 --> 25:27.720 so you're around them 25:28.040 --> 25:28.940 you talk to them 25:28.940 --> 25:32.840 and it's pretty inevitable when you go soul winning with people on a pretty 25:32.840 --> 25:35.540 regular basis you end up becoming friends pretty much 25:36.240 --> 25:37.640 you get very closely connected 25:37.640 --> 25:39.400 one of the things I love about Christianity 25:40.020 --> 25:43.600 is you know honestly people come from very different backgrounds 25:44.340 --> 25:45.820 have very different interests 25:46.280 --> 25:48.700 and if it were not for serving God in Christianity 25:48.700 --> 25:51.260 honestly you know most of us probably wouldn't be friends 25:51.880 --> 25:56.520 but we have that common connection of loving God and serving God and going soul winning 25:56.520 --> 26:00.100 and that is a million times greater and more important than anything else 26:00.960 --> 26:04.600 what happens if you're really good friends with someone and every Sunday 26:04.600 --> 26:07.840 you're going soul winning and all of a sudden they just stop soul winning 26:08.600 --> 26:10.700 well you're no longer around them to fellowship 26:12.300 --> 26:14.160 let's say they start missing church services 26:14.920 --> 26:16.320 while you're no longer around them 26:16.320 --> 26:18.340 I mean if they're not a church to fellowship with 26:18.340 --> 26:20.860 you're probably not going to be hanging out with them outside of church 26:22.340 --> 26:23.760 and what ends up taking place 26:23.760 --> 26:26.020 it doesn't matter how close you were to them 26:26.640 --> 26:28.700 eventually you're just going to kind of go separate ways 26:29.460 --> 26:31.480 because one person is going this direction 26:32.340 --> 26:33.820 the other is going this direction 26:34.560 --> 26:36.620 Second Timothy chapter 4 gives us a great example 26:36.620 --> 26:37.660 it says here in verse 10 26:38.200 --> 26:39.920 for Deimos hath forsaken me 26:40.560 --> 26:42.340 having loved this present world 26:43.140 --> 26:45.060 and is departed under Thessalonica 26:45.760 --> 26:48.180 Crescent, Sigalacia, Titus unto Dalmatia 26:48.920 --> 26:52.400 and you know in this verse the Bible is highlighting that 26:52.400 --> 26:55.000 Deimos is the one that loved the present world 26:55.000 --> 26:57.380 Deimos is the one that foresook Paul 26:57.380 --> 27:00.160 the Bible is saying that Deimos who once loved God 27:00.160 --> 27:01.780 he once served God 27:02.300 --> 27:03.540 he loved the present world 27:03.540 --> 27:07.400 exactly what we saw in Luke chapter 8 verse 14 27:08.080 --> 27:11.200 yes sometimes people can go forth and serve God 27:11.780 --> 27:14.820 and their old sin or just worldly things 27:14.820 --> 27:16.180 can be very tempting to them 27:16.740 --> 27:18.920 and they're just thinking maybe I'll be happy 27:18.920 --> 27:21.720 or maybe this Christianity thing is too intense 27:22.340 --> 27:24.600 too much and if I just kind of loosen up 27:24.600 --> 27:26.440 and allow a little bit of sin in my life 27:26.980 --> 27:28.020 I'll be oh so happy 27:28.820 --> 27:30.000 and why do people think that 27:30.000 --> 27:31.760 because they look at the world 27:32.320 --> 27:34.220 and everybody's got a smile on their face 27:35.400 --> 27:37.180 right I mean people act like they're happy 27:37.180 --> 27:38.060 people are getting drunk 27:38.560 --> 27:40.340 and they've got smiles they've got all these pictures 27:40.340 --> 27:42.020 man these great memories getting drunk 27:42.020 --> 27:43.800 it's like well if you're having such a great time 27:44.320 --> 27:46.640 why are you just erasing your memory with alcohol 27:47.500 --> 27:49.400 why do you need alcohol to be happy 27:50.720 --> 27:52.100 but they'll say they're happy 27:52.740 --> 27:54.160 they'll pretend to be happy 27:55.420 --> 27:58.200 right because you weep during the night 27:58.840 --> 28:00.520 you show sadness during the night 28:01.780 --> 28:03.260 I mean they just sleep sleeping the night 28:03.920 --> 28:05.420 they'd be drunken or drunken in the night 28:06.380 --> 28:08.220 but here's the thing you're going to wake up the next day 28:08.220 --> 28:09.920 you're miserable you got a headache 28:09.920 --> 28:12.840 your job's messed up I mean everything your life is messed up 28:13.480 --> 28:15.840 and they'll act like they're happy but they're not happy 28:16.920 --> 28:18.520 and the thing is when people try to tell you 28:18.520 --> 28:20.400 why don't you just try this try alcohol 28:20.800 --> 28:24.080 you know watch movies you know you do all these things 28:24.080 --> 28:26.260 this is like wait a minute I'm already enjoying my life 28:27.280 --> 28:28.820 so why would I need to change it 28:29.940 --> 28:33.880 it's funny because people at your job they might ask you 28:33.880 --> 28:35.020 hey what are you doing this weekend 28:35.440 --> 28:37.960 and you're like hey you know what we're going up to Flagstaff 28:38.680 --> 28:40.040 what are you doing in Flagstaff 28:40.040 --> 28:41.560 you know we're going to preach the gospel 28:42.580 --> 28:45.240 and then they're just like what 28:47.500 --> 28:49.400 and they're like how can you find enjoyment in that 28:50.260 --> 28:53.380 but the thing is we're not doing it out of a burden 28:54.060 --> 28:56.980 we're out of a requirement we love serving God 28:58.100 --> 29:00.300 look obviously we have our down moments 29:00.300 --> 29:03.300 but look I like soul winning I like preaching 29:04.040 --> 29:08.340 I enjoy preaching I enjoy getting up here and writing sermons 29:08.340 --> 29:11.540 I believe it changes people's lives it affects people's lives 29:11.540 --> 29:15.840 I enjoy it I enjoy preaching the gospel I enjoy reading the Bible 29:15.840 --> 29:17.240 I like doing these things 29:18.060 --> 29:20.800 and yeah you know when you're having days and you don't feel like doing it 29:20.800 --> 29:22.560 you should do it out of obligation 29:23.280 --> 29:25.720 but honestly I enjoy serving God 29:26.980 --> 29:30.400 and these people that are living in sin they might say that they enjoy life 29:30.400 --> 29:31.600 they don't really enjoy life though 29:32.180 --> 29:36.520 sin leads to destruction sin leads to just reaping from what you've done 29:36.520 --> 29:38.300 and just all kinds of consequences 29:38.300 --> 29:42.340 and people are too stubborn and thick-headed to just admit you know what 29:42.340 --> 29:44.720 I should just go back to coming to church 29:44.720 --> 29:46.880 and serving God and reading the Bible 29:46.880 --> 29:50.800 I was so much happier when I was not living in sin 29:52.360 --> 29:53.300 verse 16 29:54.240 --> 29:56.860 at my first answer no man stood with me 29:57.340 --> 29:59.060 but all men forsook me 29:59.740 --> 30:03.000 I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge 30:03.000 --> 30:06.040 and look you know Paul speaks about the fact that people like Demis 30:07.020 --> 30:10.020 backslid and he doesn't have the same friends that he used to have 30:10.020 --> 30:11.960 why will Demis love the present world 30:12.640 --> 30:15.500 and look some people that you are friends with today 30:15.500 --> 30:18.340 even if you keep zealously serving God your whole life 30:18.340 --> 30:20.700 they will not be your friends 10 years down the road 30:21.180 --> 30:23.480 they will not be your friends five years down the road 30:23.480 --> 30:28.100 because not all of your friends are likely to keep serving God their entire life 30:29.060 --> 30:30.340 go in your Bible to Jude one 30:39.000 --> 30:43.520 you say man I thought when a missionary came in it's like it's supposed to be a positive message 30:43.520 --> 30:44.600 to encourage you 30:45.100 --> 30:47.000 and you're like man I'm going to lose my friends 30:49.300 --> 30:51.240 now look there's an encouragement at the end of the sermon 30:51.240 --> 30:52.380 but you know this is reality 30:53.860 --> 30:55.420 I speak from experience 30:55.920 --> 31:00.280 that a lot of people that you're friends with are not going to be your friends down the road 31:00.280 --> 31:04.700 I wish that weren't the case but look you know it if you've been serving God for years 31:04.700 --> 31:07.800 there are some people that you used to be friends with 31:09.720 --> 31:10.540 not anymore 31:12.700 --> 31:16.820 why is that friends come and friends go 31:18.400 --> 31:19.860 why is that well number one 31:20.620 --> 31:23.480 because some of your friends might be Judas Iscariot 31:25.420 --> 31:28.960 number two because some of your friends might backslide 31:30.020 --> 31:37.660 number three because some of your friends are only your friends because you benefit their life 31:39.820 --> 31:44.420 now this certainly can cross over into someone being a Judas Iscariot 31:45.120 --> 31:49.000 and I'll show you a verse on that but it can certainly cross over to someone even being saved 31:49.000 --> 31:49.380 as well 31:49.820 --> 31:51.780 Jude 1 verse 16 notice what the Bible says 31:53.100 --> 31:56.940 these are murmurs, complainers walking after their own lusts 31:57.660 --> 32:01.160 in their mouth speaketh great swelling words 32:01.160 --> 32:02.400 flattery 32:03.000 --> 32:05.480 having men's persons in admiration 32:06.820 --> 32:08.320 because of advantage 32:08.880 --> 32:11.720 see the Bible says there are people that will flatter you 32:11.720 --> 32:16.160 and pretend to care about you why out of advantage 32:16.700 --> 32:20.440 they benefit from the friendship with you it's not sincere to them 32:20.440 --> 32:24.980 the only reason that they're friends with you is because you benefit their life 32:25.540 --> 32:28.180 now in Jude 1 this is referring to bad people 32:28.700 --> 32:31.500 but go in your Bible to Judges 14 32:32.240 --> 32:33.140 Judges 14 32:45.920 --> 32:50.220 and look you know you've seen that through the years of people that would latch onto this church 32:51.080 --> 32:54.060 why because they want to have a big church 32:55.720 --> 32:57.260 they want to have a lot of members 32:57.740 --> 33:01.660 and I'm not saying all of them are necessarily bad but some certainly are 33:02.480 --> 33:06.640 some have proven themselves to be really bad people like the Bible says in Jude chapter 1 33:07.220 --> 33:10.120 and the sad reality is some people will want to be your friend 33:10.120 --> 33:12.740 why because they benefit from being friends with you 33:12.740 --> 33:15.080 it's not that they want to just show themselves friendly 33:16.540 --> 33:18.860 but they want something out of that friendship 33:19.380 --> 33:21.220 they will use you for their own benefit 33:21.740 --> 33:23.080 that's why they're friends with you 33:23.080 --> 33:25.480 Judges 14 verse 20 the Bible says this 33:25.480 --> 33:28.280 but Samson's wife was given to his companion 33:29.040 --> 33:33.020 notice this whom he had used as his friend 33:33.800 --> 33:36.340 look obviously Samson did some great things 33:36.340 --> 33:39.220 being the Bible says he used his companion as a friend 33:39.220 --> 33:40.320 I mean it wasn't sincere 33:41.060 --> 33:44.580 he used him and unfortunately there are people that are going to use you 33:45.320 --> 33:46.840 they'll pretend to care about you 33:46.840 --> 33:48.580 they don't really care about you 33:48.580 --> 33:52.920 they are friends with you for one reason why because you benefit their life 33:53.760 --> 33:55.860 they don't care about benefiting your life 33:56.360 --> 33:58.180 it's because you benefit their life 33:58.900 --> 33:59.720 well here's the thing 33:59.720 --> 34:02.040 what if you no longer benefit their life 34:03.540 --> 34:05.020 they don't want to be friends anymore 34:05.960 --> 34:07.080 it's the way it works 34:07.960 --> 34:09.300 go to Esther chapter 5 34:09.300 --> 34:10.460 Esther 5 34:21.870 --> 34:24.970 and the Bible Haman is a really rotten character 34:25.830 --> 34:31.410 and your rotten people will end up inevitably having rotten people that surround them 34:32.510 --> 34:35.890 the Bible doesn't necessarily tell us if all of his friends that are mentioned here 34:35.890 --> 34:38.290 are bad people as in reprobates or not 34:38.290 --> 34:42.590 but I want you to notice what the Bible does say about them using Haman as a friend 34:42.590 --> 34:44.290 notice what it says here in Esther 5 verse 10 34:44.290 --> 34:46.330 nevertheless Haman refrained himself 34:46.330 --> 34:50.350 and when he came home he sent and called for his friends 34:51.010 --> 34:52.290 okay these are his friends 34:52.290 --> 34:53.210 these are his companions 34:53.210 --> 34:54.590 the people that he hangs out with 34:54.590 --> 34:55.610 the people that he talks to 34:56.130 --> 34:57.290 and he's a rest his wife 34:57.290 --> 34:59.390 and Haman told them the glory of his riches 34:59.930 --> 35:01.190 and the multitude of his children 35:01.690 --> 35:03.850 and all the things wherein the king had promoted him 35:03.850 --> 35:05.630 and how he had advanced him above the princes 35:05.630 --> 35:07.070 and servants of the king 35:07.070 --> 35:08.890 now I'll say this on a side point 35:08.890 --> 35:10.510 Haman's not much of a friend 35:11.150 --> 35:13.170 because notice he's telling his friends 35:13.170 --> 35:15.550 look at how great and awesome I am 35:16.710 --> 35:17.190 right 35:18.150 --> 35:19.330 and notice what it says here 35:19.330 --> 35:20.290 go down to verse 14 35:20.290 --> 35:21.910 then said Zarest's wife 35:21.910 --> 35:23.210 and all his friends onto him 35:23.210 --> 35:25.830 let a gallows be made of 50 cubits high 35:25.830 --> 35:27.390 and tomorrow speak thou unto the king 35:27.390 --> 35:29.190 that Mordecai may be hang there on 35:29.190 --> 35:31.090 then go thou and merrily with the king 35:31.090 --> 35:31.750 unto the banquet 35:31.750 --> 35:33.150 and the thing pleased Haman 35:33.150 --> 35:35.250 and he caused the gallows to be made 35:35.250 --> 35:38.070 so the friends of Haman 35:38.590 --> 35:40.830 and his wife say hey you know what 35:41.770 --> 35:44.610 basically here's our plan to get Mordecai put to death 35:44.610 --> 35:46.430 these are his friends that are basically 35:46.430 --> 35:47.990 telling him you should do this 35:47.990 --> 35:51.990 okay obviously it doesn't work out well for Haman does it 35:52.710 --> 35:54.670 chapter 6 verse 12 35:57.390 --> 35:58.390 chapter 6 verse 12 35:58.390 --> 36:00.270 and Mordecai came again to the king's gate 36:00.270 --> 36:02.170 but Haman hasted to his house mourning 36:02.170 --> 36:03.370 and having his head covered 36:03.910 --> 36:05.670 and Haman told Zarest's wife 36:05.670 --> 36:07.030 and all his friends 36:07.030 --> 36:08.810 everything that had befallen him 36:08.810 --> 36:10.370 so the same people that said hey 36:10.370 --> 36:12.390 here's how you're gonna kill Mordecai 36:12.390 --> 36:14.530 he tells him this is what took place 36:15.070 --> 36:16.330 then said his wise men 36:16.330 --> 36:17.970 and Zarest's wife onto him 36:17.970 --> 36:20.770 if Mordecai be of the seed of the Jews 36:20.770 --> 36:21.670 before whom 36:22.350 --> 36:22.870 thou 36:23.790 --> 36:25.090 has begun to fall 36:25.730 --> 36:27.410 so notice how they immediately say 36:28.210 --> 36:29.950 you are the one that did this 36:30.570 --> 36:32.470 it didn't say that we were part of this 36:33.070 --> 36:34.530 thou has begun to fall 36:34.530 --> 36:36.650 thou shalt not prevail against them 36:36.650 --> 36:38.310 but shall surely fall before him 36:38.850 --> 36:39.890 so what's taking place 36:39.890 --> 36:42.030 Haman is surrounded by a bunch of people 36:42.030 --> 36:42.990 that are using him 36:42.990 --> 36:44.530 don't care about him at all 36:44.530 --> 36:46.790 and then all of a sudden Haman's in trouble 36:46.790 --> 36:48.350 and they're like you're the one 36:48.910 --> 36:49.910 who did this 36:50.450 --> 36:52.070 they immediately distance themselves 36:52.070 --> 36:54.290 why because it doesn't benefit them anymore 36:55.090 --> 36:56.190 obviously during this time 36:56.190 --> 36:58.110 being friends with Haman would benefit you 36:58.110 --> 36:58.930 because he's powerful 36:59.550 --> 37:00.550 he's got money 37:01.070 --> 37:03.590 and wealth make if many friends the Bible says 37:04.350 --> 37:07.530 but now all of a sudden as the judgment's coming upon him 37:07.530 --> 37:08.770 it's kind of like well you're the one 37:08.770 --> 37:09.850 you know who did this 37:09.850 --> 37:12.290 right and they distance themselves from him 37:12.290 --> 37:14.830 I don't feel bad for a rotten guy like Haman 37:14.830 --> 37:16.070 but the reality is 37:16.610 --> 37:18.930 they're only friends because it benefits them 37:20.010 --> 37:22.270 now go to your Bible to Luke chapter 10 37:23.030 --> 37:23.570 Luke 10 37:31.060 --> 37:33.260 there's a term known as a fair weather friend 37:33.260 --> 37:34.720 and a fair weather friend means 37:34.720 --> 37:36.220 a person who is friendly 37:36.800 --> 37:38.300 only when it is easy 37:38.300 --> 37:39.960 convenient or beneficial 37:40.620 --> 37:42.580 but disappears when hardship 37:42.580 --> 37:46.020 suffering or sacrifice is required 37:46.660 --> 37:48.080 and see they're going to be people 37:48.080 --> 37:49.520 that you consider a friend 37:49.520 --> 37:50.640 and they need help 37:50.640 --> 37:51.720 and you're there for them 37:51.720 --> 37:53.340 like what do you need me to do 37:54.340 --> 37:56.360 and then when the roles are reversed 37:56.360 --> 37:57.520 and you need help 37:57.520 --> 37:58.800 and you ask them for help 37:58.800 --> 37:59.880 they're not there for you 38:00.920 --> 38:02.480 I mean this happens all the time 38:03.100 --> 38:05.620 where it's like you're investing your life 38:05.620 --> 38:06.440 into being a friend 38:06.920 --> 38:08.480 and then when you need a friend 38:08.480 --> 38:09.680 it's like oh man I'm busy 38:09.680 --> 38:10.780 I don't have time 38:10.780 --> 38:12.060 it's like but I had time for you 38:12.900 --> 38:14.300 I stepped in for you 38:14.300 --> 38:16.020 and when the roles are reversed 38:16.020 --> 38:17.380 they're not willing to do the same 38:18.420 --> 38:18.860 right 38:20.200 --> 38:21.200 point number one 38:21.200 --> 38:23.400 why is it that many of your friends 38:23.400 --> 38:24.400 are going to come and go 38:24.400 --> 38:26.120 number one because some of your friends 38:26.560 --> 38:28.240 are probably Judas Iscariot 38:29.520 --> 38:30.260 number two 38:30.260 --> 38:31.280 because some of your friends 38:31.280 --> 38:32.120 are going to backslide 38:32.900 --> 38:33.880 now the thing is 38:33.880 --> 38:34.960 you know if you have friends 38:34.960 --> 38:35.980 that backslide 38:35.980 --> 38:36.680 and leave church 38:36.680 --> 38:37.760 and quit serving God 38:37.760 --> 38:38.680 here's the thing 38:38.680 --> 38:39.680 you're part of a church 38:39.680 --> 38:40.760 of people that love God 38:41.600 --> 38:42.800 say man I want to have 38:42.800 --> 38:43.820 some new friends in my life 38:43.820 --> 38:44.460 look around 38:46.200 --> 38:47.200 because the people you're 38:47.200 --> 38:48.140 going to be close friends with 38:48.140 --> 38:49.260 are the people serving God 38:49.260 --> 38:50.720 when you love God 38:50.720 --> 38:52.300 and when you're serving God 38:52.300 --> 38:53.620 the people that you're going 38:53.620 --> 38:54.620 to get connected to 38:54.620 --> 38:55.440 and care about 38:55.440 --> 38:57.620 are other people that love God 38:58.800 --> 38:59.340 and so look 38:59.340 --> 39:00.640 if you lose some friends 39:00.640 --> 39:01.900 and some people quit the church 39:01.900 --> 39:03.160 and you consider them a close friend 39:03.160 --> 39:04.000 well here's the thing 39:04.000 --> 39:05.760 there's other people to be friends with 39:06.640 --> 39:07.780 and maybe if a church 39:07.780 --> 39:08.800 was a small church 39:08.800 --> 39:09.700 that would be a bit harder 39:09.700 --> 39:10.360 but look 39:10.360 --> 39:11.940 this isn't a small church 39:12.900 --> 39:13.840 there's plenty of people 39:13.840 --> 39:15.020 that you can be friends with 39:16.540 --> 39:17.280 point number two 39:17.280 --> 39:18.360 some are going to backslide 39:18.360 --> 39:18.980 point number three 39:18.980 --> 39:19.880 there are people that are 39:19.880 --> 39:20.680 only your friend 39:20.680 --> 39:21.620 when you benefit them 39:23.120 --> 39:24.040 point number four 39:25.300 --> 39:26.440 because there are people 39:26.440 --> 39:27.740 that they're not 39:27.740 --> 39:29.940 taking advantage of you 39:29.940 --> 39:30.920 it's not that they're 39:30.920 --> 39:31.900 only friends with you 39:31.900 --> 39:33.200 because you benefit them 39:33.700 --> 39:34.880 but they're not willing 39:34.880 --> 39:35.980 to be friends with you 39:35.980 --> 39:37.280 if it's going to hurt them 39:37.960 --> 39:38.940 so it's not that they're 39:38.940 --> 39:40.340 taking advantage of you 39:40.340 --> 39:41.280 and they want to benefit 39:41.280 --> 39:42.200 off your life 39:42.780 --> 39:44.500 but they don't want to have 39:44.500 --> 39:46.700 a negative effect on their life 39:47.360 --> 39:48.480 because of that friendship 39:49.340 --> 39:50.400 now before I show you 39:50.400 --> 39:50.820 these verses 39:50.820 --> 39:51.400 I want to show you 39:51.400 --> 39:52.140 something here in Luke 39:52.140 --> 39:53.380 chapter 10 verse 30 39:54.060 --> 39:55.500 Luke 10 verse 30 39:57.740 --> 39:58.520 and here's what it says 39:58.520 --> 39:59.380 in Luke 10 verse 30 39:59.380 --> 40:00.740 and Jesus answering said 40:00.740 --> 40:01.280 a certain man 40:01.280 --> 40:02.220 went down from Jerusalem 40:02.220 --> 40:02.800 to Jericho 40:02.800 --> 40:03.700 and fell among thieves 40:03.700 --> 40:04.380 which stripped him 40:04.380 --> 40:04.940 of his raiment 40:04.940 --> 40:05.660 and wounded him 40:05.660 --> 40:06.080 and departed 40:06.080 --> 40:07.020 leaving him half dead 40:07.780 --> 40:08.780 and by chance 40:08.780 --> 40:09.420 there came down 40:09.420 --> 40:10.260 a certain priest 40:10.260 --> 40:10.780 that way 40:10.780 --> 40:11.540 and when he saw him 40:11.540 --> 40:12.200 he passed by 40:12.200 --> 40:12.900 on the other side 40:12.900 --> 40:13.780 and likewise 40:13.780 --> 40:14.320 a Levite 40:14.320 --> 40:15.040 when he's at the place 40:15.040 --> 40:16.040 came and looked on him 40:16.040 --> 40:16.940 and passed by 40:16.940 --> 40:17.580 on the other side 40:17.580 --> 40:18.940 but a certain man 40:18.940 --> 40:20.220 a certain Samaritan 40:20.220 --> 40:21.240 as he journeyed 40:21.240 --> 40:22.040 came where he was 40:22.040 --> 40:22.880 and when he saw him 40:22.880 --> 40:24.280 he had compassion on him 40:24.280 --> 40:25.560 and went to him 40:25.560 --> 40:26.780 and bound up his wounds 40:26.780 --> 40:27.380 pouring in 40:27.380 --> 40:28.380 oil and wine 40:28.380 --> 40:29.640 and set him on his own beast 40:30.140 --> 40:31.140 and brought him to an inn 40:31.140 --> 40:31.940 and took care of him 40:31.940 --> 40:32.940 and on the morrow 40:32.940 --> 40:33.280 when he departed 40:33.280 --> 40:34.600 took out two pints 40:34.600 --> 40:35.640 and gave them to the host 40:35.640 --> 40:36.560 and said on to him 40:36.560 --> 40:37.840 take care of him 40:37.840 --> 40:38.420 and whatsoever 40:38.420 --> 40:39.420 thou spendest more 40:39.420 --> 40:40.220 when I come again 40:40.220 --> 40:41.540 I will repay thee 40:42.140 --> 40:44.100 which now of these three 40:44.100 --> 40:46.080 thinkest thou was neighbor 40:47.080 --> 40:48.060 on to him 40:48.060 --> 40:49.680 that fell among the thieves 40:50.220 --> 40:50.920 and he said 40:50.920 --> 40:52.400 he that showed mercy on him 40:52.980 --> 40:53.460 then said 40:53.460 --> 40:54.340 Jesus on to him 40:54.340 --> 40:55.740 go and do thou likewise 40:55.740 --> 40:56.320 we know this 40:56.320 --> 40:57.560 as the good Samaritan 40:57.560 --> 40:58.280 the Bible says 40:58.280 --> 40:59.820 which one was neighbor 40:59.820 --> 41:00.560 on to him 41:01.180 --> 41:02.160 there's a situation 41:02.160 --> 41:03.740 where the Samaritan 41:03.740 --> 41:04.400 is there 41:04.400 --> 41:06.380 and he sees somebody in need 41:06.380 --> 41:07.580 he's not friends 41:07.580 --> 41:08.360 with this person 41:08.360 --> 41:10.160 but when somebody needs help 41:10.160 --> 41:10.960 isn't that just 41:10.960 --> 41:11.800 the neighborly 41:11.800 --> 41:13.080 and right thing to do 41:14.720 --> 41:15.500 look you know 41:15.500 --> 41:16.540 in our neighborhood 41:16.540 --> 41:17.240 where we live 41:17.240 --> 41:17.780 and I get the word 41:17.780 --> 41:19.100 neighbor is not necessarily 41:19.100 --> 41:19.920 referring to neighborhood 41:19.920 --> 41:20.940 like we think of 41:20.940 --> 41:21.440 but just like 41:21.440 --> 41:22.340 the people you meet 41:22.340 --> 41:23.300 the people you're around 41:23.300 --> 41:24.420 but here's what I'm saying 41:24.420 --> 41:25.460 it's like you know 41:25.460 --> 41:27.100 people that are in our neighborhood 41:27.100 --> 41:28.680 our kids are friends 41:28.680 --> 41:29.880 with some of the neighborhood kids 41:29.880 --> 41:31.680 my wife and I are not friends 41:31.680 --> 41:32.980 with any of the people 41:32.980 --> 41:33.500 in our neighborhood 41:33.500 --> 41:35.060 you know we get along with them 41:35.060 --> 41:35.640 they're fine 41:35.640 --> 41:36.340 we'll say hello 41:36.340 --> 41:37.700 but we're not close friends with them 41:38.400 --> 41:39.380 but here's the thing 41:39.840 --> 41:41.320 if one of my neighbors 41:41.320 --> 41:42.260 fell over 41:42.260 --> 41:43.960 and needed to be rushed to the hospital 41:43.960 --> 41:45.700 I would immediately stop 41:45.700 --> 41:46.480 what I was doing 41:46.480 --> 41:48.000 and drive them to the hospital 41:49.200 --> 41:50.020 you say why 41:50.740 --> 41:52.360 it's just the neighborly 41:52.360 --> 41:53.680 and right thing to do 41:54.680 --> 41:56.540 when you see somebody need help 41:56.540 --> 41:57.280 you help them 41:58.920 --> 42:00.140 because here's the thing about this 42:00.140 --> 42:01.180 at the beginning of the sermon 42:01.180 --> 42:02.840 I said my definition of being a friend 42:02.840 --> 42:04.320 is someone who's there for you 42:04.320 --> 42:04.900 when you need them 42:05.520 --> 42:06.120 but honestly 42:06.120 --> 42:07.420 that's pretty low bar 42:07.420 --> 42:08.120 to be in a friend 42:08.780 --> 42:09.560 because honestly 42:09.560 --> 42:11.060 that's just the neighborly thing to do 42:11.700 --> 42:13.440 I mean if somebody needs help 42:13.440 --> 42:14.200 you help them 42:15.780 --> 42:17.060 and what's crazy 42:17.540 --> 42:19.700 is when people you consider friends 42:19.700 --> 42:21.800 are not even willing to do 42:22.760 --> 42:24.100 what a neighbor would do 42:25.400 --> 42:26.580 the neighborly thing 42:27.080 --> 42:28.220 you think they're friends 42:28.220 --> 42:29.900 but they're not there to help you at all 42:29.900 --> 42:30.320 it's like man 42:30.320 --> 42:32.080 you know some random person would see 42:32.080 --> 42:32.980 man you need a need 42:32.980 --> 42:33.540 and look 42:33.540 --> 42:33.720 not 42:33.720 --> 42:35.020 they don't even have to be saved 42:35.900 --> 42:37.400 unsafe people would see someone 42:37.400 --> 42:38.780 that needed help 42:38.780 --> 42:40.200 and they would immediately help them 42:40.980 --> 42:42.340 but I've seen videos online 42:42.340 --> 42:43.620 where a car will crash 42:43.620 --> 42:44.640 and get set on fire 42:44.640 --> 42:45.720 and just a bunch of cars 42:45.720 --> 42:46.880 will stop on the side of the road 42:46.880 --> 42:48.660 and do everything to pull that person out 42:49.320 --> 42:50.780 do you really think all those people 42:50.780 --> 42:52.060 that did that are safe people 42:53.740 --> 42:55.500 but it's just the neighborly 42:55.500 --> 42:56.460 and right thing to do 42:56.460 --> 42:56.840 why 42:56.840 --> 42:59.520 because you have compassion in your heart 43:00.280 --> 43:02.080 it's the right thing to do 43:03.540 --> 43:04.480 and it's amazing 43:04.480 --> 43:05.820 you would think someone's a friend 43:05.820 --> 43:06.400 and then all of a sudden 43:06.400 --> 43:08.240 they don't even do what's the neighborly thing 43:09.420 --> 43:10.380 and go in your bible 43:11.120 --> 43:12.660 to 2 Samuel chapter 1 43:13.180 --> 43:13.980 2 Samuel 1 43:22.070 --> 43:22.830 look the bible says 43:22.830 --> 43:24.670 do unto others as you'd have done unto you 43:25.730 --> 43:27.250 I mean if I'm in need of help 43:27.250 --> 43:28.530 I would want somebody to help me 43:30.870 --> 43:32.090 it's just the right thing to do 43:32.850 --> 43:34.490 I mean you see somebody drowning in water 43:34.490 --> 43:35.390 you should try to help them 43:36.090 --> 43:37.570 right it's just the right thing to do 43:37.570 --> 43:38.770 you don't have to be friends with them 43:38.770 --> 43:39.550 you don't have to know them 43:40.190 --> 43:41.650 it's just the right thing to do right 43:43.390 --> 43:44.770 look if you need help 43:45.610 --> 43:46.810 and people see that 43:46.810 --> 43:48.670 the neighborly and right thing to do 43:48.670 --> 43:50.310 is help someone when they're down 43:51.390 --> 43:53.630 and of course you would expect a friend 43:53.630 --> 43:54.490 when you need help 43:55.350 --> 43:56.190 to be there 43:56.910 --> 43:58.290 you'd imagine that you're drowning 43:58.290 --> 43:59.850 and a friend just walked away from you 44:00.810 --> 44:02.150 it's like what in the world 44:03.490 --> 44:05.430 it's like I haven't needed you before 44:05.430 --> 44:06.610 and now that I need you 44:06.610 --> 44:07.950 it's just like well you know what 44:08.470 --> 44:09.590 and they're not there for you 44:10.870 --> 44:12.470 it's like not a very good friend right 44:14.830 --> 44:17.230 notice what it says here in 2 Samuel chapter 1 verse 25 44:18.610 --> 44:20.590 how are the mighty fallen in the midst of battle 44:20.590 --> 44:23.050 oh Jonathan now was slain in thine high places 44:23.050 --> 44:25.110 I am distressed for thee my brother Jonathan 44:25.110 --> 44:27.150 very pleasant has thou been on to me 44:27.150 --> 44:28.370 thy love to me was wonderful 44:29.350 --> 44:30.570 passing the love of women 44:31.550 --> 44:33.490 David speaks about this great friendship 44:33.490 --> 44:34.410 that he had with Jonathan 44:34.410 --> 44:37.430 look there is some truth to this 44:38.470 --> 44:40.330 but honestly a lot of this 44:40.330 --> 44:42.490 is just fuzzy memories from David 44:42.990 --> 44:45.050 because notice what it says in 1 Samuel 23 44:45.050 --> 44:46.310 1 Samuel 23 44:47.710 --> 44:49.610 Jonathan was a great friend 44:49.610 --> 44:51.450 at one time to David no doubt 44:52.210 --> 44:54.390 but notice what it says here in 1 Samuel 23 45:02.570 --> 45:04.170 1 Samuel 23 verse 8 45:07.250 --> 45:09.210 1 Samuel 23 verse 8 45:10.170 --> 45:12.230 and Saul called all the people together to war 45:12.230 --> 45:15.090 to go down to Kayla to besiege David and his men 45:15.090 --> 45:18.070 so here's another time where Saul is just going crazy 45:18.070 --> 45:19.690 he's hunting down David 45:19.690 --> 45:21.170 David is desperate 45:21.170 --> 45:22.430 he's running for his life 45:22.430 --> 45:24.790 and doing whatever just to survive 45:24.790 --> 45:26.290 as Saul is coming after him 45:26.890 --> 45:28.030 drop down to verse 13 45:28.650 --> 45:29.830 then David and his men 45:29.830 --> 45:31.290 which were about 600 arose 45:31.290 --> 45:32.510 and departed out of Kayla 45:32.510 --> 45:34.990 and went wither so ever they could go 45:35.790 --> 45:38.830 but I was saying he's just doing whatever he can do 45:39.570 --> 45:41.830 right he's going wither so ever he can go 45:41.830 --> 45:44.730 and it was told Saul that David was escaped from Kayla 45:44.730 --> 45:46.030 and he forbear to go forth 45:46.030 --> 45:48.690 and David a boat in the wilderness and strongholds 45:48.690 --> 45:50.530 and remained in a mountain in the wilderness of Ziff 45:50.530 --> 45:52.890 and Saul sought him every day 45:52.890 --> 45:55.170 but God delivered him not into his hand 45:55.930 --> 45:58.430 and David saw that Saul was come out to seek his life 45:58.430 --> 46:00.890 and David was in the wilderness of Ziff in a wood 46:01.290 --> 46:02.850 and Jonathan Saul's son arose 46:02.850 --> 46:04.090 and went to David into the wood 46:04.090 --> 46:05.630 and strengthened his hand in God 46:05.630 --> 46:06.850 and he said on to him 46:06.850 --> 46:07.610 fear not 46:07.610 --> 46:10.350 for the hand of Saul my father shall not find thee 46:10.350 --> 46:12.190 and thou shalt be king over Israel 46:12.190 --> 46:15.150 and I shall be next on to thee 46:15.150 --> 46:17.630 and that also Saul my father knoweth 46:17.630 --> 46:19.550 so what Jonathan says is hey you know what 46:20.090 --> 46:21.390 I'm going to be a right hand man 46:21.870 --> 46:23.510 I'm not trying to become the king 46:23.510 --> 46:24.910 it's appointed to you 46:24.910 --> 46:26.070 God has given it to you 46:26.070 --> 46:27.290 I'm going to be there 46:27.290 --> 46:28.230 you've been chosen 46:28.230 --> 46:29.690 my dad knows it 46:29.690 --> 46:32.250 I'm going to be right there with you 46:32.250 --> 46:33.390 as your right hand man 46:34.770 --> 46:35.730 verse 18 46:36.350 --> 46:38.610 and they too made a covenant before the Lord 46:39.270 --> 46:40.690 and David a boat in the wood 46:42.310 --> 46:43.890 and Jonathan went to his house 46:45.850 --> 46:46.970 see at this moment 46:47.530 --> 46:49.630 if Jonathan were to stay there with David 46:49.630 --> 46:51.730 he'd be making a real sacrifice 46:53.150 --> 46:54.210 it would harm him 46:54.890 --> 46:55.570 but here's the thing 46:55.570 --> 46:57.130 Jonathan goes home to a nice bed 46:57.130 --> 46:58.470 he's perfectly fine 46:58.470 --> 47:00.010 and then David's in the middle of the wilderness 47:00.010 --> 47:00.910 just trying to survive 47:01.490 --> 47:02.650 let me ask you a question 47:03.450 --> 47:04.570 during this time 47:04.570 --> 47:06.850 as David is with 600 men 47:06.850 --> 47:08.910 in the heat of battle trying to survive 47:09.590 --> 47:11.150 and he's not around Jonathan 47:11.690 --> 47:13.590 who do you think he feels closer to 47:14.730 --> 47:16.830 the 600 men that are with him 47:18.430 --> 47:19.730 they're actually there 47:20.230 --> 47:21.290 in the heat of battle 47:21.290 --> 47:24.390 I mean think of people that you used to consider friends 47:24.390 --> 47:26.030 but they're not with you soul winning 47:26.030 --> 47:27.650 they're not there in the important moments 47:27.650 --> 47:29.890 who are you really going to feel closest to 47:30.450 --> 47:32.170 the people that you go to war with 47:32.690 --> 47:34.050 the people that you go to battle with 47:34.970 --> 47:37.130 and look Jonathan was a great friend 47:37.130 --> 47:38.790 and he made a lot of sacrifice 47:38.790 --> 47:39.510 but you know what 47:39.510 --> 47:41.170 here in 1 Samuel 23 47:42.050 --> 47:43.090 David's there in the wilderness 47:43.570 --> 47:45.270 he goes home and guess what 47:45.850 --> 47:47.950 and the next time you see Jonathan in the Bible 47:47.950 --> 47:48.490 he's dead 47:49.770 --> 47:50.850 you don't see him anymore 47:51.910 --> 47:53.790 but David's got other men that are with him 47:54.510 --> 47:56.770 and look you might lose Jonathan's in your life 47:56.770 --> 47:58.450 but then there's other men that are there with you 47:58.450 --> 48:00.050 other men that are doing battle 48:00.050 --> 48:01.570 other men that are your friends 48:01.570 --> 48:03.270 and of course when you're fighting together 48:03.270 --> 48:05.050 you're going to form a close friendship 48:06.670 --> 48:09.450 I'm sure you know people that go to battle 48:09.450 --> 48:10.710 like a literal war 48:10.710 --> 48:13.950 I'm sure there's a very close kinship that forms 48:15.470 --> 48:17.170 and look in a spiritual sense 48:17.170 --> 48:18.450 when we go to war 48:18.970 --> 48:20.850 there is a kinship that forms 48:20.850 --> 48:22.490 as you're together on the same team 48:23.090 --> 48:25.310 I mean when your church is in the heat of battle 48:25.310 --> 48:26.690 and everybody's against it 48:26.690 --> 48:27.710 and you stand together 48:27.710 --> 48:29.610 don't you end up feeling closer to the people 48:29.610 --> 48:30.330 that are there with you 48:31.550 --> 48:32.670 that's what takes place 48:33.530 --> 48:36.010 and those 600 men were with David 48:36.010 --> 48:38.590 and you form a very very close connection 48:38.590 --> 48:39.230 here's what I'm saying 48:39.830 --> 48:40.870 there are people that 48:40.870 --> 48:42.530 they're not trying to use you 48:43.150 --> 48:44.490 they're not taking advantage 48:45.190 --> 48:48.450 but when it comes to having to actually suffer 48:48.450 --> 48:50.630 as a result of being friends with you 48:50.630 --> 48:52.370 it's like you know what this is too far 48:54.050 --> 48:55.670 I don't want to be friends at that cost 48:56.270 --> 48:58.930 they go in your bible to Matthew 26 48:59.990 --> 49:00.950 Matthew 26 49:12.410 --> 49:15.750 hey honestly when you think in the bible of the big betrayal 49:15.750 --> 49:17.470 I mean Judas betraying Jesus 49:17.470 --> 49:18.690 but you know not only that 49:18.690 --> 49:21.030 I mean because the thing is a Judas is a Judas 49:21.610 --> 49:22.930 it is what it is 49:24.370 --> 49:25.530 but he's not saved 49:27.370 --> 49:30.570 but then all the disciples just 49:31.410 --> 49:32.810 reject Jesus at that moment 49:34.070 --> 49:36.630 and here's what it says in verse number 56 49:37.130 --> 49:39.250 it says then all the disciples 49:39.250 --> 49:40.370 for sook him and fled 49:41.070 --> 49:42.750 all the disciples forsake him 49:44.370 --> 49:45.690 now go to verse 73 49:47.010 --> 49:48.110 go to verse 73 49:50.030 --> 49:52.410 you know something I've thought about a lot of the last couple years 49:53.670 --> 49:57.470 and you see this in the bible that all the disciples forsake him 49:57.470 --> 49:59.110 they don't want to be associated 49:59.110 --> 50:01.790 and why is it in those moments 50:01.790 --> 50:03.630 a lot of people are going to disassociate 50:04.410 --> 50:05.370 well here's the thing 50:05.370 --> 50:06.930 if you're friends with someone 50:06.930 --> 50:08.850 and you're connected to someone 50:09.590 --> 50:12.570 people are immediately going to link you to that person 50:14.130 --> 50:15.310 so the thing is 50:15.950 --> 50:17.450 if something's going on with your friend 50:17.450 --> 50:19.310 everyone's going to say well isn't that your friend 50:19.310 --> 50:20.950 isn't that someone you're connected to 50:20.950 --> 50:23.290 and the thing is you can't really stay quiet 50:23.290 --> 50:24.950 because people are going to keep asking you 50:25.470 --> 50:26.830 so you got to kind of make a choice 50:27.570 --> 50:29.410 are you going to side with or against 50:30.130 --> 50:31.410 that's kind of the way that it works 50:31.790 --> 50:33.870 because everyone's going to keep asking you 50:33.870 --> 50:36.370 it's kind of like you're too closely connected 50:36.970 --> 50:38.150 to just be quiet 50:39.070 --> 50:40.430 so what do a lot of people do 50:41.610 --> 50:42.610 they disassociate 50:43.230 --> 50:45.710 why because they don't want the connection 50:46.370 --> 50:50.190 they wouldn't care if people weren't asking them about it 50:50.190 --> 50:52.470 but because of that they're like you know no 50:52.470 --> 50:54.190 I don't want to suffer for this 50:54.190 --> 50:56.830 it's not worth it they just disassociate 50:57.470 --> 50:58.690 instead of just being quiet 50:58.690 --> 51:01.250 they end up going out loud 51:01.250 --> 51:03.590 and make it a point to say I'm not connected at all 51:04.330 --> 51:05.610 it's like why don't you just stay quiet 51:05.610 --> 51:06.990 but the thing is they can't really stay quiet 51:06.990 --> 51:08.690 because everybody's going to ask them about it 51:08.690 --> 51:09.970 so they got to make a decision 51:09.970 --> 51:10.730 so what do they do 51:10.730 --> 51:12.230 well what many people do 51:12.230 --> 51:14.390 is they just will publicly disassociate 51:15.530 --> 51:16.790 right that means that's not true 51:17.830 --> 51:19.070 this is what takes place 51:19.850 --> 51:21.450 in fact we see a great example in the Bible 51:21.450 --> 51:23.010 because notice what it says here in verse 73 51:23.490 --> 51:25.470 and after a while came on to him 51:25.470 --> 51:26.870 they that stood by and said to Peter 51:26.870 --> 51:29.950 surely thou also art one of them 51:29.950 --> 51:32.490 for thy speech bereithy 51:32.490 --> 51:33.930 what the Bible is saying here is 51:33.930 --> 51:36.770 you know this this person comes to Peter 51:36.770 --> 51:39.890 says no no no you are certainly connected to Jesus 51:39.890 --> 51:43.130 because of the fact I can tell via your speech 51:43.850 --> 51:46.570 I mean your speech will connect you to people 51:47.310 --> 51:48.290 it's reality 51:49.110 --> 51:53.550 and they say you're talking way too similarly to Jesus 51:53.550 --> 51:56.350 it's like your speech shows you've been with Jesus 51:57.230 --> 51:59.550 so notice what Peter does in verse 74 52:00.650 --> 52:04.150 then began he to curse and to swear 52:04.870 --> 52:06.930 saying I know not the man 52:07.550 --> 52:10.090 and immediately the cock crew 52:10.870 --> 52:14.350 see the speech of Peter connected him to Jesus 52:14.350 --> 52:16.530 and in order to disassociate 52:16.530 --> 52:17.190 you know what he did 52:17.190 --> 52:19.330 he made it a point to speak 52:19.330 --> 52:20.810 like he would not normally speak 52:20.810 --> 52:22.470 cursing and swearing why 52:22.970 --> 52:24.870 because nobody connected to Jesus 52:24.870 --> 52:25.790 would speak like this 52:25.790 --> 52:26.830 and that's exactly what he did 52:27.390 --> 52:29.870 so he would not be connected to Jesus Christ 52:31.130 --> 52:32.890 look obviously Peter was a great person 52:33.730 --> 52:34.570 awesome person 52:35.270 --> 52:36.410 obviously he learned from this 52:36.410 --> 52:36.970 but you know what 52:37.530 --> 52:39.330 Jesus kind of reminds Peter of this 52:39.330 --> 52:41.410 where he says love is thou me more than these 52:42.550 --> 52:44.290 if you notice he says it three times 52:44.830 --> 52:46.830 I believe the reason he says it you know 52:46.830 --> 52:47.770 three times 52:47.770 --> 52:49.250 you know feed my sheep 52:49.250 --> 52:50.650 feed my lambs why 52:50.650 --> 52:53.390 because he denied Jesus three times 52:54.070 --> 52:55.290 and of course that you know 52:55.290 --> 52:57.950 makes Peter very sad that he actually did that 52:58.870 --> 53:01.010 what you're seeing is in that moment 53:01.010 --> 53:01.850 you know what 53:01.850 --> 53:03.730 Peter's like it's going to cost me 53:03.730 --> 53:04.590 being friends with Jesus 53:04.590 --> 53:06.330 it's going to cost me being connected 53:07.110 --> 53:08.730 and it's like I don't want to be that 53:08.730 --> 53:09.490 closely connected 53:10.110 --> 53:11.090 I don't want to get in trouble 53:11.090 --> 53:12.650 I don't want to get executed 53:13.150 --> 53:14.430 I don't want to get persecuted 53:14.430 --> 53:15.350 what does he do 53:15.350 --> 53:16.670 he speaks in a way 53:16.670 --> 53:18.330 and ungodly and wicked way 53:18.330 --> 53:20.310 so he will not be connected with Jesus 53:21.990 --> 53:23.750 go to Bible 2nd Timothy chapter 1 53:23.750 --> 53:26.090 2nd Timothy 1 53:27.710 --> 53:30.150 I mean one thing you have to ask yourself is this 53:30.690 --> 53:32.250 how great of a friend are you 53:34.070 --> 53:35.330 because in that moment 53:35.330 --> 53:35.590 Peter 53:37.290 --> 53:38.170 just bailed 53:38.810 --> 53:39.850 Peter's spoken away 53:39.850 --> 53:41.570 where no one would connect him with Jesus 53:41.570 --> 53:44.130 why because he did not want to be associated 53:45.410 --> 53:46.990 and the question is this 53:46.990 --> 53:48.770 you know how good of a friend are you 53:49.270 --> 53:50.390 so let me tell you something 53:50.390 --> 53:52.430 being a friend when 53:53.010 --> 53:54.050 it's all good 53:54.050 --> 53:55.490 and there's no problems 53:55.490 --> 53:57.770 that's really not a high bar on being a friend 53:58.770 --> 54:00.430 but if you're a true friend 54:00.430 --> 54:03.390 you will be there when it hurts you 54:04.110 --> 54:06.210 when it might not benefit you 54:07.510 --> 54:09.490 you will if you're a true friend 54:09.490 --> 54:10.470 you will be there 54:10.470 --> 54:13.530 when the connection actually has a negative effect on you 54:13.530 --> 54:15.070 and not a positive you say why 54:15.070 --> 54:16.950 because being a neighbor 54:16.950 --> 54:18.270 is just simply being there 54:18.270 --> 54:19.150 when someone needs help 54:19.150 --> 54:20.170 but if you're a true friend 54:20.170 --> 54:21.890 you're going to be there when it hurts 54:22.430 --> 54:23.590 I mean the Bible says this 54:23.590 --> 54:26.270 a friend is born for adversity 54:27.950 --> 54:28.970 because the thing is 54:28.970 --> 54:30.710 in those times you have adversity 54:30.710 --> 54:31.730 and you need help 54:31.730 --> 54:33.210 that's when you need a friend 54:33.810 --> 54:35.970 look when everything's going well in my life 54:36.470 --> 54:37.230 I'm fine 54:37.710 --> 54:38.690 I'm reading the Bible 54:38.690 --> 54:39.550 everything's going well 54:39.550 --> 54:40.030 but wait a minute 54:40.030 --> 54:41.550 what if I'm in those dark moments 54:41.990 --> 54:43.610 what if I really need help 54:44.170 --> 54:45.410 you know in those moments 54:45.410 --> 54:47.750 you don't need somebody kicking you while you're down 54:49.030 --> 54:49.850 you know what you need 54:49.850 --> 54:51.250 you need somebody helping you 54:51.890 --> 54:53.250 someone trying to encourage you 54:53.890 --> 54:55.430 someone trying to just motivate you 54:55.430 --> 54:56.070 say hey you know what 54:56.070 --> 54:56.830 I'm with you 54:56.830 --> 54:58.410 and I'm not afraid to say it publicly 54:58.410 --> 54:58.930 why 54:59.490 --> 55:01.090 because I want to be a friend onto you 55:01.830 --> 55:03.430 that's what being a true friend is 55:04.630 --> 55:05.830 2nd Timmy chapter 1 55:06.510 --> 55:07.350 verse 15 55:08.170 --> 55:09.410 says this thou knowest 55:09.410 --> 55:10.650 that all day which are in Asia 55:10.650 --> 55:11.570 be turned away for me 55:11.570 --> 55:14.150 of whom are phygeologists and hermogenes 55:14.150 --> 55:16.410 the Lord give mercy onto the house 55:16.410 --> 55:18.670 of an esophorus for he off refreshed me 55:19.210 --> 55:19.990 and notice this 55:19.990 --> 55:23.070 and was not ashamed of my chain 55:23.630 --> 55:24.810 but when he was in Rome 55:24.810 --> 55:26.190 he sought me out very diligently 55:26.190 --> 55:27.010 and found me 55:27.010 --> 55:28.390 the Lord grant onto him 55:28.390 --> 55:30.570 that he may find mercy of the Lord in that day 55:31.050 --> 55:33.310 and in how many things he ministered onto me at Ephesus 55:33.810 --> 55:35.150 thou knowest very well 55:35.150 --> 55:35.850 you know what 55:36.830 --> 55:39.110 when it comes to the life of Paul the Apostle 55:40.010 --> 55:41.130 being his friend 55:41.130 --> 55:43.070 didn't always benefit you 55:44.710 --> 55:45.950 I mean when you're arrested 55:46.590 --> 55:47.790 when you're being persecuted 55:48.830 --> 55:50.990 when everybody's saying negative things about you 55:50.990 --> 55:53.070 I mean being connected doesn't always help you 55:54.070 --> 55:55.410 it can hurt you sometimes 55:56.410 --> 55:57.190 but wait a minute 55:57.190 --> 55:58.790 what does it mean to be a friend 55:59.570 --> 56:01.630 because remember what we saw at the beginning of the sermon 56:01.630 --> 56:04.130 the Bible says that if you're going to have friends 56:04.130 --> 56:05.270 you need to show yourself friendly 56:05.270 --> 56:06.570 the Bible says you should be a friend 56:07.090 --> 56:09.370 you should be someone who puts yourself out there 56:09.370 --> 56:10.470 and cares about other people 56:11.690 --> 56:12.430 and so 56:13.330 --> 56:14.950 when are those moments most needed 56:14.950 --> 56:16.630 it's when you're going through a tough time 56:17.070 --> 56:18.490 it's when you're going through a battle 56:19.870 --> 56:22.810 and go in your Bible to Proverbs chapter 27 56:22.810 --> 56:23.650 Proverbs 27 56:36.720 --> 56:37.600 you know in life 56:37.600 --> 56:38.960 I think all of us 56:38.960 --> 56:41.160 we have a tendency to maybe 56:41.160 --> 56:43.920 try to maintain onto things for too long 56:44.500 --> 56:46.400 you know imagine you know a boyfriend and girlfriend 56:46.400 --> 56:48.120 or dating for a couple years 56:48.800 --> 56:49.560 and they're not 56:49.560 --> 56:50.860 they really don't want to get married 56:52.100 --> 56:54.040 but they've already invested a lot of time 56:54.720 --> 56:56.300 so they kind of just keep going 56:56.300 --> 56:57.660 and eventually they end up getting married 56:57.660 --> 56:58.940 but they never really wanted to get married 56:58.940 --> 56:59.640 it's just kind of like 56:59.640 --> 57:00.920 well we've already been down this road 57:00.920 --> 57:02.280 it's like I don't want to start over 57:03.960 --> 57:05.240 well I mean if you don't want to marry them 57:05.240 --> 57:06.500 the better thing is just to start over 57:06.500 --> 57:09.620 you know even in friendship sometimes 57:09.620 --> 57:11.520 sometimes you can be friends with someone 57:11.520 --> 57:13.140 and you kind of have those David moments 57:13.140 --> 57:14.740 where you remember the good times 57:15.640 --> 57:17.380 but it's like that doesn't mean that it's 57:17.820 --> 57:18.180 now 57:19.060 --> 57:20.960 it doesn't mean it's the present anymore 57:21.660 --> 57:24.100 and see the problem with trying to hang on 57:24.100 --> 57:26.880 to friendships that are no longer good friendships 57:26.880 --> 57:28.180 or bad friendships 57:28.180 --> 57:30.720 is that if you try to hang on to that friendship 57:31.300 --> 57:33.320 you're going to find yourself compromising 57:33.840 --> 57:34.740 to keep that friendship 57:36.340 --> 57:39.340 and look you shouldn't have to compromise who you are 57:39.340 --> 57:42.320 and what you believe for your friendships 57:43.500 --> 57:45.960 look I'm not telling you to discard friendship 57:45.960 --> 57:48.280 but I am saying you know it sometimes there's friendships 57:48.280 --> 57:49.800 which honestly it's like 57:49.800 --> 57:51.640 hey you know we were friends at one time 57:51.640 --> 57:53.120 but things are just not the same anymore 57:55.760 --> 57:58.020 now three things I want you to take away from the sermon 57:58.020 --> 57:58.660 number one 57:59.540 --> 58:03.120 you should keep loyal and proven friends 58:03.880 --> 58:07.160 you should strive to maintain and keep 58:07.700 --> 58:10.040 loyal and proven friends 58:10.660 --> 58:12.500 Bible says in Proverbs 27 verse 10 58:12.500 --> 58:15.860 thine own friend and thy father's friend 58:16.640 --> 58:17.420 forsake not 58:17.420 --> 58:20.760 and why does the Bible say that you should not forsake your father's friend 58:20.760 --> 58:23.260 you know I think the reason the Bible says that is 58:23.260 --> 58:25.560 you know if your father's been friends with someone 58:25.560 --> 58:26.900 has probably been a long time 58:26.900 --> 58:28.540 they're probably pretty proven 58:28.540 --> 58:30.640 they're probably someone you can trust 58:31.180 --> 58:33.200 they're probably someone that's not going to turn on you 58:33.200 --> 58:36.060 they're probably someone you can count on in difficult times 58:36.060 --> 58:40.180 the Bible says you know your friend and your father's friend forsake not 58:41.460 --> 58:44.120 go in your Bible to Proverbs 18 Proverbs 18 58:48.220 --> 58:50.940 and look if someone has proven to be a true friend 58:50.940 --> 58:54.160 you should strive to maintain that friendship why 58:54.160 --> 58:58.420 because true friendships are honestly just not that common 58:59.360 --> 59:00.760 they just aren't 59:01.440 --> 59:04.080 and so if someone's proven themselves to be a friend 59:04.080 --> 59:05.220 you want to keep that friend 59:06.360 --> 59:09.440 I mean somebody's been friends with your father for a long time 59:09.440 --> 59:10.720 you want to keep that friendship 59:10.720 --> 59:12.680 that's someone I can count on 59:12.680 --> 59:15.020 that's someone who's going to be there when I need them 59:15.020 --> 59:16.540 that's the sort of friend you want 59:18.340 --> 59:22.340 but you know what if somebody is is not really a friend anymore 59:22.940 --> 59:24.840 sometimes you just have to face reality 59:26.120 --> 59:29.480 and maybe they were a great friend at one time 59:30.140 --> 59:32.380 but I mean if you're heading one direction 59:32.380 --> 59:34.680 and then they're heading the other direction 59:35.260 --> 59:37.300 it's like in order to keep that friendship 59:37.300 --> 59:38.280 you know what you have to do 59:38.280 --> 59:39.980 you have to compromise who you are 59:39.980 --> 59:42.040 or pretend to be something you're not 59:42.690 --> 59:43.940 in order to keep that friendship 59:44.500 --> 59:47.680 anyway at that point you should just forsake that friendship 59:48.680 --> 59:49.640 it's not real 59:50.460 --> 59:51.980 it used to be real 59:52.740 --> 59:53.380 not anymore 59:55.120 --> 59:57.820 the bible says here in Proverbs 18 verse 24 59:58.760 --> 01:00:02.760 a man that hath friends must show himself friendly 01:00:03.380 --> 01:00:06.200 and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother 01:00:06.200 --> 01:00:08.560 number one you should keep loyal and proven friends 01:00:08.560 --> 01:00:09.140 but number two 01:00:09.140 --> 01:00:13.680 you should never stop trying to be a friend onto other people 01:00:15.420 --> 01:00:18.500 because the bible just clearly says in Proverbs 18 01:00:18.500 --> 01:00:24.000 that a man that hath friends must show himself friendly 01:00:24.640 --> 01:00:27.580 and the bible says there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother 01:00:27.580 --> 01:00:30.820 and of course you know you would think of a brother being a very close connection 01:00:32.080 --> 01:00:34.820 and the thing is you invest time into friendships 01:00:35.520 --> 01:00:37.120 a lot of times it doesn't work out 01:00:37.120 --> 01:00:40.760 the bible is saying there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother 01:00:41.600 --> 01:00:44.900 you know it's like this in all areas of life 01:00:45.480 --> 01:00:47.980 right i think about when you ordain people to the ministry 01:00:47.980 --> 01:00:51.800 i mean i wish that it was just always perfect and it worked out 01:00:51.800 --> 01:00:52.720 but it doesn't 01:00:53.400 --> 01:00:55.480 you know i've ordained somebody to the ministry before 01:00:55.480 --> 01:00:56.560 and it didn't work out 01:00:57.040 --> 01:00:57.640 it failed 01:00:57.640 --> 01:00:59.120 had to replace them 01:00:59.900 --> 01:01:00.640 didn't work 01:01:01.240 --> 01:01:03.060 you say well why don't you just stop doing it 01:01:03.060 --> 01:01:05.300 because you know i've ordained people that are good people 01:01:06.160 --> 01:01:08.880 right pastor plebneck in poland is a great guy 01:01:08.880 --> 01:01:10.320 super zealous soul winner 01:01:10.940 --> 01:01:14.780 you know have there been failures at faith word baptist church of people that have been ordained 01:01:14.780 --> 01:01:15.420 yes 01:01:16.160 --> 01:01:18.540 but there's also pastor corbin wrestle 01:01:19.420 --> 01:01:20.760 pastor jonathan shelly 01:01:21.340 --> 01:01:23.740 pastor bruce mahiya i mean those are big successes 01:01:24.920 --> 01:01:28.960 and so the thing is yeah you've got and look you know everything in life 01:01:29.480 --> 01:01:34.120 is about having failure and failure and just overcoming and not giving up 01:01:34.740 --> 01:01:40.640 i mean if you were to look at a chart of the top 10 players in nba history with the most missed 01:01:40.640 --> 01:01:43.500 shots you know what it's going to say on that list 01:01:44.080 --> 01:01:44.880 coby bryant 01:01:45.660 --> 01:01:46.460 lebron james 01:01:47.020 --> 01:01:47.820 michael jordan 01:01:48.620 --> 01:01:49.420 wilton chamberlain 01:01:49.420 --> 01:01:53.240 kareem out you say those are like the greatest players ever yeah because if you have a lot of makes 01:01:53.240 --> 01:01:54.180 you have a lot of misses too 01:01:55.360 --> 01:01:56.580 that's just the way that it works 01:01:58.060 --> 01:02:01.640 but the thing is you don't stop why because you do have makes 01:02:02.200 --> 01:02:06.000 you do have successes and look there are people that you can find out there 01:02:06.000 --> 01:02:09.580 that are going to be a great friend and they will stick closer than a brother 01:02:10.320 --> 01:02:14.620 so look if you have a friend that turns out to be a judoist don't just give up on being a friend 01:02:15.940 --> 01:02:19.320 if you have a friend that is a backside and quit don't just give up on being a friend because 01:02:19.320 --> 01:02:23.120 the bible says a man that has friends must show himself friendly 01:02:24.540 --> 01:02:29.340 and the result you can find a friend that stick it closer than a brother 01:02:30.180 --> 01:02:32.880 go to first kings 19 we'll close up first kings 19 01:02:43.360 --> 01:02:46.900 you know one thing i've learned from experience you know number three is this 01:02:47.480 --> 01:02:53.600 that when you lose friendships you often gain better friendships 01:02:55.000 --> 01:03:00.260 so the thing is you often try to hang on to something that it's just not the same anymore 01:03:01.360 --> 01:03:06.000 and then if you let it go on the other side there's actually better friends of people that 01:03:06.000 --> 01:03:10.820 actually care about you they aren't going to bail on you they're actually there for you when you 01:03:10.820 --> 01:03:16.100 need them i mean there's better friends on the other side bible says here in first kings 19 verse 01:03:16.100 --> 01:03:21.620 19 so he departed then sin found the life of the son of sheffat it was plowing with 12 yoke of oxen 01:03:21.620 --> 01:03:25.720 before him and he with the 12th and elijah passed by him and cast his man all upon him 01:03:25.720 --> 01:03:29.560 and he left the oxen and ran after elijah and said let me i pray that he kissed my 01:03:29.560 --> 01:03:33.240 father and mother and then i will follow thee and he said on to him go back again for 01:03:33.240 --> 01:03:37.960 what have i done to thee and he returned back from him and took a yoke of oxen and slew them 01:03:37.960 --> 01:03:41.500 and boiled their flesh with the instruments of the oxen and gave one of the people and they 01:03:41.500 --> 01:03:47.720 did eat then he arose and went after elijah and ministered on to him in the story this is right 01:03:47.720 --> 01:03:52.920 after all the false prophets are killed and elijah's life is mess he's on the run he wants to 01:03:52.920 --> 01:03:58.220 end it and then all of a sudden he just wants to give up and what happens he ends up getting 01:03:58.220 --> 01:04:04.100 the greatest friend he can have in life i mean elijah and elijah are like right hand men 01:04:04.900 --> 01:04:10.420 he's right there for him right and so he lost a friendship i mean his life changed but then 01:04:10.420 --> 01:04:14.760 all of a sudden man he's got the best friend he could possibly have that is there with him 01:04:14.760 --> 01:04:21.860 every step of the way and i can say that i've learned by experience that when you lose friendships 01:04:22.840 --> 01:04:29.120 you often replace with better friends i'm not telling you to bail on a good friend 01:04:30.620 --> 01:04:35.200 what i am saying is that you don't want to hang on to something that's fake 01:04:36.480 --> 01:04:40.120 you don't want to stop being a friend because you can find a friend that sticks 01:04:40.120 --> 01:04:44.820 closer than a brother you don't want to bail on people that are loyal and proven friends 01:04:45.360 --> 01:04:50.000 but if you have friendships in your life that are just not the same and you're 01:04:50.000 --> 01:04:53.680 headed different directions you need to realize there's probably people who would be better friends 01:04:53.680 --> 01:04:59.480 on to you at the end of the day all of us are going to have moments where we feel alone 01:05:00.180 --> 01:05:03.900 and we feel like we don't have friends and it reminds me the song in the hymn where the 01:05:03.900 --> 01:05:11.340 the hymn sings earthly friends may prove untrue doubts and fears assail one still loves and 01:05:11.340 --> 01:05:19.440 cares for you one who will not fail jesus never fails what a friend we have in jesus 01:05:20.000 --> 01:05:23.880 at the end of the day when everything's messed up in your life you feel like there's nobody there 01:05:23.880 --> 01:05:28.380 and nobody cares about you you know what you're in dwell with the holy spirit for all eternity 01:05:28.920 --> 01:05:35.580 god is with you god cares about you just keep doing what's right keep serving god keep reading 01:05:35.580 --> 01:05:39.460 the bible keep going to church keep going so any you know what you find in life is you know what 01:05:39.460 --> 01:05:44.760 you have ups and you have downs and it's very easy in the downs to just kind of give up 01:05:45.580 --> 01:05:50.460 but here's the thing if you just waited out number one you've got jesus that's there with you 01:05:51.020 --> 01:05:57.240 and what i believe god will provide i mean god provided elisha elisha in his darkest moment 01:05:58.260 --> 01:06:03.160 and it doesn't feel like that when you're in those moments i'm sure there's people in this room 01:06:03.160 --> 01:06:07.560 right now you're in those moments and it doesn't feel like that but can't you say from experience 01:06:07.560 --> 01:06:11.960 that god does always come through at the end of the day you know what earthly friends are 01:06:11.960 --> 01:06:18.600 gonna prove untrue but you know what jesus never fails he is there with you every step of the way 01:06:18.600 --> 01:06:23.480 and he's the greatest friend you could possibly have let's close the water prayer your heavenly 01:06:23.480 --> 01:06:27.300 father thank you for allowing us to be here today and ask you to help us to apply this 01:06:27.300 --> 01:06:31.540 sermon to our lives god help us to be friends unto people help us not give up on that god and 01:06:31.540 --> 01:06:35.480 ask you to help to bless everybody in this room with good and true friends people that 01:06:35.480 --> 01:06:39.260 actually care about them and stick closer than a brother we pray this in jesus name amen