A Friend For Sinners

Proverbs 18:24-A man who has friends must himself be friendly, But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

1-Friends Listen

Psalm 91:15-He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him.

Isaiah 65:24-“It shall come to pass That before they call, I will answer; And while they are still speaking, I will hear.

Jesus hears the words you say, whether you scream them out or you whisper them!

He hears us whether, we speak words of joy and excitement, or speak thru words of brokenness and pain!

John 4:1-42-He listen to the woman at the well

Matthew 9:27-When Jesus departed from there, two blind men followed Him, crying out and saying, “Son of David, have mercy on us!”

Mark 10:46-47-Now they came to Jericho. As He went out of Jericho with His disciples and a great multitude, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the road begging. And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

Matthew 14:26-27-And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out for fear.

But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.”

2-Friends Spend Time Together Or Have Common Ground

Philippians 2:5-7-Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,

who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God,

but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.

Hebrews 4:15-For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.

You can never say that no one understands what you are going thru, because Jesus did and Jesus does understand!

3-Friends Always Look Out For One Another

Psalm 34:7-The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him, And delivers them.

Psalm 125:2-As the mountains surround Jerusalem, So the Lord surrounds His people From this time forth and forever.

There is nothing that is going to happen in your life that does not pass thru His marvelous hands!

Jesus has your best interest in mind! He is going to do what is best for you! (Even if it kills you!)

4-Friends Always Tells Us The Truth

Hebrews 4:12-For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

I don’t believe you can read God’s word. Or hear God’s word without it pointing out something within your life you need to change!

God’s word tells us the truth about ourselves! (We can we are good people, nice people, but when read God’s word, we see how much we need Jesus!)

5-Friends Accept Us For Who We Are

Luke 7:34-The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look, a glutton and a winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’

Jesus Accepts You Just Where You Are But He Also Loves You Enough Not To Leave You There!

6-Friends Help One Another

1 Peter 5:7-casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.

Matthew 11:28-30-Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

7-Friends Are Loyal

John 15:13-Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.

Hebrews 13:5-For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”