Can I Call You Friend?

CAN I CALL YOU FRIEND?

By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr.

WE NEED FRIENDS…

Proverbs 27:17 Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE IN SYMPATHY AND COMPASSION?

Sympathy is a box of Kleenex and a bowl of chicken soup.

Jude 1:22 And of some have compassion, making a difference:

** “COMPATI” Compati means to “suffer with…”

COMPASSION is when your heart is broken --- my heart is broken.

A real friend laughs when you laugh and cries when you cry.

REAL FRIEND COMPASSION CHANGES THE WAY YOU THINK!!!

What is Mickey without Minnie, Pluto, and Donald Duck? What is Tigger without Eeyore and Pooh? We know Patrick because of his friend Sponge Bob. What are without each other?

FRIEND: a person whom one knows and has a bond of mutual affection and esteem, one that is not hostile, a person you trust, loyal.

A REAL FRIEND WILL WALK IN WHEN EVERYONE ELSE WALKS AWAY.

A friend can reach for your hand but touches your heart.

A good friend is a gift from God, friends help us appreciate life.

Friendship is two bodies and one mind.

Fake friends believe rumors, real friends believe in you.

A friend knows tears come from your heart and not from your brain.

SOUL- TIES: DAVID WAS HAVING PROBLEMS, THE KING WAS AFTER HIS HIDE.

GOD GAVE DAVID A FRIEND… TO HELP THROUGH TOUGH TIMES…

It was David’s friend, Jonathan that helped him through the rough days. Jonathan and David

1 Samuel 18:1 And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.

Even when Jonathan was dead and gone DAVID REMEMBERED HIS FRIEND.

David found a CRIPPLE BOY and invited him to the Kings table. He was a friend’s son.

PAUL TELLS US OF 4 KINDS OF FRIENDS…

***DEMAS… THE QUITTER.) WRONG PRIORITIES. Demas let the desires of the world master him…

Demas forsakes his calling as life distorted what was really important.

Demas was a co-worker with Paul during Paul’s first imprisonment.

AWOL--- ABSENNT WITHOUT LEAVE…

2 Timothy 4:10 For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; …

REVEALING PARTY? Quitting really tells the truth!

1 John 2:19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.

***LUKE… THE FAITHFUL.) Luke was a physician, Luke was a Gentile. We call him the Evangelist. Luke traveled with Paul on several missionary journeys and was always true and faithful.

2 Timothy 4:11 Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry.

Dependable, steady, faithful. There is no record of Luke ever quitting.

*** JOHN MARK… THE VASCILLATOR.) TO WAVER, John Mark was a young man and seems to have changed his mind several times. Up and down. John Mark was a nephew of BARNABAS. Barnabas was Paul’s good friend and helper. John Mark went of a missionary trip and got homesick and he quit and deserted his uncle and Paul. Later there was a sharp contention over John Mark. Barnabas said give the kid another chance. Paul said: NO! They divided their ways.

PAUL WAS WRONG! Paul learns John Mark has changed and become “PROFITABLE.”

***ALEXANDER THE COPPERSMITH… THE MEAN HURTER.)

2 Timothy 4:14 (KJV)

14 Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works:

Alexander was a good business man, very prosperous man that had influence over others. ALEXANDER HURT PAUL REAL BAD… HE NOT ONLY HURT PAUL, HE HURT PAUL’S MINISTRY. Alexander was mean and cruel. Paul never defended himself. Paul trusted the LORD TO REPAY

ALEXANDER…

ALL YOUR FRIENDSHIPS WILL FALL INTO ONE OF THESE TYPES OF PERSONALITIES. Learn to identify and build your HOUSE UPON THE ROCK OF WISDOM.

CALL 911! JESUS HAS SOME DEAR FRIENDS DOWN IN BETHANY…

JESUS HAD 3 DEAR FRIENDS: LAZARUS, MARTHA AND MARY…

Jesus would go to Bethany to spend time and relax with his friends. They loved each other.

John 11:5 Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus.

NOW, LAZARUS GOT VERY SICK.

Lazarus seem to grow sicker and sicker until MARTHA and MARY CALL 911… JESUS YOUR DEAR FRIEND IS SICK…

John 11:3 Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick.

MARTHA and MARY called JESUS, JESUS COME RIGHT NOW… This is an emergency, ASAP… (Always say a prayer.)

IF JESUS IS OUR FRIEND --- HE WILL COME RIGHT NOW!!!