Mud Sitting
Text: Proverbs 18:24
Date: February 18, 2024, BFBC Friend Sunday at 11 am
A little Humor: Just Have to Outrun You
Two friends were out hunting in the northern U.S. Suddenly one yelled and the other looked up to see a grizzly charging them. The first started to frantically put on his running shoes, when his friend anxiously asked, "What are you doing? Don't you know you can't outrun a grizzly bear?"
"I don't have to outrun a grizzly. I just have to outrun you!"
A little Humor: Nobody Likes Me
Once a pastor said to his wife; 'Nobody likes me.' She replied, 'Honey, don't say that--everybody hasn't met you yet.'
Prayer
INTRODUCTION:
Illustration: Mud Sitting
A farmer was out plowing his field one spring morning. The spring thaw had just occurred and there were many muddy places in the field. While driving through one particularly wet place, his tractor became stuck in the mud. The harder he tried, the deeper he became stuck. Finally, he walked over to one of his neighbors to ask for help. The neighbor came over and looked at the situation. He shook his head, and then said, "It doesn't look good, but I tell you what. I'll give it a try pulling you out. But if we don't get it out, I'll just sit in the mud with ya!"
Have you tried "mud-sitting" with a friend? It may be the best thing you can do!
I read this little story, and it got me thinking about Friendship.
What is Friendship? What does it mean to have, or to be a good friend?
I want to ask you a question, “When was the last time you sat in the mud with anyone?”
It takes a real friend to do something like that!
Illustration: Would you do that? A Pastor friend of mine washed Bob’s feet, and clipped his toenails, although his body odor was unbearable.
Definition: A friend is someone who comes in when the world walks out!
Illustration: I Just Cried With Her
A little girl came home and told her mom that her best friend's grandma had died over the weekend. Her mom said, "That's so sad." The little girl said, "Yes it was Mommy. She just sat in her chair and cried and cried."
"What did you do, her mom asked.
Her daughter replied, “I just went back and cried with her.”
TO HAVE A FRIEND AND TO BE A FRIEND, NOW THAT IS THE QUESTION!
Proverbs 18:24, A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.
HOW CAN WE HAVE A FRIEND? Proverbs 18:24a, A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly:
Statistics: According to Dunbar, a professor of psychology at Oxford University who developed a theory about friendships, a person, on average, may have about 500 acquaintances, 150 meaningful contacts, 50 friends, and 15 good friends. But the tightest circle of friends a person usually has is around five people or less – maybe your direct family or a few close friends.
When was the last time you did a little Mud-Sitting?
The Bible teaches us several things about friends and friendship.
• Let’s look into the Word, as we take a look into our hearts.
• Let’s see not only what the Bible says about friendship, but how we rate as a “Friend!”
Moses: Exodus 33:11a, we read of the friendship between Moses and God.
“And the LORD spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend... “
• Most everyone is aware of who Moses was and what he accomplished in his life.
• Moses was not only labeled as “The meekest man on the face of the earth,” but we also read that “he spake face to face with God, as a man speaketh with his friend.
God spoke to Moses “face to face.”
God spoke to Moses directly, not through angels, or prophets. He spoke, “soul-to-soul.” Intimately, personally.
• Definition: “A friend is someone you can think out loud in the presence of.”
Challenge: Are you a friend like that? Do you have a friend like that?
God spoke to Moses as one would speak to his friend!
• This would call upon one to be individual and personal.
• Moses had “close communion” with God!
• It began as Moses answered the ‘Call of God.” To the mountain, and through the burning bush.
God and Moses did some “Mud Sitting!”
Abraham: Not just Moses, but Abraham was a Friend of God.
Note what God’s Word tells us…
Isaiah 41:8, But thou, Israel, art my servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the seed of Abraham my friend.
2 Chronicles 20:7, Art not thou our God, who didst drive out the inhabitants of this land before thy people Israel, and gavest it to the seed of Abraham thy friend for ever?
James 2:23, And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.
Genesis 18:17-19, And the LORD said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do; (18) Seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him? (19) For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.
In these verses, Abraham is well-known as God’s friend.
• He has an open, honest relationship.
• God trusted Abraham, He shared with him deep things, that others did not know of.
God and Abraham did some “Mud-Sitting!”
Challenge: I would ask a few questions of you, as I need also to ask myself.
1. Do I have such a friendship with God?
2. Do I have such a friendship with another?
3. Do I have a person who would call me such a friend?
Moses and Abraham were God’s forever friends.
Illustration: Texting abbreviations: BFF “Best friends forever.”
Some qualities of a friend according to the Bible are:
1. LOVE: Proverbs 17:17, A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
2. TRUST: Proverbs 17:18, A man void of understanding striketh hands, and becometh surety in the presence of his friend.
3. HONESTY: Proverbs 27:6, Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.
4. SACRIFICE: John 15:13, Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
FRIENDSHIP REQUIRES ACTION ON YOUR PART:
Proverbs 18:24a, A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly:
THE GREATEST FRIENDSHIP IS WITH JESUS:
Proverbs 18:24b, A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.
• Jesus is that true friend that sticks closer than a brother!
• He is the one who loves us greater than a father or a mother.
• He is the kind of friend who is greater than all others!
John 15:12-14 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. (13) Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. (14) Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.
Jesus did a lot of “Mud Sitting with His Disciples!”
• They answered His call.
• They trusted in His love.
• They received Him as Messiah and also as their friend!
Jesus will “Mud Sit” with you if you allow Him!
HOW?
RECEIVE THE LOVE OF JESUS:
• Jesus laid down his life for you.
• Jesus sacrificed for your salvation.
• Jesus offers the gift of eternal life to you.
The poet C. A. Tydeman has described Him well…
I HAVE A FRIEND
I have a Friend, whose faithful love
Is more than all the world to me:
’Tis higher than the heights above,
And deeper than the soundless sea;
So old, so new, So strong, so true;
Before the earth received its frame,
He loved me—Blessed be His name!
Jesus calls out today to anyone who wants a friend!
John 14:6, Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Matthew 11:28-30, Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (29) Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. (30) For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
Isaiah 1:18, Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.
Isaiah 55:1, Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.
Revelation 22:17, And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.
CONCLUSION:
Proverbs 18:24, A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.
• The deepest desire in the heart of Jesus is to call you His friend but the choice is up to you.
• Just like the true friends you have today, someone had to make the first move!
• Jesus did that in coming to die for you! Jesus wants you to as a friend today!
Paul teaches us, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. (10) For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” Romans 10:9-10
Acknowledge that you are a sinner by repenting, turning from your sin, your self-righteousness, and turning to the One and Only Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ!
Believe in Jesus, trust in and upon Him and the work He did on Calvary!
1.) Believe that Jesus died in your place on the cross.
2.) Believe that God raised Jesus from the dead.
3.) Believe that Jesus loves you and wants to give you Eternal Life!
Commit your life to Jesus
When we commit to Jesus, we are not only allowing Him to save us but to change our lives. Jesus changes people from the inside out. When we turn to Jesus we are turning from our sin.
Today, if you’re not sure where you stand with Jesus, slip out of the pew and come to the altar.
Jesus is waiting to make Mud-Sit with you.
Jesus is standing at your heart’s door,
Standing and knocking, He’s knocked before.
This is the question you face once more,
What will you do with Jesus?”
What will you do with Jesus?
Neutral you cannot be;
Someday your heart will be asking,
“What will He do with me?”
Poem: Around the Corner, by Henson Towne.
Around the corner, I have a friend,
In this great city that has no end.
Yet days go by and weeks rush on,
And before I know it a year is gone,
And I never see my old friend's face;
For life is a swift and terrible race.
He knows I like him just as well
As in the days when I rang his bell
And he rang mine. We were younger then--
And now we are busy, tired men--
Tired with playing a foolish game;
Tired with trying to make a name.
"Tomorrow," I say, "I will call on Jim,
Just to show that I'm thinking of him."
But tomorrow comes--and tomorrow goes;
And the distance between us grows and grows.
Around the corner! --yet miles away...
Then the message came,
"Jim died today."
And that's what we get--and deserve in the end--
Around the corner, a vanished friend.
Disclaimer: I am sharing this as one beggar to another; many have blessed me with their sermons, and I hope this will be a blessing to you. This sermon is an accumulation from several sources for which and to whom I am grateful, so I claim only partial originality for it. I have tried to tailor it to develop the sermon to fit my style and audience. I have sought to acknowledge credit to whom credit is due. I hope it will bless you.
