Friend That Sticks Closer than a Brother
PARTIAL outline: FULL PDF HERE
Proverbs 18:24
Two powerful truths are brought to our attention from this text:
1. The Condition of Friendship—“A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly.”
My job is not to get people to like me. My job is to like people. If you want friends, don’t try to get people to like you… Just like THEM. When you love people and show a genuine interest in them, you’ll have friends.
Jesus is One who truly shewed Himself friendly in every way.
2. The Constancy of our Friend—“And there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.” His name is Jesus. As the song says, “He’s the dearest Friend I’ve Ever Had!”
• Some friends are closer than a person’s human brother. Jesus’ brothers were not always His friends, and Christ’s true friends were seldom His brothers!
Three things about Jesus friendship in John 11 (READ vs. 1-11, 30-36).
I. Jesus is a TRUE friend.
A. A true friend won’t FORSAKE you in your hour of need.
Verses 30-32—He didn’t turn her away. He received her
B. A true friend won’t FORGET you. Jesus did not forget them (vs. 3-6).
II. Jesus is a TENDER friend (vs. 33-34).
III. Jesus is a TRUSTY friend. Proverbs 17:17—
“A friend loveth at ALL TIMES.” Christ’s friendship is CONSTANT.
PARTIAL outline: FULL PDF HERE
