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ARE YOU A FRIEND OF JESUS?

sermon 17.
Are you a friend of Jesus?
A sermon preached on Sunday March 9, 2017.
“Little did I know that it’s rare to have a good friend,” said one elderly man when his friends deserted him. With some good thought about the man’s saying, I was led to sing a hymn titled: “What A Friend We Have In Jesus.” This hymn was composed by Joseph M. Scriven, who went through hard time. At his youthful age, he gave up his military career as a result of his ill health. A lady he wanted to marry died in the eve of the wedding in a drowning accident. Scriven later migrated to Rice Lake Ontario, and encountered another lady for marriage. Soon, the lady died from illness before the wedding too, so Scriven had to live with friends since there was no job because of hard economy. His friends became hostile to him, and failed to help him. Scriven comforted himself with the Sermon on the Mount. As he became penniless, his friends disassociated him. Scriven learnt an unforgettable lesson from his friends, friends who would be around him when there’s money but jeopardize him when there’s nothing. He knew the psychology of friendship, and at this time of desertion by friends, news about his mother’s illness reached him. He then wrote a poem, this “What a Friend We have in Jesus” we sing today as hymn for his sick mother consoling her to look up to Jesus as the best friend we should ever have.

Based on how Scriven had suffered in the hands of his friends, we now realize the dangers of keeping wrong friends which are outlined below:
Friends can ruin your life: ─ “There are friends who destroy each other, but a real friend sticks closer than a brother”─ Prov. 18:24.

Friends can reveal your secrets to your enemies: ─ Prov. 20:19. What pains most is not that you’re insulted, or rejected, but the person who insulted you sharing your secrets to your enemies is your best friend.

Friends can abandon you in the time of trouble:─ Psalm 38:11.

David was abandoned by both kinsmen and friends.
Christ was deserted by his disciples─ Matt. 26:56.
Demas left Paul in the prison.

The only best friend one should ever have is Jesus Christ. He understands our weakness, and is able to bear our heavy burdens─ Matt. 11:28. Will you accept him now as your friend and savior? He needs you to come unto him. He’s merciful. When man reject you, he welcomes you. May he be your friend from today henceforth. Amen.

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