By E L Thornton
Pg. 1
“THE FRIEND HE SAID HE WOULD BE”
ECC. 4:9,10 PROV. 18:24
We all need a friend, or friends, and especially when it comes to the work of God. In fact, for us not to be friends, is like putting a minus sign before a quantity. Failure to be friendly, or failure to co-operate with each other, is nothing less than crippling to the work the church is to perform. Hold up your hand where you can get a good look at it. Count your fingers. Now, unless something is wrong, you should have five of them counting your thumb. Your hand is very valuable to you in your everyday life. You use your hand for more things than you are aware of. The hand would be almost useless without the fingers. It is the fingers that make the hand so important to you. Please tell me what makes the hand work so beautiful. It is the fingers. But not just the fingers, but the fingers working together. And so the scripture has something to say concerning the subject of unity. “CAN TWO WALK TOGETHER, EXCEPT THEY BE AGREED?” (Amos 3:3) Ecc. 4:9 says that two are better than one. This is talking about friendship. The reason that it’s good to have friends is stated in verse ten, “FOR IF THEY FALL, THE ONE WILL LIFT UP HIS FELLOW——–.”
Nowhere should there be a closeness of people, like there should be in the kingdom of God. Nowhere should people be able to work in unity like in the kingdom of God. The scripture teaches us to bear each others burdens, but how, I ask you, can we bear one anothers burdens when we let the feelings exist that some of us have toward some. Make friends, you gonna need them. Cultivate friendships, you never know when you will fall and need friends.
I. FRIENDS:
A. Friends are a priceless treasure:
It is a special joy to establish a relationship with someone with whom we feel the freedom to share the deepest part of ourselves, our dreams, our feelings. Everyone needs a friend.
B. Friends can be trusted:
Friends can be depended on, Friends can be enjoyed, Friends can be confided in, and will keep your confidence. Your friend will take your secrets to the grave with them.
C. Friends will accept you:
They will accept you as you are———–, no matter what. Friends will be honest with you. Those in whom you confide most will be ready to betray you
Pg. 2
“THE FRIEND HE SAID HE WOULD BE”
soonest, unless, they are friends. I do not care for a friendship which is based upon selfishness, or which tries to secure mere personal ends.
D. One last note, “A PURCHASED FRIEND WILL NEVER LAST LONG:”
C. Many scripture references:
Prov. 17:17 “A friend—- loveth at all times”
17:18 “————-becomes a surety”
27:6 “faithful are the wounds of friends”
27:9 “Hearty counsel does good from a friend”
27:17 “Countenance is helped by friend”
II. FRIENDS OF GOD:
A. Abraham:
II Chron. 20:7 “Gave this land to Abraham thy friend forever”
Isa. 41:8 “But thou, Israel, art the seed of Abraham my friend”
James 2:23 “Abraham believed God, and he was called the friend of God”
B. Lazarus:
John 11:11 “——our friend sleepeth.”
C. Judas:
Matt. 26:50 “Jesus said unto him, Friend wherefore art thou come?”
D. Man at marriage:
Matt. 22:12 “Friend, how camest thou in hither——?”
E. Publicans and sinners:
Luke 7:34 “A friend of Publicans and sinners”
F. Followers:
John 15:13-15 “Ye are my friends”
“Lay down life for friends”
“But I have called you friends”
G. Multitude:
Luke 12:4 “And I say unto you my friends, be not afraid of them—”
Pg. 3
“THE FRIEND HE SAID HE WOULD BE”
III. THE FRIEND HE SAID HE WOULD BE:
Prov. 18:24 “A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly; and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.”
A. A friend always:
“I am with you always even unto the end of the world.” Matt. 28:20
B. A friend that gives:
“He gave them power against unclean spirits” Matt. 10:1
“I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy.” Luke 10:19
C. A friend that takes care of his own:
“—-I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”
Matt. 16:18
“I will dwell in them and walk in them.” II Cor. 6:16
D. A friend of stability:
“I will be their God and they shall be my people.” II Cor. 6:16
E. A friend that heals:
“And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up.” James 5:15
There’s an old song that expresses my thoughts on this subject very well
” I have found a friend in Jesus, he’s everything to me.
He’s the fairest of ten thousand to my soul.
The lily of the valley, in him alone I see
All I need to cleanse and make me fully whole
In sorrow he’s my comfort, In trouble he’s my stay
He tells me every care on him to roll
He’s the lily of the valley, the bright and morning star
He’s the fairest of ten thousand to my soul.
He’s been the friend he said he would be.
He’s my bread and he’s my water
He’s my sword, shield, and buckler
He’s my captain, comforter, and deliver
He’s my fortress, high tower, and strong hold
He’s my leader, guide, and helper
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“THE FRIEND HE SAID HE WOULD BE”
He’s my healer, keeper, and soon coming king
He’s my hidden manna, my hiding place, and my hope
He’s my peace, joy, and my happiness
He’s my life, light, and my keeper
He’s my lily of the valley, bright morning star, and the rose of Sharon
He’s my way maker, door opener, and my redeemer
He’s my Master, He’s my Pearl of great price, my rescuer, my restorer,
my rewarder, my rock, my salvation, my savior, my shepherd, my
song, my strength, my wonderful, my counselor, my mighty God, the
prince of peace, the everlasting father.
I can’t tell what he’s been, or is, to you, but He’s been the friend he said he would be to me.
F He’s a friend you can depend on, he’s a friend that will be true,
He’s a friend you can depend on, he wants to be a friend to you.
Well if you got a problem, and you don’t know what to do,
Just call on Jesus, he’s a friend to see you through.
