WHAT TO GIVE TO YOUR FRIENDS PART 11
TEXT- LUKE 10:29-37
INTRODUCTION
TODAY IS THE LAST FRIENDSHIP SUNDAY OF 1988.
THROUGHOUT THE PAST YEAR OUR CHURCH THEME HAS BEEN "FRIENDSHIP".
AS WE EMPHASIZED THIS THEME WE HAVE STRENGTHENED EXISTING FRIENDSHIPS AND DEVELOPED NEW FRIENDSHIPS WITH THOSE WHO HAVE VISITED WITH US IN OUR SERVICES.
DURING THE YEAR I HAVE PREACHED ON:
A. THE NEED FOR FRIENDS.
B. THE CHARACTERISTICS OF FRIENDS.
C. MISSIONARY FRIENDS.
D. HINDRANCES TO FRIENDSHIP.
E. FORGIVING FRIENDS.
F. KEEPING FRIENDS.
G. THE INFLUENCE OF FRIENDS.
H. BEING A FRIEND OF GOD.
I. CONFRONTING A FRIEND.
J. THANKFUL FOR FRIENDS.
THIS MORNING I AM GOING TO PREACH THE 11TH MESSAGE IN THIS SERIES ENTITLED, "THE GIFT OF FRIENDSHIP" AND OUR TEXT IS FOUND IN LUKE 10:25-37.
DURING THIS TIME OF YEAR WHEN OUR MINDS ARE GEARING UP FOR THE CHRISTMAS SEASON, AND OUR THOUGHTS ARE NATURALLY TURNED TO GIVING. THIS MORNING I WOULD LIKE US TO LOOK AT ONE OF THE MOST PRECIOUS GIFTS WE COULD EVER GIVE TO ONE ANOTHER– FRIENDSHIP.
OF ALL THE GIFTS YOU COULD GIVE SOMEONE THIS CHRISTMAS THE MOST VALUABLE AND PRECIOUS ARE THOSE WITHOUT A PRICE TAG.
THE GIFT OF FRIENDSHIP IS SUCH A GIFT.
THE GIFT OF FRIENDSHIP IS BASED UPON TWO THINGS.
FIRST, OUR LOVE FOR GOD.
SECOND, IT IS BASED UPON OUR LOVE FOR ONE ANOTHER
LUKE 10:27 “LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND'; AND, 'LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’”
OUR LOVE FOR GOD AND FOR ONE ANOTHER IS CLOSELY CONNECTED TO EACH OTHER.
1 JOHN 4:7-8 DEAR FRIENDS, LET US LOVE ONE ANOTHER, FOR LOVE COMES FROM GOD. EVERYONE WHO LOVES HAS BEEN BORN OF GOD AND KNOWS GOD. 8WHOEVER DOES NOT LOVE DOES NOT KNOW GOD, BECAUSE GOD IS LOVE.
1 JOHN 4:20 IF ANYONE SAYS, "I LOVE GOD," YET HATES HIS BROTHER, HE IS A LIAR. FOR ANYONE WHO DOES NOT LOVE HIS BROTHER, WHOM HE HAS SEEN, CANNOT LOVE GOD, WHOM HE HAS NOT SEEN.
JESUS TOLD THE LAWYER IN OUR TEXT THAT WHILE HE GAVE THE RIGHT ANSWERS HE WASN’T DOING THE RIGHT THINGS. THAT’S EXACTLY WHAT THE PROBLEM IS TODAY. WE KNOW WHAT IS RIGHT, BUT WE AREN’T DOING WHAT IT RIGHT.
JAMES 4:17 THEREFORE, TO ONE WHO KNOWS THE RIGHT THING TO DO AND DOES NOT DO IT, TO HIM IT IS SIN. (NASB-U)
IT’S NOT ENOUGH JUST TO KNOW WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS, WE ARE TO ALSO DO WHAT IT SAYS.
FOR THIS REASON, JESUS WENT ON TO TELL A STORY ABOUT FOUR PEOPLE– A PRIEST, LEVITE, SAMARITAN AND A NEIGHBOR. THROUGH THIS STORY JESUS SHOWS THE MAN THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN KNOWING WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS AND DOING WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS.
WHILE THE PRIEST AND LEVITE IN OUR SAID THEY LOVED GOD THROUGH THEIR RELIGION THEY FAILED TO SHOW THAT LOVE TO THEIR NEIGHBOR.
NEITHER THE PRIEST NOR THE LEVITE EXTENDED FRIENDSHIP TO THE MAN ALONG THE JERICHO ROAD.
INSTEAD, IT WAS A SAMARITAN, A MAN MANY PEOPLE THOUGHT WAS NONRELIGIOUS, WHO EXHIBITED GOD’S LOVE BY BEING A TRUE FRIEND TO THE INJURED MAN.
AS WE EXAMINE VERSES 33-35 I WOULD LIKE US TO LOOK AT HOW THE SAMARITAN EXPRESSED HIS FRIENDSHIP TO THE MAN ON THE JERICHO ROAD AND HOW WE AS FRIENDS CAN GIVE FOUR GIFTS TO EACH OTHER TODAY.