FRIENDS TO THE END

TEXT- 2 KINGS 2:1-14

INTRODUCTION

A MAN WAS GOING TO VISIT A CHURCH ONE SUNDAY AND WHEN HE LOOKED INTO THE AUDITORIUM HE SAW ONLY ONE EMPTY SEAT WHICH WAS BETWEEN TO NICE LADIES. BECAUSE HE WAS A VERY TIMID MAN HE HESITATED TO GO IN.

ONE OF THE USHERS SUGGESTED THAT HE GO IN AND SIT DOWN AND JUST BE FRIENDLY TOWARD THE LADIES. "ASK THEM IF THEY ARE MARRIED OR IF THEY HAVE ANY CHILDREN." THE USHER SAID.

THE MAN WENT IN AND SAT DOWN BETWEEN THE LADIES AND TURNED TO THE ONE ON HIS RIGHT AND ASKED, "DO YOU HAVE ANY CHILDREN?" "YES", SHE REPLIED. "ARE YOU MARRIED?", HE ASKED. THE LADY ABRUPTLY TURNED AWAY.

THEN THE MAN TURNED TO THE LADY ON HIS LEFT AND ASKED, "ARE YOU MARRIED?" SHE ANSWERED, "NO." HE THEN ASKED, "DO YOU HAVE ANY CHILDREN?"

IF YOU ARE VISITING WITH US THIS MORNING WE WANT TO ASSURE YOU THAT YOU'LL FIND A WARM AND FRIENDLY WELCOME FROM THE FAMILY OF GRACE.

LAST YEAR OUR CHURCH EMPHASIZED THE NEED FOR ESTABLISHING FRIENDSHIPS WITH EACH OTHER AS WELL AS THOSE WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY.

AS A RESULT WE HAD OVER 140 FIRST TIME VISITORS AND MADE MANY NEW FRIENDS, SOME OF WHOM ARE NOW MEMBERS OF OUR CHURCH FAMILY.

SOMEONE ONCE DETERMINED THAT WITHIN THE NEW TESTAMENT THERE ARE FORTY PEOPLE WHO ALL SUFFERED FROM THE SAME DISEASE AND WERE ALL HEALED BY JESUS. OUT OF THOSE FORTY, THIRTY-FOUR WERE EITHER BROUGHT TO JESUS BY FRIENDS, OR HE WAS TAKEN TO THEM. IN ONLY SIX CASES OUT OF FORTY DID THE PEOPLE FIND THEIR WAY TO JESUS WITHOUT ASSISTANCE. BY FAR, THE VAST MAJORITY OF PEOPLE WHO FIND THEIR WAY TO JESUS TODAY, REACH HIM BECAUSE THE FRIENDS OF JESUS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE WELFARE OF THEIR SOULS.

PERHAPS YOU ARE HERE THIS MORNING BECAUSE YOU WERE INVITED BY A FRIEND.

WE HOPE THAT THIS WILL BE A SPECIAL DAY FOR YOU AND THAT IF YOU DON'T ALREADY - YOU WILL COME TO KNOW OUR BEST FRIEND, JESUS CHRIST.

OUR TEXT THIS MORNING IS IN 2 KINGS 2:1-14 AND THE TITLE OF MY SERMON IS, "FRIENDS TO THE END".

HERE IN THIS PASSAGE WE FIND TWO MEN WHO WERE VERY GOOD FRIENDS.

THE FIRST WAS NAMED ELIJAH AND WAS A FAMOUS PROPHET OF GOD SECOND ONLY TO MOSES IN THE EYES OF ISRAEL.

THE SECOND WAS ELISHA A FARMER WHO WAS EVENTUALLY CALLED BY GOD TO FILL THE OFFICE OF PROPHET FOR THE NATION OF ISRAEL.