THE HINDRANCES TO FRIENDSHIP PART 4

TEXT- MATTHEW 26:47-56

INTRODUCTION

AS A HUSBAND AND WIFE WALKED INTO THE CHURCH, THEY SCANNED THE CROWD. WHEN THEY SPOTTED ANOTHER COUPLE THEY DIDN’T LIKE THEY CAREFULLY WENT THE OTHER WAY, AVOIDING ANY CONTACT WITH THEM. THE AIR OF TENSION AFFECTED NOT ONLY THE FOUR OF THEM BUT ALSO AT LEAST A DOZEN OTHERS WHO KNEW WHAT WAS TAKING PLACE JUST THEN INSIDE THE CHURCH. THE TRAGEDY OF THE SITUATION WAS MORE PROFOUND BECAUSE OF THE YEARS OF FRIENDSHIP BETWEEN THESE COUPLES. BUT BECAUSE OF A FEW DISAGREEMENTS, THE FIBER OF THEIR FRIENDSHIP BEGAN TO ROT AWAY.

FEW PEOPLE EVER CHOOSE TO LIVE LIKE A HERMET - ISOLATED, ALONE, UNCARING AND UNCARED FOR.

BUT MANY PEOPLE HAVE BECOME HERMETS EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE SURROUNDED BY OTHER PEOPLE.

THEY LONG FOR FRIENDSHIP, BUT THEIR PERSONALITY DRIVES OTHERS AWAY, ELIMINATING POTENTIAL FRIENDS.

ONE INDIVIDUAL LOVED PEOPLE, BUT HE CONTINUALLY TRIED TO CHANGE THEM.

HE POINTED OUT THEIR FAULTS AND OFFERED SUGGESTIONS FOR HOW THEY OUGHT TO LIVE.

ALL THE WHILE HE COULDN'T UNDERSTAND WHY PEOPLE AVOIDED HIM OR WOULDN'T CALL HIM AND INCLUDE HIM IN ON CERTAIN SOCIAL EVENTS.

IN THE NATIONALLY SYNDICATED CARTOON STRIP, "BLOOM COUNTY" BY BURKE BREATHED THERE WAS A CARTOON PANEL WITH THE CHARACTER BINKLEY SITTING UP IN BED FACING HIS CLOSET. "PST, BINKLEY, OVER HERE," SAYS A VOICE FROM OUT OF SIGHT. THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN A HORRIBLE LOOKING RHINO-NOSED MONSTER STICKS HIS FACE OUT OF THE CLOSET AND SAYS, "ON BEHALF OF MYSELF AND THE REST OF YOUR SUBCONSCIOUS ANXIETIES, WE THOUGHT YOU SHOULD BE GIVEN ADVANCE NOTICE REGARDING OUR PLAN TO JUMP OUT AND GRAB YOU THIS EVENING."

"THANK YOU," SAYS BINKLEY. "CERTAINLY," SAYS THE MONSTER. THE LAST PANEL SHOWS BINKLEY HUNCHED BENEATH THE BLANKET WITH A BASEBALL BAT IN HAND.
FOR MANY PEOPLE, MAKING FRIENDS IS LIKE OPENING UP BINKLEY'S CLOSET DOOR FILLED WITH MONSTERS, CREATURES, CREEPIES, BUGS, BEARS AND BATS.

WHEN TRYING TO MAKE FRIENDS WE ARE OFTEN TIMES CONFRONTED WITH BARRIERS THAT HINDER THE DEVELOPMENT OF FRIENDSHIPS.

LIKE BINKLEY, WE NEED TO TAKE OUR BASEBALL BAT IN HAND AND KNOCK DOWN THOSE BARRIERS THAT HINDER FRIENDSHIP.

THIS MORNING OUR TEXT IS FOUND IN MATTHEW 26:47-56 AND THE TITLE OF MY MESSAGE IS, "HINDRANCES TO FRIENDSHIP".

MATTHEW 26:47-56 WHILE HE WAS STILL SPEAKING, JUDAS, ONE OF THE TWELVE, ARRIVED. WITH HIM WAS A LARGE CROWD ARMED WITH SWORDS AND CLUBS, SENT FROM THE CHIEF PRIESTS AND THE ELDERS OF THE PEOPLE. 48NOW THE BETRAYER HAD ARRANGED A SIGNAL WITH THEM: "THE ONE I KISS IS THE MAN; ARREST HIM." 49GOING AT ONCE TO JESUS, JUDAS SAID, "GREETINGS, RABBI!" AND KISSED HIM. 50JESUS REPLIED, "FRIEND, DO WHAT YOU CAME FOR." THEN THE MEN STEPPED FORWARD, SEIZED JESUS AND ARRESTED HIM. 51WITH THAT, ONE OF JESUS' COMPANIONS REACHED FOR HIS SWORD, DREW IT OUT AND STRUCK THE SERVANT OF THE HIGH PRIEST, CUTTING OFF HIS EAR. 52"PUT YOUR SWORD BACK IN ITS PLACE," JESUS SAID TO HIM, "FOR ALL WHO DRAW THE SWORD WILL DIE BY THE SWORD. 53DO YOU THINK I CANNOT CALL ON MY FATHER, AND HE WILL AT ONCE PUT AT MY DISPOSAL MORE THAN TWELVE LEGIONS OF ANGELS? 54BUT HOW THEN WOULD THE SCRIPTURES BE FULFILLED THAT SAY IT MUST HAPPEN IN THIS WAY?" 55AT THAT TIME JESUS SAID TO THE CROWD, "AM I LEADING A REBELLION, THAT YOU HAVE COME OUT WITH SWORDS AND CLUBS TO CAPTURE ME? EVERY DAY I SAT IN THE TEMPLE COURTS TEACHING, AND YOU DID NOT ARREST ME. 56BUT THIS HAS ALL TAKEN PLACE THAT THE WRITINGS OF THE PROPHETS MIGHT BE FULFILLED." THEN ALL THE DISCIPLES DESERTED HIM AND FLED.

DURING THE COURSE OF MY MESSAGE I WOULD LIKE US TO EXAMINE THREE MONSTERS THAT HINDER OUR FRIENDSHIPS.