When Friendship is More than Affection. 20 May 18

Transcription

1 When Friendship is More than Affection 20 May 18

2 But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and has brought us the good news of your faith and love and reported that you always remember us kindly and long to see us, as we long to see you 1 Thessalonians 3:6

3 3 ways authentic faith builds deep friendships: 1. By helping us to look beyond one another

4 The very condition of having Friends is that we should want something else besides Friends. Where the truthful answer to the question "Do you see the same truth?" would be "I see nothing and I don't care about the truth; I only want a Friend," no Friendship can arise - though Affection of course may.

5 There would be nothing for the Friendship to be about; and Friendship must be about something, even if it were only an enthusiasm for dominoes or white mice. Those who have nothing can share nothing; those who are going nowhere can have no fellow-travellers.

6 for this reason, brothers, in all our distress and affliction we have been comforted about you through your faith. 1 Thessalonians 3:7

7 For now we live, if you are standing firm in the Lord. 9 For what thanksgiving can we return to God for you, for all the joy that we feel for your sake before our God. 1 Thessalonians 3:8-9

8 3 ways authentic faith builds deep friendships: 1. By helping us to look beyond one another 2. By helping us to seek the good of one another

9 as we pray most earnestly night and day that we may see you face to face and supply what is lacking in your faith 1 Thessalonians 3:10

10 and we sent Timothy, our brother and God's co-worker in the gospel of Christ, to establish and exhort you in your faith 1 Thessalonians 3:2

11 Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Galatians 6:1

12 Have you ever had a friend who whispered to you, You have spinach stuck in your teeth? Likely, you felt some embarrassment when you realized how long you d gone with green flakes sticking out for the world to see every time you smiled. Yet, you were also probably grateful to your friend for pointing it out to you. A good Christian friend will point out spiritual things to us we can t see, such as sin and idolatry. Christina Fox, from the article Faithful are the wounds of a friend in Desiring God

13 They will point out to us when we ve wandered off the narrow path. They will show us areas in our life where we lack joy in God relishing in the wonder of who he is and what he has done. A Christian friend won t tell us what we want to hear, but what we need to hear. Better is open rebuke than hidden love. Faithful are the wounds of a friend; profuse are the kisses of an enemy." (Proverbs 27:5-6) Christina Fox, from the article Faithful are the wounds of a friend in Desiring God

14 the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. 1 Samuel 18:1

15 3 ways authentic faith builds deep friendships: 1. By helping us to look beyond one another 2. By helping us to seek the good of one another 3. By helping us to forge eternal bonds with one another

16 and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you 1 Thessalonians 3:12

17 but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone. 1 Thessalonians 5:15

18 and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you, 13 so that he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints. 1 Thessalonians 3:12-13

19 This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15 No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. John 15:12-15