Sermons from Good News: You have an eternal friend

Blogger's Note: On Sundays, I will be copying and pasting on this blog notes I take in my phone from sermons at the church I attend. I'll be sharing sermons from the current week. On Wednesdays I'll also be sharing sermon messages dating back to October, when I first began attending my current church. Because of the backlog of sermons, I will be running posts on Wednesdays until sometime in May. My goal on Sundays is that sharing these sermons will theoretically be perpetual, or until I feel God nudging me to do something different. I want to also clarify that these are not my sermons, but rather the bullet point notes I put together. I enjoy our pastor's messages very much, and more importantly he preaches the Word of God as-is, which means the Spirit of God is imparting wisdom and knowledge through him. To God alone be the glory.

Church 3/6/2021

Offertory scripture:

And the Lord shall make thee plenteous in goods, in the fruit of thy body, and in the fruit of thy cattle, and in the fruit of thy ground, in the land which the Lord sware unto thy fathers to give thee. The Lord shall open unto thee his good treasure, the heaven to give the rain unto thy land in his season, and to bless all the work of thine hand: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, and thou shalt not borrow.
Deuteronomy 28:11-12 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Deuteronomy%2028:11-12&version=KJV

The following verse wasn't part of the offertory scripture, but it's a powerful verse for this time:

And the Lord shall make thee the head, and not the tail; and thou shalt be above only, and thou shalt not be beneath; if that thou hearken unto the commandments of the Lord thy God, which I command thee this day, to observe and to do them:
Deuteronomy 28:13 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Deuteronomy%2028:13&version=KJV

Sermon message:

Thesis: You have an eternal friend

Studies back up the importance of friendship. It's great for life-longevity.

Scriptures that talk the importance of friendships:

One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
Proverbs 18:24 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Proverbs%2018:24&version=NIV

16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.
John 14:16-17 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=John%2014:16-17&version=NIV

Advocate = comforter = Paraclete

Paraclete = one who comes alongside you. The Holy Spirit comes alongside you, advocates for you, is with you.

And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
John 14:16-17 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=John%2014:16-17&version=KJV

These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you. But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
John 14:25-26 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=John%2014:25-26&version=KJV

Jesus' promise as He also promises the Holy Spirit:

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
John 14:27 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=John%2014:27&version=KJV

Another way of wording it:

“I’m telling you these things while I’m still living with you. The Friend, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send at my request, will make everything plain to you. He will remind you of all the things I have told you. I’m leaving you well and whole. That’s my parting gift to you. Peace. I don’t leave you the way you’re used to being left—feeling abandoned, bereft. So don’t be upset. Don’t be distraught.
John 14:25 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=John%2014:25&version=MSG

A good friend guides you, protects you, helps you.

Looking at a picture is not the same as being with the person.

Similarly, reading the Bible, while good, is not the same as receiving God's presence---the Holy Spirit.

Apostle Paul wen through a lot of changes, a lot of challenges. He was powerful, he had the power of the Holy Spirit... but he also had a deep friendship with God.

You have a friend that brings light to your loneliness.

At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them. But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion’s mouth. The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
2 Timothy 4:16-18 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=2%20Timothy%204:16-18&version=NIV

Loneliness does not depend on what is around you; it depends on what's going on inside of you.

We need to lead people to Jesus Christ. He is the greatest friend and they need Him, to receive Him, and to know Him.

Receiving an eternal friend also means receiving an internal friend. (The Holy Spirit)

You have an eternal friend that brings triumph in transition.

I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches. Who is weak, and I do not feel weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not inwardly burn?
2 Corinthians 11:26-29 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=2%20Corinthians%2011:26-29&version=NIV

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
2 Timothy 4:7 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=2%20Timothy%204:7&version=NIV

For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
2 Corinthians 4:17-18 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=2%20Corinthians%204:17-18&version=NIV

You got an eternal friend that brings peace in pain

And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:7 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Philippians%204:7&version=NIV

Critical verse to remember:

One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
Proverbs 18:24 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Proverbs%2018:24&version=NIV

The friend who sticks closer than a brother, that's the Holy Spirit.

Walk through life with the Holy Spirit. Don't walk through life without Him.

A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.
Proverbs 18:24 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Proverbs%2018:24&version=KJV