Jesus: A Generous Friend

I don’t have a certain passage upon which I have built this message.

Rather there are multiple passages — 18 of them to be precise.

I would encourage you to write the references down on the back of your Prayer List in the Sermon Notes section.

For the past few weeks I have encouraged us to think about what a great Friend Jesus is.

He is the Friend who will sustain us through ALL the challenges of 2024.

And there ARE and WILL BE challenges this year.

Not the least of which will be surviving the political upheaval of the 2024 election season.

EVERY year challenges our faith in multiple ways.

And Jesus is that Friend who comes alongside us in our troubles, in our challenges, in our bad times and in our good times.

He never abandons us.

I am so thankful that, as Matthew 11:19 says: He is a Friend of sinners -

Because I am a sinner.

Yes, a sinner saved by His grace, but a sinner nonetheless.

Sin is in my DNA — thanks to Adam and Eve.

But, as the Apostle Paul told Timothy: 1 Timothy 1:15 (LSB) It is a trustworthy saying and deserving full acceptance: that Christ Jesus came into the world to SAVE sinners, among whom I am foremost.

But Jesus is that Friend who saves us from not only the penalty of sin, but also the slavery and dominion of sin.

As Romans 6:14 (NKJV) [tells us] … sin shall not have dominion over you, …

Even though we are born sinners, once we repent of our sins and surrender our lives, we have been redeemed by our Friend, by Jesus — and we no longer walk according to the flesh that wants to sin:

As Romans 8:2–4 (LSB) [says] For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. 3 For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, 4 so that the righteous requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

Yes, Jesus is that Friend who saves us.

In fact, Jesus is a Friend Who fulfills ALL the Biblical characteristics of Friendship

He loves at ALL times.

He helps us in troubles.

He died for us — His friends

He corrects us when we are wrong

And this morning I wants us to think about what a GENEROUS Friend Jesus is.

He is a generous GIVER.

Jesus GAVE His life to die for OUR sins.

And as Romans 8:32 rhetorically asks:

Romans 8:32 (LSB) He who indeed did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him graciously give us ALL things?

And 2 Peter 1:3–4 (NCV) [that says] Jesus has the power of God, by which He has given us everything we need to live and to serve God. We have these things because we know him. Jesus called us by his glory and goodness. 4 Through these He gave us the very great and precious promises. With these gifts you can share in God’s nature, and the world will not ruin you with its evil desires.

Our Friend has given us everything we need.

AND great and precious promises on top of that!

He gives us grace, mercy, forgiveness of sins.

He gives us the free gift of eternal life (free for us — costly to Him).

He gave/gives us His Holy Spirit.

He gives us the Word of the God — the Bible.

He gives us the communication channel of prayer.

He gives us the opportunity of worship — of co-mingling with the glory of God

He will give us a home in glory-land that outshines the sun.

In fact, since the Father and Jesus are one we can understand James to describe our Friend Jesus when he says:

James 1:17 (TPT) Every gift God freely gives us is good and perfect, streaming down from the Father of lights, who shines from the heavens with no hidden shadow or darkness and is never subject to change.

So, generosity doesn’t even begin to describe our Friend — to describe Jesus.

He gives us so-o-o much!

And yet if WE are to be friends with Jesus He is calling us to be like Him.

He is calling us to reciprocate His Friendship by GIVING to others.

He is calling us to be a generous people.

As Jesus said in

Mark 9:41 (LSB) “For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in My name because you are of Christ, truly I say to you, he will not lose his reward.

A Generous People

So, we give — WE are generous with our time, talent and treasures — because we have been given so much.

How can we not share with others?

Jesus said in

Luke 6:38 (NCV) Give, and you will receive. You will be given much. Pressed down, shaken together, and running over, it will spill into your lap. The way you give to others is the way God will give to you.”

As I mentioned before the service, the concept of giving is not what it used to be.

Even among God’s people — who are to be a generous people.

You see that generosity in the church when it first began.

Acts 2:44–47 (LSB) And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common; 45 and they began selling their property and possessions and were dividing them up with all, as anyone might have need. 46 And daily devoting themselves with one accord in the temple and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number daily those who were being saved.

But we are looking more and more like the world.

Even though the Bible tells us in

2 Corinthians 6:14–18 (NLT) Don’t team up with those who are unbelievers. How can righteousness be a partner with wickedness? How can light live with darkness? 15 What harmony can there be between Christ and the devil? How can a believer be a partner with an unbeliever? 16 And what union can there be between God’s temple and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God said: “I will live in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they will be my people. 17 Therefore, come out from among unbelievers, and separate yourselves from them, says the LORD. Don’t touch their filthy things, and I will welcome you. 18 And I will be your Father, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the LORD Almighty.”

And yet so-called believers are looking more and more like an UNbelievers.

We are self-centered, miserly hoarders.

We don’t believe 1 Timothy 6:7 (NLT) After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world, and we can’t take anything with us when we leave it.

And when we DO give, let’s make sure we give with the right attitude:

2 Corinthians 9:7–8 (NASB95) [tells us to give… ] … not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 [When you give with the right attitude] … God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed;

That the church has become like the world in which it lives is borne out by

Giving stats mentioned earlier.

Preachers, afraid they will offend and drive off attenders fail to preach the truth.

Our generous Friend calls on us to model His behavior.

To be generous like He was and is.

AND IT IS TO OUR BENEFIT!

Remember Luke 6:38 that I just read?

Did you hear it?

The way you give to others is the way God will give to you.

And understand — it is NOT just about money.

What is money without health?

What is life without relationships?

Our Generous Friend gives in EVERY area of our lives.

Often during Jesus’ ministry on earth He called attention to generosity.

And in so doing said: Follow this example.

For instance, as Jesus sat in the Temple He was impressed by a widow.

Why?

Because of her extreme generosity — her willingness to give.

Mark 12:41–44 (GNB) As Jesus sat near the temple treasury, he watched the people as they dropped in their money. Many rich men dropped in a lot of money; 42 then a poor widow came along and dropped in two little copper coins, worth about a penny. 43 He called his disciples together and said to them, [LOOK AT THIS!] “I tell you that this poor widow put more in the offering box than all the others. 44 For the others put in what they had to spare of their riches; but she, poor as she is, put in all she had—she gave all she had to live on.”

If Jesus took notice, do you think He failed to make sure this poor widow had enough — even though she had given it all away?

I believe the Paul Harvey version reads something like…

And the rest of the story is … when the widow returned home she found that “someone” had left provisions for her that were 100 times what she had sacrificed to give.

Yes, that’s just speculation — but I think it is justified.

We have a GENEROUS FRIEND who takes note of and takes care of those who give all they have.

I think God has a special place in His heart for widows.

He takes care of them.

He passes over the wealthy, the famous, the powerful and sees widows as His go-to people.

Yes, even the poorest of the poor widows.

Why?

Because they have learned to trust God.

So He puts trust in them to do extraordinary things.

Like the widow to whom Elijah came in:

1 Kings 17:10–16 (LSB) So [Elijah] arose and went to Zarephath, and when he came to the gate of the city, behold, a widow was there gathering sticks; and he called to her and said, “Please get me a little water in a jar, that I may drink.” 11 So she went to get it, and he called to her and said, “Please get me a piece of bread … .” 12 But she said, “As Yahweh your God lives, I have no bread, only a handful of flour in the bowl and a little oil in the jar; and behold, I am gathering a few sticks that I may go in and prepare for me and my son, that we may eat it and die.” 13 Then Elijah said to her, “Do not fear; go, do as you have said, but make me a little bread cake from it first and bring it out to me, and afterward you may make one for yourself and for your son. 14 “For thus says Yahweh, the God of Israel, ‘The bowl of flour shall not be exhausted, nor shall the jar of oil be empty, until the day that Yahweh sends rain on the face of the earth.’” 15 So she went and did according to the word of Elijah, and she and he and her household ate for many days. 16 The bowl of flour was not exhausted nor did the jar of oil become empty, according to the word of Yahweh which He spoke by the hand of Elijah.

God is calling US ALL to exhibit the faith of these 2 widows of scripture.

Jesus was also impressed by a little boy …

Why?

Because of his willingness to give.

We read about what the little boy did in…

John 6:4–13 (LSB) Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was near. 5 Therefore Jesus, lifting up His eyes and seeing that a large crowd was coming to Him, said to Philip, “Where should we buy bread, so that these people may eat?” 6 And this He was saying to test him, for He Himself knew what He was going to do. 7 Philip answered Him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, for everyone to receive a little.” 8 One of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to Him, 9 “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are these for so many people?” 10 Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand. 11 Jesus then took the loaves, and having given thanks, He distributed them to those who were seated; likewise also of the fish, as much as they wanted. 12 And when they were filled, He said to His disciples, “Gather up the leftover pieces so that nothing will be lost.” 13 So they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten.

Again, God is calling on us to follow the example of this little boy.

If we would be willing to give — to put what we have in the hands of Jesus — our Friend will accomplish supernatural things.

Do we have that kind of faith?

Obedience

Jesus is calling us to obedience.

To walk in His footsteps.

1 John 2:4–6 (LSB) The one who says, “I have come to know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him; 5 but whoever keeps His word, truly in him the love of God has been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him: 6 the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked.

Our Generous Friend who has given us so much is calling us to the same lifestyle.

To be generous.

Generous…

To support our missionaries who are going where WE have been called to go — they are DOING the work Jesus called US to do.

He is calling us to be generous to financially, prayerfully, support the local church that is advancing the Kingdom of God in its area.

To give freely of our TIME, TALENTS and EFFORTS.

Jesus is calling us to be generous to help people who are in crisis.

We support 2 ministries in our area that do this:

Hope House

Woman’s Enrichment Center

God is calling us to obedience in the area of finances:

The promise of Malachi 3, a promise made specifically to Israel, is just as valid for us today.

Malachi 3:8–12 (LSB) “Will a man rob God? Yet you are robbing Me! But you say, ‘How have we robbed You?’ In tithes and contributions. 9 “You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing Me, the whole nation of you! 10 “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this,” says Yahweh of hosts, “if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and empty out for you a blessing until it is beyond enough. 11 “Then I will rebuke the devourer for you so that it will not corrupt the fruits of the ground; nor will your vine in the field fail to bear,” says Yahweh of hosts. 12 “So all the nations will call you blessed, for you shall be a delightful land,” says Yahweh of hosts.

He is calling us to to be obedience in giving of ourselves, THE TOTALITY OF OURSELVES — to HIM.

As the worship team comes…

Have YOU given yourself to the One who gave all for you?

Have you repented of your sins?

Have you truly surrendered to Jesus?

If not, I urge you to pray.

Jesus, I come to You who GAVE Yourself for Me and TO Me.

Please forgive my sins — set me free from the control of sin.

I surrender control of my life to You.

In Jesus’ Name.

Amen!

You say, Pastor, I did that years ago.

Decades ago.

IF that is true, why do we still look the same, live the same as before we prayed that prayer?

God is calling us to a different life.

Will we dare to believe God to accomplish His Word?

Will we live in obedience?

In the area of finances, at this beginning of 2024, I encourage US take a step of faith by taking a step of obedience.

With heads bowed and eyes closed.

It’s just you and Jesus.

No one can see it but Jesus.

Will you give yourself, ALL of yourself, to the One who gave ALL to you?

If so, raise your hand to the Lord.

PRAYER

Do you believe what we are singing?

REALLY believe?

In closing I join with the Apostle John who said to Gaius in …

3 John 1–2 (LSB) The elder [John] to the beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth. 2 Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers.

How will our soul prosper?

As we walk in faith that God will do what He says:

As we GIVE OURSELVES COMPLETELY TO HIM, Jesus will pour into our lives that which has been “pressed down, shaken together, and running over.”