Good Together

Introduction

SHOW ME YOUR FRIENDS, AND I’LL SHOW YOU YOUR FUTURE.

SHOW ME YOUR FRIENDS, AND I’LL SHOW YOU YOUR FUTURE.

Proverbs 13:20 NCV

Spend time with the wise and you will become wise, but the friends of fools will suffer.

Proverbs 13:20

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esponse to last

Response to last week’s message was interesting: many people realized they don’t have close friends / checking social middle of night /

week’s message was interesting: Purple shirt.

Trying to stay connected but we know something not right - we are impoverished.

I don’t answer the phone

3 types of poverty: Material, Spiritual, Relational

—

text back.

Check Facebook middle of the night—feel so alone.

Check F

acebook middle of the night

Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm.

—

1700 FB friends—couldn’t list one close friend.

feel so alone.

Missions in 3rd world. You see what they don’t have. A few days later you self examine - they have family, community and unreserved trust in God.

1700 FB friends

—

couldn’t

3 types of poverty: Material, Spiritual, Relational

list one close friend.

3 types of poverty: Material, Spiritual, Relational

Something is wrong. Something is missing. Someone is missing!

Someth

ing is

wrong. Something is

missing

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. S

YOU MIGHT BE ONE FRIEND AWAY FROM A BETTER FUTURE .

Paul’s whole like was changed by one friendship:

What do you want to do? Become? Accomplish? Achieve?

omeone is missin

Paul wanted to preach.

Acts 9:26–28 NIV

26 When he came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple. 27 But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus. 28 So Saul stayed with them and moved about freely in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord.

Paul wanted to preach BUT “not believing that he really was...”

NO NT unless Barnabas speaks up for his friend.

Seek those different - generation / background

My best friend is an Italian woman who is 60 years old that I met her 27 yrs ago as an intern. My future changed. She taught me how to think big in my career and excel to new levels. She’s my mentor and friend.

What do you want to do? Become? Accomplish? Achieve?

“not believing that he really was...”

What assumptions do you make about people before you really get to know them?

When [Saul] came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple. 27 But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus. 28 So Saul stayed with them and moved about freely in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord.

See at least one type of friendship that is missing from those that God would want to have in your life:

will

see at least one of these types of friendships that are

missing from those that God would want to have in your

life.

THREE TYPES OF FRIENDS THAT ARE GOOD TOGETHER:

THREE TYPES OF FRIENDS EVERY PERSON NEEDS

Look at David and his three friends - Samuel, Jonathan and Nathan

David—wasn’t perfect—man after God’s heart!

One well known and significant failure—too many successes count.

Right people helped him become the right person.

1. SAMUEL: A FRIEND WHO MAKES YOU BETTER.

God rejected Saul as king—chose Samuel—prophet anoint next king.

Surely this is the one [nope] —God doesn’t look at what man looks at.

1 Samuel 16:12–13 NIV

12 So he sent for him and had him brought in. He was glowing with health and had a fine appearance and handsome features. Then the Lord said, “Rise and anoint him; this is the one.” 13 So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David. Samuel then went to Ramah.

Not a person in David’s family who would have thought he’d be king.

Samuel saw in David what no one else did - he saw his God potential.

Who see your best potential?

We hang out with people by accident BUT ...

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Do they make you better? Do they see your best potential?

Do they make you better?

Shape—friend text challenged my to get right.

1 Samuel 16:12-13

Do you have someone to make you Closer to God, Marriage, Parent, Business, Financially?

Proverbs 27:17 NLT

17 As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.

2. JONATHAN: A FRIEND WHO HELPS YOU FIND SPIRITUAL STRENGTH.

2. JONATHAN: A FRIEND WHO HELPS YOU FIND SPIRITUAL STRENGTH.

…Then the Lord said, “Rise and anoint him; this is the one.” 13 So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David.

David anointed next king. War hero. Saul slain 1000’s. David 10k!

King Saul is overwhelmed with jealousy & hatred.

1 Samuel 23:15–16 NIV

15 While David was at Horesh in the Desert of Ziph, he learned that Saul had come out to take his life. 16 And Saul’s son Jonathan went to David at Horesh and helped him find strength in God.

As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend. NLT

JONATHAN: A FRIEND WHO HELPS YOU FIND SPIRITUAL STRENGTH.

While David was at Horesh in the Desert of Ziph, he learned that Saul had come out to take his life. 16 And Saul’s son Jonathan went to David at Horesh and helped him find strength in God.

“helped him find strength”

Even those closest to God—temptations, discouraged. My friend helped me to realize my ministry matters. Your attack is because you are a threat. Gave me a word - “Greater is he...”

DON’T ROB YOURSELF OF DOING THE SAME FOR OTHERS!

Down—lifts you. Alone—comforts you.

Encourages you with scripture. Prays for you!

Do you have this? It not—one friend away from changing your future!

Do you have this? It not—one friend away from changing your future?

Get better. Find spiritual strength.

3. NATHAN: A FRIEND WHO TELLS YOU THE TRUTH.

David took his eye off God at put it on Bathsheba = Adultery—Lamb story

2 Samuel 12:7 NIV

7 Then Nathan said to David, “You are the man! This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul.

Then Nathan said to David, “You are the man!”

"aw-taw-eesh" = you are the man

Nathan caused David to repent and write Psalm 51

Go ahead and jump! Do that—you might end up in hospital.

Higher you rise—harder it is to get people to tell truth.

Friend told me not to be so hard on others who come up short - I can expect everyone to do what I can do.

Some of you, you will never become who God wants you to

of you, you will never become who God wants you to

become because you are relationally impoverished!

because you are relationally impoverished

Proverbs 27:5–6 NCV

5 It is better to correct someone openly than to have love and not show it. 6 The slap of a friend can be trusted to help you, but the kisses of an enemy are nothing but lies.

Some of you, you will never become who God wants you to

become because you are relationally impoverished!

Many communities of strength / groups BUT

Relational poverty

An open rebuke is better than hidden love! 6 Wounds from a sincere friend are better than many kisses from an enemy. NLT

Current friends… Addicted, Divorced, Arrested, Same old same old. Lukewarm and half-hearted relationship with God.

One friendship away: Better marriage! / Overcoming addiction / Leaving depression! /Getting in better shape /Stronger leader! /Meet Christ

So what do you need to do to have those kinds of friends? Well, you do what your momma told you. SHOW YOURSELF FRIENDLY!

Leaving depression! Getting in better shape

So what do you need to do to have those kinds

of

friends? Well, you do what your momma told you. To

Stronger leader! Meet Christ

have that

kind of friend, you've got to be that kind of friend.