“Love Like a True Brother and Friend”
Wednesday Night February 15, 2012
keywords: friend, love, friendship, brother, affection
scriptures: Proverbs 17, John 12, Romans 12, Hebrews 13, 1 Thessalonians 4, 2 Peter 1
audio file: click to open in a new window or right-click to download
Just because you have a friend does not mean that the person is a good friend. Friendship is an
important thing that we know from the bible. If you are not being what you are supposed to be
is because of a choice and effort. Michael Jordan and Tiger Woods are good at what they do
because they practice a lot. You are good at what you put effort into- this is no different for
Christians.
Proverbs 17:16-17 Verse 17- a true friend is always there- they love at all times. They will be
there when you get sick. Be a true friend- don’t be disingenuous. You can’t be so insecure or
tripped out that you can have real true relationships with people. Don’t be afraid to develop
relationships with people. You have to define your friendships by the way God says define it.
John 15:12-19 You can’t be a Christian if you don’t like being round Christians. Verse 14- If we
are true with God then you can’t hang around me if you are doing things that are not right.
Verse 19- When you are a friend then you keep things open and not trying to hide things and
run around talking about your business all the time. People befriend people on Facebook and
utter all their business to people they don’t know but won’t talk to people that they know. It is
not right that you can talk to people that you can’t see but can’t talk to people that you do see.
Romans 12:9-10 Love that can not be real and true is hypocritical. You have to cross the
threshold and be willing to love people. You have to open your heart. Verse 10- What kind of
friends do you choose? If you are saying that you are not a loving nice person then something is
wrong with you. You can meet a complete stranger and because of Christ you can treat them
like a brother the day that you meet them. Some people can’t love because they want certain
conditions then they can’t be obedient to the word.
Hebrews 13:1 Keep loving.
1 Thessalonians 4:8-9 When you don’t receive what someone else says it is not them, it is that
you have a problem with God. Verse 9- he talks about how we are supposed to love by saying
“brotherly love”. You have to try to make people feel like family. If you don’t reach out then
you are going to be held accountable.
2 Peter 1:3-9 You have to put on brotherly love. You have to change your view of friendship.
You can’t be distant. You have to be willing to love. God commands love throughout the bible.
You can’t love someone but don’t like them. Love is a commandment. If you are following this
commandment and being hard then you are storing up wrath for yourself.