“How to Recognize & Guard True Friendship”

1. “How to Recognize & Guard True Friendship”

2. Recognizing Friendship

3. It’s What Friends Do! James 2:21-24 (NIV) Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? [22] You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. [23] And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness," and he was called God's friend. [24] You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone.

4. Things to Assess • Firstly, you must be able to recognize those whose actions show the truth of their commitment to the friendship. • Secondly, look for evidence that the supposed friend believes in you and the friendship itself. • Is the friend consistently willing to contribute to the fulfillment of your destiny?

5. Genuine Counsel & Advice Proverbs 27:9-10 (NIV) Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart, and the pleasantness of one's friend springs from his earnest counsel. [10] Do not forsake your friend and the friend of your father, and do not go to your brother's house when disaster strikes you-better a neighbor nearby than a brother far away.

6. A True Friend 1.Ascertains the purpose of your life & gets on board. 2. Helps you to realize your potential. 3. Helps you to live your life in a way that benefits and encourages others. 4. Nurtures a willingness to make personal sacrifices to achieve specific ends. 5. Seeks to be knowledgeable about you.

7. Better A True Friend Proverbs 18:24 (NIV) A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

8. Open Rebuke Better than Secret Love Proverbs 27:5-7 (NIV) Better is open rebuke than hidden love. [6] Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses. [7] He who is full loathes honey, but to the hungry even what is bitter tastes sweet.

9. Guarding the Friendship

10. Loving like U Love Yourself 1 Samuel 18:1-4 (NIV) After David had finished talking with Saul, Jonathan became one in spirit with David, and he loved him as himself. [2] From that day Saul kept David with him and did not let him return to his father's house. [3] And Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself. [4] Jonathan took off the robe he was wearing and gave it to David, along with his tunic, and even his sword, his bow and his belt.

11. Def. In friendship—Covenant—promise to perform the acts of a friend.

12. 1 Samuel 19:1-3 (NIV) Saul told his son Jonathan and all the attendants to kill David. But Jonathan was very fond of David [2] and warned him, "My father Saul is looking for a chance to kill you. Be on your guard tomorrow morning; go into hiding and stay there. [3] I will go out and stand with my father in the field where you are. I'll speak to him about you and will tell you what I find out."

13. Loving When It’s Hard! Proverbs 17:17 (NIV) A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.

14. Friends • God gives us friends for the fulfillment of destiny. • He gives us friends in order to grow. • He gives us friends to challenge and to sharpen us. • To tell us the truth about ourselves. • To keep us focused on what we say is important. • Finally He gives us friends to ensure that we arrive safely to heaven.