That is why we need to FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT OF FAITH …FOR OUR FRIENDS
Friends are important to our faith. It was not only the paralyzed man who believed but his four friends also believed. The four friends had faith. Jesus saw their faith. Often our friends encourage and enlarge the faith that we have. (That is what the story of Daniel is about, the four friends who helped each other be loyal to their faith and religious practices.)
A FRAME WORK OF FRIENDSHIPS
The ship of friends in your life.
relationships, friendships, companion-ships, kindships
Just a couple of observations about this story.
1. FRIENDS CARRY MATS.
THE MAT REPRESENTS WHAT PARALYZES US.
But, because he had four friends that were willing to pick him up and get him to Jesus everything changed for him!
That place of pain was also a place of connection and community.
That guy walked out of that house that day with NEW LEGS and a NEW IDENTITY because of the faith of his friends.
2. FRIENDS DO THE HARD WORK.
Someone else’s miracle lies on the other side of your willingness to embrace the inconvenient and the awkward.
Sweat is the stuff that waters the seeds of really great friendships.
Sweat equity builds relational equity .
3. FRIENDS CHANGE US.
FIVE KINDS OF FRIENDS WE ALL NEED.
1. SHARED VALUES FRIENDS
2. UNSELFISH LOVE FRIENDS
3. DEEP LOYALTY FRIENDS
4. TRANSEPARENT FRIENDS
5. FORGIVING FRIENDS
TWO QUESTIONS:
1. WHOSE MAT ARE YOU CARRYING?
2. WHO IS CARRYING YOUR MAT?
Dying FOR someone and dying WITH someone.
Jesus did both
Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. John 15:13
“Fight the good fight of Faith” – 1 Timothy 6:12
Who are you fighting FOR and who are you fighting WITH?
COMMUNION IS ABOUT COMMUNITY.
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