The Real Secret of Friendship

  • Pastor Dwain Tissell
  • May 20, 2007
  • Series: Friends

 

 

THE REAL SECRET OF FRIENDSHIP

“Friends”” – Part 3 of 4

May 20th, 2007

Dwain Tissell

 

13For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love. 14For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” 15But if you are always biting and devouring one another, watch out! Beware of destroying one another. Galatians 5:13-15 (NLT) 

 

I.  THREE COMMON BARRIERS TO REAL FRIENDSHIP

13For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love. 

 

1.  IMPRISONMENT TO THE WAY YOU DID IT BEFORE.

 

14For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” 

 

2. NAGGING SELF DOUBT.

 

14For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” 

 

3.  AN OUT OF CONTROL DESIRE FOR CONTROL.

 

 

II. BECOMING THE FRIEND GOD MADE YOU TO BE (1 Peter 4:10-11)

 

1.  ASK GOD TO SHOW YOU YOUR MIRACULOUS GIFT.

 

10God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another.  1 Peter 4:10 (NLT)

 

14Do everything without complaining or arguing, 15so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe 16as you hold out the word of life— Philippians 2:14-16a (NLT)

 

2.  ENTHUSIASTICALLY USE IT!!!

 

 11Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you. Do you have the gift of helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. 1 Peter 4:11a (NLT)

 

9Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. 1 Peter 4:9 (NIV)

                               

3. GOD WILL HONOR YOUR FRIENDSHIPS.

 

Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen. 1 Peter 4:11b (NLT)

 

29“Yes,” Jesus replied, “and I assure you that everyone who has given up house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or property, for my sake and for the Good News, 30will receive now in return a hundred times as many houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and property—along with persecution. And in the world to come that person will have eternal life. 31But many who are the greatest now will be least important then, and those who seem least important now will be the greatest then.” Mark 10:29-31 (NLT)

 

 

45For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Mark 10:45 (NLT)