What It Means To HaveJesus For a Friend

INTRODUCTION: The greatest friend to a Christian is Jesus Christ. Why? Because Jesus can do more for the Christian than anyone else on earth. When the Bible says, “ . . . there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother” (Proverbs 18:24b), it is describing the friendship of Jesus Christ.

I. Jesus is a friend who helps us overcome sin.

What a friend we have in Jesus,

All our sins and griefs to bear!

What a privilege to carry

Everything to God in prayer.

what peace we often forfeit,

what needless pain we bear,

All because we do not carry

Everything to God in prayer!

A. Sins — We commit intentional and unintentional sins. (I John 1:8)

B. Griefs —These are emotional brokennesses as a result of our sins. (Isaiah 53:3-4)

C. Bear — Jesus’ death gives us relationship to God through forgiveness. (Isaiah 53;4; Hebrews 4:15-16)

D. Peace — We have peace with God. (Rom. 5:1; Eph. 2:14) We have the peace of God.

(Phil. 4:6-7; I Thes. 5:23)

II. Jesus is a friend who helps us overcome failures.

Have we trials and temptations?

Is there trouble anywhere?

We should never be discouraged,

Take it to the Lord in prayer.

Can we find a friend so faithful

Who will all our sorrows share?

Jesus knows our every weakness,

Take it to the Lord in prayer.

A. Trials — God-given experiences to determine or increase our strength. (I Cor. 10:13; James 1:2, 12; I Peter 1:7)

B. Temptations — Attempts by Satan to pull us down and destroy us. (Matthew 4:1-10; James 1:13-14)

C. Sorrows —The hurts and regrets that come from failing and giving in to temptation. (II Cor. 2:5-7, 7:10)

D. Weakness —Weak points that Satan touches to hurt us. God strengthens them to use us. (Luke 22:31-32)

III. Jesus is a friend who helps us overcome problems.

Are we weak and heavy laden,

Cumbered with a load of care?

Precious Saviour, still our refuge

Take it to the Lord in prayer.

Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?

Take it to the Lord in prayer.

In His arms He’ll take and shield thee,

Thou wilt find a solace there.

A. Weak— When we have come to the end of our own strength, we think of giving up, but we need to turn to the Lord. (Psalm 6:2; Isaiah 12:2, 35:3-4)

B. Heavy Laden —When we try to carry our cares by ourselves, we find that they are too heavy and drain us. (Psalm 55:22; Matthew 11:28-30; I Peter 5:7)

C. Refuge —The Lord is our hiding place. (Psalm 32:7, 91:2, 119:114)

D. Friends forsake you —When we face a problem without a friend, we despair. When we face a problem with a friend, we are confident. (Job 19:14; Hebrews 13:5b)

E. In His arms —Jesus’ arms denote security and give us the strength to face our problems. (Deuteronomy 33:27; Mark 10:16)