Bible Verse: Proverbs 12:26 (NIV)
Proverbs 12:26 (NIV)
The righteous choose their friends carefully, but the way of the wicked leads them astray.
How do you know a friend and how do you observe that somebody is a friend?
You can meet life and death in friendship. This is why it is important that you are very cautious when it comes to friendship. Not everybody around you is your friend. They can be companions but not friends. Anybody can keep you company; you can choose as many companions as possible, but not all these people that keep you company should be your friend.
Proverbs 13:20 (KJV). He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.
As a child of God, you must be selective in friendship.
Who Is A Friend?
1. A friend is one that sticks closer than a brother.
Proverbs 18:24 (KJV). A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly:and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.
2. A true friend is a wise friend and is wisely chosen.
Proverbs 13:20 (KJV). He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.
There are some friends that when they come into your life they multiply you.
3. A true friend will stake his life.
John 15:13 (KJV). Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
4. A good friend will love you at all times.
Proverbs 17:17 (KJV). A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
Friendship came from God and when sin begins to enter into it, God is no longer part of it and if God isn’t part of it again, the devil can attack you.
A good friend will give you advice and allow you to make up your mind on what you want to do and then, stand by your decision. A bad friend may leave you when you don’t heed his advice.
5. Friends sharpen friends as iron sharpens iron.
Proverbs 27:17 (KJV). Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.
Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 (KJV). Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. 10 For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.
6. A friend wakes up another friend.
John 11:11 (KJV). These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep.
God Bless You as you read Rev. (Dr) Isaiah Orjiakor’s sermon on Applying Moderation in your life. Also, learn how to Take Care of Your Spirit Man.
Three Classes of Friends to Avoid
1. Friendship with the world.
James 4:4 (KJV). Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.
2. Hot-tempered people.
Proverbs 22:24 (KJV). Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go:
3. People who crack jokes with your challenges behind your back.
John 11:16 (KJV). Then said Thomas, which is called Didymus, unto his fellow disciples, Let us also go, that we may die with him.
The Friends You Should Choose
1. Jesus.
John 15:14 (KJV). Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.
Any other person can walk away but Jesus cannot walk away.
2. Your spouse/Marriage partner.
Matthew 19:5-6 (KJV). And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? 6 Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.
3. A friend of the household of faith.
Galatians 6:10 (KJV). As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.
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