WEBVTT 00:00:02.640 --> 00:00:05.200 Thank you for joining us on the CCW podcast. 00:00:05.440 --> 00:00:11.039 Make sure you connect with us on social media to stay up to date on ministries and events happening at CCW. 00:00:11.279 --> 00:00:15.039 We hope you're encouraged, inspired, and motivated by today's message. 00:00:15.199 --> 00:00:19.120 To find out how to connect with us, keep listening after the message ends. 00:00:27.280 --> 00:00:27.920 Amen. 00:00:28.399 --> 00:00:30.079 Amen, church. 00:00:30.640 --> 00:00:34.159 Sweet, sweet church family, and I'm so glad to be a part of it. 00:00:34.320 --> 00:00:36.640 I want to just echo in that what Dave said. 00:00:36.799 --> 00:00:37.200 Thank you. 00:00:37.359 --> 00:00:40.640 And I'm gonna be preaching this morning, but thank you for being a friend. 00:00:40.880 --> 00:00:44.880 And uh we're glad this morning to have our kids in here with us. 00:00:45.439 --> 00:00:46.079 Amen. 00:00:46.479 --> 00:00:47.200 How about this? 00:00:47.280 --> 00:00:52.079 If anyone is in here and you've got your upward jersey on, would you stand up, kids? 00:00:52.320 --> 00:00:52.799 Stand up. 00:00:52.960 --> 00:00:54.399 We got some upward players. 00:00:54.479 --> 00:00:55.039 We got one. 00:00:56.399 --> 00:00:58.640 Our league has been in full. 00:00:59.119 --> 00:01:01.920 And uh we invite all of our players to come. 00:01:02.079 --> 00:01:06.000 So thank you if you're here in uh you play upward. 00:01:06.159 --> 00:01:11.599 Um I have a couple of recognitions this morning before we jump in, but I promise, since the kids are in here, you can see it. 00:01:11.840 --> 00:01:12.319 See this? 00:01:12.480 --> 00:01:14.000 This is usually page four. 00:01:14.159 --> 00:01:18.159 So I cut things down just for the kids today, all right? 00:01:18.400 --> 00:01:26.400 So anyway, but I do want to make mention I have a wonderful son who turned 17 this week. 00:01:26.879 --> 00:01:27.680 Wyatt. 00:01:27.920 --> 00:01:29.920 Happy birthday to Wyatt. 00:01:31.200 --> 00:01:38.319 And um, I don't know, church, most of you are familiar with this, but I want to ask if our pastors that are here would stand. 00:01:38.719 --> 00:01:44.400 Eli, Benji, Dave, Barry, Trey as an ordained minister. 00:01:44.640 --> 00:01:54.239 October is pastors appreciation month, and I just want to say I know this church family and our team is a great team, and I'm so thankful for the work that you do. 00:01:54.400 --> 00:01:56.079 So can we give our pastors? 00:01:59.680 --> 00:02:00.879 You gotta stand up again. 00:02:00.959 --> 00:02:03.519 I better have your wives stand up too. 00:02:04.000 --> 00:02:04.640 And mine. 00:02:05.120 --> 00:02:06.400 She's shaking her head. 00:02:06.640 --> 00:02:08.319 Amanda's standing up, Heather. 00:02:09.520 --> 00:02:10.479 Thank you. 00:02:12.639 --> 00:02:14.240 Thank you for all that you do. 00:02:14.400 --> 00:02:22.400 And I was thinking about I know when you get naming names, it's scary business, but Harvest Jam happened because of a lot of people's help. 00:02:22.479 --> 00:02:24.159 And um, I'm gonna try. 00:02:24.319 --> 00:02:28.240 If I miss somebody, please tell me for you know next time I'm preaching. 00:02:28.400 --> 00:02:39.680 But um Anna and Dave and Anita and Eli and Benji and Trey and Nathan and Heather and Miss Uh Wanda and Mr. 00:02:39.840 --> 00:02:43.520 Gary, who were here day and night for a few days. 00:02:43.840 --> 00:02:44.080 Mr. 00:02:44.159 --> 00:02:46.319 Gary Wilkins, Cherished Flippo. 00:02:46.719 --> 00:02:51.360 All of these people helped for hours getting things set up more than just Saturday. 00:02:51.439 --> 00:02:58.000 So I just want to say thank you so much for investing all of that time and energy. 00:02:58.159 --> 00:02:59.840 It was a great uh event. 00:03:00.000 --> 00:03:02.240 I want to ask you for one more thing, just for prayer. 00:03:02.400 --> 00:03:06.000 And then, kids, I know you're here, and I know you're saying, what is he babbling on about? 00:03:06.080 --> 00:03:08.879 Okay, I am going to talk and I'm gonna talk to you some too. 00:03:08.960 --> 00:03:11.360 So I need the kids to go ahead and give me your bug eyes. 00:03:11.599 --> 00:03:14.719 Some of you adults need to do this week to week, by the way. 00:03:15.840 --> 00:03:18.000 Bug eyes always say, and little lips. 00:03:20.080 --> 00:03:26.960 Um, but I want you as a church family, if you would, be praying for our pastor Meritus and his family. 00:03:27.120 --> 00:03:31.680 Uh, Miss Susan's father passed away uh just a few days ago. 00:03:31.840 --> 00:03:33.680 So be in prayer for the Lovett family. 00:03:33.759 --> 00:03:36.159 The funeral is going to be Wednesday morning. 00:03:36.400 --> 00:03:42.319 Waiting on full details, but if any uh are interested in details about that, just let me know. 00:03:42.479 --> 00:03:43.919 I'm planning to head down there. 00:03:44.000 --> 00:03:45.439 It's around Tuscaloosa. 00:03:45.840 --> 00:03:49.520 Uh they're thinking early morning, but be in prayer for their family. 00:03:49.759 --> 00:03:53.680 All right, take your Bibles this morning and turn them to the book of John. 00:03:54.240 --> 00:03:56.319 We have been through this identity series. 00:03:56.479 --> 00:03:59.039 We are finished today, and then I'm excited. 00:03:59.120 --> 00:04:03.439 Next week we're starting a new study in the book of Ruth called Rewritten. 00:04:03.680 --> 00:04:07.280 And uh we're gonna be looking all through November in that book. 00:04:07.360 --> 00:04:08.159 But it's been good. 00:04:08.240 --> 00:04:14.960 God is teaching us who we are, and today we're looking at identity and how we were made to be a friend. 00:04:15.039 --> 00:04:20.079 The message is entitled Thank You for Being a Friend, and that'll resonate with some people in here. 00:04:20.399 --> 00:04:24.079 It may make you think of your favorite 1980s TV show. 00:04:24.319 --> 00:04:27.360 But for the rest of you, I'm sorry, it's old and outdated. 00:04:27.519 --> 00:04:29.600 The Golden Girls, in case you need to know. 00:04:29.759 --> 00:04:31.199 Thank you for being a friend. 00:04:31.439 --> 00:04:37.040 When I think about kids, kids that are here today, you start with friendship in a pretty neat way. 00:04:37.279 --> 00:04:41.279 You say things like, Wow, that's a cool bike, and then you're a friend. 00:04:41.439 --> 00:04:44.319 Adults are more like, hey, you got a pressure washer. 00:04:44.480 --> 00:04:45.920 We should hang out sometime. 00:04:47.680 --> 00:04:50.240 In kindergarten, friendship was really simple. 00:04:50.319 --> 00:04:53.199 It's like you want to play, maybe at the sandbox. 00:04:53.439 --> 00:04:59.839 By adulthood, it sounds like this Are you free three weeks from Thursday for 30 minutes for some coffee? 00:05:00.399 --> 00:05:02.319 Like that's how we roll. 00:05:02.480 --> 00:05:06.480 Kids share crayons, adults share opinions. 00:05:06.720 --> 00:05:09.680 Some sharing is more helpful than others. 00:05:10.000 --> 00:05:10.639 Right? 00:05:11.040 --> 00:05:15.120 If you look with me this morning, we're gonna look at the first point. 00:05:15.279 --> 00:05:16.720 Friendship brings fellowship. 00:05:16.800 --> 00:05:17.360 Let me pray. 00:05:17.600 --> 00:05:21.839 Father, we thank you for your presence here. 00:05:22.079 --> 00:05:25.199 We thank you for our friends. 00:05:25.360 --> 00:05:39.199 And God, I thank you that you saw fit to put us in circles that we could be impacted, that our hearts could be moved, and God, that we could have purpose within those circles and in life. 00:05:39.360 --> 00:05:46.399 And I pray today for everyone here to be a good friend, and for everyone here to have a good friend. 00:05:46.639 --> 00:05:50.480 And help us as we focus on your word in Jesus' name. 00:05:50.720 --> 00:05:51.199 Amen. 00:05:51.360 --> 00:05:55.920 And Genesis chapter 2, just a sidebar, it's important that you know this. 00:05:56.079 --> 00:05:57.759 Genesis 2, 18. 00:05:58.079 --> 00:06:02.800 It says, And the Lord God said, It is not good that man should be alone. 00:06:02.959 --> 00:06:06.639 I'll make him a helper, comparable to him. 00:06:06.800 --> 00:06:09.680 And then the Lord God put Adam in a deep sleep. 00:06:09.920 --> 00:06:13.120 But God, there, letter A, is this a strengthening thought. 00:06:13.279 --> 00:06:24.319 In a perfect garden with still perfect people and a perfect God, God saw in all of that perfection, something is missing. 00:06:25.040 --> 00:06:26.240 Think about that. 00:06:26.560 --> 00:06:29.600 God saw that in a perfect place something was missing. 00:06:29.759 --> 00:06:33.279 God said, it was not good for man to be alone. 00:06:33.519 --> 00:06:35.519 By the way, that stands still today. 00:06:35.759 --> 00:06:38.240 It's not good for man to be alone. 00:06:38.480 --> 00:06:41.279 Even in paradise, God saw a gap. 00:06:41.439 --> 00:06:46.079 And the gap was everybody needs somebody. 00:06:46.720 --> 00:06:49.040 On day six, Adam was made. 00:06:49.279 --> 00:06:52.639 And later that day, God put Adam to sleep. 00:06:52.959 --> 00:06:57.199 This is biblical that on the very first day Adam had a nap. 00:06:57.680 --> 00:06:59.680 Y'all later today, it's good. 00:06:59.839 --> 00:07:00.160 Okay? 00:07:00.959 --> 00:07:02.720 The very first day he had a nap. 00:07:02.959 --> 00:07:04.240 And he woke up. 00:07:04.480 --> 00:07:09.839 And if you can, imagine Adam with me as he wakes up to a dream. 00:07:10.160 --> 00:07:11.839 He says, Look at this. 00:07:12.160 --> 00:07:15.839 This is the first time I believe in history that man ever fixed his eyebrows. 00:07:16.000 --> 00:07:18.000 He said, Mmm, girl. 00:07:19.360 --> 00:07:21.519 Woo! Look at that. 00:07:21.920 --> 00:07:24.879 And God made him a helper, comparable. 00:07:25.120 --> 00:07:27.680 God said, This is not good that he's alone. 00:07:27.920 --> 00:07:30.639 A companion in the Garden of Eden. 00:07:30.800 --> 00:07:35.120 So we see the institution of friendship, companionship. 00:07:35.600 --> 00:07:39.439 On the sixth day of creation, God gave Adam a friend. 00:07:39.600 --> 00:07:43.839 In Ecclesiastes, it says a threefold cord is not easily broken. 00:07:44.079 --> 00:07:54.240 So God, out of his self, God instituted out of himself what was there, rooted in the Trinity of Himself. 00:07:54.560 --> 00:08:00.319 God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit exist in relation to one another. 00:08:00.399 --> 00:08:06.399 And God, out of who he is, saw this man that I've created is going to need a friend. 00:08:06.720 --> 00:08:13.040 Thirty times in the New Testament, the word for friend is Phileos, and the word means brotherly love. 00:08:13.519 --> 00:08:16.480 I want to say this to the kids, y'all, big eyes. 00:08:16.959 --> 00:08:22.319 You do better often making friends than adults do. 00:08:22.800 --> 00:08:29.439 My son Weston has been an upward soccer coach this season, and I've been his assistant. 00:08:29.759 --> 00:08:32.320 And we have five and six-year-olds. 00:08:32.559 --> 00:08:39.679 And uh very low on their totem pole of events this season has been winning a soccer game. 00:08:39.840 --> 00:08:42.720 That's way low on their priorities. 00:08:43.039 --> 00:08:46.720 You can find them often in the middle of a game playing a game of tag. 00:08:47.279 --> 00:08:52.480 You can find our soccer team wrapped up in the net, hands all through. 00:08:52.639 --> 00:08:54.320 They are taken by the net. 00:08:54.399 --> 00:08:54.960 They're over there. 00:08:55.200 --> 00:08:57.840 I'm like, why do we have three goalies? 00:08:58.000 --> 00:08:59.759 And they're all up in the net. 00:09:00.240 --> 00:09:03.440 And I learned this watching them this season from day one. 00:09:03.600 --> 00:09:04.480 Five and six. 00:09:04.799 --> 00:09:06.320 They're so young. 00:09:06.639 --> 00:09:13.120 They have not been taken by culture to learn how to judge adults. 00:09:13.600 --> 00:09:15.120 We could learn so much. 00:09:15.360 --> 00:09:20.320 Every person that walks on that field since day one could be their very best friend. 00:09:20.480 --> 00:09:21.360 They don't care. 00:09:21.600 --> 00:09:23.120 You could be their best friend. 00:09:23.279 --> 00:09:27.519 And the next week, another person right next to them could be their best friend. 00:09:27.679 --> 00:09:38.000 They are not judging, they are not marginalizing, they have not lived in the world, sadly, in a way to be taken by culture. 00:09:38.399 --> 00:09:40.480 Every person they can see can be their friend. 00:09:40.639 --> 00:09:42.399 Is that hitting you adults? 00:09:43.200 --> 00:09:44.000 Friendship. 00:09:44.240 --> 00:09:47.360 Man, we have so much to learn from you, kids. 00:09:48.879 --> 00:09:53.919 We see this thought that in the garden, God said, it's not good for a man to be alone. 00:09:54.000 --> 00:09:56.159 Well, I want you to take you to John chapter 12. 00:09:56.320 --> 00:09:58.720 Look at letter B, a shared table. 00:10:03.519 --> 00:10:11.600 We're gonna be looking mostly throughout the rest of this passage in this relationship between Jesus, Mary, Martha, a little bit with Lazarus. 00:10:11.919 --> 00:10:14.000 These were Jesus' friends from Bethany. 00:10:14.159 --> 00:10:20.399 You'll find him often through Scripture as Jesus walking through his journey, as he traveled back and forth. 00:10:20.480 --> 00:10:24.879 It seems when he got back into town, he wanted to see his friends. 00:10:25.039 --> 00:10:27.600 These had become his real life friends. 00:10:27.759 --> 00:10:33.360 If you can imagine ever the friendships you've had, Jesus is one of your friends. 00:10:33.519 --> 00:10:35.360 And so Jesus encounters them. 00:10:35.440 --> 00:10:38.399 And in this passage, chapter 12, verse 1 and 3. 00:10:38.559 --> 00:10:46.879 Then six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was who had been dead, whom he had raised from the dead. 00:10:46.960 --> 00:10:48.399 There they made him supper. 00:10:48.559 --> 00:10:53.919 And Martha served, but Lazarus was one of those who sat at the table with him. 00:10:54.080 --> 00:11:04.080 Then Mary took a pound of very costly oil, spiked nard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair, and the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil. 00:11:04.320 --> 00:11:06.399 So let her be as this shared table. 00:11:06.559 --> 00:11:08.399 I want you to picture the scene. 00:11:08.639 --> 00:11:13.840 Jesus' friends hosted a dinner to celebrate their friend Jesus. 00:11:14.320 --> 00:11:19.840 And you'll see that as we unfold the text, but Lazarus is right there at the table. 00:11:20.000 --> 00:11:26.639 That's important to note because in John chapter 11, previous to this, Lazarus, you ready for this? 00:11:26.799 --> 00:11:28.960 He had been dead for three days. 00:11:29.759 --> 00:11:31.360 Picture that scene. 00:11:31.600 --> 00:11:32.080 Alright? 00:11:32.320 --> 00:11:34.480 Lazarus, who has been dead for three days. 00:11:34.639 --> 00:11:40.000 If there was ever a seat at any table that you might have wanted to be at, it was this table. 00:11:40.559 --> 00:11:44.960 Have you ever tried to tell a story with somebody who's done so many things better than you? 00:11:45.200 --> 00:11:45.679 Yeah. 00:11:46.720 --> 00:11:49.519 Try telling a story to Lazarus, right? 00:11:49.600 --> 00:11:54.399 You're sitting there and you're like, oh man, yesterday we caught such a big fish. 00:11:54.639 --> 00:11:55.759 Lazarus is sitting there. 00:11:55.840 --> 00:11:56.399 Yeah, yeah. 00:11:56.639 --> 00:11:58.960 You know, we built a really big house. 00:11:59.200 --> 00:12:00.639 It was amazing the structure. 00:12:00.720 --> 00:12:01.360 You should have seen it. 00:12:02.080 --> 00:12:02.480 Yeah, yeah. 00:12:02.639 --> 00:12:08.720 And Lazarus stands up out of his chair and he says, I was dead. 00:12:12.000 --> 00:12:14.559 Anyone else got a story? 00:12:15.679 --> 00:12:17.679 Lazarus was at the table. 00:12:17.840 --> 00:12:19.120 Can you imagine? 00:12:19.840 --> 00:12:24.000 Hidden within that scene is someone else who's at the table. 00:12:24.159 --> 00:12:25.919 We'll get into that in just a second. 00:12:26.080 --> 00:12:28.559 But I have a question for you, church. 00:12:29.360 --> 00:12:31.440 Seven days have gone by. 00:12:32.080 --> 00:12:34.559 Who was at your table this week? 00:12:36.000 --> 00:12:41.600 Jesus wasn't too busy in the going and the doing to stop at the table. 00:12:42.639 --> 00:12:43.840 What about you? 00:12:45.039 --> 00:12:47.440 I love our church connect groups. 00:12:47.600 --> 00:12:51.360 And often we have ours on Sunday, and I'm just going to be real here. 00:12:51.600 --> 00:12:56.480 Sunday sometimes, by the time we get to that point, it is a hard day. 00:12:56.639 --> 00:12:56.879 Okay? 00:12:57.039 --> 00:12:58.159 We've done church. 00:12:58.240 --> 00:13:10.080 Uh we go do, me and my son, we go do upward soccer, and we're running back in and we're cleaning the house, and Heather's cooking, and six o'clock, some days I'm like, here we go. 00:13:10.320 --> 00:13:11.919 But I want to tell you something. 00:13:12.240 --> 00:13:18.320 I hate, I hate to miss having people at our table. 00:13:18.559 --> 00:13:22.960 There are weeks where we won't have it set up, and Heather will be saying, Who should we have over? 00:13:23.200 --> 00:13:24.799 We won't have Connect Group that week. 00:13:24.879 --> 00:13:26.639 Who should we have over this weekend? 00:13:26.799 --> 00:13:27.360 Why? 00:13:27.600 --> 00:13:41.360 Because we want friends at our table, and I'm telling you, almost always, even though I may be tired, when that group has met and gone, I have read the Bible with 1214 of my people. 00:13:41.519 --> 00:13:45.279 I have prayed and been prayed over with 1214 of my people. 00:13:45.519 --> 00:13:50.639 And always after they leave, I'm so glad that they came and they sat at my table. 00:13:51.440 --> 00:14:00.000 I can take on a new week after being prayed for and after marinating in God's word with my people, with my friends. 00:14:00.240 --> 00:14:04.000 Acts 2.42 tells us the commission of the early church. 00:14:04.080 --> 00:14:07.440 He says, and they broke bread and went from house to house. 00:14:08.720 --> 00:14:12.240 So who has been at your table? 00:14:12.720 --> 00:14:19.279 There's a man that tells a story, he built a dining table by hand, and his dining table wasn't perfect. 00:14:19.440 --> 00:14:24.720 One leg wobbled, the top had some craps, cracks in it, and a corner had gotten chipped. 00:14:25.200 --> 00:14:29.440 But as he looked over his table over the years, he loved that table. 00:14:29.600 --> 00:14:32.399 It became the heart of his home. 00:14:32.639 --> 00:14:44.080 And when he thought about that table, it held birthday cakes, it held meetings, it held family prayers and laughter, and often even tears were had at that table. 00:14:44.320 --> 00:14:48.639 Every scratch at that table told a story. 00:14:49.120 --> 00:14:54.399 His granddaughter asked him one day, Grandpa, why don't you ever get the table fixed? 00:14:54.639 --> 00:14:59.919 And he said, Because everything at this table wasn't made to be perfect. 00:15:00.159 --> 00:15:03.200 It was made to hold people like you. 00:15:04.879 --> 00:15:06.960 That's what friendship is like. 00:15:07.279 --> 00:15:13.519 Jesus sat at that table in John 12, and it wasn't filled with perfection. 00:15:14.080 --> 00:15:17.519 Martha was sitting there who was often worried. 00:15:17.840 --> 00:15:24.159 Mary misunderstood, and Lazarus, who had been through the trial of a lifetime, literally. 00:15:25.279 --> 00:15:29.600 I saw this quote this week: the strength of the table isn't in the wood. 00:15:30.639 --> 00:15:31.759 It's not in the wood. 00:15:31.840 --> 00:15:34.480 The strength of life isn't in accumulation. 00:15:34.720 --> 00:15:35.600 But hear this. 00:15:35.840 --> 00:15:40.159 But how are you using the things that God has given you? 00:15:40.399 --> 00:15:42.399 How are you using your home? 00:15:42.879 --> 00:15:48.159 We are so busy in culture about accumulating, about filling this thing up. 00:15:48.399 --> 00:15:49.679 And to what end? 00:15:50.000 --> 00:15:52.720 What are we doing with the things that we've been given? 00:15:52.879 --> 00:15:53.679 You have much. 00:15:53.840 --> 00:15:55.360 I know that we have much. 00:15:55.679 --> 00:15:58.159 What is happening at your table? 00:15:58.399 --> 00:16:00.159 What's happening with that home? 00:16:00.320 --> 00:16:02.480 Where are you taking that car? 00:16:05.360 --> 00:16:08.480 When is the last time you had a friend at your table? 00:16:11.200 --> 00:16:14.399 Second point this morning is this friendship builds faith. 00:16:14.720 --> 00:16:16.399 John chapter 11. 00:16:18.639 --> 00:16:20.320 Let's look there at verse 20. 00:16:20.480 --> 00:16:24.559 We're going to go back and see how Jesus had been a friend. 00:16:26.799 --> 00:16:28.720 Friendship builds faith. 00:16:43.600 --> 00:16:47.519 But even now I know that whatever you ask of God, God will give you. 00:16:47.600 --> 00:16:50.000 And Jesus said to her, Your brother will rise again. 00:16:50.159 --> 00:16:56.320 And Martha said to him, I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day. 00:16:56.480 --> 00:16:59.279 Letter A, we see friends in crisis. 00:16:59.679 --> 00:17:01.360 Your friendship should build faith. 00:17:01.440 --> 00:17:04.480 And times of faith are times of crisis. 00:17:04.799 --> 00:17:10.640 Verse 20, we see Martha carrying her pain to her friend, to Jesus. 00:17:10.720 --> 00:17:13.279 And Martha wasn't fake about her pain. 00:17:13.519 --> 00:17:17.920 Like sometimes church, we kind of try to put on our face. 00:17:18.480 --> 00:17:19.920 She wasn't fake about her pain. 00:17:20.000 --> 00:17:20.799 Martha was honest. 00:17:20.960 --> 00:17:31.440 She said, if you had been here, Jesus, if you would have been here, my brother wouldn't be dead. 00:17:32.000 --> 00:17:35.759 Real friends, hear me, can handle your honesty. 00:17:36.240 --> 00:17:37.759 Friends, be honest. 00:17:38.160 --> 00:17:40.960 Jesus shows us how to be a friend in crisis. 00:17:41.119 --> 00:17:44.799 You know, Jesus doesn't argue with her about her feelings. 00:17:44.960 --> 00:17:46.880 He doesn't argue with her about what she says. 00:17:47.039 --> 00:17:49.440 He doesn't minimize her feelings. 00:17:49.839 --> 00:17:51.440 He's just the help. 00:17:51.599 --> 00:17:52.400 He's there. 00:17:54.240 --> 00:17:54.880 He's there. 00:17:55.039 --> 00:17:58.240 Problem not real friends are there. 00:17:59.119 --> 00:17:59.759 Hear me. 00:17:59.920 --> 00:18:03.119 You want to be a real friend to somebody in a crisis? 00:18:03.440 --> 00:18:04.400 Show up. 00:18:05.519 --> 00:18:06.559 Show up. 00:18:08.400 --> 00:18:10.480 In crisis, people need people. 00:18:10.640 --> 00:18:12.880 They need the presence of people. 00:18:12.960 --> 00:18:13.519 Just show up. 00:18:13.599 --> 00:18:18.640 Proverbs 27:6 has already been quoted, but faithful are the wounds of a friend. 00:18:19.119 --> 00:18:22.240 Well, Pastor Rick, what is a crisis? 00:18:22.480 --> 00:18:24.799 Pastor Rick, I don't want to be a bother. 00:18:24.960 --> 00:18:26.240 You know what's a bother? 00:18:26.400 --> 00:18:28.319 Nobody wanting to be a bother. 00:18:28.480 --> 00:18:29.839 That's a bother. 00:18:30.160 --> 00:18:30.720 Right? 00:18:31.039 --> 00:18:32.079 Are you with me? 00:18:32.319 --> 00:18:37.839 People are like, well, I don't want to impinge on your time. 00:18:38.400 --> 00:18:42.400 If you're concerned about somebody, I'm just going to give you a practical tip today. 00:18:42.720 --> 00:18:45.839 If you're concerned, don't call, don't ask. 00:18:46.160 --> 00:18:47.119 Show up. 00:18:47.920 --> 00:18:49.200 Just show up. 00:18:49.599 --> 00:18:51.039 Show up at their door. 00:18:51.440 --> 00:18:51.759 Right? 00:18:51.839 --> 00:18:54.000 You're like, oh, not today. 00:18:54.240 --> 00:18:55.519 In this day and age. 00:18:55.680 --> 00:18:57.519 What if their room is not clean? 00:18:57.680 --> 00:18:58.799 Who cares? 00:19:00.000 --> 00:19:01.680 Then they're using their house. 00:19:01.839 --> 00:19:02.640 Thank God. 00:19:03.680 --> 00:19:05.279 But you show up. 00:19:06.160 --> 00:19:07.359 Here's what you need to do. 00:19:07.519 --> 00:19:08.000 Ask God. 00:19:08.160 --> 00:19:10.160 God, what would you have me to do? 00:19:10.400 --> 00:19:12.000 And then do that. 00:19:12.559 --> 00:19:16.880 Because if you ask somebody, do you need anything? 00:19:17.200 --> 00:19:22.079 How many people are ever, you know, well, actually, I'm about$70 low in gas. 00:19:23.359 --> 00:19:28.160 Nobody is ever going to make those statements because of this pride thing or whatever we got. 00:19:28.319 --> 00:19:30.240 But people are hurting all over. 00:19:30.400 --> 00:19:32.000 And they have needs. 00:19:32.720 --> 00:19:36.480 So ask God what you should do, and then do that. 00:19:37.359 --> 00:19:38.640 But show up. 00:19:39.039 --> 00:19:41.599 Look at verse 32 through 35. 00:19:43.519 --> 00:19:53.440 Then when Mary came where Jesus was and saw him, she fell down at his feet and saying to him, Lord, if you've been here, my brother would not have died. 00:19:53.680 --> 00:20:00.079 Therefore, when Jesus saw her weeping and the Jews who came with her weeping, he groaned in the spirit and was troubled, Jesus. 00:20:00.240 --> 00:20:01.759 And he said, Where have you laid him? 00:20:01.920 --> 00:20:03.680 They said to him, Lord, come and see. 00:20:04.079 --> 00:20:05.440 Jesus wept. 00:20:06.720 --> 00:20:14.240 We see Jesus shows up, and it is a terrible situation for his friends. 00:20:14.319 --> 00:20:17.759 Mary and Martha are distraught at what's happened, and Jesus shows up. 00:20:17.839 --> 00:20:19.200 And you know what a friend does? 00:20:19.359 --> 00:20:22.000 They had calamity and he cried with them. 00:20:23.279 --> 00:20:25.680 He wept with those who wept. 00:20:26.720 --> 00:20:27.680 He sat with them. 00:20:27.920 --> 00:20:28.480 He was there. 00:20:28.640 --> 00:20:29.279 He was present. 00:20:29.519 --> 00:20:32.799 He showed up in their time of trouble. 00:20:33.519 --> 00:20:43.039 James 5, 16 is an interesting verse, but it says, Confess your trespasses to one another, pray for one another that you may be healed. 00:20:43.200 --> 00:20:46.559 The effectual, fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. 00:20:46.640 --> 00:20:48.480 But it says, true friendship. 00:20:48.640 --> 00:20:50.640 When we can, did you hear that first one? 00:20:50.799 --> 00:20:52.000 Confess your faults? 00:20:52.160 --> 00:20:54.240 That's when you get into real friendship. 00:20:54.400 --> 00:20:59.359 When you can get in at the down and dirty and the real stuff of life, and you say, Man, this is who I am. 00:20:59.519 --> 00:21:03.759 But it says, confessing and praying for one another brings healing. 00:21:04.160 --> 00:21:06.000 Healing in crisis. 00:21:07.039 --> 00:21:07.839 Friendship. 00:21:08.000 --> 00:21:09.680 Being able to walk through things. 00:21:09.839 --> 00:21:12.880 Faith should grow stronger because of faith. 00:21:13.119 --> 00:21:15.599 Friendship is showing up in tears. 00:21:15.839 --> 00:21:19.359 But the second point I want you to see, but it's also standing up in truth. 00:21:19.599 --> 00:21:22.640 Letter B is friends and conviction. 00:21:25.200 --> 00:21:29.119 Look at John 11, 25 to 27. 00:21:31.039 --> 00:21:39.839 So after Jesus shows up, and Martha says what she says to him about if he'd been here and Jesus is listening to her. 00:21:40.000 --> 00:21:44.000 Verse 25 to 20 says, Jesus said to her, I am the resurrection and the life. 00:21:44.160 --> 00:21:47.359 He who believes in me, though he may die, he shall live. 00:21:47.440 --> 00:21:49.839 And whoever lives and believes in me shall never die. 00:21:50.000 --> 00:21:50.880 Do you believe this? 00:21:51.039 --> 00:21:52.880 She said to him, Yes, Lord. 00:21:53.039 --> 00:21:58.079 I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who has come into the world. 00:21:58.319 --> 00:21:59.519 So we see here. 00:22:00.160 --> 00:22:04.720 After comforting Martha, Jesus met her tears with truth. 00:22:05.519 --> 00:22:10.559 Do you have a friend that doesn't just pat your back but pushes you forward? 00:22:11.039 --> 00:22:13.039 You got somebody like that in your life? 00:22:13.279 --> 00:22:16.079 I mean, most of us, you're married, and you got that person. 00:22:16.319 --> 00:22:18.640 If you have a few, you're really lucky. 00:22:18.720 --> 00:22:22.559 But the other week, Heather was she was pushing me forward. 00:22:22.880 --> 00:22:24.319 Not just pat my back. 00:22:24.480 --> 00:22:28.160 I went out of the house and actually had these shoes on. 00:22:28.720 --> 00:22:33.519 And she looked down at me and she was like, You're not gonna wear those socks, are you? 00:22:34.400 --> 00:22:35.920 Almost to the car. 00:22:36.799 --> 00:22:39.279 And and it hurt my feelings. 00:22:40.079 --> 00:22:44.319 She was looking down at my black socks with my white shoes, and she was like, You're not gonna wear those, are you? 00:22:44.559 --> 00:22:45.599 Black socks, huh? 00:22:45.680 --> 00:22:46.640 And I'm like, what? 00:22:46.960 --> 00:22:48.000 I'm okay, right? 00:22:48.079 --> 00:22:50.400 For some of you, this is news to a lot of you right now. 00:22:50.559 --> 00:22:50.799 Okay? 00:22:50.960 --> 00:22:54.079 Some of you men are like, it's okay to wear black socks with white shoes, right? 00:22:54.480 --> 00:22:54.720 Right? 00:22:54.960 --> 00:22:56.079 See, of course. 00:22:56.319 --> 00:23:02.480 I'm gonna tell y'all today, look, I'm very proud to be wearing my red socks, red socks. 00:23:02.880 --> 00:23:03.200 Okay? 00:23:03.759 --> 00:23:06.000 And um I didn't show Heather, didn't ask her. 00:23:06.079 --> 00:23:07.519 I just put them on, okay? 00:23:07.680 --> 00:23:09.359 But I'm just telling you. 00:23:11.119 --> 00:23:13.039 She wasn't just gonna pat me on the back. 00:23:13.200 --> 00:23:16.880 It hurt for a second, it really didn't, but I was like, okay, I can take this. 00:23:17.359 --> 00:23:18.000 I'm a man. 00:23:18.079 --> 00:23:19.039 I went out and didn't. 00:23:19.279 --> 00:23:21.119 I bought some new white socks, right? 00:23:21.279 --> 00:23:25.440 Because I don't need, I don't need to be letting the whole world down, right? 00:23:25.680 --> 00:23:28.559 I don't need to mess up our good family name. 00:23:32.400 --> 00:23:34.319 Do you have somebody that pushes you forward? 00:23:34.400 --> 00:23:35.759 I know that's silly. 00:23:36.240 --> 00:23:42.640 Galatians 6 1 says this restore such a one in the spirit of meekness, lest you also be tempted. 00:23:42.799 --> 00:23:45.680 Do you have a restore such a one person in your life? 00:23:46.000 --> 00:23:53.200 Hebrews 10 24 says, Let us consider together how to stir one another up to love and good works. 00:23:53.519 --> 00:23:57.759 Do you have somebody that doesn't just say, well, good job, but they say good job, and now come on. 00:23:58.000 --> 00:24:00.079 You know what the next step is? 00:24:00.400 --> 00:24:01.920 You know how we're gonna get to this next. 00:24:02.240 --> 00:24:07.440 You say you want this spiritually, but what are you doing to actually get to it? 00:24:08.000 --> 00:24:12.480 Like, do you have somebody to help you get where you believe and say you're gonna go? 00:24:13.359 --> 00:24:15.839 Because we know this about Martha, yes. 00:24:16.160 --> 00:24:21.119 Comfort gets you through the valley, but conviction gets you out of it. 00:24:22.000 --> 00:24:25.039 Comfort gets you through it, but conviction will get you out of it. 00:24:25.119 --> 00:24:27.200