THE DEEPEST NEED OF YOUR FRIEND

By David Pam McQuel

John 2:40 Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. 41 The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, “We have found the Messiah” (that is, the Christ).

Although Peter was Andrew's elder brother, they were actually friends. They grew up together and fished together. Andrew was religious. He hung around John's ministry. He was John's disciple, close to the truth.

Peter was old school fisherman, irreligious. Just a Galilean.

When Andrew found the Lord, the first time that came to his mind was to bring his brother and friend along. It was too good to not let Peter know.

A good friend, a loyal friend, a friend indeed shares all new information that will make his life better with the closest person to him. And information about the Lord is exceptional!

It is significant that Andrew knew his friend's deepest need. Do you have friends? Do you know the greatest need of your friends? Do they know the Lord. Are they committed to God?

Many of us love our friends and will do anything to help them. But the biggest help your friend can receive from you is spiritual. As long as a man finds their spiritual compass, and is faithful to the Lord, life will eventually straighten out.

The best gift to a friend is the love of God

Be honest - Proverbs 27:6 says
"Wounds from a friend can be trusted,
    but an enemy multiplies kisses."

This scripture means the hurt of a friend through telling the truth is better than the deceptive comfort of an enemy's kisses. It also implies that it is better to telling a friend a bitter truth that may wound his sentimemts as long as it saves his life. If your friend about to be hit by a car and you are standing nearby, and if the only wah to save your friend by knocking over, will you say because you don't want to hurt you will let the car hit him? That will be insane!

Be firm - 2Corinthians 5:11 says
"Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord,
    we try to persuade others."

You are not here to beg people and cajole using sugarcoated pleasanteries and funny comedies to tell your friend about the matter of life and death. This is very serious business. You need to be firm as your friend tries to divert attention to past fun or current modes. Be firm and unswerving as long as they are willing to hear us.

Be compassionate
A rich you man was truly fascinated by the extraordinary ministry of Jesus. He enjoyed the blending between the Lord and His disciples and he just knew he loved what he was seeing. He wanted just that life. He came to Jesus to ask what he needed to do to be a part of it. Jesus reminded him of the law of Moses and the Jewish ultimaten quest for righteousness and the most worth pursuit which was to follow the law.

This young man is super disciplined with exceptional self control. He has kept the law all his youth! Just one of the few in Israel.

Mark 10:
20 “Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.”

21 Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

22 At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth."

Verse 21, Jesus looked at him and loved him...

When Jesus our Lord share his message with love. He wasn't an angry or intimidating figure. Everyone thast met him met love and his disciples with all their weakness never had a conflict or quarrel with them-. They were living with love.

Talking to your friend can be difficult. It is someone with who you shared pre-conversion life which could not only contain dark shades but make it it difficult for a close friend to accept you as a changed person.

Be prayerful 

- Ephesians 6
18 "And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

19 Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel."

Paul asked that the believers in Ephesus pray for him as he goes about the ministry of the Word. He needed unhindered flow of communication and an accompanying boldness and fearlessness in declaring the gospel. This is so important considering that presenting the gospel is not mere talk or talkshow.

It is administering the grace of God.

Before then, he also urged the church to pray for all men. It is expedient that we pray wel ahead for those with whole we want to share Christ.

In 1991 I was serving with a church in Jos Nigeria. A very fine lady in church really had a burden for her company lawyer. The lawyer was a very beautiful lady, with a very high opinion of herself and having the time of her life. She seemed to have everything together and was dreaded at work.

This lady in my church set her heart to pray for this lawyer. While she prayed, nothing on the outside seemed to be changing. The lawyer proud, sometimes arrogant and brash. One day after months of consistent prayer, the lady felt on a Thursday evening that it was time to reach out with the gospel.

On Friday morning she waited for her arrival to work. Once the lawyer was in, she knowed on her door, terrified, humble and not knowing what to expect. She heard "come in."

She worked and scarcely said "Good morning ma" when the first thing the lawyer would ask was, "where is your church? I need to find a church fast." The sister didn't waste time, she went right ahead to share the gospel with a broken lawyer.

The lawyer had an encounter while she slept. Her miserable life played before her hopelessly and the poverty of her life was laid bare before her eyes. She was terrified and woke up desperately in need of God.

I knew this lawyer personally and have seen few instant change! She was on fire for God. 

We can truly help our friends find the Lord. It will be the greatest help you gave someone you really care about.