KNOW YOUR FRIENDS (PT 1) BY DR PAUL ENENCHE

Tonight, we're going to continue our study on the knowledge series. Know your God. The blessing of knowing your God.

Knowing yourself. Knowing your work. What did we deal with last time?

Do you know? What did we deal with on Sunday? After we have known our God, known ourselves, known our work.

Know your spiritual family. Your company and your covering. Tonight, we shall shift to know your friends.

Know your friends. Proverbs chapter 18 verse 24. Proverbs chapter 18 verse 24.

A man that has friends must show himself friendly. And there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother. The Lord bless his word in Jesus' name.

This evening we have about five or six-fold objective. I suspect that we won't be able to finish this particular one today. But we'll start.

First of all, want to understand the necessity of knowing our friends. The necessity of knowing your friends. Number two.

We shall understand who true friends are. Understanding true friends. Understanding the the necessity of knowing our friends, knowing your friends.

Understanding who true friends are. And then, we shall understand key facts or key thoughts about friendship. Why is it necessary for me to know my friends?

Who are real friends? Then key thoughts. Understanding key key thoughts on friendship.

And then we shall proceed to understanding counterfeit friends. Evil friends. Friendly enemies.

We shall understand them. And then number four, five now. We shall understand the workmanship of friendship.

What to do. How friendship is serviced. And number six.

We shall understand what to do with enemies. How do I handle enemies? And how do I handle counterfeit friends?

So we shall start with number one. It's important by way of introduction to know that the subject of friendship and company or company is very very important to life and destiny. Very important.

For many reasons. And that is taking us to the necessity of friendship. Why we we need to know about friendship.

Number one. The necessity of knowing your friends. Number one.

Your friendship or company affects the direction of your life. Your friendship, YOUR COMPANY AFFECTS THE DIRECTION OF YOUR LIFE. He that walketh with the wise shall be wise.

He shall He shall be headed in the wise direction. It affects the direction of your life. That was Proverbs 13:20.

Number two. Your friendship or company affects your mindset or THOUGHT PROCESS. IT AFFECTS YOUR MINDSET.

IT AFFECTS YOUR THOUGHT PROCESS. Your reasoning, how you think is affected. Your mindset is affected.

If you have a friend who has a microscopic mentality or a micro mentality, no matter how big your mindset was before you met them, very soon your mindset, your mind THE THE THE SIZE OF YOUR MIND will drop. In Numbers 13 and in verse 33, and then you read to Numbers 14 all the way from verse one to verse four, YOU SAW HOW THE MINDSET OF THE WHOLE OF Israel was affected BECAUSE OF THE SPIES THAT BROUGHT EVIL REPORT. I've seen people who thought possibility before until they got involved with people THAT TAUGHT THEM HOW TO THINK SMALL, think little, think meager, think micro.

Your friendship, YOUR COMPANY AFFECTS your mindset, affects your thought process. Number three. Your friendship OR COMPANY AFFECTS YOUR CHARACTER.

AFFECTS YOUR CHARACTER. BECAUSE ASSOCIATION BRINGS ASSIMILATION. IT AFFECTS YOUR CHARACTER.

THE FRIEND OF A THIEF IS EITHER a thief or will soon become a thief or does not mind thievery. I mean, WITHOUT ANY DOUBT. First Corinthians chapter 15 verse 33.

It said, "Be not deceived. Evil communication or evil association corrupts good manners. " It corrupts GOOD MANNERS.

BAD relationship will correct will corrupt good character. VERY IMPORTANT. THAT IS WHY IT IS IMPORTANT TO BE CAREFUL WHO YOUR FRIENDS ARE.

A person WHO WAS NOT SMOKING BEFORE BEGAN TO SMOKE in secondary school. Who was not a drunkard before became a drunkard. WHO WAS NOT CHASING WOMEN BEFORE BEGAN to chase because he's linked with a friend who has such character.

A woman who was submissive to her HUSBAND BEFORE BECAME VERY REBELLIOUS BECAUSE SHE GOT INTO A FRIENDSHIP that imparted Many years ago, a woman was having problem with her husband and she went and told her friend, so-called friend, about the problem she was having. And she said, "I want to pack out. I'm tired.

" And the And the other And the friend said, "Do you have transport money? Can I assist you? " That was the best counsel she had for her.

Why? Because she was a divorcee herself. So she was trying to assist somebody to to carry to carry out divorce.

YOUR YOUR FRIENDSHIP OR COMPANY AFFECTS YOUR CHARACTER. That's why it's important to know your friends. Number four.

Your friendship or your company AFFECTS YOUR CHOICES. IT AFFECTS YOUR CHOICES. THAT SAME scripture of First Corinthians chapter 15 verse 33 applies here.

It affects YOUR CHOICES. THE CHOICES YOU MAKE, THE DECISIONS you make, are influenced by the people who surround your life. For example, there are people today who married who failed to marry who they were meant to marry BECAUSE A FRIEND DIDN'T LIKE the man.

AM I COMMUNICATING? ONE FRIEND OR THE OTHER DIDN'T LIKE THE MAN. ONE FRIEND OR THE OTHER DIDN'T like the woman.

On the other hand, THERE WERE THERE ARE THOSE WHO MARRIED WHO THEY ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO MARRY BECAUSE A SO-CALLED friend recommended the person or a so-called friend encouraged them to do so. SO CHOICES ARE AFFECTED. THAT IS WHY WE MUST be careful who we call friend.

NUMBER FIVE, YOUR FRIENDS YOUR FRIENDSHIP or company affects your action steps. The steps you make. The steps you take, the moves you make.

Peter was sitting in the boat in the ship. I believe that was Matthew chapter 14 verse 28 there about. When Jesus asked him, "Master, are you the one walking on the water?

Ask me to come. " And Jesus said, "Come. " PETER WAS ABLE TO TAKE THAT STEP because he was connected to somebody who encouraged him to take that step.

On the contrary, if you remember AMNON TOOK A BAD STEP BECAUSE HE WAS COUNSELLED BY AN EVIL FRIEND CALLED IN 1 SAMUEL CHAPTER 13 to rape his sister Tamar. If you read from verse one all the way, you'll see the story there. SO, YOUR FRIENDS DETERMINE THE STEPS YOU TAKE.

EITHER IF YOU'RE GOING TO TAKE A POSITIVE STEP OR A DISASTROUS STEP, IF YOU'RE GOING TO TAKE A PROFITABLE STEP OR A DESTRUCTIVE STEP, it will be determined by who you call friend. That's why it is important to know your friends. Number seven, your friendship Number six now.

Your friendship or your company affects your outcome IN LIFE. HOW YOU end in life is affected by who YOU CALL FRIEND, WHO surrounds you. We saw how Samson ended disastrously in Judges chapter 16.

You read all the way from this verse 20 to towards the end. HE ENDED DISASTROUSLY IN CATASTROPHE and calamity because there was a woman in his life called Delilah that dealt with his life until he ended in disaster. Your outcome in life is determined by who you call friend.

And if your outcome is in in life is determined by your friendship, then number seven follows. And number seven says, your friendship or your company affects your eternal destiny. It affects it.

If a friend can it affects your eternal destiny. If a friend can make you smoke when you are not meant to smoke or drink when you are not meant to drink or do one thing or the other you are not meant to do, then such a friend can usher you to an eternal hellfire. Because the road you follow determines the place you end.

Samson ended in calamity according to what we read in Judges chapter 16 from verse 20. That is why it is important to know your friends. Question we are going to ask and then answer is, who then is a friend?

Who is my friend? Number one, a friend is a companion who is at home in your company. A COMPANION WHO IS AT HOME IN YOUR COMPANY.

Genesis chapter 38 verse 12, we saw how Judah was going somewhere in the company of his friend Hirah the Adullamite. He was his friend. He was in his company.

Your friend is a companion who is at home in your company. THERE ARE THOSE WHO ARE TENSE TALK IN YOUR COMPANY. THERE ARE THOSE WHO WHO ARE NOT FULLY AT HOME in your company.

They may be acquaintances, but they are they can't be called friends. NUMBER TWO, A FRIEND IS ONE who goes with YOU ON IMPORTANT LIFE JOURNEY. On important LIFE'S JOURNEY.

HE GOES WITH YOU. HE'S SOMEBODY THAT CAN GO WITH YOU ON THE JOURNEY OF LIFE. Maybe it is time to go get married.

It is time to just attend to something very important in your life. Genesis 38 and in verse 12, we saw how the Adullamite that we just read about was on the journey with Judah. Your friend is that one who is on the journey of life with you.

He's on the journey of life with you. THAT IS WHY WE SAY, ANYONE WHO IS NOT going your direction is not qualified for your association. Anyone not going your direction is not qualified for your association.

That is friendship. Who is a friend? Number three, a friend is one who can be entrusted WITH CONFIDENTIAL ASSIGNMENTS OF YOUR LIFE.

CONFIDENTIAL ASSIGNMENTS. THERE ARE THINGS YOU NEED somebody that you can that IS THAT IS TRUSTWORTHY TO DO. CONFIDENTIAL ASSIGNMENTS OF YOUR LIFE.

HELP ME GO GET my CFO from somewhere. And then you know that this is not a guy who will sell the CFO or who will tell you that the CFO is missing. Help me go and get this or help me go and get that.

The confidential assignments of your life. In Genesis 38 and in verse 20, it was this same Hiram the Adullamite that Judah sent to go receive his pledge. That is another story for another day.

But this was the man he trusted enough. YOUR FRIEND IS ONE WHO CAN run errands that no one else can run for you. Can run errands that no one else can run for you.

And as I go on, you will understand that one of the most trustworthy friends you can ever have is your life partner, your wife, your husband. That is what it should be. Number four, you remember when Jesus was passing in John chapter 18 verse 26, he handed over his mother to that disciple whom he loved.

"Woman, behold your son. Son, behold your mother. " Confidential assignments.

Number four, a friend is one with whom you can speak closely, COMFORTABLY, INTIMATELY, HARMONIOUSLY. You can speak with him closely. You can speak with him comfortably.

You can speak with him intimately. You can speak with him harmoniously. That was what God did with Moses in Exodus 33 verse 11.

The Lord said the Bible said that God and the Lord SPEAK WITH MOSES FACE to face as a man speaketh TO HIS FRIEND. SOMEBODY YOU CAN speak to intimately. Face to face means that they are just there.

Intimately, you can speak with him comfortably. You can speak with him harmoniously. That is a friend.

NUMBER FIVE, A FRIEND is one with whom you speak sincerely, openly and frankly, sincerely, OPENLY AND FRANKLY, WITHOUT PRETENSE OR DECEPTION. YOU SPEAK OPENLY. YOU SPEAK FRANKLY.

YOU SPEAK SINCERELY. The Exodus 33 33 and in verse 11 we just read, that was how God spoke with Moses face to face, openly. Nothing covered.

NO PRETENSE. NO DECEPTION. OPENLY, SINCERELY, OPENLY, FRANKLY.

That is a friend. Somebody say a loud amen. Number six, a friend is someone who is as your own soul to you.

He is as your own soul to you. YOU LITERALLY TREAT HIM LIKE you would treat yourself. He is as your own soul.

In Deuteronomy chapter 13 and in verse six, Deuteronomy chapter 13 and in verse six, the Bible said, "If thy brother, the son of thy mother, or thy son, or thy daughter, or the wife of thy bosom, OR THY FRIEND WHICH IS AS THINE OWN SOUL THAT'S OUR EMPHASIS. AS THY OWN SOUL, THY FRIEND IS THE MAN THAT IS LIKE YOUR OWN SOUL. IN 1 SAMUEL CHAPTER 2 SAMUEL chapter 18, 1 Samuel 18:3, we saw the friendship between David and Jonathan.

THEN JONATHAN AND DAVID MADE A COVENANT BECAUSE he loved HIM AS HIS OWN SOUL. AS HIS OWN SOUL. AS HIS OWN SOUL.

AS HIS OWN SOUL. I had a friend in the university. I have mentioned this over and over again that it was like this to me.

We wore the same suit, wore the same shoes, wore the same shirt. Literally wore the same suit tie. There was no money that belonged to anybody.

The every money was in the pocket in the in the in in the wardrobe. Whatever you needed you you came and took. My wife knows who I'm talking about.

When Whenever we met each other on the campus, we just left the the room in the morning. We met each other on the campus in the daytime like 12. We'll just run and hug each other like we are seeing for the first time.

Or we haven't seen for many years. That was what convinced me that if I could live with a man like this WITHOUT A QUARREL ONE DAY, NO ARGUMENT ON ANY ISSUE, THEN THERE IS NO DEVIL THAT WILL SAY I CAN'T LIVE WITH MY WIFE. This one is not my wife.

This is a man. This is my wife. No devil can say I can't live with my wife for as many years as God grants us without any crisis.

Am I communicating? As I'm talking now, many people are asking, IS THAT POSSIBLE? BECAUSE WE LIVE IN A WORLD OF CONTENTION, A WORLD OF COMPETITION, A WORLD OF BITTERNESS AND JEALOUSY TODAY.

VERY RARE FOR YOU TO FIND A MAN YOU LOVE AS YOUR SOUL. A WORLD THAT IS SO FILLED WITH SELFISHNESS. But I can tell you it exists.

Where you love this person as your own soul. And I believe that this is why I said the relationship between a man and his wife is the highest level of friendship. Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother and be joined to his wife and they shall become one and they are no longer two.

A friend is one that you love literally as your own soul. NUMBER SEVEN, A FRIEND IS ONE who is quick to arrive and surround you in seasons of challenge or adversity. A friend is one, SOMEONE WHO IS QUICK TO ARRIVE AND QUICK TO SURROUND you in seasons of challenge, in seasons of adversity.

In Job chapter 2 verse 11 all the way to verse 12, Job 2:11. Now, when Job's three friends heard of all this evil that was come upon him, they came everyone from his own place, Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, Zophar the Naamathite. For they had made an appointment together to come to mourn with him and to comfort him.

And when they lifted up their eyes afar off, they knew him not. They couldn't recognize him. They lifted up their voice and wept and they rent everyone his mantle AND SPRINKLED DUST UPON THEIR HEADS TOWARDS HEAVEN.

See what they did to themselves because of their friend. SO THEY SAT DOWN WITH HIM UPON THE GROUND SEVEN DAYS AND SEVEN nights and none spoke a word unto him for they saw that his grief was great. This was how they began.

But along the line they I don't know what entered into them and they started talking anyhow. But this was how the friends of Job began with Job. THEY ARE QUICK to arrive and quick to surround you in seasons of adversity.

In 2 Samuel chapter 15 verse 37, DAVID HAD A FRIEND THAT IS CALLED HUSHAI WHO CAME TO THE RESCUE OF DAVID WHEN ABSALOM, THE SON OF DAVID, ROSE UP AGAINST DAVID. SO HUSHAI, DAVID'S FRIEND, CAME INTO THE CITY AND Absalom came into Jerusalem. That was how Hushai behaved.

In Acts of the Apostles CHAPTER 14 VERSE 20, WHEN PAUL THE APOSTLE WAS STONED AND LEFT for dead, HIS DIS- THE DISCIPLES STOOD ROUND ABOUT HIM. THE FRIENDS STOOD AROUND HIM AND HE ROSE UP and he came into the city and the next day he departed unto Derby. Your friends are the people who are quick to arrive and surround you in seasons of challenge or adversity.

Number eight, A FRIEND IS ONE WHO COOPERATES WITH YOU TO FRUSTRATE THE AGENDA OF THE ENEMY and his agents against your life. YOUR FRIENDS A FRIEND IS SOMEONE WHO cooperates with you TO FRUSTRATE THE AGENDA OF THE ENEMY AND HIS AGENTS AGAINST YOUR LIFE. He cooperates with you.

WHEN THE DEVIL AND HIS PEOPLE HAVE A PLAN AGAINST YOUR LIFE, YOUR FRIENDS WORK WITH YOU. They cooperate with you to rise to the occasion and deal with the devil. That was what David's friend did.

In 2 Samuel chapter 15 verse 32 to verse 34, it came to pass that when David was come to the top of the mount where he worshipped God, behold, Hushai the Archite came to meet him with his coat rent and earth upon his head. That is his friend. Unto whom David said, if you pass on with me, then you shall be a burden to me.

BUT IF YOU WILL RETURN TO THE CITY AND SAY unto Absalom, I will be your servant, O king, as I HAVE BEEN THY FATHER'S SERVANT HITHERTO, SO WILL I NOW ALSO BE THY SERVANT. THEN may you for me defeat the counsel of Ahithophel. In those days Ahithophel gave counsels and when he gave counsels it it was as if a man consulted an oracle.

AND AHITHOPHEL HAD GONE TO STAND with Absalom against David. And David knew if if Ahithophel gave Absalom any counsel against him, it was going TO CATCH LIKE LIKE LIKE GUM. HE SAID, PLEASE, I NEED you to be there.

HELP ME DEFEAT AHITHOPHEL'S COUNSEL AND DEFEAT this evil agenda. That is what friends are for. Your friend work with you to defeat your enemy.

They don't work with your enemy to defeat you. There are those who who cooperate with the enemy and conspire with the enemy to to to confront your destiny. I'll talk about that later.

But this is the opposite. They work with you to resist the enemy. May God give you such friends in the name of Jesus Christ.

God shall give you such friends in the name of Jesus Christ. NUMBER NINE, A FRIEND is one who makes your burden their burden. Your concern their concern.

Your pain is their pain. They make your burden to be their burden. They make your concern to become their concern.

They make your pain to be their pain. And that will make them to fast and pray for you. That will make them to fast and pray for your rescue.

Your burden is Their burden is your burden. Your concern Their concern is your concern. Ra- Rather, your burden is their burden.

Your concern is their concern. Your pain is their pain. They will fast and pray.

Psalm 35 verse 13 to 14, the psalmist, David, was speaking. He said, But as for me, when they were sick, MY CLOTHING WAS SACKCLOTH. I HUMBLED MY SOUL WITH FASTING.

AND MY PRAYER RETURNED into my own bosom. I behaved myself as though he had been my friend or brother. I bowed down heavily as one that mourned for his mother.

That is he was now talking of people who who are who are antagonizing him now. He said, but when they were sick, this was what he did FOR THEM. HE FASTED FOR THEM LIKE SOMEBODY WHO WILL FAST FOR HIS FRIEND.

Am I communicating? IN JOB 42 AND IN VERSE 10, THE BIBLE SAID THE LORD TURNED THE CAPTIVITY OF JOB AS HE PRAYED FOR HIS FRIENDS. SO YOUR FRIENDS YOUR FRIEND IS THAT PERSON WHO CARRIES YOUR BURDEN AS HIS BURDEN.

CARRIES YOUR CONCERN AS HIS CONCERN. CARRIES YOUR PAIN AS HIS PAIN. They will fast.

They will pray for you as a result. I don't have the time today to tell you the story of my wedding. On the or the maybe the day before the wedding, I was overwhelmed with so many things.

So many things. It was as if the enemy planned for everything to fail. That is not to work out as expected.

Arrangement for this, arrangement for this, arrangement for this was not working. I was physically exhausted. My friends stood round about me, placed their hands on me and they said, it is all right.

It's okay. Everything will go well. They just surrounded you.

They take your burden as their burden. THEY TAKE YOUR CONCERN AS THEIR CONCERN and their pain. You know, the devil fights what he fears.

He knows what was coming out of that marriage. Am I communicating at all? And if the devil is fighting you today, congratulations because something big is coming out of your life.

You believe that? Say a loud amen. Number 10, A FRIEND IS ONE IN WHOM YOU have confidence.

All right, let me say it like this. A friend is one who is trusted. You have confidence in his reliability and faithfulness.

It is one who is trusted. YOU HAVE CONFIDENCE in his reliability. YOU HAVE CONFIDENCE in his faithfulness.

Psalm 41 and in verse nine, Psalm 41 and in verse nine, yea, my own familiar FRIEND, IN WHOM I TRUSTED, WHICH DID EAT OF MY BREAD, HAS LIFTED UP HIS heel against me. I trusted him. He was my friend.

AND BECAUSE I I THOUGHT THOUGHT HE WAS A FRIEND, I trusted. Your friend is one in whom you trust. You trust his reliability.

Psalm 6 and Sorry. Proverbs chapter 6 verse 1. It said, "My son, if thou be surety for thy friend, That's where I want to go.

Your friend is the one that can vouch for you. Can stand as ref- referee or guarantor. He trusts you enough to guarantee your faithfulness, your reliability.

He trusts you enough. That is a friend. Somebody say amen.

As I'm talking now, some people are wondering, are these Are there are these kind of people? Yes, they are. Number 11.

A friend is one who loves you at all times. He loves you at all times. He loves you.

THROUGH ALL SEASONS OF YOUR LIFE. All the seasons of your life. All the seasons of your life.

That was what Proverbs chapter 17 verse 17 said. It said, "A friend loveth at all times. At all times.

At all times. " At all times. That is why you must marry someone you love.

And you must marry someone you are friendly with. If God gives you a friend to marry, thank him. Because you were already flowing before the marriage.

You don't suddenly become enemies after. A FRIEND LOVETH at all times. Listen to this.

Someone said, "IN PROSPERITY, YOUR FRIENDS KNOW YOU. But it is in adversity that you know your friends. " WHEN YOU ARE RICH, EVERYBODY IS YOUR IS FRIENDLY WITH YOU.

PROVERBS 14 verse 20. THE POOR IS HATED EVEN OF HIS OWN NEIGHBOR. BUT THE RICH HAS MANY FRIENDS.

MANY OF THEM ARE FAKE. BUT THEY ARE FAKE. THEY ARE FRIENDS.

THE RICH HAS YOU DON'T REALLY KNOW WHO YOUR FRIEND IS. Until season changes. There was a time in which cabinet in this country was changed close to Christmas.

But before the Christmas season of that year, they changed ministers and changed everything. ONE OF THE MINISTERS CONFIDED IN SOMEBODY. He said, "Can you see life?

By this time last year, I didn't count I can't count the number of Christmas cards and ham packs and all of that that I got. This year now, see me alone. " Christmas cards have disappeared.

Christmas ham packs have disappeared. All those saying your Excellency all evaporated. And there are those who will say it is good for him.

We are all the same now. DON'T BE DECEIVED BY THOSE WHO HANG AROUND YOU because of your result. That is why young men, at times it is very very good to marry on time before you become very rich.

BECAUSE BY THE TIME YOU BECOME VERY SUCCESSFUL, YOU WON'T be you won't be able to know who is coming because of your money. In fact, THERE WILL BE MANY RECOMMENDED WIVES. Someone was telling me how she was recommended for somebody to marry, somebody big.

The issue is now there are people who are spoiling her in front of that person. I said, "Wow. Is that how marriage happens?

" Somebody say amen. May God show you real real friends. MAY GOD SHOW you true friends.

MAY GOD SHOW YOU QUALITATIVE FRIENDS. When I when I married, the only thing that I had was anything that I had in my bag. Because we lived in doctors' quarters.

The bed was for the hospital. The everything furnishing was for the The only thing I went in with there is was my bag. No car.

Nothing. And somebody say, "I will marry you. " And agreed to marry you.

Not because she saw plenty money, but she saw potential. And sees the future. And sees the fire.

There are those WHO WILL SEE YOU AT THAT TIME, THEY WON'T even look AT YOU AT ALL. BUT NOW THEY ARE ENVIOUS NOW. NOT KNOWING WHERE THE JOURNEY STARTED FROM.

WHO IS THIS ONE ALWAYS WEARING THE same dress with husband? You don't know where it started from. MAY GOD GIVE YOU PEOPLE who genuinely love you.

Who genuinely believe IN YOU. WITHOUT ANY STRINGS ATTACHED. LIFT YOUR RIGHT HAND SAY, "FATHER, I RECEIVE THE GRACE TO IDENTIFY REAL FRIENDS IN MY LIFE.

I RECEIVE THAT GRACE. " Give the Lord a praise as you take your seat. Who is a friend?

And and I'm talking of real friend because we talked about counterfeit friends. Who is a real friend? What number are we, please?

11. 12. A FRIEND IS ONE WHO IS FRIENDLY with you.

Not hostile to you. HE'S FRIENDLY WITH YOU. IT SAID IN PROVERBS 18 AND IN VERSE 24, "A MAN that will have FRIENDS MUST SHOW HIMSELF FRIENDLY.

" HE IS FRIENDLY WITH YOU. NOT HOSTILE to you. A real FRIEND IS NOT THAT PERSON THAT IS PICKING UP QUARRELS WITH YOU ALL THE TIME.

THERE ARE THOSE WHO CALL YOURSELVES FRIENDS, BUT YOU ARE QUARRELING ON A DAILY BASIS. THAT'S YOU ARE JUST WASTING each other's time. A man that has friends shows himself friendly.

Number 13. A friend is one who may hurt you to save you. He may hurt you to save or deliver you.

But your enemy may will hail you to ruin you. He's praising you in disaster. A real FRIEND IS ONE WHO MAY HURT YOU to save you or deliver you.

The enemy will hail you to ruin you. In Proverbs chapter 27 verse 6, look at what it said. IT SAID, "FAITHFUL ARE the wounds of a friend.

" It is OUT OF HIS FAITHFULNESS, OUT OF HIS COMMITMENT TO YOU, TO ENSURE THAT YOU ARE NOT LOST, THAT HE'S he's he's he's behaving as if he's wounding you. It said, "But the kisses of an enemy are deceitful. " Like the kiss of Judas.

They are deceitful. THEY ARE CLAIMING THAT THEY LOVE YOU AND ALL OF THAT, BUT THEY ARE DECEIVING YOU TO RUIN YOU. GOD WILL SAVE you from such people.

NUMBER 14. A FRIEND IS one who who is committed to giving you hearty counsels. HEARTY COUNSEL.

COUNSEL FROM THE HEART. HE'S COMMITTED TO GIVING YOU HEARTY COUNSELS. COUNSEL FROM THE HEART.

And the outcome of it is rejoicing and refreshing. Hearty counsel. Proverbs 27 verse 9.

Proverbs 27 verse 9. Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart. So does the sweetness of a man's friend by hearty counsel.

Hearty counsel. Counsel from the heart. One man was trying to go very very far from town in building a permanent site of church like canal land like so and so forth.

And I sat him down. And I said the Bible said if you want to build a house count the cost. LET ME GIVE YOU LET ME LET ME DISCUSS WITH I SPOKE WITH HIM FROM THE HEART.

SO THAT YOU DON'T FEEL FRUSTRATED this and this and this and this and that and that must BE IN PLACE BEFORE YOU DECIDE TO MAKE such a move. You know when we moved from Area 1 here I had assumed that everybody will move automatically because when we came here with this place was filled in all the meetings we had. But I believe some of those people thought oh this was camp ground a place to come once in a while.

There are those who remained in the Area 1 church. I think that's it I think they have covenant with the church or something. Even if you took buses there they are there.

The Area 1 church had to be reopened. Because when we moved for almost a year everybody was to come here and then some began to disappear to several places. AM I COMING SO I SAT THE MAN DOWN AND I TOLD HIM MY EXPERIENCE.

HE said wow thank you for talking to me like this. He said I never saw anything like this. I'm going to I now know what to go and do.

hearty counsel You know there ARE THOSE KIND OF DECEITFUL CHILDREN IN IN secondary school when their friend ask them please what is THE FORMULA OF SO AND SO CAN you do you know the ANSWER THEY WILL JUST GO AROUND THE CORNER SO THAT THEY CAN PASS AND THE PERSON can fail. May God give you genuine friends. If you're saying amen say it louder amen.

If you're saying amen say it louder believer say amen. My mother used to say a real mother a real parent should not be afraid of the face of their child. THAT IS THE CHILD THE CHILD DOES NOT GROW TO A POINT WHERE YOU ARE AFRAID of their face not to tell them what they need to know.

SO SHE WILL TELL YOU RAW WHAT YOU NEED to know raw. I CAN'T BE AFRAID I GAVE BIRTH TO YOU I CAN'T BE AFRAID OF YOUR FACE. SHE SAID THERE ARE MANY PARENTS TODAY WHO ARE AFRAID OF THE FACES of their children.

They can't tell them anything. That's how real friendship is. You love your friend YOUR WIFE YOUR CHILDREN ENOUGH TO SAY HEY SIT DOWN HERE.

You must understand it. You can't wear this kind of dress in this house. We don't operate like this here.

Hallelujah. That's a friend. Number 15 A friend is one who is committed to the sharpening of your life's gifts and potentials.

The sharpening of your life gifts and potentials. He sees a gift in you he sees a grace in you he wants to sharpen it. He assists to move your gifts and potentials to another level.

He's committed to the sharpening of your life gifts and potentials. In Proverbs 27 and in verse 17 YOU SAY IRON SHARPENETH IRON. SO A MAN SHARPENETH THE countenance of his friend.

Iron sharpeneth iron. So does a man sharpen the countenance of his friends. Somebody say it louder amen.

Somebody say it louder amen. Your friend helps you to shine. He helps you to be outstanding.

Helps your gifts to shine. He sees a book that will help you he gives it to read. When we started minis when we started our journey of marriage before we became pastors every time I read a book I gave my wife.

I said I just finished reading this book go ahead and read it. It will help you. I've finished reading another one read this one.

I'll finish another one read this one. If I read T. L.

Osborn I gave her. Bishop David Oyedepo I gave her. Kenneth Copeland I gave her.

Why Revival Tarries Leonard Ravenhill I gave her. I wanted us to be at par in our mentality. I don't want to be thinking up and she's thinking down.

I don't want to be unequally yoked. I don't want to be a horse dragging a goat. I'm sorry to use that word.

But that's the meaning of unequal unequal yoking. THIS ONE HAS HIGHER CAPACITY THAN THIS and they are trying to move together. Am I communicating?

And so IS A MAN SHARPENS THE countenance of his friend. A friend is one who is committed to the sharpening of your life's gifts and potentials. The other day I sent my daughter um some musical things to work on her self in other areas of her musical and vocal things.

She asked so how do I do this and that? I'm not so much of a professional but I have a little knowledge there. You want to pull out the best out of somebody.

YOU WANT SOMEBODY TO move to a higher dimension. The other day she said I want to know how the way you you you you receive and write SONGS IS SO EFFORTLESS I I BUT I'M TRY TRYING BUT I WANT GOD TO HELP ME. I said okay come let us sit come and sit down with me and then she sat down and said and less than 5 minutes on the spot we got a song and got the wordings.

She said I am shivering. I'm afraid. goosebumps Is that I is it so is it so easy?

THERE ARE STAR MUSICIANS WHO BOAST OF HOW they were able to write one song in one week AND YOU ARE TALKING OF UNDER 5 MINUTES. HE SAID I SAW HOW YOU YOU YOU STARTED TONGUEING FIRST. HALLELUJAH.

HE SAID THANK YOU FOR SHARING IT WITH ME. I SAID NO. I'M I CAN'T HOLD HOLD IT from you.

I shouldn't. I shouldn't. AM I COMMUNICATING?

MAY GOD GRANT YOU people around your life that God will use to sharpen your destiny that God will use TO SHARPEN YOUR GIFTS THAT GOD WILL USE TO SHARPEN GRACES IN YOUR LIFE. If you're saying amen say it louder amen. If you're saying amen say it louder amen.

LIFT UP YOUR RIGHT HAND AND SAY FATHER I RECEIVE THE GRACE TO HAVE IN MY LIFE QUALITY PEOPLE THAT WILL BRING OUT MY POTENTIALS IN THE NAME OF JESUS. That song I'm talking about is within the last 3 days right? On Sunday.

Sunday that's right. Hallelujah. Now number 17 Okay number 16.

A friend is one in whose company you are free to celebrate. Free to eat and drink. You are not tensed up.

You are free to celebrate. In the book of Matthew chapter 11 verse 19 Matthew chapter 11 verse 19 Matthew chapter 11 verse 19 the son of man came eating and drinking and they said behold a wine in a gluttonous man a wine bibber a friend of publicans. Why did they call him the friends?

He was eating and drinking. You know there are places you go you cannot eat. Am I communicating?

No matter how hungry you are food will not food will not you you won't desire food there because you know you are not in the play in the company of your friends. You know anything can happen there. God is protecting you but you are not going to eat there.

A friend is one in whose company you are free to celebrate. Number 17 a friend is one WHO IS TRULY EXCITED AT YOUR PROGRESS and success in life. HE IS TRULY EXCITED AT YOUR PROGRESS and success in life.

HE IS TRULY EXCITED. IN JOHN CHAPTER 3 verse 29 John chapter 3 and in verse 29 This is very exciting passage. HE THAT HAS THE bride is the bridegroom.

BUT THE FRIEND OF THE BRIDEGROOM WHICH STANDETH AND HEARETH HIM REJOICETH GREATLY BECAUSE OF THE BRIDEGROOM'S VOICE. This my joy therefore is fulfilled. THE PERSON WHO IS marrying is this groom.

HE'S THE ONE WHO HAS THE WIFE. BUT THE BEST MAN IS STANDING BY AND CELEBRATING AND REJOICING AT THE SUCCESS AND THE PROGRESS OF HIS FRIEND WHO HAS FOUND A WIFE. That's what friendship is all about.

OTHER PEOPLE ANTAGONIZE YOUR SUCCESS. IN FACT, THEY WANT TO ENGAGE YOU IN COMPETITION BECAUSE YOU ARE PROGRESSING. BUT THE REAL FRIEND, THE REAL DEAL IS EXCITED THAT YOU GOT YOUR PROMOTION.

HE'S EXCITED THAT YOU ARE SUCCEEDING. HE'S EXCITED THAT YOU ARE GOING FORWARD. WHO is a friend?

Number 18. A friend is one who defends your interests and concerns at all seasons. Whether you are there or not, he defends your interests.

He defends your concerns at all seasons, whether you are there or not. In John chapter 19 verse 12, the Pharisees, they were speaking to Pilate. And from that spot, Pilate sought to release him.

BUT THE JEWS CRIED OUT SAYING, "IF YOU LET THIS MAN GO, you are not Caesar's friend. " Somebody that Caesar is trying to deal with you, trying to set HIM FREE. TO CONFIRM THAT YOU ARE CAESAR'S FRIEND, DEFEND CAESAR'S INTEREST.

PROTECT his interest even in his absence. A friend is one who defends your interests and concerns at all season, whether you are there or not. Number 19.

A friend is one who does not work in concert with your enemies to undermine your life, your destiny, or your authority. Again, A FRIEND IS SOMEONE WHO DOES NOT WORK IN CONCERT OR in agreement with your enemies to undermine your life, your destiny, or your authority. There are people who work with your enemies to show you that you are nothing.

YOUR FRIEND DOESN'T DO THAT. That was what they were telling Pilate where we read in John chapter 19 verse 12. "IF YOU SET THIS MAN FREE, THEN YOU ARE UNDERMINING CAESAR'S AUTHORITY.

" IN JAMES CHAPTER 4 VERSE 4, and I'm going to say this when I read this. He said, "Ye adulterers and adulteresses, KNOW YE NOT THAT FRIENDSHIP OF THE world is enmity with God? The world is the enemy of God.

And you say you are the friend of God and you're also the friend of the world. " He said, "No, it it can't work. " This is the truth.

The friend of your enemy is an indirect enemy. Did you hear what I just said? THAT PERSON WHO WANTS to kill you and he will never be able.

AND SOMEBODY SAYS HE loves you and HE IS A FRIEND OF THE ONE WHO HATES YOU PUBLICLY AND WANTS TO KILL YOU. THAT FRIEND OF YOUR ENEMY is an indirect enemy. Don't be deceived.

I MEAN, HE DOESN'T THERE IS NO EXCUSE. HE IS AN indirect enemy. THE WHAT THE GUY HATES YOU.

IF THE GUY SEES WHERE YOUR LIFE WIRE IS, HE will turn it off. If he knows the switch of your life, he'll off it. And this guy says, "I love you so much.

" BUT HE YOU YOU SEE HIM ALWAYS THERE. AND I'M NOT TALKING OF TRANSFORM FEMININITY NOW. I'M TALKING OF THAT WHICH IS CLEAR TO ALL.

FRIENDSHIP WITH THE WORLD IS ENEMY WITH ENMITY WITH GOD BECAUSE THE WORLD IS THE ENEMY OF GOD. AND IF YOU CLAIM TO BE THE FRIEND of God and you are the friend of the world at the same time, then you have agreed to be the enemy of God. Hallelujah.

Number 20. A friend is one who cares enough to attempt to save your life when they think you are going overboard. They are A friend is one who CARES ENOUGH TO ATTEMPT TO SAVE YOUR LIFE WHEN THEY THINK you are going overboard.

They think you are acting without caution. There are friends who come and remove the the car key from your car when they think you are you are about to start driving and you are and you are tired. Maybe you finish a night vigil and you you enter the car to drive.

They come and remove the CAR KEY. THEY CARE ENOUGH TO ATTEMPT TO SAVE YOUR LIFE. IN MARK CHAPTER 3 verse 20 to 21, that was what the friends of Jesus did for him.

And the multitude come together AGAIN SO THAT THEY COULD NOT SO MUCH AS EAT THEIR EAT BREAD. AND WHEN HIS FRIENDS HEARD OF IT, THEY WENT OUT TO LAY HOLD ON HIM for they say he's beside himself. WHAT KIND OF THING IS THIS?

YOU ARE SEEING PEOPLE MORNING TILL NIGHT, night till morning, you are not eating. We we we take you BY FORCE. THEY CARE ENOUGH TO ATTEMPT TO SAVE your life when they think you are going overboard.

21. A friend is that is one who multiplies your joy and diminishes your sorrow. Multiplies your joy and diminishes your sorrow.

THEY SHARE YOUR JOY and shrink your sorrow. THEY SHARE YOUR JOY, THEY SHRINK YOUR SORROW. THEY MULTIPLY YOUR JOY, THEY DIMINISH YOUR SORROW.

In Luke chapter 15 verse 6, our master Jesus telling the story of when a man come at home, he will call together his friends and neighbors saying unto me unto THEM, "REJOICE WITH ME, FOR I HAVE FOUND MY SHEEP WHICH WAS LOST. Rejoice with me. " Your friends are those who rejoice with you.

It also Luke 15:8-9. Your friends rejoice with you. And also when it is time and you are challenged, they are there for you.

That is what friends are. Number 22. A friend is someone who shares your interests, conviction, and character.

They share your interests. They share your conviction. They share your character.

There is something that interests you that interests your friend. There is something you believe in that your real friend also believes in. THAT IS A THAT IS WHY DRUNKARDS HANG TOGETHER.

I mean, they don't advertise themselves to each other. Prostitutes stand on the road together. Thieves easily locate themselves.

Um Do you hear the what what the young man said the other day? That they will approach him, they say there is job or is it contract? They are going to hit somewhere tonight.

Can he can he come? Because he looks like them. THEY YOU SO, THAT IS WHY ANYBODY WHO IS NOT SHARING IN your character IS THE WRONG PERSON for you.

Now, look at Luke 23:12. AND THE SAME DAY, PILATE AND HEROD WERE MADE FRIENDS TOGETHER. FOR BEFORE THEY WERE AT ENMITY BETWEEN THEMSELVES.

WHAT MADE THEM FRIENDS? THE UNITY OF INTEREST. THE UNITY OF CHARACTER.

BOTH OF THEM ARE INTERESTED IN crucifying Jesus. Both of them are interested in murdering AN INNOCENT PERSON. THAT UNIFIED INTEREST, UNIFIED UNIFICATION OF CHARACTER MADE THEM FRIENDS.

SOMEBODY SAY AMEN. Somebody say louder amen. Anybody receive something here tonight, say amen.

All right, let's go to the next level and round up shortly. Key thoughts on friendship. Just things, key thoughts.

Number one. Love is a command, but relationship is a choice. We are commanded to love everybody, but we are never commanded to be the friend of everybody.

Love is a command, but relationship is a choice. Number two. Be liberal in love, but be selective in friendship.

BE LIBERAL IN LOVE. THAT'S LOVE LOVE LIBERALLY, BUT RELATE SELECTIVELY. LOVE EVERYBODY, BUT RELATE with people you select.

Be liberal in love. But be selective in friendship. Can I go on?

Number three. Friendship must be allowed to happen, not forced to happen. It must be allowed to happen, not forced to happen.

Relationship that is IS NOT FORCED TO HAPPEN. It must be allowed to happen. LET IT HAPPEN NATURALLY, not forcefully.

WHEN PEOPLE FORCE THEMSELVES TO MARRY THEMSELVES, THEY THEY THEY REGRET COMMENCES ON DAY ONE. My wife once attended a wedding whose marriage lasted for 7 days. At the end of the 7 days, marriage was over.

Till tomorrow. I'm talking of wedding that occurred like 25 or 26 years ago. Don't force yourself on anybody and don't let anybody force themselves on you.

It must BE ALLOWED TO HAPPEN, NOT FORCED TO HAPPEN. TO AVOID REGRETS. THERE ARE YOUNG MEN IN IN MARRIAGES THEY FORCED.

YOUNG WOMEN IN MARRIAGES THEY FORCED. IN RELATIONSHIPS. Number four.

No relationship leaves you neutral. It's either adding something to you or taking something from you. No relationship leaves you neutral.

IT IS EITHER ADDING SOMETHING to you or taking something to you from you. Listen to this and don't forget it for as long as you live. You make friends, then friends make you.

You first make your friends, then your friends make you. Do you know the meaning of that? First of all, you decide who your friends should be.

And at the end, your friends should begin to decide who you become. You decide who your friends should be initially. BUT THE POINT COMES WHERE YOUR FRIENDS SHOULD BEGIN TO DECIDE WHO YOU ARE BECOMING.

THAT IS WHY you must make friends with people with similarity of character. You can add this a third line. You make friends and your friends make you.

And key thought number five. Be bold enough to make a U-turn when you discover you are in a wrong association that is headed in a wrong direction. BE BOLD ENOUGH TO make a U-turn when you discover that you are in a wrong ASSOCIATION THAT IS HEADED IN A WRONG DIRECTION.

AH, THIS FRIENDSHIP IS NOT LEADING ME ANYWHERE. THIS SO-CALLED GIRL THAT I CALL my friend has spoiled RELATIONSHIP HUSBAND RELATIONSHIP FOR me twice. THIS MAN THAT I CALL MY FRIEND HAS LIED AGAINST ME THREE TIMES.

BE BOLD ENOUGH TO MAKE A U-TURN when you discover that you are in a relationship that is headed in a wrong direction. Finally, who are wrong friends? How do you know wrong or counterfeit friends?

Because there are counterfeit friends and wrong friends. I beg to continue with that one by next week Wednesday. Stand up on your feet.