Winter Gathering 9 Sunday Morning session 1

Pastor/Teacher Robert R. McLaughlin

Sunday, February 20, 2011

The smarter you are the fewer friends you will have.

Pro 18:24, A man of many friends comes to ruin, But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

Experiencing true biblical friendship and unity within the Royal Family of God is

where you can have a friendship relationship which is stronger than with your immediate family.

True friendship, such as the one that I have had the privilege of experiencing with Pastor John Farley

was BASED UPON the fact that Pastor John Farley never tried to upstage me or compete with me.

A friend will love you as they love themselves, 1Sa 20:17.

1SA 20:17, Jonathan and David were true friends and they made a true vow of friendship.

1SA 20:17, And Jonathan made David vow again because of his love for him,

because he loved him as he loved his own life.

2SA 1:26, David said "I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan; You have been very pleasant to me.

Your love to me was more wonderful Than the love of women.

The principle of category three love is found in passages such as Pro 17:17,

A friend loves at all times, And a brother is born for adversity.

“Loves" is the Hebrew verb ahab which means to make their love for you manifested, evident, apparent.

In times of trouble friends show themselves friends.

True friends, never stab you in the back, Pro 17:9.

Pro 17:9 He who covers a transgression seeks love, But he who repeats a matter separates intimate friends.

So this love provides a pleasant and relaxing environment.

True friends don't use things you say against you.

True friends never gossip about what their friends do wrong.

Pro 10:12, "Love covers all transgressions."

Because your true friends do not compete with you,

and therefore they will never stab you in the back socially or economically.

You may learn these things the hard way sometimes, but at least learn them.

True friends also guard your privacy.

Friends never gossip or malign about you to others.

True friends protect your back.

Experiencing true biblical friendship and unity within the Royal Family of God is free from hypocrisy.