You've Got A Friend In Me - Rev. Ayanni D. Peters

46:53 hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah this surely is the day that the Lord has made and we shall rejoice and be glad in it. What a privilege, what a privilege and a great honor it is to stand before you, my brothers and sisters in Christ and today to be able to share the word of the Lord with you, my brothers and sisters. Can we give God a great round of applause for these babies? Come on, can we thank God for these children? Come on, we thank God for the parents that brought them here. Amen. Come on. Come on. Can we give God praise for this band? Come on, y'all could do better than that.

47:48 If it was your child, you would be screaming and hollering. Somebody ought to open up your mouth and thank God and bless God for the children. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. You may have your seats in the presence. of the Lord. I thank God today for this opportunity to be able to stand to declare the word here at the Friendship West Church. And I'm glad and thankful to the angel of this house who thought it not robbery for me to stand in his stead. And I am so thankful and privileged to have this honor and thankful to be in relationship with the leader and the pastor of this house who I thank God that he is blessing so many lives in this world. Can we give God a great round of applause for the one and only Reverend Dr. Frederick D. Haynes III?

48:51 Come on, can we thank God for the man of this house? Come on, the man of God is worthy of double honor. hallelujah hallelujah and we thank him in this time of him being in vacation and trusting me to be here in his absence amen and can we give god praise for the woman that stands by his side first lady haynes come on can we thank god for her come on church you can do better than that Amen, amen. And to all of the staff here at the Friendship West Baptist Church and all of your respected places, to all of the pastors and staff, thank you all for having me this morning. And I'm left with a hard task, Pastor, because last Sunday you had a tall giant stand here to preach the word of the Lord and preach y'all crazy in this house. Can we give God praise for Reverend Dr. Claiborne Lee Jr., who stood last Sunday to declare the word of the Lord, who I affectionately call uncle and to these great men who have played a major part in my life.

50:06 and we give God praise. I bring you greetings from the Victory Baptist Church in Oakland, California where my pastor is my father, the Reverend Dr. Martin R. Peters and we thank God for all of them online who are watching, family and friends and we give God praise. Let us pray.

50:26 Father, it's in the name of Jesus. we come humble before your throne, thanking you, Lord, for another day. We thank you for your kindness. We thank you, O God, that you look beyond all of our faults and you saw every one of our needs. We thank you today, dear master, for another chance and opportunity to hear from you, that our faith may be strengthened, And that God, during this week, we will be renewed by what you will do with us and in us in this service. So now, God, it is the preaching hour. I'm praying, Father, that you would please forgive me of my many sins. Wash me, O God, of my unrighteous ways, thoughts, and actions. That your people will not see a yanny, but that your people will see and hear from heaven's windows.

51:24 Father, we thank you. We bless you. And now, Father, I'm asking that you work another miracle and allow these lips of clay to break the bread of life. Touch my mind that I will think your thoughts. Touch my lips that I will speak your words. That you would reign in this house. That your children may be blessed by the word of God. And we will be so very careful to give your name the praise, the glory, and the honor. In Jesus' matchless name we pray. Amen. Amen. Would you all join me in the Gospel of Mark, the second chapter? the gospel of Mark, the second chapter, and I will be starting at the first verse. I will be reading from the New Revised Standard Version, and when you are there, say, I'm ready for the word. Mark's gospel records in the second chapter at the first verse. There he says, when he returned to Capernaum. After some days it was reported that he was at home. So many gathered around that there was no longer room for them, not even in front of the door. And he was speaking the word to them. Then some people came bringing to him a paralyzed man carried by four of them.

52:52 and when they could not bring him to Jesus because of the crowd they removed the roof above him and after having dug through it they let down the mat on which the paralytic lay when Jesus saw their faith he said to the paralytic child your sins are forgiven now some of the scribes were sitting there questioning in their hearts why does this fellows speak in this way. It is blasphemy. Who can forgive sins but God alone? And once Jesus perceived in his spirit that they were discussing these questions among themselves, he said to them, why do you raise such questions in your hearts? Which is easier to say to the paralytic, your sins are forgiven or to say stand up take your mat and walk but so that they may know that the son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins and he said to the paralytic I say to you stand up take your mat and go home and he stood up immediately and took the mat and went out before all of them so that they were all amazed and glorified God saying we have never seen anything like this that's enough for our reading this morning brothers and sisters I would like to tag this text if the youth are listening you've got a friend in me can you look over and tell your neighbor at Friendship West, you've got a friend in me.

54:39 The flower weathers in the flower phase, but the word of our Lord shall stand forever. Brothers and sisters, it is in 1 Corinthians chapter 15 in the 33rd verse where Paul gives us warning that many of us have had to learn the hard way. That bad company corrupts good character. In other words, that everybody around you cannot go where God is taking you.

55:27 Because you can have a good heart and still be connected to the wrong people. You can have good intentions and still be surrounded by bad influences. You can have a promising future and still allow the wrong friendships to sabotage what God is trying to develop in your life. And what I've learned, brothers and sisters, is that one of the most dangerous things in life can be to call somebody a friend who does not have the heart of a friend. And history has shown us that sometimes the greatest wombs do not come from strangers. The greatest wombs do not come from people that we do not know.

56:30 But the greatest wombs that we have come from people who were close enough to know where it hurts. We've heard stories of some situations in history about friendships. And we've heard stories like Kanika Jenkins, a name that I will never forget. A 19-year-old girl whose body was found in a freezer in a Chicago hotel. Which left raising painful questions about friendships and what it means to look out for the people that you came with. chanquilla robinson i say your name this morning who traveled to cabo mexico in 2022 and never returned home at the hand of a bad friend let's say your name this morning y'all know where i'm going with this because just a few days ago a man and a young boy named nolan Wales who spent 4th of July on a boat with his non-colored friends in Mississippi where there is a history of racial tension and the fact that Wales was black, the fact that Nolan had color disappeared in a majority white space often leaves us with questions about what really happened with the people that he called his friend.

58:05 And if you don't know where I'm going with this this morning, brothers and sisters, I came to let you know that everybody that you call a friend is really not your friend. Brothers and sisters, mothers and fathers, you need to be thankful this morning that your sons and your daughters are in church with you today because there's some parents who are grieving their child because what happened to them at the hand of a bad friend. If I can make it biblical this morning, brothers and sisters, even Jesus had a Judas.

58:49 Judas had access to Jesus that thousands of people would have loved to have. And yet Judas betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of silver, bringing us to reality here, brothers and sisters, that proximity does not always mean loyalty.

59:12 But I didn't come this morning just to talk about bad friends. Although we've all experienced relationships with people who didn't mean us no good. But I, this morning, brothers and sisters, want to take a time to talk, even though about bad friends, we've got to thank God this morning for the good ones. We got to thank God for the friends who are down with the movement. We got to thank God for some good people that have good intentions, that love you, that love you so much, that no matter what you go through in your life, you can count on them without a shadow of a doubt. Brothers and sisters, we've got to thank God for some good friends, because the truth is, brothers and sisters, is that God never designed us to do life alone.

1:00:11 according to Genesis 2 and 18 God looked at Adam and said it is not good for man to be alone but there before there was sin before there was sickness before there was suffering God looked at humanity and declared that isolation was not his intention and that's why Jesus brothers and sisters himself valued friendships Jesus you all had 12 disciples and out of the 12 he had Peter James and John in his inner circle and then Jesus looks at his disciples and in John chapter 15 and says I no longer call you servants but I call you friends because there's something powerful brothers and sisters about having the right people around you let me say that again there's something powerful about having the right people around you and brothers and sisters that what leads us here to mark chapter 2 where jesus has entered into capernaum after ministering through galilee and by this point his reputation has spread everywhere mark chapter 1 verse 28 would tell us that the news about jesus spread quickly throughout the surrounding region so when the word gets out that jesus is back in the house bible says that everybody shows up the house is packed brothers and sisters people are standing shoulder to shoulder there's no room at the door but while everybody else is trying to get in the house the bible says that there are four men four men who are trying to figure out how to get their paralyzed friend into the presence

1:02:19 of Jesus and brothers and sisters I call that a real friend who would do whatever it takes to get you closer to Jesus that's a real friend that will make sure that they go the extra mile to get what you need our brothers and sisters call that a real friend and maybe and just maybe The challenge of the text here today, brothers and sisters, is not simply to ask, do I have good friends? But maybe the greater question is, am I a good friend to other people? Wish I had somebody here. The question is not, do I have good friends? but if we can internalize it and do some personal self-reflection you need to ask yourself this morning am I a good friend before you head back to school and do what you do and go to those classes that you go to and as you enter into different circles and in different rooms I want you to ask yourself what kind of friend am I what kind of friend do I long to be and some of you here asking Yanni, well what are the characteristics of a faithful friend? Are y'all interested this morning?

1:03:42 First thing brothers and sisters that the text teaches us about a faithful friend is that a faithful friend will lead you to the Redeemer. Let the church say Redeemer. The Bible says that while Jesus is in the house preaching, four men show up carrying a paralyzed man on a mat. Mark says that some people came bringing to him a paralyzed man carried by the four. The man's condition brothers and sisters had robbed him of the ability to get himself where this man needed to be. He can see where he wanted to go but he could not get there by himself. everybody has a season brothers and sisters when life will knock you down and you need people around you who won't kick you while you're down but that will carry you until you can stand up again and the bible says that since they could not get to him and could not get him to jesus because of the crowd they got him close to Jesus but close just was not good enough the house was full and the doorway was blocked there was no room for their friend and sometimes brothers and sisters what I've realized is that you need to get you some friends in your life that will make room for you when the house is crowded.

1:05:15 A real friend does not compete with you to get in the room, but a real friend makes room for you. A real friend makes room for your gifts. A real friend makes room for your calling. A real friend makes room for your opportunity. A real friend does not block your doors, but a real friend helps you get pushed into the next one. I don't hear nobody. I came to tell you brothers and sisters that a real friend does not matter how many shacks and how what much is against you, but a real friend will say, I've got you link up with me and we gonna press our way till I get you to where God wants you to be. Is there anybody in here today that knows that you've got some people in your life that will make room for you? You did not get here by yourself. You did not get into this place on your own, but it took some people that cared enough. It took some people that loved you enough. It took some people that sacrificed enough to get you what God wanted you to be.

1:06:30 So the Bible says that when these men discover that they cannot get him through the door, the Bible says that they go up on the roof. Watch the movement of the text here, brothers and sisters. They carry him up. only to lower him down. May I suggest here, brothers and sisters, that you associate yourself with people who will not only lift you when you're discouraged, but that will humble you when you're getting too high above yourself. You don't need yes men in your corner all the time. You don't need friends who are only going to tell you what you want to hear.

1:07:28 But you need people who when your heart is broken will lead you to Jesus. That when your faith is weak, they will lead you to Jesus. That when you're going the wrong way, they will say, hey friend, what you doing ain't cool. But I gotta get you to Jesus when you don't know what to do. They say, let's pray about it. I need some people in my circle and in my life who know how to get me to Jesus. You need some people in your life who know how to get you to Jesus. When your money cannot fix it or when your education cannot explain it or when your connections cannot change it. You need somebody who is able to get you to Jesus. a faithful friend will lead you to the redeemer what I've also learned about the text is not only do you need a faithful friend to lead you to the redeemer but you need a faithful friend that will lead you to repentance. Let the church say repentance. Verse five says that when Jesus saw their faith, they climb up to the roof, they make a mess, they lower him down.

1:08:59 The blesses me is that they lower him without dropping him. And we got to thank God for those people that when times get rough, they don't drop us like a bad habit. They take them up to the roof. They lower them down without dropping. And Jesus sees their faith. And he says, because I see the faith of these friends, he tells the sick man that your sins are forgiven. now brothers and sisters this is where the text takes an unexpected turn these four friends have carried this man through the streets and they have climbed onto a roof and they have dug through the roof and lowered him down to jesus and i can only imagine what they are thinking i can only imagine that they say hold on Jesus we didn't tear up this roof for you to forgive him but we tore up this roof because we need our friend to walk again and you may ask well Yanni why does Jesus offer forgiveness before the healing Jesus brothers and sisters offers forgiveness before the healing because they see his paralysis but jesus sees the condition of his soul can't you imagine we cannot argue brothers and sisters that his sickness is linked to sin but i can argue this that his paralysis wasn't the greatest problem that he faced Jesus looked at him and said, before I deal with what's wrong in your body, I'm going to deal with what's going on in your soul.

1:11:02 And brothers and sisters, the Pharisees have a problem because they accuse Jesus of blaspheming against the spirit. And the Pharisees have a problem with what Jesus is saying. And so Jesus tells them, which one is easier? To say to the paralyzed man that your sins are forgiven. Or to say, get up, take your mat and walk. Your sins being forgiven, brothers and sisters, he tells him, is not visible. But to be healed is what is visible. And so what Jesus does is, brothers and sisters, is use what they can see to prove that he has authority of what they cannot see. And I need somebody in the house today to shout and thank God that Jesus knows how to deal with everything and deals with what everybody else cannot see.

1:12:06 Somebody needs to thank God today that while people look on the outer appearance, God sees your heart on the inside. People can see your paralysis, but they cannot always see your pain. They can see your condition, but they cannot always see your conviction. they can see what's going on on the outside but jesus knows what's happening on on the inside brothers and sisters they don't know the embarrassment that this man has had to carry or the sadness that he's had to endure in his soul but that's why jesus offers forgiveness before the healing because Jesus prioritizes eternal before the temporary. Before Jesus can deal with the healing of his body, he has to make sure that his soul is anchored in Jesus.

1:13:08 And before you can ask God for a miracle in your life, you've got to ask God to wash what's on the inside of you. Because what good is it to have new legs and have new arms and have new hands and have a new mind if your soul is not right with Christ. And I came to tell you here, brothers and sisters, that no matter what you go through in your life, you need some friends that can get you to Jesus because they know that there's something on the inside that nobody else sees. God can deal with your depression. God can deal with your sadness. God can deal with your confusion. God can deal with the anxious thoughts in your mind. But all you got to do is allow God to come in. He says that if I knock, I'm waiting for you to answer the door. Is there anybody in here this morning that knows that when Jesus comes knocking, at your door that you will open because you need him to come in to your soul.

1:14:22 he says that a faithful friend will lead you to the redeemer a faithful friend will lead you to repentance lastly brothers and sisters a faithful friend will bring you to restoration Let the church say restoration.

1:14:54 Jesus says in verse 10 that I want you to know that the son of man has the authority on earth to forgive sins. Jesus looks at the paralyzed man and says, I tell you this. Get up. Take up your mat. And go home. Verse 12 says. That he got up. That he took his mat. And walked out in full view of them all. Now don't we miss the reversal in the text here. Brothers and sisters. Verse 3 says. That the mat was carrying him. But verse 12.

1:15:46 God turns it. where he's now carrying the mat. He came into the house depending on for men to carry him. But after one encounter with Jesus, he walks out carrying what used to carry him. And can I speak to somebody in this house this morning to let you know that the worry you've been carrying, you're about to carry it. That God is getting ready to switch what's been carrying you. And what's been dealing with you. That God is going to allow you to have the authority over it. I came to tell somebody that God is switching it all around for you this morning. I need somebody to shout in this place.

1:16:40 That you know that I've got a friend in Jesus. because God allowed me to have the evidence that I will carry the testimony of what I've been through. Jesus will allow us to carry the evidence of what we survived. And because your testimony is the proof that what had you does not have you anymore. Depression used to have you. Sickness used to have you. Low self esteem used to have you Confusion used to have you But I came to be a witness this morning That it doesn't have you anymore And I wonder if there's anybody in the house That knows this morning That you've got a friend in Jesus I came to tell somebody That the friends in the text Is a replication of the friend that Jesus is to you.

1:17:47 And I wonder if there's anybody here that knows that we've got a savior that's led us to redemption, that we've got a savior that's led us to repentance. Is there anybody here that knows this morning that we've got a savior that will lead us to restoration And I came to tell somebody that you've got a friend in Jesus. The Bible says that the three men, that the four men that carried this man, that while Jesus healed him, they praised God in amazement for what the Lord had done. And that's what I love about these friends. They got to the police where he did not need them to carry him anymore.

1:18:47 And that's the sign of a faithful friend. Because a real friend doesn't want you to depend on them. Not forever. A real friend doesn't need you to be broken to feel important. A real friend is not intimidated when you finally learn to stand on your own. A faithful friend will carry you until Jesus gives you the strength to carry yourself. And when God restores you, a real friend will not be jealous. they will celebrate you because if I prayed for you while you were down then I'm going to pray