WHAT A FRIEND WE HAVE         	 Pastor Bob Chroninger 
Trinity C.U.  10-29-00 A.M.  		John 15:9-15   			
	What a privilege to have some GOOD FRIENDS!!  Last week I taught you what 
the Bible says about Being A Friend.  Pro. 18:24 also says that there is a "friend 
that sticks closer than a brother."  Jesus is That Friend... He can do more for us
than anyone else on earth.  Why ??? 

I.  JESUS IS A FRIEND WHO HELPS US OVERCOME SIN.. 
	What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear! 
	What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer. 
	O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear, 
	All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer! 

  A. "Sins".. we do commit intentional and unintentional sins.. 1Jn.1:8 
  B. "Griefs".. emotional brokenness results from our sins.. Is.53:3,4 
  C. "Bear".. Jesus' death gives us relationship to God through forgiveness.
              Is.53:4; Heb.4:15,16 
  D. "Peace".. 
    1. We have peace with God..  Ro.5:1; Eph.2:14 
    2. We can have the peace of God..  Phil.4:6,7; 1Thes.5:23; Col.3:15 

II.  JESUS IS A FRIEND WHO HELPS US OVERCOME FAILURES..
	Have we trials and temptations?  Is there trouble anywhere? 
	We should never be discouraged, take it to the Lord in prayer. 
	Can we find a friend so faithful who will all our sorrows share? 
	Jesus knows our every weakness, take it to the Lord in prayer. 

  A. "Trials".. God allowed experiences to determine or increase our strength.
                1Cor.10:13; Jas.1:2,12; 1Pe.1:7   
    1. Trouble?  discouraged?   2Cor.4:7-10
  B. "Temptations".. Attempts by Satan to pull us down and destroy us.
                     Mt.4:1-10; Jas.1:13,14 
  C. "Sorrows".. The hurts and regrets that come from failing and giving in to temptation.
                 2Cor.2:5-7; 7:10 
  D. "Weakness".. Weak places that Satan touches to hurt us.  God strengthens us to use us.
                  Lu.22:31-32 

III.  JESUS IS A FRIEND WHO HELPS US OVERCOME PROBLEMS.. 
	Are we weak and heavy laden, cumbered with a load of care? 
	Precious Saviour, still our refuge.. take it to the Lord in prayer. 
	Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?  Take it to the Lord in prayer. 
	In His arms He'll take and shield thee, thou wilt find a solace there. 

  A. "Weak".. When we have come to the "end of the rope".. we think of giving up,.. 
	but we need to turn to the Lord.  Ps.6:2; Is.12:2; 35:3,4 
  B. "Heavy Laden"..  "Cumbered"  (Luke 10:40)   When we try to carry our cares by ourselves, 
	they are too heavy and drain us.  Ps.55:22; Mt.11:28-30; 1Pe.5:7 
  C. "Refuge"..  Jesus is our "hiding place"  Ps.32:7; 91:2; 119:114 
  D. "Friends" May Forsake you..  To face a problem without a friend is to despair.. 
	with a friend.. is to gain confidence.  Job 19:14; Heb.13:5 b 
  E. "In His Arms".. He'll take and shield us!! 
    1. There is security and strength to face our problems. Deut.33:27; Mk.10:16. 
    2. There is forgiveness, reconciliation, and comfort in Jesus !!

ALL OF US ARE IN NEED OF THIS KIND OF FRIEND... 
    HAVE YOU RECEIVED JESUS AS YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD? 
         NOW IS THE ACCEPTED TIME... COME TO HIM TODAY !!!