DAVID

DAVID - Week five
Pastor Ben Johnson – July 7th, 2024

1 Corinthians 15:33 - Don’t be fooled... “bad company corrupts good character.”

My Friends REVEAL my spiritual HEALTH.

Four Takeaways for Spiritual Friendship

1. Spiritual friendship is a GIFT from God
   
   Samuel 18:1-4 - After David had finished talking with Saul, he met Jonathan, the king’s son. There was an immediate bond between them, for Jonathan loved David. From that day on Saul kept David with him and wouldn’t let him return home. And Jonathan made a solemn pact with David, because he loved him as he loved himself. Jonathan sealed the pact by taking off his robe and giving it to David, together with his tunic, sword, bow, and belt.
   

2. Spiritual friends SHARPEN each other.
   
   Proverbs 27:17 - As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.
   
   1 Samuel 20:1-2 & 4 - David now fled from Naioth in Ramah and found Jonathan. “What have I done?” he exclaimed. “What is my crime? How have I offended your father that he is so determined to kill me?” “That’s not true!” Jonathan protested. “You’re not going to die... “Tell me what I can do to help you,” Jonathan exclaimed
   

3. Spiritual friends SEE others as GOD sees them.
   
   Philippians 2:3 - Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves.

   
   “A real friend brags about your strengths and defends your weaknesses.”
   
   1 Samuel 20:30-31 & 34 - Saul boiled with rage at Jonathan. “You stupid son of a whore!” he swore at him. “Do you think I don’t know that you want him to be king in your place, shaming yourself and your mother? As long as that son of Jesse is alive, you’ll never be king. Now go and get him so I can kill him!” Jonathan left the table in fierce anger and refused to eat on that second day of the festival, for he was crushed by his father’s shameful behavior toward David.
   

4. Spiritual friends STRENGTHEN each other in FAITH and the WORD.
   
   1 Samuel 23:14-18 - David now stayed in the strongholds of the wilderness and in the hill country of Ziph. Saul hunted him day after day, but God didn’t let Saul find him. One day near Horesh, David received the news that Saul was on the way to Ziph to search for him and kill him. Jonathan went to find David and encouraged him to stay strong in his faith in God. “Don’t be afraid,” Jonathan reassured him. “My father will never find you! You are going to be the king of Israel, and I will be next to you, as my father, Saul, is well aware.” So, the two of them renewed their solemn pact before the Lord. Then Jonathan returned home, while David stayed at Horesh.

   
   
   Are my Friendships HEALTHY?