WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.520 Good morning. 00:00:05.240 --> 00:00:06.440 I'm David. 00:00:07.960 --> 00:00:08.919 And Karen. 00:00:09.540 --> 00:00:11.259 We are David and Karen. 00:00:20.980 --> 00:00:23.900 We're both involved in the Mandarin ministry here at Watermark. 00:00:23.899 --> 00:00:31.899 And we are sharing on the topic of friendship this morning. 00:00:36.859 --> 00:00:39.320 This is part of our series on the book of Proverbs. 00:00:42.459 --> 00:00:44.299 Last week, we talked about money. 00:00:46.619 --> 00:00:48.159 Today, we're talking about friendship. 00:00:48.159 --> 00:00:56.000 Perhaps there's a relationship between these two topics. 00:00:56.219 --> 00:00:58.439 They could be complementary or in conflict. 00:01:00.359 --> 00:01:01.640 Why do I say this? 00:01:01.640 --> 00:01:12.319 Some people say, friends should not talk about money. 00:01:12.480 --> 00:01:13.760 It can destroy the relationship. 00:01:13.760 --> 00:01:27.740 But others say, we should be careful to spend a lot of time on relationships because it uses a lot of money. 00:01:32.439 --> 00:01:35.180 There are many different opinions about friendship. 00:01:35.180 --> 00:01:43.700 Some people say, friendship is like a luxury. 00:01:47.700 --> 00:01:49.980 Others believe that it is essential. 00:01:50.180 --> 00:01:50.820 It's a necessity. 00:01:51.180 --> 00:01:53.240 What does that mean? 00:01:53.239 --> 00:02:05.459 A luxury item, it's very expensive. 00:02:06.060 --> 00:02:10.620 You have to spend a lot of time as well as a lot of money in order to have it. 00:02:10.620 --> 00:02:20.800 I have a friend who went to be a pastor in a new city. 00:02:23.740 --> 00:02:25.180 There's a lake in that city. 00:02:30.620 --> 00:02:33.439 And a common activity there is to go fishing in the summer. 00:02:33.439 --> 00:02:42.400 And so he said, come and let's go fishing together this weekend. 00:02:44.500 --> 00:02:46.740 And so he went. 00:02:51.259 --> 00:02:53.900 And he was asked, oh, where's all your equipment? 00:02:53.900 --> 00:03:04.099 Oh, I thought, you know, you just grab a stick, tie some string, and you go fishing. 00:03:09.500 --> 00:03:11.020 And his friend said, no, no, no. 00:03:11.120 --> 00:03:15.379 Let me take you to the store, and we need to buy all the necessary items. 00:03:18.640 --> 00:03:23.020 And you have to spend, you know, minimum 2,000 U.S. 00:03:23.900 --> 00:03:29.819 This is a very expensive friendship. 00:03:30.219 --> 00:03:33.819 So he said, this is a very expensive friendship. 00:03:35.020 --> 00:03:39.760 And so he thought, oh, maybe friendship is a luxury. 00:03:40.560 --> 00:03:41.620 There are people who think it is a must. 00:03:42.120 --> 00:03:44.500 Because if you have no friends, you can't do anything. 00:03:45.080 --> 00:03:49.020 But others see friendship as a necessity. 00:03:49.379 --> 00:03:51.300 Without friendship, you can't get anything done. 00:03:51.300 --> 00:03:52.659 I want to ask you to have a friend. 00:03:52.659 --> 00:03:55.680 Because if I want to play ball, I need friends. 00:03:56.939 --> 00:03:58.979 If I want to play chess, I need friends. 00:04:00.479 --> 00:04:02.919 Even to go shopping, I need to go with some friends. 00:04:04.659 --> 00:04:12.419 Because if I'm trying on a dress, I need to ask somebody, how does it look on me? 00:04:12.419 --> 00:04:19.719 You feel so empty if there's no one next to you to say, wow, it looks so good. 00:04:20.439 --> 00:04:26.419 So to some people, friends, you have to have friends. 00:04:26.420 --> 00:04:33.640 Actually, in our lives, we all need friends. 00:04:33.639 --> 00:04:46.459 When you're thinking about getting married, you think, oh, who's going to be my bridesmaid or my groomsman? 00:04:46.459 --> 00:04:48.459 In the end, we already know that. 00:04:48.459 --> 00:04:49.459 In the end, we already know that. 00:04:49.459 --> 00:04:49.639 We already know that. 00:04:49.639 --> 00:04:49.779 We already know that. 00:04:49.779 --> 00:04:49.799 We already know that. 00:04:49.799 --> 00:04:50.699 We already know that. 00:04:50.699 --> 00:04:55.159 And if you are already married, I'm sure you will always remember those people. 00:04:55.659 --> 00:05:02.459 Friends and friendship is part of our lives. 00:05:02.879 --> 00:05:08.139 They have a great impact on our lives. 00:05:08.139 --> 00:05:12.379 Now, also, we influence our friends. 00:05:16.459 --> 00:05:19.139 Proverbs 13, 20 tells us, 00:05:19.719 --> 00:05:26.019 Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, 00:05:28.699 --> 00:05:31.279 but the companion of fools will suffer harm. 00:05:38.139 --> 00:05:42.219 We hope that those who influence us in our lives, that they are wise people. 00:05:43.000 --> 00:05:46.719 That we may also become wise. 00:05:47.199 --> 00:05:56.180 But if we're a companion of fools, we will also be influenced by them, 00:05:56.259 --> 00:05:58.939 and we may end up doing some very foolish things. 00:05:59.199 --> 00:06:02.680 I have a friend of mine. 00:06:03.159 --> 00:06:04.560 He's physically very weak. 00:06:04.560 --> 00:06:11.579 If you look, who is the skinniest person here? 00:06:11.939 --> 00:06:13.560 My friend was even thinner. 00:06:14.459 --> 00:06:15.939 But there's a time when he went out with a friend. 00:06:16.220 --> 00:06:17.540 And he had a drink. 00:06:17.780 --> 00:06:17.879 And he had a drink. 00:06:17.879 --> 00:06:18.079 And he had a fight. 00:06:18.300 --> 00:06:19.939 And he had a fight. 00:06:22.680 --> 00:06:27.120 One day, he went out with some of his friends after they drank a little bit. 00:06:27.420 --> 00:06:28.840 And he got into a big fight. 00:06:28.840 --> 00:06:29.840 And he had a fight. 00:06:29.839 --> 00:06:36.619 And his head was five stitches to the head later. 00:06:38.679 --> 00:06:45.159 If he went by himself, there is no way he would get into a fight. 00:06:45.500 --> 00:06:55.519 But because of his friends, that's the situation in which he found himself. 00:06:55.519 --> 00:07:03.000 So this illustrates how, you know, if you're a companion of fools, you will suffer harm. 00:07:15.000 --> 00:07:22.319 In order for friends to influence one another, it does, friendship takes time, and it takes effort. 00:07:25.519 --> 00:07:29.279 In Hong Kong, this is a very high cost. 00:07:29.279 --> 00:07:31.339 Because we have a lot of time. 00:07:31.539 --> 00:07:34.519 We are always working on a lot of things. 00:07:34.519 --> 00:07:40.539 Now this is quite costly in Hong Kong, because the opportunity cost of our time is high. 00:07:41.120 --> 00:07:45.079 We often need to work late, and there are so many things to do. 00:07:49.519 --> 00:07:55.339 So to build friendships in Hong Kong, it takes our valuable time, and also it takes money. 00:07:55.519 --> 00:08:09.779 So sometimes, yeah, it feels like you're spending on a luxury item to invest in friendship. 00:08:09.779 --> 00:08:14.459 In this relationship, we need to invest in time. 00:08:14.639 --> 00:08:17.039 So in the 17th chapter, it tells us, 00:08:17.419 --> 00:08:24.359 We see in Proverbs 17, 7, how building friendship takes time. 00:08:24.500 --> 00:08:26.699 It says, a friend loves at all times. 00:08:26.699 --> 00:08:36.299 Because if you love at all times, that means you're probably investing significant time. 00:08:37.100 --> 00:08:41.679 And then, it says, a brother is born for adversity. 00:08:41.679 --> 00:08:48.559 We all know in our lives, we experience highs and lows. 00:08:49.459 --> 00:08:50.519 We all know in our lives, we experience highs and lows. 00:08:50.519 --> 00:08:52.879 He is able to experience highs and lows. 00:08:52.879 --> 00:08:54.860 He is able to experience highs and lows. 00:08:54.860 --> 00:08:58.699 Some friends are great for being with you when you're doing great. 00:08:59.159 --> 00:09:00.819 Some friends are great for being with you when you're doing great. 00:09:00.819 --> 00:09:05.799 And some friends, they're able to walk with you when you're going through a low time. 00:09:05.799 --> 00:09:12.000 In the Old Testament, there's a man named Job. 00:09:12.439 --> 00:09:18.799 He was going through adversity. 00:09:19.299 --> 00:09:21.259 Several of his friends came to be with him. 00:09:22.939 --> 00:09:24.879 Seven days, seven days, not eating, not drinking. 00:09:25.299 --> 00:09:29.799 They sat with him and did not eat nor drink for seven days and seven nights. 00:09:29.799 --> 00:09:33.079 They fasted with him. 00:09:33.079 --> 00:09:36.919 I don't know if you have any friends like that. 00:09:38.039 --> 00:09:41.519 There are friends in our lives, we bring to our lives and we bring to our lives and we bring to our lives. 00:09:42.219 --> 00:09:46.699 So some friends, they really can comfort us when we're going through a difficult time. 00:09:47.399 --> 00:09:54.879 The Bible actually has a very high view of friendship. 00:09:54.879 --> 00:10:03.879 And Abraham was called a friend of God. 00:10:08.879 --> 00:10:15.759 And the Bible says that when Moses was on the mountain and speaking with God, 00:10:16.080 --> 00:10:18.799 it was face to face as a man with his friend. 00:10:18.799 --> 00:10:26.419 So we see this as perhaps a pinnacle of friendship. 00:10:29.419 --> 00:10:31.799 If you think about friendship as a ladder, 00:10:36.319 --> 00:10:39.799 the highest friendship is when a friend really knows you 00:10:40.439 --> 00:10:48.079 and who can completely understand you 00:10:48.080 --> 00:10:50.560 Well, actually, God can. 00:10:51.500 --> 00:10:55.040 当然,在这个下面呢,底层呢,这个台阶呢, 00:10:55.080 --> 00:10:57.280 其实就是我们刚刚认识的一些朋友. 00:10:57.840 --> 00:10:59.820 我们有的时候也称之为点头之交. 00:11:00.400 --> 00:11:02.780 Now, maybe lower down on the, 00:11:03.080 --> 00:11:05.200 or near the bottom of the ladder of friendship 00:11:05.200 --> 00:11:10.620 are new friends, people you might just have made an acquaintance of. 00:11:10.700 --> 00:11:13.580 中间呢,可能会有一些其他的交往, 00:11:13.660 --> 00:11:14.840 比如说患难之交, 00:11:14.840 --> 00:11:17.160 我们古代也称为不一之交. 00:11:17.159 --> 00:11:19.959 Maybe in the middle of the ladder, 00:11:20.100 --> 00:11:24.039 you have friends who are really those friends for adversity. 00:11:24.039 --> 00:11:28.039 就是在这种人生的起起伏伏当中, 00:11:28.399 --> 00:11:29.819 透过时间和经历, 00:11:30.459 --> 00:11:31.879 去验证你们之间的友谊. 00:11:32.139 --> 00:11:34.399 That through time and through experiences, 00:11:34.819 --> 00:11:35.980 your friendship is proven 00:11:35.980 --> 00:11:37.959 through the highs and lows of life. 00:11:38.679 --> 00:11:41.459 当然,你的这个梯子可能会很高, 00:11:41.539 --> 00:11:43.000 因为你这中间有很多的层. 00:11:43.000 --> 00:11:45.779 Maybe your ladder is a long ladder, 00:11:45.879 --> 00:11:48.259 and there are many different levels of friendship in your life. 00:11:48.259 --> 00:11:50.820 但是他们都在你的人生不同的阶段, 00:11:50.919 --> 00:11:54.899 与你一同去经历这样一个友谊的阶梯. 00:11:55.320 --> 00:11:56.840 And so there's a ladder of friendship 00:11:56.840 --> 00:11:59.279 that is part of your life, 00:11:59.279 --> 00:12:02.000 as you go through all the many different experiences in your life. 00:12:02.220 --> 00:12:05.159 In my life, there are two friends. 00:12:05.159 --> 00:12:08.159 Now it's been 30 years of this relationship. 00:12:09.120 --> 00:12:11.100 There are two friends in my life. 00:12:11.559 --> 00:12:13.139 We've been friends for 30 years. 00:12:13.139 --> 00:12:31.559 These two friends, 00:12:31.699 --> 00:12:33.179 we experienced graduation, 00:12:34.139 --> 00:12:35.460 looking for a job, 00:12:36.439 --> 00:12:37.580 changing jobs, 00:12:38.019 --> 00:12:39.340 getting married or dating, 00:12:39.620 --> 00:12:40.519 and then getting married, 00:12:40.899 --> 00:12:41.939 and then having children. 00:12:41.940 --> 00:12:44.860 We experienced these experiences together. 00:12:53.100 --> 00:12:54.000 Lived in Beijing, 00:12:54.640 --> 00:12:56.460 we would get together every single weekend, 00:12:57.120 --> 00:12:59.460 even if just for a brief period. 00:13:04.380 --> 00:13:07.920 I experienced from them where Proverbs 17, 17 says, 00:13:08.260 --> 00:13:10.240 a friend loves at all times. 00:13:11.940 --> 00:13:13.420 时间的成本. 00:13:14.060 --> 00:13:14.660 Of course, 00:13:15.200 --> 00:13:17.560 this took a great investment of time. 00:13:18.120 --> 00:13:19.420 弟兄也是为患难而生. 00:13:20.360 --> 00:13:21.400 This verse also says, 00:13:21.500 --> 00:13:22.960 a brother is born for adversity. 00:13:22.960 --> 00:13:28.920 So I also thought about, 00:13:29.080 --> 00:13:31.280 how did my friends help me 00:13:31.280 --> 00:13:32.840 when I was going through a hard time? 00:13:32.840 --> 00:13:41.700 I remember when I was in college, 00:13:42.379 --> 00:13:43.480 I was going through, 00:13:43.660 --> 00:13:45.480 I was in financial difficulty. 00:13:45.480 --> 00:13:46.440 I needed some money. 00:13:47.399 --> 00:13:47.480 I needed some money. 00:13:47.480 --> 00:13:53.039 I couldn't get in touch with my dad. 00:13:53.539 --> 00:13:55.039 And so I asked my friend. 00:13:55.600 --> 00:13:58.960 I asked my friend. 00:13:58.960 --> 00:14:00.280 I was going to give her a number. 00:14:00.280 --> 00:14:01.860 So I estimated, 00:14:02.139 --> 00:14:04.480 how much money do I need to get me, 00:14:04.700 --> 00:14:05.820 to tide me over? 00:14:06.300 --> 00:14:07.900 And I told him what I needed. 00:14:08.420 --> 00:14:11.960 He asked me a question. 00:14:12.440 --> 00:14:12.900 He said, 00:14:12.899 --> 00:14:16.919 will it be enough? 00:14:21.139 --> 00:14:23.399 This was a friend from my time of adversity. 00:14:27.899 --> 00:14:28.059 Now, 00:14:28.159 --> 00:14:30.360 some of you may have some bad friends in your lives. 00:14:30.360 --> 00:14:35.779 Maybe when you go and say, 00:14:35.860 --> 00:14:36.899 oh, may I borrow some money? 00:14:36.980 --> 00:14:37.500 They reply. 00:14:39.279 --> 00:14:39.940 He will answer you, 00:14:41.039 --> 00:14:44.759 I have to ask my husband. 00:14:45.899 --> 00:14:47.560 Maybe she'll reply, 00:14:47.740 --> 00:14:49.419 I need to ask my husband. 00:14:52.600 --> 00:14:53.960 But then you think about it. 00:14:54.180 --> 00:14:54.420 Wait, 00:14:54.720 --> 00:14:55.840 you don't have a husband yet. 00:14:59.200 --> 00:15:00.139 In other words, 00:15:00.360 --> 00:15:01.240 don't even ask. 00:15:02.560 --> 00:15:03.779 This is a friend. 00:15:03.779 --> 00:15:04.340 This is a friend. 00:15:04.360 --> 00:15:04.580 It's a friend. 00:15:04.580 --> 00:15:04.700 It's a friend. 00:15:04.700 --> 00:15:05.360 It's a friend. 00:15:05.399 --> 00:15:05.460 It's a friend. 00:15:05.500 --> 00:15:05.740 It's a friend. 00:15:05.740 --> 00:15:05.779 It's a friend. 00:15:05.779 --> 00:15:06.080 It's a friend. 00:15:06.080 --> 00:15:06.320 It's a friend. 00:15:07.639 --> 00:15:08.500 But friendship, 00:15:08.720 --> 00:15:09.600 it takes time. 00:15:09.840 --> 00:15:11.980 And it needs to pass the test of time. 00:15:12.340 --> 00:15:13.460 And experiences. 00:15:13.800 --> 00:15:14.899 It's a friend. 00:15:17.039 --> 00:15:18.560 Our friends actually also end up 00:15:18.560 --> 00:15:19.720 having a great influence 00:15:19.720 --> 00:15:21.139 and impact on our lives. 00:15:21.899 --> 00:15:22.200 My friend, 00:15:22.560 --> 00:15:24.680 he loves to play the guitar. 00:15:24.679 --> 00:15:28.679 My friend, a friend of mine loves to play the guitar. 00:15:28.679 --> 00:15:31.679 There's a time to give me a guitar. 00:15:31.679 --> 00:15:34.679 And then I started to play the guitar. 00:15:34.679 --> 00:15:40.679 And once he left his guitar with me. 00:15:40.679 --> 00:15:43.679 And then so I began to learn how to play 00:15:43.679 --> 00:15:45.679 and try to figure out the chords. 00:15:45.679 --> 00:15:50.679 I really think without his influence in my life, 00:15:50.679 --> 00:15:53.679 I would have never learned to play the guitar. 00:15:53.679 --> 00:16:00.679 So, we all know friends have a great influence and impact on our lives. 00:16:00.679 --> 00:16:20.679 If you have a child from their friends that are more influenced by their friends than what you are trying to teach them. 00:16:20.679 --> 00:16:27.679 In Chinese history, there's a very famous mother. 00:16:27.679 --> 00:16:34.679 And she knew that friends were very important to her children. 00:16:34.679 --> 00:16:43.679 So, for the sake of building her child's character, she moved three times geographically. 00:16:43.679 --> 00:16:50.679 For the sake of building her family, she moved three times geographically. 00:16:50.679 --> 00:16:52.679 And she moved three times to move your house. 00:16:52.679 --> 00:16:57.679 But this mother sacrificed a lot. 00:16:57.679 --> 00:17:03.679 And moved even geographically three times for the sake of her child. 00:17:03.679 --> 00:17:14.679 Because it's very important for us to think about how to leave the companionship of fools. 00:17:14.679 --> 00:17:18.679 And how to walk with the wise. 00:17:18.680 --> 00:17:23.680 The brother is born for adversity. 00:17:23.680 --> 00:17:24.680 A brother is born for adversity. 00:17:24.680 --> 00:17:28.680 A friend loves at all times. 00:17:28.680 --> 00:17:31.680 In the same time, I thought about the family. 00:17:31.680 --> 00:17:36.680 When I hear about adversity, this also makes me think of my father. 00:17:36.680 --> 00:17:39.680 They are a friend of his brother. 00:17:39.680 --> 00:17:43.680 Actually, it was one of his drinking buddies. 00:17:43.680 --> 00:17:48.680 They would talk about his job and life. 00:17:48.680 --> 00:17:53.680 Sometimes they would talk about their jobs or life. 00:17:53.680 --> 00:17:55.680 But mainly, they just drink together. 00:17:55.680 --> 00:18:02.680 And one time, my father's friend got drunk. 00:18:02.680 --> 00:18:11.680 And when they get separated, they go back to their respective homes. 00:18:11.680 --> 00:18:14.680 And as they separated, they go back to their respective homes. 00:18:14.680 --> 00:18:18.680 Or maybe you know, I'm from northern China. 00:18:18.680 --> 00:18:21.680 And it gets really, really cold in the winter. 00:18:21.680 --> 00:18:23.680 Or it gets really, really cold in the winter. 00:18:23.680 --> 00:18:27.680 In the winter, it can get to be negative 20 or 30 degrees. 00:18:27.680 --> 00:18:40.680 You even hear stories about people losing their ears, losing their fingers, or even dying because of frostbite. 00:18:46.680 --> 00:18:50.680 It is very foolish to get drunk in this type of weather. 00:18:50.680 --> 00:18:57.680 So my father felt very concerned for his friend after they parted ways. 00:18:57.680 --> 00:18:59.680 And so my father felt very concerned for his friend after they parted ways. 00:18:59.680 --> 00:19:03.680 So he went, he circled back to look for him. 00:19:03.680 --> 00:19:12.680 And on the path back to his friend's house, he didn't see his friend. 00:19:12.680 --> 00:19:25.680 And when you're looking for someone who's staggering and sort of stumbling along, 00:19:25.680 --> 00:19:28.680 So my father, if he didn't find the weather, he would be very cold. 00:19:28.680 --> 00:19:29.680 He would be very cold. How did he do it? 00:19:29.680 --> 00:19:31.680 He would be able to get a car. 00:19:31.680 --> 00:19:35.680 So he tried to look for him. He couldn't find him. 00:19:35.680 --> 00:19:38.680 And so he called the cab. 00:19:38.680 --> 00:19:42.680 And the driver would be able to look to search with him. 00:19:42.680 --> 00:19:47.680 The driver would be a little scared. 00:19:47.680 --> 00:19:54.680 He would be able to get a car. 00:19:54.680 --> 00:19:57.680 And the taxi driver was concerned because he's like, 00:19:57.680 --> 00:20:00.680 Well, you know, how long are you going to try to look for this guy? 00:20:00.680 --> 00:20:02.680 And also, do you have enough money to pay me? 00:20:02.680 --> 00:20:05.680 You look kind of not doing so well yourself. 00:20:05.680 --> 00:20:15.680 And my father, he emptied his wallet. 00:20:15.680 --> 00:20:19.680 And he's like, look, take this money, but you've got to help me find my friend. 00:20:19.680 --> 00:20:30.680 And they drove along that path several times. 00:20:30.680 --> 00:20:36.680 And finally, they saw a little pile off to the side. 00:20:36.680 --> 00:20:38.680 That was a little bit of a move. 00:20:38.680 --> 00:20:39.680 It was a little bit of a move. 00:20:39.680 --> 00:20:41.680 There was no movement. 00:20:41.680 --> 00:20:42.680 It was in the snow. 00:20:42.680 --> 00:20:43.680 In the snow. 00:20:43.680 --> 00:20:46.680 And my father saw it was his friend. 00:20:46.680 --> 00:20:49.680 And with the driver, they brought him into the car. 00:20:49.680 --> 00:20:51.680 And they drove him home. 00:20:51.680 --> 00:20:54.680 They covered him with layers of blankets. 00:20:54.680 --> 00:20:57.680 And the next morning, his friend woke up. 00:20:57.680 --> 00:21:00.680 And he was very confused. 00:21:00.680 --> 00:21:01.680 And he was very confused. 00:21:01.680 --> 00:21:03.680 And he said, hey, I thought I was in my house. 00:21:03.680 --> 00:21:05.680 How did I get to be in your house? 00:21:05.680 --> 00:21:10.680 And my father said, do you know where you were sleeping last night? 00:21:10.680 --> 00:21:11.680 And he said, I'm back home. 00:21:11.680 --> 00:21:14.680 And he said, do you know where you were sleeping last night? 00:21:14.680 --> 00:21:27.680 And my father said, do you know where you were sleeping last night? 00:21:27.680 --> 00:21:29.680 And he said, I'm back home. 00:21:29.680 --> 00:21:30.680 And my bed is still pretty comfortable. 00:21:30.680 --> 00:21:32.680 And my bed is still pretty comfortable. 00:21:32.680 --> 00:21:34.680 And I'm going to go to bed. 00:21:34.680 --> 00:21:37.680 And he said, I walked home. 00:21:37.680 --> 00:21:39.680 And I got into my comfortable bed. 00:21:39.680 --> 00:21:40.680 I took off my shoes. 00:21:40.680 --> 00:21:42.680 And I went to sleep. 00:21:42.680 --> 00:21:47.680 This is a friend in the situation. 00:21:47.680 --> 00:21:49.680 So this was a friend. 00:21:49.680 --> 00:21:54.680 My father was a friend to him in his time of adversity. 00:21:54.680 --> 00:22:01.680 This friend was even closer than a brother. 00:22:01.680 --> 00:22:11.680 Actually, my father's friend had three older brothers and one younger brother. 00:22:11.680 --> 00:22:22.680 But at that moment, it was only his friend who could save him or not. 00:22:22.680 --> 00:22:24.680 So we were in our lives. 00:22:24.680 --> 00:22:27.680 Actually, in our lives, sometimes it's that way. 00:22:27.680 --> 00:22:29.680 We were in this world. 00:22:29.680 --> 00:22:31.680 We were in this world. 00:22:31.680 --> 00:22:32.680 We were in a world that was more comfortable. 00:22:32.680 --> 00:22:35.680 We were in a world that was our home. 00:22:35.680 --> 00:22:38.680 Sometimes we were so comfortable in this world. 00:22:38.680 --> 00:22:41.680 And we think that this world is our home. 00:22:41.680 --> 00:22:51.680 But Jesus came to the world to tell us, no, this world is not our home. 00:22:51.680 --> 00:22:58.680 Sometimes we're like that drunken friend of my dad's. 00:22:58.680 --> 00:23:04.680 We think, oh, this is our home. 00:23:04.680 --> 00:23:09.680 A brother is born for adversity. 00:23:09.680 --> 00:23:12.680 So in this situation, my father became his friend. 00:23:12.680 --> 00:23:17.680 My father became a friend for adversity for his friend. 00:23:17.680 --> 00:23:22.680 So in this situation, you have to spend time and experience to help him. 00:23:22.680 --> 00:23:26.680 Obviously, it took time and money to help him. 00:23:26.680 --> 00:23:36.680 Do we say that we are in our friends' lives? 00:23:36.680 --> 00:23:41.680 Now, would we be willing to be a friend to others in this way? 00:23:41.680 --> 00:23:48.680 I mean, my father saved his physical life. 00:23:48.680 --> 00:23:52.680 Maybe he could live for another 10, 20 years. 00:23:52.680 --> 00:24:02.680 But when Jesus came to save us in this world, he saved us for eternal life. 00:24:02.680 --> 00:24:09.680 When Jesus was preaching and teaching on earth, 00:24:09.680 --> 00:24:19.680 There was a lame man, a crippled, who was brought before Jesus. 00:24:19.680 --> 00:24:29.680 So this place, if he was to see him, he would have been impossible for this man to make his own way to Jesus. 00:24:29.680 --> 00:24:34.680 But he had some friends. 00:24:34.680 --> 00:24:36.680 And they brought him before Jesus. 00:24:36.680 --> 00:24:37.680 They brought him before Jesus. 00:24:37.680 --> 00:24:45.680 When he came to Jesus' friends' house where Jesus was preaching and teaching, 00:24:45.680 --> 00:24:49.680 The house is where he was pushing and teaching. 00:24:49.680 --> 00:24:51.680 . 00:24:51.680 --> 00:24:52.680 It was surrounded. 00:24:52.680 --> 00:24:53.680 It was packed with people. 00:24:53.680 --> 00:24:56.680 There's no way they could get in to be with Jesus. 00:24:56.680 --> 00:25:03.680 And so these friends of that crippled man, 00:25:03.680 --> 00:25:07.460 They made their way onto the roof. 00:25:07.460 --> 00:25:09.019 To put the roof on the roof. 00:25:09.400 --> 00:25:10.460 From the roof on the roof. 00:25:10.460 --> 00:25:12.740 To put the roof on the roof. 00:25:13.039 --> 00:25:14.720 And they dug open the roof. 00:25:14.900 --> 00:25:19.400 And they lowered their crippled friend down through the roof. 00:25:21.440 --> 00:25:26.100 When Jesus saw them. 00:25:26.860 --> 00:25:33.299 Jesus saw their faith. 00:25:33.680 --> 00:25:35.259 And spoke to the crippled man. 00:25:39.900 --> 00:25:42.060 Often we see that Jesus. 00:25:42.519 --> 00:25:44.360 We see in the Bible that it says. 00:25:44.600 --> 00:25:46.060 Jesus saw someone's faith. 00:25:50.100 --> 00:25:51.160 In this situation. 00:25:51.360 --> 00:25:54.060 Jesus saw the faith of those friends. 00:25:59.460 --> 00:26:00.640 Obviously today. 00:26:01.420 --> 00:26:03.060 It might be much more difficult. 00:26:03.059 --> 00:26:04.679 To have this exact same scenario. 00:26:05.559 --> 00:26:05.740 You said, 00:26:05.740 --> 00:26:10.960 If you say to your friend, 00:26:11.059 --> 00:26:12.899 Please take me to go see Jesus. 00:26:13.019 --> 00:26:16.440 If you're the lame person. 00:26:16.500 --> 00:26:17.220 If you're the cripple. 00:26:17.480 --> 00:26:18.319 And you say to your friends, 00:26:18.399 --> 00:26:19.639 Please take me to see Jesus. 00:26:19.640 --> 00:26:24.120 Your first friend may say to you. 00:26:26.320 --> 00:26:28.240 That's a very good idea. 00:26:29.040 --> 00:26:32.900 I will like it on Facebook. 00:26:32.900 --> 00:26:37.280 And I'll give you a star. 00:26:37.280 --> 00:26:37.300 And I'll give you a star. 00:26:39.900 --> 00:26:44.280 Maybe your second friend would say to you. 00:26:44.279 --> 00:26:50.460 Recently, I have a big exam coming up. 00:26:50.460 --> 00:26:50.960 Hey, yeah. 00:26:51.119 --> 00:26:52.660 This is a big exam coming up. 00:26:52.660 --> 00:26:56.759 And I really need to really study. 00:26:57.019 --> 00:27:01.440 I will definitely help you when I finish the exam. 00:27:01.700 --> 00:27:04.420 And the third friend may say to you. 00:27:04.420 --> 00:27:10.060 I'm off on a business trip this afternoon. 00:27:10.460 --> 00:27:12.880 I'm so sorry I can't help you. 00:27:12.880 --> 00:27:14.620 I can't help you. 00:27:14.620 --> 00:27:16.039 But when I come back, I'll help you. 00:27:16.840 --> 00:27:19.259 And the fourth friend may say, 00:27:19.259 --> 00:27:26.980 I'm not sure that idea is really workable. 00:27:27.440 --> 00:27:29.339 You've been crippled. 00:27:29.740 --> 00:27:31.460 I mean, you're crippled. 00:27:31.619 --> 00:27:34.119 And you've been crippled for many, many, many years. 00:27:35.259 --> 00:27:37.660 That Jesus really can治好 you. 00:27:37.980 --> 00:27:39.740 Even if we can get you to Jesus, 00:27:39.980 --> 00:27:40.859 can he heal you? 00:27:43.960 --> 00:27:45.480 I think you should just give up. 00:27:45.480 --> 00:27:52.860 When we think of the friends in our lives today, 00:27:54.180 --> 00:27:57.420 how can we help them? 00:27:58.319 --> 00:28:00.759 That's the one that he has four friends. 00:28:01.220 --> 00:28:04.660 Now, this cripple, he had four friends. 00:28:05.400 --> 00:28:08.160 And they worked as a team to get him to Jesus. 00:28:08.620 --> 00:28:09.720 This is not one person. 00:28:09.720 --> 00:28:13.960 Sometimes, you know, one person is not enough. 00:28:13.960 --> 00:28:17.720 I don't know if you have ever tried to pick up somebody. 00:28:18.340 --> 00:28:21.740 If you have ever tried to pick up somebody, 00:28:22.539 --> 00:28:25.340 if one person, you try to pick up one other person, 00:28:25.840 --> 00:28:28.480 you'll find that that person may be very heavy. 00:28:28.660 --> 00:28:31.759 You can't go very far. 00:28:32.860 --> 00:28:33.559 This is not one person. 00:28:33.559 --> 00:28:34.779 You need four people. 00:28:34.779 --> 00:28:36.420 You know, this crippled person, 00:28:36.579 --> 00:28:37.920 he needed four people. 00:28:38.579 --> 00:28:38.840 And this is not one person. 00:28:38.840 --> 00:28:39.480 And this is not one person. 00:28:39.480 --> 00:28:39.740 He needed four people. 00:28:39.740 --> 00:28:40.799 He needed four people. 00:28:41.440 --> 00:28:43.940 And all four of them needed to have faith. 00:28:43.960 --> 00:28:46.140 If they have no faith, 00:28:46.140 --> 00:28:49.880 they will not have the power to take up Jesus. 00:28:49.880 --> 00:28:51.079 Without faith, 00:28:51.079 --> 00:28:53.559 they wouldn't have brought him before Jesus. 00:28:53.559 --> 00:28:57.960 Because it's a total waste of your effort. 00:28:57.960 --> 00:29:05.140 You've already tried all the best doctors on this earth. 00:29:05.140 --> 00:29:07.519 Like, you can't be healed. 00:29:07.660 --> 00:29:08.180 You're crippled. 00:29:08.740 --> 00:29:14.779 But his friends, they had this faith. 00:29:14.920 --> 00:29:16.200 And how do we see their faith? 00:29:16.840 --> 00:29:22.299 Not only did they do this great thing together 00:29:22.299 --> 00:29:23.560 and bring him before Christ. 00:29:23.559 --> 00:29:33.099 They did a bad thing. 00:29:33.099 --> 00:29:34.659 They destroyed someone's roof. 00:29:34.659 --> 00:29:39.379 In Israel in those days. 00:29:39.380 --> 00:29:45.420 If you're in the U.S. 00:29:45.420 --> 00:29:48.440 In Texas, Dallas. 00:29:48.440 --> 00:29:48.600 If you're in Dallas, Dallas. 00:29:48.600 --> 00:29:48.640 If you're in Dallas, Dallas, Dallas. 00:29:48.640 --> 00:29:52.560 If you're in Dallas, Dallas, Dallas. 00:29:52.560 --> 00:29:57.260 If you're in Dallas, Texas today. 00:29:57.760 --> 00:30:00.580 Maybe four bullets and the story is over. 00:30:00.579 --> 00:30:07.480 Because you know, in Texas, they have guns. 00:30:07.480 --> 00:30:09.619 And if you try to take their roof down, 00:30:09.960 --> 00:30:11.079 they'll get you. 00:30:16.699 --> 00:30:19.659 So you have four friends on the roof, 00:30:20.460 --> 00:30:22.240 one bullet for each friend, 00:30:22.480 --> 00:30:23.919 and the cripple just falls away. 00:30:23.920 --> 00:30:31.320 So we see the faith of these four friends 00:30:31.320 --> 00:30:32.900 as they brought him to Jesus. 00:30:33.980 --> 00:30:39.800 So in our lives, 00:30:39.980 --> 00:30:42.100 can we be that friend who has faith? 00:30:48.539 --> 00:30:50.320 When Jesus saw this crippled, 00:30:50.440 --> 00:30:51.200 he said to him, 00:30:51.200 --> 00:30:56.100 your sins are forgiven. 00:30:59.640 --> 00:31:01.160 He healed him physically. 00:31:04.740 --> 00:31:06.680 But the words out of Jesus' mouth were, 00:31:06.779 --> 00:31:07.940 your sins are forgiven. 00:31:12.740 --> 00:31:14.600 Sometimes we think the most important 00:31:14.600 --> 00:31:15.880 is our physical health 00:31:15.880 --> 00:31:17.259 and our physical bodies. 00:31:21.200 --> 00:31:24.299 But Jesus tells us that it's more important 00:31:24.299 --> 00:31:25.700 that our sins are forgiven. 00:31:26.600 --> 00:31:27.759 Do you have a friend of God? 00:31:28.480 --> 00:31:29.580 Because so what? 00:31:29.640 --> 00:31:30.539 Your sins are forgiven. 00:31:31.400 --> 00:31:31.680 Do you have a friend of God? 00:31:31.680 --> 00:31:32.019 Do you have a friend of God? 00:31:32.019 --> 00:31:34.340 Because if your sins are forgiven, 00:31:34.340 --> 00:31:39.279 you can be a friend of God. 00:31:40.100 --> 00:31:45.519 You can reach the pinnacle, 00:31:45.920 --> 00:31:47.180 the top of the ladder 00:31:47.180 --> 00:31:48.940 of meaningful friendships. 00:31:48.940 --> 00:31:52.700 Just like Abraham did. 00:31:54.039 --> 00:31:55.100 Just like Moses did. 00:31:55.580 --> 00:31:57.120 Just like Moses did. 00:32:01.220 --> 00:32:03.580 You can share your deepest secrets 00:32:03.580 --> 00:32:05.400 with truly the best friend. 00:32:06.400 --> 00:32:09.799 Just like in the Old Testament, 00:32:09.799 --> 00:32:13.879 in the Old Testament, 00:32:14.419 --> 00:32:17.419 when God was going to destroy 00:32:17.419 --> 00:32:18.399 Sodom and Gomorrah, 00:32:19.339 --> 00:32:22.460 he said, 00:32:22.759 --> 00:32:23.859 how can I hide this 00:32:23.859 --> 00:32:24.899 from my friend Abraham? 00:32:25.899 --> 00:32:27.000 So in the Old Testament, 00:32:27.000 --> 00:32:29.799 he has this kind of亲密. 00:32:30.899 --> 00:32:31.799 In friendship, 00:32:32.059 --> 00:32:33.819 you have this intimate relationship. 00:32:33.819 --> 00:32:39.059 On Mount Sinai, 00:32:39.179 --> 00:32:40.259 Moses spoke with God. 00:32:40.259 --> 00:32:45.460 And God shared with Moses 00:32:45.460 --> 00:32:46.819 so many things 00:32:46.819 --> 00:32:47.899 that the nation of Israel 00:32:47.899 --> 00:32:48.740 needed to know. 00:32:52.319 --> 00:32:55.079 To teach the nation of Israel 00:32:55.079 --> 00:32:56.439 how to draw close to God. 00:32:58.379 --> 00:32:59.939 Because God is a holy God. 00:32:59.940 --> 00:33:05.620 If you don't know God's ways 00:33:05.620 --> 00:33:06.920 of how to draw near to him, 00:33:07.500 --> 00:33:10.180 then you'll just walk away of death. 00:33:11.059 --> 00:33:15.000 In the New Testament, 00:33:15.240 --> 00:33:17.220 Jesus also tells us this. 00:33:17.220 --> 00:33:19.220 You are to love each other. 00:33:20.740 --> 00:33:22.079 This is my commandment 00:33:22.079 --> 00:33:23.420 that you love one another. 00:33:23.819 --> 00:33:26.440 As I have loved you. 00:33:26.660 --> 00:33:30.220 This is my commandment. 00:33:30.579 --> 00:33:35.720 Greater love has no one than this, 00:33:35.960 --> 00:33:37.559 that someone lay down his life 00:33:37.559 --> 00:33:38.319 for his friends. 00:33:42.100 --> 00:33:42.960 You are my friends 00:33:42.960 --> 00:33:44.400 if you do what I command you. 00:33:44.400 --> 00:33:49.040 No longer do I call you servants. 00:33:49.720 --> 00:33:53.519 For the servant does not know 00:33:53.519 --> 00:33:55.019 what his master is doing. 00:33:57.220 --> 00:33:58.600 But I have called you friends. 00:34:02.900 --> 00:34:04.740 For all that I have heard from my father, 00:34:05.140 --> 00:34:06.400 I have made known to you. 00:34:06.400 --> 00:34:14.980 All that we need to know, 00:34:15.079 --> 00:34:16.599 even of the mysteries of heaven, 00:34:17.320 --> 00:34:19.079 Jesus is telling us. 00:34:24.079 --> 00:34:27.720 And it says he calls us his friends. 00:34:27.719 --> 00:34:33.879 There is no greater love than this, 00:34:33.939 --> 00:34:35.559 that someone lay down his life 00:34:35.559 --> 00:34:36.439 for his friends. 00:34:36.439 --> 00:34:38.739 Jesus is in the十字架上 00:34:38.739 --> 00:34:39.259 for us. 00:34:40.219 --> 00:34:41.719 And we see that Jesus, 00:34:41.939 --> 00:34:44.399 he gave his life on the cross for us. 00:34:45.259 --> 00:34:50.299 Just like he said to that crippled, 00:34:50.480 --> 00:34:51.519 your sins are forgiven. 00:34:51.519 --> 00:34:54.940 But that罪 is Jesus. 00:34:55.940 --> 00:34:57.199 Because Jesus, 00:34:57.559 --> 00:35:00.139 he took our sins on himself. 00:35:00.940 --> 00:35:05.519 He gave his life, 00:35:05.699 --> 00:35:07.539 he laid down his life for his friends. 00:35:07.880 --> 00:35:09.340 There is no greater love than this. 00:35:09.840 --> 00:35:10.980 Jesus is in the same way. 00:35:11.980 --> 00:35:14.420 And Jesus calls us his friends. 00:35:14.980 --> 00:35:21.179 He is the incarnation of all wisdom. 00:35:21.639 --> 00:35:27.659 He is that wise person. 00:35:27.759 --> 00:35:28.559 When Proverbs says, 00:35:28.879 --> 00:35:30.159 whoever walks with the wise 00:35:30.159 --> 00:35:31.019 becomes wise. 00:35:31.679 --> 00:35:32.659 He is for our sick. 00:35:32.659 --> 00:35:36.139 And he was actually born 00:35:36.139 --> 00:35:38.319 for our adversity. 00:35:38.739 --> 00:35:40.460 And he was born for our adversity. 00:35:41.539 --> 00:35:43.319 And who has saved us out of sin. 00:35:44.679 --> 00:35:46.079 He is that friend 00:35:46.079 --> 00:35:51.159 who sticks closer to us. 00:35:51.179 --> 00:35:51.799 He is more than a brother. 00:35:52.139 --> 00:35:57.239 Because he gave his own life for us. 00:35:57.759 --> 00:36:00.599 He has a call to us. 00:36:00.599 --> 00:36:01.940 And he has a call to us. 00:36:01.940 --> 00:36:05.360 He is ready to be a true friend. 00:36:05.360 --> 00:36:08.159 Are you prepared to be a true friend? 00:36:08.159 --> 00:36:16.899 There are many people around you 00:36:16.899 --> 00:36:17.759 in your life 00:36:17.759 --> 00:36:20.039 who are just like that lame or crippled person. 00:36:20.039 --> 00:36:29.360 You are willing to spend that time 00:36:29.360 --> 00:36:30.659 and maybe that money 00:36:30.659 --> 00:36:32.039 to bring them before Jesus? 00:36:36.519 --> 00:36:38.940 Hopefully, we can also have this impact 00:36:38.940 --> 00:36:39.800 on their lives. 00:36:39.800 --> 00:36:46.380 As we are influenced by the character 00:36:46.380 --> 00:36:47.420 of Jesus, 00:36:48.180 --> 00:36:55.340 let's also be an influence 00:36:55.340 --> 00:36:56.960 on our friends around us 00:36:56.960 --> 00:36:58.200 that they may also 00:36:58.200 --> 00:37:01.140 grow in this heavenly character. 00:37:01.139 --> 00:37:04.879 and may we be friends 00:37:04.879 --> 00:37:07.099 that can be friends in adversity. 00:37:08.099 --> 00:37:09.099 Let's pray. 00:37:09.099 --> 00:37:10.099 Let's pray. 00:37:12.719 --> 00:37:13.159 Let's pray. 00:37:13.159 --> 00:37:13.719 Let's pray. 00:37:13.719 --> 00:37:14.019 Let's pray. 00:37:14.019 --> 00:37:14.099 Let's pray. 00:37:14.099 --> 00:37:14.219 Let's pray. 00:37:14.219 --> 00:37:14.719 Let's pray. 00:37:15.719 --> 00:37:16.759 Dear Father, 00:37:17.139 --> 00:37:17.719 Abba Father, 00:37:17.980 --> 00:37:18.719 we thank you. 00:37:19.480 --> 00:37:23.739 We are all foolish. 00:37:24.299 --> 00:37:25.659 We are all foolish. 00:37:25.719 --> 00:37:28.779 We thought we're so wise. 00:37:28.780 --> 00:37:32.420 We thought, 00:37:32.600 --> 00:37:34.240 oh, this world is our home. 00:37:37.060 --> 00:37:37.900 But you tell us, 00:37:37.980 --> 00:37:39.620 no, our home is in heaven. 00:37:41.100 --> 00:37:42.019 In your kingdom. 00:37:44.780 --> 00:37:46.740 Lord, please give us wisdom. 00:37:48.320 --> 00:37:49.560 How to go home. 00:37:51.980 --> 00:37:53.420 And how to bring friends home. 00:37:56.720 --> 00:37:57.620 Lord, be with us 00:37:57.620 --> 00:37:58.440 and give us strength. 00:37:58.780 --> 00:38:03.180 Make us to be true friends 00:38:03.180 --> 00:38:04.220 who are willing to sacrifice 00:38:04.220 --> 00:38:05.060 for our friends. 00:38:06.780 --> 00:38:08.120 In Jesus Christ's name we pray. 00:38:08.500 --> 00:38:09.019 Amen.