The Beauty of Friends in Christ | Matthew 18:20

[00:00:00] We'll truth, Daily This is Daily Truths with Dave Ahlman Hi everybody welcome back to Daily Truths I've talked to a lot of people down through the years who said, you know, I believe in Christ But I really don't need the church. I don't need to go to church

[00:00:19] I don't need Christian Fellowship I've been hurt too badly. I just don't go there Wow I hope and pray that you're not one of those folks because folks we need each other We need the church

[00:00:35] Every once in a while I get down, I get kind of feeling lonely and depressed And anxiety written and you're thinking, you pastor Dave Yeah me, it happens to all of us right And during that time I'll pick up the phone and I'll say hey

[00:00:51] To some good friend of mine, hey can I meet with you And we do, maybe you're the same way Things in your life may not be going well and you know, you're just a feeling kind of anxiety Written and maybe separated from God

[00:01:05] And things aren't going well, things aren't falling into place And you need to talk to somebody Do you pick up the phone or send a text And say to a good friend who's a believer Can I get together with you for coffee? What a difference That makes

[00:01:23] Why is that Hmm, listen to this This is Jesus speaking In Matthew chapter 18 verse 20 and this is what he says For where two or three are gathered in my name There are my among them What a promise When two or three believers get together

[00:01:49] Jesus is present right in the midst of it He's present listening to every conversation, guiding every conversation He's the one who's molding and shaping the conversation He's the one who's giving us insights To share with one another, to encourage and build each other up

[00:02:05] Indeed when I have met with people that I love in the Lord That are great friends of mine who trust in Jesus Just about every time I get out of that conversation What do I say? I see Jesus in you Or Jesus was present in this conversation

[00:02:23] Or I thank God that the Lord was a listener To everything we sat and he guided everything that we uttered It's amazing to me how many times I sense the presence of God In what the solid declaration of the Oggsberg confession Says mutual conversation and encouragement

[00:02:42] We need mutual conversation And encouragement with each other To hold each other accountable to encourage us when we're weak To strengthen us when we're faltering To point us to the grace of God and when we're guilty

[00:02:56] Oh my goodness my friends, I praise God for the fellowship that we have With brothers and sisters in Christ in the church Now here's where it comes down to you When you're feeling down depressed Anxiety written for saken for Lord over wound Maybe distant from God

[00:03:18] There's one thing you need to do Listen to me now There's one thing you need to do Go talk to somebody who believes in the Lord Jesus Christ Who is a strong and courageer Who you know will breathe life, spiritual life into you

[00:03:34] Because through them the Lord Jesus is working And if the Lord Jesus is working Why not be in contact with Christian friends as much as possible I thank God in my life For there's many others that I could mention But we don't have enough time

[00:03:53] But I thank God for people I can't patent And Craig Parrot and Tim Hobbin And Mark Langhoff And Brian Thompson And Ford Craig and Rod Aaylers Who every time I get together with them I see Jesus in them And I'll tell them that sometimes

[00:04:16] I mean the conversation is so sweet And they are such an courageers to me I can't help but say man Jesus was present here today Friends, I started this little ditty today By saying here a few minutes ago We need the church We need each other

[00:04:36] And we can't be secret service agents for the Lord Jesus Christ We can't go in cognito You see, a podcast Even though I do one of these And I do this just to encourage you in the faith every day But podcasts can't cut it

[00:04:51] We need much more than that We need much more than online church We need fellowship We need encouragement We need the body of Christ And we need Christian friends Without them I don't know where I be And you might feel the same way

[00:05:07] So here's a bottom line of this message today Find a good friend when you're feeling weak Or tired or lonely Or depressed or anxiety Find a good Christian friend Who you know will speak Spiritual life into you Because what does a scripture say here?

[00:05:24] Wherever two or three are gathered In my name Jesus says There am I among them Boys, that true Have a great day in the Lord Jesus Christ And that is today's Daily Truth Thank you for tuning in to daily truths With Day Ball

[00:05:43] Pastor Dave Alman is the pastor of Mount Holt Church And Boulder, Colorado If you feel led Would you consider giving to this ministry Your tax deductible donation Helps us continue sharing the gospel with as many people as possible Simply click the link in the description below

[00:05:59] So come back tomorrow for your next daily truth