WHAT A FRIEND WE HAVE IN JESUS
WHAT A FRIEND WE HAVE IN JESUS. Powerful song title that should bring us to tears when we truly grasp the meaning of the word FRIEND.
A FRIEND is a person whom one knows and with whom one has a bond of mutual affection; a person who is not an enemy or foe.
WHAT A FRIEND WE HAVE IN JESUS
You become a friend of another person when you both share common values and probably a number of similar interests. You also truly enjoy each other’s company. Your shared interests and values are the ‘pull factors’ that cause you both to gravitate towards each other and thereby keep the friendship alive and thriving.
HOW DO YOU VALUE A TRUE FRIEND?
TRUST. Being able to have trust and confidence in your friend is one of the most important requirements of a strong relationship because true friendship means you are able to count on one another. Part of caring for a friend is honoring what they tell you, no matter the significance, with confidentiality and respect.
WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT FRENDS?
“One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity.” “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.
[Pro 18:24 KJV] 24 A man [that hath] friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend [that] sticketh closer than a brother.
When we relate these explanations of the word, FRIEND to our LORD and SAVIOR, Jesus Christ, the meaning comes ALIVE in our spirit.
INSPIRATION
As is my custom, I also include the inspiration for the lyrics. And for these lyrics, the HOLY SPIRIT led me to this video that will touch your heart. It is 9 minutes and 51 seconds, but it will change your life. It is the heart wrenching testimony of Joseph M. Sciven who was a man after GOD’s OWN HEART. He was known for his KINDNESS, and in his community, also known as the Good Samaritan.
The story behind the hymn, What a Friend We Have in Jesus
“What a Friend We Have in Jesus” is a Christian hymn originally written by preacher Joseph M. Scriven as a poem in 1855 to comfort his mother, who was living in Ireland while he was in Canada.[2] Scriven originally published the poem anonymously, and only received full credit for it in the 1880s.[3] The tune to the hymn was composed by Charles Crozat Converse in 1868.
To emphasize, Joseph was a man after GOD’s OWN HEART. The words were from a HEART OF LOVE FOR HIS JESUS. Little did he know when he penned this poem to his mother that it would reach the WORLD FOR CHRIST. His testimony lives on in earth as he lives on in eternity with HIS FRIEND, JESUS, in heaven.
Important to realize, we can’t have a testimony without a test. This man was tested, and came through the fire praising GOD!!!!
THE LYRICS TELL A STORY
- What a friend we have in Jesus
- All our sins and griefs to bear
[Mat 5:4 KJV] 4 Blessed [are] they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
DEEP DESPAIR
Therefore, when we are in our deepest despair, all we need to do is talk to our BEST FRIEND, JESUS. He will supply all our needs according to his promises. This EARTHY HOME is only temporary, and our sorrows and pain will be forgotten when we see JESUS FACE-TO-FACE in heaven! HALLELUJAH!
- What a privilege to carry
- Everything to God in prayer
[Heb 4:16 KJV] 16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST WHO STRENGTHENS ME
- Oh, what peace we often forfeit
- What needless pain we bear
- All because we do not carry
- Everything to God in prayer
[Phl 4:6-7 NIV] 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
TRIALS AND TEMPTATIONS
- Have we trials and temptations?
- Is there trouble anywhere?
- We should never be discouraged
- Take it to the Lord in prayer
[Isa 41:13 KJV] 13 For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.
LOOK TO GOD; DON’T BE DISCOURAGED
- 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
[Heb 4:15 NIV] 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are–yet he did not sin.
WHAT A FRIEND WE HAVE IN JESUS is the song that brought a man back from his 90 MINUTES IN HEAVEN EXPERIENCE.
AND HE DID IT AGAIN
This week has been a roller-coaster of emotions for me. The SONG and MOVIE are very closely tied together. And when I read the inspiration and listened to the Joseph’s story of his inspiration, I cried a bucket of tears.
For this reason, I am including several video clips that must be watched to grasp the connection of the SONG to the TRUE STORY > 90 MINUTES IN HEAVEN, that turned a book into this movie.
90 Minutes in Heaven is a 2004 Christian book written by Don Piper with Cecil Murphey. The book documents the author’s death and resurrection experience in 1989. 90 Minutes in Heaven remained on the New York Times Bestseller List for more than five years and has sold over six million copies.
MUST WATCH VIDOES
90 MINUTES IN HEAVEN – FULL MOVIE
90 MINUTES IN HEAVEN TRAILER
I HAVE TO PRAY FOR HIM
Prior to writing this post, I watched the movie twice and then the 1 hour and 7 minutes testimony of Pastor Don Piper. I took copious notes because I am a mom whose youngest son who also was in an accident that required the use of a FIXATOR to restore his ability to walk. Our family lived through endless surgeries, multiple surgeons, and lots of rehab to see our son walk again. Hallelujah and Amen!
ON TO THE STORY
Must be remembered about this story. Pastor Don Piper was a MINISTER on his way from a conference back to his church. He did nothing wrong and was not in the wrong place. It was an accident as Don shares in his testimony of his brutal collision with a semi-trailer near Houston, Texas.
The movie represents the horrible images of the accident as does the pictures in his “A True Story of Death & Life. 90 Minutes in Heaven” testimonial clip.
In a split second, his life was taken away. FOUR medical personnel at the accident scene all CONFIRMED PASTOR DON WAS DEAD, no heartbeat. They covered his car with a tarp while they awaited the Medical Examiner to arrive to confirm the death.
PRAYER OF THE RIGHEOUS AVAILETH MUCH
On the same bridge, on that faithful day, was another MINISTER who heard that still small voice say, “PRAY FOR THE MAN IN THE CAR”. He walked up to the Officer to ask if he could PRAY for the injured, specifically the man in the car under the tarp. The Officer continued to tell him the man was DECEASED!
With determination in his stride, he walked to the car. The only way he could access Pastor Don was through the hatch on the rear of the car. All he could reach was his RIGHT SHOULDER. His body was mangled. His injuries were severe: left arm and leg were hanging by a little bit of flesh. Because he instantly died upon impact, his heart stopped beating thus no bleed out.
“Piper said his heart stopped pumping and paramedics declared him dead. He was without a pulse, he said, for 90 minutes before coming back to life. But before he rejoined the living, Piper said he communed with the dead. “I took my last breath here in the car and I took my first breath there at the gates,” he said.”
ONE FAITHFUL SERVANT
To point out, there were lots of ministers on the bridge at that faithful moment. They were leaving from the same MINISTERS CONFERENCE Pastor Don attended. But GOD spoke to ONE FAITHFUL SERVANT who HE KNEW WOULD OBEY! Hallelujah and Amen. Pastor Don is alive today because of this faithful servant who was obedient to the call.
90 MINUTES IN HEAVEN
While Pastor Don was welcomed into heaven by those who departed before him (family and friends), Pastor Dick prayed endlessly in those 90 minutes for Pastor Don. This video showcases what he felt, saw, and experienced in those 90 minutes. As you listen to his testimony of heaven, you will be transported there through his words. Just as he was about to ENTER THE NARROW GATE (big enough for one person), he was drawn back into his body because he heard WHAT A FRIEND WE HAVE IN JESUS, ALL OUR SINS AND GRIEFS TO BEAR, and he started singing along with Pastor Dick! Hallelujah!
Pastor Dick immediately shouted; HE IS ALIVE!!!! The EM’s converged on the car to check for a HEARTBEAT and they found one!!!
RECOVERY
His RECOVERY from this fatal to life experience lasted 13 months in the hospital, including 34 surgeries (FIXATOR attached to his leg and arm to reconnect the missing bones. 30 rods to connect his leg bone and 12 rods in his arm).
This LIFE EXPERIECE of years of recovery, rehabilitation and learning to walk again, gave him a testimony. The confident testimony to encourage others that THEY, too, can overcome what the devil thought for evil.
THE FIXATOR RECONNECTED HIS BONES
The external fixation device invented by Lambotte in 1902 is generally thought to be the first “real fixator”. In America it was Clayton Parkhill, in 1897, with his “bone clamp” who started the process. Both Parkhill and Lambotte observed that metal pins inserted into bone were tolerated extremely well by the body.
IN CONCLUSION
In conclusion, fast forward to today and Pastor Don is still a WALKING testimony of the POWER to OVERCOME. He shares his testimony with churches, hospitals and anywhere his testimony will encourage. BUT, more importantly than his healing, HE IS SHARING HEAVEN with the lost! This is his GOAL while still on his earth.
One more thing to share, while Paster Don was in the car, he said someone held his hand and comforted him. Years later, he and his wife had a meal with Pastor Dick and his wife about his experience and thankfulness for his OBEDIENCE to that still small voice about holding his hand. Pastor Dick’s wife said she had to correct something he said in his testimony. “PASTOR DICK did not hold your hand. He could not reach it, only your shoulder.” At that moment, Pastor Don knew GOD SENT AN ANGEL to comfort him.
FORGIVENESS
Pastor Don FORGAVE the driver of the Semi-Truck. As a matter of fact, after he wrote the book. he wrote a letter to the driver to tell him he was forgiven.
LESSON LEARNED
Regardless of what LIFE throws at us, whatever happens to this physical body on earth, there is only ONE IMPORTANT THING WE MUST DO >> ACCEPT JESUS AS OUR LORD AND SAVOR so we, too, will spend time in ETERNITY with WHAT A FRIEND WE HAVE IN JESUS.
The question is > WILL WE RESPOND TO THAT STILL SMALL VOICE TO DO WHAT GOD WANTS US TO DO IN A USELESS SITUATION IN THE NATURAL? Not many would pray for the dead!
PRAY FOR ONE ANOTHER because JESUS prayed for us!
In the POWER and AUTHORITY in Jesus name. Hallelujah and Amen!
WHAT A FRIEND WE HAVE IN JESUS. YouWillWantTo are the hands and feet of Christ to reaching one!
One thought on “WHAT A FRIEND WE HAVE IN JESUS”
Wow!