1. Getting Rid Of Old Friends How do you feel when you have to say good bye to an old friend? Maybe your best friend? Maybe one who has been such a part of you that they are family? Sad? Angry? Overwhelmed? Depressed? Anxious? Lonely? Forsaken?

2. Spiritual Application When we become Christians we are to say good-bye to our old friends. The ones that have become a part of us and have made us what we are. This can be overwhelming to some and the Lord verified this in the parable of the sower Matt 13:3-9- Then He spoke many things to them in parables, saying: "Behold, a sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds came and devoured them. Some fell on stony places, where they did not have much earth; and they immediately sprang up because they had no depth of earth. But when the sun was up they were scorched, and because they had no root they withered away. And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up and choked them. But others fell on good ground and yielded a crop: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!"

3. The Parable Of The Sower Explained Matt 13:18-23- " Therefore hear the parable of the sower: When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside. But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles. Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful. But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty." All who are Christians are in this parable. What kind of soil am I? Why am I this kind of soil?

4. How Easy Is It To Give Up A Harmful Friend? Have to realize the toxic nature of such a friendship in order for it to be easier. Have to realize that if they are affecting you in a sinful way they are not your friends. Have to see the hurt they are causing. Have to face the reality that such a friendship will only lead to more and more pain and emptiness. Have to realize that there is no way to reconcile that friendship with your new life.

5. Putting Off- Putting On Eph 4:17-24- This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart; who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. But you have not so learned Christ, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.

6. Changing Friends? Requires that we to harmonize with God’s will Requires that we transform our thinking to harmonize with God’s will Prov. 23:7,12- Prov. 23:7,12- For as he thinks in his heart, so is he."Eat and drink!" he says to you, But his heart is not with you. Apply your heart to instruction, And your ears to words of knowledge. Rom.12:1,2- Rom.12:1,2- … offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is — his good, pleasing and perfect will. Col. 3:1-3- Col. 3:1-3- If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, 7 in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them. But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him,

7. Not Just Giving Up Things- But Replacing That Emptiness With New Things- Satan Loves An Empty House ✦ Requires that we feed upon God’s word ✦ Psalm 1:1,2- In that law we meditate day & night ✦ 1 Pet. 2:2-desire milk of word so we can grow ✦ 2 Tim. 2:15-Study and rightly divide Word. ✦ Requires that we ✦ Requires that we understand & follow God’s word ✦ Mt. 7:21- Not just proclaim but do His will. ✦ Mt.13:23- Be good soil and bring forth increasing fruits. James 1:21-25- James 1:21-25- Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.

8. Philippians 3:12-16 (NKJV) 12 Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. 13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you. 16 Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us be of the same mind. Philippians 3:12-16 (NKJV) 12 Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. 13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you. 16 Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us be of the same mind.

9. Galatians 6:14-16 (NKJV) 14 But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. 15 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation. 16 And as many as walk according to this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God. Galatians 6:14-16 (NKJV) 14 But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. 15 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation. 16 And as many as walk according to this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.

10. Romans 13:11-14 (NKJV) 11 And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. 12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. 13 Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts. Romans 13:11-14 (NKJV) 11 And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. 12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. 13 Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.

11. What The Old Man-That Old Friend Offered Eph. 4:17-22- Attitude (state of mind)- futile mind---darkened understanding---alienated from life---ignorant & blind---past feeling--- lewd, unclean, greedy---growing corrupt because of deceitful lusts. Actions and Behaviors- Eph. 4:21-24-lying, angry (vindictive), giving place to the devil, stealing, corrupt speech, bitter, wrathful, angry, malicious, unhappy, grieving the Spirit. This friendship was toxic and destructive.

12. Old Friendship vs. New Friendship OLD- Fornication- uncleanness- passion- evil desire- covetousness- anger – wrath- malice- blasphemy- filthy language- lying (Col. 3:5-9). NEW- mercy, kindness, meekness, humility, longsuffering, forbearance, forgiveness, LOVE, peace of God, thankfulness, worshipful, admonishing brethren, submitting to Christs’ authority in everything (Col. 3:12-17).

13. Putting On The New Man Requires We repent and seek God’s forgiveness in obedient faith (whether a wayward child or one who never obey). Seek forgiveness from those who have hurt you or that you have hurt and as far as it lies within you “live at peace with all men” Forgive yourself and move on from the past and believe that you new best friend JESUS is the best thing that has eve happened to you. Get to know Him. Forgive whatever grievance you may harbor with others. Commit to making Jesus and His people your best friends. To do that you have to cherish HIM above all things and value those who are just like you (flawed sinners washed in the same blood you are).

14. LOVE AS CHRIST COMMANDED Love Him and His kingdom above all else (Mt. 6:33) be active and engaged in serving Him and be urgent to grow and reach out to Him and your brethren. 1 Cor 13:4-7-Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Everything about godly love (agape) is selfless, not selfish- but self (our best friend away) and crown a new ruler and best friend in our life (JESUS). Gal 2:20-I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.