John 15:9-17 JESUS said - "Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love. { Bathe in My LOVE; be saturated with My LOVE} "If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father's commandments, and abide in His love. "These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full. "This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you. "Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. "You are My friends, if you do what I command you. "No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you. "You did not choose Me, but I chose you, and appointed you, that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask of the Father in My name, He may give to you. "This I command you, that you love one another.
NOTES - When things are going well, we feel elated. When hardships come, we sink into depression. But true joy transcends the rolling waves of circumstance. Joy comes from a consistent relationship with Jesus Christ. When our lives are intertwined with his, he will help us walk through adversity without sinking into debilitating lows and manage prosperity without moving into deceptive highs. The joy of living with Jesus Christ daily will keep us level-headed, no matter how high or low our circumstances. We are to love each other as Jesus loved us, and he loved us enough to give his life for us. We may not have to die for someone, but there are other ways to practice sacrificial love: listening, helping, encouraging, giving. Think of someone in particular who needs this kind of love today. Give all the love you can, and then try to give a little more. Because Jesus Christ is Lord and Master, he should call us servants; instead he calls us friends. How comforting and reassuring to be chosen as Christ's friends. Because he is Lord and Master, we owe him our unqualified obedience, but most of all, Jesus asks us to obey him because we love him.Jesus made the first choice--to love and to die for us, to invite us to live with him forever. We make the next choice--to accept or reject his offer. Without 'his' choice, we would have no choice to make.Christians will get plenty of hatred from the world; from each other we need love and support. Do you allow small problems to get in the way of loving other believers? Jesus commands that you love them, and he will give you the strength to do it.
1. Being relational with Jesus
a. There is a difference between a believer in Jesus and a friend of Jesus.
Believer -
Friend -
b. Jesus invites all believers to be His friends.
Jesus is the Good Shepherd that desires all of us to know Him Intimately.
Jesus calls us all to depth in relations with Him. He ask you to be His friend.
James 4:4 - You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.
* The cure for evil desires is humility (see Proverbs 16:18, 19; 1 Peter 5:5, 6). Pride makes us self-centered and leads us to conclude that we deserve all we can see, touch, or imagine. It creates greedy appetites for far more than we need. We can be released from our self-centered desires by humbling ourselves before God, realizing that all we really need is his approval. When the Holy Spirit fills us, we see that this world's seductive attractions are only cheap substitutes for what God has to offer.
You can serve only one master. Who are you serving? What keeps you from being wild about Jesus? When will you give it up and become passionate?
c. The condition of friendship with Jesus is obedience . v. 14,15
We must LOVE others - black, white, yellow, red, brown - love them all.
If I am not loving others, {no matter what color or nationality} I am no friend of Jesus.
d. Jesus guarantees lasting fruit in our relationship with Him! v.16
We cannot guarantee fruit in horizontal relationships with others.
We are guaranteed fruit in the vertical relationship with GOD.
* Also - Jesus also brings JOY {not just fruit} that is deep and full.
2. Being relational with Others - Acts 10 - Peter & Cornelius
a. Ask God for one friend from another ethnic background.
Peter - Go check out this Gentile / centurion named Corny. He LOVES God ! ! !
Cornelius - Go call-out / find this Jew named Pistol Pete.
Hang with people that are not like you. We need understanding about others.
b. Spend time with this friend.
If you meet one guy and start to develop a friendship, then you will meet many in his world. Relatives, family, co-workers etc..
1. Listen to the other person. Hear what they have to say.
2. Learn to speak the Truth with each other. Be truthful! Be honest!
Faithful are the wounds of a friend - says Proverbs.
c. Endure the tough storms and uncomfortable talks that happen in the friendship.
Confess your weaknesses to one another. |
