“Friends”
John 15:12-15
John 15:11 (Amplified) I have told you these things, that My joy may be in you, and that your joy and gladness may be of full measure and complete and overflowing.
Joyful Life
- Abiding in Jesus
- Bearing Much Fruit
- Bringing God Glory
- Prayerful
- Abiding in Jesus’ Love
- Obedience
John 15:12 This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.
Jesus taught this earlier as a new commandment.
John 13:34-35 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.
This love of Jesus is CENTRAL to a true follower of Jesus. The ORDER is significant.
John 15:13 Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.
John 15:13 (NLT) There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.
There is NO GREATER LOVE STORY than the story of Jesus’ love for you. I am so, so thankful to be part of a love story with Susie. But I am even more thankful to be part of The Greatest Love Story Ever Told!
Romans 8:16-17 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs – heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ.
John 15:13 (NLT) There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.
Now it’s TRUE that we are his friends but in reality before we became His friends we were His enemies.
Roman 5:8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners (enemies), Christ died for us.
If you’ve not yet come to Jesus, not only are you NOT Jesus’ friend, you are his ENEMY. Here in our text Jesus calls us friends!
John 15:13 (NLT) There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.
John 15:14 You are My friends if you do (obey) whatever I command you.
OBEDIENCE – the message of Jesus couldn’t be stronger!
Luke 11:27 And it happened, as He spoke these things, that a certain woman from the crowd raised her voice and said to Him, “Blessed is the womb that bore You, and the breasts which nursed You!”
Luke 11:28 But Jesus said, “More than that, blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep (obey) it!”
Luke 8:21 But He answered and said to them, “My mother and My brothers are these who hear the word of God and do it (obey).”
John 15:15 No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.
We are ALL saved to SERVE God.
Exodus 8:1 “Let my people go that they may SERVE Me.”
We are ALL called to SERVE one another!
John 13:13-15, 17 You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do (obey) them.
John 15:15 No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.
Abraham – the friend of God forever.
Moses – the Lord spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend.
How incredible that Jesus would call us His friends!
Earthly Friendships
- We are encouraged to be friendly.
Proverbs 18:24 A man who has friends must himself be friendly.
- Some are shallow with many and without any close, true friends.
- It is wisdom to be purposeful to go deeper with a few friends.
- It is wise to invest in friendships.
- House Church is a great place for friendships to start and grow.
Psalm 68:6 God places the lonely in families.
- Godly friends help each other find strength in God.
1 Samuel 23:16 And Saul’s son Jonathan went to David at Horesh and helped him find strength in God.
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: if one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
Friends for season
Friends for a reason
Friends for life
Friendship With Jesus
- Jesus is the Friend initiating friendship with you!
- Jesus is the Friend who sticks closer than a brother.
- Jesus is our most treasured friendship.
- It is wisdom to be purposeful about a friendship with Jesus.
- Are you content with a shallow friendship with Jesus or are you willing to go deeper?
- Is your friendship with Jesus based on words or obedience?
John 15:14 You are My friends if you do (obey) whatever I command you.
- Friend why have you come?
Mark 14:21 It would have been good for that man if he had never been born.
John 15:13 (NLT) There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.