Jesus’ Words in Red Friends

Jesus’ Words in Red

Friends

You are my friends if you do what I command.

Life without the benefit of friends is sad

Jesus is clear about who His friends are

Do you want to be His friend?

Friends

A friend is someone you love and loves you.

A friend is someone you respect and respects you.

A friend is someone whom you trust and who trusts you.

A friend is someone who would

sacrifice their life and happiness for you.

A friend is someone for whom

you’re willing to change your opinions.

Friends are free to have conversations,

they listen and talk without condescending.

Friends will spend time with each

other even in places that are boring.

A friend is a partner,

not a leader or a follower.

Jesus puts a very high value on friends.

Friendship is based on love.

“Greater love has no one than this,

that he lay down his life for his friends.”

Love must be strong in

order for friendships to work.

Friends will sit with you in a waiting

room or be with you at the funeral home.

Friends will change their plans

to give you a hand or support.

Jesus is selective on His friends…

“You are my friends if you do what I command.”

Friendship is based on trust.

Jesus requires trust in His words.

Jesus may have been in the crowds

but He did not run with the crowds.

Jesus did not make

friends by being a man pleaser.

He did not look for friends

in order to move up in life.

Jesus’ friends had to

honor and respect His words.

Jesus knew His purpose

“to do the will of the Father”.

His friends have the same purpose.

Friends are more than a servant.

“I no longer call you servants, because

a servant does not know his master's business.”

Everyone should be kind to a servant.

Servants help us get things

done, we all need people to serve us.

Servants punch the clock.

They do what you need for pay.

Servants have their own interest and are

willing to serve others to support their interest.

Jesus’ friends take interest

in the Father’s business.

The purpose of the business

becomes more important than the pay.

The friendship is focused

on the business of the Master.

Everything the friends do is looking for

opportunity to advance the Master’s business.

Jesus does not make friends

with unproductive people.

Jesus’ friends are fruitful and

that fruit is not temporary.

“You did not choose me, but I chose you

and appointed you to go and bear fruit

 — fruit that will last.”

The key command that Jesus’ friends keep is…

Loving His friends.

“My command is this:

Love each other as I have loved you.”

If this one command is kept all other

commands will be automatically kept.

Jesus chooses His Friends…

“You did not choose me, but I chose you”

In life, there are people who will want to

be your friend but their friendship

will keep you from your purpose.

The Scriptures says evil

companionship corrupts good morals.

Friendships must be selective.

“Anyone who chooses to be a friend of

the world becomes an enemy of God.”

James 4:4

Jesus’ friends know everything about Him.

“I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.”

Let’s face it, Jesus has told us much

more than we are able to understand.

It is not a matter of Him not telling us everything

we need to know it is a matter of us understanding it.

That is why true friends

of Jesus will ask questions….

Will truly want to understand what God has said.

“Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.”

This is why people who ask

to win the lottery don’t get it.

James 4:2-4

But…

“If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God,

who gives generously to all without finding fault,

and it will be given to him.”

James 1:5

Do you want to accept His Friendship?

Scripture Reading

John 15:9-17 NIV

9 "As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit — fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. 17 This is my command: Love each other.