[NN] [PREACHING LESSON 12:] CLEAR AND GREAT EVIDENCE OF THE FRIENDS OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST

 

CLEAR AND GREAT EVIDENCE OF THE FRIENDS OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST

 

John 15:13-17 [13]Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

[14]Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.

[15]Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.

[16]Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.

[17]These things I command you, that ye love one another.

 

*The Lord Jesus Christ explicitly states that we, as Christians, can be called His friends based on clear biblical evidence found in the Word of God.

 

*However, being a true friend of the Lord Jesus Christ is not true of every believer. Some who claim Christ do not belong to Him because they do not follow His example.

 

( I Peter 2:21 ) For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:

 

* 6 GREAT EVIDENCES OF A FRIEND OF JESUS CHRIST*

 

1. THEY EXPESS SACRIFICAL LOVE FOR CHRIST

 

*True friends of Christ are willing to sacrifice everything, following His supreme example of love.

( John 15:13 ) Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

 

2. THEY ARE OBEDIENT TO CHRIST’S COMMANDMENTS.

 

*Friendship with Jesus is defined by an active desire to do what He asks, rather than just offering lip service.

 

( John 15:14 ) Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.

 

3. THEY PRODUCE LASTING SPIRITUAL FRUIT.

 

*Those chosen and ordained by Christ live productive Christian lives that bear visible, permanent spiritual fruit.

 

( John 15:16 ) Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.

 

4. THEY VALUE AND LIVE BY THE WORD OF GOD.

 

*Just as Jesus used Scripture to defeat temptation, His friends treasure, study, and rely on every word that comes from God.

 

( Mathew 4:4-7 ) [4]But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

[5]Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple,

[6]And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.

[7]Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.

5. THEY ARE DEVOTED AND PRAYERFUL DISCIPLES.

 

*Friends of Christ walk in unity and maintain a continuous, fervent prayer life.

 

( Acts 1:13-14 ) [13]And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James.

[14]These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.

 

6. THEY ARE FAITHFUL SOUL WINNERS

 

*True friends of Christ actively share the Gospel and engage in ministry, resulting in the multiplication of disciples and the growth of God's Kingdom.

 

( Acts 6:4-7 ) [4]But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.

[5]And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch:

[6]Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them.

[7]And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.

 

 God bless you all always!