A Friend in Jesus

- John 15:1-18

John 15:1–18 (CSB)

1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 Every branch in me that does not produce fruit he removes, and he prunes every branch that produces fruit so that it will produce more fruit. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, and I in you. Just as a branch is unable to produce fruit by itself unless it remains on the vine, neither can you unless you remain in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without me. 6 If anyone does not remain in me, he is thrown aside like a branch and he withers. They gather them, throw them into the fire, and they are burned. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you want and it will be done for you. 8 My Father is glorified by this: that you produce much fruit and prove to be my disciples.

9 “As the Father has loved me, I have also loved you. Remain in my love. 10 If you keep my commands you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love.

11 “I have told you these things so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete.

12 “This is my command: Love one another as I have loved you. 13 No one has greater love than this: to lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15 I do not call you servants anymore, because a servant doesn’t know what his master is doing. I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything I have heard from my Father. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce fruit and that your fruit should remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he will give you.

17 “This is what I command you: Love one another.

18 “If the world hates you, understand that it hated me before it hated you.

As I was considering this message a thought came to me.

- What does it take to create a Friend?

What does it take to create a Friend?

Not an acquaintance, but rather a real friend?

To examine this, I looked back at some if my most dear friends.

I am reminded of Josh Babiarz

(Talk about how friendship began)

Whats the point of this stroll down memory lane?

- It requires effort

It required an effort on my part

I had to be open & willing to make a new friend.

This friend wasn’t assigned to me.

He was presented to me, and I engaged.

The most effective way to cement a solid friendship is spending time with the person.

Thinks about it!

Remember your own friendships?

How many are solid and how many aren’t?

I’m almost positive the ones you hold most dear are the ones with whom you spend most time.

Think about it!

Your spouse should be your best friend.

Why?

Because, they are the ones with whom you spend most time with.

Doesn’t matter who it is,

brother,

sister,

cousin,

Or someone unrelated

Friendships are built and maintained over time.

To consider this, are you just as close to some you’ve moved away from, or that have moved from you?

NO!

How many love relationships have died from lack of time spent with each other?

After some time, the friendship begins to weaken due to the lack of the key ingredient, Time!

Case in point, my childhood friend & I have gone on our separate paths and are no longer as close as we once were.

It was impossible.

Distance, and life Choices, created a lack of the necessary time spent with each other to keep it strong.

John 15:14 (CSB)

14 You are my friends if you do what I command you.

- Jesus calls us all friends.

Jesus calls us all friends.

Now realize the emphasis Jesus gave to this friendship.

Just before it is one of my favorite verses

John 15:13 (CSB)

13 No one has greater love than this: to lay down his life for his friends.

Who wants to be a friend of Jesus?

Why?

Because we don’t want to go to hell?

Because He died for you?

Although these are good reasons,

Solid friendship is always built on time spent with each other.

- Friendship is not a one way affair.

Friendship is NOT a one way affair.

How much time do you dedicate to this friendship in Jesus?

How much time do you spend with Jesus?

Or is he just an acquaintance?

If so, its probably because your

perception of him is wrong

Maybe because you don’t understand it all

Or maybe you feel inferior

Maybe you feel superior.

Either way, just like any friendship,

- Spend time in your friendship with Jesus

It will grow the more time you spend in it!

Many of us in here are lonely, right-now, today,

Sad, frustrated with worldly issues

With other things that occupy our time

Even though these other things, they DON’T LOVE US BACK

If we can dedicate so much time to things that dont love us back,

How much deeper the friendship would be with the one that does love you back?

Luke 10:38–42 (CSB)

38 While they were traveling, he entered a village, and a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. 39 She had a sister named Mary, who also sat at the Lord’s feet and was listening to what he said. 40 But Martha was distracted by her many tasks, and she came up and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to serve alone? So tell her to give me a hand.”

41 The Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but one thing is necessary. Mary has made the right choice, and it will not be taken away from her.”

We hear people say this all the time,

“I’d die for you”,

I’d die for her, him , etc.

Well, I’ve got news for you, none of those people EVER DIED FOR YOU

Jesus did!

- He loves you so much, He died for you!

He died for you!

Point and name people personally

And he considers you a dear friend

But its not a one way friendship.

It requires efforts on your part.

It requires that you spend time with Him

In the Psalms we read some of the most heart felt cries to God

How do you think they felt such a closeness to lay their despair at the Lords feet?

Its because he spent a lot of time with God in the form of prayer and meditation

- Psalm 63

Psalm 63 (CSB)

A psalm of David. When he was in the Wilderness of Judah.

1 God, you are my God; I eagerly seek you.

I thirst for you;

my body faints for you

in a land that is dry, desolate, and without water.

2 So I gaze on you in the sanctuary

to see your strength and your glory.

3 My lips will glorify you

because your faithful love is better than life.

4 So I will bless you as long as I live;

at your name, I will lift up my hands.

5 You satisfy me as with rich food;

my mouth will praise you with joyful lips.

6 When I think of you as I lie on my bed,

I meditate on you during the night watches

7 because you are my helper;

I will rejoice in the shadow of your wings.

8 I follow close to you;

your right hand holds on to me.

9 But those who intend to destroy my life

will go into the depths of the earth.

10 They will be given over to the power of the sword;

they will become a meal for jackals.

11 But the king will rejoice in God;

all who swear by him will boast,

for the mouths of liars will be shut.

This could only come from a person who KNOWS God Personally.

YOU can know God personally through our friend Jesus right now today.

John 10:27 (CSB)

27 My sheep hear my voice, I know them, and they follow me.

- Do you recognize His voice?

Do you recognize His voice?

Would you recognize it if He spoke to you right now?

Don’t wait.

Don’t wait because of embarrassment, don’t wait until the crows around you does it,

Don’t wait, until it’s the cool or “IN THING,” to do it,

For heaven sakes friend, don’t wait until it’s too late to do it.

It’s true what is said, “You do indeed, have a friend in Jesus, but remember,

It’s not a one-way type of friendship.

It will require you to spend time in getting to know Him.

And I guarantee you on the authority of the Word of God, you will not be disappointed.

Friends, we do indeed have a friend in Jesus.

And He is waiting for you to spend more time with him.

James 4:8 (CSB)

8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.