Love One Another: the Friend Above all Others

Thank you, Ron. Appreciate that this morning. Go ahead and take your Bible, turn to John 15 this morning. John 15 as we continue with our series here going through John 15. Here the first part anyways is we look at abiding. You know, abiding in the Lord and as John reveals that the true vine and the husbandman are key in abiding.

And we need to remember that the husbandman is the one responsible for the care of the branches. He's the one that prunes. He's the one that cleans. That they might do what? Bring forth much fruit. You know, to bring forth the fruit that God has designed for every believer to produce.

You know, the day that you called upon the Savior to save you, it changed everything. It changed who you are fundamentally. It says we're a new creature in Christ and we've been put in the vine and we're attached to it.

And yet we understand the importance of abiding in the vine because that fruit is what is the result of abiding. You know, I believe there's a lot of Christians today that don't have very good fruit in their life because they're not abiding in the vine.

They talk about the vine. They talk about the vine. They talk about the vine. They talk about the vine and we're going to talk about that today.

They might know about the vine, but they're not abiding in the vine because there's a difference and Jesus is going to bring that forth here today as he is encouraging his men to understand this principle because Jesus moves from the focus upon himself, the vine, to the vineyard, to the others standing in it.

He commands them to abide. He now tells them what abiding looks like among people who can sometimes be difficult to love.

You know, one of the problems is, is that sometimes we can talk about loving the Savior, but when he commands us to love others, to love other believers, that gets a lot tougher.

That becomes a difficulty for us because, you know, we know that some people are easier to love than others.

You know, some people are just prickly, you know, and some people are just mushy, you know.

You got both ends of the spectrum that might cause difficulty to love, you know, and to do what you ought to do because love is not an emotion.

We need to understand when Jesus tells him to love one another, he's not talking about emotion the way we address love today.

When we hear the word love today, almost every time it attracts with an emotion.

Love, biblically, that Jesus is talking about here, has emotion attached to it, but emotion is secondary to the responsibility.

Because love is a course and choice of action towards another.

Love is a dynamic that's different.

And I want you to understand this morning as we look at this, this was, Jesus was worried about his disciples, his apostles, the 11 that were there with them.

If you know anything and have studied your Bible, you find out that they were quite a different group of people.

I imagine that some of their conversations got a bit prickly sometimes.

Because they came from a lot of different backgrounds.

Jesus drew them in, everything from fishermen to tax collectors.

Ends of the political spectrum.

But yet they were no longer what they were, they're now a new creature in Christ.

And we need to keep that in focus even here today.

Because when we understand who we are in Christ, unites us more than the things of this world divides us.

To understand the importance of this and the great uniter is the message of redemption and service to the Savior.

You know, we've been looking through here of this series, talking about this thought where the branch stays, the branch bears.

You know, if you stay abiding in Christ, it makes a difference on what the fruit that's produced.

When we understand that concept that Jesus is driving home to his disciples,

and the result of this fruit is love for others, love for the branches beside you.

So before we read the text this morning, I want you to settle one question with you.

Which are you in Christ?

Are you an acquaintance of Christ or a friend of Christ?

I want you to think about that for a moment.

Because we're going to talk about the difference between an acquaintance and a friend a little later on.

And when we understand that, but an acquaintance knows about him, a friend is known by him.

So think for a moment as we read these verses.

If you found John chapter 15, if you would stand and honor the reading of the Word of God,

John 15 · chapter mention

we'll pick up here in verse 12.

And then we'll read through verse 15.

And then we will pray.

But I want you to think about what Jesus is saying and how it applies to you.

Think about this.

In verse 12 it says,

This is my commandment, that ye love one another as I have loved you.

Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

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

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.

Let's pray.

Heavenly Fathers, we just come before you this morning, Lord.

We just thank you that you are a friend to us.

But Lord, help us to understand the importance that it's more than us just knowing about you,

but it's been known by you that makes a difference.

To really be a friend, to know and to understand those things that you would want for us,

the things you've revealed to us.

Lord, I pray just encourage us today.

Each one, Lord, you know the need.

Lord, we know that oftentimes it's hard to really love the brethren the way you commanded us,

instruct us, Lord.

Oftentimes we treat it as secondary.

But Lord, help us to see today that it's not a secondary choice that we make,

but a primary dynamic of obeying you.

And Lord, we just ask these things here in your precious name.

Amen.

You may be seated.

You know, I want you to see here.

Notice the commandment.

You know, a commandment is not an option.

You know, today we look at some of the things God commands us to do,

and we say, well, if that's convenient, I'll do it.

But a commandment is not an optional thing.

When you understand that the moment you were saved,

if you love the Savior, you're going to keep his commandments.

That's an underlying theme Jesus is driving to his disciples here,

to understand that the apostles needed to hear

and to understand the need to love one another.

Because you say, preacher, why was that such an important?

You know what?

Jesus knew they were going to go under a lot of stress here very shortly.

They were going to be put under a lot of pressure.

When he died and was buried, there was a lot of pressure.

Look who you believed in.

Look at what you thought.

Look at where the one you thought was the Savior ended up.

And the third day he rose again.

Then it changes everything else again.

But it doesn't change the commandment to love one another

because, you know, it's easy to do something short-term.

You know what's hard to do?

Something long-term.

Faithfulness is more difficult than just being fickle in the moment.

Because we can feign excitement for a while.

But faithfulness is something that endures even when it's not comfortable.

That's the hard part, I think, for all of us, isn't it?

We like to be comfortable.

Don't push me outside my envelope.

But if we're going to follow Jesus' commands,

you know what's going to happen?

You're going to be outside your comfort zone.

It's going to take you places that you never understood that God would take you.

And notice what he says here.

That you love one another as I have loved you.

You know, think about that moment.

Consider what that pictures.

Consider the picture that is there.

The picture that Jesus is saying,

I want you to love others as I have loved you.

We've heard it many times.

But have you really thought about it?

Have you really taken time to process what does that look like?

What did he do for us?

Because when Jesus says to love others as I have loved you,

he's talking about a sacrificial, committed love.

You know, look over to 1 John.

1 John chapter 3, it says this,

1 John 3 · chapter mention

Hereby perceive we the love of God,

because he laid down his life for us.

We ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

We perceive the love of Christ.

Why?

Because of what he was willing to give for us.

Think about Ephesians chapter 5.

Ephesians 5 · chapter mention

It says,

To walk in love as Christ also loved us,

and hath given himself for us,

an offering and sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savor.

You know why it's a sweet-smelling savor?

Because we're being obedient to God.

We're showing that we love him.

You know, Romans, Paul commands the church at Rome to do this.

He says,

Be kindly, affectionate one to another,

with brotherly love,

in honor, preferring one another.

To love one another is shown

when you love those that can be hard to love.

This instruction is not towards the lost,

but towards other believers.

I want you to understand,

when you read the Bible,

it has to be in context.

A lot of times people will take this verse,

Oh, you're supposed to love everybody.

That's not who Jesus,

the group Jesus is talking about specifically here.

When you are supposed to love those in the world,

that the primary responsibility of love

is to tell them who Jesus is

and the responsibility

that they're going to stand in judgment before him.

That's loving somebody

when you tell them how to get out of danger.

But what he's talking about here is different.

He's talking about a love one for another,

a bond that binds together.

You say,

Well, preacher, what are you talking about?

Even the little things.

Have you ever considered

what the room must have been like

when Thomas came back after Jesus resurrected?

You know,

when Thomas comes back into the room

after Jesus had visited,

and Thomas looks at everybody and says,

I think you're lying.

That's really the summation

of what Thomas told all the other apostles.

I don't believe you.

Think that'd be a tense moment?

To understand,

Hey,

love one another.

Even when things aren't the way

you perceive they ought to be.

When he questioned their report,

how about later

when Peter was corrected by Paul?

That functioning throughout.

You think about when John Mark

was taken along by Barnabas

because Paul wouldn't let him go.

And later on,

you find that Paul,

I think God got a hold of Paul's heart

and he said,

Love one another.

And he said,

Bring Mark.

Because Mark had made some changes

in his life.

And he said,

Forget those things.

You've got to forgive.

You've got to forbear.

You've got to do the things

you are supposed to do

when somebody,

even they might mess up,

to be able to repent

and to turn back to him

and to get things right.

To understand the importance.

And this love wears many faces

amongst believers

because it bears the burden

of one in trouble.

You know,

Galatians tells us,

Bear you one another's burdens

and so fulfill the law of Christ.

It opens the hands

to those in real need.

Whosoever had this world's goods

and sees his brother have need

and shutteth up his bowels

of compassion from him.

Now dwelleth the,

how dwelleth the love of God

in him?

That's what 1 John 3 tells us.

It bears patiently

with difficulty.

You know,

Ephesians 4, 2 tells us

of forbearing one another

in love.

Have you ever thought

the word forbearing

involves somebody else

being prickly to you?

It doesn't mean

that your buddy

that's just all,

yeah, we love hanging out

is somebody that might be

even a little prickly

that's a believer

to understand

how do you love them?

Because I want you to understand

God's working on them

as much as he's working on you.

Now maybe you say,

well, I don't know anybody prickly.

Well, maybe you're prickly.

When we understand

that it takes a lot

to love and serve

one another

as Galatians tells us,

every one of these

is what the commandment

looks like

on an ordinary

daily and weekly

and monthly

and yearly level.

To understand this picture,

he's given us the commandment.

He shows us

its measure.

If we are to love

as I have loved you,

we need to ask

how far that love

was willing to go.

Think about the measure

of his love.

The measure of his love.

He says,

greater love

hath no man than this,

than lay down his life

for his friends.

Think about it.

That's a measurement of love.

You know,

I want you to understand

a friend

is willing to put

another's need

above his own.

Go ahead and turn

over to 1 Samuel chapter 18.

1 Samuel 18 · chapter mention

1 Samuel chapter 18

1 Samuel 18 · chapter mention

quick this morning

as we get there.

But I want you to understand,

I want you to see

in Philippians,

I'm going to set the stage here.

In Philippians chapter 2,

Philippians 2 · chapter mention

it talks about Christ

and his humility

and how he came

and he was willingly

went to the cross

for us.

How he humbled himself

and put on a form

of a servant.

Now you find here

in 1 Samuel chapter 18,

1 Samuel 18 · chapter mention

we're going to find

two men here,

Jonathan and David.

I want you to understand,

David was a shepherd,

the boy who had just

killed Goliath,

a nobody from Bethlehem

with no throne

and no claim to it

and Jonathan

was the king's son.

He was heir

to the throne of Israel.

Their friendship,

Jonathan,

had everything to lose

and David

had everything to gain.

But yet,

they were still friends.

Notice what it tells us here

in verse 1.

It came to pass

when he made an end

of speaking unto Saul

that the soul of Jonathan

was knit with the soul of David

and Jonathan loved him

as his own soul.

In other words,

I want you to understand,

he says,

hey,

he is my friend.

It took a lot

when we look at

what happens next

for what Jonathan did.

He displayed

what loving my friend

looks like.

But I want you to understand

the disparity.

David was from

the lowest of society.

Jonathan was from

the highest of society.

You know what bound

these two guys together?

You ever ask that question,

what bound Jonathan to David?

He never actually comes out

and just tells us,

but the implication is,

is they both loved God

above all else.

They saw that in one another

and said,

hey,

that's somebody

I want to be a friend with.

Notice what happens here.

It says,

and Saul took him that day

and would let him

go no more home

to his father's house

and Jonathan

and David made a covenant

because he loved him

as his own soul.

I want you to see here,

notice what happens

in verse four.

And Jonathan stripped himself

of the robe

that was upon him

and gave it to David

and his garments

even to his sword

and to his bow

and to his girdle.

I want you to understand,

Jonathan,

the crown prince

said,

David loves God

as I,

we're friends,

I'm going to honor him

by giving him

exactly the highest thing

he could give him.

To represent that picture,

he was willing to give

of himself

for his friend.

He was willing to give

for his friend.

Sword,

the bow,

were the marks

of a prince

and a warrior.

He strips off

everything

that said,

I am the heir

and hands him

to the one man alive

that would one day

sit on the throne

that by birth

belonged to him.

He knew it too.

It tells us later

in 1 Samuel 23,

he tells David this,

he says,

thou shalt be king

over Israel

and I shall be next

unto thee.

Jonathan is a picture

of what Jesus Christ

does for us.

He humbled himself

for the benefit

of another.

He did not have to,

it did not require him to,

what motivated him

was love

for his friend.

When you go on

and read,

you'll find that

Jonathan

chose his friend

over his position.

He risked his life

to save David's life.

That's what Jesus

is describing.

A friend puts

another's need

above his own.

You know,

Philippians 2,

3 says this,

let nothing be done

through strife

or vainglory,

but in lowliness

of mind

let each esteem

other better

than themselves.

You don't think

anybody can argue

that Jonathan

esteemed David

better than himself.

He lifted up David,

his friend,

better than himself.

Jonathan handed

over the very thing

that marked him

as the king's son

and the heir

to the throne.

That is a life

laid down

while a man

is yet living.

God does not ask

you to die

for the one

beside you.

How often would

you lay down

your time

to give him

what is your right?

Today I think

as Americans

we struggle.

Well, I have a right.

Well,

just because you can

doesn't mean

you should.

Just because you can

doesn't mean

it's the best.

To understand

the biblical picture

that is involved here,

to understand

what's happening.

You surrender

your right,

your place,

and your advantage

to put

your good

to somebody else.

It's laying down

that love

for another.

Christ went

further still.

He died

for his enemies.

How many would do that?

You know,

Romans 5

tells us this.

He says,

for when we were yet

without strength

in due time,

Christ died

for the ungodly.

for scarcely

for a righteous man

will one die

for a good man.

Some would even

dare to die,

but God

commended his love

toward us

and that while

we were yet sinners,

Christ died

for us.

Much more

than being now

justified

by his blood,

we shall be saved

from wrath

through him.

For if when we were

enemies,

we were reconciled

to God

by the death

of his son,

much more

being reconciled,

we shall be saved

by his life.

That's the reason

1 John tells us,

herein is love.

Not that we loved God,

but that he loved us

and sent his son

to be the propitiation

for our sin.

But if God

so loved us,

we ought also

to have love

one for another.

It's a big measurement,

isn't it?

Different measuring stick

than we use.

Oftentimes,

we measure love

by what we benefit,

but how does it benefit

somebody else?

Understand that same love

that he laid down

his life for his enemies

now turns

and lays a claim

upon us.

You know,

the measure of his love

has been displayed

in the norm.

Next,

the Lord names

the condition

of being called

his friend.

You know,

look here at verse 14

back in our text

there in John chapter 15.

John 15 · chapter mention

It says this,

ye are my friends

if ye do

whatsoever

I command

you.

the condition

of friendship

with Christ.

Friendship with God

involves obedience

to the things of God.

To be a friend of God,

you must first love him

and abide in him.

That connection

is to the vine.

You know,

that belief

requires action

based upon

what you believe.

You know,

oftentimes,

we forget the fact

that if you believe

Christ to be your Savior,

the one who paid

the price

and took the penalty

of your sin

upon himself

for your sake

to whosoever

shall call upon

the name of the Lord

shall be saved,

also take upon yourself

the responsibility

of it.

Because if you're

a new creature

means you're heading

a new direction

from who you were.

There's been a change,

there's been a dynamic

in your life

that's different.

Understand,

if you don't see fruit,

there's a problem.

Fruit you see

is not what it ought to be.

It tells you something.

When we're connected

with him,

when we understand

who he is,

and that faith

will be seen

in what follows.

I want you to understand,

obedience does not

save you,

faith does,

but true faith

will lead to action.

obedience to the Savior.

Jesus said,

if you love me,

keep my commandment.

Notice what he says,

how the friendship

is kept

if you do whatsoever

I command you.

This is not

the cringing obedience

of a slave

that fears the outcome.

It's the glad obedience

of a friend who loves.

Remember,

if you love me,

keep my commandments.

If you keep my commandments,

you shall abide

in my love.

That's just up in verse 10.

John,

the apostle John

was there that day

when all this was said.

And towards the end

of his life,

he says this.

He says,

this is the love of God

that we keep

his commandments.

And his commandments

are not grievous.

That's what 1 John 5, 3 says.

Don't miss the commandment

that he's given you here.

It's a primary commandment

that he tells them.

It's the one

that bases everything else.

to love one another

as I have loved you.

To do whatsoever

he commands

begins right here

with the brother

and sister in Christ

beside you.

As a church,

we need to understand

the importance

of a love

one for another.

You know,

I think the world

gets a lot of things confused.

I was reading an article

this week on,

you know,

visitors to church.

It's always interesting

to read these different things

that are said,

you know,

and it's like,

well,

you have to put on

the right presentation.

And you don't want

to feel exclusive

to other people.

You know what?

If somebody comes in

and they're not saved,

they ought to feel

excluded a little bit.

Because they're missing

something that everybody

else has.

You know,

it's like being a guest

in a stranger's home.

You don't quite feel

like you belong

for a reason.

Have you ever stayed

with somebody

you don't know

and you just feel

a bit antsy about it?

Why is that?

Because there's

a lack of connection.

You know what?

When you're good friends

with somebody

and you go over

to visit a man,

it's just like,

it's almost like

a second home.

For a believer

gathering together

as a church,

as an assembly

together with God,

a local church

ought to feel

like a second home.

Because you're

amongst others

that are family.

And when somebody

visits,

you want them

to be comfortable,

you want them

to be able

to understand,

you don't want

to be anything.

But I want you

to understand,

there's still

going to be

that connection

if they don't

know Christ

as their Savior.

There's going

to be a disconnect.

If you don't

know Christ,

there's going

to be a disconnect.

Because you're

lost in your sin

instead of under

the blood

of Jesus Christ.

Because that makes

all the difference.

It changes everything.

Obedience does not

purchase his friendship,

it proves it.

If you love God,

you're going to do

those things

that God has

directed us to do.

You know,

when people choose

to do things

counter to what

God said,

you know what?

It says,

God,

I really don't

love you.

I'm going to

do my own thing.

I'm going to

have my own

standard.

I'm going to

go my own

direction.

I'm going to

hold on to

things that I

think instead

of what does

your word say?

James chapter 2

James 2 · chapter mention

tells us this,

the scripture

was fulfilled

which says,

Abraham believed

God and was

imputed unto him

for righteousness

and he was called

the friend of

God.

Now I want you

to think for a

moment,

in Abraham's

household there

was two guys

mentioned in

scripture that

are very

blatantly

contrasted.

We see

Abraham who

obeyed God

and walked

with God,

he was called

the friend of

God,

and you have

another man

by the name

of Lot.

I want you

to understand

Lot,

the Bible

tells us,

was a

redeemed

individual.

Now this is

important.

Because Peter

calls him

just Lot,

that righteous

man whose

soul was

vexed with

the filthy

conversation

of the

wicked.

When Lot

pitched his

tent towards

Sodom,

he made a

choice of

whether he's

going to

love the

world or

love God.

Abraham

said,

I'm going

to love

God.

Lot said,

Lord,

I love

you kind

of,

but this

is the

direction I

want to

go.

You know

what?

There's

the same

dynamic of

believers

today.

There's

Abraham's

and there's

Lot's.

He that

knoweth to

do good

and doeth

it not,

to him

it is

sin.

Lot

pitched his

tent towards

Sodom and

then dwelt

in it,

and God's

dealing with

Lot were

never dealings

of a

friend.

Only one

was the

friend of

God.

Disobedient

never costs

a believer

your

relationship,

your

sonship,

but it

will cost

him the

walk,

the

nearness,

and the

confidence

as a

friend.

Obedience

does not

save you.

It's the

difference

between a

man who

merely

belongs

to God

and a

man who

God

calls his

friend.

And if

obedience

is the

condition

of his

friendship,

verse 15

unfolds its

privilege,

that a

master will

not tell

his servant,

but he

opens to

a friend.

Look at

verse 15

back in

our text.

He says,

henceforth I

call you not

servants,

for the

servant know

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.

The

privilege

of friendship

is the

servant

knoweth

not what

the Lord

doeth.

A

servant

is told

his

duty,

a friend

is told

the purpose.

A

servant

is not

informed,

a friend

is.

Notice

what Jesus

says,

henceforth I

call you

not

servants,

for the

servant

knoweth

not what

the Lord

doeth.

But I

have

called

you

friends

for all

things

that I

have

heard of

my

Father

I

have

made

known

unto

you.

The

Lord

opens

his

counsel

to

his

friends

a

servant

has

handed

orders

and

sent

off

a

friend

is

brought

inside

and

told

the

mind

and

the

purpose

behind

it.

That's

the

dignity

that

Christ

confers

to us.

He

does

not

keep

his

friends

in the

dark

about

what

he's

doing.

Think

about this

for a

moment.

Abraham

was

a

friend

of

God.

Genesis

18

tells

us

this.

It says

and the

Lord

said

shall I

hide

from

Abraham

the

thing

which

I

do

seeing

that

Abraham

shall

surely

become

a

great

and

mighty

nation

and

all

the

nations

of

earth

shall

be

blessed

in

him

for

I

know

him

that

he

will

command

his

children

and

his

household

after

him

that

they

shall

keep

the

way

of

the

Lord

to

do

justice

and

judgment

and

the

Lord

may

bring

upon

Abraham

that

which

has

spoken

of

him

but

God

didn't

hide

from

Abraham

what

was

going

to

happen

why

did

he

tell

Abraham

and

not

Lot

the

angels

weren't

even

going

to

Sodom

to

get

Lot

till

Abraham

intervened

God

had

mercy

upon

Abraham's

prayer

and

Abraham's

request

as a

friend

Isaiah

41

tells us

this

but thou

Israel

art

my

servant

Jacob

whom

I

have

chosen

the

seed

of

Abraham

my

friend

you

know

what

God

told

Abraham

what

was

going

to

happen

he

said

hey

this

is

how

things

are

going

to

play

out

you're

going

to

leave

the

land

the

people

are

going

to

be

taken

out

you're

going

to

be

down

into

Egypt

for

400

years

before

you

come

out

as

a

mighty

group

of

my

people

and

take

the

land

that

I

promised

to

you

he

told

Abraham

that

400

years

before

it

happened

why

because

Abraham

was

his

friend

why

because

he

loved

God

Abraham

believed

God

and it

was

counted

to him

for

righteousness

Moses

spoke

with

God

face

to

face

as

a

man

speaketh

unto

his

friend

the

Bible

tells

us

in

Exodus

33

11

and

what

was

true

for

Abraham

and

Moses

is

the

birthright

of

every

friend

of

Christ

today

how

does

he

make

known

all

things

through

his

word

I

hath

not

seen

nor

heard

neither

have

entered

into

the

heart

of

man

the

things

which

God

had

prepared

for

him

that

love

his

spirit

the

natural

man

cannot

receive

the

things

receive

them

but

we

have

the

mind

of

Christ

the

world

reads

the

same

Bible

and

sees

a

closed

book

the

friend

of

God

opens

it

and

is

let

in

on

the

purpose

you

are

not

left

to

guess

what

God

is

doing

chapter

3

verse

7

says

surely

the

Lord

God

will

do

nothing

but

he

revealeth

his

secret

unto

his

servants

the

prophets

the

friend

of

God

holds

the

counsel

of

God

in

his

hands

I

want

you

to

think

about

a

friend

versus

an

acquaintance

you know

because

an

acquaintance

knows

about

you

friend

lets

you

in

on

the

purpose

today

our

vocabulary

today

mixes

those

things

the

reason

the

devil

loves

twisting

language

I

want

you

to

understand

something

in

life

you

will

have

very

few

true

friends

say

well

preacher

aren't

you

my

friend

well

we

can

be

I

want

you

to

see

the

picture

of

what

I'm

talking

about

because

there's

often times

we have

a lot

of

acquaintances

acquaintances

come

in all

different

levels

from

hey

how are

you

nice

to

meet

you

to

hey

we've

hung

out

quite

a few

times

kind

of

funny

when

you

hang

out

with

guys

often

times

guys

hang

out

with

group

reasons

you

know

you

know

if

you

have

guys

that

are

hunting

they

know

where

you

hunt

and

what

you

hunt

or

what

gun

you

use

you

know

I

hang

out

with

a lot

of

people

that

drive

jeeps

you

drive

the

18

with

the

such

and

such

and

you

give

the

details

and

what

was

your

name

many

other

times

in

other

areas

of

life

do

we

do

the

same

thing

we're

acquaintances

we know

about

somebody

but

a

friend

knows

you

and

you

know

them

put it

this way

a

friend

knows

the

things

that

you

don't

want

other

people

to

know

and

still

likes

you

the

true

friend

still

loves

you

even

if

you're

a

bit

prickly

sometimes

because

they

love

you

difference

and

Jesus

is

telling

his

disciples

that

dynamic

an

acquaintance

costs

you

nothing

a

friend

is

willing

!

to lay

down

his

life

an

acquaintance

is

circumstantial

and

passes

with

the

season

you

often

time

acquaintances

are

people

who

just

kind

of

come

and

go

through

your

life

friend

sticks

how many

people

have

friends

that

you

can

say

you've

had

for

10

years

20

years

some

of

you

just

age

out

I

was

friends

since

we

were

in

the

nursery

40

years

acquaintances

have

come

and gone

in

that

time

you

know

that

there's

nothing

really

just

you know

there wasn't

that bond

of really

knowing one

another

but you

know

about

them

Jesus

is saying

he wants

you not

just to be

for you

to know

about him

he wants

you to

know him

his purpose

to know his

guidance

to know his

direction

just wants

you to

understand

that he

is not

there to

come and

go and be

seasonal

proverbs

tells us

there's a

friend that

sticketh

closer than

a brother

says has

no claim

upon you

a friend

does

you are

my friend

if you

do

whatsoever

I

command

you

most

men

have

many

acquaintances

and few

friends

you know

the problem

is there's

a lot of

Christians

that treat

Christ

as an

acquaintance

venient

one I

know

when I

need

them

put it

that way

acquaintances

somebody

you may

use

when it's

convenient

for you

and you

just want

to hang

out

doesn't

matter

whether

you get

anything