Jesus, Our Own Best Friend
INTRO: Welcome. Thank you all for coming and worshiping with us today. It is with great honor I stand here today. Jesus, my friend has made all this possible. If it were not for Him, none of us would be here. He is the one who changed my life and gave me a new beginning. It is He who has made salvation available for all who would call upon Him. It is He who loves us totally, giving His very life for you and I.
Today, is a special day. We call it Easter. It is on this day, we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. It is today, more than any other of the year that we affirm our love for Him and call Him our own.
Today, I want to talk for just a short time about Jesus as our friend. Jesus is the greatest friend we could ever have.
Trust completely
Share happily
Enjoy His kindness daily
Depend upon Him continually
Rejoice for His love completely
I would like to tell you that knowing Jesus as my personal Savior is the best thing I have done and the best I could have ever done. He loves me, praise God.
John 15:9-17 KJV 9As the
Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.
10If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I
have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.
11These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in
you, and that your joy might be full.
12This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved
you.
13Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life
for his friends.
14Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.
15Henceforth 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.
16Ye 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.
17These things I command you, that ye love one another.
Let’s get into the message. We need to know…
With a power or the strength of God (a divine love) – vs. 9
9As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.
Ephesians 2:4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
1 John 4:8 …for God is love.
John 3:16 KJV For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
With an expanding or growing love – vs. 10
10If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.
Sustains us
Shepherds us
Supports us
With a generous or unselfish love – vs. 11
11These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.
Unique (none like it)
Unavoidable (none better)
With an obvious or conspicuous love – vs. 12
12This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.
Outstanding - 12b
Ongoing - 12c
Greater than all – vs. 13
13Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay
down his life for his friends.
Galatians 2:20 KJV I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
He wants us to know Him
Follow and walk with Him
Befriend others – 16
Love others (it works) - 17
With a continuing love – 16-17
16Ye 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.
17These things I command you, that ye love one another.
Benefits us and others –16c,d
Befitting thing (what He wants) - 17
He loves us totally, completely, generously, and continues to do so even when we are not worthy.
Have you loved Him back?
Do you love Him too?
Is His great sacrifice important to you today?
Gary Marcum – New Beginnings Church – 041209am_easter