John 15:12-17
“This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. You are My friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you. You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you. This I command you, that you love one another.
John 15:15 (NASB) “No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing;
BUT I HAVE CALLED YOU FRIENDS,
for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you.
Define = set limits, to bound, to mark out the boundaries.
I. What You Define, Becomes Confined By The Definition You Give It
How I define someone, or something determines how I relate to it or them
One of the paramount operations of God in our lives is the Redefining of our persons
God must ReDefine us.
The key is to receive and believe what God calls you – refuse to answer to or respond in any way to lesser titles
II. Let Christ Redefine You!
God never wanted slaves – He’s always wanted FRIENDS!
Don’t ever allow limited men who have limited God to limit you by their judgments and opinions.
Moses knew the heart of God – while the others merely knew the actions of God
Abraham was called a friend of God
It is the privilege of the friend to be made familiar with the plans, wishes and wants of his friend
Abraham influenced the Divine Decision
III. God Yearns For Friends – For Those Who Will Share His Heart, His Passions And His Goals.
Friendship is the highest evolution of love, the greatest designation God can give us and the most intimate name you can call anyone
A true friend will always have your best interest at heart!
We were fooled into putting people into positions they could not or would not qualify for
IV. What Can I Expect From My Friend And What Can My Friend Expect From Me?
Your primary calling was not to serve God but to pursue God – to develop his friendship
Romans 5:11 So now we rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because of our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God. NLT
God can trust HIS friends because they have HIS heart and His best interest in mind.
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