Dec 15, 2015
+Matthew 26:50
Jesus replied, “Friend, do what you came for.” Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested him.
+Friend: Hetairos (imposter)
Matthew 22:12
‘Friend,’ he asked, ‘how did you get in here without wedding clothes?’ The man was speechless.
Matthew 20:13
“But he answered one of them, ‘Friend, I am not being unfair to you. Didn’t you agree to work for a denarius?
Matthew 26:50
Jesus replied, “Friend, do what you came for.” Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested him.
+Friend: Philos (experience based love)
John 11:11
After he had said this, he went on to tell them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up
Luke 12:4
“I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more.
John 15:13
Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.
John 15:15
I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.
+What is friendship about?
(… according to Jesus)
Helping others to know the Father’s heart
Giving and not takingProv. 27:6 “Wounds from a friend can be
trusted…”
Thinking of God’s Glory before your own glory 2 Cor. 5:15 And he died for all, that those
who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.
+What is friendship about?
2 Cor 5:9 “So we make it our goal to please Him…” 2 Cor 5:11 “Since, then, we know what it is to fear
the Lord, we try to persuade men…”
Receiving the free gift James 1:17 “Every good gift and every perfect gift
is from above; it comes down from the Father… “
Loving like 1 Cor. 13:7
“Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything [without weakening]”.
+What is the world’s view?
Recollection instead of “reconciliation”
2 Cor. 5:20
“We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God”.
Matt 22: 37-38
Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment.
+What is the world’s view?
Romans 5:5
“And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.”.
Demands on wrong expectations
James 4: 1
What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you?
Galatians 1:10
Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.
+What is the world’s view?
Love those who are easy to love
Luke 7:47
Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little.
Romans 5:8
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us
Romans 15:1-2
We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. 2 Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.
+I want to be a better friend… like Jesus!
① What do they “need”?... instead what do they want? What is for me?
② Check your heart motives. Are your needs met in Jesus?
③ Believe the best of them (1 Cor. 13)
④ Care for their best as a giver not a taker (Gal. 6:2).
⑤ Love them by telling the truth
⑥ Extend God’s mercy and grace. It is free! (Rom. 2:4)
⑦ Accept one another (Rom. 15:7)
⑧ Seek for unity of heart (Rom. 15:5-6)
⑨ Remember…All is to the praise of His glory (Eph 1:6)!!!
“Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up
for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to
God” Eph 5:1-2