No Lone Rangers Here Buddy Series

John 15: 9 – 27

No Lone Rangers Here Buddy

9 “As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. 10 If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. 11 “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. 12 This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. 14 You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. 15 No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you. 17 These things I command you, that you love one another. 18 “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. 20 Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also. 21 But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know Him who sent Me. 22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would have no sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. 23 He who hates Me hates My Father also. 24 If I had not done among them the works which no one else did, they would have no sin; but now they have seen and also hated both Me and My Father. 25 But this happened that the word might be fulfilled which is written in their law, ‘They hated Me without a cause.’ 26 “But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me. 27 And you also will bear witness, because you have been with Me from the beginning.

Are you very popular? Do all the local politicians and town folks like you? If so, is this good? You know that there are distinct differences between being liked and being respected. In today’s scripture our Master and King say this to all of us, not just to us ministers –‘19 If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.’

So, is it possible that we have been trying to find love in all the wrong places? This applies to how we interact with others in society. It also deals with who and how we court our potential life mate. As a believer even though you might not get married you cannot go it alone. There are no Lone Rangers on God’s team. We are part of His body. We will look at these concerns as we study today’s word.

9 “As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. 10 If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.

Those who are His not only abide in Him, but also in His love. Those who reveal themselves as truly a part of the vine by their Christian fruitfulness will experience His continual love.

Please take notice that The Lord Jesus’ love for those who are truly His own parallels the Father’s love for Him. What greater love could there be than that? It is overflowing and permanent. Thus the disciples and all of us for the matter whose decision is to abide in His love must also be permanent. It is a once for all dwelling. It is a decision that once made must be final. It is a permanent commitment.

Now make this clear in your thinking - we can only dwell in His love and remain there if we are obedient to what He commands us as revealed in His word. Thus, if we would dwell in His love we must ‘keep’ His word, meditating on it and obeying it.