1. Today is our “Friends and Family Day. Special worship and Fellowship
2. These are two biblical concepts of our relationship to Jesus – we are “Friends” and “Family.”
3. [What a Friend We Have in Jesus
In the town of Port Hope, Canada there is a monument erected to Joseph Scriven. He was not a leading citizen who just died, but a poor, unselfish working man who gave most of his life and energy to help those who could not repay him.
Scriven was born in Dublin 1820. In his youth, he had the prospect of being a great citizen with high ideals and great aspirations. He was engaged to a beautiful young woman who had promised to share his dream, but on the eve of their wedding she accidentally fell into a pond and drowned. Young Scriven never overcame the shock. He began to wander to try to forget his sorrow. His wanderings took him to Canada where he spent his last forty-one years. He became a very devout Christian. His beliefs led him to do servile labor for poor widows and sick people. He often served for no wages.
A short time before his death. A friend, who was sitting with him in an illness, discovered a poem he had written to his mother in a time of sorrow. His poem was later set to music and has become a much loved Gospel song:
What a friend we have in Jesus, All our sins and griefs to bear.
What a privilege to carry, Everything to God in prayer.
Oh, what peace we often forfeit, Oh what needless pain we bear;
All because we do not carry, Everything to God in prayer.
I. Servants and Friends John 15:12-17
12 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15 No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have 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 abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. 17 These things I command you, so that you will love one another.
A. Servants
1. Voluntary Humility – a Rite of Passage?
2. Example of Abraham serving the LORD in Genesis 18
B. Friends
1. Based on DOING commands, especially to Love one another (John 15:14; vv. 12, 17)
2. Abraham – “Friend of God” – James 2:23
a. God revealed His plans to him – Genesis 18:17
b. He had a heart like God – interceded for Sodom and Gomorrah
c. Jesus and the Holy Spirit intercede for us (Romans 8)
d. God encourages intercession for others, even enemies – Matthew 5:44
3. As “Friends of the King,” He reveals:
a. His Will to us via scriptures
b. We see what others do not
• Jesus is Son of God (MT 16:17)
• New Birth (John 3; Romans 6)
• Significance of Scripture (Romans 10:17)
• Power in Prayer
• Greater Love – John 15:13
• Greatest Love – Romans 5:8
• Grace and Mercy
• The return of Jesus to resurrect, judge; reign
II. The Lord’s Family – Luke 8:19-21
[Friendship with God is a privilege – how much more is being family?
19 Then his mother and his brothers came to him, but they could not reach him because of the crowd. 20 And he was told, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, desiring to see you.” 21 But he answered them, “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it.”
A. A Family Emphasis
1. “OUR Father” – Matthew 6:9
2. “Abba Father” –
a. Matthew 14:36 (Jesus in Gethsemane)
b. US – Galatians 4:4-7
4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. 6 And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” 7 So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.
B. A Family Inclusion – Jesus’ Mother and Brothers Hear God’s Word and DO it
[Mary became Jesus’ mother by hearing and doing; Jesus’ brothers would, too
1. “Hear” is to listen/Understand/leads to action – James 2:18-26
2. Leads to New Birth into the Family of God – John 3:3, 5
3. Together we become “Brothers and Sisters” in the LORD
1. Today we have spoken of privilege – “Friends” and “Family” of God
2. There are no greater gifts in being associated with God
3. The common thread is DOING what God commands.
4. These come with a high price of commitment
a. Friendship is two way (love God because He loves us)
b. Family follows in every way (Love Neighbor/one another/enemy/ as self)
