Participants:
Series Code: HCAU
Program Code: HCAU180008A
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00:01 Music...
00:20 Welcome to 3ABN Australia Homecoming. 00:24 Music... 00:29 Hello and welcome to our 3ABN Australia Homecoming, 00:33 we're so grateful for our home audience here 00:35 but we're grateful for those of you that joined us 00:37 through television, radio, or the internet. 00:41 What a blessing we have received here already. 00:43 Angela: Yes. 00:44 You know Camp Meeting... Homecoming... 00:46 it's an encouragement... it's uplifting isn't it Angie? 00:49 Oh, I just love Camp Meeting. 00:51 At 3ABN, we have a huge Camp Meeting, 00:54 our 3ABN Spring Camp Meeting, and we have... what? 00:57 The Fall Camp Meeting is another blessing 01:01 and I am just excited to be down under... 01:03 Yes, I am too 01:05 and it's a privilege to meet each one of you 01:06 because as we've mentioned all along 01:09 that you are a big part of 3ABN. 01:10 Yes... yes. 01:12 Now Angie, I know your husband is a pastor 01:13 of the Thompsonville Seventh-day Adventist Church... 01:15 Jill-and-our Pastor there 01:17 but you also are his wife but you work at 3ABN Radio. 01:22 Yes, I have been at 3ABN radio for about 14 years 01:26 and I do editing 01:29 and I host a program called: Crossroads. 01:32 I don't know if anyone ever heard Crossroads here 01:35 but it's a wonderful program where I interview people 01:38 for... about their testimony... 01:40 how they became an Adventist Christian. 01:43 so, I'm just excited to meet each and every one of you. 01:45 You know and it's neat too because I know that there's 01:47 3ABN Australia Radio 01:48 and you know, it makes an impact 01:50 and I think what's so encouraging 01:52 to come to events like this and then as you travel... 01:54 you and Pastor John travel around the world, 01:56 Jill and I... not so much 01:58 but when we have the Camp Meetings like you mentioned 02:00 at 3ABN... it's a blessing to meet people that... 02:04 their lives have been changed because of 3ABN 02:06 and so, we want to say, "Thank you" to you as well 02:08 especially for your financial support... 02:10 that is huge for 3ABN Australia... 02:12 for 3ABN USA 02:14 because you're not just giving money for new cameras 02:18 or for Sets like this... 02:19 you're really giving money to change lives 02:23 for what? It's eternity, isn't it? 02:26 I love this here, "Homecoming... " 02:28 When I think of Homecoming, I think of going home. 02:31 Well, home is something you're familiar with right? 02:34 So, I think the key for us is to become... 02:35 when none of us have been to heaven... 02:37 Angie: Right. 02:38 But the key is for us to get to know Jesus Christ 02:40 and that's where we'll be able to go home for eternity. 02:43 Oh... I'm looking forward to that great and glorious day 02:46 but we have a wonderful program today, don't we? 02:48 We do... we have Pastor Ryan Day, 02:50 you've heard him sing, haven't you? 02:52 Oh and God has given him a gift in music, hasn't He? 02:55 You're going to get to hear him preach the Word. 02:57 Angie: That's right. 02:58 Greg: So, he's going to be bringing us the message today 03:00 entitled "As Our Closest Friend" 03:02 but before that, we have some music. 03:05 Yeah, before that, we're going to have a Trio... 03:09 wow! and it's going to be Tim Parton on the piano, 03:13 Ryan Day and my husband, John Lomacang, 03:17 so you are going to be blessed by a song called... 03:20 named... "Had It Not Been" 03:22 so, sit back and relax and let the Lord bless you... 03:26 as we are going to be blessed, thank you. 03:28 Greg: Amen. 03:29 Pause. 03:35 Piano... 03:41 Just suppose God searched through Heaven, 03:50 He couldn't find one willing 03:56 to be, 03:59 The supreme sacrifice 04:05 that was needed, 04:10 That could buy eternal life 04:15 for you and me. 04:20 Had it not been for a place 04:26 called Mount Calvary 04:32 Had it not been 04:35 for the old rugged cross, 04:42 Had it not been 04:45 for a man called Jesus, 04:52 Then forever 04:56 my soul would be lost. 05:04 I'm so glad He was willing 05:09 to drink that bitter cup, 05:13 Although He prayed, 05:17 "Father let it pass from me" 05:23 And I'm so glad 05:27 He didn't call Heaven's angels, 05:35 From these hands, 05:37 Pulled the nails 05:41 that torment me. 05:43 Oh, had it not been 05:48 for a place called Mount Calvary 05:55 Had it not been 05:59 for the old rugged cross 06:06 Had it not been 06:09 for a man called Jesus, 06:16 Then forever 06:20 my soul would be lost... 06:29 Then forever 06:34 my soul would be 06:40 lost... 06:48 Pause. 06:56 more pause. 07:03 Good Day... 07:05 Audience: Laughter... 07:07 I'm practicing... 07:09 I love it... praise the Lord. 07:13 How are all of you doing this evening? 07:15 Audience: Fine. 07:17 It's so good to see each and every one of your smiling faces, 07:19 time is of the essence. 07:21 I'm looking at that clock 07:23 and I don't know how I'm going to get through this sermon 07:25 in 49 minutes 07:27 but with God's grace... by God's grace 07:29 and with His help, we will do so. 07:31 Before we go any further though, 07:32 I would like to kneel... you don't have to kneel 07:34 but if you would just reverently bow your heads, 07:36 we'll go to the Lord at this time. 07:37 "Father in heaven, 07:42 we praise you and thank you God 07:45 for being the wonderful friend to us that you are. 07:51 Pause. 07:53 As we take on this topic, 07:55 'Knowing You as our closest friend' 07:59 I pray that you would amplify your Word 08:02 in each and every one of our hearts and minds. 08:04 As I prayed earlier this morning 08:06 that you give us this spiritual eyesight, 08:09 the spiritual hearing and the spiritual mind 08:12 to be able to see and hear and comprehend 08:14 what Your Word is telling us this evening, 08:17 May You reveal Your will to us, 08:20 may You lift Jesus Christ high 08:23 and we may fix our eyes 08:24 on the wonderful character of Jesus, 08:27 I praise you and thank you for this opportunity, 08:30 I'm completely depending on you 08:32 to give me every word... every thought... every action... 08:35 and may it be that of Jesus Christ, 08:37 we praise you and we thank you as always, 08:40 we ask this in Jesus' name, amen. " 08:42 Amen. 08:44 Knowing God 08:48 as our closest friend... 08:51 do you remember our theme Scripture? 08:52 John chapter 17 verse... verse 3... say it with me, 08:58 "And this is eternal life, 09:01 that they may know You the only true God, 09:04 and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent. " 09:08 Knowing God... is salvational. 09:13 Pause... 09:16 Knowing God on a personal level... is life or death. 09:21 This particular Series in which we are focusing 09:29 on coming to know our God more 09:32 through many of these different topics and realities 09:34 that we must confront... 09:36 that we must consider as vitally important 09:39 the one that I've been chosen to speak on this evening 09:42 is: Knowing God as our closest friend 09:45 and I find that as I travel around 09:47 and as I have been given the wonderful privilege 09:49 and opportunity... to preach the good news of Jesus Christ 09:53 over the past few years, 09:54 I find that there's a lot of people who struggle 09:56 with the concept of God as a friend 09:59 and I can see it to a certain extent 10:02 because many of us and rightfully so, 10:06 should view God in the respectful... honoring 10:10 reverent way that we should, 10:13 we should honor Him... we should lift Him up... 10:15 we should treat Him and respond to Him in reverence, 10:18 but nonetheless, God... even in His every Word 10:22 is pleading with us 10:24 to have an intimate... close relationship 10:28 like that of a very close friend. 10:30 I would like to take you this evening 10:33 on a journey through Scripture, 10:35 we're going to have a good old-fashioned 10:37 Bible Study this evening, 10:38 I don't even know if that expression 10:40 is used here in Australia, 10:41 but back home where I'm from in the southern states 10:45 of the United States of America, 10:46 we would say, 10:48 "We're going to have a good old-fashioned Bible Study" 10:50 and that's exactly what we're going to do this evening, 10:53 this is probably not going to suffice 10:56 the ears of those who are looking for some deep spiritual 11:00 theological discourse 11:01 but nonetheless, we're going to keep it simple, 11:04 we're going to keep it Biblically focused 11:06 and I would like for you to join me in this journey. 11:09 I would like for us to begin this evening 11:11 in Colossians chapter 1 beginning with verse 13, 11:14 so if would take out your Bibles if you have them 11:17 this particular text, 11:18 I'm going to be reading from the New King James Version 11:20 and we're going to read it directly from the Bible 11:23 and then I'm going to put up a text in just a few moments 11:25 that comes from a different translation, 11:27 I want you to see this from two different perspectives 11:30 so we're going to the book of Colossians, 11:33 what chapter did I say? I did say chapter 1, 11:35 I was just testing to see if you were listening. 11:37 Colossians chapter 1... 11:39 we're going to begin reading in... what verse? 11:41 We're going to begin reading in verse 13. 11:45 Colossians 1 beginning with verse 13 11:50 and the Bible says, 11:51 by-the-way, this is going to be a lengthy passage 11:53 so stay with me, we're going to read through 11:54 verses 20... verse 23... 11:56 It says, "He has delivered us from the power of darkness 12:01 and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, 12:05 in whom we have redemption through His blood, 12:10 the forgiveness of sins. 12:12 He is the image of the invisible God, 12:15 the firstborn over all creation. 12:18 For by Him all things were created that are in heaven 12:22 and that are on earth, visible and invisible... " 12:25 excuse me... "visible and invisible... " yes, 12:28 "whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. 12:32 All things were created through Him and for Him. " 12:36 I'm in verse 17... 12:38 it says, "And He is before all things, 12:42 and in Him all things consist. 12:46 And He is the head of the body... " that is the church 12:50 "who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, 12:54 that in all things He may have the preeminence. 12:58 For it pleased the Father 13:02 that in Him all the fullness should dwell, 13:06 and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, 13:09 by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, 13:12 having made peace through the blood of His cross. 13:16 And you, who once were alienated 13:20 and enemies in your mind by wicked works, 13:23 yet now He has reconciled 13:27 in the body of His flesh though death, 13:30 to present you holy, and blameless, 13:33 and above reproach in His sight... " 13:36 last verse says, 13:38 if indeed you continue in the faith, 13:40 grounded and steadfast, 13:42 and are not moved away from the hope of this gospel 13:45 which you heard, 13:46 which was preached to every creature under heaven, 13:48 of which I, Paul, became a minister. " 13:53 That indeed is a very powerful passage 13:55 and it reminds us of whom we're discussing this evening. 13:59 Now, I'm about to do something that normally I consider to be 14:05 absolutely blasphemous 14:07 and that is, 14:09 read from a paraphrased translation of Scripture. 14:13 Audience: Laughter. 14:15 Normally, I try to stick to the King James or the New King James 14:18 I'm just kind of biased in that way... 14:20 not that I don't believe that we shouldn't use other translations 14:24 I believe in its proper context and in the proper moment, 14:27 there are appropriate times to use other translations, 14:30 but I very much try to stay away from paraphrased versions 14:33 because it's not really a word-by-word 14:35 or textual translation, 14:36 but more of just a... 14:38 a kind of an overall view... a paraphrase... 14:41 and so... but when I found this particular paraphrase 14:43 of a particular translation that I normally stay away from, 14:47 I really liked the way Eugene Peterson... 14:50 the author of "The Message Bible" 14:53 or the "The Message Translation" 14:56 paraphrased this particular text that we just read 14:59 and I'm... I think it's going to be on the screen 15:01 at this moment and it says, 15:03 "For everything... " 15:04 listen very closely to the verse... I like this, 15:06 "For everything, absolutely everything, 15:09 above and below, 15:11 visible and invisible, 15:14 rank after rank after rank of angels... 15:17 everything got started in Him 15:20 and finds its purpose in Him. 15:24 He was there before any of it came into existence 15:28 and holds it all together right up to this moment. 15:33 He was supreme in the beginning 15:37 and leading the resurrection parade... 15:40 He is supreme in the end. 15:42 From beginning to end He's there, 15:46 towering far above everything, everyone... " 15:50 and I love this, 15:51 "so spacious is He, so roomy, 15:55 that everything of God finds its proper place in Him 15:59 without crowding. 16:01 Not only that, 16:03 but all the broken and dislocated pieces 16:06 of the universe... 16:08 people and things, animals and atoms... 16:11 get properly fixed and fit together 16:14 in vibrant harmonies, 16:16 all because of His death, 16:19 His blood that poured down from the cross... 16:22 But now, by giving Himself completely at the Cross, 16:28 He has died for you. " 16:31 I love this part... don't miss this, 16:34 "You don't walk away from a gift like that!" 16:40 Pause... 16:43 I'll try this side over here, 16:45 pause... 16:47 "You don't walk away from a gift like that! 16:52 Audience: Amen. 16:53 "You stay grounded and steady in that bond of trust, 16:58 constantly tuned in to the Message... " 17:04 the message... 17:05 "careful not to be distracted or diverted. " 17:08 We have a lot of that going on today, huh, 17:11 pause... 17:13 "There is no other Message... just this one. 17:17 Every creature under heaven gets this same Message. " 17:24 Audience: Amen. 17:27 I remember, I just turned five years old 17:32 and mom and daddy enrolled me in public school. 17:39 Now, do you guys have... 17:41 here in Australia do you guys have Kindergarten? 17:44 I'll say, okay... 17:46 well I was... I was being enrolled into Kindergarten 17:49 and I remember I was very excited 17:51 because, you know, 17:53 I don't know how it is here in Australia, 17:55 but in America, it's... it's almost like a... 17:57 it's just a cultural thing where... you know, 17:59 as you're approaching the first day of school, 18:01 the parents take the kids out shopping 18:03 and you get new shoes and you get new clothes 18:05 and new backpacks 18:06 and, you know, little hardware to put in your backpacks 18:08 and all those other things and so... my family... 18:10 I mean, they were so excited, I was excited 18:12 and back then... this was, of course, 18:14 way before my Christian days when... when I... 18:16 I hadn't really figured things out yet, 18:18 and, of course, I was just a little one 18:19 but I was very much into a... a... a very mythical character 18:22 and comic... comic-book character known as Batman 18:26 and so, I was very much into Batman 18:28 and so, on the first day of school, 18:30 my parents obviously had taken me out shopping 18:32 but on the first day of school, I stepped out of the car 18:35 at the school, I've got Batman shoes, 18:37 I've got Batman pants, 18:38 I got Batman shirt, I got Batman backpack, 18:40 I even had a little Batman watch 18:42 and I didn't even know how to tell time but I was proud of it. 18:45 I was so excited as we were on the way 18:49 because I couldn't wait for everyone to see 18:51 all of my Batman merchandise that I had on, 18:53 but as soon as I stepped out of the vehicle, 18:55 a very strong sense of anxiety 18:58 immediately began to flood through my veins. 19:00 As I begin to see all of the long lines 19:03 of these random strange children that I'd never seen before, 19:06 each one that was standing by their parents... 19:09 this was just prior to the opening of the doors, 19:11 but then eventually they came and they opened 19:13 the front doors of the school, 19:14 and we began parading in, 19:15 almost like they were taking us one by one 19:17 into a high secure penitentiary... 19:19 Audience: Laughter. 19:22 And I was so anxious... so scared... 19:25 and I remember like it was yesterday 19:28 then of course, we went and found my home room 19:31 where I would be the entire year 19:33 and as I'm walking through the hallways 19:35 and I'm going to officially find the entrance of my home room 19:38 and they begin ushering in... 19:39 ushering me into the home room there, 19:41 I'm looking around and I'm taking in my surroundings, 19:43 I'm paying attention to the behavior and the reactions 19:46 of all the other young boys and girls around 19:48 and, of course, their parents are bringing them in, 19:49 some of which I could see that same horrific, 19:52 terrifying look on their face, 19:53 and some were so terrified, they were beyond the point, 19:57 some of them were kicking and screaming and crying 19:59 saying, "No mummy, no mummy, no... " 20:01 it was like mum and daddy were pushing us out of their nest 20:05 saying, "Go, go, shoo... shoo... " 20:06 They eventually brought us in 20:08 and they sat us down on these little squares 20:11 each little square... do you guys remember this? 20:13 You guys have this in school? 20:14 I don't know, maybe it's a new thing 20:16 but they... they... they sat us down on these little squares 20:18 and we all sat on a little number or a little color... 20:20 what was blue or green... or number one... number two... 20:23 so, I remember I sat on the very corner in the room, 20:25 I had my own little corner spot 20:27 and I... again, I'm very, very anxious 20:29 but I... even from a young age, 20:30 I've always been very in control of my emotions, 20:33 sometimes, I'm very good at hiding my emotions 20:35 and on this particular day, 20:36 I was not about to let some other kid 20:38 or any other adult see me cry on the first day of school, 20:40 even though I had that lip quiver. 20:42 Audience: Laughter. 20:45 I was ready to let loose at any moment 20:46 and I'm looking around and I'm... I'm studying the room 20:50 and... and... But I remembered something mom and dad told me 20:53 before we arrived that day, 20:55 they said, "Oh son, you're going to be fine, 20:56 you're going to make new friends, 20:58 just... just find a friend... make new friends 21:01 and it will be okay, you'll get through it 21:05 and I'm sitting on that little block 21:07 and that... that came into my mind 21:08 and I began scoping the room 21:10 trying to determine who's going to be my friend 21:14 and it was just really convenient 21:19 because there was this young boy sitting beside me 21:21 who looked just as horrifically terrified as I did 21:24 and I thought, "Hey, why not?" 21:25 And so, I had to make the first initial connection 21:28 and so I remember in that very high pitched 21:30 country accent of mine as a little kid, 21:32 I said, "Uhhh... would you like to be my friend?" 21:36 Audience: Laughter. 21:38 And that little boy... he looked over at me 21:42 he was as surprised I guess to know that I was actually 21:44 addressing him... speaking to him... 21:46 and he really didn't know any other way to respond 21:48 other than, "Uhhhh... sure... " 21:50 And so we became friends 21:53 and mom and dad were right, 21:55 it made the first day of school... 21:58 in fact, it made every day at school so much easier 22:00 to know that I didn't have to walk into 22:01 that young people penitentiary by myself each day 22:04 and alone... 22:05 now it's comical and very truthful 22:09 as that story most definitely is. 22:12 As I was preparing for this particular message, 22:15 all of those thoughts were just flooding back into my mind... 22:19 the very concept of friendship. 22:21 You see, there was a natural response... 22:25 there's a natural drawing of God's people 22:30 to desire friendship. 22:33 We all want that special connection... 22:36 we all want to be liked, we all want to be cared for, 22:39 God created us for that purpose 22:43 to connect. 22:46 You see, the opposite of selfishness is to give yourself 22:51 to someone else in that kind of way... 22:53 in a relationship... a special relationship. 22:56 As I always do when I'm studying, 23:01 I tend to want to define things before I go any further 23:04 so I thought, "Well, you know what? 23:06 I just want to see what the dictionary 23:07 defines the word 'friend' or the concept of 'friend. '" 23:10 What... what is a friend according to the dictionary? 23:13 And I didn't just want to go to any dictionary... 23:15 there's... there's so many different dictionaries out there 23:17 but you know there's those sophisticated Institutes 23:20 such as Oxford... 23:21 and I thought, "You know what? 23:22 Why not check the Oxford English Dictionary 23:25 for what a friend is defined as 23:29 or what... what is the definition of a friend. 23:30 Now, again I'm just quoting Oxford English Dictionary here, 23:34 I want to show you what Oxford English Dictionary 23:36 defines a "friend" as... so, here it is: 23:38 A person with whom one has a bond of mutual affection, 23:43 typically one exclusive of sexual or family relations. 23:47 The second definition was: 23:50 An acquaintance or a stranger one comes across. 23:54 Maybe... see that... okay. 23:58 The third definition was: One's close relatives. 24:01 I can see that to a certain extent 24:03 because I'm very close to my brother, 24:04 in fact, I consider my brother 24:06 who is also an Amazing Facts Evangelist 24:08 he is... is my very close friend. 24:10 I can see that. 24:12 Notice the last one: 24:14 A person who is not an enemy or opponent but an ally. 24:20 okay, we can see that to a certain extent, 24:24 there is one... there is a couple of more here, 24:28 I don't know if they have the... have it on slides here 24:30 but there's a couple of more that I found. 24:32 The fifth definition that came up was: 24:34 A familiar or helpful thing. 24:37 Pause. 24:40 Did you catch that? 24:41 Oxford dictionary defines a friend as a thing. 24:46 A familiar or helpful thing. 24:49 Now, I can see where they're going with this 24:50 because I hear people all the time 24:52 you know, you run out of the house 24:53 and they forget their cell phone 24:54 but oh, they'll go back again in and grab it, 24:56 "Eh... huh... huh... huh... I almost forgot my friend. 24:57 This is my close friend, 25:00 can't go anywhere without that... " 25:02 and then, of course, the last definition... 25:05 now, I kind of was surprised when I first saw it 25:07 but then, it's like, "Ah, this should be expected" 25:10 the sixth definition... the last definition... 25:13 in the Oxford English Dictionary for a "friend" 25:15 check this out: 25:17 A contact on a social networking website. 25:22 Audience: Laughter. 25:25 That is the age in which we are living. 25:28 In fact, if you were to really take on the modern 25:33 truthful definition of a "friend" in most people's minds, 25:35 you can just scrap those previous five that I just read 25:38 and just put that last one down right there 25:40 because when most people consider a friend to be a friend 25:42 they're talking about their friends on Facebook 25:44 or Twitter or all the other social media networks 25:46 that they're involved in. 25:48 Now, when I read this definition I was very sad 25:51 because it did not... 25:52 it... it... it did not really settle within me 25:56 as a sufficient definition for a friend 25:59 so I went to another very familiar definition... 26:02 a very familiar dictionary... 26:04 as you can see there, 26:08 Ryan Day's Dictionary... 26:12 and as I was praying and thinking this through, 26:15 I thought, you know, "What would I consider 26:19 to be the proper attributes of a good friend... 26:23 a close friend?" 26:24 Now I understand that this is not a very complex list, 26:28 a good friend is much more complex 26:30 which is these seven points but nonetheless 26:32 this is what I came up with. 26:33 You see, a good friend to me is someone... 26:35 and you'll notice, the first three 26:36 are really the most foundational aspects 26:39 of a good healthy relationship. 26:40 If you're going to have a good healthy relationship with anyone 26:43 whether it be a marriage... whether it be a courtship... 26:45 or whether it be simply a close friend, 26:46 number one, you want a friend to be someone you can trust, 26:50 do you agree or disagree? 26:53 Okay, number two, a good communicator. 26:58 You see, a relationship without communication, 27:01 is no relationship at all 27:03 because the very foundation of a healthy relationship 27:07 is communication. 27:09 Trust... notice number three, 27:12 honesty and to be truthful. 27:15 You want someone as a friend, a close friend to be honest 27:19 and truthful. 27:20 Of course, number four, 27:22 you want this friend to be encouraging and supportive 27:25 and when I'm talking about encouragement 27:27 and someone who is supporting you as a close friend, 27:30 we're talking about someone 27:31 who's going to encourage you and support you 27:34 not just in the good times but also the bad. 27:36 Pause. 27:39 Number six, a good friend is a good listener. 27:43 A good friend knows how to be quiet and just listen 27:50 in times when their friend needs to be heard 27:54 and of course, last but not least 27:58 someone willing to sacrifice their life... 28:01 or give their life for you. 28:04 Pause... 28:07 Now, as I was thinking over this list, 28:09 you know, I've met many people 28:11 who would probably qualify for the majority... if not all 28:14 of these particular aspects of a friendship 28:18 but there was one person who came to my mind 28:23 that without a doubt fits all the criteria 28:27 and that is none other than Jesus Christ Himself. 28:32 I want to take you through a very quick... 28:35 very simple but profound Bible Study 28:38 as we go back through these one by one, 28:40 I want to show you how the Bible confirms... 28:44 this is not just some made up story or myth, 28:47 but yet the Bible confirms 28:49 that the greatest closest friend that one can have 28:53 is their Creator... Jesus Christ. 28:57 Pause. 29:00 I want to take us to the very first one 29:03 which is someone you can trust 29:05 and I think that if there's anyone in the Scripture 29:09 who understands God as a person that they can trust, 29:13 how about the man that God said, 29:15 that is a man after His own heart. 29:17 While David was not a perfect man, 29:19 David did indeed... he was very faithful to God 29:22 and notice what he writes here in Psalm chapter 31, verse 13, 29:27 excuse me, verse 14, very simple but he says, 29:30 "But as for me, I TRUST in You, O Lord; 29:36 I say, 'You are my God. '" 29:40 Pause. 29:42 I trust in You Lord, I say, "You are my God" 29:44 and... and if you read the story of David, 29:47 you know that he had to put a lot of trust in God 29:50 to be where he was 29:52 and to accomplish what he was able to accomplish. 29:55 Also, in the book of Psalm chapter 31 verse 14, 29:58 the Bible goes on to say, excuse me, I'm sorry, 30:01 Psalm 84 verse 12, 30:03 the Bible goes on to tell us, "O Lord of hosts... " 30:06 of course, this is David, 30:07 "blessed is the man who TRUSTS in You!" 30:10 If you want to go talk to someone 30:13 who knows anything about trusting in God 30:15 or being able to trust God as a close friend, 30:17 David would know that and David records it, 30:19 he says, "Blessed is the man who TRUSTS in You. " 30:22 Pause. 30:24 And of course, we all know that famous passage, 30:26 coming from, of course, as the Bible describes, 30:29 the wisest man to ever live, 30:31 that is... the created man that ever lived, 30:33 that would be Solomon 30:35 and we find this in Proverbs chapter 3 verses 5 through 6, 30:37 this should be a very familiar verse, 30:39 notice what it... what does it start with? 30:41 Say it with me... "TRUST" that's the first thing... 30:44 the wisest man to ever live says, 30:46 "Hey, let me give you a little advice, 30:48 'TRUST in the Lord with all your heart. '" 30:50 Why should you? Because you can... 30:52 He's your best friend, 30:53 there's no one on the planet that you can trust more than Him 30:56 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, 30:58 and lean not on your own understanding; 31:00 in all your ways acknowledge Him 31:02 and He shall direct your path. " 31:05 Pause. 31:07 Now there's some other texts 31:08 that as I was studying from the Old Testament 31:11 into the New Testament, 31:12 I found something quite interesting... 31:13 I... I... I... I located this and discovered this years ago, 31:17 but it brought me back to this particular series of texts. 31:20 When you're coming to trust God... 31:22 when you're learning to trust God, 31:24 Christ reminds you of that... and He... He tells us 31:28 and preaches this in the Word, 31:30 notice John chapter 14 verse 1, 31:31 we all know that famous text, where he's talking about... 31:34 how when he is going away to prepare for us a mansion, 31:36 that where He is, there we may be also, 31:38 notice what He starts this with though, 31:40 He says, "Let not your heart be troubled; 31:43 you BELIEVE in God, believe also in Me. " 31:46 And you say, "Ryan, what does that have to do 31:48 with trusting God?" 31:49 You see, the word "believe" here in the original Greek, 31:52 is a word that you would pronounce 31:54 and it sounds like this, "pisteuo" 31:56 so we go in the original Greek here, to believe... 32:00 as it says here, to believe in God 32:02 he's asking you to "pisteuo" in the Greek 32:05 and if you look up a further-defining word 32:07 that would properly communicate to us 32:10 what it is in the Greek to "pisteuo" 32:12 it also means, "to put trust in" 32:14 that means, "To trust... " 32:17 so essentially what God is saying here is, "You know what? 32:19 I don't want you to just believe in me, 32:22 as in... 'I just exist' or that 'I'm here' 32:24 I want you to go far and beyond that, 32:26 I want you to trust in God and also, trust also in Me. " 32:31 Pause. 32:33 And probably one of the most quoted... 32:36 and probably the most... 32:38 if I were to ask you this evening, 32:39 what is probably the most popular verse or... 32:42 or memorized verse in all the world from the Bible? 32:45 Probably John 3:16, I would agree with you, 32:48 I would say to you this evening, my friends, 32:51 while John 3:16 may be the most popularly memorized 32:54 and quoted verse among the Christian world, 32:57 I believe it's also one of the most misunderstood verses 33:00 within the Christian world. 33:02 Pause. 33:05 I want you to say with me, you know it by heart, John 3:16, 33:08 "For God so loved the... " Audience: world 33:11 "that He gave His only begotten" Audience: Son 33:15 "that whosoever believes in Him should not perish 33:18 but have everlasting life. 33:21 Notice the word, "BELIEVES in Him. " 33:24 You see, years ago when I was kind of church hopping, 33:27 I found myself studying with many different Christians 33:31 from different denominations and I found a common theme 33:35 or common pattern among some of those believers, 33:37 that when they read John 3:16, 33:39 they really held on to that particular text, 33:41 that was kind of their key verse 33:44 that they really held on to as a promise 33:45 that all they had to do was just simply believe in Jesus 33:49 and they would not perish but have everlasting life 33:51 and of course, the concept that they're thinking of 33:54 in the sense of "believing in God" 33:56 is just simply, "I believe that Jesus is real, 33:58 I believe that He died on the cross for me 34:01 and of course, I believe now that I believe that 34:03 I believe I'm saved. " 34:05 Pause. 34:06 And essentially, 34:08 if you go into the original Greek... as I just said, 34:10 the word "pisteuo" again, used right here 34:12 simply, Jesus is saying, 34:14 "Look, yes, I want you to believe in Me" 34:16 that is, "I want you to trust in me... 34:19 I want you to trust Me... I'm your God... 34:21 I'm your friend... 34:23 trust me... " 34:25 and what are we trusting in? 34:27 What are we putting trust in Him to do? 34:29 To do what He said He would do 34:30 and that is to save us from our sins. 34:33 Pause. 34:37 So, is God someone you can trust? 34:39 Is Jesus someone you can trust? 34:41 Let's go on to our second point 34:44 and that is... "a good communicator" 34:48 a good friend is a good communicator. 34:52 Notice Jeremiah chapter 33 verse 3. 34:56 The Bible says, "Call to Me... " this is God speaking... 35:00 "Call to Me, and I will... " what? 35:03 "if you call to me, I will... " what? 35:06 "I will answer you 35:07 and show you great and mighty things which you do not know. " 35:09 Did you realize that in a relationship, 35:13 it's a dialogue... 35:15 proper communication in most one-on-one relationships... 35:21 it's a dialogue... 35:23 but yet some of us treat it as a constant never-ending monologue 35:27 pause 35:29 even in our relationship with God... 35:30 even when we go to God in prayer, it's like, 35:32 "Lord, I need this... 35:34 Lord, I need you to save me from this... 35:35 Lord, I need this, I need this, I need this... I need this 35:36 I need... " and we pray to God 35:38 but, you know, sometimes we don't stop and allow God 35:40 to speak back to us. 35:42 What did He say here? 35:43 He says, "Call to me, I will answer you... 35:47 if you call to me, I'll answer. " 35:48 Notice in verse... 35:52 excuse me... John chapter 10 verse 27, 35:55 Jesus says, "My sheep hear My voice, 35:58 and I know them, and they follow Me. " 36:01 Is God interested in communicating with you and me... 36:06 in you and me? 36:08 Is He interested in communication? 36:10 Absolutely... absolutely. 36:13 So we know that God is indeed a good communicator. 36:17 We can depend on Him, 36:19 in fact, we're going to see that pop up in just a few moments. 36:21 Let's go on to point number 3, 36:23 because we're running very quickly out of time. 36:25 Number three, 36:27 when you're looking for a good close friend, 36:30 you want this friend to be honest and truthful. 36:33 The question of the hour... is God honest? 36:38 Is He truthful? 36:40 What did Jesus say, 36:42 "I am the way, the... the truth and the life" 36:45 in fact, let me take you on to Numbers chapter 23, 36:48 verse 19, I believe it is, notice what the Bible says, 36:52 "God is not a man, that He should... " what? 36:54 "God is not a man, that He should lie, 36:57 nor a son of man, that He should repent, 36:59 He... " notice, "Has He said... " 37:01 the question... "Has He said, and will He not do?" 37:04 My friends, do you believe in the promises of God? 37:07 Do you believe that when God tells you something, 37:09 He's going to perform it? 37:11 I believe there, right there, is the ultimate test 37:13 of the faith of a Christian. 37:15 Many times, we... we... we are walking along this life 37:20 and we read these promises , 37:22 but again, we experience many trials and tribulations 37:25 and sometimes, it's like, 37:27 "You know, I just don't know 37:28 if God really is going to respond. 37:30 I just don't know if He's really going to allow me 37:34 to tap in to that promise that He has promised me 37:38 but the Bible reminds us over and over... 37:42 notice in Titus chapter 1 verses 1 and 2, 37:45 the Bible says again, here, "Paul, a bondservant of God... 37:49 an apostle of Jesus Christ, 37:51 according to the faith of God's elect 37:54 and the acknowledgment of... " what? 37:56 "of the TRUTH" He is a truthful God... 37:58 He's an honest God "which accords with godliness, 38:03 in hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, 38:07 promised before time began. " 38:11 You know, not only do I find it to be important 38:14 that a good friend is honest and truthful, 38:16 but sometimes, it's important for a good friend 38:20 for that friend to be... sometimes honest in ways 38:23 that you may not want them to be honest, 38:24 in other words... tell you the truth 38:26 that sometimes it's hard to receive. 38:28 What did Jesus say in Revelation chapter 3 verse 19? 38:33 And by the way, He's speaking to the last church ages... 38:37 that would be me and you 38:38 and what does He say? 38:40 "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. " 38:44 I love you, He says, "I'm your friend" 38:47 and there's no other friend in the world 38:50 that's going to be more honest and truthful with you 38:52 than Jesus Christ. 38:53 My friends, we're talking about knowing God as our close friend. 38:58 Pause. 39:00 He is a close friend. 39:03 Pause. 39:05 So, can we believe and stake our faith in the fact 39:11 that God is honest and truthful? 39:12 Yes. 39:14 Let's continue on to point number 4, 39:17 a good friend is someone who's dependable. 39:20 Is God a dependable God? 39:22 Some of these may be rhetoric 39:25 or... or just very, very much repetitive 39:28 but I just want you to know my friends 39:30 the Bible is very clear on these points. 39:32 Psalm chapter 89 verse 34, what does God say? 39:35 "My covenant I will not break, 39:38 nor alter the word that has gone out of My lips. " 39:40 That's a promise. 39:42 He says, if I tell you I'm going to do something, 39:45 if I've given you a command, 39:46 if I've given you advice, 39:48 I'm not going to go back on it, 39:49 if it's said, it's done. 39:51 I will not alter the words that have gone out of my lips. 39:54 What does Matthew chapter 4 verse 4 say as Jesus was... 39:57 was contending with the devil, he says, 39:58 "Man shall not live by bread alone 40:00 but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God" 40:03 we can believe, my friends, in those promises. 40:06 Notice, 2nd Timothy chapter 2 verse 13, 40:09 but I love this verse, 40:10 very simple, very sure but to the point. 40:13 If we are faithless, He remains faithful. 40:17 If we are faithless... He remains faithful, 40:21 He cannot deny Himself, 40:23 in other words, He will not deny Himself. 40:25 You may not have faith, but He will. 40:28 You may have given up on you, but He hasn't. 40:31 He remains faithful my friends. 40:34 Isaiah chapter 41 verse 10 40:37 is probably one of my favorite promises 40:39 in all the Word of God. 40:40 What does God say? 40:41 Again talking about dependability here, 40:43 He says, "Fear not for I am with you. 40:46 Be not dismayed for I am your God... 40:48 hey, I am there for you... 40:49 you can depend on me... " He says. 40:51 "I will strengthen you, 40:53 yes, I will help you, I will uphold you, 40:55 with my righteous right hand. " 40:58 He says, "You can depend on me. 41:00 I am indeed your friend. " 41:02 So, is God dependable? 41:05 Hello, help me out here folks, 41:07 is God dependable? 41:09 Yes, He is... amen... 41:11 you see, a good friend will also be encouraging and supportive 41:15 and again, as I said earlier, not just in... 41:17 in the good times but also in the bad. 41:19 Someone who will encourage you in the right way 41:24 and support you in the right way, 41:26 again Isaiah chapter 43 verse 2, 41:28 again, we're just taking us through a good old-fashioned 41:30 Bible Study but we're going to bring it home 41:31 in just a few moments. 41:33 The Bible says, "When you pass through the waters, 41:36 I will be with you; 41:38 and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. " 41:43 Why? Because I am going to support you. 41:46 I'm going to be there for you to encourage you. 41:50 When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, 41:53 nor shall the flame scorch you. " 41:55 Again, we're going to verse 6, same chapter, Isaiah 43 verse 6, 41:59 "I will say to the north, 'Give them up!' 42:02 and to the south, 'Do not keep them back!' 42:05 Bring My sons from afar, and My daughters 42:08 from the ends of the earth. " 42:09 He says, "I got you, I got your back... 42:11 I'm here to support you, I'm here to encourage you, 42:14 you're not alone. " 42:16 John chapter 16 verse 33, 42:19 I love this, notice what Jesus says here, 42:21 "These things I have spoken to you, 42:23 that in Me you may have... " what? 42:25 "You may have peace. 42:27 In the world you will have tribulation... " 42:30 He says, "Don't just mark it down, 42:31 it's going to happen. " 42:32 Tribulation... you're going to experience it 42:34 but guess what? I got your back... 42:36 I'm here for you... 42:37 I'm going to see you through it, 42:38 I'm going to be there to encourage you, 42:40 I'm going to be there to support you, 42:42 where you are... there I am... 42:43 notice what He says, 42:45 "In the world, you will have tribulation; 42:47 but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world. " 42:50 In other words, He says, "If I can do it, 42:52 you just trust in me and I will see you through it. " 42:56 Pause. 42:59 God is that encouraging and supportive friend that we need 43:05 when nobody else is. 43:06 Pause... 43:09 You know, I don't care who you are, 43:13 but at the end of the day, every single one of us 43:18 wants that friend who is able to listen... 43:23 who was willing to listen. 43:25 You know, there are times that I might have a bad day 43:29 or there's times that I might be having a bad week 43:33 or struggling with something 43:34 and probably the best friend I have 43:37 other than Jesus Christ Himself is my wife... 43:40 bless her heart, sometimes she has to listen 43:43 to some horrible rants 43:45 and as I vent all of my emotions and thoughts, 43:49 she's such a good listener. 43:53 She'll just sit and listen to me. 43:56 Sometimes I can see the look on her face... 43:59 she's thinking to herself, "You're just crazy" 44:02 she just listens 44:05 because she knows that whatever I'm going through at that moment 44:08 it's important for her to listen... 44:09 because I need someone to listen. 44:11 Pause. 44:15 You know, what God says, 1st Peter chapter 5 verse 7, 44:20 "... casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. " 44:28 You see, when you come to the point 44:30 where you're ready to cast all your cares upon somebody, 44:32 you know what that requires? 44:33 Someone to receive it. 44:35 Someone to listen. 44:37 Someone to be there for you 44:38 when you need them to be there for you. 44:40 That's a good friend. 44:42 Notice, 1st Peter chapter 3 verse 12, 44:45 it says, "For the eyes of the Lord 44:48 are on the righteous, 44:49 and His ears are open to their prayers... " 44:52 You say, "You know, sometimes I might pray 44:56 and sometimes I think that God just isn't listening. " 44:58 Oh, He's listening, 45:01 He says, "I'm listening. " 45:03 My ears are open to your prayers. 45:07 I love this next verse, 45:09 in fact, Ms. Jill read this verse this morning. 45:12 Jeremiah chapter 29 verses 11 through 13, 45:15 notice what the Scripture says, "For I know the thoughts 45:18 that I think towards you" 45:20 you don't... you don't have to tell God 45:23 what He needs to think about, He already knows that 45:26 and notice what kinds of thoughts He says, 45:28 He says, "Thus says the Lord 45:30 thoughts of peace and not of evil, 45:33 to give you a future and a hope. 45:36 Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, 45:41 and I will... " what? 45:44 "I will listen to you. 45:46 And you will seek Me... " 45:48 and what will you do when you seek Him? 45:50 He says, "You will find me, when you search for Me 45:54 with all your heart. " 45:55 He says, "You pray, 45:57 lift up your prayers... and what am I doing?" 45:59 He says, "I'm listening. " 46:01 Why is He listening? 46:02 Because God is the best friend... the closest friend 46:05 that you and I could ever have. 46:08 He is indeed a good listener. 46:11 Pause... 46:15 I've come to my final point as I was contemplating 46:18 the key aspects of a good friend. 46:21 There's an expression in the United States, 46:24 I don't know if you guys use this in Australia 46:27 but back in the United States, it's kind of a... 46:30 I don't know, it's kind of a... a guy thing 46:32 probably more of a male-to-male-type thing 46:35 but I remember growing up in the deep south 46:37 in... in America, we're serious about our guns 46:39 and one of the expressions that we have is, 46:42 is... is... well, you know, when we have a close friend 46:45 or are creating a strong bond from brother to brother, 46:47 you'll hear us sometimes say, 46:49 "Hey, hey, that's my brother right there... 46:51 that's my main man right there... 46:53 that boy would take a bullet for me. " 46:54 Pause... 46:57 And... and... and... some of you are probably thinking, 46:59 "That's just crazy!" 47:01 But it's just an expression communicating the fact 47:03 that if someone's willing to take a bullet for you, 47:06 what are they ultimately doing? 47:07 They're saying, "You know, I would... 47:09 I would... I would be willing to sacrifice my life for yours 47:12 because I love you, 47:14 you're my friend... " 47:15 Pause... 47:20 you see, most of us... maybe not all... 47:23 but most of us in this lifetime 47:25 probably will never have to experience 47:27 the idea of one human friend 47:32 having to give their life for another 47:35 pause... 47:38 but I can tell you my friends, 47:40 today, we would not be standing here 47:42 and I would not be standing here preaching this sermon 47:44 if there was not one 47:46 that had not already given His life 47:48 for each and every one of us. so we may live. 47:51 Pause. 47:54 Notice what Jesus says in John chapter 15, 47:56 verses 11 through 13, 47:59 "These things I have spoken to you, 48:02 that My joy may remain in you, 48:06 and that your joy may be full. 48:09 This is My commandment, that you love one another 48:14 as I have loved you. " 48:16 That changes the game of a relationship. 48:18 But then notice what He says, 48:21 "Greater love has no one than this, 48:24 than to lay down one's life for his friends. " 48:28 Coming from the person who knew good and well 48:31 he was going to have to do that very thing. 48:35 Lay down His life for His friends. 48:39 Pause. 48:42 Romans chapter 5 verses 6 through 8 48:45 says these words, 48:48 "For when we were still without strength, 48:51 in due time Christ died for the ungodly. " 48:53 Could you... can you begin to even fathom that? 48:55 No you can't. 48:57 You and I cannot even begin to fathom that. 48:59 He died for the ungodly... 49:01 "For scarcely, for the... for a righteous man will one die; 49:06 yet perhaps for a good man 49:08 someone would even dare to die. " 49:10 Notice this... "But God demonstrates His own love 49:13 toward us, in that while we were still sinners, 49:16 Christ died for us. " 49:17 Pause... 49:20 more pause... 49:26 2nd Corinthians 5 verse 21, 49:30 pause... 49:33 "Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ... " 49:38 you know what that means? 49:40 You know what an ambassador is? 49:43 It's a representative. 49:49 I saw a Series... Study Series done by a minister years ago, 49:54 the title... I mean it was a book that he had written 49:56 and then of course they made a DVD Study Series out of it 49:59 but the title of the book was, "Not a fan" 50:01 Not a fan... 50:03 and it caught my attention 50:05 and, you know, I'm not really much of a reader... 50:08 really outside of the Bible, 50:09 I do read things outside of the Bible 50:11 but mostly not. 50:13 This particular book caught my attention 50:14 and so I picked it up... 50:16 I bought it... it was only five bucks. 50:17 I begin reading the book 50:19 and I really liked where the author was going 50:20 because he simply was asking the question, 50:22 "Are you a fan or a follower?" 50:26 Pause... 50:28 You see, a fan is someone who stands on the sidelines 50:31 and cheers from a distance 50:32 but a follower is someone who gets in the game... 50:36 they participate... 50:39 you see, we are ambassadors for Jesus. 50:42 When we take upon the name of Jesus, 50:45 we now become representatives for Jesus 50:47 and then notice what he goes on to say. 50:50 "As though God were pleading through us: 50:53 we implore you on Christ's behalf... " 50:55 I want you to read this with me, 50:57 "be... " what? 50:58 "RECONCILED to God. " 51:00 Now what... notice this... 51:01 in... why are they using this word, "Reconciled"? 51:04 Pause... 51:06 what's the opposite of reconciliation? 51:08 Separation... 51:11 there would be no need 51:13 to communicate the idea of reconciliation 51:15 if there had not been previously a separation 51:18 and so, God is simply saying, 51:20 "Look, we're separated... I'm your friend... 51:24 I don't want to be apart anymore, 51:27 "For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, 51:31 that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. " 51:34 Pause... 51:36 My friends... let me... let me... I read this... 51:38 I heard of a story of a man who wanted to know 51:41 really what all the Bible was just kind of in a general 51:43 concept... general idea... 51:45 so he took two weeks off, went into a cabin 51:47 and simply... in a cabin the deep woods... 51:50 in the deep wilderness somewhere 51:51 and he read the Bible from cover to cover, 51:52 in two weeks... 51:54 just to kind of get a general overview 51:56 of what the Bible story was all about 51:58 he came from that experience and this is what he said, 52:00 I'm going to put it on the screen here, 52:01 notice what it says, 52:03 "The whole Bible can be boiled down to one effort after another 52:06 of God seeking to restore a broken relationship with man. " 52:09 Pause... 52:11 You want to know what this Bible is all about? 52:13 It's... it's about just that. 52:14 One effort after another 52:17 of God seeking to restore a broken relationship with man. 52:20 Pause... 52:23 We see this pouring from the Scripture 52:25 as Christ pleads with Jerusalem, 52:27 notice in this particular text, we read in Matthew 23 verse 37, 52:31 "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem... " He comes, He says, 52:34 He says, "the one who kills the prophets 52:36 and stones those who are sent to her! 52:38 How often I wanted to gather you as children together, 52:43 as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, 52:45 but you were not willing!" 52:47 In other words, Jesus was saying that 52:48 how often I wanted to be a close friend to you... 52:50 how often I wanted to gather you and I wanted to have this... 52:53 this personal connection but you didn't want it. 52:56 You didn't want to be my friend 52:58 but I want to be yours. 53:01 Pause... 53:04 There's a passage over in John chapter 21 verse 17, 53:12 it says after the resurrection of Jesus, 53:16 notice what is happening here, 53:18 Jesus is addressing Simon Peter 53:20 and notice what He says here, 53:22 "And He said to him the third time, 53:25 'Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?'" 53:27 Pause... 53:30 Peter was grieved because He had said to him a third time 53:32 obviously, previous to this Jesus had said, 53:34 "Hey Simon, son of Jonah, do you love me?" 53:37 He's like Jesus... "You know that I love you" 53:39 and then He asked him a second time, 53:41 "Hey, Simon, but do you love me?" 53:44 He said, "Jesus, you know, you know I love you. " 53:47 Then of course a third time... 53:49 Peter was grieved because He said to him a third time, 53:52 "Do you love me?" 53:53 And he said to Him, notice these words, 53:55 "Lord, You know all things... " 53:57 now I've always wondered why he said that, 53:59 "Lord, You know all things; You now that I LOVE You. " 54:03 Now, there's something interesting that happens 54:04 in this particular passage 54:05 that's not on the surface of the English. 54:07 You see, if you go directly into the Greek... or the Greek here, 54:11 you'll find something interesting, 54:12 I have to say this really quick because my time's 54:13 about to run out, 54:15 the first time when Jesus comes to Peter and says, 54:17 "Hey, look, do you love me?" 54:18 See, Jesus is trying to engage in that friendship. 54:21 He loves Peter, He considers Peter a deep friend 54:24 but on the opposite end of the spectrum, 54:26 it's not reciprocated... 54:30 Jesus knows this 54:32 because when Jesus addresses 54:33 Peter, He says, "Do you love me?" 54:35 In the original Greek, the word for love is, "agape" 54:36 now if you understand what "agape" means... 54:39 "agape" simply means, an unconditional love 54:42 beyond comprehension. 54:44 "I love you brother... do you love me?" 54:47 Peter responds with, "I love you" 54:51 okay, but when you get down to this last part here, 54:54 notice this, when he says, "Lord, You know all things; 54:56 You know that I LOVE You. " 55:00 The word that Peter uses is not "agape" 55:02 it's the word in the original Greek, "phileo. " 55:06 You know what "phileo" means in the Greek? 55:10 He says, "I'm just... I'm just fond of you... 55:13 Jesus, you know that I'm just fond of you. " 55:17 You know that I don't love you, like you love me. 55:20 Pause... 55:23 We know that passage when Jesus tells Peter, 55:27 "Peter, when you're converted, strengthen the brethren. " 55:33 Pause... 55:35 You see, Jesus desires a close intimate relationship 55:39 with His people. 55:42 Pause... 55:44 Do you desire that? 55:47 Do you desire to be a friend to Him 55:49 as He desires to be with you? 55:52 I want to read this passage, 55:54 it comes from "Our Father Cares" page 207-208 55:58 Pause... 56:00 "The loneliness of Christ, 56:02 separated from the heavenly courts, 56:04 living the life of humanity, 56:05 was never understood or appreciated by the disciples 56:08 as it should have been... 56:10 When Jesus was no longer with them, 56:13 they began to see how they might have shown Him attention 56:17 that would have brought gladness to His heart. 56:21 The same want is evident in our world today. 56:24 But few appreciate all that Christ is to them... 56:28 if they did, the great love of Mary 56:32 as presented in Matthew 26, would be expressed, 56:34 the anointing would be freely bestowed. 56:36 Nothing would be thought too costly to give for Christ, 56:39 no self-denial or self-sacrifice too great 56:42 to be endured for His sake. " 56:44 Pause. 56:46 My friend, in closing today, I want to ask you, 56:49 "Are you willing to be friends with Jesus Christ 56:52 because He desires to be friends with you. " 56:55 He's simply asking, "Can we be friends?" 56:58 And so today in closing I'd like to pray 57:02 that you and I would be that friend to Him. 57:06 "Father in heaven, we praise You and thank You 57:09 for what You have done for us 57:11 and for being the ultimate friend 57:13 that we simply cannot be 57:15 but we're asking Lord, 57:17 that You will give us Your Holy Spirit... 57:19 that You will replicate the character of Jesus within us, 57:22 that we can be a friend to our fellow brethren 57:24 and a friend to You 57:26 that You are pleading and asking for us to be. 57:28 We praise You and we thank You 57:30 and we ask these things in Jesus' holy name, amen. " |
Revised 2019-03-13