Friends may fail, but Jesus prevails

 

 

Friends may fail, but Jesus Prevails

 

 

 

John 15:13-14

"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you."

 

**Jesus verifies with man as we read on through the Word of God, that for His friends he had laid down his life for our redemption with God the Father. Jesus loved all people as he spoke the truth, and tells us to love others the same, for it proves of God's love; God is love. **

 

1 John 4:16

"And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him."

 

** Many have been disappointed in life when being rejected of friendship and is left alone because of the way they look and speak, and at times even with so called trusted friends commit betrayal and mistrust. What can be guaranteed by the Word of God is that with Jesus, He will never leave us nor forsake us, even calling us our friends as we follow in His path of righteousness. **

 

Hebrews 13:5

"Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee."

 

**We are guaranteed that the Lord will never leave us nor forsake us, even when the going gets tough. As we learn this in our walk with the Lord, we reflect it upon others as well, for this brings to light of God's companionship and love for His children. At times many will say they will walk the extra mile for one another, but in every turn someone is bound to get hurt with disappointment and betrayal. In every rejection, stab, and ridicule of others we still are told to forgive when they ask for forgiveness, and as we forgive, show charity (love) unto them, proving of God's love and mercy for all. Jesus was ridiculed, abandoned by His disciples, and left for an open shame; proving that regardless the severity of His pains He still loved us all and provided a way of life for all who follow him. (He is a wonderful friend of mine) **

 

Matthew 18:21-22

"Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, until seventy times seven."

 

Luke 17:3-4

"Take heed to yourselves: if thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him. And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him."

 

** Jesus is a wonderful friend to go through all of what He went through and still loving us anyway. When we say we are alone, Jesus can show you a thing or two about being abandoned by those close to Him through His painful moments on earth, when we feel we have lost our way and don't know where to go in life, He can reveal unto you by taking your hand that He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. **

 

Feel Abandoned?

(Listen to Jesus' account of Abandonment)

 

Matthew 26:31

"Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad."

 

Matthew 26:55-56

"In that same hour said Jesus to the multitudes, Are ye come out as against a thief with swords and staves for to take me? I sat daily with you teaching in the temple, and ye laid no hold on me. But all this was done, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples forsook him, and fled."

 

Zechariah 13:7

"Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow, saith the Lord of hosts: smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered: and I will turn mine hand upon the little ones."

 

 

Lost your way, and need a compass?

(Follow Jesus)

John 14:6

"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."

Matthew 7:7-8

"Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: for every one that asketh receieveth; and he that seekth findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened."

 



Are you willing to follow Jesus?

Are you willing to follow Jesus?

 

Luke 18:18-30

18And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? 19And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, that is, God. 20Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother. 21And he said, All these have I kept from my youth up. 22Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me. 23And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful: for he was very rich. 24And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! 25For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. 26And they that heard it said, Who then can be saved? 27And he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God. 28Then Peter said, Lo, we have left all, and followed thee. 29And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God's sake, 30Who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting.

** This man’s wealth made his life comfortable and gave him power and prestige. When Jesus told him to sell everything he owned, he was touching the man’s very basis for security and identity. The man did not understand that he would be even more secure if he followed Jesus than he was with all his wealth. Jesus does not ask all believers to sell everything they have, although this may be his will for some. He does ask us all, however, to get rid of anything that has become more important to us than God. If your basis for security has shifted from God to what you own, it would be better for you to get rid of those possessions. **

Matthew 6:24

“No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.”

1 Timothy 6:10

“For the Love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”

**Because money represents power, authority, and success, often it is difficult for wealthy people to realize their need and their powerlessness to save themselves. The rich in talent or intelligence suffer the same difficulty. Unless God reaches down into their lives, they will not come to him. Jesus surprised some of his hearers by offering salvation to the poor; he may surprise some people today by offering it to the rich. It is difficult for a self sufficient person to realize his need and come to Jesus, but ‘the things which are impossible with men are possible with God’. **

Here are some of Paul’s guidelines:

1.       Realize that one day riches will all be gone

1Timothy 6:7

“For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.”

1 Timothy 6:17

“Change them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;”

2.       Be content with what you have

1Timothy 6:8

“And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.”

3.       Love God’s work and people more than money

1Timothy 6:11

“But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.”

 

**Don’t dwell on what you have given up; think about what you have gained and give thanks for it. You can never out give God. **

 

Cast all your cares upon Him

Casting all your cares upon Him, for He careth for you

 

 

1 Peter 5:6-7

“Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.”

** David had been chosen and anointed by God to be king over Israel for He was after God’s own heart. At a young age he had overtaken the Philistine Giant Goliath in the midst of doubts and mockery toward his youth and stature, by just a stone and a sling shot. He had survived the troubles of being chased by King Saul who had wanted Him dead. David had his highs and his lows in life that had produced the character he is known for today: The apple of God’s eye. David had his problems that he caused himself, from committing adultery with Bathsheba (a married woman), and committing the murder of an innocent man (Bathsheba’s husband) by sending him out to war knowing he would die. David through his own faults had lived with the consequences that had made an fearful and humble before the Lord, that is when Psalms had been produced. Like David, we look to the Lord in every aspect of our life, whether we have good days or bad, we are to always be thankful and seek for the Lord’s guidance to get us back on our feet where we need to be on the rock of Jesus. **

Psalms 107:1-2

“O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy;”

Psalms 91:1-7

“He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust. Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be  thy shield and buckler. Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday. A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.”

--‘God is a refuge, a shelter when we are afraid. The writer’s faith in God as Protector would carry him through all the dangers and fears of life. This should be a picture of trust-trading all our fears for faith in him, no matter how intense our fears. To do this we must “dwell” or “Abide” with him. By consigning ourselves to his protection and pledging our daily devotion to him, we will be kept safe.’—

 

John 15:1-5

“I am the true vine and my father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now ye are clean through the Word which I have spoken unto you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.”

--‘Abiding in Christ means

1. Believing he is God’s Son

1 John 4:15

“Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he is God.”

2. receiving him as Savior and Lord

John 1:12

“But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:”

3. Doing what God says

1 John 3:24

“And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.”

4. Continuing in faith

1 John 2:24

“Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father.”

5. Relating in love to the community of believers, Christ’s body

John 15:12

“This is my commandment, that ye love one another, as I have loved you.”

 Philippians 4:6

“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.”

-‘Be careful for nothing means don’t worry. Imagine never worrying about anything! It seems like an impossibility-we all have worries on the job, in our homes, at school. But Paul’s advice is to turn your worries into prayers. Do you want to worry less? Then pray more! Whenever you start to worry, stop and pray.’-

Hebrews 13:5

“Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what men shall do unto me.”