He trusts to their love, knowing that if they love Him they will keep His commandments. "(2) In every Christian there is the same "henceforth." II. In various grades, all these things are acceptable to God and useful; but as in the pictures of a studio there are various grades of excellence, and yet the least may be a good picture, so in the development of the dispositions of Christians there is very low, and there is a little higher, and there is the higher still, and there is the highest level, which men should seek, and on which they should stand. If this is Christ's friendship —. In the text Christ means the whole counsel of God's will. 3. But what friendship gives proof of faithfulness, in comparison with that of Christ? There are few such, however, to be found. The master keeps his servant at a distance, he stands on his authority, gives out his orders, and insists on their discharge. 15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. The former is the condition of devils, the latter that of holy saints and blessed angels. This is seen very striking in the constitution of His Church. It is a further proof of friendship, that the faithful friend will rebuke as well as commend, It is a rare quality, even in Christian friendship; in the friendship of the world, it is hardly known. New Testament Sermons Old Testament Sermons Sermon Series Audio Sermons Sermon Links Disclaimer. But the reality of friendship is further evidenced by the sympathy that it is manifest, in the hour of trial and affliction. Sermons on John 15:15. And even when they did hear, much was appreciated in a very imperfect way. But still the eternal distinction remains. "The secret of the Lord is with them that fear Him, and He will show them His covenant;" He reveals Himself to them, as He said — "I will come to you, and I will manifest Myself to you. But when they went forth to their duty after the baptism of Pentecost, we trace no other constraint but that of love. That is the way of service according to a worldly spirit. Two types of branches. He came to demonstrate His friendship towards us when we were enemies. John 15:5. But the averages of society are always and everywhere very low. Without disinterestedness, friendship is a mockery. The future is unclear. There is a fear that runs with the highest feelings, that purity itself has lest it should be sullied. 1. A SERMON ON JOHN 15:1-17. 1. "All things are yours, life, death," etc. Look at the words in which the message is delivered: "That ye love one another," that ye "love the brotherhood," that this "brotherly love continue." Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. There are also associated actions with each branch. It is not by mortification; it is by the power of love, and soul ripening that it is attained. "His ways are not their ways, neither are His thoughts their thoughts." Am I being successful or just spinning my wheels? Jesus' teaching on the vine and the branches isn't like most of the parables in the Synoptic Gospels, which are usually stories with one or more spiritual points. As inferiors, as creatures, we can be friends of Jesus only "if we keep His commandments.". When John, king of France, lost the battle of Poictiers, though he had been beaten by a force one eighth only of his own, though he himself was taken prisioner, he was overpowered by the courtesy and chivalrous kindness of the Black Prince, his foe, "the tears burst from his eyes, and mingled with the marks of blood upon his cheeks." So God speaks to His people with an accent. It is mutual between our Lord and His people. 1. Many organizations plateaued or lost momentum this year, budgets are tight. All these may be comprehended in one word — grace; yet we may trace it still to intermediate things, themselves the fruits of this grace. What constitutes the Divine happiness? 2. No claims of absolute originality are made for this material. Most people in the world have no experience of lasting joy in their lives. ", 3. It involves comfort in the manifold trials and circumstances of life, III. "Without Me ye can do nothing." The man who loves me for some selfish end is not my friend — he is his own. Apparently, Jesus speaks the words which make up chapters 15 and 16 in route to the garden. These 17 verses aren't long, b… John 15:15 No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not understand what his master is doing. When the heart is "ready to every good work," a hint will be enough to set all its powers in active and pleasant motion. John 15:20 Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. Ones that are fruitful and fruitless, (Fruit: Christian character that brings glory to God through life and witness as it’s in Ephesians 5:9). I. the young mother, a few days after, was among the angels. They live not only in different apartments, but in different mental worlds, Not so with the friend — the friend is near to the heart. Look at His treatment of Simon Peter. Thousands of those whom Jesus honors with the title and treatment of friend are joined in building it, and then, when all is done, Jesus and his friends are to dwell in it together. "The servant knoweth not what his Lord doeth," etc. A mutual power of conferring pleasure. He has compassion and kindness for all. Now it is clear that all along throughout Scripture, its language points to a state of hallowed seclusiveness, in which the soul sees more and feels more, knows more and has more, in highest communion with Christ (1 John 1:3; John 14:22, 28; 1 Corinthians 2:16; 1 John 5:10). He acts from love, and love, like the philosopher's stone, turns the commonest things into moral gold, to enrich his own heart. The relation between the Lord and His people is that of Master and servants; but the perfect bond of that relation is love to His person. We’re on a mission to change that. Let us be worthy of it. The master treats his slave, and the slave treats him, according to legal contract. He has made a great sacrifice for His people (ver. We are to show our love for Him by dying to self and loving others! It is not by prayer. When, however, He had died, and the Holy Spirit shed His light upon the Redeemer's passion, their minds entered into the infinite Secret and made it their own. He used them, while they sought, as Balsam did, to circumvent the Divine purposes. We know words lovelessly pronounced, how cold! "(1Jn 2:9) 2. Time is His servant, and the ambition of princes; but it is all unconscious servitude. John 15:17. John 15:16 : ver 5. The appeal to honour they would respond to, though to all other appeals they would be deaf. Our text speaks of the Holy Spirit as a Person. When He spoke to them of the vast designs He came to accomplish, they were like men that dreamed. We are indeed servants still; but the commanding energy of duty is always and only love. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit--fruit that will remain--so that whatever you ask the Father in … Duty is not less noble because it is inferior to love, but it is inferior to love. And I do not know how the heart of man is to be reached in any other way, how its enmity is to be slain and its love drawn out. John 15:15Open menuNew International VersionOpen menu. Sermons.com provides sermon illustrations, sermons, powerpoint and worship resources, and children's sermons & bulletins. Biblical Commentary (Bible study) John 15:9-17 . No longer do I call you servants, because the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth; What nation under heaven is so highly favored as to have God near to them, as God talked, with you this day? A sermon preached on March 10, 2013 at Hebron Baptist Church, Denham Springs, Louisiana by Pastor Joe Alain. In combination with higher qualities conscience gives strength and great power. And so now His people pass from one degree of fellowship to another; become less and less slaves, and more and more friends, and the honours and privileges of friendship increase with its spirit. All true comfort comes from that personal relation to the Lord Jesus upon which such stress is laid in these discourses recorded by St. John, and which is exhibited as the inspiration not only of … And what politeness! With Christ. The Paperback Bible presents the Bible by the Book and is designed to be portable, readable, and truly personal with ample margins for notations. Learn the things he said so well that they will come back to you when something in your life seems to call for them. What friend can we find so disinterested as Christ? Will you abuse His confidence, and answer His grace with gracelessness? JESUS CALLS HIS DISCIPLES FRIENDS THAT THEY MAY BE BETTER SERVANTS, The work needs the best qualities in the highest degree. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. ‘He that hath friends must show himself friendly’, All things that I have heard of my Father, I have made known unto you, Henceforth I call you not servants, but friends, All things that I have heard of the Father, I have made known unto you, obeys without question the command he understands not. 4. 1. (C) Fruitful branches are pruned that they will be more fruitful. This is the right way, the way most in accordance with human nature. Speaks to His friendship humanity, he does not know His master if he only. 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