BEING A GOD FRIEND

Sermon Notes, October 21, 2012

Pastor Clay Marsh

Pastor Clay’s message was titled “Being A God Friend.”  The scripture reference was John 15:1-14. Verse 14 tells us “You are my friends if you do what I command.”  Pastor Clay said he’d tell us about two men who were friends of God

In that passage, Jesus uses the word “remain” eleven times as He compares Himself with a vine and His followers to branches.  We are to continue to trust in God, continue to focus on Him, and continue to be committed to Him.

To be a God Friend, first we must choose to be a God Friend and continue to trust in Him.  Proverbs 3:5 says to trust the Lord with all our hearts, not to lean on our own understanding.  Trust in God, not in our own talents and abilities.  Abraham was a friend of God.  He trusted in Him.  We don’t have to understand to trust God, nor do we have to know the future to trust Him.

To be a God Friend, we must obey.  Obedience comes from trust. 1 Samuel 15:22 says “…To obey is better than sacrifice.”  Love is the best motive for obedience.

Trusting and obeying Jesus comes from relationship with Him.  We need to define our relationship with Jesus.  Knowledge is not relationship. It’s not enough to know about Him. We need to know Him.  We can learn to know Him by reading His word: “To know the Gospels is to know Jesus.”

Bradley was a modern-day Friend of God.  He produced a lot of fruit.  His smile said, “I don’t judge you, but I love you.”  He was successful because he knew Jesus.  He spent quality time with Him, in prayer, in personal Bible study.  And he was consistent.  He remained in Jesus. 

We need more God friends.  A God Friend is someone who truly cares, someone that you can trust, that serves out of love for Jesus, in the home, the job, and the community.  Is anything keeping the love of God from flowing through you?

Jesus compared us to branches on a vine that bear fruit if they are connected to the vine.  He is the vine, we are the branches.  What kind of fruit is your branch bearing?