Sunday sermon by Pastor Rajesh Mathew, 10th Nov 2019, Cornerstone Church

John 15:15-16- 15 No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I 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 remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.

I am a friend of God. I am a servant of God but there is something greater and that is to be a friend of God

God doesn’t reveal everything to his servants but does reveal everything to His friends.

The Holy Spirit is saying- just like how friends walk with their hands over each other’s’ shoulders, the Lord will cause His church to walk in such an intimate relationship with HIM. The same way as friends speak intimately to each other, the Lord will speak to His church. The Lord will raise your relationship with Him to such a level. As a friend of Jesus. Let the Holy Spirit speak to your inner most man like a friend would speak to you. Declare- I am a friend of God.

An owner of the house while leaving the house asked her husband if he had locked the cupboard since there was money kept in it. When we leave the house, we say, only servants are at home and hence we cannot trust them enough to keep the cupboards open. This woman’s child asked, why are you then leaving me with servants? Am I not valuable?

You are I are valuable, more valuable than precious gold or silver or anything else on the earth. You are bought with the blood of Jesus. Our refuge is not in gold or silver but in Christ.

You are more precious than gold. Your relationships, children and parents need to be like that. These relationships are more important than gold or land or property or wealth.

James 2 :23- 23And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was [a]accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God

• Abraham was called a friend of God. His faith made him righteous. He believed God and it was imputed unto him for righteousness and that is what made him a friend of God.
• We compare ourselves to people who say that they drink, smoke, do drugs and go after women. We judge them. Sometimes ae see the glaring mistakes of others and forget our own mistakes. It is not your religion and works that make you righteous. But the blood of Jesus makes us righteous and worthy of Him.
• The Blood of Jesus Christ justifie you. Therefore, we are called the friends of God

Mathew 11: 19- 19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look, a glutton and a [a]winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ But wisdom is justified by her [b]children.”

Jesus was a friend of sinners, while he walked on the earth.

The priests and the Pharisees were troubled by it. He hung out with tax collectors and sinners. What a great God He is, how merciful He is. A friend of sinners. He doesn't cast sinners away. He gave His only son while we were still sinners. Such a great God. Are you walking in as a sinful man? He is able to cleanse you with His blood, when you confess to Him. You have a great friend in Jesus.

Proverbs 27:6- Faithful are the wounds of a friend, But the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.

Faithful are the wounds of a friend. Our God who is our friend bore wounds for us 2000 years ago. He was wounded for our transgressions. The wounds heal but the scars remain, Jesus showed them to Thomas beckoning him to come, touch and see.

What does a friend do?

HE CALLS YOU

John 15: 16. 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 remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.

God has called you. God did not call us and make us a part of His church only after asking you. God chose you without seeking your permission. It is because of His love for us that He calls us His friends.

HE REMOVES YOUR FEAR

Isaiah 43:1,2- But now, thus says the LORD, who created you, O Jacob, And He who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine. 2When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you.

If you are called, there is no need to fear. No matter what you go through in your life, do not be afraid because you have a friend. This friend has called/ chosen you. He has held our hand.

The Lord says, I have called you by name. You belong to only me, when you walk through waters, I will be with you. You will not drown. When you walk through the fire, it will not scorch you. Such troubles will come in your life. But I am your friend. I will stay closer to you than a brother. Because I am your friend, nothing can destroy you

The one who is called and viewed as a friend of the Lord, is preserved even in a destructive situation.

He is not only my Lord but He is my friend. The one who is the Creator of the heavens and the earth is my friend. The one who is seated at the right hand of God is my friend.

The one who is called can have troubles and he can face adverse reports. But in the midst of it, the word says, do not be afraid.

Jesus was about to go to Jairus’s house. But on His way there, Jairus heard a message that his daughter is already dead. One group told him in one ear, your daughter is dead. In another ear, Jesus said just believe & do not be afraid. One ear they whispered, we have called the coffin. Jesus continues to whisper into another ear, don’t be afraid, and just believe!

HE GIVES YOU FAITH

James 2:5- Listen, my beloved brethren: Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?

Those who are called have been made rich in faith. Faith is found inside the called out ones. In the Name of Jesus let every kind of fear leave your life and godly faith rise up in you.

Faith is for the ones who are called and chosen by God.

Why are you chosen?

John 15:16- and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.

He chose you for two things:

1. For you to be fruitful

2. For you to receive answers to your prayers

Galatians 5: 19-21- Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Everything that makes you unfruitful needs to leave your life. The works of the flesh need to leave your life. When you go onto a friend’s place, you will need to keep up to his level. The Holy Spirit works in the church to make it holy. When you are a friend of God, you raise to His level.

Verses 22 talks about the fruit of the spirit. 22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

Jesus cleanses His church.

The table of the Lord is also a table of consecration.

There people who are slaves to certain sins. This year, as you pray in tears the Lord will break the power of a sin that you have been made a slave of. That sin that has put you in shame. Before you step into next year, be free and take victory over it. The days ahead are freedom from the bondage of certain sins and sinful natures

1. be fruitful

Verse 16 talks about the fruit that lasts. Your labour shall not go into the hands of somebody else’s hands. The fruit that will last. Your children will enjoy the fruit. It refers to not just spiritual fruit but even material things and wealth.

2. whatever you shall ask, He will give it unto you

God will answer you when you pray.

John 18:8- 8 Jesus answered, “I have told you that I am He. Therefore, if you seek Me, let these go their way,”

Let the others go. When Jesus made that statement, it is a reflection of the courage He had that flowed from his relationship with the Father. When you are facing people who want to kill you, you can still have courage. No matter who has left you, if you are praying, God will release tremendous courage into your life.

My God will help me, my friend will help me. Pray courageously. He will answer your prayers.

YOU HAVE A FRIEND. YOU ARE NOT ALONE. YOU MAY GO THROUGH TRIALS, BUT HE WILL NOT LEAVE YOU IN THEM, HE WILL BRING YOU THROUGH. HE WANTS YOU TO BE FRUITFUL.