What Does It Mean to Be Jesus' Friend?
Jesus is the rare older brother who also wants to be your best friend. What is that like, to be Jesus’ friend? Let’s explore.
Jesus initiated our relationship. He is our loving big brother who intervened when we were sentenced to die.
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 5:8
One of the greatest revelations in life is that God and Jesus are chasing us!! Loving us. Wanting closer relationship with us.
1 John 4:19 NKJV
“We love Him because He first loved us.”
God intitiates. We respond. We wouldn’t even know God existed if He didn’t touch us with His love.
Delight yourself in the Lord; And He will give you the desires of your heart.
Psalms 37:4 NASB
I've had wild experiences with my brother Jesus.. I heard him calling me out of my alcoholic darkness. He rescued me, then invited me to hang out with Him.
When I struggled to know Him, I prayed a radical prayer and He invited me to go with Him to Beijing, China.
We spent many wonderful evenings together there - just the two of us. I made a fool out of myself asking every Missionary I knew, "Do you hear God? How do you hear God?" They even warned Karen, now my wife, about me: "He's strange, he wants to hear God." But I began to hear God.
I was baptized in the Holy Spirit in Beijing, alone in my small apartment. I read the scripture. Then I asked and Holy Spirit came on me in such power that it is hard to describe. I was there for a long time, unable to speak or do anything. I felt God's presence and I felt loved as never before. Jesus had sent me Holy Spirit, just like he promised he would. (John 14:16-17)
I don't have time to tell of the many experiences I've had with Jesus and Father God.
I've prayed and felt God's power touch the lives of people hundreds of times. I've seen people supernaturally healed. I've been there, colaboring with Jesus, as He chased demons from homes in China; from people too!
When we accept Jesus' invitation to be His friend, four big things happen. (The insights below are from Bill Johnson’s book "Dreaming With God" which I highly recommend. Find the book at https://amzn.to/3FtX2xV . (#affiliateLink - You pay the same amount, but I get paid a small amount. It helps pay for the podcast.))
1. What we know changes as we gain access to the heart of the father.
Servants don't know what their master is doing. They know their assigned tasks. But Jesus tells His friends his secrets. (Good friends do that.) He tells us what Father tells Him. We get to know Father's heart.
2. Our experience changes.
Encounters with God as an intimate are quite different from those of a servant. These supernatural experiences transform us.
3. Our function in life radically changes.
Instead of working for God we work with him. We work not for God’s favor but from his favor. In this position he entrusts us with more of his power, and we are changed naturally into his likeness more and more.
4. Our identity is radically transformed.
Our identity is the filter through which we see and live life. Christians who live as friends and sons/daughters have clarity and focus.
Activation:
Delight yourself in the Lord; And He will give you the desires of your heart.
Psalms 37:4 NASB
God, Jesus, and Holy Spirit are chasing you. They want more of your heart, more of your attention, and time. Why? They love you. They want you to experience their love. It is through being loved by God that we are made whole – complete, lacking nothing.
Ephesians 3:19 NLT promises:
“May you experience the love of Christ… Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.
Check Out Today’s Activation in the video!