Bible Readings: John 21:14-17, John 15:13-17
Like you friend, I have had lots relationships.
Some great, others not good.
Some failed, others quite successful.
I have known hurt and loneliness.
May be you have grown thicker spine, but many of us know what it is to be hurt over and over
When we are hurt by broken relationships, wrecked trust, severed promises, ruined friendships and all our hearts yearn for is a relationship, a healing, wholeness and binding peace.
If you have walked through the road of heart break then you understand how hard it is trusting someone enough to let them into your space.
Like salt on the fresh wounds, the pain becomes severe when hurt recurs.
Many of us have been through this road repeatedly.
No matter how many times your heart has been broken,
or trust violated, you can be healed and made whole. Amen.
Jesus knows how important relationships are to us.
It is this networks we have with our maker, our fellowship, with family, in neighbourhoods or workplace e.t.c that keeps our minds healthy.
That’s why there are many hurting people every where we turn.
The bonds have been broken.
The connections have been severed.
When any of these bonds suffer, we become wounded and hurting people.
What Kind of Relationship Does Jesus Invite You To?
And all that believed were together, and had all things common; And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, Acts 2:44 – 46
I love these verses.
The fellowship was not just a meeting place.
It was not a house full of competitive people.
It was not an ordinary place of worship.
They weren’t a bunch of selfish lip service church goers.
These people went beyond acquiring possessions to growing relationship, sharing friendships, enjoying fellowship, dwelling in one accord.
They had everything in common, faith, thoughts, character, love and praise worthy attributes.
You couldn’t miss these set of believers even you were blind!
They understood the mystery of enjoying well rounded strengthened relationships.
Make no mistake they couldn’t have achieved this feat without having real and tangible relationship with God.
You can’t have peaceful connections with others without first enoying your relationship with God.
It was the love and relationship they had with God that drew them nearer.
Gal, they had it!
Good news is we too can enjoy amazing level of relationship with God.
Are you ready for it?
Think Deeply: What level of relationship do you desire?
Here is how Jesus wants our relationship
- -I call you friends-
Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
Jesus laid down his life for you.
Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you. John 15:13-15
Do you a want real and tangible relationship with Jesus?
Yes, you can have it….if you would obey His Word. If you would take up your cross and follow Him.
God sees us as friends when we share His interests.
How do you share His interests?
Like David, embrace what the Lord approves and put away that which displeases Him.
Become a woman after His heart.
When you feel God’s heart beat and yearn to please Him, then you are His friend.
You are the friend of Jesus when you do His commandments.
When you seek to obey Him and you desire to be more like Him then you are His friend.
David was regarded as ‘a man after God’s heart’.
Enoch walked with God and he was no more
Moses spoke with God as a man speaks to a friend.
Abraham believed God and was called The friend of God.
Like all the beautiful women in our Study, let’s draw near to Jesus
Read James 2:23
Their entire encounter didn’t just happen.
It is not a day’s job to be called God’s friend.
It takes a woman walking closely with God to be called a friend of God.
It is not by accident but by intentionality.
These people all had unusual personal encounters.
They were the seekers, the dwellers and the believers.
Characteristics of A Friend
A friend loves at all times.
A friend shares our interests.
A friend protects our interests.
A friend knows our secrets.
A friend enjoys your companionship.
A friend longs for your relationship.
A friend is sacrifical.
A friend loves you deeply not as the world does but as Jesus does.
That’s what true friends do.
All these have Jesus done for us.
He wants to call you His friend but are you one?
Are you a friend of Jesus?
- A call to serve
He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
John 21:17
Jesus asks Peter if He loves Him.
He asked Him thrice to show you how much this mission meant to Him, Jesus.
When we say we love Jesus, it is not merely with words, our actions prove it.
People with the heart of ministry understand
it is a call to serve not a platform to be served.
Here Jesus called us to have a servant heart, Jude, Apostle Peter referred 2Peter1:1 and Jude 1:1 to themselves as servants.
One mother was so concerned with her sons positions in the Kingdom. She thought God’s Kingdom operated like worldly systems.
You don’t lobby your way to the Kingdom.
Then came to him the mother of Zebedees children with her sons, worshipping him, and desiring a certain thing of him. And he said unto her, What wilt thou? She saith unto him, Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on the left, in thy kingdom. But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They say unto him, We are able. Matthew 20:20-22
Like many moms, she wanted to secure her sons a firm place in His Kingdom.
Some would call her request selfish but the Lord knew what she meant.
Jesus knew her request was weighter than she thought.
Study Mark 10:35-45
But Jesus reminds that God’s Kingdom does not operate as the world system.
In God’s Kingdom if you are interested in being the greatest you must be ready to serve.
You must be ready for the mudane, nitty-gritty process of serving the saints.
You must be ready to lay all down at His feet.
You must be ready to pay the full price.
Are you ready for this kind of sacrifice?
The kingdom giants are the greatest servants.
They are those who served the most.
But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. Matthew 23:11
Did you get it?
The Kingdom is not interested in those who only want to be served, He needs those who are willing to serve others.
For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many. Mark 10:45
Even Jesus came to serve.
He came to lay His life for a ransom to save us. Amen
If we say we are like Him we must be careful to live the life He led.
He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep. John 21:17
The Kingdom greatest are as children.
Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 18:4
They are humble.
A servant has the heart of a shepherd.
A servant has rewards
A servant is the first partaker.
A good servant is obedient.
A servant hears the voice of His Master and knows it.
A servant will not give in to pressure or inconvenience of completing his assignment but will persevere until he fulfils it.
A servant seeks to please His Master
On the otherhand, the enemy gives is slavery.
A life of bondage is what the devil offers. Study An Invitation To Serve
- The sons
Bible Study: Galatians 4: 1
Here Jesus calls you daughter….
For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. Romans 8:14
Are You are led? Or Do you just act?
Daughters and Sons don’t move without instructions
The sonship relationship is powerful…
Until a son comes to maturity he doesn’t assume his full authority.
We are sons, adopted with full rights as the Children of God but until we mature we don’t fully engage our rights.
Don’t get me wrong. We have all the rights as God’s children but we need to mature as believers. 2Peter 2:9
But as children of the Father, we have a rare privilege of conversation, Isaiah 1:18.
Allow me interrupt your thoughts here.
It is a privilege to speak to Him and call Him, Abba Father (Romans 8:15)
In fatherhood, we enjoy our Heavenly father’s divine provisions; not only material blessings but spiritual too (Matthew 7:7-11).
This is a priceless invitation we should accept.
Sons have heritage of the Kingdom…
Sons abide in the house forever…
As sons and daughters we have an inheritance in Christ It is up to you to draw closer to Him, to seek Him, and to embrace His invitation.
This is an invitation to call Him Father Romans 8:15. Jesus invites you to accept this three-fold power-packed invitation. Everything in our Invitations Bible Study is topped up with this splendid invitation to have a relationship with Him.
Prayer
Dear Jesus, thank you for this powerful opportunity to be called a daughter in the Kingdom. Thank you for an invitation for a deep and personal relationship with you. Thank you Jesus.
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