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John 15:14, 15 - Gods Inner Circle.

John 15:14, 15: Gods Inner Circle.

John 15:14, 15 (NIV) You are my friends if you do what I 
command. 15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not 
know his masters business. Instead, I have called you friends, for 
everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 

John 15:14, 15 (NLT) You are my friends if you do what I 
command. 15 I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesnt 
confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you 
everything the Father told me. 

COMMENTARY PEARL

   The original Greek word for friend in this verse does not 
mean a casual acquaintance but a close, trusted relationship. The 
same word is used to refer to the best man at a wedding (John 3:29) 
and a kings inner circle of intimate, trusted friends. In royal 
courts, servants must keep their distance from the king, but the inner 
circle of trusted friends enjoy close contact, direct access, and 
confidential information. 
   That God would want me for a close friend is hard to 
understand. But the Bible says, He is a God who is passionate about his 
relationship with you (Exodus 34:14 NLT). 
   God deeply desires that we know him intimately. In fact, he 
planned the universe and orchestrated history, including the details of 
our lives, so that we could become his friends. The Bible says, 
He made the entire human race and made the earth hospitable, with 
plenty of time and space for living so we could seek after God, and not 
just grope around in the dark but actually find him (Acts 17:26-27 
The Message). 
   Knowing and loving God is our greatest privilege, and being 
known and loved is Gods greatest pleasure. God says, If any want 
to boast, they should boast that they know and understand me  
These are the things that please me (Jeremiah 9:24 GNT). 
   Its difficult to imagine how an intimate friendship is 
possible between an omnipotent, invisible, perfect God and a finite, 
sinful human being. Its easier to understand a Master-servant 
relationship or a Creator-creation relationship or even Father-child. Yet God 
wants us as his friends, and thats an incredible honor. [Daily 
Devotional by Rick Warren: https://pastorrick.com/devotional/] 

COMMENTARY

   God wants more than servants. Its true He is worthy of our 
unequivocal service; we owe Him our entire lives. But He didn't create human 
beings in His image simply so we could carry out orders. Angels and any 
number of unknown creatures could do that (Psalm 103:20-21). No, He 
wants a relationship founded in love and reciprocated by hearts like 
His. We may serve Him, but we aren't simply servants. Jesus calls us 
friends. 
   That's one of the many features that makes the Kingdom of God 
an extraordinary environment. All Kingdom citizens are friends with 
the King. It isn't an equal friendship, of course, but there are 
times in Scripture when God treats it as though it is. He gave Abraham 
the right to negotiate with Him and called him friend," wrestled 
with Jacob, spoke face to face with Moses as with a friend, and let 
David speak to Him in intimate terms and even argue with Him at times. 
The Potter and the clay, the Shepherd and the sheep, the Master and 
the servant  these are true illustrations of our relationship 
with God, but they aren't sufficient. By themselves, they are too 
impersonal. Clearly God wants the kind of relationship where hearts connect 
and converse and exchange ideas and desires and dreams. 
   Don't squander that relationship. We all need to learn to 
serve well, but God doesn't leave you strictly in the role of servant. 
He is calling you higher. Its entirely possible that when you 
are most focused on obedience, He is trying to draw you into a 
deeper conversation on more intimate terms. Express your heart to Him 
and listen to His. Ask Him what His deepest desires are - for your 
life and for those around you. Like John at the Last Supper, lean 
against Jesus and listen to His whispers. He shares confidential 
information with those who have learned to love Him well. In so doing, you 
begin to fulfill your original design as one made in His image. You 
step into the relationship you were designed for. [The One Year 
Heaven On Earth Devotional by Chris Tiegreen] 

Because Jesus Christ is Lord and Master, he should call us 
servants; instead, he calls us friends. How comforting and reassuring to 
be chosen as Christ's friends! Because he is Lord and Master, we 
owe him our unqualified obedience, but most of all, Jesus asks us to 
obey him because we love him. [Life Application SB] 

Jesus modeled the pattern of a true friendship.  This kind of 
friendship is rare in our day and age.  When Jesus says we are his friend 
if we obey Him, He is saying that when we do from habit what we 
know His will is, then we may be considered His friend.  A person 
knows what his friend likes and dislikes.  If you habitually do what 
the other person dislikes, you can hardly be called a friend.  But 
this knowledge is given.  Jesus says we aren't servants to Him 
because a servant doesn't necessarily know what the master is doing.  
Jesus told His disciples exactly what He was doing, all that God the 
Father had said to the Son.  A close friend comes to have an 
instinctive response to you, knowing what you are thinking, the direction 
you're going.  This is the relationship Jesus wants for us.  And we can 
have this with Him, and with others in His family.  If you have no 
such friend, ask the Lord and He will send one.  [In His Time; Walk 
With Wisdom] 

ILLUSTRATION

   Years ago, when I was first hospitalized after my diving 
accident, I dreaded the long, lonely nighttime hours when friends weren't 
allowed to visit my ward. So I comforted myself by imagining a personal 
visit from another Friend - the Lord Jesus. I was inspired to do that 
after reading today's Scripture verse, where Jesus specifically names 
His disciples as friends. 
   I pictured Him coming through the doors of my hospital ward, 
walking over to my bedside, and saying, "Hey, friend. What did you learn 
in physical therapy today? Was it nice to see your sister at 
dinnertime? Anything you'd like to talk about or get off your chest? Tell me 
all about it, Joni." Talking with Jesus like that strengthened my 
confidence in Him. He became my Friend who saw me through months of dark, 
suicidal depression. If you find yourself alone with no friends around, 
remember Jesus is your comforting friend. He will support you. 
   Dear Jesus, even though I can't see You, I know beyond any 
doubt that You are with me. Your companionship calms my anxious heart, 
stills my racing thoughts, and lifts the dread and worry from my 
shoulders. Thank You for being there, ready to talk about things great or 
small - or to just hold my hand - at two in the morning. [A Spectacle 
of Glory by Joni Eareckson Tada and Larry Libby] 

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

   I am your best friend, as well as your King. Walk hand in 
hand with Me through your life. Together we will face whatever each 
day brings: pleasures, hardships, adventures, disappointments. 
Nothing is wasted when it is shared with Me. I can bring beauty out of 
the ashes of lost dreams. I can glean Joy out of sorrow, Peace out 
of adversity. Only a Friend who is also the King of kings could 
accomplish this divine alchemy. There is no other like Me!  
   The friendship I offer you is practical and down-to-earth, 
yet it is saturated with heavenly Glory. Living in My Presence means 
living in two realms simultaneously: the visible world and unseen, 
eternal reality. I have equipped you to stay conscious of Me while 
walking along dusty, earthbound paths. (John 15:13-15; Isaiah 61:3; 2 
Corinthians 6:10) [Jesus Calling by Sarah Young] 

Relax in My peaceful presence. Do not bring performance 
pressures into our sacred space of communion. When you are with someone 
you trust completely, you feel free to be yourself. This is one of 
the joys of true friendship. Though I am Lord of lords and King of 
kings. I also desire to be your intimate Friend. When you are tense or 
pretentious in our relationship, I feel hurt. I know the worst about you, 
but I also see the best in you. I long for you to trust Me enough to 
be fully yourself with Me. When you are real with Me. I am able to 
bring out the best in you: the very gifts I have planted in your soul. 
Relax, and enjoy our friendship. (Rev. 17:14; John 15:13-15) [Jesus 
Calling by Sarah Young] 

LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT

Most Important Decision in Life: 
http://www.youtube.com/embed/WGnEuGwvXqU?rel=0 

A Man without Equal by Bill Bright: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiVa7UoruIo [old, but one of the best] 

Importance of Choice: 
http://creationhealth.com/CREATION-Health/Choice [click on video]  

Seeking God Made Real: http://vimeo.com/31489782

Prayer Made Real: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tc8VdMV26VE

Musical Devotional On Christian Living: 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OcotY5K7T0c  

Medical Seminar on Healthful Living by David DeRose, MD, MPH: 
https://www.smartlifestyletv.com/lifestart 

LINKS FOR BIBLE STUDIES 

Lifting Up Jesus Bible Studies: http://www.liftingupjesus.net/

Amazing Facts Bible Studies: 
http://www.amazingfacts.org/bible-study/bible-study-guides.aspx  

Discover Bible Studies: http://studies.itiswritten.com/discover/

Glow Tract Video Bible Studies: http://www.bibleresearch.info/

ABible.com: http://www.aBible.com

LINKS FOR BIBLE PROPHECY SEMINARS

The Last Day of Prophecy by Pastor Doug Batchelor: 
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLmGvdtMCf1aJTiC59-lPtuUMEq_uEn0BK 

Restoring The Power by John Bradshaw: 
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLRogO1SxoZN15Boa7BMon4BouVMdteVaq 

Prophecies Decoded by Pastor Ron Clouzet: 
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1A435C5373550657  

Last Day Prophecy: His Other Sheep by Pastor Gerald Babanezhad: 
https://vimeo.com/162267518