Ya Gotta Have This

YA GOTTA HAVE THIS

John 15:12-17

S: Love

C: David and Jonathan

Pr: WE MUST LOVE EACH OTHER.

?: How? How is it to be observed?

KW: Qualities

TS: We will find in John 15:12-17 four qualities that demonstrate love for one another.

Type: Narrative, Inductive

I. SACRIFICE

II. SUBMISSION

III. FRIENDSHIP

IV. FRUITFULNESS

PA: How is the change to be observed?

Version: ESV

RMBC 21 August 05 AM

INTRODUCTION:

There is a quote I really enjoy and have experienced.

It goes like this…

ILL Love

"I know that there are people in this world who do not love their fellow man, and I hate people like that."

Some of you might be able to identify with that.

But it does make one wonder about the concept of consistency.

Inconsistency can get you in trouble…

ILL Consistent: *Go Easy At First*

Joe had asked Bob to help him out with the deck after work, so Bob went straight over to Joe’s place. When they got to the door, Joe went straight to his wife, gave her a hug and told her how beautiful she was and how much he had missed her at work. When it was time for supper, he complimented his wife on her cooking, kissed her and told her how much he loved her.

Once they were working on the deck, Bob told Joe that he was surprised that he fussed so much over his wife. Joe said that he’d started this about 6 months ago, it had revived their marriage, and things couldn’t be better.

Bob thought he’d give it a go. When he got home, he gave his wife a massive hug, kissed her and told her that he loved her.

His wife burst into tears.

Bob was confused and asked why she was crying. She said, "This is the worst day of my life. First, little Billy fell off his bike and twisted his ankle. Then, the washing machine broke and flooded the basement. And now, you come home drunk!"

Well…

How consistent is your love?

Does your family see a consistent demonstration at home?

Do your friends really consider you as a friend?

Or is it something less than that, something that is not as consistent, dependable, or desirable?

NARRATIVE:

There is a story of two friends who were very dear to each other.

Usually, those who are very good friends are near in age, but that was not true in this case.

These two were not.

We know there was a considerable age difference, though history does not exactly tell us what the difference was.

Remove the age difference, and they were very much on the same wave length.

We know that the older one dearly loved the younger.

In fact, the historians tell us that…

1. He loved him as his own soul.

This was a true friendship of the soul.

Do you know how friends often give each other presents?

Well, this is what the older one did.

He shared the best of what he already possessed…a fine robe, some weaponry, and a belt to hold them altogether.

They were excellent gifts befitting friendship.

They were gifts readily and happily received.

Such gifts gave him great confidence, and the younger became a force to be reckoned with on the battlefield.

This was fortunate since the older friend was a prince and his father needed more warriors.

The father, though, was a jealous man, and as the younger friend became successful as a warrior and popular among the people, he was filled with envy.

And like a lion ready to pounce on his prey, twice the king attempted to put a spear into his son’s friend, but the younger man eluded him both times.

Interestingly, the older friend, the prince did not have the same difficulty as his father.

2. The one was not jealous of the other’s prosperity.

In fact, he was glad of it, in the realization that their nation needed men like his younger friend.

The father, though, could not rid himself of this jealous rage.

In the hope that perhaps he would be killed if he was in more dangerous situations on the battlefield, the king made him a commander.

But the younger friend proved worthy of the promotion.

His success continued.

He was a fierce competitor that felt God’s call on his life.

He was unafraid with God on his side.

The younger friend was blessed with success, and the older friend was glad for him.

(LB)

The king, however, had other ideas.

He was unwilling to have this kind of competition in his kingdom.

He reported to his son that his young friend must die.

(RB)

But the prince, instead of agreeing with his father, went and told the younger friend.

He told him to be careful.