Hey Good Morning All,
So just briefly today I wanted to write to you concerning the promise made from the Lord Jesus Christ to his disciples, the ones who would follow him. In John 15 Christ is telling his disciples that they are no longer his servants because servants do not know what their masters do, because Christ has revealed his work to them making them friends.
He says that the greatest thing a friend can do for one another is lay down his life for him. That is exactly what Jesus did for us all. That is the Great News 4 Everyone I want to put across to you all.
Of course there is one more thing, in this chapter Christ talks about giving us whatever we ask. So many people assume this means things for our benefits, our pleasures, and that this is open to anyone who prays in the Lord's name. I have to say that this assumption is false. It is not open to anyone, not for our benefit or our pleasures. So you are now probably asking, "Okay so what is it about?"
This set of verses is for those who would be called friends of Christ. Who are the friends of Christ?? It can be you and I if we do something first, accept the Lord as Savior of our lives and as in verse 14: "Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you"
You are a friend to Christ if you do what he commands, and that is to love one another, and take the word unto all the world and all creatures as in Mark 16:30.
Then our prayers will be answered but another clue into how they will be answered and which ones will be is that we pray not for selfish desires but pray for the things that Christ wanted us to do. Then if he sees fit that you should need a new car, or clothes, or a bigger house, anything you might be praying for to make your life better he will give it only if it fits his purpose which might mean a minivan and not that BMW to drive the youth group around in. Remember the words written in James 4:3: "You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your own pleasures."
Friends don't be caught asking inappropriately but ask as a friend of Christ so that you may do the things he commands us, then our joy in this world would be complete. Remember we have the Holy Spirit available to us daily to help in the areas in which we struggle, he will help us to speak the truth in love to the lost sheep. Lets go out and rescue the lost and bring them into the glory of a relationship with the Father!
-Peace in Christ-
