TRACT 117: ARE YOU A FRIEND OF JESUS?

'Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you'' John 15:14

Are you a friend of Jesus? of course, anyone can claim to be a friend of Jesus but ignorant of what it takes to be friend of Jesus. Jesus knew that he would soon depart the earth for heaven and he needed friends that would abide in him to continue in his legacy of love and fruit bearing (soul winning). He plainly told his eleven (11) abiding disciples that they remain his friends if they do all that he commanded them. The Saviour had many disciples at the initial stage of his ministry but many of them left him because they could not endure Jesus' hard teaching on holiness. They did not abide in Jesus after their initial salvation experience but went back into their formal religion and world of sin ''From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him'' John 6:66.

Jesus also had twelve (12) apostles but towards the end of his ministry on earth, one of them (Judas Iscariot) backslided because of his lustful desire for riches. He walked out on Jesus at the table in anger ''He then having received the sop went immediately out..''John 13:30. Before the final ascension of Jesus into heaven, the remaining apostles also abandoned the work of Jesus (soul winning) for their formal work ''SImon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee..'' John 21:3. Thank God for His mercy, they were restored by their friend Jesus; and under the influence of the Holy Spirit, they abided in Christ, in love for one another and in fruit bearing (preaching the Gospel)

Now, what does it mean to be a friend of Jesus? To be a friend of Jesus means to:
✓abide in Jesus after genuine repentance and salvation
✓love God whole heartedly, soul and mind; and in agape love relate with all people
✓be a soul winner for Jesus (turning sinners to saints and unbelievers to believers in Christ)

The Good News is that all friends of Jesus who once lived on earth are presently in heaven and Jesus will not disappoint his present friends on earth.

Dear reader, would Jesus ever call you his friend? Are you a sinner or unbeliever thinking that you can never be a friend of Jesus? Don't be decieved by Satan to continue living in sin and unbelief. You can become a friend of Jesus today by repenting of sin/unbelief and by receiving Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. Are you a backsliden Christian who forsook the way of holiness as a result of trials of life or love for worldly pleasures? Jesus is ever ready to restore you back like he restored the eleven apostles if you are willing.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for your love and calling me into friendship with Jesus. I am very sorry for breaking the heart of your Son Jesus with sin and unbelief. Have mercy upon me and cleanse me in the precious atoning blood of Jesus. Save me, sanctify me, baptize me in the Holy Spirit and grant me the grace to obey all your command in Jesus' Name. Amen.

MORE GRACE TO CONTINUE IN NEW LIFE

Site: http://wordpreacher.blogspot.com
Email: wordreacher@gmail.com
Fellowship: Prayerfully locate a Bible believing church and become an active member

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