Emmanuel (God with) us is truly our eternal Friend!

2)            John 15:15 begins with, “Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth:” The first word ‘henceforth’ ouketi (ou-ke’-tiy) is: ‘not yet, no longer.’ The next word, ‘servants’ is doulos (d̮ou’-los) means: ‘1. (involuntarily) a slave. 2. (of necessity) a bond-servant. 3. (figuratively) a voluntary, fully devoted servant.’ The verb ‘knoweth’ is eido (ei’-d̮ō): ‘1. (properly) to see (but not limited to the eye). 2. (by implication, in the perfect tense only) to personally know (i.e. to have seen or have experienced something by firsthand observation). 3. (by extension) to personally know how (to do). 4. (also) to see how (it is done).’

As friends of Jesus Christ we have experiential knowledge of God’s protocol. Through the agency of the Holy Spirit we gain entrance to the throne of God. We ask whatsoever we desire as long as it is in consonance with the will of the Father. We talk to God directly in the name of our dear Friend, Jesus. We are empowered to come against the evil will of demons and their kahuna, the omnimalevolent Lucifer. In Matthew 17:20 nothing shall be impossible for us to perform, including the removal of offending mountains. In Luke 17:6 our faith in Jesus has enabled us to pluck trees even from their roots and they will obey when told to be hurled into the sea. Hallelujah!

                Our friendship with the Lord Jesus is a wonderment. No angel boasts of this unknown familiarity. Not even the closest: the awesome foursome (as Rev. Chris Okotie loves to call them) who maintain a glorious aerobatic existence around God’s throne, of course, not Michael, the foremost warrior angel or the well-known Gabriel who stands before the throne. Heaven will, no doubt, celebrate this Divine friendship. O how blessed are the Christians! Hallelujah!                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4) To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, 5) Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time” [1Peter 1:3-5]. ‘Lively’ is zao (zaō’), meaning: ‘to live.’ ‘Hope’ is elpis (el-piys’): ‘1. (properly) expectation (not from presumption or forcefulness nor a feeling, but from a posture of trust having sound reason for the expectation). 2. (explicitly) The Expectation of Resurrection through Jesus (Messiah) unto Eternal Life and Glorification alongside Him. 3. (abstractly or concretely) confidence. 4. (by weakened analogy) an expectant hope (with anticipation). 5. (improperly, by further weakening) merely a hope, a wishing for, a wanting (without reason of expectation). 6. (note) the modern English use of the word “hope” is a weakened context (a mere whisper) of what is meant by this biblical Greek word.’  The hope of a ceaseless friendship with Jesus is a flabbergasting, lively reality.

   His banner over me is love

“For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day” [2Timothy 1:12]. The verb ‘persuaded’ is peithō: ‘to be induced to believe: to have faith: in a thing; to believe; to be persuaded of a thing concerning a person; to listen to, obey, yield to, comply with.’ Pauline persuasion is of general application. It is every Christian’s article of faith: a principle accepted as valid and authoritative. Jesus will keep this friendship intact. ‘Keep’ is phulasso (foo-las’-so), meaning: ‘1. to watch, i.e. be on guard 2. (by implication) to preserve, obey, avoid.’ Jesus does not only stand on guard to ensure the continuance of our friendship, He practically preserves the sanctity of the friendly relationship. Amen. ‘Committed’ is paratheke (par-ath-ay’-kay) ‘1. a deposit 2. (figuratively) trust.’ Our belief in this flabbergasting relationship is a deposit of faith in the Lord, who in turn ensures the perpetuity of this glory.                               

                You can choose to be another friend of Jesus. Get born again. Meaning it from your heart, say this prayer:

“Dear heavenly Father, I come to You now in the name of Jesus Christ. I believe in my heart that Jesus is the Son of God. I believe that Jesus died on the cross for my sin. I believe that You raised Him from the dead. I confess with my mouth that Jesus is Lord and I receive Him now as my Lord and my Saviour. I give God all the glory. Amen!”    

(…to be concluded…)

Read the part one here

Read the concluding part three here

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