We obviously continue on, and John, I have a dilemma in front of me because typically if something's wrong with your outfit, you're not supposed to highlight it, but I'm afraid everyone's gonna be staring and wondering if I put on a stained shirt to start the morning, but I didn't. I pulled a rookie tea move and finished tea drinking in my Sunday school class by tipping it all the way up, and the tea bag came out and spilled on my shirt. If you're eagle-eyed, you can see the stain. And if you're not, then you're just blind. And so you can't see anything. But I just wanted to get that out of the way before I started, because I'd hate for you guys to be super attentive and me to think, wow, look at them this morning. They're on top of it, and it'd just be the stain on my shirt. So yes, it is. It's there. It's right there. You can't see what happened to the jacket. It was too late to run home and change. And I just wanted to just erase that off the bat there. We're in a text of scripture, and in all honesty, I was tempted last week to preach through all of these verses, but it became apparent that it would be somewhat difficult to do that. And so I titled this, Being a Friend of God. This is a carry forward. of the vine and branch illustration though what we talked about last week will stand alone in that sense this is if you're thinking about a conversation and we are in a conversation that's what's being recorded here at one time they are on their way walking this would kind of tuck tied into the same paragraph as the vine and branch illustration, where we see a shift in verse 18, where he's gonna talk and warn them about something else. And so I titled this, Being a Friend of God, looking at this statement, and it's encapsulated, obviously, with two statements about loving one another, which we'll talk about. But I think we all want, in all reality, we need friends, unless, of course, you're a narcissist. And so hopefully no one is that here, but we understand the idea of friendship, because typically we crave some connection, we crave friendship of some sort. And in all honesty, if you've had the benefit of having someone in your life with whom you have mutual trust and support, you understand what having a good friend means. People will often make crucial life decisions about what they do for a living, where they live, and the hobbies they pursue. based on friendship. If you kind of trace back in your life, think about what your friends are interested in and oftentimes what you might be interested in now based on the fact that you're friends with somebody. We even have a desire to be considered a best friend, not always the best desire to be expressed. I've been at more than one wedding and heard the best man or the matron or maid of honor make a speech and repeat their status. Why? To make sure everyone knows at the wedding that they are the closest. to the bride or to the groom. Why is that? Because being and having friends matters. There is a significance in that relationship. And I'm talking about a real friendship, not just the superficial social media ones that we think we have, but people that we connect with, that we talk with, that we're, when I say there's an intimate connection, there's, you can talk about a host of different things. And this morning, As we walk or continue what is called the Upper Room Discourse, and again, I've mentioned it many a time, this is referring to not only the Upper Room, but the journey through Jerusalem on into the Garden. And so, we see Jesus now in the context of the vine and the branches. As He wraps that up, He's going to move to talking about being friends of his, and he's gonna refer to the disciples and really by extension to believers as friends. And there's many ways the Bible refers to believers, but friend captures a unique aspect of communion with the Lord. And so we're gonna kind of look and explore what that means. A lot has unfolded in the conversation that takes place the night of Jesus' arrest and the day before his death. And I know I repeat myself on this, but I do this on purpose because it's important for us to be in context, to be at the right place, understand where we are in the story. So he's addressed their pride and selfishness. They've learned of a betrayer in their midst. They have heard how Peter would deny Jesus in his critical hour, and they've been confronted with the reality that Jesus was leaving. That reality is now where they hang all their emotions on. So everything centers around that Jesus is leaving, but it's not to the exclusion of what's taking place, but instead all of those are hung on that hook. They've struggled mightily with that, and our Savior has been comforting them while instructing them. So he is trying to ease their mind, while also teaching them. And as they left the upper room to journey to the garden, he's given them the illustration of the vine and branches and taught them that a believer will be fruitful, meaning that an unbeliever or unfruitfulness equals or is an indication of someone who's an unbeliever. And remember, Judas would have been a very poignant and current picture of that. So they have seen the vine, the branches, they have heard that lack of fruit means that you're an unbeliever, you're not remaining, you are not part of him, but that you will bear fruit as a believer. they have the picture of the betrayer on purpose. And understand that's critical. Not by accident, but that he was a betrayer on purpose. And then he highlighted the promise of fruitfulness with results such as a known love and his joy permeating their life. And now that illustration carries forward into these next verses as Jesus lovingly calls them friends. with all the connections that come with it, but it's a friendship that is encapsulated by love. Verses 12 and 13, and then also verse 17, and it's helpful to understand, and one of the reasons why it's easy to pull this out of the Vine illustration is that it is started and ended with the same statement. So he says, this is my commandment, that ye love one another as I have loved you. Then he defines the love in the context of friendship. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. And then verse 17, it says again, these things I command you that ye love one another. And I hope that we understand something as we were looking at being a friend of God. But that love is a characteristic that cannot be absent. A loveless Christian is a misnomer. We cannot escape love when we speak of Christ, when we speak of being a believer. Because it was his love for us that drove him to the cross. A love in spite of who we were. It says in scripture, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. And so we're looking at this and we understand that you cannot connect to Christ. You cannot be in his family. You cannot be his child and not talk about love, not connect about love. But as humans, we need constant help here. Why is Jesus in the most critical last hour telling his disciples, you need to love one another. And by the way, less than a few verses later, he says, I'm going to command you that you love one another because we struggle with it. We wrestle with this. Keep in mind, the disciples that same evening have neglected to clean each other's feet because they had too much pride and unwillingness to lower themselves, or I would say, love others enough to have cleaned each other's feet. They don't love each other enough to serve each other. But that is not, and I want to emphasize that, that is not an acceptable characteristic of those who are to be like Christ at all. Because he makes abundantly and repetitively clear that we are to love his church. To what extent as he loved his church. Yet we should, unless we're just blunt and arrogant and blind to the reality, we should ask this question, how can we love as He loves? How is that possible for us? And one author asked that question, then he answered it and said, the only satisfying answer is found in the truth that the love of Christ becomes our love, which flows out to other believers. It is given to us for just this purpose. Another writer remarks, the love believers have for each other is marked by a selfless devotion to meeting one another's needs. It is not mere sentiment or superficial attachment. And I want us to lock into that. Because when he says to love his church, it is always going to be a love that is active, that is connected. And we're going to actually talk about the next point is the sacrifice for his church. Loving his church is no casual emotion or easy endeavor. It will be a choice we make even when circumstances may dictate otherwise. And let me repeat that, it's a choice we're gonna make even when circumstances may dictate otherwise. As one of the unique things, obviously, when you pastor, you get to hear more opinions about the church than maybe everyone hears. Maybe you share amongst your group of friends what you feel the church is about, but maybe not as many. And one of the things that comes out is that our love for his church, again, it's not our church, it's his, is often dictated on what has unfolded in our life before that, how we feel about certain things. And the reality is, is Christ doesn't say that. He says, love my church as I've loved it. Loving his church is not what we typically think it is. And we are far too superficial, we are far too fickle, and our standard of love far too earthly. How are you to love his church as he loved it? Loving his church involves work. I'll be the first to say it, it's not always easy. We know that because we look around and we see all the different people and we think, man, it's hard to love them. But then if we're really honest with ourselves, as we look at ourselves, we think, how could someone love me? With all the issues that I have, with all the rudeness that comes from me, with all the quirks and problems and idiosyncrasies, how could someone deal with me? Loving his church involves work. It involves pain. It involves forgiveness. It involves all of you. But as Jesus says, and we're going to in the context of being his friend, of abiding in him, the vine of the branch illustration, he says to them, love my church. You want a good picture of that love in action? Read Paul's letters to the churches. And read him understanding his heart and his passion that pours out there where he ministered. And I want you to see how he was consumed with their growth in Christ. Not just that they feel good about themselves, but that they were actually growing closer to their Savior. His pain when they were wayward. 1 Corinthians and 2 Corinthians are not oftentimes complimentary letters. He's not telling them, hey, great job. I think you did a wonderful, wonderful work there. If you want biblical sarcasm, it's tucked in the letters to the church in Corinth. He mocks them a little bit under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, so it's biblical mocking. You're kings and we are nothing, he says. In other words, he's confronting because he didn't want them just to feel good, but he was passionate. His purpose in them was that they would stand before their Savior and hopefully hear, well done thou good and faithful servant. That's your example, a human example, of loving his church through the pain, with the work. You might say, well, that's Paul's job. That's what he's called to. He was called to be an apostle, and the elders need to do that, and pastors, and maybe even deacons need to do that. And I want us to understand something. That's the calling of the church. Every one of us is called to love in that way. This passion, this consuming desire to see the growth of his church, not in the way that maybe we want in this temporal circumstance, but instead growing in Christ's likeness and in his service. And this love for his church, love for the brethren, becomes and is our most powerful apologetic to the unbelieving world. It is our bold and unique proclamation of who we are in Christ. How do we tell the world that we're Christians? How do we identify in Christ? By loving his church. John 13, 34 through 35, John has already been inspired by the Holy Spirit to write this, a new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. In case you're understanding or misunderstanding, who are you loving? His church. And he goes this, In other words, you want to identify in Christ. You want to let the world know that you are a believer. You want to show your identity. I'm not saying it's an argument for the gospel. It's not answering every question that someone may throw. at the church, at God, at truth. It's not that. It's just telling the world, I am a Christian. How do we do that? By loving His church. We proclaim to whom we belong by our love for His church, which leads to having fruit, spiritual fruit, of seeing the gospel witness blossom in the lives of those previously lost. But as was stated earlier, this is no easy love. Instead, it requires us to sacrifice for His church. How are you to sacrifice? as he sacrificed for his church. Greater love, he said, hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." Here, Jesus, among, as he's identified them, friends, brings up his standard of love, love that compelled him to the cross so that he would give eternal life to them. Now, some people argue, well, wouldn't greater love be manifested to someone's enemies? which is just, I call nitpicking critique. John is not writing in the context of comparing friends to enemies, but just in case you want to follow that train of thought, I quoted this earlier, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. So if you want to say, he's just saying greater love has no man than this to lay down his life for his friends. We weren't God's friends before we were redeemed. In other words, he loved us. while we were enemies of God. And so it all ties together beautifully. The point though is this, Jesus did not die for himself, but so that others might live. It was his perfect sacrifice. And so to replicate him, if we are to sacrifice for the church, as he sacrificed for the church, what's on the table? Everything. We are to sacrifice for his church, as he did, a sacrifice that is active and loving. John articulates this sacrificial love in 1 John 3, 16 through 18, and he makes crystal clear what love will do. I'm going to read those. By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk, but in deed and in truth. We will quickly say, I will die for the church, because we're not likely to be called to die for the church. Because we can make that statement in theory, it sounds great, but let's be honest, we aren't facing that circumstance. And John writing, 1 John, and actually was facing more of a death situation, is basically confronting the ease with which we'll make the bombastic statement, I'll die for you. Well, if you'll die for me, then why not buy a loaf of bread for me? Well, I'll die for you, but I'm gonna let you starve to death. And that's what John is confronting. And I want us to see something as Jesus is telling them about what love looks like, it's a love in action. And the action takes place at the street level. It takes place in real life. A true friend of Jesus loves and sacrifice like him. But are we? We claim the name of Christian, yet fail to apply a standard of love and sacrifice. We fail to allow it to change the core of who we are. To be a Christian who loves, as John is articulating, will change how you behave in society, and specifically in your church. which begs the questions, are we really the friends of Jesus if we lack biblical love for his church and if we're unwilling to biblically sacrifice for his people? Because it's cool to have a friend. We like to be someone's friend and we like to say that we're their best friend. We want to claim the title. We want to be friends of God, but we don't want to take the responsibility. Because being Jesus' friend is encapsulated by love, but it's also experienced by obedience. Look at verses 14 through 16. if ye do whatsoever I command you. Henceforth, I call you not servants." And now he's bringing the servant, and by the way, Paul calls us servants, and that's one of the names for that, and we'll talk about it. But here in the context of earthly servanthood, he says this, for the servant knoweth not what his Lord doeth. But I have called you friends. For all things that I have heard of my Father, I have made known unto you. You've not chosen me, but I've chosen you and ordained you that you should go and bring forth fruit. And there's that fruit connection to the vine and branches, but don't miss the word go, which is critical. Get out and go, he's saying, and that your fruit should remain, that whatsoever you shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it to you, which is something he talked about last week as well. Now, often throughout the New Testament, we find that believers are called slaves. It is the corresponding word to Lord and it reflects something about our relationship with Christ. It's our utter submission to and dependence upon our heavenly master. And I would say it's the critical word leading out for that exact reason. One of the, I would say one, the main reason, the root reason someone does not believe is pride. It's the unwillingness to submit to the wisdom of God, to submit to God at all in the sense of that we are beholden to him for our sin, we're accountable to him and that we need, utterly dependent, means that I'm not able in and of myself to solve a problem that is eternal and the most important issue at all. And so that's why the Lord slave connotation. Yet here Jesus wants to show intimacy and depth of relationship and interaction with him. And so he calls us friend because in the context of temporal slaves and masters, the slave doesn't know what the master is thinking or planning. not to trace back to ugly times in history, but a master would just tell a slave what to do. They don't explain to said person why they want to do it, what their long-term plans are, or what they're hoping to accomplish. But instead, they tell them do this without sharing any information, without having a connection at all. Uniquely, though, a friend does know what the person is thinking. Abraham was called the friend of God. It was a unique and a great honor. I think he's the only person the Old Testament referred to that way. And here, Jesus lets the disciples know, along with us, that we're his friends. So a unique connection in the Old Testament is now given to every believer out there, and it implies a great connection and access to the King of Kings. William Barclay notes this, he says, And at these courts, in these settings, and if you ever read about kings and their courts and all those things, it's a very involved situation. There was a very select group called the Friends of the King, or if you're looking at Roman Emperors, Friends of the Emperor. At all times, they had access to the king. And in some situations, they had the right to come to his bedchamber at the beginning of the day. In other words, they could come in to wake up the king. He talked to them before he talked to his generals, his rulers, and his statesmen. That's the connection. We have a buddy mindset, right? That's my friend. I hang out with them. We do dumb things together. That's friendship from zero to 18, right? But this is the idea. The friendship had a much more significant role here. Access to the king in a way that no one else has. It is that deep connection that Jesus is emphasizing here. It's an honor reserved for those, though, that obey his word. You're my friends in the context of the king of kings, if you do what I command. This obedience is not what makes them friends. It is what characterizes his friends. We love to earn. We love to have the right. I did this, I get that. And understanding, scripture talks about if you don't work, you shouldn't eat. There's a whole host of things where that makes sense, that system is there as we function here on earth. But when it comes to being his friend of God, it's not because I obey that I am his friend. I am his friend because I obey. That's a natural characteristic. Jesus' friends are the object of his love and are obedient to him because the friends of Jesus are those who habitually obey him. W.E. Vines, and he did a dictionary of Greek and Hebrew, and he was describing this word obedience, which is translating the idea of doing what God commands. So that statement, you're my friends if you do what I command. He describes that word as this, it's when a man obeys God, he gives the only possible evidence that in his heart he believes God. In other words, their word for obedience is deeper than the word that we use. And that's the beauty of Greek, is that it has a depth to it. There's other words for that kind of blatant obedience that doesn't have that same connection. So it's obedience by believing. It's someone who's bought into this, is what he's saying. And it suggests an actual and outward result of the inward persuasion and consequent faith. In other words, the word that he chooses to use there is a word deeper than we're used to seeing. It's a word that implies an inward change in us, reflected in an outward behavior. That's why being Jesus' friend is intricately tied to obeying him. Now, we need to remember something. Good works save no one. but a faith devoid of them is dead and cannot save." That's the tension we'll find. Ephesians hints to it, 210. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we should walk in them. In other words, it's that same analogy. To be a fruitless Christian is impossible because we are made to be fruitful. Ephesians 2.10. James 2.26 states, "...for just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead." Not that works equals faith, but in other words, lack of works, no fruit, is indicative of a fake faith. And so I mentioned that in the context of obedience, it is an outward action reflecting what is real inside of us. It's not something we earn. We don't gain that. It is the natural outcome of being a believer. Believers, we are the friends of our Lord, yet as his friends, we, different than a friendship amongst each other, will obey, right? If I'm friends with somebody, it doesn't mean I obey him. I have a friend named Mike, we've hung out since we were 13, talk about history, but I don't obey him, nor does he obey me, right? That's different, but we understand that the friendship that he's talking about is different in this context, and we will obey, and as we obey, we then will also listen or be in tuned to his purpose and plan. Verses 15 and 16, because we're going to pray and the father is going to give. We know that we pray in his will and in his purpose. And so here is the distinction between an earthly servant who will not know the intent or purpose of the master and the friend who knows the inner thoughts. Servant is told to do this. Friend is in the bedroom of the king talking to him as he wakes up about what's gonna go on and what his plans are and what the big connotation is there. Jesus makes beautifully clear that it is in all things that we are engaged and connected, meaning we are not in the dark as believers, hoping we're headed in the right direction. We do not have a blind faith. I know that's an accusation hurled by those who do not believe. And I will say emphatically that those who don't believe have a blind faith in the world. They make a bigger leap. than God asks us to do. We are not asked to be blind and ignorant as we move in. It means we are not guessing at His will and purpose, but instead can move with clear confidence to advance His kingdom. You're my friends, and you know all things. I've taught you everything the Father had instructed to be taught. Friends know what is going on. Friends are aware of the plan and intricately involved in it. How amazingly wonderful that he includes us in his purpose, yet it is crucial that we recognize his hand. He makes clear that we are, and he used the word chosen, As Homer Kent writes, What are we looking at in this context? Who picks who? And what's interesting is that is a complete reversal of what typically would unfold in Jewish culture. A disciple, a follower, picked the rabbi. You saw, said rabbi, you said, I'd like to be their student. I'd like to be their pupil. And you would go to them and you would ask to be taught by them. And what Jesus is saying is, that's not what happened to you, disciples. And think about it. He chose them. He sought them. He found them. This means, and this is the critical reason behind him sharing this, there's no self-pride here. Our confidence, well, look at me. I'm going the right direction. Well, it's removed. Our intellectual arrogance is erased. It's very easy to become elitist. Well, at least I had enough insight to believe. At least I know. And think about the disciples, 11 guys walking with him through Jerusalem. Get the context of the conversation. Who sought who? And Christ is reminding him, I sought you guys out. I called you. Matthew was a tax collector. Did these guys leave what they were doing? Most certainly they did. From their perspective, They went for him. But he's making sure these 11 disciples know, look, don't get arrogant. Don't be chocked with self-confidence. He worked, he sought, he chose. And he chose them, he says now, for a reason. because they were all appointed to bear fruit. And he's making a point. And that's why I mentioned I was wanting to preach this in the context of vine and branch, because he comes now back to what he made a point of last week. You're appointed to bear fruit. One author wrote this, the Christian life is not a spectator sport. They will now go, he says, and bear fruit that abides, fruit that remains eternally. Remember the word abide is to remain in? And now he uses that exact same word. I want you to bear fruit that abides, remains, just as they needed to abide to bear fruit. And then I wanna come back to that word I emphasized, because he added that in there. He says you're gonna go and bear fruit. And that's exactly what he meant. They needed to go. What is the Great Commission? We should all kind of know that, right? Go and make disciples, right? Here is the same calling. So it's not like he's giving a new thing at the end of the Gospels as he heads off to heaven. He says, oh, by the way, go and make disciples. He's already talked about this in his upper room discourse, which, as you well know, is no longer in the upper room, but we're walking through Jerusalem. Here we are on the streets. We've had the vine and branch illustration. He's removing any sense of arrogance or self-confidence, but he's telling them you're gonna bear fruit, and what kind of fruit are you gonna bear? And this fruit, very specifically, is zeroing in. And we talked about the fruit, and the fruit of the Spirit, and the fruit of soul saved. Well, he is emphasizing here, and as Morris writes, the idea of mission. The idea that you're going out, that you have a job to accomplish, and we are called to go and make disciples. They needed to bear fruit, fruit that matters, fruit that remains. And that fruit brings and is a fruit of itself in a line prayer, prayer that seeks his purpose, prayer that is synced with evangelism. Because here, the emphasis on this fruit, whereas a couple phrases before, he's talking about fruit in general, the fruit of a Christian character, and fruit that would be seen in new converts and new believers. Here, his emphasis on fruit as he's walking with the disciples is that you will go and make disciples, that your fruit that remains will be that eternal fruit, and we will passionately seek eternal fruit in our prayer life, right? Ask the Father and He will give it to you. Why do we pray for our lost friends, families, and coworkers. Why is that an emphasis on our heart and mind? It's driven from this kind of context. Ask Him and He will give to you because as we align our heart with what He wants, His purpose and will, then we will passionately seek eternal fruit in our prayer life and in our action and our appointed fruit here right now in this context is focusing on new and true believers. Evangelism is on the heart of Jesus Christ. I've said this through all of John. You cannot run away from the fact that Jesus never stopped reaching. that when he's talking to Judas, there's a evangelistic reach there, that when he works with even the Pharisees, there's an evangelistic reach there. And as he commands the disciples, as they journey on, as they're walking through Jerusalem, as he walks to being arrested, what is on his heart and mind, fruit that abides, and now he gets very specific, that you will pray and you're gonna be praying evangelistically. I would challenge us that when we look at our prayer life to the Lord, and as we look at saying, well, if I align my will, then he will do what I want, that's how we see it. But really, as we pray and align our heart, we'll pray for what he's doing. And we'll be synced to his heart for people. And what does that look like? And again, this is not to say we shouldn't pray for the health of people, we shouldn't pray for the financial struggles of people, but what does health solve eternally? I would venture nothing in that sense. But as we pray for the eternal soul of somebody, and I would challenge us as believers as we see Christ talk about fruit and then he dives into the prayer life, you'll pray in the Father's will and he'll give you what you ask, and I would challenge us to have our prayers aligned more with his eternal kingdom. What changes a life for eternity? Only knowing Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Only that, and here he's saying, have that focus. We're appointed to bear fruit, appointed to be aligned, but as John MacArthur writes, the privilege that characterizes the friends of Jesus Christ carry with them corresponding responsibilities. I have one question, but are we being responsible friends? Are we seeing this and instead of grabbing it as we often do and say, well, I just want to make sure I'm praying in the Lord's will so what I want will happen. Instead saying, he said, go and bear fruit that remains and then have a prayer life that aligns. Do we need to change who we are in that? And what I mean is not change to the words that I'm saying, but the words of scripture. To have a prayer life that is much more connected to his eternal kingdom, to his purpose, to why we've been left here. Why are we here on earth as believers? Why not be taken to heaven where there is no sin? Why are we left? We're his ambassadors. What are we doing? We're representing him and his kingdom. What is his message? Well, I don't think you can deny when you read the Gospels that his message was the good news that he came to earth to redeem us, to buy us back from the sin that we have. And so here you see Christ, and I hope you can grab it, go and bear fruit that remains. In other words, be in tune to his evangelistic heart. Well, as we began the discussion, Jesus ends talking about love. And to be honest, it is a perfect encapsulation of His command in 12 and 17, but also ties beautifully in with the branch Vine illustration, he says, these things I command you that ye love one another. And as Homer Kent writes, by letting their Christian love for one another flourish unhindered, they would be producing the spiritual fruit that the Holy Spirit was being sent to accomplish among them, and would be offering a clear testimony to the world of their identification with Christ. And I want to close now with two pressing questions, though, as we look at that. Because as we love the church, His church, it's not a building and it's not an organization, it's people, and it's His people, we identify with Christ, His friends, are responsible friends. As we have his passion for evangelism, as we are, and it should break our heart when we know someone that's lost, not in an ugly way, not in a vindictive way, but in a passionate way to see them come to believe in Jesus Christ. But it begs two questions. One, are you a true friend of Jesus? And what do I mean by that is, are you a believer? You are not a friend of God if you have not put your faith, trust in Jesus Christ. And if not, what is keeping you from it? I would implore you to spend some time in self-examination. I would challenge you, if you are not a friend of God, if you're gonna be honest, I would challenge you to write down why you would not be his friend, his follower, his child, so at least you can articulate why. And I say that not just because I wanna give homework and I'm not trying to give homework, but I say that because I think you might be surprised by your reasons. They might be more emotional than you think. And maybe not, but write them down so you can articulate why. And I would say this, and then I would love to reach out and say, I'd like to connect with you for coffee or lunch, and I'd love to talk with you about it. I'd love to know. Why would that be? Well, I'm a believer, and I would love to talk to you about what it means to be a believer in the context of why you can't believe, why you think there's reasons to not believe. And then two, if you are his friend, meaning you are a true believer, that I believe as his church, we are and should be convicted to ask us this, am I acting like the friend he just described? Am I acting the way he just said? I know sometimes people who are lost get irritated because we keep talking about being a believer, but I would say this, our master commanded it. He told us this is where we should have our focus and we should be passionate for. Why? Because it is the only thing that matters in eternity. You will never stand before God and give him a reason that is acceptable except that you know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. You can't say anything to him except to have said, I put my faith and trust in Jesus Christ for forgiveness of sins. There's nothing else. So why are we passionate about this? Because it is the only thing that matters for eternity. And so I would implore believers, his friends, to ask themselves, am I acting like his friend, like he just described? And I would narrow that down. As a believer, how passionate are you for the lost? How much do you care to love his church and then have a love for people who don't know him and have a driving passion to reach them? Because there's really no other reason for us to be hanging out here. We'll all sing a lot better in heaven. At least I hope so. But we're here because we've been left as ambassadors. We are his friends. And he says, go, go and have fruit that remains. Have eternal fruit. What does that mean? It means that we go out and bear his news, his gospel, and our prayer life is passionately connected to people who don't know him. And we see the opportunity we have to reach them and to share the good news with them. That we, I would even use this word, manipulate every chance in life. to be able to share His good news, because nothing else matters as much as knowing Jesus Christ.