Influencers

9 “As the Father has loved me, I have also loved you. Remain in my love. 10 If you keep my commands you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11 “I have told you these things so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete. 12 “This is my command: Love one another as I have loved you. 13 No one has greater love than this: to lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15 I do not call you servants anymore, because a servant doesn’t know what his master is doing. I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything I have heard from my Father. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce fruit and that your fruit should remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he will give you. 17 “This is what I command you: Love one another.

1. Influence through the acts of love

Steadfast love v.9

Stay in His love so that you can give love

Abide in Him so that others see Him in you

Sure love v. 10

Love compels us to obedience

Our love for Him is revealed in our obedience to His Word

Successful love v. 11

Obedience bring joy

The disobedient do not have joy

Surrendered love v. 12

Love God with all you have

Love others as Christ loves you

2. Not all relationships are equal

Unconditional love

Jesus showed His love by giving His life for us

On this Memorial Day weekend we remember those who gave their lives protecting our country’s freedoms

Some died as a result of a draft others died as a result of volunteering to serve our country all who died, died for love of our country

Those who died did so without condition

They did not die for those who support them only, they also died so that people still have the right to complain

Submission

Jesus requires our submission to what He commands

The military requires submission to the chain of command

Friendships require loyalty

Acquaintances do not have requirements

You don’t know submission until there is disagreement

Jesus asked the Father for a different way but submitted to the established way

3. Influence through sacrifice

Spheres of influence

People that you sacrifice for will always remember your devotion

Relationships have to be tested in order to deepen that relationship

Trials are the currency of strong relationships

You will have disagreements with friends but your sacrifices will outweigh your disagreements

I have a group of close friends that I communicate with on a daily basis (almost 24/7)

We have disagreed with each other many times but our deposits into our relationships far outweighs our disagreements

We have been there for each other in the most difficult of times (the loss of parents, the broken heart, the rejections, the failures, the bad news, the good news, the success, the family, etc)

There are spheres of influence

The more you go through the deeper the larger the sphere

Understand your spheres

4. From the community to the core

Relationships don’t start at the core

Relationships start at the outer circle (the community)

In the community you will choose the crowd

The crowd will have some things in common

From among the crowd, you choose the congregation

In the congregation you are with those that have been through stuff with you

The congregation will be tested to reveal the committed

The committed are revealed not necessarily chosen

The committed will remain when others fall (Judas)

From those that remain, you find the core

You will trust the core more than any other group

5. Appointed to produce lasting fruit

No longer slaves, but friends

You build with the core

Fellowship with God helps us know the secrets of the future

You have been selected by Jesus to produce fruit (make disciples)

Don’t let disagreements derail you from the task

You build with those in the Kingdom of God

Your relationships in the Kingdom of God help you develop disciples

Gal 6:9-10 “9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.”