EVIDENCE OF INTIMACY WITH JESUS

We all like others to know who our friends are; we sometimes
prove that friendship by how much we know about each other.
When people have been friends for a long time, they begin to think
and act like each other. Th ere is a saying I haven’t heard in a long
time that proves this point. It goes something like this, “Show me
your friend and I’ll show you your character.”

In a similar way, Peter and John, by their courage, proved to
the members of the Sanhedrin that they had been with Jesus. In
Acts chapter four, Luke gives the account of how Peter and John
responded when questioned by the Sanhedrin, “By what power
or what name did you do this?” V 7 (Referring to the healing of
a cripple). Peter wasted no time; he went straight to the point, proving
that Jesus was the Christ and that through Him, the cripple had
been healed.

Th e Scripture tells us, “When they saw the courage of Peter
and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men,
they were astonished and they took note that these men had
been with Jesus” (Acts 4:13). (That was the only explanation).

What are some of the ways in which we can demonstrate that
we have been with Jesus?

• Love—“But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for
those who persecute you” (Matthew 5:44 NIV). “This is my command:
Love each other” (John 15:17 NIV). “Love must be sincere” (Romans 12:9 NIV).

• Belief/Trust—Some trust in chariots and some in horses,
but we trust in the name of the Lord our God” (Psalm 20:7 NIV).

• Forgiveness—“. . . forgiving each other, just as in Christ
God forgave you” Ephesians 4:32 NIV). “Bear with each other and
forgive whatever grievances you may have against one
another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you” (Colossians 3:13 NIV).

• Humility—“All of you, clothe yourselves with humility
toward one another, because, God opposes the proud but
gives grace to the humble” (1 Peter 5:5 NIV).  “. . . in humility
consider others better than yourselves.” (Philippians 2:3 NIV).

• Wisdom—"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom" (Psalm 111:10 NIV).
“He who wins souls is wise” Proverbs 11:30 NIV).

• Boldness—“Th e righteous are as bold as a lion.” (Proverbs 28:1 NIV).

• Courage—“. . . without being frightened in any way by
those who oppose you” Philippians 1:28 NIV).
‘You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day . . .” (Psalm 91:5).

• Faith—“The righteous will live by faith” (Habakkuk 2:4 NIV).
“Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see” (Hebrews 11:1 NIV).
 ‘We live by faith not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7 NIV).

• Prayerfullness/Thankfulness/Joyfulness—“From inside
the fish Jonah prayed” (Jonah 2:1 NIV). “Be joyful always; pray
continually; give thanks in all circumstances” (2 Thessalonians 5:16 NIV).

• Respect—“Show proper respect to everyone; Love the
brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king” (1 Peter 2:17 NIV).

• Living by the Word—“Do not merely listen to the word . . . Do what it says” (James 1:22 NIV).

MEMORIZE—“By this all men will know that you are my disciples,
if you love one another” (John 13: 35 NIV).