1. We are entering our theme in 2015; Together Stronger.

2. This Saturday is Valentine’s Day
This Saturday is Valentine’s Day! Some of you guys do not understand what this means. What you do or not do will be interpreted very deeply and at such length that you never suspected. These things means differently for men and women. For women these are milestones, symbols of your devotion and love.

3. 2 TIMOTHY 3:1-5 (NIV) 1 BUT MARK THIS: THERE WILL BE TERRIBLE TIMES IN THE LAST DAYS. 2 PEOPLE WILL BE LOVERS OF THEMSELVES, LOVERS OF MONEY, BOASTFUL, PROUD, ABUSIVE, DISOBEDIENT TO THEIR PARENTS, UNGRATEFUL, UNHOLY,

4. 3 WITHOUT LOVE, UNFORGIVING, SLANDEROUS, WITHOUT SELF-CONTROL, BRUTAL, NOT LOVERS OF THE GOOD, 4 TREACHEROUS, RASH, CONCEITED, LOVERS OF PLEASURE RATHER THAN LOVERS OF GOD-- 5 HAVING A FORM OF GODLINESS BUT DENYING ITS POWER. HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH THEM.
Sounds like our day doesn’t it? LOVERS OF MONEY, BOASTFUL, PROUD, ABUSIVE, DISOBEDIENT TO THEIR PARENTS, UNGRATEFUL, UNHOLY, WITHOUT LOVE, UNFORGIVING, SLANDEROUS, WITHOUT SELF-CONTROL, BRUTAL, NOT LOVERS OF THE GOOD, 4 TREACHEROUS, RASH, CONCEITED, LOVERS OF PLEASURE RATHER THAN LOVERS OF GOD that all comes from one thing: PEOPLE WILL BE LOVERS OF THEMSELVES. The sign of the times is the increase of selfishness and self-centeredness, the exaltation of I, me and myself. That is the ultimate idol of the day. It’s all about me. Jesus tells a radically different story. He taught of selfless love, a love with no strings attached…

5. We are brought up with a transactional mentality
We are brought up with a transactional mentality. Everything is a transaction. What is in it for me? We are expert lovers of ourselves. We give because we expect to receive. More than we gave.
Transactional relationship is based on an expectation that a favor will be returned in kind. Quid pro
quo. I scratch your back and you scratch mine. In this model if I don’t think you are going to
reciprocate, either because you can’t or you won’t, then I am not going to do you any favors. This
mindset is based on scarcity and fear, and it limits our ability to develop meaningful relationships, let
alone our ability to build lasting relationships based on trust. Instead, embrace an abundance
mindset. Trust that good deeds are their own reward, and that an accumulation of goodwill in the
community will often provide a generous return on the time and energy we invest in others.
When we embrace a mindset of abundance rather than scarcity, when we genuinely accept and
believe that the world is full of opportunity and we are living our dream of exploration within this
interesting and challenging sphere, others will sense our calm, our confidence and our joy. When
we let go of agenda and simply enjoy the surprise of each new interaction, we begin to get
comfortable. We can be ourselves without fear of judgment. We can be authentic, and we begin to
attract. We can give away what we have without fear of having less. In the process, when we give
what we have for the sake of giving, without expectation, we literally change our physiology. People
around us sense this. We attract people and we attract opportunities. People are drawn in to us.
People trust us, and we are worthy of their trust.

6. 1. RELATIONSHIPS WITH STRINGS ATTACHED WILL NOT LAST LONG
Let’s take a look at Saul and David when Goliath singlehandedly was taunting the whole army of Israel.
1 Samuel 17:38-39 (NKJV) 38 So Saul clothed David with his armor, and he put a bronze helmet on his head; he also clothed him with a coat of mail.
39 David fastened his sword to his armor and tried to walk, for he had not tested them. And David said to Saul, "I cannot walk with these, for I have not tested them." So David took them off.
Saul gave an impression as if he loves and is concerned for David as he goes to battle with Goliath when he gave David his armor. But in reality Saul only loves himself as he gave David his armor with “strings attached”. If David won, he could say that it is at least partly because of his armor. So he gets credit for the victory in a battle he has no courage to fight himself. If David lost, he still gets the credit that he tried to help him. This condition of his heart is proven in 1 Samuel 18:7-9 (NIV) 7 As they danced, they sang: "Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands.” 8 Saul was very angry; this refrain galled him. "They have credited David with tens of thousands," he thought, "but me with only thousands. What more can he get but the kingdom?” 9 And from that time on Saul kept a jealous eye on David.
Notice it was all about “credit” and who gets it. It was not about the victory for the whole kingdom.
The good relationship between David and Saul did not even last one chapter in the entire Bible…. The lesson is:
Even with David’s unending good will, Saul kept trying to kill him. Even with Jesus unending grace and mercy, Judas eventually sold Him for the price of a slave. When we poison a relationship with conditionality, strings and ulterior motives, we are rendered unable to keep it for long. Love is a funny thing. When we insert selfishness into it, it starts to die. Love can only thrive when it is selfless and sacrificial. Transactional relationship always ends up wanting and unfulfilling.
Jesus said in Matthew 24:12-13, “Because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end, he will be saved.” So how do we endure? How do we not become as the world? How do we live life “without strings?” Well I am glad you asked. So let’s see. We want to look at how Jesus handled relationships in His life, and even betrayal with “no strings attached”. Jesus did not enter relationships asking, “What is in it for Me?”, but rather what He could give. Even in the face of discouragement and betrayal, Jesus lived for others. We want to look closer at this truth and make application to our lives. Let’s look together at John 13:31-38.

7. JOHN 13:31-38 (NRSV)
31 WHEN HE HAD GONE OUT, JESUS SAID, "NOW THE SON OF MAN HAS BEEN GLORIFIED, AND GOD HAS BEEN GLORIFIED IN HIM.
How can Jesus say that He has been glorified and the God is glorified in Him when Judas just set in motion the ultimate betrayal that led to Jesus’ torture and death? Lets take a look at the whole story…

8. 21 "VERY TRULY, I TELL YOU, ONE OF YOU WILL BETRAY ME.”
JOHN 13:21 (NRSV)
21 "VERY TRULY, I TELL YOU, ONE OF YOU WILL BETRAY ME.”
25 SO WHILE RECLINING NEXT TO JESUS, HE ASKED HIM, "LORD, WHO IS IT?”
It is the night before Jesus is crucified. The twelve apostles are eating with Jesus that most important of all meals. Jesus had just said in John 13:21, “Truly, truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me.” John was reclining next to Jesus and asked him (in verse 25), “Lord, who is it?” Jesus answered, probably in a low voice so that only John could hear (since when Judas left the others had no idea what was going on, John 13:29 (NIV) 29 Since Judas had charge of the money, some thought Jesus was telling him to buy what was needed for the Feast, or to give something to the poor. )

9. 26 JESUS ANSWERED, "IT IS THE ONE TO WHOM I GIVE THIS PIECE OF BREAD WHEN I HAVE DIPPED IT IN THE DISH." SO WHEN HE HAD DIPPED THE PIECE OF BREAD, HE GAVE IT TO JUDAS SON OF SIMON ISCARIOT.
27 AFTER HE RECEIVED THE PIECE OF BREAD, SATAN ENTERED INTO HIM. JESUS SAID TO HIM, "DO QUICKLY WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO DO."
“It is he to whom I will give this morsel of bread when I have dipped it” (verse 26). Then he dipped the bread and gave it to Judas. And said “What you are going to do, do quickly” (verse 27). And in verse 30 Judas leaves. And the next thing Jesus says (verse 31) is, “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him.” At the very moment when the final betrayal has been set in motion — at that moment Jesus says, “Now.” “Now is the Son of Man glorified.” Now. Now that the final process of being handed over to be killed is in motion, now the Son of Man, Jesus, will shine with the greatest glory. And God will shine gloriously in him. In the midst of darkness Jesus saw hope.

10. JESUS KNEW ALL ALONG THAT JUDAS WAS THE BETRAYER
JOHN WAS THE ONLY ONE THAT KNEW THAT JUDAS WAS THE BETRAYER
JOHN WAS AMAZED TO SEE HOW JESUS HANDLED THE BETRAYAL
JOHN’S FUTURE MINISTRY AND LIFE MESSAGE WAS FORMED IN THIS INSTANT
1. Jesus knew that one day Judas will sell him for 30 silver coins, yet he entrusted him with the money; Judas was the treasurer of the apostolic band of Jesus.
2. John was reclining next to Jesus, and he was the one that asked “who is it, Lord?”. Jesus answered in such a low voice that only he heard it; that is why in v 29 nobody else knew what was going on when Judas left. John had heard Jesus say that Judas was the one — the betrayer. At that moment he must have been utterly stunned. Judas. The one we’ve trusted with the money these three years (verse 29). Suddenly, in a flash, a whole cluster of Judas' peculiar behaviors take on a whole new meaning. So this is why he gave Mary such a hard time for anointing Jesus with expensive anointment (John 12:3–6). He wanted her to give that to Jesus, so he would have access to it.
3. John watches Judas leave, and he can't believe what he is watching. And while John’s mind is churning the incredible news that Judas is a betrayer, and may be doing his foul work at this very moment, he hears Jesus say, “Now is the Son of Man glorified.” And another boulder is thrown into the churning waters of his mind. Glory! Now! Judas. Betrayal. Glory. And in what must have been one of the most emotionally charged moments of John’s life, the next word he heard was, “Little children” (teknia, verse 33a).
4. Little children, yet a little while I am with you. You will seek me, and just as I said to the Jews, so now I also say to you, ‘Where I am going you cannot come.’ 34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. (John 13:33–35).
Little children, I am going where you cannot come. I’m leaving you. Up till now everyone knows you are my disciples because they see you following me around Judea and Galilee. You’ve put your life on the line by just being identified with me. But now I will not be here any longer for you to follow. Following my physical presence will not be the mark of your discipleship any more. So I give you a new mark. A new commandment. Love each other. Little children.
So here’s John with his heart bursting with conflicting emotions: Betrayal has been put in motion. The glory of God is about to be seen. Jesus is leaving them. And, in his absence, love for each other is to bind them together and bind them to him. And in a moment of conflicting and intensified emotion, Jesus reaches for a word of singular affection and calls them all “little children” (verse 33).
Does this tell us anything? I think it tells us that this moment in the life John the apostle was so profound, and so moving, and so memorable that it left its mark years later not only on the writing of this story, but on his entire first epistle (1 John). And 1 John therefore becomes our earliest and most authoritative commentary and analysis on Jesus' new commandment. So let’s look at how the amazement of John brought…

11. JOHN’S LIFE MESSAGE:
1 John 4:7-12 (NIV) 7 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.
Consider a few things. This word “little children” (teknia) occurs only here in the Gospel of John. There were other places it could have been used, as when Jesus called out to the disciples in John 21:5, “Children, do you have any fish?” But that’s a different word (paidia). Only here, does he call his friends “little children.”
Not only is this the only place this word is used in John. It is the only place it is used in the entire New Testament — except for one book. John’s first letter. And there it is used seven times in five chapters. Just as Jesus called his friends “little children” the word becomes John’s favorite name for his flock, “little children.” A coincidence? Perhaps. But I don’t think so.
Consider this, nowhere else in the New Testament does the term “new commandment” occur outside this story — except in John’s first and second letter. Of all the New Testament writers only John picked up on this term.

12. 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.
Consider a few things. This word “little children” (teknia) occurs only here in the Gospel of John. There were other places it could have been used, as when Jesus called out to the disciples in John 21:5, “Children, do you have any fish?” But that’s a different word (paidia). Only here, does he call his friends “little children.”
Not only is this the only place this word is used in John. It is the only place it is used in the entire New Testament — except for one book. John’s first letter. And there it is used seven times in five chapters. Just as Jesus called his friends “little children” the word becomes John’s favorite name for his flock, “little children.” A coincidence? Perhaps. But I don’t think so.
Consider this, nowhere else in the New Testament does the term “new commandment” occur outside this story — except in John’s first and second letter. Of all the New Testament writers only John picked up on this term.

13. 2. THE LOVE OF GOD TOWARDS US IS PURE WITH NO STRINGS ATTACHED
God’s love is meteoric, his loyalty astronomic, His purpose titanic, his verdicts oceanic. Yet in his largeness nothing gets lost; Not a man, not a mouse, slips through the cracks. (Psa 36:5-6 MSG)
5 Your steadfast love, O Lord, extends to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds. (NRSV)
The word clouds is from Heb. sachaq that means pounded to dust and blown off to the sky. It means that the love and faithfulness of God is without expecting anything in return, he gives and doesnt hold anything back.
John witnessed what happened: Jesus, knowing all along who is the betrayer, gave every chance and opportunity to him to know that God loves him unconditionally. Even after the betrayal is set in motion irreversibly, Jesus still call Judas “friend” in the most famous betrayal act in history, “the Kiss”, Matthew 26:49-50 (NIV) 49 Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, "Greetings, Rabbi!" and kissed him. 50 Jesus replied, "Friend, do what you came for." Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested him. It is significant that Jesus called Judas friend in the final moment: (by then things are irreversible, guards are now coming to seize him). One thing we need to understand clearly: that even after Jesus’ death is assured by Judas’ betrayal, He still calls him “friend” which means he has already been forgiven! His love for Judas has no strings attached; Jesus did not just love Judas if he stopped betraying Him, He loves Judas no matter what. He trusted Judas all along, until the very end.
Remember John 15:13 (NIV) 13 Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. Jesus also did lay down his life for Judas, if he is willing to be called his “friend”. From Jesus side, He called Judas “friend”. We alas never heard from Judas’ side. Apparently he never wanted to accept the friendship offer from Jesus as not long afterwards, he hung himself.

14. 3. WE ARE CALLED TO BELIEVE GOD AND LOVE EACH OTHER
1 JOHN 3:23, “AND THIS IS HIS COMMANDMENT [SINGULAR], THAT WE BELIEVE IN THE NAME OF HIS SON JESUS CHRIST AND LOVE ONE ANOTHER, JUST AS HE HAS COMMANDED US.”
In other words, in John’s mind, Jesus’ command to believe on him, and his command to love each other are inseparable. So together he calls them one commandment: “This is his commandment [singular], that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us.” People won’t know you are a disciple of Jesus if you make no profession of faith in Jesus. But if you declare yourself openly to be a disciple of Jesus — your Savior, your Lord, your Treasure — then your love for others will be decisive in showing that you are real. Are you a true believer? Are you really a disciple? Is he really your treasure? Have you really been changed by Jesus? They will all know “if you have love for one another” (John 13:35). So when Jesus says in John 13:35, "By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another," he meant, love confirms that your profession of faith in me is real.
Why is it that love proves discipleship? Why is it that when disciples love each other there is such good evidence that they are true disciples of Jesus? Why is this one-another-love so compelling?

15. JOHN 13:34-35 (NKJV)
34 A NEW COMMANDMENT I GIVE TO YOU, THAT YOU LOVE ONE ANOTHER; AS I HAVE LOVED YOU, THAT YOU ALSO LOVE ONE ANOTHER. 35 BY THIS ALL WILL KNOW THAT YOU ARE MY DISCIPLES, IF YOU HAVE LOVE FOR ONE ANOTHER."
The answer comes when we ponder why Jesus calls this commandment new. If we see what makes the commandment new, we will see what makes it have such compelling power to prove true discipleship, true faith in Jesus.
The command to love each other is not new in and of itself. Leviticus 19:18 said, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” What appears to be new is the way we are to love, namely, “as Jesus has loved us.” Verse 34b: “Just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.” Never before had the Son of God come into the world and laid down his life for his people. That had never happened before. This degree of greatness making this degree of sacrifice, had never happened. This is new.

16. 1 JOHN 2:8 IT IS A NEW COMMANDMENT THAT I AM WRITING TO YOU, WHICH IS TRUE IN HIM AND IN YOU [IT’S TRULY NEW IN JESUS, AND IT IS TRULY NEW IN YOU], BECAUSE THE DARKNESS IS PASSING AWAY AND THE TRUE LIGHT IS ALREADY SHINING. “WHOEVER SAYS HE IS IN THE LIGHT AND HATES HIS BROTHER IS STILL IN DARKNESS. WHOEVER LOVES HIS BROTHER ABIDES IN THE LIGHT.”
So is Jesus simply saying: If you imitate this kind of sacrifice in loving each other, you will be fulfilling the newness of this commandment?
In other words, what makes this love new is that it is the arrival of the glory of the Lord — the Light of the world — that will one day fill the earth as the waters cover the sea. When the Messiah comes and brings his kingdom, “The earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea” (Habakkuk 2:14). And Jesus is the Messiah. His coming was the dawn of the kingdom of God. He was the Light of the world. And he said (verse 31) that this night the Son of Man would be glorified and God in him. This night the light would shine most brightly when he lays down his life for his friends.
And then John says in the next verse (1 John 2:9–10), “Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness. Whoever loves his brother abides in the light.” In other words, what makes the disciples’ love for each other new — and this command for it new — is that they are not just copying the light, they are in this light. They are in the love of Jesus. This is how John sees the newness of this love.
Jesus said, “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13). That’s what happened that night and the next morning. And John says that what makes that new — and what makes the commandment new — is this love was the arrival of the Light of God — the glory of God — at the end of the age to fill the earth. And the commandment for us to love each other just as Jesus loved, was not mainly a command for imitation, but for participation. John says, “Whoever loves his brother abides in the light.” When we love each other in obedience to the new commandment, we are loving each other with the love of Jesus. His love is being perfected in our love. This is not mainly imitation, but manifestation. Our lives are in Jesus, in the Light, and our love is his love.

17. CONCLUSION
JOHN 15:9, “AS THE FATHER HAS LOVED ME, SO HAVE I LOVED YOU. ABIDE IN MY LOVE.”
Jesus comes back to this in John 15 and makes the meaning clear: “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:12–13). Yes. And how do we love like that? John 15:9, “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love.”
So the reason the love we have for each other shows that we are truly Jesus’ disciples, is that it is only possible because we are grafted into the life and love of Christ. We love as he loved, because we love with his love.
So, IFGF — “my little children!” — in these crucial days, these historic days in the life of our church, this is what Jesus is calling for among us. “Just as I have loved you, that you, IFGF, love one another.” Go low in foot-washing-like service to one another. Lay down your lives, your privileges, for one another. Love your brothers and sisters across all racial and ethnic lines. Love the weakest and oldest and youngest. Love the disabled. Love the lonely trouble maker. It is certain when you love that you cannot atone for anyone’s sin. But you can do something like it, because “Love covers a multitude of sins” (1 Peter 4:8). How blessed the church — especially the church in transition — that loves like this! John is calling us to see Jesus loving with no strings attached and asking us to step into relationship that way.
Paul tells us in Romans 12:18, “If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.” Paul recognizes not everyone is open to relationship, but we can continue to love with no strings, as Jesus is our source, strength, motivation and inspiration.