April 30th, 2026
by Paul Cypert
by Paul Cypert
You Call Me Friend
John 15:15-16 NIV
15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.
16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.
The Power of Connection
By the way, if you were raised by idiots, or a village of morons, had childhood difficulties, wound up an addict or had a good mom and dad, great grandparents with a good start, money or no money, it doesn’t really matter.
Because connection is causative for human flourishing. Spiritually healthy/emotionally healthy folks have great connections to other spiritually/emotionally healthy people.
So powerful, so simple, so divine. Whoever you are this one component (connection) can’t be left out if life is to be meaningful!
That you bear much fruit. Fruitful - flourishing lives. Do not run this through the grid of ministry!!! This is about family, relationships, joy, goodness, happiness, sustained faithfulness, enduring love.
The only real cure for humans is connection!
I don’t think we have a clue what Jesus just did in this verse for His disciples? Probably not! But He just solved for them a problem that all humans pretty much have. The need for connection. Jesus is saying, Hey guys you’re not my errand boys, I am not going to use you to accomplish my goals, not going to be your boss. You are no longer slaves or servants but friends …
As friends you are going to know what I know and share in the business of my kingdom as friends. This is huge …
Jesus solved for the disciples the great battle of the soul, connection. To know that one belongs … To know one is chosen. Just think about the relational sustainability of a friend verses servant relationship. That is exactly what He told them in this passage; you did not choose me I chose you.
Friends have an inside track:
And Jesus said, “everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.” John 15:15b NIV
WOW!
As a way of illustration I often tell my friends that I was born of two Fathers neither my own. Don and Wilbur came into my life while working for a subsidiary of a large US corporation.
One believed you catch more flies with honey. The other? Well, kill them by whatever means necessary. I worked for Don and then eventually Wilbur who was the CEO of the company. The two helped form a sense of personal identity (who I am) and a view of the world I lived(how I relate to the external).
It was through their eyes that I begin to really see myself. Both eventually wound up as friends. People I spent time with outside of work. Heck, they knew my girls and wife well. Wilbur was an avid hunter and loved to fish and Don sports. As do I and as did we!
We enjoyed our time spent outside the business world. Lot of common ground. Because I was both employee and friend I knew a lot about the inner workings of the company. Truth be known, I knew a lot more than others.
Today? I am not so interested in podcasts, books, sermon messages, or powerful Christian people. Although I do listen and read. I tend to look for different sources and not so mainstream. Not real interested in what ‘church on the corner’ has to say. But
I am although very interested in the few who call me friend and what they have to say. Because my friends have a view of me that no one else has, they know me for who I really am.
Heard it said, ‘you can pick your nose but you can’t pick your family. But you can pick your friends, that is as long as they will have you. And friends have a different perspective than anyone else in your life. Because they know you and you know them. One of the great joys of my life today is that I am known. Just a few, a tight circle of trusted friends who fuel and sustain spiritual health and vitality. I pay attention to and cultivate these relationships.
In friendship there is no pressure to perform. I have grown to a place that I can just ‘be’ with my friends. And oh, how I have learned that to be with God is so much more GRAND than to do for God.
Listen up because this is a big deal. Twice Jesus said, I don’t know you! And we should pay attention to why he said this because what he was saying was, you will not be entering my kingdom.
To the crazy charismatics He said many of you will say to me in that day Lord - Lord did not we prophesy, cast out devils and do many miracles in your name? And he said? Depart from me you workers of iniquity I never knew you.
The ten virgins; 5 prepared 5 not. When the 5 not prepared who ran out of oil for their lamps finally made It back from buying oil. They knocked at the door of the wedding and they were refused entrance as the Bridegroom said, ‘I don’t know you’.
I have lived in a world of the many who know a lot about God but few that are actually known by God …
I have lived in the world of the unprepared, not humble, egotists of modern religion who seem to have a great need to be heard. Not sure they have a clue. Choose to not live in that world today!
My concern for them is that instead of friend they may hear ‘depart from me I never knew you’.
Friends have a reason to carry on …
For the disciples? Well, you could best describe their world as hostile. They not only were catching it from the conquerors who occupied their nation, Rome, who ruled them with an iron fist but also from the governing religious hierarchical community in Jerusalem, their own kin.
As Jesus begin to let His disciples know that His time here on earth was winding down he began to prepare them. He gave them a way to look at the world and a world without Him physically present.
One of the ways was to let them know who they had become to Him. He wanted them to see their world from a very unique and powerful position. And that position was? They belonged, they were chosen, they were His friends.
In a world that rewards for simply showing up the truth is God’s eternal kingdom doesn’t work that way at all. It doesn’t reward church attendance, church affiliation, church participation. It rewards those who seek, find great faith, love more deeply, fight off the wolves, resist the devil, run away from temptation, suffer, give up reputation, don’t care what others think, die to themselves and their carnality, give away possessions, live wholehearted lives.
In scripture, both Jesus and the theologian Paul were very clear about how our temporary sacrifices, struggles, faithfulness in adversity and suffering for just cause in this life store up eternal treasure/rewards. They are the currency of the eternal.
Servants or slaves don’t persevere. They get out when the getting is good. I’ve been through a few things in my life. Interestingly when the dust settled who remained were genuine friends.
So, in a world that was never meant to be, so fallen. That sends such a difficult message to filter faith through; so broken, so conflicted, so full of hate, so divided, so degrading, so victimizing, so violent, so childish, so inept, so naive. Our faith can be seriously challenged and understandably so. Just look around you and just listen to the constant barrage of chaos from divisive media outlets. Although, I advise not to.
We should remember the words of Jesus, “But the one who endures to the end, he will be saved.” Matthew 24:13 NASB
I really like what Bill Ackman who is Pershing Square, a huge hedge fund speaking to the Iran war wrote, “One of the most one-sided wars in history that will end well for the U.S. and the world. And we have the potential for a large peace dividend.” And isn’t this a very different take than all the other voices out there in media land left or right?
So, stay the course America.
I think we should be the contrarians. Those who have found good reason to carry on, to persevere because we don’t see ourselves through the chaos and hostility of the world around us. What we see and say is, I am a friend of God. I have an inside track to what is going on. This will end well for me.
Because He calls me friend I think I understand that down the road I’m going, He and I have always been,
Interestingly that’s all I need to know to carry on.
Hope you hear it in the wind, in a dream, through a message, or in your emotional being, in your spirit, through the scriptures. Hope you hear, I call you friend. And it becomes the inner conviction of your heart.
And that you dare whisper, I am a friend of God, He calls me friend!
Let Nothing Disturb You,
Paul
John 15:15-16 NIV
15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.
16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.
The Power of Connection
By the way, if you were raised by idiots, or a village of morons, had childhood difficulties, wound up an addict or had a good mom and dad, great grandparents with a good start, money or no money, it doesn’t really matter.
Because connection is causative for human flourishing. Spiritually healthy/emotionally healthy folks have great connections to other spiritually/emotionally healthy people.
So powerful, so simple, so divine. Whoever you are this one component (connection) can’t be left out if life is to be meaningful!
That you bear much fruit. Fruitful - flourishing lives. Do not run this through the grid of ministry!!! This is about family, relationships, joy, goodness, happiness, sustained faithfulness, enduring love.
The only real cure for humans is connection!
I don’t think we have a clue what Jesus just did in this verse for His disciples? Probably not! But He just solved for them a problem that all humans pretty much have. The need for connection. Jesus is saying, Hey guys you’re not my errand boys, I am not going to use you to accomplish my goals, not going to be your boss. You are no longer slaves or servants but friends …
As friends you are going to know what I know and share in the business of my kingdom as friends. This is huge …
Jesus solved for the disciples the great battle of the soul, connection. To know that one belongs … To know one is chosen. Just think about the relational sustainability of a friend verses servant relationship. That is exactly what He told them in this passage; you did not choose me I chose you.
Friends have an inside track:
And Jesus said, “everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.” John 15:15b NIV
WOW!
As a way of illustration I often tell my friends that I was born of two Fathers neither my own. Don and Wilbur came into my life while working for a subsidiary of a large US corporation.
One believed you catch more flies with honey. The other? Well, kill them by whatever means necessary. I worked for Don and then eventually Wilbur who was the CEO of the company. The two helped form a sense of personal identity (who I am) and a view of the world I lived(how I relate to the external).
It was through their eyes that I begin to really see myself. Both eventually wound up as friends. People I spent time with outside of work. Heck, they knew my girls and wife well. Wilbur was an avid hunter and loved to fish and Don sports. As do I and as did we!
We enjoyed our time spent outside the business world. Lot of common ground. Because I was both employee and friend I knew a lot about the inner workings of the company. Truth be known, I knew a lot more than others.
Today? I am not so interested in podcasts, books, sermon messages, or powerful Christian people. Although I do listen and read. I tend to look for different sources and not so mainstream. Not real interested in what ‘church on the corner’ has to say. But
I am although very interested in the few who call me friend and what they have to say. Because my friends have a view of me that no one else has, they know me for who I really am.
Heard it said, ‘you can pick your nose but you can’t pick your family. But you can pick your friends, that is as long as they will have you. And friends have a different perspective than anyone else in your life. Because they know you and you know them. One of the great joys of my life today is that I am known. Just a few, a tight circle of trusted friends who fuel and sustain spiritual health and vitality. I pay attention to and cultivate these relationships.
In friendship there is no pressure to perform. I have grown to a place that I can just ‘be’ with my friends. And oh, how I have learned that to be with God is so much more GRAND than to do for God.
Listen up because this is a big deal. Twice Jesus said, I don’t know you! And we should pay attention to why he said this because what he was saying was, you will not be entering my kingdom.
To the crazy charismatics He said many of you will say to me in that day Lord - Lord did not we prophesy, cast out devils and do many miracles in your name? And he said? Depart from me you workers of iniquity I never knew you.
The ten virgins; 5 prepared 5 not. When the 5 not prepared who ran out of oil for their lamps finally made It back from buying oil. They knocked at the door of the wedding and they were refused entrance as the Bridegroom said, ‘I don’t know you’.
I have lived in a world of the many who know a lot about God but few that are actually known by God …
I have lived in the world of the unprepared, not humble, egotists of modern religion who seem to have a great need to be heard. Not sure they have a clue. Choose to not live in that world today!
My concern for them is that instead of friend they may hear ‘depart from me I never knew you’.
Friends have a reason to carry on …
For the disciples? Well, you could best describe their world as hostile. They not only were catching it from the conquerors who occupied their nation, Rome, who ruled them with an iron fist but also from the governing religious hierarchical community in Jerusalem, their own kin.
As Jesus begin to let His disciples know that His time here on earth was winding down he began to prepare them. He gave them a way to look at the world and a world without Him physically present.
One of the ways was to let them know who they had become to Him. He wanted them to see their world from a very unique and powerful position. And that position was? They belonged, they were chosen, they were His friends.
In a world that rewards for simply showing up the truth is God’s eternal kingdom doesn’t work that way at all. It doesn’t reward church attendance, church affiliation, church participation. It rewards those who seek, find great faith, love more deeply, fight off the wolves, resist the devil, run away from temptation, suffer, give up reputation, don’t care what others think, die to themselves and their carnality, give away possessions, live wholehearted lives.
In scripture, both Jesus and the theologian Paul were very clear about how our temporary sacrifices, struggles, faithfulness in adversity and suffering for just cause in this life store up eternal treasure/rewards. They are the currency of the eternal.
Servants or slaves don’t persevere. They get out when the getting is good. I’ve been through a few things in my life. Interestingly when the dust settled who remained were genuine friends.
So, in a world that was never meant to be, so fallen. That sends such a difficult message to filter faith through; so broken, so conflicted, so full of hate, so divided, so degrading, so victimizing, so violent, so childish, so inept, so naive. Our faith can be seriously challenged and understandably so. Just look around you and just listen to the constant barrage of chaos from divisive media outlets. Although, I advise not to.
We should remember the words of Jesus, “But the one who endures to the end, he will be saved.” Matthew 24:13 NASB
I really like what Bill Ackman who is Pershing Square, a huge hedge fund speaking to the Iran war wrote, “One of the most one-sided wars in history that will end well for the U.S. and the world. And we have the potential for a large peace dividend.” And isn’t this a very different take than all the other voices out there in media land left or right?
So, stay the course America.
I think we should be the contrarians. Those who have found good reason to carry on, to persevere because we don’t see ourselves through the chaos and hostility of the world around us. What we see and say is, I am a friend of God. I have an inside track to what is going on. This will end well for me.
Because He calls me friend I think I understand that down the road I’m going, He and I have always been,
Interestingly that’s all I need to know to carry on.
Hope you hear it in the wind, in a dream, through a message, or in your emotional being, in your spirit, through the scriptures. Hope you hear, I call you friend. And it becomes the inner conviction of your heart.
And that you dare whisper, I am a friend of God, He calls me friend!
Let Nothing Disturb You,
Paul
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