Do You Love Jesus? - Part 1 of 2

And in a fire, and additional share. Bradley Junior welcoming you to another broadcast of the Baptist Bible we enjoy the summer months with the beautiful warm weather. But as I have repeatedly said it is difficult time for radio broadcasts traditionally is been a time that we struggle to keep up with expenses and actually for a couple of months this spring and early summer.

I was just greatly encouraged that we were doing better than usual. But that hasn't been the case the last few weeks, so there is a very special meaning that the present. He wants to continue this program on your station.

It would certainly be a blessing for you to help us with the support of our drafts is the Baptist Bible. Our box 17 old, 37, Cincinnati, OH 45217. Today we continue in our series in the Gospel of John, looking at John chapter 21 verses 15 to 17. Do you love Jesus asked the question, Jesus himself asked, in speaking with Peter read about John chapter 21. Beginning in the 15th verse.

So when they had dined. Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon son of Jonah's mother's thou me more than the a safe in a him in a large thou knowest that I love the saith unto him, feed my lambs any safety him again the second time Simon son of Jonah's mother's family a safe and again Gaylord Mountain OS that I love safe in the feed my sheep begin the third time, Simon son of Jonah's love is now me Peter was grieved because he sent him the third time mother Sally and he said to him, Lord, thou knowest all things thou knowest that I love Jesus saith unto him, feed my sheep. In our previous message from this portion of Scripture which song Jesus inviting the disciples to come and die. What a beautiful sight. They had been laboring all night in their effort to catch fish in their effort had been unsuccessful.

Now Jesus says let down the map of the right side of the boat and they catch an abundance of fish. Oh how different it is when we do things directly as commanded by the Lord. There was success but Jesus already had breakfast on the far he prepared fish and bread for them and said come and die as we entitle that message. Breakfast with Jesus.

I hope that that phrase has come to your mind periodically and you thought about what it would mean each morning when you have breakfast the magnetic time of fellowship with Jesus again with prayer. If you're alone in meditation to think about Jesus. If you're with other family members to talk about Jesus not said when they had time when they had finished eating, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, mother's thou me, Jesus, and already met with Peter since the resurrection Luke chapter 24 of the 34th verse indicates that we don't know about that conversation.

We have no details about that meeting that we know that it did occur, so it would appear that Jesus had already started the process of restoring Peter after his terrible downfall that he would have him express his love in the presence of the other apostles and it is his intent to restore him to the ministry and to the apostleship and obviously he wants the others to witness this is interesting to observe the similarities. When Peter denied Jesus. He was warming himself.

Five charcoal fire when Jesus is ready to restore him.

He had prepared breakfast on a charcoal fire. Maybe just looking at those charcoals, blazing as they were brought back to Peter.

The memory of what he had done that terrible night, but on three different occasions. He did not animate. I don't know this man don't know what you're talking. I don't know this man Jesus is also interesting to observe the as Peter denied the Lord 3�3 times Jesus asked him do you love me, do you and also we observe that he calls him by his former name Simon Jesus had given him the name Peter which means rock. But now, as he is addressing him to deal with his fate and restore his fellowship and his position as a faithful laborer in the church because him. Simon Jesus uses the word when he asked do you love me, which in the Greek is the highest form of love that about love. That love of the highest level do you love me.

And when Peter replies, he uses the word Valeo. It is a love of affection, and brotherly love. Obviously, Peter, at this juncture is unwilling to make any rash claim about the depth of his love, that it may previous because he has seen clearly the weakness of his own flesh. How easy it is the falls short. Jesus though accepted Peter's humble response and commission in the theater sheet, making it very evident to all who observed they might have some question about Peter at this juncture, they might've had some doubts about him. But Jesus says, feed my sheep is restoring him to a position of importance leadership in his church.

There's a work for him to do several things we want to observe about this love when Jesus asked do you love me. First of all, the object of this love love for God has always been a mark of true religion. The emphasis was there in Old Testament times we look at some of the Deuteronomy chapter 6 verse five and thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart and with all thy soul and with all five this is commandment of God. Your to love God not just admit there is a God not to say when I do want to respect him. You are to love him. Love the Lord with all your mind with all your heart, with all your soul, then in the 10th chapter of the book of Deuteronomy we read the 12th verse and now Israel put the Lord my God require of the but the fear the Lord thy God, to walk in all his ways and to love him and to serve the Lord thy God with all thine heart and with all thy soul, this matter of serving God was not to be done in a halfhearted manner.

It wasn't just a side issue in life.

It was a situation that you don't have any other obligations and get some attention to serving God. This was to be done diligently, zealously, with complete commitment. Your to serve the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all five so and then Jesus refers to what the Old Testament law contained in says in Matthew chapter 22 in verse 37 thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart with all thy soul and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. This commandment supersedes that all everything else really is summarized in it that sent love the Lord thy God what importance do you attach that commandment. There may be a lot of specifics a lot of details that occupy your mind. Some unanswered questions that you diligently try to figure out. But how often are you focused on this fault that the greatest of all the commandments.

The first about everything else to love the Lord thy God with all thy heart with all my soul and with all thy finger had previously indicated that he love Jesus and as we price his footsteps. In spite of the fact we observe his impetuous nests and his lack some time of understanding and his failure in downfall. Underlying it all is clear evidence that Peter did love Jesus but initially one of his problems was self-confident. Let's notice what he said in John chapter 13 and the 36 verse Simon Peterson in the him Lord whether Lewis now Jesus answered him, whether I go thou canst not follow me now, but thou shalt follow me afterwards Peter said in the him, Lord, why cannot I follow the now I will lay down my life for my sake by pole declaration court.

I'm ready to go wherever you go. Whatever the outcome, if it means giving up my life. I'm ready.

I lay down my life for you. You know the story and everything got close to that he trembled in the presence of the little person I recognize you as being one of his followers in the late I know this man generally can all see here a vivid warning against self-confidence Scriptures tell us to take heed. The man that thinks he's standing take key, lest you fall if you today entertain at any point longer Christian journey and attitude. I see others stumble I see others coming far sure they're not serving God like I think they ought to, but I'll never fail. I'm committed to. It means persecution. I'm ready to be persecuted. If it means that I'm ready to die, take heed lest you fall. None of us are that strong within ourselves.

None of us are capable of facing our enemies, our greatest adversary is the devil who is seeking whom he may devour. That's why there is armor provided for us outline the described in the sixth Of the book of Ephesians and if we go forward without it.

We're going to surely find another example in the Gospel of Matthew chapter 26 reading of the 33rd verse, Peter answered and said in a him though all men shall be offended because of the yet will I never be of what self-sufficiency consumed many others might fail. Others might forsake.

I never will.

If you even have a passing thought that would lead you to such a prideful declaration pray. Even now, Lord, forgive me admit you're not that tough you not strong enough to stand against the temptations of Satan in your own strength so Peter had confessed his love, but it doesn't with self-confidence and he failed. Now Jesus asked Loveless thou me more than the and it probably indicates that Jesus was confronting Peter about what he had previously said, Lord, others might forsake you.

But not me feeling that he loved Jesus better than anybody else. His love is stronger than that of the other apostles and so is now asking Loveless thou meet more than these priest to make that assertion. Are you still going to claim that your love is stronger longer-lasting superior to these others out. Some Bible students see it a little different. Like I can see an argument for both something that he may have been asking since Peter had decided to go fishing that had been his previous occupation. The route he love that he likes that kind of work. So Jesus is asking him Peter do you love me more than these.

These fish just called this boat that you have used the whole concept of fishing do you love me better than your life's work which you were previously committed the love me more than these, and I think it would be legitimate to ask ourselves that question in both categories you love me more than these. Are you claiming that your love is superior to that of others or can you truly say I love Jesus more than I love my job more than I love my hobbits more than I love my money more than on the house more than an automobile you love me more than the ice. The question to you.

Do you love Jesus has been at times that godly evidence in hand, it would appear that you did in fact love your job more than your Jesus that's important that you have a job.

Samantha doesn't provide result is worse than an infidel is important that you work nothing wrong with that but if you make an idol out a good job that becomes the most important thing to you. You say I'm working to provide for my family, but part of it is turned into a prideful pursuit. I will approve that I'm the best in my field. I want to prove that on top of my company I want to prove that I can make more money than anybody else. So it's not so much a desire to provide for your family. It's a desire to satisfy your own ego. But whatever the motives might be in being diligent and zealous in your job. Is it possible in your own case that you have loved your job more than Jesus you've loved your money more than Jesus.

You take great pride in accumulating money to constantly review your bank account your investments. You feel great satisfaction about your successes. If you make the right decision and you have been invested in something that proves to be possible, and you spend so much time reading about the stock market reading about the economy of this country and reading after all of the experts to claim to be able to tell you where it's headed, that you spend far more time proving that you love money than you do spending time to prove that you love Jesus and your loved your position as you love your health more than you love Jesus. Good health is a great blessing and will to take care of ourselves well to try to eat right and sleep right exercise of the right proportion is good, but some people become health fanatics.

That's the main focus of their life. Read everything you possibly read about what to eat and if you read long enough. One group unattended eat this stuff another say delete that it accumulates up Mount sends her to be confused and is always somebody coming out with me new philosophy about what's good for you and what it you can become such a fanatic that you spend more time running and exercising than you do. Thinking about Jesus.

Even your family. Family support.

Husbands are to love their wives there to assist in bringing their children up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord for the guest of the place that family is uppermost in your affection. There is a problem is he Jesus says loveless thou me. Interesting that he didn't say Peter do you love what I taught you now what Jesus had taught Peter was tremendously important, but he didn't expect you love me.

If we ask that question today.

You might say well I love the doctrine doctrine is good.

The truth of the Bible is to be embraced, believed relied upon proclaimed held to tenaciously but you know it's possible for a person to love a creed, a confession of faith. Systematic theology, a particular doctrine and not love Jesus. I've heard a few minute times, expounding what they believed about a particular doctrine and there seem to be underlying anger connected with it. It was so determined. I'm going to convince everybody that what I say about this is true, and I must embrace it. You may think. Where is the love where is the focus on Jesus doctrine is tremendously important, but doctrine separated from Jesus is empty old Orthodox. He didn't say Peter do you love the church love the church. Jesus Christ is the builder of the church. He's the head of the church, but you know it's possible to love the church not love Jesus, you can love the order of service you can love the humans being so you can love the fellowship that's being in joint interaction with people seeing friends and family members, and leave Jesus out of it. Even your Christian friends you want to love them, Jesus said by this shall all men know that you are my disciples, that you have loved one to another, but if you're so focused on friends, particularly selecting those that pretty much in agreement with you about everything. Lacking the love to reach out to others that might differ from you in a variety of ways. You make highlighting your friends. Thank God for friends. Thank God for brothers and sisters in Christ, with whom we can have fellowship and walk together in his service, but the question Jesus asked loveless thou me. Secondly that's think about the effect of this love as a result of this love, Peter experienced deep sorrow over offending Jesus. Jesus did not come on the scene here and say Peter, are you ready to repent. He said simply. Do you love me that repentance is needful when sin has been committed.

There needs to be genuine repentance. But if there is true love there will be repentance if you love Jesus, the very fault of your sin pierces your heart you think about him going to the cross, laying down his life suffering pain to send that far. You then you recall your city's some act of rebellion some display of pain. Some fit of rage when you blurted out words that should never be spoken. Some lustful thoughts some sinful pursuit. A situation in which he became involved in you never thought I would be at this place under what happened to me. I never thought I would be guilty of such a if you love Jesus.

The remembrance of those sins break your heart. But the promise of God is. Even to this man will Outlook he that is of a broken heart and a contrite spirit, one who is arrogant pursues a sinful course and seeks to defend and justify themselves has no promise of God's approving smile, but when you see your sin, to grieve over it to the evidence of love when on the subject of today's message is one that we need regularly to ponder.

Do you love Jesus, we can say we do the proof of it is that we are surrendered to him. We are obedient to him prove that we recognize him more of our life would like to get this complete message entitled, do you love Jesus request that when writing this paragraphs is the Baptist Bible out box 17/37, Cincinnati, OH 45217 two. We greet you next time. This Michelle Bradley Junior bid you goodbye and may God bless and be in and in all and all