Drifting Allegiance

Thank you for tuning into the radio ministry of community church had cleared our focus is making Christ visible providing an atmosphere, worship, community come check us out at 3485 Oxford Rd. in Henderson or visit us online activities. He.org join us for this week's message by Pastor Albert on shop this morning. The message called drifting allegiance is to help us get back on track and let God finish what he has begun in our lives. The message in a nutshell, is this when we drift away. God doesn't abandon us.

The charge may abandon you.

The pastor may abandon you, your loved ones may abandon you but God doesn't abandon us instead he comes to us in grace, but lovingly and yet thoroughly he steers us back.

He never leaves us nor forsakes us. You have your Bibles with you. ~John chapter 21 a very familiar chapter in the gospel and you know it the moment we start reading. If you have your Bibles John 21 verse 15 let's once again stand for the reading of God's word. So when they had eaten breakfast. John 21 Is Taking Pl. after Jesus has resurrected. He has revealed himself to his disciples so when they had eaten breakfast. Jesus said to Simon Peter, Simon son of Jonah, Simon son of John, do you love me more than these he said to him, Jesus said to him. Yes, Lord Peter said to him. Yes, Lord, you know that I love you. He said to him, meeting Jesus said to Peter, feed my lambs.

He said to him again at her a second time, Simon son of Jonah, do you love me and Peter said then yes Lord you know that I love you. He said to him 10 marshy third time he said to him, Simon son of Jonah, do you love me, there's a reason why Jesus is repeating that question. Do you love me do you love me do you love me and this time Peter was grieved he was sad because he said to him the third time. Do you love me and you said to him, Lord, you know all things you know that I love you. Jesus said to him, feed my sheep. The reason Christ came to Peter is because he had drifted away. The question that each of us needs to answer this morning is have you drifted away his own know I'm in church, not in church you can be in church you can be teaching Sunday school you could be worshiping. You can't even be preaching this morning, and yet you have drifted away from Christ is very subtle is a how do you know I've done it, you can be doing the things of God and have lost the focus on the son of God.

He is the one we run to.

He is the author and finisher of our faith. We can be doing the things of God and Lucite of the author. The finisher of our faith.

Have you lost your first love. You cannot go back to your first love. Unless you have first received the love of Christ on the cross.

Amen. You cannot go back to something you never had. So the question is are you saved. If not, today's the day to receive Jesus Christ, amen. The passage we just read is from John chapter 21 the gospel of John could have ended in chapter 20, but for some reason it goes on to chapter 21 Jesus had died on the cross already. Jesus had been buried in the grave already. He rose from the grave and also he had come and revealed himself to the disciples. All that needed to be done had been done all that needed to be said had been said all that was left or do really was for Jesus to ascend back to his father and send the third person of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit, to empower the church to go and share the gospel is done is over one more thing have to be done one more person had to be visited.

This person needed a one on one time with Jesus person is of course Simon Peter, ever since the cross ever since that night that Jesus was unjustly accused and beaten and mocked and a crown of thorns was put upon him since that night Peter wasn't right. You know what happened you know the before Jesus went to the cross, he said look I want to go die for you and Peter said about the rest of these bozos I want to die with you I would never deny you and Jesus and Peter before the nights over 3×3 times you to deny me and then the rooster will grow and like clockwork, Peter denied him and cussed him out and the rooster crowed in the Bible tells us that Peter went out and he wept bitterly. Why did he leave those tears were tears of shame that were tears of guilt or tears of embarrassment.

They were tears of self-condemnation. How could I have done that. Everybody heard me and yet I am the one over there denying Christ that even though Jesus came back to him and revealed himself to him things were okay and yet they were not okay is a many of y'all this morning you're back in church, but things are still not okay. I'm talking about between you and God you're here this morning. God is working in your life but things are not quite right there. Five things I want to show to you from this passage hopefully will help you return back to God.

The first thing is the result of drifting. I want to see what it says in verse three Simon Peter said to them, I'm going fishing. They said to him, we are going with you all. So they went out immediately got into the boat and that night they caught nothing. Nothing so far is wrong with what I read Peter had to eat.

The disciples had to eat nothing wrong with with fishing. Nothing is even wrong, but not catching anything that night home. If you have been fishing and caught nothing. So on the surface. Nothing is wrong is just an ordinary fishing trip that didn't work. I would go again organ but there is something is said in verse four but when the morning had now come, Jesus stood on the shoulder yeah was just an ordinary fishing trip that no one caught anything. But then again, it was not an ordinary fishing trip.

I believe that night every fish in the sea of Galilee was safe.

I believe all the Angels have snorkelers and fins on and they were making sure that not a single fish would get into Peter's net honest as me my version.

Why do you say that because there is a reason Peter had drifted away. He was still not right. And Jesus wanted him to remember what he had taught them back in John 15 five which is without me you can do nothing.

The act was not wrong. The attitude was wrong. I'm going fishing to get away that night they caught nothing. I want to give your statement, I want you remember it drifting life is a fruitless life. It doesn't mean that you will not get a promotion. It doesn't mean that you may not find someone to love and marry and have children and buy a house and buy a boat and have a good vacation. If it does not mean that when you are drifting away from God voice been a sorry existence.

Nothing is working out.

It may, but not necessarily what is happening is this, no matter how good things may be you still come up empty-handed.

There been times I have preached a solid message. People responded he could see God working and yet I walked away to my truck empty question this morning is for all of us is that you today are you that person that in the world's perspective, things like seems like everything is just fine, and yet you keep coming empty-handed so I decided it is beautifully said there said when you drift away from God you will you will fail miserably or you will succeed even more miserably. So what happens the result of drifting here comes the response of the Savior. What does Jesus do listen to verse six and he said to them, cast the net on the right side of the boat and you will find so now I am no expert fishermen, but I can tell you this much, that if you are in the water with you drop the net on the right of the left side of the boat either.

What you can catch some fish. If the fish are going to get caught. This was not a question of direction that don't you think Peter and the disciples had dumped the net on the right side already. It was not the location you're on water codes turnaround. Do you think the physical or less. The right side of the boat.

Hey guys, this get this way, something else is happening.

What Jesus is teaching them is this without me you can do nothing is not the action I have to give the command so you can read the story on the surface, you can get below the surface and you get the real meaning something deep spiritual is happening now what happens. So they cast and now they were not able to draw it in because of the multitude of fish ninth hour Jesus y'all hear me say that before.

If I were Jesus, what I would've done is given them to fish each. That's all you guys deserves. Is it guys in their 16 fish for good measure.

Outgrowing for more 20 fish that might they have to hold the cash because her so much. What is a tell you thank God I'm not Jesus, and neither are you.

He doesn't give us what we deserve. He gives us more than we ever can handle. That's his grace when you and I drift away.

God doesn't say will right now is tit for tat buddy. You're walking a thin line so you're not just having people walk away from God and good things keep happening they go well I guess it works is not working.

It is the grace of God where he doesn't discard us but he comes to pull more grace upon us, so we are thinking well I been so bad I don't deserve that grace. Listen to what Paul said in Romans 833, he said, who shall bring a charge against God's elect. Even if you're the one doing the charging. If you're the one saying up so bad right now preacher drifted away from God. I'm just so guys can have do some work on me, who shall bring a charge against God's elect is God who justifies.

Who is evil, gun dams, even if you try to condemn yourself. God says I will let you this is what is amazing with it blows my mind.

What is in the whole world want to get saved. It is Christ who died in furthermore is all risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for so even while I'm drifting away.

There are two individuals praying for me. One is the Holy Spirit and other is Jesus Christ the church must not praying for you. Your Sunday school class may start praying for you, your Bible study group may cut you out because you drifting away. But Jesus and the Holy Spirit only to the result of drifting is a fruitless life. The response of the Savior, amazing grace, but now here comes the response of the drifter. Listen to verse seven what happens. Therefore, the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, this is John the one running the gospel. He says to Peter, it is the Lord because Peter could not recognize him. And when you veer off when you drift away from God is hard to recognize that it is God who is calling you back the person you ran into the grocery store is God who is trying to bring you back that song that just happened to show up on the radio and you here you go. It is God's heart to recognize that when you walk in this road charging people shook your hand and smiled at you, it is Christ shaking your hand and smiling at you and I happen to come by your Facebook and like your stupid post is not me. It is God who is helping me to like your policy you get back to church. Your post is not stupid both. It was great.

It was wonderful. What I'm saying this morning is everything is done to bring you back to God and man. But you see when you drift away from God's heart to see how Jesus is finding ways to get to you but I want to see how Peter responded.

It is the Lord when now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord. He put on his outer garment, for he had removed it and what you do. He plunged into the sea will there's a reason why Peter was Peter is a reason why Jesus had him in his inner circle. There's a reason why Jesus said Peter, you're the rock on which I will build my church people and try to reinterpret that, but it is exactly what the text says you're the one to lead them. Peter did not sit back and say well you might think about that wanted what Pastor Shelley was on fire today him. He was just going. He was just she was going in, and man shows good no setback in way and debate, and deliberate or procrastinate.

He jumped in.

What needs to happen this morning. As many of y'all need to jump in. Satan keeps telling you all know you know you can't right now because you messed up. Remember you promised Pasha don't worry about what you promised me or anybody else jumping if Jesus is calling you jumping there's a verse in the Bible that is really spoken to me as Hosea chapter 6 verse one it says come in. Let us return to the Lord for he has torn, but he will heal us. He has stricken, but he will bind us up some. Y'all remember, when your kids were little, still probably do when they would try to do something that was bad for them like stick their finger in the electric socket or try to pull a vase off the table and you tell that don't do that in the go right back to it than you had to do something so you take your hand and and you would pop their hand to heard them.

Just a reminder, this will hurt you, what did your children do I tell you what my children did what our children what one of them didn't do that but with three of them didn't is when we did that, they will come running to us and they would hug us and cry a river that is really odd because your skin just pop in their hand. It hurts so they should run from you but actually run to you and the HUD loan to you and the cry like you broke your heart wanted to come back to you singly, Peter went back to Jesus.

He knew Jesus had some words for him rent what many of us need to do is know that he will discipline us but run to and cling to him don't walk away from him, run to him. So the response of the drifter immediately.

Peter plunges in and goes to Christ. I want to see number four is the restoration by the Savior.

What happens next. Peter gets to the shore and later the rest of the disciples also made their way to the shore not listen to the site as their coming to the show. Then as soon as they had come to land they saw a fire of coals. There and fish laid on it and bread hooks yelled, who fish are wide his way with him to get on the water or get near water. You get hungry when I don't know why but my boys they know they learn. For the first couple times, the colada candy takes anything you can because that's the gal that he's not leaving for another 34 hours, take some food. What is so beautiful to me is Jesus is not waiting by the shore to beat him, but is waiting there with breakfast. What really needs to happen to some of us who have been trained and have been discipled the wrong way.

I wish somehow the Holy Spirit would just erase all the junk that you have learned and read teach you the truth of God that when you come back to him. He doesn't take you to the woodshed. He is waiting with breakfast. I don't get it. Folks, I would not have as well not gone or are you sometimes a church is the one that waits with the panel. Sometimes a preacher is the one who waits for the panel but not God and listen to what he does.

He said to them, bring some of the fish which you have just called that they didn't catch anything. Is Jesus to help them catch the fish reset.

Bring what you got to know if you were here last year you heard the message I preach on the miracles of Christ explained to you that the reason they had such a big catch Bible even tells us they caught 153 fish. This was a lesson. This was assigned to them. Remember when Jesus called Peter and Andrew, James and John, what you tell them you tell them you don't come follow me and I would make you fishers of men.

The reason Jesus gave them this big catch is to tell them dies lesson I want you to go out and catch not just one or two fish, but through me catch a multitude God is blessing us. You have new building on this and that happening. My hearts desire is not to reach one or two people who live a whole line and spent all that money but we got we got for baptisms. As you but is that we should be reaching multitudes fields are wanting to harvest in every church should be reaching multitudes as a great need in America that every church he asked me this morning. Glad clear is what my prayer is that every church will be filled and overflowing. If every church in this town would be filled and overflowing will still have lostness down the street, not listen to the conversation that takes place between Peter and Jesus three times Jesus asked him that question.

Do you love me do you love me do you love me why Jesus do that because I do it's time to come back to God. It's not fear that draws us back to God is fear that brings us to salvation is not fear that brings it back to you two got God is love. Love is the answer. Do you love me.

This is not some 20 or 21st century psychobabble below me 2000 years ago Jesus asked the question, do you love me you love me and my the first and foremost in your life. Peter, do you want to spend time with me.

Peter, do you want to listen to my voice.

Do you want to talk to me Peter if I were to say why love my wife but I don't have any time for I want to see her. I want to talk to her. That's why every week.

Monday we spent time together because stress of the week. I mean I'm working and she's working were going full force and weakens our busiest days we spent time because if I love her love is spelled T IME. Same question for you. Do you love Jesus and yet you have no time for his word. When was the last time you actually saw his face. Aubrey Womble right right right right that's it.

I see Nicole to what I eat mean I love her and feed my sheep feed my lambs.

The restoration happens probably right this moment God is restoring some of you he's bringing you back. He's asking you that question. Do you really love Christ, then spend time with him. Then seek him then love him and put him first in your life. Let everything else come through Christ's, but lastly I want you to see the relapse of the drifter in verse 18 Jesus tells Peter how he will be martyred for the gospel as a big deal, is a native right this moment Jesus were to come sit next to you and say limiting how you die. This is how you gonna die for me around. If he came to me and said that Arbela who can assess it for a moment. I am glad I'm gonna die for you and I'm so excited you chosen me to die for you and give me a few minutes I need to process this. Listen to Peter's response. Verse 20 then Peter turning around, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved, following who is this this is the one who also had leaned on his breast of the sufferance and Lord who is the one who betrays you, this is John John the apostle standing nearby, listen to Peter's response. Peter seeing him said to Jesus, but Lord about this man on Christmas morning and the funny to watch your kids if you have more than one and you give them the gift in your so glad to see them happy in their opening pinky mom dad and then you give another gift, another child were they do at that moment they want to know did you spend more money on their did you give them a better gift will that be more fun. Peter is doing the same thing. It would appear is really asking Jesus thank you so much that I want to die for you, but to make sure.

How is John going to die.

Will he have a more glorious death that I would rather him get hit by camel or something like that.

I will burn for you, chop my head off but John what halfhearted but he got run over by camel. Okay, that's okay to give your statement and I hope you remember this old habits and old sins don't die easily. Whatever you struggle with when you were 20.

I guarantee you're struggling with them today and you will struggle with than 40 years from now if you struggle with anything that is still your problem and will be if you struggle with lust is still your problem will be struggle with pride insecurity.

It will be your struggle until the day you leave this world.

All that happens is now you learn how to quickly deal with it through the grace of God. Why did Peter get in trouble the first time because when Jesus said I'm going to die. He said I don't about these guys, I got your back but it was about. I don't about these guys is doing the same thing again this man listen to Jesus's response sounds like a parent. Jesus said to him, if I will have you said that your kids it doesn't matter what I gave him if I will that he remain until I come. Is that to you.

You follow me, stop comparing stop wondering how come he gets to do this and how come he seems happier and how come he gets to preach and he gets to teach and he gets to say you follow me begin to so much trouble when you start comparing S1 daily.

We need the grace of God in my personal life I have drifted until job drifted even while I was preaching in the church was growing in the saddest thing that you lose sight of Christ while doing the work of Christ and God had to lovingly and firmly steer me back and I believe this morning he's doing the same to you. Have you lost your first love have lost sight of Jesus Christ. Thank you so much for joining us for this message from time to time, we might drift away from God lose sight of him working in our lives, but it's in those moments that he needs us where we are shows us grace restoring our relationship with him if you drifted away from God turned back to him today. He's waiting with open arms.

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