John Chapter 21:15-20

Have faith in God not in yourself. Have faith in God not in yourself and know this flies in the face of certain logic today. But the reality is if you put your faith in you as a believer you're going to live a life well it's going to be horribly disillusioning.

Know what I mean by that is, time and time again as you put faith in yourself that faith will be – you have problems, you'll stumble, you'll fall. But if you put faith in the Lord. The Lord never stumbles. The Lord never fall so don't put faith in your ability to follow God put your faith in God's ability to lead you and to know that if passing when something happens and you find yourself off to the side and not the middle and not focused on the know that because of his leadership is going to come to you and remind us focus welcome to cross the bridge with David McGee. David is a senior pastor of the bridge in Kernersville, North Carolina.

While God has equipped us to do many things in the end we should have faith in ourselves, but we should have faith in God today. Pastor David explains how we can do that as he continues in the Gospel of John, chapter 21 with his teaching.

A great question. So were in John chapter 21 we we finished with verse 15 ballistic it up with verse 15 for context like disseminating breakfast.

Jesus said to Simon Peter, Simon son of Jonah, do you love me more than these, and he said to him. Yes, Lord, you know that I love you and he said to him, see my lambs said to him again a second time.

Simon son of Jonah, do you love me, he said to him. Yes, Lord, you know that all of you and he said to him, tend my sheep suggested is a way of reminder what's going on here. They had there were especially white in the mountains in Galilee for Jesus to come and speak to them after the resurrection, and Jesus comes and there out on the sea of Galilee, fish, and they're not really where they're supposed to be doing what they're supposed to be doing in and when you going to the original languages.

It seems to indicate in verse three. Not just that Peter saying I'm going fishing, but I'm going back to fishing, so perhaps he was disheartened and so Jesus comes in. These guys are out on the lake and he says what you catch laser what had caught anything any cyst through the net on the other side of the boat and they didn't have the net full of fish and then Jesus starts with Peter and says Peter do you love me in the first one he says do you love me more than the alley may have been talking about the fish do you love me more than this whole fishing business is P's fishing business is over other things that you need to be done. He may have been talking about the other disciples were not really sure could be either one lean towards the fish but notice the overeaters God was an expensive thing for Peter to spiritually group it. If you remember in in Matthew chapters 2633 when Jesus is talking about, you know them falling away in one of them a trade.

Peter answered and said to him, even if all are made to stumble because of you I will never be made to stumble and we read that verse and department skills yet to wait a minute, the Peter culture delivers no how long did it take before that rash. Val fell on the rocks few hours guys understand something in him. We tend to think that rash valves are very spiritual going but are they. I don't know how many of you always had the experiences been in the situation. You didn't really want to be and then they cried out to Lord, Lord, if you just get me out of here.

I'll never do this again and you know the Lord to get you out of it for hours later.

Guess what you're doing you doing the same thing, or if you just let me in a sober up. I'll never drink again.I had said that one bit of read stories of people live so those and we think God is impressed with those rash files you knows I've grown in the Lord. I don't under rash valves anymore.

I don't even say I'll never do this anymore. I say Lord, please help me not to do this anymore. Please help me not to repeat this pattern of behavior but never arrogantly going never do that. Why, because you know the moment I do that you know and I'm trusting trusting me, trusting me and Peter had a lot of faith in Peter. It's interesting you know the time and Peter writes the home run any cyst you are the son of the living God. He follows up with a huge fumble in Mark chapter 8 verse 31 it says and he began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. He spoke this word openly.

Then Peter took him aside and began to rebuke the you see this, Jesus has just laid out the whole plan. The reason he's here to die for the sins of the people and theaters like Kate Jesus coming first… You're confused about this whole thing and begins to rebuke MDE have to see the irony of this incentive, we see that Peter had a lot of faith in Peter even when Jesus tried to warning, no problem with the first life lesson. Have faith in God, not yourself. Have faith in God not in yourself and know this flies in the face of certain logic today but the reality is if you put your faith in you as a believer you're going to live a life well it's going to be horribly disillusioning. What I mean by that is, time and time again as you put faith in yourself that faith will be dashed. You have problems, you'll stumble, you'll fall.

But if you put faith in the Lord.

The Lord never stumbles. The Lord never falls to don't put faith in your ability to follow God put your faith in God's ability to lead you and to know that if I say if we end that something happens and you find yourself off to the side and not the middle and not focused on the Lord know that because of his leadership is going to come to in and reminder hey hey let's focus is not about you it's not about this earth. It's about heaven will determine feed my sheep in notice he says, feed my sheep. He doesn't say my sheep which some pastors think that's the mandate I got beat the sheep.

We need to be set, the word of God. Psalm 119, 103 says how sweet are your words to my taste sweeter than honey to my mouth. First Peter 223 says as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word that you may grow thereby if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious, so this is one thing that's really important for new believers.

That's why we give away so many of these new believer bottles on even know how many hundreds we've given away.

But what an awesome thing to do because it gives him the word of God. We don't just want to hand them a book. There's a lot of great Christian books out there. Don't get me wrong, but we don't just hand them a book about the new faith we want to hand them the book about the fate and feed him and feed him.

Verse 17 he said to him the third time Simon son of Jonah, do you love me and Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time. Do you love me and he said to him, Lord, you know all things you know that I love you. Jesus said to him, feed my sheep else's interesting is how many times is he asking three times and some of you heard this before many times it Peter deny the Lord three times, and again, notice what Jesus doesn't say Peter and ask you this 3×3 times is that number mean anything to you, Peter. Have you done anything recently three times that remind you of anything I do insane and say that he speaks to. Now it's kind of unfortunate English language really only has one word for love and it's not very descriptive because I can say that you know that I love pizza and I love my friends and so do I love my friend is much as I love pizza will hope hopefully not, but it soon. The English language leads a little bit to be desired in the word for love.

Now both the Greek and the Hebrew have several words for love not. I want to bore you with the details, but it's important to what word learning and studying about here to know what those words are the first Greek word is arrows it's romantic love. It's where we get our word for erotic and and sometimes it's equated with lust that works not actually in the Bible. The second one is for layout or for Leo and that's a friendship love.

We refer to that is platonic and and that's where the the name of Philadelphia came from the city of brotherly love. So that's a friendship love another love is agape arc I got Pao which is divine, unconditional love, and this is the love that we use to describe the love that God gives us this is the word that is used in the Bible to describe the perfect unconditional love of God be love and one other is Stargate which is just natural affection, like I like now in this, I got Pao and fillet Oreos. But it's interesting how there the first time Jesus asked Peter he says do you love me.

He says do you I got Pao me do you love me with an unconditional perfect love Peter. And Peter says, Lord, you know that I for Leo. You you know that have friendship for you.

You know that I care about you and the second time Jesus says again. I mean it, Simon son of John Nancy causing Simon to its another time. The deal, love me, and again he uses do you I got Pao me do you love me with a perfect, unconditional, now you realize that the old Peter said to you bet your you know Jesus, I don't know why you chose these other guys.

They obviously don't love you as much as I do, but me got Pao you know what happened.

Peter enhances for Leo.

You, I'm your friend care deeply about your third time Jesus says do you folio me Peter says yes it must've breathed a sigh of relief. Jesus came down to where he was. Jesus used the word that he was using.

Jesus is so sweet Jesus met them right where he was circular scope from here.

What can you give me can you give me a part of your heart. Can you give me part of your life. Any builds from there she that's what he does with us this morning. Each and every person in here it is the same luck. I want you to unit B. This radical missionary and and and tomorrow you're leaving for Africa.

It could be, but probably not you. He said where are you right next. What can you give me of your life, what can you give me of your heart.

Let's start from there because the other thing is we set up this holding a going energy.

He wants all this I can't give all their swords will give him anything. Jesus wants what you're willing to give them this morning. It's a little bit of start with you there. If it's a lot start with you there will be right back with more from David McGee on cross the bridge right now there's a word from associate pastor DA Brown. They want to pray for a few cities in our listening audience right now. Specifically, Seneca Falls Windsor, New York, and also Brown Summit Burlington Eden in Elizabeth city North Carolina God, we thank you for the people tuning and right now the cities we pray that you would pour your Holy Spirit out on. We pray for those who are not listening but who live in those cities got. I pray that they would trust in you Lord that they would hear your gospel and that they would say yes to Jesus we pray the people get plugged in Bible teaching churches. Hello, we pray for those in leadership positions in the cities that you give them wisdom and discernment and they also look to your Bible for answers on how to lead Lord please bless see cities and may there be revival in Jesus name, amen, amen. Thank you brother and now get back to David McGee as he continues teaching verse by verse notice. Again, he says, feed my sheep.

Peter figure sheep feed my sheep who sheep are where Jesus is realize who sheep your you're not necessarily my sheep. Your the Lord sheep hear his people. Boy that's important for me to understand important for you guys to understand now understand, Peter had been through this thing, Luke 2231 Jesus says to them, Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to have all of you to sift you like wheat.

I often reflect. Can you imagine being part of the conversation sit down with Jesus and Jesus going a look heirs of the site. Once all of he wants to sift you like wheat and I'm quite sure that Peter was thinking you told him no and here's what Jesus is worth 32 but I have pleaded in prayer for you, Simon, that your faith should not fail so when you have repented and turned to me again, strengthen and build up your brothers is a very important verse, and I'll tell you why, because again, notice what he doesn't say this Peter after you fall after you fail focus on yourself for a while somebody says is when you get back up. Start 11 on other people start serving other people what was Jesus saying what Jesus knows what some of us are still discovering in that our healing comes when we start the four lines, not as we stand there just continually receiving but when we began to give of ourselves to others. See that's what were all supposed to be doing encouraging one another, serving one another and loving one another and were supposed to be going from a self-centered life to a others centered life. Verse 18, most assuredly, I say to you when you were younger you girded yourself and walked where you wished when you are old you will stretch out your hands and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish she used to do what you wanted to do. Peter and those days are over. Used to be a freshman petering on fishermen anymore usually to do something else again that this is consistent with what Jesus is saying is you know you need to be others centered Peter, you need to begin to focus on others in and make that journey if you will, and I think that's important in the personal application is each and every one of us especially making this journey each and every one of us is first to begin to focus more on others in meeting the needs of others and giving our lives away is what Jesus and to do anything else is to stagnate that Christian growth. We certainly don't want to do that and whenever I go to Disney World. It's just an impressive place on the ever been, but the moment a piece of trash. It's a ground so much with a smile on their face and the thing that he bizarrely occurs, to my mind as I watch this is they're doing it all for a mouse me maybe not literally on them and they get paid. I'm not. I understand that but that's you know Mickey Mouse animosity that whole thing and if they can do that for a mouse.

Why would we be unwilling to do it for creator God. I don't understand that we need to be willing to give our lives away now.

What's beautiful and you need to understand this.

This is not pop quiz for Peter. This is not Jesus grilling Peter what John has recorded and only John records is actually very beautiful. This is the public restoration of Peter Jesus is appointing anointing and empowering Peter in the ministry. She no longer will people go well, you know Peter you messed up your done spears and I'm not done he told McAfee that she told me three times case I missed it or even you guys missed it is a beautiful thing. And the reason he did that publicly is because Peter fallen publicly. Jesus said, I'll take you right where you are and do some glorious with your life. Verse 19 this he spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God and when he had spoken this he said to him, follow me is another amazing passage, Jesus, as you know, this is how you're going to die. Follow me because I look peters can be difficult. You probably shouldn't do this is not Peter Uganda out church history, not the probable church history indicates that Peter was martyred under Nero, very savage and brutal man and that they crucified him, and when they went to crucify him. They said you want since you're following this Jesus character you die like Jesus and Peter said you know what, I'm not worthy to die like Jesus and they crucified him up side down in Peter who had denied the Lord three times yes with his last statement in life. His last breath said something to us all. I can only imagine the pain that he went through now as you go through a list of the disciples you you looked at Andrew, was crucified, but Ptolemy was flayed alive with knives. James the brother John was beheaded James the younger was solid in pieces. John was boiled in oil and live news also poisoned the was exiled to Patmos, which was a penal island. It was a prison for you know the horrible people in and John was the only disciple that died a natural then we have Judas who hung himself.

Jude was killed with arrows. Matthew was martyred in Ethiopia. Peter was crucified Philip believe was on. Simon was crucified Thomas with was killed was spears in India.

What's the point is fair to say the disciples did not live comfortable lives with their life had deftly been divinely interrupted by the Lord think to say that the suffer a little bit of persecution is quite the understatement. But check this out.

They died for something they knew to be true. People don't die for what they know to be false, and I guarantee 11 people would not have done. They died for what they knew to be real. They knew more than just that there was an empty tomb somewhere in Jerusalem.

They knew that Jesus had been raised from the dead and they were willing to go to their deaths in verse 20 then Peter turned around, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved, following who also had leaned on the stress that the sufferance of Lord who is the one who betrays you scan interesting and it was the disciple whom Jesus loved John how do we know that John total sensory which is a good thing John knew that Jesus loved important notice Peter peters publicly restored the ministry was the first thing he does about… Peter is that what Peter should be worried about. No. Is that what you should be worried about, see we have this tendency to worry about what somebody else is doing.

Why because they were not thinking about was going on in her own heart and in our own lives it makes is very comfortable. Go look at Luke Luke what they're doing, you know it's it's like that old legal that will distraction device.

Why should we be focusing on. We should be focusing on Jesus. But what we do all I can handle only get that will look.

I can't believe she's doing.

I can't believe he's doing.

I can't believe he said that in convenient and it was initially focus on the Lord way too often were worried about what the other person's doing what's amazing okay let Lester stop and take a real quick glimpse of Peter. At this point Peter not only denied the Lord, but he was just forever. She just saying the wrong thing at the wrong time.

Jesus lays out the plan of salvation. Remember what Peter the verse we just read Peter began to rebuke him. Jesus has expose this glorious plan involving the redemption of man and Peter rebukes the hazards no way to gloss over that. Then remember the upper room Jesus going to wash her feet. Peters is absolutely not as well but I watch feet got no part of me to watch my whole body. I mean, Peter was always making these missteps and then yesterday we went where you point this out. Nothing in his past with point to the glorious success that he would have in ministry smear fact if you looked at the life of Peter. At this point is God can use my God, did you somebody like that to the plank that most the people in the world today.

No, Peter was friend. You know for sure that your sins have been forgiven.

You can know right now only Legion a short simple prayer simply telling God you're sorry and asking him to help you to live for him. Please pray this prayer with me out loud right now. Dear Jesus, I believe you died for me that I could be forgiven and I believe you were raised from the dead that I can have a new life not done wrong things I have sent and I'm sorry. Please forgive me of all those things.

Please give me the power to live for you. All of my days in Jesus name amen friend of you prayed that prayer according to the Bible.

You've been forgiven you've been born again, congratulations for you just made the greatest decision that you will ever make. God bless you, if you pray that prayer with David for the first time we'd love to hear from you. You can visit cross the bridge.com to receive our first steps package with helpful resources to help you begin your walk with Christ. Or you can write to cross the bridge at PO Box 12, 515 Winston-Salem, NC 27117 and share how God is working your life you're the Bible tells us that the free gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord. But it does cost for us to come and bring that message to you and to others in your neighborhood through radio through the Internet and through the mobile technologies that God has gifted us to be able to use so if you like to support this ministry. Please go to cross the bridge.com.

Click on the donate button and ask God how much he would have you give either on a one-time basis or continuing basis each month to help ensure that the teaching of God's word continues to go out through cross the bridge. Thank you so much ODA before we go. What are some ways that we can bless our listeners each day. You can wake up with encouragement from Pastor David to the word of God with his email devotional life lessons to consider daily reading and the thought to meditate on. Throughout today from the heart. David McGee those are terrific and it's easy and it's free so folks sign up today@crossthebridge.com.

Thanks again for listening and join us next time.

As David McGee continues teaching verse by verse in the gospel of God