Jesus Unfiltered - Testify - Do You Love Me More than These?, Part 1

Do you think God is surprised when you mess up. I think actually were more surprised about the things we do or think or mess up then God made us that he's not surprised by anything but what does he do, that's what we want to talk about. Stay with thanks for joining us for this Monday. Addition of living on the chip Living on the Edges of international discipleship ministry featuring the Bible teaching of today. Chip continues his series Jesus unfiltered was even tell chip eager to get started liens in the final stretch of the study of the Gospel of John will be in chapter 21 and just before we get going. Let me encourage you try using message notes while you listen download when you go to LivingontheEdge.org just click the broadcasts tab.

Now here's chip on ask you a question but I don't want you to answer at all out loud. But I do want you to really think deeply about what would be the most honest answer just with yourself and the question is what is something in your past or in your present that you're ashamed of something that was done to you or something that you've done that, just as honest as you could be you do not want anyone to ever know about or if I'm in if anyone may be one or two people that so know you and you so trust them that you think they can handle it.

What's one thing that if it came to the surface and people knew this about either what you did, or something that happens you, you feel like they would think less of me. My mind they would really view me far in a different way and probably a negative way. And every time I would see them. I would feel like they would look at me through the lens of that thing I'm ashamed of you open your notes were going to talk about restoration were going to talk about moving beyond forgiveness to restoration because you can't testify unless God does this work in your life and we all have shame shame as you notice on the front of your notes is a painful feeling of humiliation or distress that's caused by a consciousness of a wrong or foolish behavior regrettable or an unfortunate situation or action is about three major causes for for shame, that feeling that you don't measure up. It's something wrong that we all have something to hide.

The first is its inherited when our first parents rebelled against God member. The first thing they did. They covered themselves because they were shame. They covered their private parts with with fig leaves and they realized something's happening rebelled and sinned against God's their separation from God we feel now exposed and were trying to hide. And we have been doing that ever since. Every human being has some level of shame.

The second way that multiplies it and some people have, I mean layers and layers of shame is something was done to you. In extreme cases to be molested to be raped to be abused there. There's a reason why rape victims often in the great majority of time don't come forward even though there is a victim estate. They feel ashamed of what would people think it's not all that dramatic. Sometimes your shame by labeling your fat you're done you'll never amount to anything. Once you get with the program.

You didn't get in the right school. These labels and moments of weakness from a parent or a teacher or coach that that stick with you. I was a really really late developer so I was 411 in seventh grade and 5 foot one and eighth grade and want to be a basketball player the basketball coach looked at me and said you need to go out for wrestling. You're too small and too skinny. While I know that 50 years later you know why was the shrimp I heard that you know. Here comes Ingrid to turn sideways. You can't seem right.

And that's the shame I remember as a senior in high school. Big basketball game stands are filled in my dad's drunk and he's yelling things out in the police escort him out during the game. I was ashamed what about you what's what's been done to you. That really produces a sense of I wouldn't I wouldn't want to know know about my family or what someone did, or who I'm associated with. So we inherit shame people do stuff to us. The cost shame and we do stuff to ourselves our own actions bring shame right you do something you know is wrong.

I mean the big word is just sand, but it can be everything from you or the abuser to utilize your you cheated or was years ago and 22 years ago, and no one even knows there's there's a divorce in your past and you never told anyone or there's an abortion in your past or you know that small time when you were fired from a job, and it was you weren't fired because you know you had a lousy supervisor you were fired because of what you did. That was really wrong and you when you tell that story. You just you know you just really make it far different than it was because your ashamed.

We all have shame and the thing is, shame does really really bad stuff.

You're gonna find that Jesus is going to restore Peter. He's forgiven. He's had a one-on-one with Jesus we learn from the other Gospels, but he doesn't feel wordy when you have shame. It you don't measure up. Here are some of the words that are in planted in our soul. Words like I'm deficient. I'm flawed. I'm damaged. I'm unacceptable.

I'm unlovable.

I'm rejected. I'm dirty, I'm inferior. I'm broken, I'm disgusting and sometimes over the years you push that down and it creates things that you're now consciously not aware of three different ways we deal with shame. First, we hide their stuff that even as I'm talking some stuff coming back up. I thought about that in years.

Trish and I were talking yesterday I was talking to the message and you know I've got a great wife so her so chip what you ashamed of, and we had a very serious talk but we we hide the second way we deal shame as we numb it.

My dad numbed my dad was 3 1/2 packs a day of cigarettes and almost a case of beer every day and later on he would sleep all afternoon on the weekends he was. He was depressed. My dad killed thousands upon thousands upon thousands of people in Guam and Iwo Jima and he saw horrific things and he he felt ashamed, even though it was a just war, and the only talk about it twice and he just numbed some people numb. It was shopping some people numb it with you know different addictions. Some some people just you want to hide in the way you hide in numb as you eat others have explosive anger and that works to because weight when you're one of those people that's a powder keg, people don't get close and it's a way to hide. We numb that we hide some of us compensate for you member sitting minoring to a chip. What he did him sit down you not get anything done. Sit down. I got up I think it up ever since the fear that people would think I'm lazy. I mean that's how I became a workaholic. You think I'm skinny you think I'm short all be a basketball player if it kills me some of those driven CEOs and some of you are in places where you been extraordinarily successful, but it's still not enough because the issue is your work.

The issues there is a sense of you really don't measure up and were trying to prove it. What's great is there's an another word is called restoration and to restore means to bring back or to reinstate is to return something or someone to a former condition or to position or to place you can be forgiven and live with shame and have it mark your life and working to learn in this passage I can't wait to share this as we close a series were there to learn how Jesus will teach us to put our shame behind us in order that we can be positioned and prepared to accomplish what he wants us to to actually testify with our life and our words. You know what it's really hard to be bold with people. If down deep you feel like if they ever really got to know me then they would reject me and reject what I say notice as you open the notes that were restored in order to testify in the context of John chapter 21 Jesus has been resurrected of the text will tell us this is the third time.

Officially, he's appeared to his disciples from all the other Gospels. We know it's about the seventh time he's appeared to someone they were in Jerusalem and Jerusalem was dangerous. So Jesus tells Peter and the disciples go to Galilee I'm going to meet you there and so they go to Galilee and let's Galilee is home.

Galilee is where it's comfortable. Galilee is where a number of them were called into ministry and so it's a it's a comfortable safe place and they were told to wait in Peter's not great at waiting which I can identify with some of you can to answer.

He says to the guys I'm going fishing and he's obviously still leader to six others. They will all go with you and it's interesting that he's going back to doing remember he left his nets.

When Jesus called before, and Peter doesn't know unforgiven do not know if I'm in the game. Otto my role. I don't know if I'm usable, I'm damaged goods. Does that ring a bell I'm damaged goods. I know God loves me. Or how about this one.

I know God's forgiven me that I can't forgive my finish the sentence myself. And when you went that's shame so so God's opinion of you is not quite as high as your opinion if you do the math on that one and so here we are in Jesus is going to go through a process to restore him. Follow along as I read I want to make a couple major observations in the texts. John 21 afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples by the Sea of Tiberius or the Sea of Galilee.

Same thing happened in this way, Simon Peter, Thomas called didymus Nathaniel of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee that's James and John and two other disciples were together.

I'm going out to fish some and Peter told him I said will go with you. So they went out, got into the boat, but all night they caught nothing interesting failure early in the morning, Jesus did on the shore, but the disciples did not realize it was him.

He called out to them. Friends are literally it's lads, my children, boys. Haven't you any fish know they answered he said throw your net on the right side of the boat and you'll find some when they did, they were unable to haul in the net because of the large number of fish and the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, it's the Lord as soon as Simon Peter heard this he said it's the Lord. He wrapped his outer garment around him and he taken it off and he jumped into the water and other disciples followed in the boat towing in the net full of fish, for they were not far from sure only about 100 yards when they landed they saw a fire, literally.

It's a it's it's a charcoal fire with fish on it, and some bread. Jesus said to them, bring some of the fish you just cannot. Simon Peter climbed aboard. Drag the net ashore and it was full of hundred and 53 fish. This is a historical account it's not it's not a metaphor it's not allegory. This is an actual thing happens and if you know any fishermen they know how many fish they catch, but even with so many the net was not torn and Jesus said a big come and eat breakfast. None of the disciples dared ask who is it for they knew it was the Lord Jesus came and he took some bread, he gave to them. He did the same with the fish and this is now the third time he appeared to this official group disciples since he was raised from the dead. Well what's going on here. What we see is he's going to reinstate Peter and I just have to believe there's part of Peter who we don't know exactly as it does he really need the money does he need the food you can't get the idea that he left the fishing business and feels like God could never use me anymore so he's gone back to what's comfortable does that sound, like what we do find a place where we feel like we're in control when we know what were doing and then you know what's he's had he's having an experience of failure, and I can't help but believe that he also is there pulling and that fish in the grace of God. The first time he met Jesus. Remember Jesus was preaching and that thousands of people and said Peter Kaiser boat and he says yes so he sits in the boat gets out of the water, because as you speak with water was on a hillside it magnifies it so without a microphone and then he gets done with the message and Peter that they had finished, fished all night and didn't catch anything and he said just glad Eliza put your net down member was filled with fish. Two boats had to bring it in and Peter said's depart from me, Lord. I'm a sinful man. Isn't it interesting that when when he's going to restore him, he allows him to have the experience of failure and the experience of the miracle catch the kind of thinking of something that's how I blessed you when you felt like you were so far away from me and now that shame. I want you to know my attitude has changed.

Another thing I think it's instrumental here is that that little phrase, a charcoal scientist tell us that our smell really triggers memories. One of our strongest senses remember the last time that the text tells us that he was around a charcoal fire warming his hands and there was a little servant girl next to him. Remember member what that event was about. Oh, you're one of his disciples, aren't you blankety-blank like I don't even know him and so what you see is this this the setting of the scene and this is his kindness member John chapter 1 Moses brought the law.

But Jesus will explain God he brings truth and grace, grace hundred and 53 fish truth work and have a conversation about what happened around the last time you were around a fire like this, so let's now look at the restoration process begins in verse 15 when they finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter. Peter Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these. Yes, Lord. He said you know that I love you Jesus that feed my lambs. Jesus said, Simon son of John, do you truly love me answered yes Lord you know I love you Jesus did care my sheep the third time he said him, Simon son of John, do you love me and Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time you love me, he said, Lord, you know, things you know that I love you Jesus that feed my sheep, and then makes his prophetic announcement. I tell you the truth when you were younger you are dressed yourself. You went where you wanted but when you are old you will stretch out your hands and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go and Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God and then the total reinstatement occurs. Then he said to him, follow me, follow me.

I've commissioned you three times you think it's an accident.

He denies the Lord three times and now three times do you love me you love me you love me, follow me. The text goes on.

Peter turned and saw that the disciple Jesus love was following them and I love Peter like when his great wins are almost always followed by at least a little loss, so the other disciples follow him and this is the one that leaned back on Jesus breast and said who's going to betray you.

And when Peter saw him, he said, Lord, you know, what about him. And Jesus answered, I want to remain alive until I return, what is that to you. You must follow me. Because of this rumor spread that somehow that John the apostle wouldn't die but he goes on to explain the text that's not true that's not the issue, but I mean immediately he went to okay I will know about his life, not just mine and he's going wait a second.

This isn't about comparing yourself with other people. This is about my agenda for them.

This moment is about you and it's about dealing with your shame. Now notice three questions three answers but there's a few things that the Holy Spirit is put in here that gives insight in questions one and two, he says, do you love me.

I got Paco means it's a new member the John 316 agape love the selfless unconditional that no matter what way that God loves us. Jesus said you love me the way God loves you and Peter responds. I love you for life matters. I love you with this fond friendship endearing. I'm on your team. But peters kinda been down the road of member.

The last time they may all forsake you. But not me.

And so now Jesus in front of the disciples whom he dissed earlier. I mean, these are the same guys that Jesus said you not to go to the cross and Peter goes they these guys.

They night they might flake out, but not me. He was arrogant and then he betrayed him. And so Jesus asked. So really, do you love me more than these other men and peters learned a lesson. He's not is I love you fond deep friendship, affection, so he repeats it. Do you love me Apollo you love me with an agape total commitment selfless love that would never cave in under any circumstances, and Peter responds the Leo I love you and each time that he gives him an assignment. He saying I have a job for you.

I have a job for you.

What's he saying is you qualify you're not disgusting you're not a loser I care about you. I trust you and so finally Jesus shifts that and he changes the word for Leo. Do you have a fond loving affection for me and Peter says he's hurt Lori you know what you what is really saying is last one I thought I knew myself you know me better than I know me. Here's the deal. Lord, you know I love you but you know I love you with an imperfect love. That's fond loving affection that I'm I'm going to give my best to follow you and be as loyal as I can, but sorta embedded in this is, there may be a day and a time when I kinda messed up.

You know all things Lord as pastors we like to talk about the changes of the word and love right which I've just done there's another change that I think is almost as important, the word no peters answer is you know I love you. You know I love you. You know all things.

The first two times. It's a word in the Greek you know the facts. You know the truth, you know, the data you have the facts. You know the truth, you know, the data the last time when he goes you know all things.

It's the changeable word for know in Greek fits you relationally know me from the inside out and what he's doing is restoring him and then he says here's the agenda. Follow me and part of his testimony is not that he ended up a great leader and a great preacher and blaze the trail among the Jews. Part of this testimony is that he was a restored person who really messed up.

We think of the sexual sins are bad. Yes, financial sins are bad. I don't think there's a sender can ever be greater then to betray someone and that's what our leader did and he got restored and recent, and stated, and then finally you have John at the very end here saying this is the disciple who notice our theme testifies to these things and wrote them down and we knows testimony is true and he goes on to say, and there were many other things.

I'm giving you just a little snapshot. There were lots of other miracles. So I think the big question for us now is how does Jesus restore us. That's the model. This is the last gospel written shames a big deal shames a powerful, how does God restore us from that thing that I asked honestly think about your life coming back with the final, but if you're just joining us, you're listening to Living on the Edge with Chip Ingram's message today is from testifying volume for the series Jesus on filtered the very last thing Jesus did was to task us with a mission a mission to testify for each of us that takes on a different look at the common denominator is to speak the name of Jesus and tell others what is love is done just listening to this once. Probably won't give you the confidence of the boldness to take the next step toward fulfilling that mission.

So let me encourage you to get the free chip Ingram up and go through the series again. But the Holy Spirit build your confidence so you can testify in a confident winsome way for discounted resources of the series. You'll find testify on our website LivingontheEdge.org will check before you get to your application. Tomorrow's the last day of our midyear match I can you tell us why the match is so important to the ministry of Living on the Edge you absolutely day. The fact the matter is, every ministry has to be funded and you know we teach God's word.

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Now here's chip with a final thought as we wrap up today's program.

I want you to lean back. I just want to say some things I want what you have received them. But if you don't mind I want to be your pastor for the next minute or two. We all have shame.

No one escapes it for honest with ourselves.

You have issues. I have issues but the thing about shame as we try to hide it. I want you just to get it out there and realize there's some things in your pastor's things.

How you see yourself that that are really shaped by shame Peter would've never been used by God. If you would not have dealt with his shame. And that's what Jesus was doing. He'd already forgiven him.

But what he was doing as he was restoring him. I know lots of Christians is been forgiven, but they're not restored.

Second, if you're living under the cloud of shame. Today you make a decision. I am going to break free. I'm can it begin the journey of believing about myself what God has already declared. That's really what Jesus was doing. You know he he had a fire when he betrayed him. He had a fire there. When he got restored he denied him three times Jesus restored him three times. God wants to meet you and remind you of where you were and what you feel ashamed of. In a way that says, would you please believe that my work on the cross has taken care of the shame in your life. Third, you can't do this by yourself. Yes, you got identify it. You gotta confess the sin recognize where it came from and why.

But you need a close friend a pastor or a great counselor to say this is something that is been in my past and I want to break free and then you have to go into training. This is a big issue but are one point today as you take a step you take a step to refuse to live in shame and get the help that you need and believe me there's freedom. On the other side you can imagine just before we close to thank those of you who faithfully pray for our team and support the ongoing ministry of Living on the Edge. Amazing things are happening in your part of that. If you want to join the team. There's never been a better time between now and tomorrow night at midnight. Every gift you give will be matched dollar for dollar to send a gift. Just go to LivingontheEdge.org or give us a call at 1-888-333-6003.

We'd love to have you with us will chip wraps up a serious Jesus unfiltered tomorrow, so I hope you'll join us that although this is the jury saying thanks for joining us for this Edition of Living on the Edge