The armor of God a solid life in dark times
The gift of tongues and the fullness of the Holy Spirit
Giving Birth in the Spirit
Work is Worship
Parents and Children: Ephesians 6:1-4
"A life that shine"
Februry 11, 2018 9AM English Message, "A Life that Shines "
"It's time to grow up. Walking worthy of the calling."
December 3rd, 2017 9AM English Message, "It's time to grow up. Walking worthy of the calling."
Greg Bishop
September 3, 2017 9AM English Message
I'll Meet Ya' There: Appointments with God - 4/23/17
CLJ E Message 170312 9AM
The God Who Tests - 170212 9AM
CLJ E Message 170108 9AM
CLJ E Message 161204 9AM
CLJ E Message 160904 9AM
CLJ E 160828
CLJ E 160814
12 in verse 12 nakul 12 12 we're just
going to read the first part of this
verse and before we read it I just want
to share a story about a young woman
that I knew a college student 20-25
years ago who was struggling with some
pretty serious issues of depression and
discouragement is anyone you don't have
to raise your hand but has anyone ever
struggled with discouragement before
well you start wondering if things are
gonna get better you start wondering
what's going on God well this person
struggled with depression and
discouragement but she was a woman of
god and she decided over the summer she
was gonna have her prayer time every
single day she was going to read the
Bible and she was going to pray and she
sought God every day every day every day
set aside time prayed meditated on the
word until she hit Romans 12 12 and she
hit these three words that changed her
life Romans 12 verse 12 says rejoice in
hope are the way the NIV has it be
joyful in hope that's our verse for
today god I thank you for your word Lord
God I thank you that those simple words
be joyful in Hope can change our lives
completely when we understand them and
Holy Spirit I pray that you is the Good
Shepherd would speak to your people
today because we are listening and I
thank you that your word has divine
power to demolish strongholds of
discouragement so we receive God your
message today to rejoice in hope speak
to us make it real to us lord I pray in
Jesus name Amen when she hit those words
she realizes she had found the cure for
discouragement and in one word the word
is hope hope that's what I want to talk
about today yesterday I was praying
about about this sermon in this text
especially in light of some of the sad
events of the week and there's
others that have happened this week and
yesterday a person who came to the
breakfast downstairs we host a breakfast
for people from the community every
Saturday and a woman came in who was
smiling with a glow that was just it was
great she was overflowing right and she
had a button on that said I am loved and
I asked her her name and she said hope
and I was like a man I feel the
anointing and I knew that this is the
message for us if you could skip ahead
with me to Romans chapter 15 verse 13
says may the god of Hope romans 15 13
may the god of Hope fill you with all
joy and peace as you trust in him so
that you may overflow with hope by the
power of the Holy Spirit isn't that an
awesome verse this verse is kind of a
crescendo of the book of Romans usually
when i think of the letter at Paul's
letter to the Romans I think of a
theological explanation of the gospel I
think of big theological words which are
very important we need to understand
them but a keyword the book of Romans I
discovered when I did my homework for
this is the word hope from beginning to
end it's the topic that the Apostle Paul
says that is the answer it is the power
of the gospel for the salvation of all
who believes may the god of Hope fill
you with all joy and peace as you trust
in him so that you may overflow with
hope by the power of the Holy Spirit
anyone here overflowing some of you are
some of you overflow with hope and I can
see it sometimes the cup starts running
a little low and we need to come back to
the god of hope to fill us up again
because we don't feel like we're
overflowing but that can be our normal
our new normal so I'd like to read a
couple other verses from the book of
Romans as we talk about this if you
could go back with me to Romans chapter
4 we're going to look we're going to
focus on the topic of hope in
in the book of Romans and you see
instant when you think of the symbol of
the Christian faith what defines us as
Christians what's the symbol that we use
as Christians nowadays usually you know
you might put it around your neck what's
the symbol across right because Jesus
died on the cross for our sins amen you
know what the symbol of the Christian
faith one of the biggies for early
Christians was it wasn't a cross because
they saw too many real crosses with
people dying on them and they're like
that's not very comforting or the a so
you know what their symbol was and a
fish was one of them and another one was
an anchor an anchor because the Bible
says that hope is an anchor for our
souls and they've done archaeologists
have done studies in the catacombs in in
Rome where Christians were hiding from
the authorities because the authorities
wanted to kill them for being Christians
and they're hiding in the catacombs are
basically underground tunnels sometimes
doors and they looked at some of the
artwork we call it ancient graffiti but
it was okay it was an underground
catacomb and there you see the pictures
that they did there and there were
pictures of anchors anchors anchors
because the early Christians knew it
doesn't matter what this world can do
against me I am anchored in hope that
was the symbol of the Christian faith
believing in hope is what we have to do
to be a Christian in the first place
don't we Romans chapter 4 and we'll
start in verse 16 the Apostle Paul has
been talking about the need to have
faith and he's talking about Abraham a
man whom in the Old Testament God had
promised would have descendants that
would become a great nation and out of
that nation become a particular
descendant who would be a great king who
would save the world God promised
Abraham kids but there was a little
problem Abraham was a hundred years old
and so was his wife and another problem
even when they were 30 they couldn't
have kids little problem and we see
about faith and hope in his story verse
16 Romans 4 verse 16 says therefore the
promise comes by faith so that it may be
by grace
and may be guaranteed to all Abraham's
offspring not only those were of the law
but also those who have the faith of
Abraham he is the father of us all as it
is written I have made you a father of
many nations he is our Father in the
sight of God in whom he believed and the
God who gives life to the dead and calls
into being things that are not verse 18
against all hope Abraham inho believed
and so became the father of many nations
just as it had been said to him so shall
your offspring be without weakening in
his faith he faced the fact that his
body was as good as dead and since he
was about a hundred years old and that
Sarah's womb was also dead yet he did
not waver through unbelief regarding the
promise of God but was strengthened in
his faith and gave glory to God being
fully persuaded that God had power to do
what he had promised abraham believed in
hope against all hope Abraham in hope
believed and so became the father of
many nations he believed that our God is
so powerful that he can even bring life
from death isn't that what saves us
still that our God has the power to
raise a man who died and was in the tomb
for three days the what God who who
gives life to the dead and calls things
that are not as though they were
Abraham's example shows us how faith and
hope go together if we want to be real
Christians we need to learn not just to
believe but to believe in hope okay now
I want to talk a little bit about hope
because there's misunderstandings of
hope I think hope is not wishful
thinking anyone ever thought you know
well I hope how's it going to go well I
don't know if I'm going to I don't know
if I'm going to win the game or not I
hope so I'm not sure maybe maybe not
that is not Christian Hope Christian
hope is a is called a sure hope another
thing hope is not is not blind optimism
hope doesn't mean that we are going
through hard
and we say oh well whatever it's all for
the best no big deal blind optimism no
no that's not Christian hope it is also
possible to have misplaced hope where we
hope for good hope is a positive
expectation for my future hope means I
believe good things will happen now that
is not always true is it it's possible
to have misplaced hope in the Bible it
says that no king is saved by the size
of his army no warrior escapes by his
great strength a horse is a vain hope
for deliverance despite all its great
strength it cannot save but the eyes of
the Lord are on those who fear Him on
those who hope in his unfailing love it
is possible to hope in the wrong things
it is possible to hope in governments to
hope in political leaders to hope in
armies for our future and especially
during an election year Christians need
to know yes we need to be engaged in
society because as Christians we need to
have a voice we need to think we need to
talk about issues but at the same time I
know where my hope lies and there is no
candidate there is no government there
is no even a constitution as much as I
love my country and I love my
Constitution I really do but my hope is
in another Kingdom and in another
Constitution and I'm a citizen of that
Kingdom that's not misplace our hope
it's also possible to put your hopes in
people and I never done that before and
have it not turn out so good the book of
Proverbs 11-7 says hopes placed in
mortals died with them all the promise
of their power comes to nothing people
will fail you because people are people
people are imperfect people are mortal
it's important for Christians to know
that too we can't put all our hope in
certain leaders or certain teachers as
much as we do I hope you can trust your
spiritual leaders but it's not about
putting your hope
they're your hope is in the king of
kings and the Lord of lords the shepherd
of shepherds right because people are
going to blow it people are going to
make mistakes but my hope is based on
nothing less than Jesus Christ and His
righteousness God is the one who is
reliable what else do people hoping to
find peace and optimism for their future
what else how about people's bank
account money now the Bible says
commandos were rich in this present
world not to be arrogant own or to put
their hope in wealth which is so
uncertain but to put their hope in god
who richly provides us with everything
for our enjoyment but we take nothing
into this world the Bible says and we
can take nothing out of it hope in money
is something that is a vain hope vain
means empty it's not something that's
reliable something else sometimes we can
put our hopes in false promises you ever
done that with a person a person who
promised there's one thing and does
another well there are some preachers
and teachers who give false teaching and
produce false hope in people we need to
be careful about that we could have
false hope based on false teaching The
Book of Jeremiah says this is what the
Lord Almighty says do not listen to what
the prophets are prophesying to you they
fill you with false hopes it's Jeremiah
2316 they speak visions from their own
minds not from the mouth of the Lord
they keep saying to those who despise me
the Lord says you will have peace and to
all who follow the stubbornness of their
hearts they say no harm will come to you
they might be preaching but they're
lying we don't want to have false hopes
based on someone who says it doesn't
matter what God says that's why we try
to stay so true to the Bible as much as
we possibly can because it's not about
what people think or what society
believes but it's about what Scripture
teaches and we don't want to have false
hopes we want to have a hope that is
solid and it is based on something that
is real
liable have you ever thought about we
talk about the I thought of the image of
a check when someone writes you a check
and gives you a check that is that money
or not right it's not really money but
it represents money and that's why you
get the paycheck right how about if i
wrote you a check for a million dollars
right now and give it to you right you
would say thank you very much but it's
not worth the paper it's written on
because you don't have enough money in
the bank to cover it right so you're not
going to put your hope in that check
because there's not money behind it to
make it come true right well God doesn't
bounce checks when God makes the promise
he has got the the funds in the bank to
pay for it and that is why we need to
have hope as Christians I'm not asking
us to just be optimistic and just think
positively I'm asking us to believe in
hope to put our faith in a God who is so
reliable that I know he'll come through
for me and so I can be optimistic no
matter what the circumstances believe in
hope the Bible says yet Abraham did not
waver in verse 20 of chapter 4 of Romans
he didn't waive her through unbelief
regarding the promise of God but he was
strengthened in his faith and gave glory
to God being fully persuaded that God
had power to do what he had promised he
knew that God wouldn't write him a bad
check and God won't write you a bad
check either your God is faithful the
Bible says it is impossible for God to
lie when he says never will I leave you
never will I forsake you he means it and
you can take it to the bank do we
believe in God I have the privilege as a
pastor to know people who go through all
kinds of circumstances and I have seen
people who just won't let go of their
faith and no matter what they're hopeful
not just because they're optimistic
people but because they know who God is
because God has never let them down
before
and they know God is the same yesterday
today and forever he won't let you down
today and he won't let me down tomorrow
I can be hopeful now we need to hold on
to that that's a decision we need to
make by faith to have that solid hope
and I would like if you would open with
me to or turn with me to the book of
Hebrews chapter 6 Hebrews chapter 6 a
beautiful text on hope also talking
about Abraham who was hopeful even
though it seemed impossible for God to
fulfill the promise he had made Abraham
didn't let go of hope he held on Hebrews
chapter 6 in verse 13 Hebrews 6 verse 13
when God made his promise to Abraham
since there was no one greater for him
to swear by he swore by himself isn't
that cool you ever been in court and you
say I swear to tell the truth the whole
truth doesn't matter maybe you've had to
do that you'd rather not remember you're
the states with it and then you say so
help me God right you're swearing by God
when someone is sworn in they put their
hand on the Bible they're swearing by
something greater than self so God is
taking an oath but he's like wait a min
I can't find anything greater than me so
he's like I swear by me to tell it
because God you can't find anyone
greater so he swears by himself when he
talks to Abraham and he says saying
verse 14 of Hebrews 6 I will surely
bless you and give you many descendants
in the Hebrew there's a beautiful idiom
that's blessing I will bless you that's
the way God said to Abraham in other
words i'm going to bless you upon bless
you upon bless you and I will make you
the father of many descendants you can
count on it I'm swearing by myself God
said to Abraham and after waiting
patiently because we can talk about this
later hope and waiting go together and
when here enjoy waiting right well hope
makes it a little bit easier we'll talk
about that after waiting patiently verse
15 Abraham received what was promised
verse 16 people swear by someone greater
than themselves and the oath confirms
what is said and puts an end to all
argument because God wanted to make the
changing nature of his purpose very
clear to the heirs of what was promised
he confirmed it with an oath God did
this so that by two unchangeable things
in which it is impossible for God to lie
we who have fled to take hold of the
hopes that before us may be greatly
encouraged we have this hope as an
anchor for the sole firm and secure it
enters the inner sanctuary behind the
curtain where our 4runner Jesus has
entered in our behalf he has become a
high priest forever in the order of
Melchizedek God makes promises and God
keeps those promises but we need to hold
on to hope in those promises and we
can't let go the image used look at this
with me if you would it says we who have
fled in verse 18 we who have fled to
take hold of this hope set before us may
be greatly encouraged that is using an
image from the Old Testament remember we
used to talk about the tabernacle a lot
and we had the pictures of the
tabernacle there was an altar in the
outer court a big bronze altar about
this high and it was a big one that was
sacrifice they would do the majority of
the sacrifices there and there were four
horns on the four corners of the altar
now if you were a fugitive and you had
to escape for your life and you were in
danger of being executed for something
you done sometimes they would run into
that area which shows by the way that
people had access to that people would
come into the outer court and they would
see the glory over the most holy place
but they would run into the the outer
court and they would grab the horn horns
of the altar and they would hold on for
dear life hoping that maybe they
wouldn't be executed in in the
tabernacle right there thinking well
maybe they won't kill me here so I'll
run away I will flee to take hold of the
horns of the altar and that happened
there's two accounts of that in the Old
Testament we're fugitives did that and
then if they're still sentenced to be
executed they're not executed right
there that police come in
and would grab them and try to drag them
away from the altar and the person would
hold on for dear life you ever tried to
drag somebody who's like grabbing on to
something like and and you're good to
argument there holy god you're dragging
them and then they're grabbing on to
other things you know maybe you had a
little brother little sister somebody
that you're trying to do that you tried
to drag them away from something in
there holding on right or a dog you ever
tried to get something out of a dog's
mouth and they don't want to listen to
you because they don't you know take our
commands and you're trying to grab it
and the more you grab it they're like
this is a game I like this I gotta grab
tighter and you're pulling and you're
doing a tug-of-war well that's what
would happen because people knew its
life or death I gotta hold on to this
altar and they would grab those horns
the Bible says that's the way we need to
hold on to hope we need to hold on to
hope for dear life and then it uses the
illustration of an anchor for the soul
what does an anchor do there's gonna
there's the boat there right and in the
storm and the wind's coming in the boat
could just blow out to see if it's not
anchored there will be storms there will
be wins if we're not anchored we're
going to float away we need to hold on
to hope for dear life I think of
mountain climbers who use those
grappling hooks right of course i'd
never been mountain climbing i'm not
planning on doing so in the near future
but i've seen in movies that they throw
grappling hooks right and you get it in
there and you jam it in and then you
hold on to that and you climb up in a
harness anyone do that here I don't
maybe there's some people who do you
hold on for dear life that's the way we
need to hold on to hope believe in hope
not just because you're believing in in
a fantasy but you're believing in a God
who has proven to be faithful you can
trust him his promises are true he won't
let you go he will stay with you to the
end for I know the plans I have with you
for you says the Lord plans to prosper
you and not to harm you plans to give
you a hope and a future our God is
reliable when we start believing in hope
then we can transition to the next part
of hope
that I want to talk about today stay in
Romans if you could go back to Romans
you skipped ahead to Hebrews if you
could go back to the book of Romans
chapter five Romans chapter five we're
going to see what happens next as we
hold on to hope then we stop just
holding on for dear life and we start
getting some confidence flowing through
our veins Romans chapter five starting
in verse 30 no starting in will start in
verse 1 therefore since we've been
justified through faith we have peace
with God through our Lord Jesus Christ
through whom we've gained access by
faith into this grace in which we now
stand and we boast in the hope of the
glory of God boast in hope verse 3 not
only so but we also glory it's the same
word we also boast in our sufferings
because we know that suffering produces
perseverance perseverance character and
character hope and hope does not put us
to shame because God's love has been
poured into our hearts through the Holy
Spirit who's been given to us boast in
hope I got a question for you is
boasting good isn't boasting normally
kind of bad don't you think usually
boasting is bad in fact there's some
translations that want to change this to
be rejoicing even though it's not the
word for rejoicing its boasting in fact
this same word was used the Apostle Paul
was criticizing the Corinthian saying
you guys are boasting about how smart
you are about how spiritually you are
stop boasting and be humble but then the
Apostle Paul uses the same word
sometimes saying but you know what i
boast about you sometimes because i love
to brag about you to other people you
ever brag about people you say oh boy
people are much i brag about you i mean
in a good way not you know it's like I
got amazing people in my church people
who love God and I don't know what some
people what they've been through in the
faith they have in vacanza and I show
off about this i brag about it the
Apostle Paul says in heaven there's
going to be boasting
in the people that we love and that
Jesus has saved me say just look at him
aren't they amazing what God's done and
that's good boasting that's not bad
boasting we can also boast in hope even
when we're going through sufferings I
want us to think about this a little bit
when you're boasting you've got just a
little bit of attitude don't you you
like you know we got this I got this
boasting in hope isn't boasting that I
am so optimistic I'm boasting that my
god is so big that I just know it's
gonna work out I'm boasting about how
great my god is I'm boasting that even
though I am as good as dead right now my
god gives life to the dead and calls
things that are not as though they were
I can boast about that i can start being
a little hopeful attitude confidence
courage let not the wise man boast of
his wisdom the bible says or the strong
man boast of his strength but let the
one who boasts boast about this that he
understands and knows me says the Lord
who exercises righteousness goodness and
compassion on earth I know the king of
kings and because of that I don't care
what anyone else tells me we got a
little bit of attitude going on but
that's good attitude that's an attitude
that says you're not going to tell me
otherwise right the Apostle Paul had
this attitude when he was brought to
trial and he would come to trial and
they would say Paul or they call him
Saul still saw why are you preaching
this you know wrong teaching about Jesus
and he said you know what I've got
nothing to apologize for i am standing
here on trial because of my hope in the
resurrection my hope for israel that you
said you love he says i'm not afraid
that's why he wrote to the Corinthians
saying because we have such a hope we
are very bold hopeful people are people
who have faith and hopeful people are
confident people resilient people
sometimes even I would dare say a bit
cocky because they know if God is for me
who can be against me and there is a
boasting that comes in that is a good
thing the Apostle Peter says that we
should
always be prepared to give an answer for
the hope that we have people saying why
are you so optimistic you know it's
because of my god and I'm not afraid to
say it he's proven to be reliable in my
life and I've learned to trust him and
that's why I'm hopeful about the future
now it doesn't mean we pretend
everything is going well when it's not
okay sometimes we think faith means i
have to lie about how bad i might feel
at the moment that's not biblical the
Apostle Paul says we are hard pressed on
every side but not crushed perplexed but
not in despair persecuted but not
abandoned struck down but not destroyed
he said we do not lose heart though
outwardly we are wasting away yet
inwardly we are being renewed day by day
for our light and momentary troubles are
achieving for us an eternal glory that
far outweighs them all so we fix our
eyes not on what is seen but what is
unseen because what is seen is temporary
but what is unseen is eternal and I'm
going to boast about it I'm going to
take it to the bank and I'm going to be
unbeatable unstoppable unbreakable even
when not down I can get up again because
my god is with me I love that some of us
are a little too polite it's time to
start boasting boasting in hope because
your God is not going to let you down
now sometimes though hope involves
wading through the hard painful
situations and there's something else
that we do sometimes as we hope as we
wait and it's not a pleasant word but
it's a word that goes together with hope
if you go ahead with me to Romans
chapter 8 22 there's another side to
this Romans 8 verse 22 it says we know
that the whole but wait i'm going to
start up again in verse 18 there's hope
i consider that our present sufferings
are not even worth comparing with the
glory that will be revealed in all of us
that's boasting in hope for the creation
we
because hope means I was waiting the
creation waits in eager expectation for
the children of God to be revealed for
the creation was subjected to
frustration the world is frustrated
right now the world is not the way it's
supposed to be okay there are bad things
that happen that shouldn't have happened
the creation is subjected to frustration
not by its own choice but by the will of
the one who subjected it in hope that
the creation itself will be liberated
from its bondage to decay and brought
into the freedom of the chill glory of
the children of God hope that one day
this world will be liberated from its
misery and it's groaning and we brought
into the glorious freedom of the
children of God but for now look at this
it says in verse 22 we know that the
whole creation has been groaning
groaning in hope groaning as in the
pains of childbirth right up to the
present time not only so but we
ourselves who have the firstfruits of
the Spirit groan inwardly as we wait
eagerly for our adoption to sonship the
redemption of our bodies for in this
hope we were saved but hope that is seen
is no hope at all who hopes for what
they already have but if we hope for
what we do not yet have we wait for it
patiently hope often and sometimes
involves groaning but it's okay because
it's part of the waiting the comparison
here is childbirth anyone ever groaned
in Java River screamed anyone ever you
know express themselves because it hurts
as you're waiting but what motivates
women over the millennia to go through
that groaning the hope of the new life
on the other side if we are going to
learn to hope we're going to have to
learn sometimes too grown in the pain
we're going through but it's hopeful
groaning because we know on the other
side there's freedom and there's life
and I'm going to get through
this and there will be new life on the
other side groaning here but hope on the
other side hope gets us through the word
for hope in Spanish is the same word for
waiting you know that los que hablan
español esperar hope and wait it's the
same thing in Spanish there's a reason
for that because if you're hoping for
something you don't have it yet you're
waiting for it and sometimes that is a
painful waiting even youth grow tired
and weary and young men stumble and fall
but those who hope in the Lord they will
have renew strength they will soar on
wings like eagles run and not grow weary
walk and not be faint as I was doing my
word study on the word hope in the Bible
the word hope is used an awful lot in
the book of Job anyone know the story of
the book of job where everything went
wrong where he suffered in so many
different ways he lost everything he was
physically sick there's a lot of
groaning in the book of Job and he
struggles with hope he's like I feel
like I'm looking for hope and I just
can't find it until finally he comes to
the point where he says you know I know
that my redeemer lives and I know that
in the end he will stand on the earth
and after my skin has been destroyed yet
in my flesh I will see God even if I
don't get through this I still have hope
because as Christians we believe that
there's more than this life even in
death Christian's can be hopeful where O
death is your is your staying where is
your is your pain we are more than
conquerors through the one who loves us
we believe in something called the
resurrection that Jesus rose from the
dead and we also will rise again and
have a new life the Apostle Paul said if
only for this life I have hope in Jesus
I should be pitied above all people
because I am one dumb guy because
Christians if you're going to be a
Christian it's going to involve some
suffering in this life
and you know this is a problem because
sometimes we encourage people come to
Jesus and you'll be happy right in this
life which is true in this life you come
to Jesus there are some problems that
will go away that you can conquer
there's happiness in this life there's
all kinds of beautiful things but
there's more than that sometimes when
God calls us and we follow him it
involves suffering and sacrifice the
Apostle Paul says if I fought while
beasts in Ephesus with no more than
human hopes what have I gained if the
dead are not raised let us eat drink and
be merry for tomorrow we die what's that
phrase Yolo Yolo you only live once so
just live it up now cuz this is it see
Christians have hope that there's more
than this life so it's worth it to push
through because I know on the other side
there's glory Christ in you the hope of
glory it enables us even to grown
through pain in childbirth knowing that
that baby will be born my new self will
be born on the other side Jesus will hug
me there and Jesus himself did this as a
human being the Bible says that when he
was in the Garden of Eden in the Garden
of Eden huh I think he was there trying
to help Adam and Eve not do what they
did but anyway when Jesus within the
Garden of Gethsemane before the cross
and he was saying father if there is any
way for this cup to pass for me please
let it be but this is not what I will
but your will be done in the Bible says
for the joy set before him Jesus endured
the cross scorning its shame and then
sat down at the right hand of God I
believe that Jesus saw the glory that
would come after he saw that he would
live again and he saw that a lot of his
spiritual brothers and sisters would
live again because of him I think he saw
you and me and said it's worth it for
the joy that is set before me I'll
endure this for a little while because
then I'll sit down at the right hand of
God that's hope
we as Christians need to be willing to
know that there is a glorious future for
us and that we know that in all things
God works for the good of those who love
him and who have been called according
to his purposes you ever heard someone
say well it's all for the best it's all
for the best no not necessarily there's
some things that are bad that shouldn't
have happened but for a Christian if you
are called according to his purposes and
love God then all things work together
for our good now what does that good
mean it means for those God foreknew he
predestined to be conformed to the image
of his son God wants to make you look
and shine like Jesus and he's going to
use everything to make that happen and
you will shine with glory one day and we
can know whatever happens God is going
to work it in for that glorious future
that waits for me what should we say in
all in response to all this if God is
for us who can be against us we can
boast we can rejoice in hope says he who
didn't spare his own son but gave him up
for us all how will he not also along
with him graciously give us all thing
who shall separate us from the love of
God now who shall separate us shall
trouble or hardship or persecution or
famine or nakedness or danger or sword
no I am convinced that in all of these
things we are more than conquerors
through him who loved us neither death
nor life nor Angels nor principalities
neither the present or future nor
anything else in all creation can
separate you from the love of God that
is in Christ Jesus you can groan but you
can groan hopefully knowing that there
is glory on the other side we can
rejoice in hope hopeful people are happy
people hopeful people have a happiness
that overflows because nothing can snuff
it out and I've seen this I have visited
enough hospital beds of hopeful men and
women of God who even though they're
suffering their hope is not snuffed out
the shine with the joy of the Lord in
the midst of difficulty because they
know
redeemer lives hope is something to hold
on to hope is a powerful thing now it's
a decision we have to make if we are
going to be hopeful people it's going to
take some effort okay it's not just
going to happen you can decide to be
miserable or you can decide to hope God
even God won't make the decision for us
we need to make that decision in in
romans 15 14 15 verse 4 it says if
you're going to be a hopeful person
you've got to read your Bible you got to
read your Bible because thats the beta
it says everything that was written in
the past was written to teach us so that
through the endurance taught in the
scriptures and the encouragement they
provide we might have hope are you read
your Bible and when you read it you say
God you're the God the separated the
waters of the Red Sea maybe you can help
me today you're the same God who who
provided bread in the wilderness you can
provide for me God is the same yesterday
today and forever I can trust in you
we're gonna have to read our scripture
and know that he is the same God he has
not let you down he has not changed and
he will be faithful to you just like he
was in ages past and we need to worship
if you read the verse in Romans 15 verse
13 it says may the god of Hope fill you
with all joy and peace as you trust in
him so that you may overflow with hope
by the power of the Holy Spirit we hope
because we worship the god of hope and
though God fills us with joy and peace
it's a supernatural thing if I stay away
from worship for too long i'm going to
start letting myself get discouraged but
if you are worshipping the living god
the god of hope you are not going to
stay discouraged at least not at that
moment because god is the god of hope
and we start over flowing as we worship
Him supernatural filling psychological
health but sometimes we are going to
have to give yourself a pep talk no have
you ever had to give yourself a pep talk
you ever had to look in the mirror the
book of
arms is full of self pep talks where the
psalmist looks himself in the mirror and
says why my soul are you so downcast why
so disturbed within me put your hope in
god 4i will yet praise him my savior and
my god that verse is repeated at least
23 times in the Psalms where the
psalmist looks themselves why so why are
you so downcast put your hope in god
you're going to praise him again God's
going to lift you up but you're going to
need to tell yourself I encourage us us
to be people who encourage others to
hope if you have a friend who's
discouraged you have the power to look
them in the eye and say don't give up
God is faithful with you and maybe you
have seen the miracles that God has done
in those people's lives and you can tell
them remember when God got you through
that he can do it again don't give up
hold on keep putting your hope in god
but sometimes that friend isn't going to
be there and you're going to have to
talk to yourself you can have to talk to
your soul and say why are you so
downcast o my soul why so disturbed
within me put your hope in god I will
yet praise him I am going to get through
this and I rejoice in hope joy is a
decision joy is spiritual happiness that
comes from faith-filled hope in God joy
isn't just I'm happy because
everything's going well joy means I know
that God is alive and I trust him to do
good things for my future and so I can't
help but be joyful because I know it's
going to be okay joy is a decision that
we make to believe and put our hope in
the Living God that's a decision that
each of us needs to make if we're
willing to do that hope can be the
medicine for discouragement
discouragement is a deep pit
discouragement is something where we
just start cycling down and we start
thinking and we start hearing voices in
our mind that says it's not going to get
any better it's no good it's not going
to get better I can't face this I just
can't do it and then we need to say you
be silent in the name of Jesus my god is
faithful and I trust in him and we
replace those negative depressing
thoughts with the truth of the Living
God and even facing the grave itself we
can know that jesus said I am the
resurrection and the life the one who
believes in me though he die yet will he
live that there is a feast on the other
side there is a table spread for me in
the presence of my enemies my cup
overflows now anointest my head with oil
surely goodness and loving kindness will
follow me all the days of my life and I
will dwell in the house of the Lord
forever and ever I can hope for good in
my future because God is for me and not
against me do you really believe that
God is on your side do you really
believe that God loves you that he wants
what's best for you and even through the
hard times when you might be groaning
that you can still boast in that hope
let's be a congregation of Hope brothers
and sisters we need to be people of hope
and we need to overflow with hope to the
people around us we need to be like that
woman i met in the breakfast yesterday
who had the button that said i am loved
and she said my name's hope and i
couldn't look at her and not smile I
want us to be people who transmitted
hope to the people around them who say
we worship the god of Hope in this place
and if you come here you can know that
there is a hope for you not because of
us but because of the God that we serve
amen
CLJ E 160731
we've been going through a series of the
miracles the signs in the Gospel of John
and we talked about how there are seven
signs in this gospel seven the number of
kind of a perfect number that God uses
to round things out and we have gone
through in these sermons all seven signs
all seven miracles but then I discovered
something there's another one right at
the end of the Gospel of John John
chapter 21 there is an eighth sign and
we're going to talk about that and I'm
going to talk about why I believe God
added an extra 1-2 this gospel for a
particular purpose something he wanted
to say to his apostles but specifically
to us through this gospel today so let's
pray as we open up the word father in
Jesus name I thank you for your the
Gospel of John I thank you for the way
you demonstrated your power through the
miracles that you did and you revealed
yourself to your people and god I thank
you that your revelation continues that
you are here today that your Holy Spirit
is here to reveal Jesus to us and to
reveal our own hearts to us in a new way
so Holy Spirit do your work speak to us
through your word today we invite you
and we pray that we would be good soil
hearts that respond to the Word of God
visit us we pray in Jesus name Amen amen
so the Gospel of John has a couple of
endings to it if you bear with me by way
of introduction at the end of chapter 20
we've got Jesus risen from the dead
appearing to marry remember the scene
Mary is there she's looking in the tomb
she sees two angels sitting where Jesus
used to lay she turns around and bumps
into some guy and she says she's crying
she thinks he's the gardener and she's
crying in a little bit angry because he
thinks they stole the body
but then the gardener says Mary and then
she knows it's not the gardener then she
knows it's Jesus Jesus then appears to
his to his apostles a little later
they're in a room with the doors closed
and locked because they're still kind of
afraid of what's going to happen and
suddenly Jesus is there like he just
appeared he the way my son would put it
he teleported into the room and boom
almost a boo and they're all like whoa
what are you doing here just his piece
and he talks to them and he eats with
them and then he has a special encounter
later he comes back because he knew that
Thomas wasn't buying it and so he came
back later he says okay you know what
Thomas needs a special visit and Thomas
touches the the wounds in his hand and
says my Lord and my god so Jesus has
appeared to the apostles he appeared to
Mary Magdalene and the story pretty much
ends at the end of John chapter 20 and
verse 30 if you're there with me and
says Jesus did many other miraculous
signs in the presence of his disciples
which are not recorded in this book but
these are written that you may believe
that Jesus is the Christ the Son of God
and thereby believing you may have life
in his name BAM seems like that's the
end right but wait a minute do it
there's another chapter what's going on
what's up with that some scholars get a
little confused about this they view
this as kind of an epilogue you ever
read a book where you read the last
chapter and then there's an extra little
part the epilogue well this chapter 21
is the epilogue to the Gospel of John
and I have a little theory I'm not going
to write a book about this and I could
be wrong but I have a little theory
about how this epilogue came to be does
anyone know how the Apostle Peter passed
away and we know how he died you ever
heard this we don't even know completely
sure some of you have heard that legend
has a church history has it that Peter
along with all the other apostles except
for John was martyred that he died for
his faith that rather than deny the Lord
Jesus he allowed himself to be killed
legend has it that he died by
crucifixion
but as they were threatening to kill him
he said I'm not worthy to die as my lord
I and church history has it that he died
upside down because he said my lord is
worth it my little theory I have a
theory that the Apostle John after that
happened remembered a prophecy that
Jesus had given and so wait a minute
Jesus predicted this and people were
there was apparently a rumor going
around that John was never gonna die
because he was so old that he was never
gonna die in John's like you know what
I'm gonna write an epilogue to my gospel
and I'm gonna tell the story of when
Jesus gave this prophecy to Peter now
again I'm just guessing I'm using my
imagination about how John wrote it but
the truth is that Jesus gave Peter a
prophecy that this was going to happen
Jesus met Peter in a special way and
this is one of my I can't keep saying
this is one of my favorite stories right
aren't they all but it's an encounter
with Jesus that is so personal so vivid
the imagery of it just hits so deeply
you can picture it so easily that I feel
like God has it there so that each one
of us would see ourselves in this moment
so read this with me if you would John
chapter 21 let's read the epilogue to
the Gospel of John afterward in John 21
jesus appeared again to his disciples by
the sea of Tiberias and it happened this
way Simon Peter Thomas called didymus
Nathanael from Cana in Galilee the sons
of Zebedee and two other disciples were
together I'm going out to fish Simon
Peter told them and they said we'll go
with you so they went out got into the
boat but that night they caught nothing
verse 4 early in the morning Jesus stood
on the shore but the disciples did not
realize that it was Jesus he called out
to them friends haven't you any fish
no they answered he said throw your net
on the right side of the boat and you
will find some and when they did they
were unable to haul the net in because
of the large number of fish then the
disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter
it is the Lord as soon as Simon Peter
heard him say it is the Lord he wrapped
his outer garment around him for he
taking it off and jumped into the water
the other disciples followed in the boat
towing the net full of fish for they
were not far from the shore about a
hundred yards when they landed they saw
a fire of burning coals there with fish
on it and some bread and Jesus said to
them bring some of the fish you've just
caught Simon Peter climbed aboard and
dragged the net ashore it was full of
large fish 153 but even with so many the
net was not torn jesus said to them come
and have breakfast none of the disciples
dared ask him who are you they knew it
was the Lord Jesus came and took the
bread and gave it to them and did the
same with the fish this was now the
third time Jesus appeared to his
disciples after he was raised from the
dead and when they had finished eating
jesus said to Simon Peter Simon son of
John do you truly love me more than
these yes Lord he said you know that I
love you jesus said feed my lambs again
jesus said Simon son of John do you
truly love me he answered yes Lord you
know that I love you and jesus said take
care of my sheep the third time he said
to him Simon son of John do you love me
and Peter was hurt because Jesus asked
him the third time do you love me and he
said Lord you know all things you know
that I love you jesus said feed my sheep
I tell you the truth when you were
younger you dressed yourself and 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 jesus said this to
indicate the kind of death by which
Peter would glorify god and then he said
to him follow me Peter turned and saw
that the disciple whom Jesus loved
that's John writing the gospel good
self-esteem was following them and Jesus
was the one who would lean back this was
the one who had leaned back against
Jesus at the supper and it asked him
Lord who is going to betray you and when
Peter saw him he's asked Lord what about
him and jesus answered if I want him to
remain alive until I return what is that
to you you must follow me because of
this the rumor spread among the brothers
that the disciple would not die but
Jesus did not say that he would did not
die he only said if I want him to remain
alive until I return what is that to you
and this is the disciple who testifies
to these things and who wrote them down
we know that his testimony is true Jesus
did many other things as well if every
one of them were written down I suppose
that even the whole world would not have
room for the books that would be written
amen what a story huh the story about
how Peter became a disciple who was all
in for Jesus all in I want a title I
would title the sermon that all in
there's a great book by mark batterson
all in I just love the title you know
I'm sure it's a good book too i mean
i've read parts of it it's great but the
title is really good you know all in for
Jesus this is the story about how heart
becomes all in it's a bit of a struggle
because for many of us we feel that if
I'm not all in a hundred percent we feel
like we're hypocrites sometimes as
people are getting ready to get baptized
they struggle with that they think you
know what I don't know if I'm ready to
get baptized I still have problems and
we wonder am I really fully devoted to
Jesus or not I'm still in process that's
what this chapter is all about look at
how it begins we we learn about how
Peter
is a person we know from previously that
has been broken that has blown it in a
big way I believe a heart that is all in
is usually a heart that has been broken
at some point is usually a heart that
has failed at some point Jesus appeared
to all the Apostles and he appeared to
Mary individually and appeared to Thomas
individually and I could only imagine
Peter thinking you know thank God that
Jesus is back but it's never gonna be
the same not after what I've done what
am I gonna do now let's go fishing yeah
anyone want to go fish in its summertime
right some of you would you want to go
right I know you do let's go fish it got
nothing else to do let's go fishin and
the other guys say this is so real the
other guys say okay we'll come I you
know the Gospel of John is very
philosophical but it's also very
practical this these are historical
accounts John was there and they're like
you know what we don't know what to do
let's go back to what we used to do
let's go fishing and Peter had a long
night to think about things anyone ever
had a long night to think about things
may be thinking a little too much about
thing maybe some memories come back that
you would rather just erase I could just
imagine Peter fishing all that night and
remembering the haunting memory of his
failure and after he had insisted that
he would never deny Jesus remember that
at the Last Supper Jesus says this very
night you all will fall away on account
of me Peter responds saying even if
everyone else falls away on account of
you I never will I'm all in for you
Jesus Jesus says truly I say to you this
very night before the rooster crows you
will deny three times that you even know
me how does Peter respond
is he humble does he say okay Lord now
no Peter response he declares even if I
have to die with you I will never disown
you and all the others say the same have
you ever insisted with bravado god I'm
all for you all in and then within 24
hours Peter it must have been haunting
to him the memory the memory of that
night in the garden remember when Jesus
was praying and he sweating blood father
if it's possible to take this cup and he
asked the Apostles stay here with me and
watch and I imagine Peter remembering
himself falling asleep and waking up and
there's Jesus's face saying to him
couldn't you even stay awake an hour to
pray with me then he's shaking his head
the Spirit is willing but the flesh is
weak isn't it then the memory of when
the guys came to arrest Jesus and Judas
kisses and remember the moment Judas
kisses him and and their swords and
there's torches and they arrest Jesus
and Peter remember what Peter does now
he gets brave for a minute he takes out
his sword and thwack cuts off the ear of
one of the temple guards we even know
his name his name was anyone know his
name John tells us Malkis poor Malkis
got his ear cut off he's just doing his
job bad job but he was doing his job
you're cut off Jesus rebuked Peter Peter
put your sword away the one who lives by
the sword will die by the sword he
touches that man's ear and bam puts it
back on peter then imagines remembers
they take him off to trial there's a
courtyard where he could see Jesus in
the distance and he gets in but it's a
cold night so he's warming himself by
the fire and then some people come
around and say hey wait a minute weren't
you one of them remember what Peter says
no I never never met him he goes to a
different place a different fire he's
warming himself in that dark night and
one of the servant girl comes up wait a
minute you were with him he says no I
tell you I wasn't with them
and then someone else's wait a minute we
recognize your accent you got the accent
you got the Boston accent you were with
them and then he starts calling down
curses on him Bridger governor I wasn't
with him I never knew him and then Jesus
looks him right in the eye and the
rooster crows remember that that night
when Peter went off by himself and just
wept and wept and wept and what all
those memories that must have been
haunting Peter all night thinking about
his failure thinking about how when
Jesus says you are Simon but from now on
you will be called Peter Cephas which
means rock and on this rock I'll build
my church he's like some rock denying
him three times what now what now then
out of the morning it's been all night
you ever been up all night and then you
see the sun starting to rise but it's
still dark and there's a guy on shore
hey guys you caught anything nothing
throw your net on the other side why not
they throw the net out and then they
start feeling all the fish in the net
flopping around biggies apparently
flopping around and I could just imagine
as Peter was pulling in that net with
the others that he flashed back to
another day three years ago you remember
the miracle don't you three years ago
Peter was cleaning the nets and Jesus
asked if he could use his boat and sit
in the boat and teach the crowd that was
on the shore and Peter there listening
to him and then Peter says Jesus says to
Peter why don't we go out fishing and
Peter gives him a smart aleck answer you
remember Lord we've been fishing all
night and we haven't caught anything and
then he says but because you say so
we'll do it you know what I imagine I
imagine him rolling his eyes okay
whatever look I wish you would just
stick to your religious teaching let me
do the
fish in here all right but okay let's
humor him these religious guys need to
know but whatever they go out they catch
the huge catch of fish all these fish
they miraculously catch the net were
breaking the boat were swamped but Peter
and when he gets to shore he could care
less about the fish he comes to Jesus
and can barely even look him in the eye
and just says go away from me Jesus I'm
a sinful man he knew that he had just
wised off to the Son of God and Jesus
that don't worry about a Peter from now
on you're gonna fish for people and I
can just imagine Peter being like I
don't quite know what that means but Wow
and I can't believe it well as they're
catching the fish this time it's part
two I find that sometimes God takes you
back to those first encounters you had
with him so you remember your first love
you remember those first promises
because even though we may forget God
doesn't forget even though we may think
that we have disqualified ourselves
because we've gone the wrong way God has
not forgotten the purpose that he has
for us and he gives thats a miracle to
bring it all back to Peter and Peter
begins to realize wait a minute what's
going on here we're having a flashback
and John looks and he recognizes amiss
says it's him it's the Lord what does
Peter do here do you notice what Peter
does this is classic Peter apparently
he's fishing kind of all free and loose
right so he puts on he puts on his
garment again and he just dives into
that water and swims to shore isn't that
a beautiful image I wish I would love
some day if I become a brilliant artist
I would paint Peter swimming to shore
just coming to that Shore swimming with
all his might saying I gotta get to
Jesus a heart that is all in is a heart
that has been broken most likely but a
heart that is all all in is also a heart
that leaps at the presence of Jesus
a heart that says I gotta get to Jesus I
only want to be where you are a heart
that might be impulsive might be
imperfect might be sinful but that must
be close to him and Peter was swimming
to shore and it reminds me of other
characters in the Bible who had that
same heart to be close to Jesus remember
that woman who was famous for having Lee
led a sinful life perhaps she was a
prostitute when she heard that Jesus was
at the Pharisees house what does she do
she elbows her way in she goes right
into the dining room he gets on her face
and she starts weeping and kissing
Jesus's feet realized she gets them all
wet she dries it with her hair that's a
heart that leaps at the presence of
Jesus I think of those those Friends of
the man who couldn't walk remember Jesus
was teaching in a crowded house and they
tried to get in and they couldn't get in
and they wouldn't take no for an answer
people at the doors that you don't
understand the house is full and they
say to him you don't understand my
friend is sick and Jesus is going to
heal them yeah and they dig a hole in
the roof apparently you could dig holes
and roofs back then I don't you know
quite get it you know my roof you know
no holes in that but hopefully of it
they dig through and they lower the mat
down and Jesus when he sees their faith
forgives the man sin and heal 'some I
think of these kinds of hearts how about
the chaos he was a tax collector he was
a short man but he said you know what I
gotta see Jesus and he climbs the tree
and Jesus looks up and says akia's can I
come over today he's like you gotta be
kidding me a heart that leaps at the
presence of Jesus I think of the blind
beggar Bartimaeus who said Lord son of
David have mercy on me and everyone just
said would you be quiet you're making a
scene and Jesus sends the ushers over
they know he doesn't send the ushers the
ushers go over and shut him up and the
other Jesus is wait a minute I want to
meet this man what can I do for you
these are the hearts that Jesus blesses
these are the hearts that are all in for
Jesus not perfect hearts but hearts that
jump and his presence hearts that leap
in the kind of heart that when you're in
a boat you know the story of Peter right
he's in the boat with the apostles Jesus
comes walking on the water what does
Peter say to him lord if it's really you
tell me to come out and walk over the
water to you who does that who even
thinks about you see Jesus walking on
water some of them thought it was a
ghost some of them were freaking out
Peter's thinking hey I'd like to do that
too that's the kind of heart that is all
in for Jesus that's the kind of heart
that God calls to be a leader the kind
of heart that when Jesus appeared on the
Mount of Transfiguration I know I'm
telling a lot of stories but you know
most of these Jesus is on the Mount of
Transfiguration he's glowing remember
Moses and Elijah appeared to him and
what does Peter do he says oh it's good
that we're here I'm gonna build you
three shelters right here right now
three Tyburn ackles what were and virile
I Peter would you just be quiet you're
just babbling but he's all-in he's
all-in for Jesus may be impulsive may be
impetuous definitely imperfect but
genuine and sincere for Jesus so he
jumps in the water and he swims to shore
he just swims and I was at what did what
do you think he's gonna do when he gets
there just the image of him getting to
the shore and he's just dripping wet and
there's Jesus I just love that picture
of peter just just just think I don't
know what I'm gonna even say to you but
he's there and what does he find when he
gets there he finds a camp fire that's
burning a campfire that's there waiting
for him and I think he begins to get a
glimpse of the fact that Jesus is going
to give him a second chance a heart that
is all in is a heart that has learned
that God gives us a second chance
thank God for that the campfire is there
is there anything better than the smell
of breakfast cooking tell me is there
anything better than that smell that's
just a great smell the bacon the eggs
the the hot syrup you know I come here
on Saturday mornings in the whole church
I smell the eggs and the onions just all
over I'm like yeah breakfast breakfast
Jesus is cooking breakfast I got a
little question for you where did he get
the fish in the bread for the breakfast
I mean did he go to a store and buy I
mean maybe he did I don't know but I
have a again I'm using my imagination a
lot today you guys gotta bear with me
but I just imagine he was just he could
do tricks now he's the risen Christ he
has authority over heaven and earth and
overall nature I think he just snapped
his finger and a fish jump down you know
boom yes you breakfast yeah you know and
then the bread I wonder where he got the
bread you know the devil tempted him to
turn stones into bread right and Jesus
said man doesn't live by bread alone but
by every word that proceeds from the
mouth of God but I think he said ok now
I think I would like to turn some stones
into bread I'm not going to do it when
the devil tells me I'm gonna do it when
I want to do it bang bread bread bread
start cooking start cooking some
breakfast here again what a beautiful
painting just imagine use your
imagination the shore of the lake it's
the morning sunrise the sunlights just
coming up the waves are lapping against
that sand and there's a campfire with
breakfast cooking and Jesus is just just
chillin just sitting there says why
don't you come join me you know any good
Hebrew any good Jew would have
remembered another scene in the Bible
that many of us might not think of right
away but I think most Jews would have
thought of it most people who knew the
Old Testament there was a prophet in the
Old Testament named Elijah you ever
heard of him right Elijah a great man of
God who once had this confrontation with
the profits of bail these idol
worshipping profits
and he had this big showdown with them
hundreds of them against one of him
really against his God against their God
and His God one fire came down and
consumed an offering that had been
doused with water after this amazing
spiritual power Elijah is threatened by
the Evil Queen Jezebel this is all in
the Old Testament Evil Queen Jezebel
says I'm gonna kill you and Elijah a man
of courage says oh yeah you and what
army no no you know what Elijah does he
gets afraid and he runs away terrified
for his life he runs off to the desert
he finally gets under a tree he sits
down depressed and miserable and says
Lord I'm no better than my ancestors
just take my life this great man of God
who had just had such a high now crashed
to the bottom and he was miserable and
depressed and then God made him fall
asleep and he woke up and he looked over
and there was the angel of the Lord who
i believe is actually a pre incarnate
visit of jesus but whatever the case a
heavenly angelic figure is sitting by
that fire a campfire and Elijah sees the
campfire with bread cooking over and a
big jug of cold water and the angel says
to him Elijah get up and eat and drink
because the journeys too much for you
and he eats that heavenly bread and he
goes back to sleep and he wakes up and
there's more bread and water and God
refreshed Elijah soul I wonder if when
Peter saw this fire he thought you know
what I could use a little refreshing
myself and here's the angel of the Lord
risen from the dead ready to meet me
here and give me a second chance God is
the God who meets you where you are and
gives you a second chance he got it
called Peter to fish for people and he
may have thought that it was too late
for him to ever do that again because of
what he had done but the miracle showed
him not only are you going to fish for
people but I'm going to
continue to tell you where to fish and
you're not going to catch just a few
fish you're gonna catch a lot a hundred
and fifty-three to be precise you ever
wondered why the number 153 is there
that is precisely that mini fish well I
took a couple hours and studied this and
I finally came to the conclusion that it
says that because there were a hundred
and fifty three fish in that net that's
my conclusion I think that's all it
means I think and I really worked on
this I wanted something cool I wanted
there's got to be a meaning and there's
like 10 different theories and people
throughout history I think the answer is
somebody counted and John was there and
they were all big ones and I think the
message being given God is saying you're
not going to lose one that I have given
you know I'm you're not gonna lose one
of them they're all gonna be there see
in the previous miracle of the catch of
the fish the Nets broke and they started
losing fish this time no nets are
breaking no they got him all somehow and
they're big ones the Bible explicitly
says they were whoppers this big he's
telling the truth he was there he's not
exaggerating this time like you know
some of us might do big fish and Jesus
said you're not gonna lose any my sheep
know my voice I know them and they
follow me and I give them eternal life
and they will never perish and no one
will snatch them out of my hand my
father who has given them to me is
greater than all and no one is able to
snatch them out of my father's hand I
and the father are one Peter you are
going to fulfill your mission every last
person that you are supposed to win for
the kingdom of God will be one for the
kingdom of God nothing will be wasted
nothing will be lost we're going to do
this together brother sisters God has a
calling for you and nothing that God has
promised can fail he is the sovereign
God he is the powerful God and he can
take broken people and still renew his
promise and his purpose and his mission
in their lives thank God
thank God a heart that is all in is a
sincere heart but not necessarily a
perfect heart now it's time for Jesus to
do business with Peter okay they've
eaten their feeling good they've had the
you know the fish in the bread and Jesus
begins a conversation with Peter right
there in front of the others and he
begins with a powerful question that I'd
like you to look at with me in verse 15
when they had finished eating jesus said
to Simon Peter Simon son of John do you
truly love me more than these that this
is going to be important because when we
have drifted away we do need to be
restored to God we need to be restored
and Jesus asked in this question Simon
son of John that's formal he's actually
saying hey Peter hey Simon Simon son of
John this is a formal commissioning
Simon son of John do you love me truly
love me and then he says something
interesting more than these that an
interesting question do you love me more
than everyone else sitting around you
right here at the breakfast you know
what he would have said before you know
what he would have said before of course
I love you more than everyone else I'm
the man I'm the rock I stepped out of
the boat I know I sucked but at least I
walked a couple steps none of them did
but this time this time Peter knows
Peter knows he's no better than anyone
else that's important that's really
important especially if we're called to
any kind of leadership because if we
think we are better than anyone then
we're no good to anyone we are all in
this together we are all sinners finding
salvation in Jesus so it's a formal
commissioning and Peter answers very
interesting he says yes Lord you know
that I love you now if it's ok I would I
would like to talk about
the Greek that goes behind this the
Bible was originally New Testament was
originally written in the Greek language
and the translations we have our
excellent but every now and then it
helps to know a little bit of the
original to understand what's going on
and if you read this if you look at the
the NIV translation it says do you truly
love me more than these and Peter answer
is yes Lord he doesn't say I love you
more than anyone it just says yes Lord
you know that I love you the reason it
says truly love me and then the second
part is not just I love you is because
there are different Greek words for love
that are being used here some of you
have heard me talk about this before one
of the words for love in greek is agape
isn't that great agape let's say that
together agape who yes love it is a word
that means that the sacrificial highest
form of committed love now when Peter
answers he uses a different word for
love he answers and says yes Lord you
know that I love you and he uses the
word filet o you know that you know the
city philadelphia feel oz filet o and
adelphi brother the city of brotherly
love right filet o is a word that is
typically used for friendship brotherly
love okay now sometimes these words can
be used interchangeably as synonyms but
sometimes there might be a nuance of
difference between them right those of
you to speak Spanish if someone says me
amore make Mahama's and the person
answers instead si tu sabes que te
quiero it's not going to do the trick
for you you're like oh I like that no
are more in Spanish kind of agape carry
love like friendship love it's like in
English if you were to say do you love
me you know you bout to do you lovin the
person says you know that I have very
warm feelings for you you know now i
know i'm bringing back some bad memories
first of a
some of us here with that word got out
there a little sooner than the other
person was ready for but it's all good
so that's what I think that could be
going on here now we're not one hundred
percent maybe that's just different
synonyms maybe it's just they're just
mixing up the language but i wonder if
jesus is saying do you love me me ama
saga' pay and Peter saying Lord you know
that I love you tequiero filet oh I do
love you but maybe not quite like I
thought I did but I do I really do but
just not the way I thought before now
Jesus doesn't let him off the hook that
easy right Jesus asked him again but he
brings it down he says Simon son of John
and now we're down in verse oh and then
he gives them the commandment you know
that I love you and Jesus said feed my
lambs feed my lambs Peter says i love u
and P Jesus says that's all I was
looking for do the ministry that I've
called you to do God doesn't call people
with perfect love but he does call
people with sincere love it doesn't mean
we fully arrived but it means were for
real where we are and we want to serve
the Lord in Jesus i'll take you there to
start doing your job now and you know
jesus said that to Peter didn't he he
said Simon son of John went with the at
the Last Supper said Simon Simon Satan
has asked to sift you all like wheat
Jesus gave the devil permission to tempt
all the Apostles to turn away from him
to Humble them all to sift them and then
Jesus says to Peter but I prayed for you
Simon that your faith would not fail
when you have returned strengthen your
brothers I wonder if Peter was finally
getting it okay I think I get it in
other words my failure is actually part
of my preparation for what you want me
to do now because I blew it just like
everyone and you're restoring me you're
going to
me bring other people to the Savior
because I know what it is to be forgiven
I know what it is to be restored and I
can help other people find hope in you
too when you've returned strengthen your
brothers but Jesus doesn't let him off
the hook he asked him three times
doesn't he the second time Simon son of
John do you love me he doesn't ask more
than these this time because we already
know that's not the case right do you
love me and Peter says agape Jesus uses
agape again and Peter answers again Lord
you know that I que quiero that I love
you filet o then he says take care of my
sheep a third time Jesus asks him he
says Simon son of John do you love me me
quieres he uses fillet o the last time
Jesus brings it down down down to where
Peter is do you love me he asks for what
Peter can give the Bible says Peter was
sad the last time because he said do you
love for me make here ties do you using
filet o perhaps or maybe just because he
had to ask three times maybe it was just
that whatever the case Peter was sad
saying you shouldn't have to ask three
times and you shouldn't have to bring
the bar down for me the Lord you know
all things you know that I love you as
much as I can I know I've got problems i
know i've got to struggles i know it's
imperfect but all that i am is yours and
then jesus makes the amazing prophecy he
says you know when you were young you
did whatever you wanted to do but when
you're old you're going to become more
like a child you're gonna go where
someone else leads you you're going to
stretch out your hands and someone else
will dress you the word stretch out your
hands is used for crucifixion Jesus says
maybe you just loved me filet o right
now but there will come a time when you
will die rather than deny me there will
come a time when you will be so
responsive to the Lord that you'll go
wherever even places you don't want to
go you'll just say yes sir and you'll go
because you're gonna be
at the point of commitment you're gonna
be all in for me I'll get you there I
will get you there you'll be like that
horse that wild stallion that needs to
be broken that these to be trained but
when it has been trained it becomes one
with its rider and the two of them can
do anything together we will be like
that together you may just love me filet
o now and I'll take what you've got to
give but I'm going to bring you to agape
I'm gonna make You the man of god I've
called you to be and I will not give up
and I will not let go until I get you
where you're supposed to be that's the
kind of God we serve a committed God a
God who is absolutely determined to
fulfill his purpose in our lives praise
the Lord he won't give up on me he's
going to bring me to where I'm supposed
to be and every one of the fish I'm
supposed to catch all 153 of them
whoppers every one of them will be
caught and the Nets won't break because
my god is able amen now this is Jesus's
encounter with Peter but I believe that
Jesus visits each one of us individually
I really do I really do when he rose
from the dead he appeared individually
to marry he came back and did a second
visit individually for Thomas because he
knew Thomas needed it he met Paul on the
road because he knew Paul needed get
whacked over and arrested right Jesus
visits us individually Peter looks over
and says what about him what about John
isn't a hilarious even now he's putting
his foot in his mouth even now he's
still he still Peter right you know what
about him and she's like what about him
you know if I want him to stay until I
return what's that to you and I think
that's part of why John wrote this
because people started thinking he was
never gonna die and I think he said wait
a minute later if that's not what Jesus
meant here's the whole story behind it
but you know he said what does it matter
to you I have a purpose for John John
had a very special purpose also his
purpose was to write these amazing
letters to be an apostle of love to be a
great teacher to receive the to be eggs
to an island where he would receive a
vision called the revelation and he
would write that down John had a very
specific purpose to now I don't know
exactly what your purpose in your
mission is but i believe you have one
from before the foundation of the earth
you were chosen in him and God has a
plan for you that only you can fulfill
that I can't do for you no one else can
do for you only you can walk in the
steps of the good works prepared in
advance for you to walk in and thank God
you will because God is able he doesn't
ask us to be perfect but he does require
that we be sincere he requires that we
say Lord with all that I have I do love
you I am jumping in the water with you I
am taking the plunge I will be all in
with you and I know you'll fulfill your
purpose for me now as I close this time
today I want to invite us to imagine
that we are at that breakfast with Jesus
on the shore and he's asking you do you
love me do you love me and it said up to
us to answer together so i invite you to
stand with me and that's close with that
with that prayer with that image in our
minds and that that commitment that God
calls us to make Jesus I thank you that
you do continue to prepare breakfast for
your people lord I thank you that you do
continue to visit your people
individually personally that you
continue to let us know that you love us
and that you won't give up on us Lord
God Oh father I pray in Jesus name Oh
God that you would visit each one here
in this place today and Lord that as you
ask us that question do you love me that
we would look you in the eye knowing our
weaknesses knowing our failures knowing
our imperfection but also knowing the
genuine love that we have for you that
we would say Lord you know all things I
love you as much as I can
Oh God we as a church Lord Jesus are
imperfect and in process but Lord there
are fish you've called us to catch and
you want to tell us where to fish and
you don't require that we be perfect or
competent or qualified you only require
that we love you as much as we can right
now it's the Lord we tell you we love
you today we love you jesus as much as
we can we want to be used by you we want
to serve you we want to feed your sheep
we want to catch your fish we want to do
what you call us to do gotta thank you
that it's never too late God is never
too late lord god I thank you that even
if we have made mistakes and we've
committed sins it is not too late the
gifts and calling of God are irrevocable
god I thank you that is never too late
like the Apostle John who was very
elderly when he received the vision of
Revelation even if we might feel like we
are we are older than some God it is not
too late Lord God you have worked for us
to do Lord God important work for us to
do as long as there's breath in our
lungs we are called to serve you and
that is what we'll do today in Jesus
name Lord God we say yes Lord and as
much as we can we say yes Lord we have
plenty of time and I'd like to invite us
to close with with worship but um you
know there is one more person that I had
a gift for and I I don't usually put a
person on the spot like this but I am
going to do that today ray I've got a
gift for you today could you could you
come forward reiki lace was baptized and
Ray Ray was baptized two weeks ago and
just all so we're celebrating housing
and he wasn't here a little while ago
but I want to give this to you and I
want to declare publicly you are a child
of the Living God ray and God has a
purpose for you and he has the plaintiff
the certificate and he has a purpose for
you and he has a plan for you and he
will fulfill their father in Jesus name
God Lord we stand with Ray not just as
ray but symbolic of all of us Lord God
Lord that you call into the waters and
you call out of the waters to serve you
Lord Jesus we bless him today and we say
his best years are yet to come that his
calling is yet to come that the good
works prepared in advance for him are
waiting for him and he will walk in
those good works because you who began
the good work are faithful to complete
it until the day of Christ Jesus amen
god bless you