Lovest Thou Me More Than These?

[00:00:00] Take our Bible and go to the Book of John. [00:00:03] John 21. [00:00:06] John 21. [00:00:20] The last chapter of John is just a beautiful chapter because throughout the Book of John, you're reading. And just when you do your regular Bible reading and you're reading about the disciple whom Jesus loved and he hides himself. You ever notice that John hides himself in his own gospel? And he doesn't ever reveal himself by name and say, I this, I that. [00:00:42] He hides himself until the big reveal at the very end when he comes out and says in the last few verses. Notice what it says in verse 20, verse number 24. [00:00:52] This is the disciple that testifieth of these things and wrote these things. And we know that his testimony is true. I just love that grand reveal. [00:01:06] We're going to begin reading in verse number one and read down to verse 17 this morning. [00:01:12] The Bible says this. After these things, Jesus showed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias. And on this wise showed he himself. Now our Lord has already died on the cross for sinners. He has already risen. He's been buried. He is risen again. He's alive, and he's showing himself alive. [00:01:32] Verse number two says, then were called. Then were together. There were together rather Simon Peter and Thomas, called Didymus and Nathanael of Cana of Galilee and the sons of Zebedee. That's James and John and two other of his disciples. That's seven of them. Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. [00:01:51] They say unto him, we also go with thee. They went forth and entered into a ship immediately. And that night they caught nothing. [00:01:59] But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore. But the disciples knew not that it was Jesus. [00:02:07] Then Jesus saith unto them, children, have ye any meat? They answered him, no. [00:02:14] He said unto them. And he said unto them, cast the net on the other side of the ship, and ye shall find they cast therefore. And now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes. [00:02:26] Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, it is the Lord. [00:02:32] Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher's coat unto him. For he was naked. Now, don't picture him completely naked, but just dressed down because he's working and did cast himself into the sea. [00:02:49] And the other disciples came in a little ship. For they were not far from the land, but as it were, 200 cubits, which is about 300ft, football field, dragging the net with the fishes. With fishes. As soon as they were come to land and they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread. [00:03:13] Jesus saith unto them, bring of the fish which ye have now caught. Simon Peter went up and drew the net to land full of great fishes, an hundred and fifty and three, and for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken. [00:03:28] Jesus saith unto them, come and dine. [00:03:31] And none of the disciples durst ask him, who art thou? Knowing that it was the Lord Jesus, then cometh and taketh bread and giveth them, and fish likewise. This is now the third time that Jesus showed himself to his disciples. After that he was risen from the dead. [00:03:49] So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? [00:03:59] He saith unto him, yea, Lord, thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, feed my lambs. [00:04:07] He saith to him Again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, yea, Lord, thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, feed my sheep. [00:04:20] He saith unto him. The third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? [00:04:24] Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, lovest thou me? [00:04:29] And he said unto him, lord, thou knowest all things. [00:04:33] Thou knowest that I love thee. [00:04:36] Jesus saith unto him, feed my sheep. [00:04:40] Let's pray together. [00:04:42] Our Father in heaven, we come to you now in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and just want to take this moment to commit this service to you and all parts of it, both the hearing and the preaching, the receiving and the response of your word to your word. [00:05:03] Lord, we pray. I pray for your people here, pray for our visitors, pray for those among us that are born again and those that are not. [00:05:10] That Lord, you would work among us and move among us and prick hearts that you would teach us. [00:05:19] Help me, Lord, to say the things that you would have me to say to help your people. Lord, you know if you do not help me, I can't. I have no ability or power at all. [00:05:27] So Lord, please help. [00:05:29] I pray that through our message here this morning that you would feed your sheep just like we read here. [00:05:37] So bless our time in your word this morning we commit it to you in Jesus name. Amen. [00:05:43] So notice that in verse number seven, once they finally get this idea, they finally come to understand, because the football field away, that's kind of far. So it's understandable that they didn't recognize the Lord Jesus standing on the shore. [00:05:57] But once they realize because of what he's doing, what he says. John realizes that it is Jesus standing on the shore. Indeed, he tells Peter it's the Lord. And notice that there's seven disciples that are in the ship. And of the seven, only one of them leaps out of the boat and swims to shore. In other words, you get this idea that Peter wants to be the first one to get to the Lord Jesus. That's the idea. [00:06:30] And he sets himself apart. And you see that in a number of times in the Gospels where Peter, either by what he says or what the Lord says to him, or by what he does, he sets himself apart, sometimes for good and sometimes for not good. [00:06:46] But Peter inevitably sets himself apart. Remember, it was Peter to Peter, the Lord said, thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church. The great confession of Peter, which is such an important moment in Scripture. [00:06:59] And then also we also see that Peter was one who affirmed and even vowed that he would never deny the Lord more than the other disciples. We'll look at that in just a minute. [00:07:13] But Peter alone jumps out of the ship to go to Jesus. [00:07:17] Peter sets himself apart from the other disciples. Now, just keep that under your hat, and we'll come back to that in just a minute. Now notice they brought the fish. And what did they find in verse number nine? They found fish and bread and all of these things. The Lord is reminding them of what he has done on multiple occasions where he, you know, when he fed the 5,000, he took bread and he took fish and distributed to the disciples. And those two symbols, right, Even this very day when we have the Lord's table, those two symbols are significant, especially the bread. But also fish became an important symbol in Christian history later on. And Jesus says, come and dine. So they have their meal on the shore of the Sea of Galilee. [00:08:08] And there's one problem, one outstanding issue that's not been addressed at this point, especially with Peter. You know what that issue is? It's the elephant in the room. [00:08:20] Peter is not forgotten. [00:08:24] When you royally fall, you do not quickly forget that. That as a believer, you do not quickly forget that Peter has not forgotten it. But it's kind of this. You know, it's kind of this. This matter where there's. There's this, you know, even in your relationship with your husband or your wife or your relationship with maybe another person or your relationship with the Lord himself. [00:08:47] There's sometimes we have these outstanding problems that are just there. They're not going away. [00:08:53] They're not evaporating. They're Just standing there, right? [00:09:00] And this is where Peter is. [00:09:02] Peter's threefold denial of the Lord Jesus Christ is that big ugly matter that has not yet been resolved. [00:09:13] It's kind of, you know, when you have an elephant in the room, it's something nobody wants to actually bring up, right? But everybody knows it's there. That's kind of what's happening here. So while there's the. They had their meal while they're sitting by the sea, Jesus brings it up. [00:09:26] Now he doesn't bring it up directly, though. [00:09:30] He doesn't bring it up directly. Look at verse 15. [00:09:34] So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter. Notice he's not speaking to everyone. He's only speaking to one person. [00:09:41] And he's going to ask this question three times, no doubt, we assume to match the three denials that he told Peter that he would commit prior to the Lord's arrest or shortly thereafter Lord's arrest. [00:09:57] He saith to Simon Peter, specifically, Simon son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? [00:10:06] Now the these is ambiguous here. There's no clear reference in Scripture that identifies who the these are. [00:10:15] That is this comparison of love. [00:10:17] Some people have said it's referring to the fish and Peter and James and John and the rest had no business going fishing. Again, I don't necessarily think that's true, but I think that's kind of a low view. I think what he's really talking about, and I'll show you why in just a minute, is he's referring to the other disciples. [00:10:36] Lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, yea, Lord, thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, feed my lambs. [00:10:45] Now, of the three times this question is asked by the Lord Jesus, only the first time does he add the few words more than these. Every other time he just says, lovest thou me? [00:10:59] But in the first instance he says, lovest thou me more than these? And it speaks to a problem with Peter. Look at Matthew, chapter number 26, if you would. [00:11:10] Matthew 26. We'll come back to John in just a minute. [00:11:15] Matthew 26. [00:11:32] Look at verse number 30. [00:11:38] Right after the Lord's Supper, the first Lord's Supper, when He instituted it. Verse 30 says this. And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the Mount of Olives. [00:11:50] Then saith Jesus unto them, all ye shall be offended because of me this night. For it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad. [00:12:03] But after I am risen again, I will go before you into Galilee. Peter answered and said unto him, though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended. [00:12:18] Now look at verse 33 one more time. [00:12:21] He says, though all men shall be offended, who are the all men in this particular passage that Peter is referring to? [00:12:31] It's referring to the disciples. Because Jesus just said, all ye shall be offended. In other words, he's telling the 11 disciples. Because Judas has already left. He's telling the 11 disciples, Listen, all of you will be offended. Peter says, though all of them are offended, not me. [00:12:49] You see what he's doing? [00:12:51] He's setting himself apart from the rest of the disciples. That's who he's referring to. When he says all men, he's not. We shouldn't imagine that Peter's referring to. Like all of mankind, he's referring to these 11 disciples. He said, whatever they do, I'm of a different sort. [00:13:07] Peter overestimated his love for the Lord Jesus. [00:13:14] Peter overestimated his love for the Lord Jesus. He says now he's dead wrong. [00:13:20] But he says, though all shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended. [00:13:30] And he spoke this in direct contradiction to what the Lord said would happen, which is foolish enough as it is. [00:13:38] But I dare not cast a stone too heavy at Peter, because there's a truth in here for us as well. [00:13:46] You see, Peter affirmed his belief. Even after Jesus said, look at verse 35 or verse 34, Jesus said unto him, now this is the second time Jesus is saying it. Verily I say unto thee that this night before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me. Thrice. [00:14:00] Peter said unto him, now this is the second time Peter affirms it, despite what the Lord says twice, though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. [00:14:12] Likewise. Also said all the disciples. In essence, Peter is saying, lord, I know how much I love you. [00:14:22] I know my attachment to you. I know the word love is not found in this passage, but it's clearly indicated. I know my attachment for you. I will be faithful to you. I know myself. And if I know my own heart, if I know my love, nothing that could happen when would cause me to deny you. Even if you said, I know it's not true. [00:14:44] Now, even these other disciples, they might, but I have a special kind of love for you that they do not have. My attachment to you is not like theirs. [00:14:56] It's next level. [00:15:00] Peter overestimated his love for the Lord Jesus. And here's what happened when. When that love was actually tested because, listen, talk is cheap. [00:15:10] Do we. Are we not people that like to talk about how much we love the Lord? [00:15:18] Because talk is easy and talk is superficial. [00:15:24] Verbal love is easy. [00:15:27] It's simple. It's easy. It cost us nothing. [00:15:31] And Peter did that. Peter was. We know Peter was kind of a loudmouth. Peter was a person who expressed his opinion, and this was no exception. And Peter, he. But the problem is, the key problem, though, was not so much Peter's mouth, but what his mouth revealed about him. And in this case, his mouth revealed that he was arrogant, that he had a high estimation of his own attachment to the Lord Jesus, even though that had really never been tested at all. [00:16:02] You know, it's one thing to say, oh, I die for the Lord when you've never even had to think about whether you would even go to church or whether you would, you know, there would be any repercussions for your faith at all. It's easy to say that we dare not say such a thing, right? Especially knowing there are people that have had to make those decisions. [00:16:19] You see, when Peter, when his love for the Lord Jesus. And I don't doubt that he had a love for the Lord Jesus. Do you doubt that? I don't doubt that he did. [00:16:30] But when that love was tested, the quality of that love was put to the test. It failed because his love toward the Lord Jesus was not as he himself assumed. In other words, he didn't even know himself. [00:16:49] Listen, brothers and sisters, our love toward the Lord Jesus, and more broadly speaking, our love toward people and is not what we say it is, but our love is the fruit that it produces. [00:17:10] But for some reason, our love for the Lord Jesus is always something that is superficial and verbal. [00:17:19] But this, what our Lord says is John, contradicts that a little bit. [00:17:24] Think about the love you might have for other people. [00:17:27] No one might doubt your love. But listen, if we're in a situation where we say we love someone so much and yet our actions toward that person contradict that statement, it speaks to a problem with the love. [00:17:48] In other words, it's not true. [00:17:51] The amount, the quality, the quantity of our love is not, as we say. [00:17:56] We say it's a ten and it's maybe a two. [00:18:00] Because love produces fruit. [00:18:03] And this is the thing. Peter, because Peter talked so much, because he was kind of out in front of the disciples, he was kind of one of the leaders among them. He thought, well, his love, his attachment to the Lord Jesus was. [00:18:17] Was indeed exceptional. But actually it wasn't. [00:18:21] It wasn't exceptional. [00:18:24] Because of the 12 disciples. Think about it. Of the 11 disciples that are left, how many of them denied the Lord directly three times? [00:18:34] 1. [00:18:35] The one who was saying the most about it, the one who was saying that his love and his attachment to Christ was superior to his fellow disciples. [00:18:45] The same one is the one who fell most profoundly and most spectacularly more than the other disciples. [00:18:55] He's the one who bragged the most, but he was also the one who fell the hardest. [00:19:04] And listen, the fact that Peter. [00:19:06] Go back to Matthew 26 and I really want you to let this sink in. If you will notice, in verse number 33, Peter answered and said unto him, though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended. He's making a comparison with himself, with the disciples. Do you see that? [00:19:25] Here's the problem with comparing ourselves. So Peter overestimated his love for the Lord Jesus. But Peter also thought that his love for Jesus was superior to his fellow disciples. [00:19:36] And the problem with that is when we compare ourselves and our commitment to the Lord with others, it reveals something ugly about us. [00:19:51] And we all have a tendency to do this. [00:19:53] You see, when we compare ourselves to others, like Peter is doing in this moment, right in this important moment, he's revealing that his focus and his attention is not solely on the Lord Jesus Christ. [00:20:08] Although he might be looking at the Lord Jesus Christ in his periphery. He's thinking about the other disciples and how he compares with them. [00:20:16] His focus is not solely on the Lord Jesus Christ. And that is also true of us when we compare ourselves with other Christians. [00:20:23] Comparison is the beginning of envy and jealousy. That's where it starts. It starts with comparison. And comparison starts when our focus and our heart and our attention is not solely on the Lord Jesus, but but when our eye is also paying attention to this other person. [00:20:44] Listen, if our eye is on another person, what does that say about us? [00:20:49] That's the problem with comparison. We're thinking about them but revealing something about ourselves. [00:20:57] We're revealing that we are not single hearted. [00:21:03] It's revealing this kind of tendency to compare one another. It reveals a kind of hypocrisy where we're trying to look the part better than the other. And that's kind of what's driving Peter. That's why he always comes out and says things though all of them do that. That sounds good, does it not? It sounds very spiritual in the moment, but it also reveals poor motivation for what we do toward the Lord. In other words, we're trying our best to appear better than the other, our eyes on them. We're comparing ourselves with that person. But what we're actually revealing is that our motivations are not right. [00:21:44] And by accident, we're showing our colors. [00:21:53] You see, when we try to. [00:22:01] When we have this kind of inward thought of comparison with another, you know, that's on the inside of us, right? It's something. We think it's something. It's where our heart is. [00:22:13] But inevitably, that thought escapes. [00:22:16] It seeps out by accident through our mouths so that other people can hear it and see it, just like it did with Peter. We can't hide it forever. [00:22:24] That's why. Listen. That's why your focus and my focus for what we do and why we serve the Lord and why we do anything we do. As a matter of devotion for the Lord, we must be solely focused on him, his pleasure, his smile, and nothing else. Not comparing others, not looking at other people and what they're doing. Remember, in John 21, that's where Peter says, what about this guy? Remember that? That happens right after our test text. [00:22:51] Now go back to John 21, if you would. [00:23:11] John 21. Look at verse number 15 one more time. [00:23:18] Jesus says, simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? [00:23:23] In other words, the idea being, indeed, peter, you love me more than they do. [00:23:33] Now it's the Lord bringing up the comparison. Do you see this now the Lord is bringing up the comparison. [00:23:42] But notice what Peter says. He saith unto him, yea, Lord, thou knowest that I love thee more than these. He didn't say that, did he? He left off that little part. The more than these. [00:23:54] In other words, Peter has learned a lesson, has he not? He's learned a lesson. [00:24:00] In other words, I'm. [00:24:02] You're right, Lord. [00:24:03] I was dumb for comparing myself, asserting that my love for you is greater than others, because I demonstrated that it wasn't. [00:24:13] I dare not say that again. And he didn't. [00:24:16] So he's learned something. [00:24:18] And, you know, this kind of repetition of this tendency of Peter to compare, it does show us something about Peter's attitude, about his disposition, both what he thought of himself and he was. [00:24:33] He thought himself very spiritual and dedicated to Jesus. [00:24:38] If you think that of yourself, you're in a bad place. [00:24:44] Now, there is a such thing as fake humility. I mean, that is a thing. [00:24:49] But I don't think fake humility is the biggest issue. [00:24:53] I think. No, humility is probably the more common issue. [00:24:58] And if we think of ourselves as some sort of spiritual giant, we are not cognizant As a believer, now as a Christian, if you are not cognizant of your failure, cognizant of your weakness, and your tendency to go away from the Lord, if you're not cognizant of that, you have a warped and unbiblical view of yourself. That's where Peter was. [00:25:22] And that also leads to a warped and unbiblical view in the way you view others, which is where Peter was as well. [00:25:31] Oftentimes we just look at the outside, the exterior checkboxes, and we say, well, I do this and they don't, and I do this and they don't. And I do this and they don't. I don't do this and they do, and I don't do this and they do, and I don't do this and they do and that. We just chalk it up to that. You notice what's missing in all that, the motivation, the heart, the love, which is what we're talking about here. Lovest thou me more than these? [00:25:56] We should be like Peter and say, lord, I don't know about how much they love you. I dare not say I love you more than they do. [00:26:04] So we see kind of an ugly side of Peter, kind of a part of his personality and character that's flawed. [00:26:12] But notice in each case he says this. Verse 15, he says, Yea, Lord, thou knowest that I love thee. Verse 16, Yea, Lord, thou knowest that I love thee. Verse 17, Lord, thou knowest all things. [00:26:29] Thou knowest that I love thee in every case. What does Peter do? He yields to what Christ knows of him more than what he knows of himself, right? He yields, lord, you know me. [00:26:47] I say, yes, I love you. As far as I know, I love you. But, Lord, you know me better than I know me. That's the problem he had at the beginning. [00:26:57] The Lord Jesus knows the true state of our love to him. I say, the true state of our love to him. [00:27:04] Just like he says, peter says three times here. [00:27:09] So why does the Lord repeat this question? [00:27:12] The Lord, we know that the Lord knows the true state of our love. Peter affirms that truth. So then why does the Lord ask him the question, lovest thou me? [00:27:21] And anytime the Lord asks us a repeated question, first of all, the Lord does not ask questions to get information. We know that. That's principle number one. But when the Lord asks repeated questions, he's not asking to get repeated information. [00:27:35] He's asking the question like he did to Adam in the garden. Remember he. He came to Adam and said, what? [00:27:41] Where Art thou God knew where he was. He's not asking for himself. He's asking for Adam. God asked questions for us. [00:27:50] Where are you in this case? Do you love me? I ask you, do you love the Lord Jesus Christ? [00:27:56] Do you love the Lord Jesus Christ? [00:27:59] Do you love the Lord Jesus Christ? [00:28:04] Because he knows if you love him or not. And he knows the degree and he knows the quality of your love. [00:28:12] He knows. [00:28:15] So this fakery that we put on to try to make ourselves appear like we love the Lord Jesus, like Peter, is so vain because God knows. [00:28:30] And eventually it's going to be tested. In fact, it's tested all the time. [00:28:37] But now we see Peter is relying not so much on his own estimation of his love for Jesus because that failed, but upon the Lord's estimation of him. [00:28:51] You know, sometimes we assume that the loudest people love Jesus the most. [00:28:58] You've seen that, hadn't you? [00:29:00] People who shout amen in church, they love Jesus the most, right? [00:29:04] The people who use all the spiritual terminology. Well, amen. Praise the Lord, brother. [00:29:12] I'm not against that. But what I'm saying, that is not how you judge love. And that is not how Jesus judged love. That's just words. [00:29:21] You can train your mouth to say certain things, can you not? [00:29:27] Okay, I'm walking out the door. Love you, honey. Don't mean it. [00:29:31] There's nothing that. It's hollow. There's nothing there. It's just words, right? And that's the way we all know how to put on spiritual talk. Spiritual talk is a major hindrance to the gospel. I'm telling you in Greenville, South Carolina, spiritual talk is a major hindrance to the gospel. [00:29:46] Sometimes we assume that because someone knows how to talk the talk, that there's substance behind it, and that's not necessarily true. [00:29:54] What appeared with Peter and what was there was not the same. What people say and whether they really love the Lord Jesus are often not the same. But at least at this point, at a minimum, Peter has learned that his own estimation of his love for Jesus was wrong. [00:30:12] And that he doesn't know himself or his love for Jesus like he thought he did. Because hard experience has taught him a permanent lesson. [00:30:26] Howard experience has been a faithful teacher to him. [00:30:31] I want to tell you something. [00:30:34] The Lord Jesus knows the true state of our love to him. [00:30:38] But it is only the Lord's estimation of our love that matters, not how others esteem our love for Jesus. [00:30:51] Second Corinthians, chapter 10, verse 18. Listen to this verse, if you would, for not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth. [00:31:06] So whether you think I'm a spiritual giant or whether you don't really doesn't matter, right? Whether your brother or sister next to you thinks you're spiritual or whether they don't think you're spiritual doesn't matter. [00:31:24] In the grand scheme of things, it doesn't matter. But how often is that what we're thinking about as we get close to the end here? [00:31:36] Notice what the Lord says in each case. [00:31:44] Simon, do you love me? [00:31:46] Yes, Lord. You know that I love you. The answer, Feed my lambs, Feed my sheep. Feed my sheep. [00:31:56] So that's Peter. Remember, not everybody has the same avenue of service. Not everybody is God. God's will for them is to feed the flock of God. [00:32:06] Peter's being spoken to as a spiritual leader. Does everybody get that? Peter's being spoken to as a spiritual leader. But this is his area of service for Peter's life. This is his particular area of service because this is a two way conversation, Peter and Jesus. Jesus is speaking to Peter as an individual. This is his area of service. Feed my lambs. Feed my sheep. Feed my sheep. So this is Peter's service. But what a warning. [00:32:31] Do you love me? Yes. [00:32:33] Serve me. [00:32:36] But that tells us that Peter's service is supposed to be because of his love. [00:32:44] Peter's service is supposed to come out of his love for Jesus. That's why. That's the Lord's response to his statement, yes, I love you. [00:32:55] If you love me, do this, serve me. That's what he's saying here. So love to Christ is the highest and best and indeed the only motivation for serving Christ. Every other motivation for serving the Lord is inferior. [00:33:10] And you and I both know that we serve the Lord. People serve the Lord out of many other motivations. [00:33:19] Sometimes we might serve the Lord out of just raw duty. [00:33:23] Sometimes we might serve the Lord because we know that's what the Lord said to do. Sometimes we might serve the Lord because we're trying to please other people or not disappoint other people. Sometimes we might serve the Lord because we want to get a one up on one of our fellow disciples like Peter. Or maybe we want to hear their praise. [00:33:43] Sometimes we serve the Lord because of money. [00:33:47] Sometimes we might serve the Lord out of fear of being ashamed if we don't. [00:33:55] Those are all inferior and substandard motives for serving Jesus. [00:33:59] The motive that Jesus gives here for why he would feed which feed the sheep. This is Peter's area of service is because he loves Jesus. [00:34:11] Service should grow out of love for Jesus. [00:34:15] That's the only proper motivation. [00:34:18] But here's what happens, brothers and sisters, is when service happens. But it comes of the wrong heart and motivation. [00:34:27] It produces a sour attitude. [00:34:31] We have no joy in service and we're unhappy because our motivation is wrong. [00:34:37] So when you're serving the Lord, just use it as a test. When you're serving the Lord, but you're unhappy doing it, your motivation is wrong. [00:34:48] When you're serving the Lord for some substandard motive, we will always do the minimum. [00:34:56] If you're serving the Lord for some substandard motive, whenever you have a chance and you can justify it, you'll withdraw from service. You'll get out of it. [00:35:10] If you're serving the Lord for some, some standard motive, you'll serve him only for public view, but not so much privately when no one sees it. [00:35:21] And here's the danger, brothers and sisters, children of God, listen. Here's the danger. [00:35:27] This is so important. [00:35:31] We serve the Lord. So we look the part. We're doing the thing right. [00:35:36] Other people see it, but we're not doing it because we love the Lord. That's not what's driving it. Some other thing, some other lesser inferior reason. [00:35:48] So we're not happy. [00:35:49] We're trying to get out of it. We want to do the minimum because we're not. There's no love. [00:35:54] There's no love. [00:35:56] You know who sees that? [00:36:00] Your kids, your family, those closest to you. [00:36:07] They see that. You know what they see? They see a Christian who's serving God for some substandard reason. And it mars the way that they view serving the Lord. It mars the way they view loving the Lord. Because they see somebody with romance, wrong motives. And behind closed doors, not out front. Behind closed doors, you're unhappy and sulky and complaining. [00:36:34] You're not happy. [00:36:36] Do you think they are going to want to serve the Lord? [00:36:41] Forget it. [00:36:43] It's not going to happen. [00:36:46] It's not going to happen because we have soured what is supposed to be the ultimate fulfillment in life, which is to give my life wholly to the Lord Jesus. That is the reason I'm here. And that's the reason you're here. You know that. That's the reason we're here. [00:37:03] To love him and serve him. That's why we're here. And yet that very thing, which is the whole purpose of our life is just some bother. [00:37:15] It's going to hurt people around us that we should be setting an example to or looking to us to see someone who loves Jesus. [00:37:22] This is why our motivation, love a heart that's warm and quivering for the Lord Jesus is the thing that must drive and spring and motivate our service to Jesus. If it's not like that, I'm telling you, I'm telling you, it's going to hurt those around us. [00:37:47] Set an example for your family. They see you behind closed doors when nobody else sees it. [00:37:53] They know if you're happy serving the Lord. [00:37:57] They know. [00:37:59] And they're taking notes. I promise you, especially your children, they're taking notes. [00:38:12] Lastly, Jesus says this in each case, feed my lambs, Feed my sheep. Feed my sheep. Which is to say, serve me. [00:38:26] The formula is this. Do you love me? [00:38:30] Peter says, yes. [00:38:32] The Lord responds to the yes with live for me. [00:38:36] Do you love me? Yes. Live for me. [00:38:40] Do you love me? Yes. [00:38:42] Live for me. [00:38:47] You see, our true love for the Lord Jesus is something that is seen and it's not just heard by the words we speak expressing our love to him. It is seen by the life that we give to the One who is the object of our love. [00:39:07] Why did Peter fall after reading this, why did Peter fall and deny the Lord three times? There is one reason and one reason only. [00:39:16] It was a failure of love, was it not? [00:39:18] His love failed. [00:39:21] He loved himself more than he loved Jesus. [00:39:25] That's the whole point of this conversation. [00:39:29] Now I say this, and I want to be careful. [00:39:31] I'm not trying to twist anybody's arm to get anybody to do more. [00:39:39] It's not it at all. [00:39:41] But I would be remiss if I did not remind you of the biblical truth that is seen in this passage, which is love for the Lord Jesus produces fruit of giving oneself to him to serve him. [00:39:58] Peter, do you love me? Yes. [00:40:03] Serve me. [00:40:05] Live for me. [00:40:07] Give me your life. [00:40:09] For Peter, it was feeding those lambs and feeding those sheep. [00:40:14] Deuteronomy 11:13 says this, and it shall come to pass if ye shall hearken diligently unto my commandments, which I command you this day to love the Lord your God and to serve him. You see the two with all your heart and with all your soul. Joshua 22:5 says this. But take diligent heed to do the commandment and the law which Moses, the servant of the Lord, charged you to love the Lord your God, and to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments, and to cleave unto him, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul. Matthew 6:24 no man can serve two masters. For either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will hold to the one and despise the other. Ye cannot serve because of love, God and mammon. [00:41:09] You see, the proper response to the question of our love to Christ is to give ourselves to him, to live for him. You love me. Don't just say you love me. [00:41:21] Live for me. [00:41:24] Let's pray together.