 The title of our sermon this morning is Do You Love Him? Do You Love Him? This is part two. So we've been working through John chapter 21 verses 15 to 25. And as I was considering this text, and as we've worked verse by verse through the gospel of John, John chapter one all the way now to John chapter 21, over the course of years here in our church, we've seen in the gospel that much of the Lord's time during his earthly ministry has been spent instructing, correcting, sometimes rebuking his disciples. The Lord obviously loves them, and he's certainly concerned with their spiritual growth and development. He would eventually die for them. However, the Lord manages his time with them in ministry together with an intent to prepare them to get them ready for ministry after his departure. So as the Lord preaches the gospel, as the Lord confronts the religious elite, four chapters of dialogue in the upper room before his death, all used as occasions to disciple these men for the ministry that they will have in this world after his death. If you remember, a clear example of that comes from the upper room in John chapter 15. Turn back with me to John chapter 15, a couple of pages to the left, and drop down to verse 18, John chapter 15 verse 18. A clear example of this instruction, this preparation, that the Lord gives his disciples with an eye toward their future ministry, an eye toward their future witness for him after he departs from this world by means of his death. This is in John chapter 15 verse 18, mere hours before he will lay down his life for the sheep and depart from this world. Look at verse 18. If the world hates you, listen men, if the world hates you, you know that it hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but because I chose you out of the world, therefore this world hates you. In other words, guys, this isn't going to be easy. Write it down, chalk it up, settle it in your mind, prepare yourself for what's coming. Prepare yourself mentally, prepare yourself spiritually. You've been given a mission, and you've been dropped behind enemy lines. This isn't going to be easy. Verse 20, Remember the word that I said to you, a servant is not greater than his master. If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they'll keep yours also. But all these things they will do to you for my name's sake because they do not know him who sent me. If I had not come and spoken to them, they would have no sin in this regard, right? But now they have no excuse for their sin because he's spoken to them. He who hates me, Jesus says, hates my father also. If I had not done among them the works which no one else did, they would have no sin. But now they have seen and also hated both me and my father. But this happened that the word might be fulfilled which is written in their law. They hated me without a cause. Now that's the context. That's the context of their ministry in this world. You've seen the way they've persecuted me, Jesus says. They're going to persecute you in the same way. These are the circumstances under which I am calling you to preach the gospel. These are the circumstances of your ministry. But I have hope for you, look at verse 26. But when the helper comes whom I shall send to you from the Father, the spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, he will testify of me. Here it is verse 27. And you also will bear witness because you have been with me from the beginning. You're going to bear witness. This is going to be your ministry. In a world that hates you, you are my witnesses. Verse 16. These things I have spoken to you to prepare you. These things I have spoken to you so that you should not be made to stumble, so that you won't shrink back, so that you won't fall away. Don't get caught flat-footed. Don't turn back. Don't think it's strange concerning the fiery trial, which is to try you as though some strange thing has happened. Rejoice. Rejoice, Peter says, to the extent that you partake of Christ's sufferings. If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you. Prepare yourself. Don't turn back. Don't shrink back. Don't get caught flat-footed. Verse 2. They're going to put you out of the synagogues. They're going to do this, right? Yes, the time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers God's service. And these things they will do to you because they have not known the Father nor me. They hated me, and so they're going to hate you too. But these things I have told you. I've told you these things so that when the time comes you may remember that I told you of them. You're preparing yourself ahead of time. When the time comes, you remember my words. And these things I did not say to you at the beginning because I was with you. The ministry of the disciples is going to be difficult. It's not going to be easy. These are no flowery beds of ease, right? The church has been built on the blood of the martyrs. But these men have been prepared by the Lord. And they have the power and affirmation of the Spirit of God. A similar in a similar way to the upper room discourse the Lord's post resurrection appearances and particularly this time on the beach with Peter and the other disciples in John chapter 21 is an important part of their desperately needed preparation. We see the weakness of these men, right? In seeing their weaknesses don't we look upon our own weaknesses, our own failures, our own desperate need for preparation, our own desperate need for faith. The Lord has an eye toward their future witness. He has an eye toward their future gospel ministry, the spread of the gospel, the growth of the church. And the Lord knows that Peter is going to have responsibility in that work. Peter is going to be a leader in the early church. But Peter has outright denied the Lord Jesus Christ. And that's not private, that's public. And the gravity of his sin calls into question then Peter's love and devotion for the Lord. The public nature of his sin requires a public repentance, a renewed commitment, a renewed focus, a public restoration. And so Peter's sin has landed him on the beach in a very difficult conversation with the Lord. In the presence of the other disciples the Lord lovingly and directly confronts Peter. Look at John chapter 21 verse 15. So when they had eaten breakfast Jesus said to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonah, do you love me more than these? He said to him, yes, Lord, you know that I love you. He said to him, feed my lambs. He said to him a second time, again, Simon, son of Jonah, do you love me? He said to him, yes, Lord, you know that I love you. And Jesus said to him, tend my sheep. So he said to him the third time, verse 17, Simon, son of Jonah, do you love me? Peter was grieved in his heart because he said to him the third time, do you love me? And he said to him, Lord, you know all things. You know that I love you. And Jesus said to him, feed my sheep. Peter had denied the Lord three times on the night that he was arrested. What follows is three heart piercing questions from the Lord and three humble and broken responses from Peter. What also follows each question, what also follows each response is a gracious, comforting, loving, affirming call to Peter to serve the Lord Jesus Christ. It's amazing grace, isn't it? Amazing. He said to him, feed my lambs. He didn't turn him into a grease spot on that beach for denying him. The Lord was gracious. The Lord was merciful. Calls him back into ministry. Calls him back, affirms him. It's the grace of God to Peter. Essentially, Peter's love for the Lord and consequently the evidence of Peter's restoration is going to be displayed in Peter's love and pastoral care for the Lord's people, the Lord's church. Essentially the Lord is saying to Peter, you say you love me, Peter. You say you love me. This is what love for me looks like. Here's what love for me looks like, feed my sheep. Now make the connection with me. The Lord says to Peter, you say you love me. Peter, you're going to prove it. You see? You're going to prove it. Here's how Peter, here's how a life of service, a life of sacrifice, a persevering faithfulness in the work that you've been called to. Twice in this brief record of their conversation at Galilee, Peter is commanded, follow me, follow me. Loving Christ does not mean, does not mean following the dictates of your own wicked heart, the dictates of your own deceitful heart. Loving Christ means, loving Christ means denying yourself. Loving Christ means taking up your cross daily and loving Christ means following Him. Why? Why? Because you love Him. Because you love Him. You delight in Him. You delight in Him above all else and so you're willing to follow Him. You're willing. Your desire is to serve Him. Loving Christ means denying yourself, taking up your cross daily and following the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ said himself in John chapter 14 verse 21, whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. Now that's often a foreign concept in our world where love is just corrupted and abused. We have no idea what love means in our context in this world. The Bible gives us an understanding of what love means and the Lord Jesus Christ here explains it to us. Love for the Lord Jesus Christ involves service, involves sacrifice, it involves perseverance. Why? Because you're just going to mindlessly, heartlessly do what He calls you to do? No, because you delight in Him. You love Him. You want to serve Him. The Lord Jesus Christ is your treasure. He is precious to you and so what you want is to live for Him. Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. What about those that don't follow Him then? What about those who don't keep His commandments? The obvious answer to the question is that they don't love Him. They don't love Him. They don't delight in Him. They don't delight in Him above all their other preferences. Maybe they don't just delight in Him above one particular preference. They don't delight in Him as they're all surpassing sufficient Savior. They don't love Him. Many, many would say, many would say, I love Jesus. I follow Jesus. The Lord Jesus Christ is about to make what that means exceedingly clear, exceedingly clear. Put yourself in Peter's sandals, right on the beach. You and I deserve to be on that beach. We deserve to be on that beach, questioned by the Lord for the many times that we've denied Him or failed Him for the weakness often of our faith. You've boasted. I've boasted many times about how much I love the Lord. You may have even boasted that I would certainly, I would lay down my life for Him. Who does that sound like? Sounds like Peter. Is that a prideful boast? Since that time, since that boast, you've denied Him in many ways. Small and great many times over. And so he asks you, he asks me, do you love me? Do you love me? It comes down to love. Don't say that you love me and continue to deny me. If you love me, if you love me, then here's what that love looks like. Here's what you're going to do. Perseverance in sacrificial service. Point one on your notes. True love for Christ involves service. Love for Christ involves serving Christ. Verse 15, Jesus said to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonah, do you love me more than these, these things? We've talked about that last Lord's day. He said to him, yes, Lord, you know that I love you. He said to him, feed my lambs. Three times the Lord asked Peter, do you love me? Three times Peter responds, yes, Lord, you know that I love you. And three times the Lord calls Peter to a life of service. Feed my lambs. In other words, Peter, it's not your life anymore. Not your life anymore. Put away your idols, Peter. Put away living for yourself. Peter, you've been bought with a price. You're not your own, Peter. The life which you now live in the flesh, you live by faith in me who loved you at the cross, where I gave myself for you. Now the three calls to Peter, verses 15, verse 16, and verse 17, are essentially synonymous. Literally verse 15, feed my lambs. Verse 16, the word there is shepherd. Shepherd my sheep. Verse 17, feed my sheep. In other words, if you love me, Peter, then you are to serve me by tending to my people, the church. Now there are three characteristics of this Christ-loving service that I want you to note. Three qualities, if you will, of this self-denying, sacrificing service. One, it's a responsible service. It's a responsible service. Two, it's an active service. And three, it's a loving service. It's responsible, active, and loving. Let's look at number one, it's a responsible service. Another way to say it, it's an accountable service. Peter will be held to account. You and I will be held to account. Notice at the end of verse 15, the Lord says, feed my lambs. At the end of verse 16, tend or shepherd or pastor, my sheep. At the end of verse 17, feed my sheep. In other words, the sheep don't belong to Peter. They're not Peter's sheep. The sheep belong to the Lord Jesus Christ. And Peter now has the responsibility. He's been entrusted with a stewardship. He has the responsibility to love the Lord by loving and caring for the Lord's people. Now is that only a pastor who has that responsibility? No, we are commanded to love one another. All the one another's in Scripture are for every believer. How are you doing that? You have an accountable, a responsible service to one another. We're to love one another. Now all this doesn't mean that Peter is some hireling. Turn back with me to John chapter 10. A few more pages to the left, John chapter 10. This doesn't mean that Peter is a hireling. The Lord is hiring Peter into service, right? From the analogy, the story, the illustration in John chapter 10. Peter's no hireling. John chapter 10 and look down at verse 11. Verse 11, the Lord says, I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives his life for the sheep. But notice the contrast, right? Notice the contrast. This is a contrast between the hireling and the good shepherd. Not the hireling and an under shepherd, but a contrast between the hireling and the good shepherd. But verse 12, a hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and he leaves the sheep and flees and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them. The hireling flees because he's a hireling and he does not care about the sheep. And we all know, we know, that not all sheep are sheep, right? They're counterfeit sheep. Some are wolves in sheep's clothing, right? We also know, we know, that not all shepherds are actual shepherds. Some are hirelings in shepherd's clothing. How can you tell the difference? Well, from this text, one way to tell the difference is that the good shepherd or a good under shepherd beats off the wolves. Beats off the wolves. He doesn't shrink back from encountering wolves. The hireling commends the wolves. He gets along with the wolves. They preach at one another's conferences, right? The good shepherd, the good under shepherd, beats off the wolves. We'll confront wolves. We'll put wolves out of the church. They don't belong in the pen with the sheep. Secondly, how can you tell the difference? Secondly, like the good shepherd, like the good chief shepherd, the good under shepherd gives his life for the sheep. He certainly doesn't atone for them, to follow the Lord's example in zeal. Follow the Lord's example in love. A good under shepherd loves the chief shepherd and therefore cares about the sheep. And Peter's no hireling here. Peter cares about the sheep. Why? Because it's a Lord's people. If you love the Lord, you love the Lord's people. If you love the Lord, you love your brother. You love your sister. How can you say that you love God whom you can't see when you don't even love your brother whom you do see? Don't love him enough to show up. Don't love enough to encourage him, to exhort him. Don't love him enough to pray for him. Don't love him enough to help him through a problem, help him through a sin, help him through a trial. You just don't love the brothers. How can you say you love God? Peter cares about the sheep. Peter's no hireling. Peter is an adopted son. Right? You're no hireling. I'm no hireling. If we love the Lord Jesus Christ and we serve him by serving the sheep, we're united to the good shepherd. We're adopted sons and daughters in the kingdom. Let's see if Peter understands the difference himself. Does Peter understand the difference? Look at 1 Peter chapter 5. 1 Peter chapter 5. And look at verse 1. 1 Peter chapter 5 verse 1. Does Peter know the difference? Between a hireling and a good under shepherd of our chief shepherd who loves the sheep and cares for the sheep. Verse 1. The elders who are among you, I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed, shepherd the flock of God. Same word there, shepherd. Shepherd the flock of God, which is among you. Going back to the Lord's analogy or illustration of sheep, right? He gets it. He sees it. Shepherd the flock of God, which is among you. Serving his overseers, not by compulsion, not because you're forced to or it's some drudgery to you. I gotta go take care of this. No. Willingly, right? Not for dishonest gain, but eagerly. He's not doing it for his own financial well-being. He's not an LA preacher waiting to get his next leader, Jed or Audi, right? That is despicable. That is, that is so despicable. These prosperity preachers that gain and gather wealth to themselves because they think or they, they want you to think that that indicates the blessing of God to them. That is a despicable lie. Those are godless, retching wolves in sheep's clothing. Were to encounter them, rebuke them, expose them and kick them out. They're in your church, you get out of there. Not under compulsion, but willingly. Not for dishonest gain, but eagerly. Not as being lords over those entrusted to you. Notice entrusted to you. Not to lord it over those whom the lord has graciously entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. And when the chief shepherd appears, Peter knows what he's talking about here, right? When the chief shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away. Incidentally, verse 4, when the chief shepherd appears, presupposes there's accountability and responsibility to the chief shepherd. It's a responsible service. Peter is responsible for serving faithfully back in John 21. Speaking here of beating off wolves, do you see here in John 21 anything at all that establishes papal authority for Peter? No, neither do I. It's not there, all right? So the loving service that Peter is called to is a responsible service. Number two, it's an active service. It's an active service. Notice next, fairly simple, straightforward observation of the text. Serving Christ in his church, John 21, 15, 16, 17, is described by verbs and not nouns, right? These are verbs, feed, tend, shepherd. In other words, the Lord is not calling Peter to a title. Pope. He's calling Peter to action. He's calling Peter to action. Peter's not to be seated in an ivory tower looking down the end of his nose at the sheep. He's down with the sheep. He's in the dirt with the sheep. He's one of them. He's caring for them, beating off wolves. The hireling just likes to talk once a week, likes to hear the sound of his own voice, likes the sound of his own voice. The hireling may do a thousand other things in the church just to avoid the sheep. We were hearing a while back, we chuckle about it now and then, but it really is sad, it's not funny. Someone said that ministry would be great if it weren't for all these people. Ministry is the people, right? Feed my sheep, care for my sheep, tend my sheep. And you may say, again, what about me? I'm not a pastor. Jesus would ask you, do you love me? Do you love me? And tend to my sheep. Verbs, not nouns. Verbs, not nouns. Verbs, not the hypocritical, empty platitudes of goats. Verbs, I love the brothers. Well, then why do you abandon them? I love the brothers. I love the sisters. Then why do you slander them? Why do you betray them? Why do you leave them in times of difficulty, in times of trial? What does love for the brothers look like? What does love look like? It looks like action. It looks like action, love them. Speaking of that then, number three, it's a loving service. One, it's a responsible service. Two, it's an active service. Three, it's a loving service. Prior to each statement of commission, feed my sheep, is the question of our love for the Lord Jesus Christ, do you love me? Love is the prerequisite for service. It's a requirement. It's the necessity for service. Last week we discussed these opening verses from the perspective of Peter's love for Christ. And that's certainly appropriate. The Lord is calling into question, Peter's love for him. In light of Peter's denials, the Lord is asking him, do you love me, Peter? But what is to motivate or compel Peter's love? Does that love just sort of spring out of our own heart? No. We have hearts that don't effuse love in that way. What motivates or compels our love? What motivates or compels our service? In other words, we love him, why? That's right, because he first loved us. We love him because he first loved us. Turn to 2 Corinthians 5. 2 Corinthians 5. In 2 Corinthians 5, Paul, who loves the Corinthians, because he is a good under shepherd of his chief shepherd, Paul is discussing his labor for the Lord among the Corinthians. Look at his description of this labor at verse 9. 2 Corinthians 5, verse 9. Therefore, Paul says, we make it our aim whether present or absent to be well pleasing to him. To whom? Lord Jesus Christ. Well pleasing to Lord Jesus Christ. Why Paul verse 10? For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ. It is a responsible, accountable service. Paul in his labor among the Lord's sheep is singularly focused on being well pleasing to the Lord. When you love your brother, when you love your sister, when you serve the church, your name is to be well pleasing to him. So when you come in on a Sunday morning and you drudge, ah, I gotta go in that room. Is that well pleasing to the Lord? Serving among God's people, even miniature sized people is to be done with an aim to pleasing him. We make it our aim whether present or absent to be well pleasing to him. Paul in his labor among the Lord's sheep singularly focused on being well pleasing to the Lord knowing that one day he's going to give an account for that work. We must all verse 10 appear before the judgment seat of Christ. He was so singularly focused in fact that worldly lost people would have and did think that Paul was mentally unhinged. He dropped down to verse 13. Verse 13 So if we are beside ourselves it is for God or if we are of sound mind it is for you. Paul was so committed, so passionate so zealous about the gospel and about the Corinthians, about the Lord Jesus Christ that one of the charges made by false teachers against Paul was that he was out of his mind. He was out of his mind. Paul you're beside yourself, right? Paul was fanatical to them. If Paul was a one man church they would have called him a cult. Because Paul was serious about, interesting isn't it? As soon as you get interested, as soon as you get serious about following the Lord you're fanatic all of a sudden. I just want to love the Lord. I want to obey him and as soon as you express love for the Lord that demonstrates in obedience you're a fanatical person. You're mentally unhinged. If a church is characterized in that way by a bunch of people who love the Lord getting together and serving him, all of a sudden that church is a cult. There have been people who call this church a cult that haven't even walked in the front doors of this building who've never listened to a single sermon. But because the people here are zealous for the Lord, obviously something's wrong with that place. No, something's wrong with you. Roman governor Festus said, Paul you are out of your mind much learning has made you mad. Paul essentially says, listen it's of no consequence to me what you think. If I'm zealous if I'm passionate if I preach Christ with conviction it's for God. If we preach with conviction it's for God. Even if I'm out of my mind as you say it's for the sake of God's truth and the sake of your soul. I'll play the fool. But why would you do this, Paul? What drives you? What motivates you Paul to do that? What motivates you to play the fool? Foolishness of preaching. What motivates you? Your zeal, your passion your conviction. What drives you Paul verse 14 for the love of Christ compels us because we judge thus that if one died for all then all died and he died for all that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and rose again. Amen. Certainly Paul's love for Christ motivated him, right? Paul's love for Christ motivated him. It drove him to serve Christ with zeal. He loved the Lord. Your love for Christ motivates you. It may be your lack of love or the coolness of your love or you losing your first love that keeps you from serving Christ with zeal. But what motivated or compelled Paul's love? It was Christ's love for him. We love him because he first loved us. Christ sacrificial matchless incomprehensible overwhelming love compelled. The word there means control. It controlled Paul and Paul served the Lord as a grateful loving act of worship and praise for the Lord Jesus Christ. If Christ has died verse 14, if one died then all died. If Christ has died for all believers then all believers die in Christ. What does that mean? That means they should no longer live for themselves. If Christ has died for all believers then all believers, all those who put their faith and trust in Christ, listen if you say I'm tired of my life I don't want to live that way anymore. I don't want to have anything to do with my sin anymore. I'm sick and tired of it. I want to leave that life. I want Christ. I want forgiveness. I want heaven. If you say that then you die in him. You come and you die in him. If Christ has died for all believers then all believers die in Christ. That means they should no longer live for themselves. Stop living for yourself. Stop making provision for the flesh. Stop enjoying worldly lusts. You should live for him who died for you and rose again. That's what compelled Paul's love. Paul's service. It's a loving service, back in John 21. The love of Christ compels us, both our love for him but certainly preeminently his love for us. Love is the fountain spring fruit of the spirit, motivation for gospel ministry. This is so important. So important. Following Christ is so far from merely doing good things that he commands or simply avoiding bad things that he condemns. It is a matter. It is a matter. Following Christ is a matter of loving the Lord your God with all your heart with all your soul, with all your mind, with all your strength all the time. It's a matter of loving the Lord. It's a matter of delighting to do those things that he gives you to do because he loved you and because he gave himself for you, that you could be saved that you could be forgiven of your sin that you could be with him in heaven one day fleeing the wrath of God. Jesus says if anyone loves me if anyone loves me he will keep my word. Paul told the Corinthians you consider the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ. What Christ has done you consider that for a moment. This motivated Paul to tell the Corinthians if anyone does not love the Lord Jesus Christ let him be damned. Considering the worthiness of Christ for that love. The value, the preciousness the excellency of the Lord Jesus Christ if you don't love the Lord Jesus Christ be damned. Love the Lord. And that's exactly what happens in scripture. If you don't love the Lord Jesus Christ you are damned. You'll perish. All of that is only possible in the Spirit of God with the Spirit of God. To follow him, to love him, to serve him in that way it's the Spirit of God that Paul also says that sheds abroad in our hearts a love for God. The Spirit does that. The love of God for us, our love for him point one on your notes, true love for Christ involves service. Secondly, point two on your notes true love for Christ involves sacrifice involves sacrifice look at John chapter 21 verse 18 most assuredly literally there amen amen this is emphatic Jesus saying listen to me listen to me carefully most assuredly I say to you Peter when you were younger you girded yourself and walked where you wished but when you are old you will stretch out your hands and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish this he spoke verse 19 signifying by what death he would glorify God when he had spoken this he said to him follow me Jesus says you've been bought with a price Peter you are not your own Peter you have been called into loving service and it's a service that will demand everything from you even your own life amen amen most assuredly listen to me Peter you are going to deny yourself even unto death for me the Lord in communicating to this to Peter employs a contrast employs a contrast between Peter when he was younger before Christ when he lived life for himself and Peter when he is old where even his death will be a sacrifice to the glory of God when you were younger you girded yourself you walked where you wished when you are old you will stretch out your hands and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish stretch out your hands widely used as a figure of speech to refer to crucifixion crucifixion another will come along and gird Peter along the shoulders with the cross beam of his own cross and another will pharaoh bear you or will bring you to the place of execution that understanding is confirmed by verse 19 this he spoke signifying by what death he Peter would glorify God Peter knew what the Lord was talking about this was clear to Peter did Peter love the Lord yes he did did Peter find Christ worthy of his life worthy of his death yes he did Peter would in fact later be crucified for preaching Christ his life poured out as an offering of love to the Lord Jesus Christ it's interesting as we think about verses 18 and 19 here it's interesting to think of how Peter would have taken this news you're going to die for me Peter you're going to die you're going to be crucified you're going to be led to the place of execution where you do not wish and you will die for me how did Peter take that after Peter's prideful boasting right after his empty fleshly confidence that he boasted in before the Lord's death after that experience I think Peter hearing this from the Lord that Peter's heart would have left with joy a humble joy a sober joy but I think that Peter would have rejoiced in knowing this Peter might have thought I denied you in the past I denied you in the past but I'll not deny you again when that time comes I'll pay the price I'll glorify you and I'm going to die by the grace of God when I finish my race when I face death again for the last time I'm going out preaching Christ in victory I think that's what Peter would have thought I think that Peter lived and served the Lord in constant light of this sovereign promise from the Lord Jesus Christ let me give you an example look at Acts chapter 4 couple of pages to the left or to the right your other left Acts chapter 4 I think that Peter lived and served the Lord in light of this promise Acts chapter 4 and look down at verse 8 Peter and John Peter and John heal a lame man in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ of the gate beautiful going into the temple right Peter then in the temple preaches boldly from the Old Testament preaches the Lord Jesus Christ preaching in the temple Peter and John are arrested by the priest and notice this this is the beginning of Acts 3 they're arrested by the priests the Sadducees the captain of the temple very likely the same men many of the same men who arrested Christ in the garden are arresting Peter and John they're brought before the Sanhedrin they're brought before Annas they're brought before Caiaphas the high priest Peter in faith has got to be thinking my life is in the Lord's hands I don't know exactly when I'm going out but it looks like this may be it and I'm going out preaching Christ so here goes Peter verse 8 then Peter filled with the Holy Spirit said to them he said to Annas Caiaphas the high priest he addressed the Sanhedrin the captain of the temple gar the Sadducees he said to them rulers of the people and elders of Israel if we this day are judged for a good deed done to a helpless man by what means he has been made well let it be known to you all and to all the people of Israel in other words I'm not going to stop preaching this I'm going to make it known to everybody that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth whom you crucified you murderers whom God raised from the dead by him this man stands here before you whole is the stone which was rejected by you builders which has become the chief cornerstone nor is there salvation in any other for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved amen Peter that's boldness amen and when they saw the boldness of Peter and John verse 13 and perceived they were uneducated and untrained men they marveled and they realized that they had been with Jesus dropped on to verse 18 so they called them and they commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus but Peter and John they cowered in fear no they didn't answered and said to them whether it's right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God you judge for we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard we are compelled by the love of Christ understanding of the resurrection the life of Christ the sacrifice of Christ the death of Christ the atonement of Christ understanding these things now in the power of the spirit the spirit of God in dwelling them Peter says we cannot but speak can't help it we are compelled we will speak we will serve we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard and you understand this is a sacrificial service they are in front of the very men that murdered the Lord Jesus Christ what's to keep them from doing it right now to Peter and John verse 21 so when they had further threatened them they let them go finding no way of punishing them why because they accepted the truth and they understood no because of the people because of the people since they all glorified God for what had been done they all knew this lame man had been healed healed in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ so that when Peter when John preached in the temple their words attested to by God with signs and wonder right until the canon is closed God attests to the veracity and efficacy of his word through miracles through healing here the people had seen it they knew that they were from God and they all glorified God for what had been done verse 22 the man was over 40 years old on whom this miracle of healing had been performed Peter is arrested again beaten again and released in Acts chapter 5 Steven is murdered in Acts chapter 7 the Jews plotted to kill Paul in Acts chapter 9 flip over to Acts chapter 12 Acts chapter 12 again Peter's service is a sacrificial service you know your service my service needs to be a sacrificial service we may follow Peter serving Lord Jesus Christ to our deaths if not to our deaths let it be in daily denying of yourself picking up your cross and following him our service is a sacrificial service it's a service that requires that you deny yourself Peter denied himself to death Acts chapter 12 look at verse 1 now about that time Herod the king we know that snake that fox Herod Herod the king stretched out his hand to harass some from the church then he killed James the brother of John with a sword Herod killed him and because he saw that it pleased the Jews he proceeded further to seize Peter also what was he going to do with Peter he was going to kill Peter the way that he killed James it pleased the Jews and so he proceeded further to seize Peter also now it was during the days of Unleavened Bread verse 4 so when he had arrested him he put him in prison and delivered him to four squads of soldiers to keep him intending to bring him before the people after Passover Peter has got to be thinking ok this is it this is how I'm going out Herod's already killed James I think this may be how I'm going out the word said it would be when I was old maybe he just meant older I'm not sure this doesn't look right I think this is how I'm going out verse 5 Peter was therefore kept in prison but constant prayer was offered by God or to God for him by the church and when Herod was about to bring him out that night Peter what was he doing Peter was sleeping and that speaks volumes doesn't it Herod's about to bring him out for what purpose to kill him Peter's sleeping he just had this is faith this is Peter entrusting himself to the Lord Peter having committed himself to him in doing good Peter is faithful, obedient, courageous bold, assured content, joyful and restful at peace bold he was sleeping bound with two chains between two soldiers and the guards before the door were keeping the prison look at first Peter chapter 4 first Peter chapter 4 Peter would later write to the leagered and persecuted Christians of the dispersion in first Peter and in first Peter chapter 4 dropped down to verse 12 with me Peter understood God's sovereignty understood it is life was in the hands of the Lord you know that promise that the Lord gave Peter on the beach that day when you're old you're going to stretch out your hand someone else is going to guard you they're going to lead you where you don't wish promise given by the Lord Peter living in light of that promise really we should live in the light of that understanding also shouldn't we the God is sovereign your life is in his hands your days are numbered they are fashioned for you when as yet there were none of them so what is it that prevents us from preaching with the same boldness as Peter living for Christ with the same confidence we get so worried sometimes don't we so tied up so anxious so fearful Peter is sleeping resting peacefully in prison under Herod Peter says in first Peter chapter 4 verse 12 in light of all this right this fueling Peter's understanding he says beloved do not think it's strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you some strange thing happened to you but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ's sufferings that when his glory is revealed you may also be glad with exceeding joy if you are reproached for the name of Christ blessed are you for the spirit of glory and of God rests upon you on their part he's blasphemed but on your part he is glorified let none of you suffer as a murderer as a thief an evil doer or as a busy body in other people's matters yet if anyone suffers as a Christian in other words not if you suffer as a jerk or if you suffer as a mean spirited right and I'm not talking about that if anyone suffers as a Christian let him not be ashamed but let him glorify God in this matter for the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God and if it begins with us first as if we must endure those kinds of trials those kinds of difficulties that adversity then what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God now if the righteous one is scarcely saved where will the ungodly and the sinner appear therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God here it is commit their souls to him in doing good as to a faithful creator you see that in the example of Peter Peter wasn't morbidly preoccupied with the future wasn't when's it going to be right and just paralyzed by fear or no Peter made it his aim understanding that understanding that Peter made it his aim to be faithful to the Lord in the present each circumstance it comes up Peter how can I respond faithfully faithfully faithfully in confidence in faith every circumstance that comes up trusting the Lord in sacrificial service this may not be easy this may not be pleasant there may be pain involved but I'm going to be faithful to the Lord knowing that my life is in his hands I've committed my soul to him in doing good I've committed my soul to him in watching televangelist on Sunday morning instead of coming to church I've committed my soul to him I'm just going to show up once a week and then go back to my life as I normally no committed your soul to him in doing good as to a faithful creator back in John 21 the Lord ends verse 19 verse 19 with the first of two imperative commands to Peter follow me follow me present active imperative ongoing undeterred faithful obedience that's what that means the call to Christ is a call to discipleship the call to salvation is a call to follow Christ follow me Jesus says present active here imperative present active indicative an ongoing undeterred faithful obedience day by day hour by hour minute by minute this is not going to be a walk on the beach this is not going to be easy all who desire to live godly in this present age will suffer persecution but you are to follow him do you love him then follow him first John chapter 3 verse 18 John would write later my little children let us not love in word or in tongue but indeed and in truth and by this we know that we are of the truth and shall assure our hearts before him you want to assure your heart that you're in Christ you want to assure your heart that you have fellowship with God communion with the Lord Jesus Christ then follow him in responsible active loving sacrificial service follow the Lord and you'll assure your heart before him by the time that John writes this gospel Peter is dead Peter made it to the end right crucified in Rome under Nero what will be your end what will be my end will you go out faithful to the Lord serving to the very end steadfast immovable knowing that your work in the Lord your labor for him is not in vain are you serving him faithfully now do you love him listen to the words of Jesus in John chapter 12 verse 25 he who loves his life will lose it if you love your life you will lose it and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life let that sink in meditate on that thought he who loves his life will lose it he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life if anyone serves me let him follow me and where I am there my servant will be also look forward to that if anyone serves me I will be in the Lord's honor are you a witness for Christ so the Lord is preparing Peter for and he is preparing us for graciously are you a witness for Christ do you evangelize if you are not being faithful in preaching the gospel is it because you are cowardly following Christ requires courage it requires faith it requires trust are you ashamed of him in words fundamentally it is a question of your love for him do you love the Lord Jesus Christ wives do you submit joyfully to your husband even if they fail they are fallible men even if they are lost Peter would say husbands do you sacrificially humble yourself it is a humbling thing isn't it to sacrifice your own preferences do you sacrificially humble yourself to love your wife even in their weakness men do you do that no your marriage in constant tension consistent turmoil a string of conflicts why don't you love the Lord Jesus Christ more why aren't you more involved in the life of this church do you love him if you're still in rebellion to the Lord's commands if you've never turned from your sin if you've never committed yourself to him and doing good committed yourself to him in all things the Lord Jesus Christ commands you today follow me it's not going to be easy he doesn't promise you easy he doesn't promise you health and wealth and prosperity it may cost you everything but if you're held controlled by the love of Christ you will gladly give it up counting whatever was once gained to you as rubbish as worthless to follow Christ because Christ is worthy amen true love for Christ involves service true love for Christ involves sacrifice point three on your notes true love for Christ involves perseverance perseverance Peter is to follow the Lord to the very end faithful to his own calling he's to persevere in faithful obedience regardless of what goes on around him okay look at verse 20 then Peter turning around he saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following who also had leaned on his breast at the supper and he said Lord who is the one who betrays you now we know from verse 24 referring to the author of the gospel this is John okay verse 21 Peter seeing him seeing John said to Jesus but Lord what about this man you know Peter's prognosis is going to end up in death what about John Peter so easily distracted isn't he so are we Peter now knows the cost of discipleship for him is going to be very high so what about John Lord what's going to happen to him verse 22 Jesus said to him none yet yeah none your business Peter if I will that he remained till I come what is that to you you follow me if I desire that he lives until I come back again what concern is that of yours Peter your responsibility Peter is to faithfully follow me undeterred undistracted by what does or does not happen around you what does or does not happen to those people around you listen brothers and sisters are going to come and go brothers and sisters are going to live and die some disciples are going to persevere with you others are going to depart from the faith some will love me Peter others will prove by their actions that they hate me Peter the church may grow and then there may be a church split there will be times of peace and then times of great adversity great difficulty suffering even if all are made to stumble Peter remember Peter's boast earlier even if all are made to stumble Peter you follow me you persevere in faithfulness to your calling long and steadfast immovable obedience in the same direction over a long period of time until your death that's what the Lord is calling for verse 23 and this saying went out among the brethren that this disciple would not die yet Jesus did not say to him that he would not die but he said if I will that he remain till I come what is that to you and John takes care to clarify that concern for others at the expense of concern for faithfulness to the Lord has derailed many a professing Christian their friend leaves a biblical church maybe your friend gets disfellowshipped is disfellowshipped from a biblical church and they follow their friend rather than being faithful to Christ their friend is offended so they pick up their friend's offense they follow their friend rather than being faithful to Christ if you came here with someone if you came here with someone you better be prepared for that to get tested what are you going to do what are you going to do they leave what are you going to do what is that to you Jesus says you follow me again it's present active present obedience present faithfulness ongoing obedience is to be Peters and our primary and ongoing concern verse 24 this is the disciple who testifies of these things and wrote these things and we know that his testimony is true these things referring not just to the content of chapter 21 but referring to the content of the whole gospel the gospel of John verse 25 there also may there are also many other things that Jesus did which if they were written one by one I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written amen when you stop to think about verse 25 it's really no exaggeration right if you think about it this is Jesus the eternal eternal word who was in the beginning with God and who is God the one who made all things all things were made by him without him nothing was made that was made by the resurrection in the life he is the one who conquered death and the grave and so if all his deeds were written the world would be a very small library indeed right John's gospel is just simply a small part of the glory of the Son of God it will be a glory that we preach to our deaths Lord willing by the grace of God and that we will praise him for in heaven for all eternity written that you may believe that he is the Christ the Son of God and that believing you may have life in his name you know having restored Peter on the beach having exhorted us by Peter's example having prepared Peter in the way that he did prepared those men and then in trusting them right we've gone through the gospel of John and that preparation has been good and glorious and helpful preparation yes the Lord now entrusts Peter John chapter 21 and he entrusts us in our day in our age with a loving call to follow him we are to be loving and faithful witnesses for the Lord Jesus Christ we are to tend to one another we are to love one another we are to be a loving living healthy exhorting encouraging part of the Lord's body together a life of loving service loving sacrifice loving perseverance if you look at the very next page Acts chapter 1 look at verse 4 being assembled together with him he commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem but to wait for the promise of the Father which he said you have heard from me for John truly baptized with water but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now therefore when they had come together they asked him saying Lord will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel and he said to them, Nunya it is not for you to know the times or seasons which the Father has put in his own authority in other words you follow me you follow me verse 8 the Holy Spirit has come upon you and you shall be witnesses to me in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the end of the earth he has not left us orphans as he promised as he promised he has come to us by his Spirit so do you love him do you love him has the love of God been poured out in your heart by the Holy Spirit who has given to us he commands you today he commands you today follow me he has prepared you he has given you this revelation of himself this glorious revelation and now he turns to you and says do you love me then follow me tend to my sheep preach the gospel follow me what will you do if you are here today and you don't know Christ the Lord has given a revelation of himself in this gospel it is a glorious revelation it is a sufficient revelation it is a Christ exalting revelation and he has given it that you might believe that he is the Christ the Son of God and believing you might have life in his name will you turn from your sin will you stop it now and live for Christ will you entrust yourself to him will you commit yourself to him in doing good as to a faithful creator which he is what will you do what will you do all praise, honor and glory to the one who is with us to the end of the age Amen