The Good - Romans 8:28

 

Romans 8:28

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

It’s a crazy world we live in and seems chaotic at times. Politics, news and the pandemic seem to keep the bad news coming and we are desperate for hope. At least that’s the way it seems if we only look at life from the human perspective. But God has given us a source of hope in this world: the Bible.

As believers, we know from His Word that there is more going on than meets the eye.  God is at work, and He has been working since the beginning. The Bible is a big book and every page is filled with the mystery and promises of God, but it can be difficult to mind the depths of it.

Yet God, in His great mercy toward us, has given us segments that are so full of promises and truths, that if we dwell on them we can’t help but be hopeful. Hopeful in the biblical sense, meaning a confident assurance in God, not the wishful thinking of the modern use of the word hope.

This week, Andie will be sharing some thought from Romans 8. This chapter has been called “The Great Eight” and John Piper said this about it “The greatest book, the greatest chapter, for the greatest joy.” 

As Romans moves us from our desperate and hopeless state without Christ, it then brings us to what God has done through His Son on our behalf. Romans 8 has so many of the promises and works of God in the believers life that you can dwell on it for a life time.

Romans 8:28 is a verse that I find particularly encouraging. In a season where so much seems to be going wrong, Romans 8:28 gives us another lens to look at it with.

God is at work. God is at work on behalf of those who love Him. God is a work for the good of those who love Him. God is at work for the good of those who love him and are called according to His purpose.

When you read the news, see the political polarization, or fear the pandemic, don’t forget that God is working in and through all these things. Not only is He working, but He is working “all things” for “the good.” 

“All Things” means nothing is wasted. God doesn’t just permit things to happen in a haphazard way. God has a design an intent for all things you encounter in life. That means the hard and ugly things as well as the easy and beautiful things. A phrase I continue to encounter is that God is working to help us “let go of the temporal and embrace the eternal.” 

We are often white knuckling life, gripping the temporal so firmly that we miss the grace that God has available to us. Every trial and tribulation we face is a revelation that this life is fleeing and passing away. Moving from the grip we have on the “here and now” and learning to embrace the future grace we have in Christ is so important.

Why white knuckle the temporal when we can rest in the embrace of Jesus?

“The Good” is something we have to step back and consider. For the longest time I read this verse thinking that “the good” was “my good” or my perspective of what is good. My perspective is limited and based on the temporal. I want an easy life. I want all my needs meet as soon as I have them. I am a product of the “your way right away”, microwave culture. I’m used to the drive through, fast food, culture.

But “The Good” is so much more; deeper and richer than I can imagine. It means that God is working our my lives to shape us into the image of Christ. It means God is preparing you and me for greater things and for an eternity with Him. It also means that you may miss what “the good” is right now, but later you will see what God was up to.

It wasn't until a pastor friend of mine came back from a sabbatical he was on after the tragic loss of his second child. The first sermon he preached was on Romans 8:28. He talked about the good God was doing in his life, despite the tragic loss and deep pain he was in. Through his tears, he spoke of a greater good than I had ever considered, and the kindness of God toward him in his loss. 

The rich truth of this verse, and just one of many from Romans 8, is that if you are a believer in Jesus Christ, God is at work in your life. Nothing happens by accident. God, from His eternal perspective, knows what you need now and in the future. 

He weeps when you weep, even though He knows the good He will bring about because of your pain. Jesus wept with Mary, even though He knew he was going to raise Lazarus (John 11:14, 33-35).

Jesus rejoices with you as He brings blessings into your life. We have a God that is intimately involved in our lives, for our greatest good and our deepest joy. If you are going through a hard time now, hold fast and trust His hand and you will be blessed (James 1:12). 

God doesn’t give up, He continues to work, and His work is for our good (Phil 1:6).

The Vision – Revelation 7:9-12

Several years ago, I had the privilege of traveling to the Holy Land. I had spent years studying the Bible and hearing the stories, and so I was super excited to go see the land of the Bible. 

There is so much to see there, and you really need a month or more to take your time visiting the sites. I was only there for 8 days, so we packed a whole lot in. At every turn, there was something that inspired awe and wonder as it reminded me of Bible stories or church history.

The most impactful place for me was the Garden Tomb. One thing you find out pretty quickly while in Israel, is that there are two or three sites where the events of the Bible could have happened. The Church of the Holy Sepulcher is where the Catholics believe Christ was buried. The Garden Tomb is where Protestants believe Christ was buried.

What I can say, is that Garden Tomb was the most peaceful place I visited in Israel. It truly was a garden and the birds were chirping. As we went into the tomb and saw the layout, it just seemed to be the place where it happened. 

But what really uplifted my spirit was walking out of that tomb to an African group celebrating the resurrection. They were a head of us and had gathered outside the tomb and broke out in songs of celebration. I couldn’t understand the words, but my heart and soul was in unison with them. We were having an international worship gathering. I couldn’t help but think, “this is what heaven is going to be like!”

Read Revelation 7:9–12

9 After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, 10 and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” 11 And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12 saying, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.” 

In this passage, we get a glimpse at the vision of the Gospel, that every nation, tribe, people and language gather together to worship Jesus. One day, all the divisions this world has created between people groups will be dismantled and we will come together to form a beautiful tapestry of praise. 

Today

How do we take this vision and apply it to today? There are so many books on self-help and leadership written to help people succeed in this life. Among the many wise teachings passed on is a phrase that is so important to consider: begin with the end in mind.

Today you need to pause and consider what is the Vision of God and how can you be involved in it. God’s vision is that people of all ethnic groups, languages and tribes join together in the Church and worship Jesus. This means that the message of the Bible is for all people, not just people who look like you, talk like you and act like you.

You can’t read this passage and think racism is okay. You can’t read this passage and think that being bigoted, hateful, or exclusive is okay. Today you need to see that every person you meet potentially could be in that future choir before the throne of Jesus.

What’s holding you back from telling them about Jesus? Do you find yourself judging others that don’t look like you? Do you prefer certain people groups over other groups? 

The Gospel doesn’t build walls, it tears down walls. When we look toward the end goal, we should begin to take steps today to prepare ourselves for the future our God is creating. We know from His Word that He has equipped us and called us to be on mission for Him. Our mission is to fulfill this vision of every tribe and every nation. 

Tomorrow

One day, you will stand before Jesus to give an account for your life. For unbelievers, that day is called the Great White Throne judgment. That is a day when you give account for all your sins, but most importantly, for the sin of rejecting Jesus. It’s at this judgment that Jesus puts an end to sin for eternity and all those who rejected the Gospel will be cast into the lake of fire with Satan and all his demons.

That’s some bad news. But it is important to remember, because we need to catch the vision that God does not want anyone to perish, but all to come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9). This the reason we need to tell others about Jesus, so they don’t face this judgment.

For the believers, you will stand before Jesus at the Bema Seat of Christ. This too is a judgment, but the type of judgment they do at the Olympics where you are rewarded for your accomplishments. Believers will give an account for the opportunities they had, not for the sins they committed, because Jesus paid for their sins on the cross. 

In that day, you will remember every opportunity you had to share Jesus with someone and remember if you took advantage of that opportunity. Will your excuses seem like a good reason when you are looking Jesus in the eyes? 

Think of how Peter felt when he denied Jesus for the third time and look across the courtyard and made eye contact with Jesus. Do you want to feel that way? I certainly don’t. I admit though, I’ve missed a lot of opportunities and I regret not taking advantage of them. 

In that day, you will think of friends and family that you could have told about the Gospel, but you chose not to. What do you think your friend would say to you as they wait in line for the Great White Throne judgment?

You were afraid of not getting invited to a party, so you didn’t tell me? You didn’t think you knew enough, so you didn’t start a conversation? You thought you might be shunned from the senior lunch table for a single year was a good enough reason to let me slip into eternity in hell? You didn’t think I would be interested in something you loved? 

WHY?

Here is what’s true, Jesus saved you for a reason. He rescued you and gave you a new family, a new life and a new mission. You were adopted into His family. You were taken from spiritual death to spiritual life. You were saved to tell the world about a Savior who loves them. 

If you ponder these truths and the teachings of Scripture, your why will grow. Why tell others? Because it is the best news ever! 

Romans 1:16

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

Your Why needs to be bigger than your What. That’s what this series has been all about. The Motive to tell the world is your love for Jesus. Loving Jesus means joining His Cause, to make disciples. Jesus promises to give you power and to be with you on this mission. The vision is to see every tongue, tribe and nation hear the message of Jesus and stand before Him one day in celebration.

If this becomes your why, you will tell others. It’s not always easy, but it does get easier!

My first year at Word of Life Bible Institute, a one year Bible Certificate program, I signed up for Open Air Evangelism (OAE). For some reason, I would choose things that were the most difficult thing for me to imagine seeing myself doing and OAE was that. I could not see myself standing on the streets of NYC and preaching to those who walked by, but that is what we did!

After several weeks of training, we loaded up and headed to the City. It was over four hours away and I remember the sense of dread that came over me. Why and I driving to NYC to do something I was terrified of doing? I kicked myself the entire drive.

I was scared out of my mind as we headed into the city for our first day of street witnessing. I was the van driver, so I thought maybe I would get away with just being the driver. “Horner, you are up first!” said our guide.

I couldn’t believe it and I thought I was going to puke. However, I had prepared a message from God’s Word and stood up and proclaimed it. Before I knew it, the week had passed by and it was time to head home, but I didn’t want to.

What changed? Practice. I put my study into practice and proclaimed the name of Jesus to the streets of NYC. It start off scary and it became fun. We saw lives changed on the streets every day. We were on mission and we were excited. We didn’t want to stop, but we had to head back to school.

The next semester, it was time to go on OAE again. Do you think I was excited? No, I was terrified and couldn’t believe I signed up for this again. I went through the very same process all over again.

What I learned was that beginning an evangelism plan is hard, but the more you practice it the easier it gets. If you stop for some time, it gets hard to start up again. Yet it will get easier once you get started. Practicing evangelism leads to a meaningful life. 

Are you willing to join the mission? What’s your motive? Join the Cause! Hold fast to His Promises! Look to His Vision! 

One day, I hope to arrive on heavenly shores and meet people from all over the world that I had the opportunity to impact in the name of Christ. Until that day, I pray that I continue to be faithful to the heavenly call God has given to all believers

The Promise – Acts 1:1-11

Some tasks are so big it seems impossible to accomplish, but when you are given a promise that you will have everything you need to complete it, you can begin with confidence. God has fulfilled His promise in sending the Holy Spirit, but He also promises to give you the power to be His witness. God promises power! 

I’ve always been mechanically minded and like to fix things. My dad was a mechanic for years, and he taught me a lot about bikes and cars. When I was in college, I thought I could fix my own car with the tools I had acquired. I was continually frustrated by not having what I needed to get the job done.

 

One quick call to dad and he would say, “bring your car over here, we will get it fixed.” I knew that was true.

 

I sought to do things independently, but there was wisdom, tools and power I did not have on my own. In my dad’s garage was the proper tools and his wisdom to guide me through the task.

 

I think we often feel that way when it comes to sharing our faith. We have some tools and knowledge, but we are frustrated when we try to do things independently in our own wisdom. What we need to realize is that in our Father’s house is everything we need to get the task done.

 

Read Acts 1:1-11

 

In the last two weeks we talked about the Motivation for global missions, our love for Jesus. We talked about the Cause of Jesus, to make disciples of all nations. Tonight is the Promises of Jesus that will equip us for this Cause.

 

Promise # 1 – Baptism of the Holy Spirit

Before Jesus ascended to heaven, He made a promise that soon the disciples would be baptized by the Holy Spirit. It was a strange statement, and they really didn’t know what it meant. They knew about John’s baptism of repentance, but what is the baptism of the Holy Spirit?

 

Baptism means “immersion, to be dipped.” As Christ followers, once coming to faith, we are called to be obedient in baptism by being immersed in water symbolizing the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. This is a command to all Christians and is to be among the first steps of obedience for a new believer. However, it’s never too late to be baptized.

 

Jesus words, “you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit” is a foreshadowing of the day of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit descended upon the prayer meeting of the disciples and “immersed” them with the Spirit.

 

It was a new work of God amongst His people. Believers were being “indwelt” by the Spirit in a new way, meaning they experienced the presence and power of the Spirit. This was a unique experience for the early church, but this event (Pentecost) was the first fruit of the regeneration all those who receive Christ share.

 

Coming to faith in Jesus means that the Spirit of God indwells you and works in and through you.

 

Promise # 2 – Power from the Holy Spirit

A baptism of sorts is coming, but what is the results?  “You will receive power when the presence of the Spirit comes upon you.”

 

This is a promise of power, dynamic power! Strength, energy, power that is beyond your own is coming.

 

Think about it this way, say you were given a brand new iPhone, but the battery was completely dead. The one who gave you that iPhone said, “in a few days, you will receive a package with the power cord. Plug it in and you will be able to do amazing things with your iPhone.”

 

When the package arrives, what are you going to do? Plug it in, right? Of course. Once that happens, so many options become available to you. Without power, the iPhone is just a lump of plastic, electronic parts and glass. With power, it is a dynamic tool of communication and creativity.

 

You are like an iPhone, and the Holy Spirit is the power cord. When you plug into Jesus, you receive power through the Holy Spirit to become a dynamic force for the Gospel.

 

Promise # 3 – You WILL BE my witnesses

Not only did Jesus promise that you will have the power and presence of the Holy Spirit, but He said “you will be my witnesses.” Notice, it’s not “might be” or “could be” but it is “will be.”

 

You see, Jesus is your Creator. He knows you better than you know yourself. And when you come to faith in Jesus, He has a detailed plan for your life.

 

Ephesians 2:10

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Jesus has good works, godly encounters and Gospel opportunities prepared for you to walk in. He promises to give you supernatural power and strength from the Holy Spirit in order that you will be His witness to the world. It is a work He does in and through you!

 

It begins where you are, in your Jerusalem. Think your family, friends and neighborhood. How you live and interact with your parents, siblings, and friends will speak to those in your community about your faith. This can open doors for conversations about your relationship with Christ.

 

His promises extends to where you go beyond your home community. Pay attention to His heart for the whole world to hear the Gospel, “to the end of the earth.” He wants His witnesses to advance the message to the entire globe.

 

For a mission like that, it will take a supernatural power, praise God for His gift of the Holy Spirit!

 

Promise # 4 – Jesus will come again

The last promise in this text is that Jesus is coming again! In His first coming, He came in peace as a baby, lived in complete fulfilment of the law and was the perfect sacrifice for sin. His resurrection conquered sin and death and the Gospel of Grace has been proclaimed for generations.

 

In His second coming, He is coming to make all things right. He is coming to put an end to sin, sorrow and sadness. He is coming to restore the world to the way it was intended to be before sin entered the world.

 

This promise is also a reminder that the time for being His witnesses is limited. Now is the time to tell people before He returns. They need to hear the Good News!

 

Just like going to my dad’s garage made fixing my car easier, turning to God’s Word will reveal to you the promises and provision of God for you to be His witnesses in this world.

The Cause – Matthew 28:16-20

Not too long ago, I visited a favorite restaurant for lunch. The waitress brought our waters and asked, “would you like a straw, or would you like to skip the straw to save the sea turtles?”

 

You know, I have never thought about how my use of a straw in Ohio would affect a sea turtle, but my waitress cared enough about her cause to convince those she served to help protect the sea turtles. It’s not uncommon today, for someone to own a cause, a movement that is important to them that the share with others.

 

With continued growth of and immersion in social media, causes are becoming more and more prevalent. People are looking for movements or ideas that will give them meaning and value, something that gives a purpose for living. Every day, we see or hear causes being proclaimed about lifestyles, environment, politics and social justice.

 

Causes can be good and they can be bad. Sometimes, those who herald these causes sound good and entice involvement, but then lead to disappointment and let down. Other causes seem overwhelming because the scope is too large to feel like you can have any impact.

 

There are inherent dangers to some causes, where the cause is redefining reality and reforming worldviews. Causes can be peaceable and they can be violent. And causes can be distracting if we choose poorly.

 

As Christians, we don’t have to look for a cause to join. We are part of The Cause in Christ. Jesus did not want to save us and leave us without a mission in life. No, He had a plan and a purpose already in place before He chose us. You see, God is the author of THE CAUSE, the Gospel message – the Good News of God’s salvation for all people.

 

Listen to Jesus as He invites us to join His Cause:

 

Matthew 28:16–20

16 Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. 17 And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

 

Just a few days before this, Jesus was crucified, buried and rose from the dead! After the resurrection, he appeared to the disciples on several occasions. As He prepares to return to heaven, He unfolds The Cause for all believers.

 

In previous generations, this was coined The Great Commission, which, in today’s terminology would be The Great Cause or THE CAUSE. God is calling you to join His cause. He wants you to get on board, to be passionate about it and to advocate for it.

 

Let’s unpack The Cause a little and then consider what it means to be a part of this cause.

 

The Authority for the Cause

 

I am the youngest child in the family. I have an older brother, and two older sisters. Growing up as the “baby” of the family can be difficult. Persuading older siblings to do something was all but impossible. Yet there was a phrase I could use that would get my brother and two sisters to move, “dad said to…”

 

If I went and said, it’s time for dinner, they may not have budged. But if I said, “dad said to come to the dinner table,” they began to move quickly. Why? They responded to the first statement based on my position in the family. The second statement carried more weight because the message wasn’t from the messenger, it was from the person of authority.

 

Jesus has given us a cause and He tells us in this passage that we are to participate in this cause under His authority. When we go and share the Good News, we are acting and speaking under the authority of Jesus, the risen Lord!

 

The Scope of the Cause

 

The scope of Jesus’ Cause is “all nations.” Meaning, his cause is for all people all over the world of all times. His desire is that every tribe, nation and tongue hears His message and is invited in to His Church.

 

That means there is no place in this world you will find yourself where His Cause cannot go, or is not active. It means there is no group, ethnicity or social status that is excluded from this call. It means that, as Christ followers, we no longer look at people in earthly terms, but we see them as souls in need of a Savior. It doesn’t matter what the exterior looks like, it matters that they are an eternal soul that need to hear an eternal message.

 

The Strategy of the Cause

 

Joining the Cause of Jesus means that we want to reach the whole world with His message, and we speak and move under His authority. So the strategy must be miraculous, right?

 

Wrong. It is amazingly profound, but amazingly ordinary. The strategy is to “make disciples of all nations.” Literally, Jesus is saying “as you are going (wherever you are going) make disciples.”

 

The normative call on all believers is not to go somewhere exotic, but as you are moving about day to day, get involved in the cause. Wherever you find yourself to be, make disciples.

 

But what does it mean to “make disciples?” Certainly that is a grand idea and a complex strategy, right? No, actually it’s simple. We unfortunately have made it a great deal harder than it ought to be.

 

To make a disciple is to help someone become what you already are. God is not requiring you to do something you are unable to do. He has called you to share what you know and do already.

 

The trick to discipleship is being one step ahead of those you are leading and showing them how to take the steps you have already taken. It’s that simple.

 

Let’s break it down a little more. If you are a believer in Jesus Christ, meaning you know the Gospel and believe the Gospel, you have knowledge that can be shared with someone who does not believe. Start where you are at and explain what you know to be true. This is the basic of reaching the nonbeliever.

 

Discipling the someone who choose to believe the Gospel and desires to follow Christ means to show them how you follow Christ. What is it like to pray? What do you do for a Quiet time? Why do you go to church? What is baptism? Why should I be baptized?

 

If you are a Christian, these are things you should already have done or are doing. Therefore, it should be easy to tell someone else what you are already doing. If you are not doing these things, or you haven’t started these practices, why not?

 

True statement here: you cannot be a Christ follower if you are not following Christ.

 

You’ve played follow the leader right? How absurd would it be for a person to watch the game from the sidelines and yet claim to be following the leader? They aren’t even in the game. Yet there are people who claim to be Christians, but they are not following Jesus. Don’t be that.

 

If you are following Jesus, you have what it takes to make a disciple by helping someone become what you already are.

 

This does not mean you stay where you are, but you should be growing and becoming more like Jesus. You become more like Jesus by following others who are good examples to you. Paul said it this way, “follow me as I follow Christ.”

 

You can see what I am doing, so do that too.

 

How Do I Begin This Cause?

 

It’s simple. Begin with Prayer, talk to God about your desire to join His Cause. Ask Him to lead you to the person or people who He is preparing for the cause. Or pray for specific people in your life who need to hear about Jesus.

 

Look for ways to care for those you are praying for. Care is a term that demonstrates love in physical, tangible ways. It means you don’t look at the people you are praying for as a spiritual project, but you see their needs and you develop a friendship with them.

 

Then you look for opportunities to share the good news with them. Don’t force a Bible sermon on them, but look for ways to bring God up in conversation, through questions or comments and see if they would like to know more. Share what God has done for you and why you believe. Don’t attack, but invite.

 

 

 

Just like the waitress at the restaurant asked me if I wanted to save the turtles or use a straw, you can invite others into a conversation that leads down the path of discipleship.

 

 

 

REACH: The Motive – John 21:1-19

  

As a church, Lakeside spends the month of August focusing on global missions, leading up to REACH BBQ for Global Missions. We highlight each of our missionaries who will receive support from the fundraiser. It is a good time to stop and dwell on the heart of God for all people.

 

The next four weeks in youth group we will be focusing on REACH – our part in global missions. We will discuss The Motive, THE Cause, The Promise and The Vision.   

 

The Motive – John 21:1-19

 

I’m a big fan of crime drama TV series. I like the funny shows, like Psych, to the serious ones like Law and Order. In all the TV dramas, and in real life, when a crime happens the question is asked, “what is the motive?”

 

The question is trying to get to the heart of why a person would do this act. If you can figure out the motive, you can identify the culprit. At least that is how it works on TV.

 

But it is not just in TV dramas where we see motives. We see it in art, in science, in politics, in music, and in sports. Motives are desires of the heart that cause someone to act to attain a specific goal. A criminals jealousy causes them to commit a crime. An artist’s wonder is captured in a painting. A scientists desire to explain the complex leads to a ground breaking formula. A politicians desire to help her community leads to new legislation. And so on.

 

In order to understand the motive for Christians to share the Gospel, I want to examine one of the last conversations Jesus had with his best friend Peter in John 21.

 

READ John 21:1-19

 

Context:

It’s only been days since the crucifixion and resurrection. Really, it has been a whirlwind for the disciples, and especially Peter. They had all walked away from their jobs and families for three years to follow the rabbi, only to be surprised at his death. Their hope, their vision, and their purpose died on a Roman cross just a few days ago. Peter, in all his self-confidence, found himself denying his best friend three times when he was needed the most.

 

They were all astonished with the news of Jesus’ resurrection, and almost couldn’t believe their own eyes at His appearance. You can imagine the internal and mental exercises they struggled with at first, “did I really see Him?”, “is my mind playing tricks on me?”, “the other guys saw Him too didn’t they?”  and so on.

 

We see in John 21 where the disciples were awkwardly waiting in a room not knowing what to do. It’s not like it was before Jesus died. He isn’t there to tell them what to do or where to go. That’s when Peter said, “I’m going fishing,” and they all joined him.

 

A Miracle

 

These trained fishermen had been out fishing all night without success. They saw someone on the shore who said, “cast your net on the right side and you will find some fish.” When they did, their nets overflowed with fish! That’s when John realized the man on shore was Jesus.

 

“Hey Peter, that’s Jesus!” said John. Peter immediately put his clothes on and jumped in the water. I love this scene! Most people take off layers so they can swim. Peter, in his excitement to see Jesus, put clothes on and swam in.

 

Even though they knew it was Jesus and they all sat around a fire to eat with Him, they were all afraid to say anything. They had questions in the heads, like “who are you?”, which probably meant something like, “how in the world are you risen from the dead? We saw you die. People don’t rise from the dead, but you did! How can this be?” The resurrection was still fresh to them and they marveled at the possibility.

 

The Three-fold Restoration of Peter

 

Could you imagine sitting around a campfire with all your closest friends and your mentor calls out, “Hey Peter, do you love me more than these?” Everyone around the fire remembers that less than a week ago, you just publicly denied Jesus to save your own skin. The guilt and the shame are suffocating, but He is here, He is alive, maybe if I just pretend it didn’t happen He will let it go.

 

And then the questions comes up. I believe Jesus is referring to the fish, meaning “Peter do you love me more than your career?” It could mean, does he love Jesus more than the other disciples do. Or it could mean does he love Jesus more than he loves the other disciples. Yet, in a moment of uncertainty, Peter had gone back to his fishing boat. I think Jesus was calling on him to leave the boat behind.

 

“Yes Lord, you know I do.” “Feed my lambs,” said Jesus.

 

A moment later, “Peter, do you love me”? “Yes Lord, you know I do.” “Tend my sheep,” said Jesus.

 

A third time, “Peter do you love me?” This time, Peter was grieved at the question, and wondered why he was asked a third time. “Lord, you know everything, you know that I love you.” “Feed my sheep.”

 

And then after that, Jesus seems to summarize the rest of Peter’s life and how he will die. Jesus concludes this conversation with, “follow me.”

 

In this unfolding conversation, we see Jesus helping Peter walk back his denials of Christ. Three times Peter said he didn’t know Jesus, and now three times he declares his love for Jesus. Not only is Jesus giving Peter an opportunity to declare his love, but He also charges Peter with caring for the flock.

 

It’s as if Jesus said, “hey Peter, I have a big task for you. I want you to care for my church, but not because you love the church. You need to love me above all else. If you love me, you will tend to my sheep.”

 

The language Jesus uses is that of a shepherd and his sheep. A teaching method Jesus has used on several occasions.

 

John 10:14–15

¹⁴I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, ¹⁵just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep.

 

So in this passage, Jesus, the good shepherd, is charging Peter with the care of His flock. In this reference, I am sure Jesus is calling to mind in Peter the other teachings about His flock.

 

John 10:16

¹⁶And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.

 

There are some sheep who are not Jewish believers, they aren’t part of the flock yet. They need to hear the Gospel, the Words of Christ, and they will join the flock. Peter’s love for Jesus would compel him to protect and feed those in the church, but he would also go out and preach the Gospel to those who had not yet believed. This is the plan Jesus had for Peter since the beginning.

 

Matthew 4:18–20

¹⁸While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. ¹⁹And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” ²⁰Immediately they left their nets and followed him.

 

“Peter, leave those fish behind and I will teach you how to fish for men!” By “fish for men,” Jesus stated from the beginning, that He was going to teach Peter how to reach people with the Good News of Jesus Christ. It started with the command, “follow me!”

 

One of the last phrases Jesus said to Peter was, “follow me!”

 

Following Jesus is a daily call. It’s something we will never arrive at this side of heaven. But when we follow Jesus, we will love Him and we will feed His sheep.

 

Love, Follow, Feed

 

The motivation for being a global missionary is loving Jesus first in our lives. Principles we can gather from Peter’s experience here is that Jesus doesn’t give up on us because we have failed Him. He died and rose again to cover our sins. Instead, He asks us to love Him and follow Him.

 

When we love and follow Him, He will lead us into opportunities to tell others about Him. If you want to impact this world for Christ, seek to love Jesus more each day and follow Him. He will open doors for you to share His Good News with a dying world.

 

Are you sharing Jesus with others? Why or why not?

 

If you are a Christian and you are not sharing Jesus with others, what is your motivation for silence? Are you trying to please the crowd? Are you afraid of being unpopular? What is your desire?

 

When we are not sharing our faith, we need to gauge our love for Jesus. Peter’s love for Jesus led him to go all over preaching the Gospel and ultimately give his life as a martyr for his faith in Jesus. What is your love for Jesus leading you to do?

 

Your number one responsibility is to grow in your love for Jesus. When you love someone, you are excited about that person and proud of being associated with that person. When you are excited about something, you will talk about it. Consider your attitude and words from this past week. How did you feel about Jesus? How often did you talk about Jesus?

 

Not happy with your answers? Spend time with Jesus today, and ask Him to help you love Him more and more. He loves you, and we love Him because He first loved us. Allow the love of Jesus to be your motivation today!

Stand Firm In The Lord – Philippians 4

Read Philippians 4

 

As we approach this last chapter in Paul’s letter to the church of Philippi, we see him emphasize what he wants the Philippians to walk away with, standing firm in the faith. Paul began the letter with the encouragement to be joyful because “He who began a good work in you will complete it…” (Phil 1:6). God began the work of salvation and He will continue working on His people until He returns and makes all things new.

 

This truth needs to undergird our lives and our worldview. Only in being established in Jesus Christ will we understand the fullness of life (John 10:10) and the surpassing worth of knowing Jesus (Phil 3:7-8).

 

This fourth chapter is about standing firm and living out our faith. Paul starts this section by exhorting to sisters in the church to agree in the Lord. I find it interesting he moves from:

 

Philippians 4:1

Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved.

 

To addressing conflict. Not only does he address conflict, but he names names. These two ladies have their names in the New Testament as examples to us, and Paul deals with it masterfully.

 

Failing to Stand Firm – Philippians 4:2-3

 

Several years ago, a friend asked me to proof read a letter they had written to friend from church whom they had a sharp disagreement over. I read the letter and saw that this person had made their position very clear, but was very heavy handed.

 

I asked, “what is the goal of your letter? Do you want to continue your conversation with them and deepen your friendship, or would you prefer to end your friendship and “win” the argument, which might result in them leaving the church?” In order to continue the conversation and preserve the friendship, the entire letter had to be rewritten. And praise God it was.

As an aside, that is a good practice, to write out the letter you want to send, wait 24 hours and/or have someone else read it, before sending it. Watch at how much you change in 24 hours.

 

The letter changed from “winning an argument” to “preserving a relationship.” There is a fair way to disagree and process conflicts, and there are unfair ways. Paul gives us a few helpful tips on handling conflict:

 

Paul acknowledges there is a disagreement between two faithful Christian sisters. He recognizes their partnership in the ministry and how they have worked side by side with him. He acknowledges their genuine faith and he pleads for unity and resolution. He even asks a “true companion” to help guide them to that end.

 

The true companion would have been a leader or pastor in the church of Philippi. Someone who could graciously facilitate helpful conversations between the two. It is important to remember the important things first, who are we arguing with, what is our relationship, and take steps to preserve the relationship. Seeking counsel is a wise thing to do.

 

Five Practices of Standing Firm – Philippians 4:4-9

 

Moving on from conflict to giving a pattern for a strong foundation in Christ.

 

1.    Rejoice in the Lord always – 4

Paul again repeats the importance of rejoicing in the Lord. When we focus our attention on Jesus, we will find ways to rejoice, even in the difficult times.

 

2.    Be reasonable – 5

Today more than ever we need reasonable people. One translation uses “gentle” as the word here. In our conversations and our lifestyles, are we reasonable people who are easy to approach and talk to or are we opinionated and difficult.

 

I strive to be a person who is reasonable and someone people can have a conversation about difficult things with. It started in High School when a buddy of mine had the same belief, but he was very argumentative and opinionated in his delivery. I noticed how he turned people away.

 

I changed my delivery to seek to serve the person in the conversation, and it opened up doors for me. One day at the lunch table a friend said to him, “I don’t want to talk to you about this, if I want to know more about it I will talk to Brad.” I thanked God for the opportunity to learn at a young age the importance of being reasonable.

 

3.    Don’t be anxious – 6-7

This is a tough one right?! Don’t worry, it’s easier said than done when we are new or out of practice. Our default seems to be worry, it’s a natural response to things. Anxiety issues are on the rise and they are difficult ones to deal with. To not worry is supernatural. It doesn’t come easily but must be accomplished through the power of the Holy Spirit.

 

Remember, “He who began a good work in you will perform it!” When we are tempted, He wants us to take our worries to Him in prayer, making our needs known to Him and thanking Him for His provisions for us. When we ask for His peace, He will give it to us. His peace is active and it will guard our hearts and our minds when we are in Christ Jesus.

 

 

4.    Think about these things – 8

How can we rejoice always? By filtering our thoughts and influences through the grid of Philippians 4:8. The above picture shows impurities being filtered out of water. We need to filter out the impure thoughts and influences in order for us to think clearly. This means the music we listen to, the movies we watch, the social media personalities we follow, the type of articles, blogs or vlogs we follow. Do they align with this grid?

 

Do you know what is a complete fulfillment of this grid? Jesus Christ. Jesus is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent and worthy of our praise. Think about Him daily! Spend time with Him! Dwell on His loving kindness and His joy will fill your heart.

 

5.    Practice what you have seen – 9

Paul exhorted the Philippians to look to his example in what he said, how he said it and how he lived. He taught them truth to walk in and gave them a pattern to follow. It’s important that we look to mature believers in our lives, people who demonstrate the Christ centered life and follow their example.

 

If you know someone that you aspire to be like because you see Christ in them, talk to them about it. Don’t be afraid to ask someone to spend time with you so you can learn from them. This is basic discipleship.

 

The Power to Stand Firm – Philippians 4:10-23

 

Paul moves next to a very popular verse, but mostly quoted out of context. “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” He is saying that he has learned to stand firm even when he was poor or had hardship and when he had abundance and things were going his way. How? Because he learned to rely fully on Christ for his strength, not his material possessions of the state of his current circumstances.

 

God promises to give you the power and strength to stand firm when you rely on Him.

 

Philippians 4:19

And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.