Thank you for all the beautiful music this morning. The great singing, congregational singing, always adds so much to our worship experience. Take your Bibles, please, and turn to John chapter 20. Those of us who are teachers have a rare opportunity to invest in the lives of others every day, to make a difference in others' lives. There are many types of jobs that God gives us, but those who teach have an amazing opportunity as well as an amazing responsibility. This week for many begins the school year, and I want those who are teachers to stand because we want to have a prayer of dedication for you. So if you're a teacher in any level or any situation, if you'd just stand, please. We want to recognize you this morning I have a great heart for teachers because. I know what it means to stand in front of. People to make a difference in lives to try to impact lives and families and homes and children. And I do pray for you and I pray for the opportunity you have. And so today I want to have your pastor pray for you and pray for God's blessing and help as you. Embark on this new school year father. I thank you for the privilege of being a teacher. The privilege of standing before others. And I pray that you'd bless each one. We know that they're varied. We think of the many who are here in this room today, who not only teach, but who give themselves. And I pray there would be an offering acceptable to you that would be appropriate, that they would learn this year to share not only the facts of their subject, but also the wisdom that you've given to them. Some perhaps teach in public schools where their opportunity is somewhat limited, but Lord, help them to, the students to see in their lives and their love, their compassion, a savior who is worthy of our praise. And Lord, I pray that this would be a wonderful year, a year of victory. I pray that you would uphold them when they're weak and when they're discouraged. I pray that you'd give them great impact in the lives of students. We know that impact comes from you and the Holy Spirit. So I pray that you would use them today. Make them vessels worthy. of your blessing. We pray this in our Savior's name. Amen. Amen. I want you to know, teachers, that I do pray for you, particularly for your responsibility as you stand before others. We're finishing this marvelous book of John. We have gone from John chapter 1 now to John chapter 20 and chapter 21. And it's a little sad to me to finish. We have gone through so many things and have seen so many things together. But as we wind up this study, I could not pass this opportunity to point out to you this morning the things that Jesus did after his resurrection. I don't think I've ever heard a message on the ministry of Christ after his resurrection. We have focused much on his teaching and we do in the gospels where he taught the people, but now having gone through death, and victory over the grave, he now has other things to finish. You remember in John chapter 13, when Jesus washed the disciples' feet, he gave them an example of humility. He took the lowest place, the place of a servant, and he laid aside his garments and took upon him the garments of a servant, and he washed their feet, the very lowest task in the house. And he said to them, as I have done unto you, You need to do to others. He was laying out the foundation just as I described for our teachers You are you are to be a servant to your students It doesn't mean you don't speak with authority. It doesn't mean that you don't have a position of leadership But it means that we are we are to be what we can be to help others and jesus was Teaching the disciples this very important lesson It's interesting that after the The upper room and he begins in chapter 14 to tell them he's going away He begins to reveal to them the cross and all the things that they were troubled about He immediately instead of talking about himself And focusing on his sorrow and his pain and his agony. He begins to teach them He begins to prepare them. He begins to give them warning. He tells them about their enemy of the world. He tells them about what it means to live in a wicked world. He tells them about things that they need to know. He gives them instruction. He gives them wisdom, practical wisdom, how to face life. He shows to them and teaches to them love and compassion, which is necessary for effective ministry. And now, after his resurrection, after the sorrow of his death, his passion, again, he doesn't turn to himself, but he begins to turn once again to these little group of men, these 11 men now, who were given the task of taking the gospel to the world. And he begins to teach them things that are so critical and and the things that happen these three incidences are cannot be overestimated can't be i cannot speak too strongly about them for these are the things that jesus you know if we if we value last words if we value last teachings these are certainly significant So we see in John chapter 20, and we'll be there the whole morning, so I hope you'll open your Bible and keep it open in your lap to read along with me. But in John chapter 20 and verse 20, he says, and when Jesus, when he had so said, he showed them his hands and his side. Then were his disciples glad when they saw the Lord. By the way, this was the first, the same day at evening, verse 19, on the first day of the week, he had come out of the grave. They had gone to the tomb and found it empty, and this was that evening. And they were gathered together. Doesn't say why, but they were just gathered together in the room with the door shut. And Jesus appeared unto them. And he answers the most important question. We studied the book of Job together on Wednesday nights. We went through the book of Job and the thing that the Lord chastised Job about was not many things, but it was how he responded to the difficulty that faced his life. You know, we're not responsible for the circumstances around us. I mean, well, I guess we can do stupid stuff and stupid stuff can happen to us, but basically things happen and some things we don't have any control over. And such was Job's situation, but it was the response to those things. How did they respond? So now the disciples have just gone through the most traumatic thing they could have ever thought of. And that was Jesus hanging on a cross. Jesus does not answer the question why right here because that wasn't the relevant question The relevant question is what? What do I do now? Where do I go? I mean here they were in a room together But there was no forward motion here. There was no This is what we need to do next They were just kind of waiting and Jesus shows up to talk to them about what comes next What is it that you're supposed to do? Here's the transition. They had been learners. They're called disciples. Disciple is a learner. That's who they had been. That's been their role. That was their person. That's who they were. They were disciples. They were learners. And that was all about to change. For their teacher, their master was going back to heaven. And now they would move from the place of learners to the place of doers. They had been in the preparation mode. And by the way, they struggled with that mode. There had been times when they did well, and sometimes they didn't do well, sometimes they didn't understand, sometimes they said the wrong thing, they did the wrong thing, much like we do. But it's important to note that at this point, Jesus says, now here is what you're supposed to do. And I wonder how many of us might be in that same place having been taught and having been fed and having learned and having been prepared, how many of us have ever moved from that learning mode into the participation mode? Into the place of being useful to God, not to be a sitter or an observer, but a doer. Notice Jesus' words. In John 21, then said Jesus unto them again, Peace be unto you as my father has sent me, even so send I you. He's very clear. They understood, they had accepted the fact that God had sent Jesus as their teacher. Now as their savior, he was named Jesus for he will save his people from their sins. They had accepted his role in their lives. I can only imagine when he said that to them, as a father has sent me, even so send I you, it must have been staggering to them. Remember, these were the men who had fled at the cross, who did not go with him to the judgment. These were men who had not stood with him. These were men who had proved themselves to be weak and who had proved themselves to be fearful. And suddenly he announces to them that they were going to be in his place. What an astounding thing. But we also realize that he gave them his authority. Notice if you would, in verse number 23, this is also amazing. Whosoever sins you remit, they're remitted unto them. Whosoever sins you retain, they're retained. It doesn't mean that they themselves had the power to forgive sin. It means that as they represent Christ, they have the power to proclaim the Word of God, which has the power to change lives. I've been a preacher for a long time, and I've stood up before groups like this, and I stand before you this morning, and it always amazes me that I get to do this. And what amazes me even more is that you listen to me. I look out at your faces, and you're paying attention. And occasionally, people even write things down, and I'm thinking, that's amazing to me. And you know, it's not because I have some great gift, but it's because the position that I'm placed in, and hopefully the power of God that works through the Word of God to your heart. And over these years in this church and other places I've preached, I've seen lives and homes totally radically changed. I've seen men and women whose lives were turned upside down, whose salvation came, conviction of sin came because of the power of God. And he says very simply to them, I'm gonna give you the authority to say your sins can be forgiven. I stand here this morning and say to you as a sinner, if you're not saved, God can forgive your sin. God will forgive your sin. What an astounding thing it is, and they struggle with that. They did not quite get it, but with his command to go as his representatives, he gives them also his authority. As a father has sent me, he says, with that authority, with that position, so send I you. It's absolutely astounding what happens, that these men who were so weak and so afraid Turn the world upside down. There's no explanation apart from the power of God. There's no explanation apart from the filling of the Holy Spirit. We look, perhaps tonight, if we get to that point, the commission that he gives them, you will see again the lesson, the most foundational lesson, what we do, if it amounts to anything, is only done through the power of God. Let me tell you something, folk. If you are raising children and those children turn out right and serve God, you know who does that? Talk to me. Understand that. When I witness to someone, if they hear the word and if they are convicted by the Holy Spirit, who does that? The Holy Spirit does that. We're talking about spiritual business here. And spiritual business is only done by God. Who can change a heart? I mean, every parent, every parent in this room has wanted to take the top of your kid's head off and pour brains in there. Am I right? And every parent in this room has wanted to grab him and shake him about three times and make him do right, and you can't do it. But oh, what an amazing thing to see God do stuff. And you stand back and you go, wow. Isn't that amazing? My kid actually has a brain. And sometimes they actually want to serve God, and what a thrilling thing that is. I can't tell you, I know you parents are more proud than me, but when I read the reports of our teen group down there, these are teenagers, for heaven's sakes, teenagers. And they're up there talking, they're preaching the word, they're giving the gospel. And I'm thinking, how amazing is that? First of all, that kids would want to do that. And secondly, that they can do that, and that they're useful in doing that, and people are being saved. What an amazing thing that is, and that's what they were. They saw themselves as little more than children. They were just followers. They were disciples, and suddenly Jesus says, hey, it's time. They were to represent Christ before a lost, and a dying, and a hopeless world. And my friends, that's who we are. Let me say it very clearly and very plainly. If Lilburn and Snowville and Gwinnett County is going to be reached, it's going to be us who reach them. We love missions here. By God's grace, I've been to many, many fields in the world, and so have many of you through the mission program we have in our church. And there's one thing that I can tell you absolutely that I have concluded If Africa is going to be reached for Christ, it's going to be reached by Africans. If the Dominican Republic is going to be reached for Christ, it's going to be reached by Dominicans. If Gwinnett County and Snellville is going to be reached for Christ, it's going to be reached by Berean people. That's who's going to reach them. And we're here in the midst of a lost and dying and hopeless world. It's astounding to me. I know as a pastor, maybe people talk to me more than you, but When I talk to a server in a restaurant or somebody in a store, there is a sense of hopelessness, doom. What are we gonna do? Preacher, the world's in a mess. Yes, it is, but I'm not hopeless, but they are. And if there's any hope, it's gonna be because we have the gospel, we have the word of God, we have the light that they don't have, and that's our job. But in order to accomplish that, now this is very important. If you're gonna go to sleep, go to sleep after this. If we are going to ever embrace the tasks that God has for us to do, we have to turn away our attention from ourselves. We will never accomplish God's task if our goal and purpose is to please ourselves. Because God's task does not seem to be exciting or fulfilling. It seems to be hard. And as long as we're focused on what I want to do and what pleases me and what my plans are, I will never accomplish God's purpose. 2 Corinthians 5 says, to wit, God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them, And get this, and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ. As though God did beseech you by us, we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. I can stand here in the place of Christ, that's what he says, in Christ's stead. Be ye reconciled to God, I can say that. Because of the authority of scripture, What an astounding thing to be able to stand before someone and say, you can be reconciled to God, I say it on the power of God's word. What we call the Great Commission, Jesus came and spake unto them saying, all power is given to me in heaven and earth, go ye therefore and teach all nations. Baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost, teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you and lo, I am with you always even to the end of the world. Notice the beginning and the end. All authority is given unto me, he says. And then he says at the end, lo, I am with you always. Do you understand the significance of that? Yes, the middle part is important. Yes, preaching and teaching and discipling is important, but you can't do it without his authority. You can't do it without his presence. It's hard probably to describe, but as a preacher There are times when you stand to preach and it's so easy to preach and so delightful to preach and so fulfilling to preach because the power of God is working in hearts and lives and minds. It's an amazing thing. It's something I've never, hope I never get over. And there are times when you stand to preach and it's like running in mud. And it's, you're struggling and you're trying to say things and it just seems like it's just not going anywhere and it's hard And the only difference is the power of the Holy Spirit at work in lives and homes and families and hearts. Suddenly, God is doing that work and we must all get beyond ourselves and realize that the task that I am given as a parent, as a husband, as a wife, as a young man in college, a young man in high school, a young woman, the things I'm called on to do, I cannot do as long as my desire is to please myself. When I get beyond that, when I say, you know what? There are bigger things for me to do than to try to just please me. I've got to do something for God. Acts 1.8 says, but you shall receive power. But you shall receive power after that the Holy Ghost has come upon you. And you shall be witnesses unto me, both in Jerusalem and Judea and Samaria, the uttermost part of the earth. Lord willing, we'll get to these passages tonight, so I'll not talk about them this morning. So the first thing Jesus does is he gives these disciples who had lost everything, who had no direction, suddenly gave them purpose. What, not why, but what. Here's what you're supposed to do. Here's who you're supposed to be. This is how it's gonna work. And he begins to teach them. He gives them hope, direction. But he does something else very significant. Verse 24 says, but Thomas, One of the 12 called Didymus was not with them when Jesus came. I've always said, it's dangerous to miss church on Sunday night. Jesus might show up. And it's exactly what happened. Now I want you to notice, that may sound funny, but the fact is, because he wasn't there, and all the others were there, the Bible didn't say where he was or what he was doing. He may have been hanging out at McDonald's with his laptop, I'm not sure what he was doing, but he was somewhere doing something, but he wasn't there. Now, because he wasn't there, who was the loser? He was. And while the other men, I want you to notice what it says, verse 20, well, in verse 20, and when he had so said, he showed them his hands and his feet, then were the disciples glad when they saw the Lord. Let me ask you a question, was Thomas glad? Was he contented? Was he encouraged? No. He wasn't encouraged at all. The other disciples therefore said unto him, We've seen the Lord. But he said, Except I see in his hands the print of the nails, I'll put my finger in the print of the nails, and thrust my hand to his side, I will not believe. They said, you know what? We've seen the Lord. It's wonderful. He's alive. We know he's alive. Thomas said, I don't believe it. Do you see that? Here's a guy who had very weak faith. Anybody have weak faith? Anybody have trouble believing? I mean, trouble doing the right thing because it's right? Trouble just obeying because you're supposed to obey? You have a problem with that? Well, Thomas did. But he was the loser. He was the guy that was miserable. The other disciples had... Now, you know, let me make sure you understand. They were struggling. Notice, if you go back to verses 8, go back to verse 8 in this same passage. Go back to chapter 20, verse 8. Then went also another disciple, which came first to the sepulcher, and he saw and believed. For as yet they knew not the Scripture, that they might rise again from the dead. In other words, they were trying to sort all this out. I mean, this is a big deal. Jesus had died now they were saying he was out of the grave and they were trying to figure it out what happened what I see what what does this mean so it wasn't a small thing they were trying to figure it out and you know what I see here is the amazing grace of God because you know, Thomas was gone. He wasn't there that first night. Now, I want you to notice. Look if you would at verse number 26. And after eight days, again, his disciples were within, and Thomas was with them. And here are the most important three words. Then came Jesus. I just can't get over that. I mean, by the way, for eight days, Thomas was miserable. Jesus was out of the grave, he was resurrected, he was victorious, but Thomas didn't know that. He was not happy, he was not satisfied, he was still wanting to see for himself. But I asked myself the question, had Jesus heard what Thomas said? When Thomas said, I don't believe unless I put my finger, let me show you, look up if you would at verse number 27. then saith he, that is Jesus to Thomas, reach hither thy finger and behold my hands, or reach hither thy hand and thrust into my sight. What does that sound like to you? Talk to me. Isn't that exactly what Thomas said? If I don't touch his finger, if I don't... You think Jesus heard what he said? I think he did. Let me ask you another question. Did Jesus care? How do we know he cared? Well, because he let Thomas stew for eight days, but then he showed up. Have you ever thought about the amazing thing that God doesn't leave us in our despair? I have a wonderful privilege as a pastor of sharing many of your prayer requests, and you've come to me and tell me about things, and I pray for you, That's a wonderful privilege. It's also a wonderful thing that I get to know some of the answers to prayer, some of the things that God does. I could stand here all day and talk about some of those, and I could look out at your faces and remember how we prayed together about certain things, and suddenly God answered. That's an astounding thing that God does that, that God answers prayer. encourages us, you know, these little handfuls on purpose. Someone said those little things that he does for us that are just so amazing that we should say, my Lord and my God, this isn't normal. You just did this for me. I mean, you, you, you did something that only God can do. You did a God thing. What an amazing thing that is. And Jesus heard, let me ask you another question. When he, when he knew what Thomas said, when he cared, was he angry at Thomas? No, he wasn't angry. He remembereth our frame, he knoweth that we're of dust. We have this treasury and earthen vessels, listen, that the excellency and the power may be of God and not of us. You think God knows our frame? You think God knows how pitiful we are? Anybody here pitiful besides me? Yeah, we're pretty pitiful, aren't we? And don't you think God knows that? Do you think God gets angry with us about that? What's amazing is he comes along and encourages us. He comes along and brings us reassurance. He comes along and, you know, figuratively holds out his hand and said, okay, look. Look at my side. There are three things that encourage us. that we should understand if we have weak faith, there are three things that God uses. Number one is the word of God. It was the words, and in verse 21, as my father has sent me, whosoever sins remit. These words were the foundation of their encouragement. They are not hopeless, they are not without direction. Jesus had given them his word, and therefore it was an encouragement to them. The encouragement of other believers. the fellowship of believers. Hebrews chapter 10, forsake not the assembling of yourselves together, as the manner of some is. You know, it is statistically true that the average believer attends church 37 weeks out of the year. 37 weeks out of the year. How many weeks are there in a year? That means that the average believer misses Anybody do the math in your head? You say, not me. Keep track of it and see. Now, let me ask you a question. Let's suppose that you get discouraged, and let's suppose that, you know, you have a problem kind of keeping on the right track and doing the right thing, and you have a problem with that, maybe because you're not getting what you need by being in church. One of the things that's happening in our generation, in this generation, is a lack of commitment to the Lord's house, and I'm not talking about just being here to fill out a page or to count a number. I'm talking about what you need. I mean, Thomas missed out. He wasn't there. Now, the Lord was gracious and showed up and helped him and guided him, but, you know, he wasn't there. He missed out. And, you know, if I am led by the Spirit, if I am guided by the Holy Spirit about what I preach, and if God helps me to say it the way it needs to be said, then can I say without pride, you need to be here to hear it? Because maybe the very message that God wanted you to hear, the one that you needed to fill in that hole in your understanding or your inspiration was the very one that you missed. And I would dare say if you miss 15 out of a year, you've missed a lot. And some, and I understand, I know all about culture and all about how things are, and some come on Sunday morning, and you know, it's like sitting down at a prime rib buffet every once a week, and that's all you eat from then till the next week. That's all it is. I mean, Sunday's different. Sunday morning's different than Sunday. Tonight's very different than this morning. If you haven't been here before, it's very different. Wednesday night's different still. So fellowship with believers, but there's something else that strengthens our faith, and that's Jesus' presence. then he saith to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger. And Thomas answered, verse 28, My Lord and my God. What an encouragement it is to have Jesus there, to have Jesus' presence. You know, I pray before Sunday and in my own heart many times during the week, Lord, please be with us on Sunday. Because, you know, people walk into this room, and some of you are visiting today, and you don't know me, and you don't know the church, I just pray that when you walk in this place and you begin to sit to a service you think yourself whether something different here god is working here I sense something , I'm not trying to be mystical or spooky and trying to understand there's just something about Jesus being there and he was Thomas missed out because Jesus came he won their Thomas is encouraged and Thomas is guided. This is a great example of mercy and grace. And I can say to you, my friend, there have been many times in my life this very thing has happened. How about you? There have been many times when Jesus has appeared. I'm not talking spooky. I'm here. I'm just saying, you know what? Here I am struggling. Here I am discouraged. And suddenly the Lord comes and with sweetness and with the word of God and with friends, biblical friends, I'll told you this morning into the pulpit heavy because of my friends who are struggling so desperately today. But also to realize that Jesus presence can take away all that fear and encouragement and can say, you know, it's not it's not over. It's not done. I'm not done yet. And God is a great and marvelous God, but he is characterized by grace and mercy was one more thing he does. There was somebody else. He wasn't done yet. Look if you would. Verse 15 of chapter 21, last chapter. So when they had dined, Jesus saith unto Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? Now let's stop. Let's go back and say, now, first of all, the first thing he did after his resurrection, the way of teaching is he said, here's what you're supposed to do. Gave him new direction. The second thing he did was here was a guy whose faith was weak, and he was one of the ones who were supposed to take the gospel, and he was weak himself. So Jesus comes along to strengthen him and to build him up and to give him a foundation so he could go out and serve, but there was somebody else. You know who that was, don't you? What was his name? Well, it depends on what name you call him, but his name was Peter, wasn't it? You know, one of the amazing things is to follow that guy, Peter. He had failed. Peter had failed shamefully. Peter had failed publicly. And Peter had failed completely. He was the one, though all other men deny you, I'm not gonna deny you. I'm better than all these other guys. I love them. By the way, I love you more than they do. So what question do they ask him? Do you love me more than these? Can you imagine how that struck Peter's heart? Can you imagine what he must have felt like when Jesus said that? In one of the gospels, it said that when Jesus, when Peter denied the Lord and cursed and swore, it just simply says, and Jesus turned and looked on Peter. Oh my goodness. Can you imagine that? I mean, as the words, as the swear words are coming out of your mouth, Jesus turns and looks at you and catches your eye. Can you imagine that? So there was work to be done. And by the way, here's the amazing part. Peter was to be a leader. Who preached on the day of Pentecost? Talk to me. Who took the gospel to the Gentiles? The first person was Peter. so the lord was not done with peter in that amazing how many times does a christian fall before god doesn't come up again that's a trick question isn't and here's peter yes he failed he fell miserably he fell completely he fell publicly and yet the lord takes time to come and restore peter not to notice So when they're dying, Jesus saith unto Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me. Now let me stop. Names in the Bible are very important. You know, we have names, but those names aren't as significant as they were in Bible times. John chapter one, there is a man, he's called Simon, the son of Jonas. He said, your name is Simon, the son of Jonah, but you will be called Cephas, which is a stone. Who is that? It's Peter. So the Lord said, I know you, and you're just Simon, the son of Jonah. You're, you know, excuse me, a pretty pitiful guy. But I'm going to make you a stone. I'm going to make you a rock. I'm going to make you, I'm going to make you significant in the work of God. So time has passed now, and Peter's gone through all the things that we know about Peter. And now we see this horrendous failure. So here the Lord shows up and calls him Simon, son of Jonas. He doesn't call him a rock. He doesn't call him Peter. It was both a rebuke as well as a reminder of his promise. Of course, we know Jesus wasn't done with Peter. God wasn't done with him. But I know that his calling him that name, That's his old name, that's who he was. And now he should be different, he should be standing, he should be strong, and suddenly he's not. And Jesus calls him by that old name, and then he mentions two things, and this is so important. What is the question? He says, Simon, do you obey me in everything? Is that what he said? Is that what he asked him? Look at verse 15, tell me. Simon, son of Jonas, what does he ask him? Come on, folk, why do you ask him? Do you love me? Now, why would he ask him that? He could have said, Simon, son of Jonas, did you deny me? And the answer would have been, yes. Simon, son of Jonas, do you promise to do better? Yes. Simon, son of Jonas, are you embarrassed? Yes. That's not what he asked him. And this is so significant. Here is a man who was humiliated. A man who had failed dramatically. I mean, you know, in all those grand scheme of things, there's not much worse thing you can do than to do this. In front of people, in front of everybody. But praise God, Jesus wasn't through with Peter yet. So the things were this, first love and then service. There's a reason for that. You know, we will never serve Christ as we should without real genuine love. Keep your finger here in chapter 21. Go back to chapter 15. Let me show you something. You know, it's not like the Lord hadn't told them. It's not like it's not like he hadn't prepared them. That's the wonderful thing about this whole passage is He'd already told him all this and they had never learned it. They had not gotten it yet Look if you would in john chapter 14 rather john chapter 14 and verse 15 John 14 15 says if you love me What's the next part Look at verse 21 He that hath my commandments and keepeth them He it is that loveth me, and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and manifest myself to him." His presence, Jesus' presence, don't miss what I'm going to say. His presence with you is determined by whether or not you keep His commandments. That's what the verse says. And keeping His commandments is determined by your love. It's a syllogism. If you love Him, you'll keep His commandments, and He'll be with you. So if you say you love him and you don't keep his commandments, he's not going to be with you. And my friend, without him, you will not do his work. You cannot do his work. Or you may try. You may go through the motions, but it will never be effective because you are talking about spiritual work that requires the power and presence of God and the power of the Holy Spirit. Verse 23, same chapter, Jesus answered and said to him, if a man loved me, he will keep my words, and my father will love him, and I will come to him and make our abode with him. You know what? It is time for God's people to show consistency in their testimony. It is time that we realize that I have to please God and not myself. that my decisions that I make are to honor God and to honor Him and to do the right thing before God's people and before the lost world because that's what I'm supposed to do. It is time we got beyond ourselves. We live in the most selfish, self-centered, self-pleasing age that has ever been. And we congratulate ourselves on our great freedom and what we do. And here was Peter and the area that he talks about is love and then he'd already taught them He said it, you know if in verse verse number 23 Of chapter 14, excuse me chapter 14 verse 23 My father will love him and I will we will come to him And make our abode with him and we long for the presence of christ and can't understand why he's not with us Why we feel so estranged from god as believers. Why is it that christ is not with me? Why do not not feel his presence is because we do not keep his commandments Because we do not love him as we should we love ourselves We love pleasing ourselves. We love doing what we want to do So jesus talks first of all about love A careless spirit about obedience Lawlessness demonstrates a lack of real love that precedes useful service We who desire to serve god Should be very concerned about our obedience and very concerned about our love for Christ before without that It that is the beginning place. It is where when Jesus wants to restore Peter He begins with love Because that is the step the first step do we love him Peter's attitude clearly demonstrate that we love ourselves more than we love God and Service for Christ that does not spring from a heart overflowing with love for the Savior is lifeless service. It is a drudgery to serve. Service is even seen as interfering with the way I want to live my life, instead of serving being a great privilege. Looking forward to the opportunity to do something for God, something significant. Standing here in this pulpit singing the songs Helping in the nursery ushering should be the greatest privilege of our life to serve the Lord Christ. What an amazing thing But we don't love him And therefore these things become to us service and drudgery and just so much things that we do Once the love is taken care of Jesus simply says feed my lambs Now that you've faced yourself and you understand where your deficit is, then now do my work." There was important work to be done. Peter was to be a leader. He needed to be restored to fellowship with Christ first. He needed to be restored in the eyes of the other disciples. Public failure, public restoration. There's no greater example in any pages of any literature of mercy and grace than these two chapters. That Christ would appear after his resurrection, not talking about himself, but concerned about this little group, the weak faith, the embarrassment, the failure of these men who had been with him. Mercy and grace, depth of mercy. Can there be mercy still reserved for me? Can my God his wrath forbear me, the chief of sinners spare? I have long withstood his grace, long provoked him to his face, would not hearken to his calls, grieved him by a thousand falls. Now incline me to repent Let me now my sins lament, now my foul revolt deplore, weep, believe, and sin no more. Therefore me, my Savior stands holding forth his wounded hands. God is love, I know, I feel. Jesus weeps and loves me still. Hallelujah. What a Savior. Let's pray. Father, once again, we stand looking at Christ and are awed by who He is. We don't understand such love as this. We don't understand such mercy, such grace, such patience. And yet, Lord, we love You for it, and we accept You, and we honor you for who you are and how you deal with us. You've not dealt with us according to our sins. You've not rewarded us according to our iniquities for as high as the heavens are above the earth, so far as you removed our transgressions from us. And Lord, I pray for those today in this room who are struggling with sin, some Christians who are discouraged and defeated, who have turned away and have chosen to walk in their own selves and please themselves instead of serving you. Restore us today. Those of weak faith who have tried and started and have failed because they've not been willing to trust you and walk by faith. Would you strengthen their faith today? Would you comfort them and help them? Uphold them by your word and by the fellowship of believers. Lord, would we all in this room today who are believers, members of Brian Baptist Church, accept our role as ambassadors for Christ, going out to reach the world, to get off the seat of the learner and the disciple and to become in the place of a server, a place of a witness for you? Lord, we know these great lessons are so critical to our life, for our future as a church, for our future as individuals. Lord, would you do a great work today? All our heads are bowed before we sing a song and finish our service. Let me ask this question. Would you say, Pastor, there are some things in my life that I need to deal with that I'm aware of, God has made me aware of them, and would you pray for me today because I understand from the message There are things I need to fix. And would you pray for me? Anybody like that? Lift your hand until I see it. Pastor, pray for me. Just lift them up. Yes, God bless you. Yes, yes. Upstairs in the balcony? Yes, I see that.