Reviving Your Call

January 8, 2023

INTRO

John 21:15–22 ESV

15 When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, 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.” 16 He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” 17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. 18 Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.” 19 (This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, “Follow me.” 20 Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them, the one who also had leaned back against him during the supper and had said, “Lord, who is it that is going to betray you?” 21 When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, “Lord, what about this man?” 22 Jesus said to him, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!”

1) Repent From Your Denial

John 21:15–17 ESV

15 When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, 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.” 16 He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” 17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.

Remember who Peter was and what Peter had experienced the last 3 years:

Fisherman called to follow Jesus

Front row seat for profound teaching

Sent by Jesus to heal the sick, work miracles, and proclaim Jesus’ message.

Given the divine revelation that Jesus is the Son of God, the Messiah

Viewed the glory of Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration

Walked on Water

Beside himself at the idea that someone close to Jesus would betray Him.

Sought to prevent Jesus’ arrest and saw Jesus heal the ear of the guard

Denied Jesus three times

At the moment that mattered most, Peter denied Jesus publicly.

What about you in your life? How often are we denying Jesus publicly.

May not be direct, like Peter, but doesn’t our attitudes, our actions, our lack of concern or passion for Jesus deny Him?

Haven’t we neglected what it means to be a Jesus follower by simply being a Jesus admirer?

Do we not deny Jesus by simply admiring Him or liking the idea of Him rather than abandoning self and following Him?

Acts 5:39–42 ESV

39 but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found opposing God!” So they took his advice, 40 and when they had called in the apostles, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. 41 Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name. 42 And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching that the Christ is Jesus.

Where is this kind of passion for Jesus?

If we want to see Revival and Renewal in our lives, we need to repent from not taking Jesus seriously and denying Him with how we flippantly treat our Lord and Savior.

2) Refocus On Your Dedication to Jesus

John 21:18–22 ESV

18 Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.” 19 (This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, “Follow me.” 20 Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them, the one who also had leaned back against him during the supper and had said, “Lord, who is it that is going to betray you?” 21 When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, “Lord, what about this man?” 22 Jesus said to him, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!”

Too often when we are confronted with the reality of our lives, we seek to redirect.

Here Peter, seeks to break the tension by taking the last thing Jesus said and turning the focus on John.

Jesus says, “No Peter…this isn’t about Him, it’s about Me and you…right here, right now! You Follow Me!”

Right now, if you’ve taken to heart what I just spoke about, there may be some tension in your mind, or in your heart.

The temptation is to redirect or play it off.

Maybe the temptation is to compare with others or say something like, “Well, I’m better than most.”

The reality is, a call to revival and renewal isn’t about someone else…

It’s about you, right here, right now.

Refocus on YOUR dedication to Jesus. Refocus on YOUR relationship with Him.

British Evangelist Rodney Smith, who preached throughout Britain and the United States during the late 1800s and early 1900s was once asked, “How does one even begin to start a revival?” His reply, “Go home, lock yourself in your room, kneel down in the middle of your floor. Draw a chalk mark all around yourself and ask God to start the revival inside that chalk mark. When He has answered your prayer, the revival will be on.”

3) Remember Your Calling

As Jesus sought to revive Peter, He ended right where He began, “Follow Me.”

Remember Peter’s calling?

Struggling fisherman with no catch

Jesus gave him instruction that was counterintuitive

Peter’s catch was too much to handle

He fell at Jesus’ feet and said, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” Jesus’ reply, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching people. Follow Me.” (Luke 5)

Jesus has called you as well!

It’s not just preachers, evangelists, ministers, or missionaries who are called. Jesus called you, by the power of the Holy Spirit!

What was His calling to you? “Come, follow me.”

Luke 9:23 “23 And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.”

As we seek Revival, the first place to start is to spend some time alone with Jesus and ask Him to revive your calling!

CLOSING

EXAMINE YOUR LIFE! IN WAYS DO YOU NEED TO REPENT FROM DENYING JESUS? IN WHAT WAYS HAVE YOU BEEN DISTRACTED AND NEED TO REFOCUS ON YOUR DEDICATION? IT’S TIME TO REMEMBER OUR CALLING AND TO FOLLOW JESUS!