LEGACY OF LOVE
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LEGACY OF LOVE
LEGACY OF LOVE
John 21:15–17
“So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.”
INTRODUCTION:
When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will at peace.
Love is merely feeling to be felt but a legacy to be lived. Mimi Handrix
WHAT
Why three times? Because Peter had denied Jesus three times. But notice something beautiful here - Jesus doesn't ask, "Peter, do you remember when you denied me?" He doesn't say, "Peter, are you sorry for what you did?" Instead, He asks about love. Because love, genuine love, is the foundation of all true service.
Picture this scene: The disciples had been fishing all night. Jesus appears on the shore, provides a miraculous catch, and then calls Peter aside. Three times Jesus asks the same penetrating question: "Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me?" This isn't casual conversation, beloved. This is divine examination
Why three times? Because Peter had denied Jesus three times. But notice something beautiful here - Jesus doesn't ask, "Peter, do you remember when you denied me?" He doesn't say, "Peter, are you sorry for what you did?" Instead, He asks about love. Because love, genuine love, is the foundation of all true service.
Each time Peter responds, "Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee." But watch what Jesus does with Peter's declaration of love. He immediately gives him an assignment: "Feed my lambs... Feed my sheep... Feed my sheep." Jesus is teaching us a fundamental truth: Love without action is incomplete. Love that doesn't translate into service is merely sentiment. This morning, Jesus is asking each of us the same question: "Do you love me?" And if our answer is yes, then He has the same response for us: "Then serve my people." The question that changes everything isn't about our past failures - it's about our present love and our future service.
PETER’s JOURNEYLet's understand the context of this conversation. Just days before, Peter had experienced his greatest failure. When Jesus was arrested, Peter followed at a distance. When questioned about his association with Jesus, Peter denied Him not once, not twice, but three times. The third time, Scripture tells us, "he began to curse and to swear, saying, I know not this man of whom ye speak." Can you imagine the shame Peter felt? The guilt? The sense that he had disqualified himself from ministry? Many of us have been there. We've failed God. We've made mistakes that seem too big to forgive. We've wondered if God could ever use us again.Notice that Jesus calls him "Simon, son of Jonas" - using his old name, his natural name, not the name "Peter" which means rock. Jesus is meeting him where he is, in his humanity, in his weakness. But He's not leaving him there. The beautiful thing about this restoration is that it's not just personal - it's purposeful. Jesus isn't just restoring Peter's relationship with Him; He's restoring Peter's calling to serve. The same mouth that denied Jesus would soon preach at Pentecost and see three thousand souls saved. The same hands that warmed themselves by the enemy's fire would soon lay hands on the sick and see them recover.
Support:
Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.
Love is the root of true lagacy. It is not your eloquence. achievements or wealth.
Love builds a community that endures.
Love is express true sacrices and servant leadership.
Love living and generational
LOVE IS MORE THAN WORDS
Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
WHY?
The church is call to reveal the power of love.
No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.
Love like that tree
And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water,
That bringeth forth his fruit in his season;
His leaf also shall not wither;
And whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
It is like a light house in storm
How?
Incarnational love. Love become flesh
And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
Holy Spirit Empowerment:
And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
Transforming Grace
Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
