Jesus Gives Us Purpose

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Communion  •  Sermon  •  Submitted   •  Presented   •  53:25
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Introduction

At this time of year many people are really paying attention to the sports world.
Right?
Next Sunday, the 13th, is the super bowl, for those who care.
If you don’t care, that’s okay. It will still happen. :)
How many think that the team who loses the Super Bowl should never be allowed to play football again?
Anyone?
No?
Of course not!
We recognize that it is quite an achievement to make it that far and that win or lose they have done something impressive.
Here’s the thing.
Most of us find it difficult to extend to ourselves that same thinking.
Let me explain what I mean with a common saying.
If at first you don’t succeed, try try again.
But here’s what I feel when I fail.
If at first you don’t succeed, erase any evidence that you ever tried.
We have a tendency to view success or failure as the measure of our worth.
We see failure as something for which we are to be condemned.
While most of us know that God does not view us as failures when we fail, we view ourselves as failures.
Today our goal is twofold.
We need to change our view of failure (that’s the first goal) by understanding God’s purpose (that’s the second goal).
Here is what we know from Scripture.
Every failure is an opportunity for growth and learning.
Repeat - Read aloud
Principle:
A correct view of failure understands the purpose of God.
Guidance:
To understand God’s purpose, we embrace three objectives.
Outcome:
As we understand God’s purpose failure becomes an opportunity instead of a catastrophe.
Our passage today comes after Peter denied Jesus 3 times before His crucifixion.
In the beginning of this chapter, Peter returns to his previous occupation of fishing.
I would argue that Peter is sensing a catastrophic and crippling sense of failure.
He needs an adjustment in his thinking.
He needs to understand God’s purpose.
He needs to embrace three objectives.
Objective #1…

1. A Task To Perform vv. 15-17

John 21:15–17 NKJV
15 So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Feed My lambs.” 16 He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of Jonah, 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 Jonah, 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 all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep.
Here is something we all need to remember and never forget.
God’s purpose in choosing and calling us is in no way canceled by our failures.
Repeat
Having said that, let me clarify.
There are consequences for willful sin and bad decisions.
Peter had to live with the guilt of his betrayal.
He had to face the one he betrayed!
He had to face his fellow disciples one of whom actually heard him deny Jesus!
There were consequences for sure.
However.
Consequences do not mean that God can not use you!
There is no such thing as people so damaged that our God cannot use them!
He is in the business of redemption and restoration!
That is what we see in this passage.
Three times Peter denied Jesus, three times Jesus calls Peter to service.
I want to focus the majority of our attention on the task Jesus gives Peter, but just to tease your brains a little bit I want to give you some interesting information about this passage.
If we wanted to, we could spend all day dissecting the words used by Jesus and Peter.
Honestly, there are several important things we miss in English.
Let me just present those and you can pursue them later on you own.
The first 2 times Jesus asks Peter “do you love me” Peter responds with a different Greek word for love.
Jesus uses agape, Peter uses phileo.
The final time Jesus uses phileo as well.
That’s all the further we are going to go with that today.
The second interesting thing here is that Jesus uses several different words when He tells Peter “feed my sheep.”
We will get into that a little bit more.
The final interesting note is that Peter uses two different words for know.
In vv. 15-16 Peter uses oida which referees to am intellectual knowledge.
In v. 17 he uses ginosko which refers to an experiential knowledge.
I will mention that again.
Jesus asks Peter if he loves Him more than these.
Here is the idea.
Peter, do you love me more than anything else?
Are you willing to do anything for me?
If you love me, Peter. Truly love me, I have a job for you to do.
In John 14:15 Jesus said this about our love for Him.
John 14:15
John 14:15 NKJV
15 “If you love Me, keep My commandments.
Peter, if you are going to say you love me, demonstrate your love through your actions.
Love is demonstrated through action.
Jesus uses a few different words to describe the task he is giving to Peter.
Here Peter is to tend the lambs.
The idea is literally to feed them.
Lambs is idea of younger, more immature sheep.
In his first epistle, Peter wrote how it is the milk of the word that grows the spiritually immature.
Peter, if you love me, take care of my sheep. Feed them, care for them, tend them.
Love does something.
In v. 16 the pattern is repeated.
Jesus calls Peter to Shepherd my sheep.
These are both different words.
Care for my sheep like a shepherd.
Last year we looked at Psalm 23.
A shepherd provides, leads, restores, protects, and corrects.
Sheep here includes both sheep and goats.
Peter, if you love me take care of my flock!
The third time Jesus speaks to Peter, Peter is grieved.
Grieved – λυπέομαι (lypeomai) grieve; be distressed. to be sad v. — to be or become sorrowful or unhappy. Finite verb, aorist, passive, indicative, third person, singular.
Grieved – λυπέομαι (lypeomai)
Why?
Because he feels inadequate!
He feels like he has lost his chance to serve!
Even though Jesus is giving him a task, I think Peter struggled to believe it.
This is us!
When we fail, we don’t believe that God can still use us.
Allow me to let all of us in on a little secret, you ready?
Every person God has ever used has been a failure.
Repeat.
Jesus is obviously excluded.
God only uses failures because that’s what all of us are!
Here’s the thing.
When God puts us to use, when He redeems and restores us, we are no longer failures!
He makes us saints! He makes us Holy! He makes us accepted in the beloved!
We are more than conquerors through Him who loves us!
Paul wrote that in Romans 8. Romans 8 comes after Romans 6-7 where Paul describes our struggle with sin as a battle we wage until we go home to heaven!
Jesus gives Peter a task to perform because in Christ, Peter is more than a conqueror!
Verse 17 is where Peter uses a different word for know.
Here’s what Peter has been saying.
Jesus, you know I love you.
Now he is saying, Jesus, you have experienced the reality of my love.
Jesus responds with the same idea.
Feed my sheep.
Jesus is giving Peter a task.
Peter, you have failed. You denied me and fled.
But Peter, I am not done with you yet.
Do you love me Peter?
Then I have a task for you to perform.
We may have failed.
We may have denied Jesus and run away from Him.
God is not done with you yet.
Come back. He will rebuild, renew, and restore.
The plan and purpose of God is bigger than our failure.
Repeat - Read Aloud
Jesus doesn’t ask Peter if he is willing to serve.
He asks Peter if he loves Jesus.
A heart that is devoted to Christ will be used in service for Christ.
Jesus wants to know where your heart is!
If Jesus has our hearts, He has our obedience as well.
If we love Him we go where He tells us to go.
We do what He tells us to do.
We serve who He tells us to serve.
The Christian life isn’t just about serving Christ.
It is about having a passion for Christ.
“A Passion For Thee”
Do we love Jesus enough to serve Him?
Will we work to feed, tend, and care for His flock?
To understand God’s purpose, we embrace three objectives.
Objective #1: A Task To Perform.
Objective #2…

2. A Target To Pursue vv. 18-19

John 21:18–19 NKJV
18 Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish.” 19 This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, “Follow Me.”
Jesus speaks prophetically here of Peter’s death.
When we are young, and we have learned to walk and dress ourselves, we do what we want.
When we are old, that can change.
Peter was ultimately crucified upside down.
What I want us to focus on is in v. 19.
“This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God.”
Everything about our lives is designed to bring glory to God.
Here in verse 19 we find the two ways we bring God glory.
Glorify God
1 - In death
2 - In life (follow me)
How can we have a death that glorifies God?
Go with me to 2 Timothy 4:6-8.
2 Timothy 4:6-8
If we want to glorify God when it comes time to die, this is what we do.
Give yourself fully to Christ.
Fight to the end.
Finish the race.
Keep the faith.
We must not be like those who fail at the end of the race!
The grace that saved us will also sustain us.
What is required is dependence on the Lord.
That brings us to the second issue.
How do we live for the glory of God?
I want to look at two passages.
1 Corinthians 15:58
1 Corinthians 15:58 NKJV
58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
Be steadfast.
The idea is to keep moving forward.
Be immovable.
The idea is to root ourselves on the foundation of Christ, anchor ourselves in His Word and never move!
Abound in work.
Keep serving no matter what.
Why?
Because our labor is not in vain!
How do we know that?
Go with me to
Galatians 6:7-10
Sow to the spirit!
Don’t grow weary in doing good!
The harvest is coming!
Don’t lose heart!
Your service will change over the years.
God may move you to different fields, keep on serving!
As you have opportunity, do good to all.
Especially do good to your brothers and sisters in Christ.
This is how we meet our goal.
Jesus said to Peter that he would glorify God in His death.
To glorify God in life and death, be obedient.
That is Jesus points to in the end of v. 19 with the words “Follow Me.”
Follow – ἀκολουθέω (akoloutheō) follow; go after; obey. to follow (behavior) v. — to behave in accordance or in agreement with. Finite verb, present, active, imperative, second person, singular.
Follow – ἀκολουθέω (akoloutheō)
This is a command.
If you want to live and die for the glory of God, follow Jesus!
Be obedient to Him.
Be obedient to His Word.
The target we pursue is the glory of God!
We only hit that target through obedience.
Our greatest joy, fulfillment, and significance is found in obedience to Christ.
Repeat - Read Aloud
Our world will try to tell you that obeying Jesus will make you miserable.
Our society and culture declares that God needs to change, He needs to get with the times.
Don’t believe these lies.
When we do things God’s way, we find happiness.
When we obey we find fulfillment.
When we live for the glory of God we find our desire for significance met.
We live for the glory of God.
Sing with me
“Wonderful, Merciful, Savior”
Everything we need is found in our triune God.
He is the one we praise and adore.
He is the one who heals and strengths.
Everything we desire is fulfilled in Christ.
To understand God’s purpose, we embrace three objectives.
Objective #1: A Task To Perform.
Objective #2: A Target To Pursue.
Objective #3…

3. A Trap To Prevent vv. 20-22

John 21:20–22 NKJV
20 Then Peter, turning around, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following, who also had leaned on His breast at the supper, and said, “Lord, who is the one who betrays You?” 21 Peter, seeing him, said to Jesus, “But Lord, what about this man?” 22 Jesus said to him, “If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow Me.”
Here is the trap.
Satan lays a trap for every believer. The trap of comparison.
What about him?
That’s what Peter is saying.
Well Jesus, you’ve given me a responsibility.
You’ve told me what’s coming in my future.
What about John?
Don’t we all get tangled up in the “what about’s” and the “what if’s”?
“Jesus, I know what you are calling me to do, but what about…?”
Beloved, that is a trap set by our enemy to keep us from operating in the will of God.
The answer that Jesus gives Peter is the same answer we all need to hear.
“If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow Me.”
Let me paraphrase that.
“What I do with him is none of your business Peter, you follow me.”
Peter, don’t be distracted! Focus!
Just follow Jesus!
The activities, thoughts, and opinions of others do not matter.
We follow Christ.
We need to stop offering excuses for disobedience!
We need to stop saying things like “but” and “what about” and “after I...”
Just follow Jesus!
In Hebrews 12 the author deals with the correction that every child of God experiences.
When we stray, the Lord disciplines us and brings us back into a right relationship with Him.
Immediately after talking about that correction, the author of Hebrews says this.
Hebrews 12:12-13
Hebrews 12:12–13 NKJV
12 Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, 13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed.
This is the equivalent of telling someone who just got bucked off to get back on the horse.
So you messed up and got disciplined, get back up!
Learn from your mistakes, strengthen yourself, and get moving!
Don’t fall into the trap of comparison!
Don’t worry about what others are doing or not doing. Follow Jesus.
Is God calling you to do something that others will not understand?
Follow Him.
Are you worried about what God is doing in the lives of others?
Stop it! Follow Him!
Let God be God in the lives of others and follow Jesus!
My obedience does not depend on the activity of others.
Repeat - Read Aloud
I must stop asking what God is doing with others and focus on what He is calling me to do.
He is going to lead, guide, and direct.
He is going to be our good shepherd!
He will make us lie down in green pastures, He will lead us beside the still waters, He will restore our souls!
But He will also take us through the valley of the shadow of death, He will correct and discipline us.
No matter what we face, the promise is the same.
One day we will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
Don’t get distracted by the others sheep. Follow the shepherd.
“All The Way My Savior Leads Me”
Jesus will lead us all the way, are we following?
Turn with me to 1 Corinthians 11:23-32
This is a time for believers to remember the price that was paid. To be reminded of the penalty of sin. Taking part of communion does not save you. This is simply a way for us to be reminded of what Christ has done. If you know the Lord as savior this morning, please join us in bread and juice as we remember Jesus Christ. These are only symbols, they represent the body and blood of our Savior. Examination – verses 26-32

OBSERVANCE OF COMMUNION

1 Corinthians 11:23-32
The Bread (His Body) vv. 23-24 “More About Jesus”
More more about Jesus
More more about Jesus
More of His saving fullness see
More of His love who died for me
The Cup (His Blood) v. 25 “My Faith Has Found A Resting Place”
I need no other argument
I need no other plea
It is enough that Jesus died
And that He died for me

Conclusion

Jesus Gives Us Purpose.
We need purpose.
Each and every one of us fails.
What we must do is get back up and try again.
Failure is not final!
It it can be final, if we don’t press on.
Failure is an opportunity to learn.
God is always waiting to restore those who fail.
To every single one of us, God has given these three objectives.
A task to perform.
God has called, gifted, and equipped.
Are we serving Him?
A target to pursue.
The goal we live for is the glory of God.
We glorify God through our obedience.
Are we bringing God glory?
A trap to prevent.
There is always a temptation to compare ourselves to others.
We are commanded to follow Christ.
We are not commanded to know what Christ is calling others to.
Are we following our Good Shepherd?
COMMITMENT:
I will follow Jesus.
In good times and bad.
In want and in plenty.
In sorrow and in joy.
In darkness and in light.
In trial and in peace.
I will follow Jesus.
We must all do what God has called and equipped us to do.
We must live for the glory of God in life and death.
We must avoid the trap of comparison.
Walk in obedience and follow Jesus.
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