Do You Really Love Jesus?

DO YOU REALLY LOVE JESUS?

JOHN 21:15-17

1. INTRODUCTION. MOST OF US, IF NOT ALL OF US, HAVE USED THE WORD LOVE AT SOME POINT IN OUR LIVES. WE LOVE THINGS, PLACES, AND PEOPLE. SOMETIMES OUR LOVE IS MISPLACED AND MISDIRECTED. LOVE IS MORE THAN A FEELING. BECAUSE THE HUMAN NATURE IS SO FICKLE AT TIMES, FEELINGS CHANGE; AND BECAUSE FEELINGS CHANGE, SO DOES LOVE. TO ILLUSTRATE THIS IRREFUTABLE IDEA, SOMETIMES WHEN TWO PEOPLE ARE GETTING MARRIED, FIRST, IT’S THE IDEAL, THEN THEY GO THROUGH AN ORDEAL, FINALLY, THEY START LOOKING FOR A NEW DEAL. LOVE IS MORE THAN JUST SWEET ROMANTIC WORDS, USED TO TICKLE THE EARS OF OTHERS. LOVE IS MORE THAN SOMETHING TO SAY WHEN THERE IS NOTHING ELSE TO SAY. THERE ARE FOUR TYPES OF BIBLICAL LOVE: STORGE, WHICH IS LOVE TOWARDS FAMILY. EROS, WHICH IS ROMANTIC AND PASSIONATE LOVE. IT CAN BE GOOD OR BAD. PHILEO, WHICH IS BROTHERLY LOVE, AND IS THE LOVE MOST OFTEN USED IN THE BIBLE. FINALLY, THERE IS AGAPE LOVE, WHICH IS THE HIGHEST FORM OF LOVE AND IS ALSO UNCONDITIONAL. SO, MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS, I WANT TO ASK THIS QUESTION, “DO YOU REALLY LOVE JESUS?”

2. THE TEXT. THESE TEXTS TAKE PLACE AFTER THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS, AND AFTER THE DISCIPLES HAD FINISHED EATING THE MEAL THAT JESUS HAD PREPARED FOR THEM.

a) JESUS ASKED PETER IF HE LOVED HIM; TO WHICH PETER RESPONDED THAT HE DID. JESUS INSTRUCTED HIM TO FEED HIS LAMBS.

b) JESUS WAS USING THE WORD AGAPE, WHILE PETER USED THE WORD PHILEO.

c) JESUS WAS INSTRUCTING PETER TO FEED THE YOUNG IN AGE AS WELL AS THE YOUNG CONVERTS IN THE CHURCH.

d) JESUS ASKED PETER THE SECOND TIME IF PETER LOVED HIM; TO WHICH PETER RESPONDED THAT HE DID. JESUS INSTRUCTED HIM TO FEED HIS SHEEP.

e) AGAIN JESUS WAS USING THE WORD AGAPE AND PETER USED THE WORD PHILEO.

f) JESUS WAS INSTRUCTING HIM TO TAKE CARE OF AND TO GUARD THE PEOPLE OF HIS CONGREGATION.

g) JESUS ASKED PETER THE THIRD TIME IF HE LOVED HIM; TO WHICH A FRUSTRATED PETER REPLIED THAT HE DID.

h) JESUS WAS USING THE WORD PHILEO AND PETER AGAIN, RESPONDED WITH THE WORD PHILEO.

i) JESUS INSTRUCTED HIM TO FEED HIS SHEEP, MEANING TO CARE FOR THE FLOCK.

j) DO YOU REALLY LOVE JESUS?

3. THE EVIDENCE OF LOVING JESUS. NOTICE THAT JESUS CHARGED PETER WITH A TASK.

a) AS I STATED EARLIER THAT LOVE IS MORE THAN JUST A FEELING, AND IT IS MORE THAN JUST WORDS.

b) GENUINE AGAPE LOVE IS TALK IN ACTION.

c) MATTHEW 15:8, “THIS PEOPLE DRAWETH NIGH UNTO ME WITH THEIR MOUTH, AND HONOURETH ME WITH THEIR LIPS; BUT THEIR HEART IS FAR FROM ME.”

d) JOHN 3:16 “FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD, THAT HE GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, THAT WHOSOEVER BELIEVETH IN HIM SHOULD NOT PERISH, BUT HAVE EVERLASTING LIFE,” IS TALK IN ACTION.

e) ROMANS 5:8, “BUT GOD COMMENDETH HIS LOVE TOWARD US, IN THAT, WHILE WE WERE YET SINNERS, CHRIST DIED FOR US,” IS TALK IN ACTION!

f) IF WE SAY THAT WE LOVE JESUS, IT MUST BE EVIDENT BY OUR ACTIONS TO LIVE FOR HIM!

g) JESUS SAYS IN JOHN 14:15, “IF YE LOVE ME, KEEP MY COMMANDMENTS.”

h) I SUBMIT TO YOU TODAY THAT LOVE ALSO REQUIRES OBEDIENCE TO HIS WORD.

i) JESUS NEVER TELLS US TO TRY TO KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS, BUT HE COMANDS US TO KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS.

j) IN OTHER WORDS, WE CANNOT JUST SAY WE LOVE HIM; WE MUST DISPLAY THAT WE LOVE HIM. WHY? BECAUSE ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS.

4. DOESN’T IT BLOW YOUR MIND THAT PEOPLE…

a) WILL NOT COME TO CHURCH ON A REGULAR BASIS, BUT SAY THEY LOVE JESUS.

b) WILL NOT ATTEND PRAYER MEETING OR BIBLE STUDY, BUT SAY THEY LOVE JESUS.

c) WILL NOT VISIT THE SICK, BUT SAY THEY LOVE JESUS.

d) WILL HOLD GRUDGES AGAINST OTHERS, BUT SAY THEY LOVE JESUS.

e) WILL GOSSIP AND BE MEAN SPIRITED TO OTHERS, BUT SAY THEY LOVE JESUS.

f) WILL SPEND MORE MONEY ON THINGS, AND REFUSE TO TITHE, BUT SAY THEY LOVE JESUS

g) WILL BE DETRIMENTALLY JUDGMENTAL OF OTHERS, BUT SAY THEY LOVE JESUS.

5. THREE POINTS/CONCLUSION.

a) ONE, LOVE IS NEVER IDLE. EVERY TIME WE SEE JESUS HAVING COMPASSION ON OTHERS, HE DEMONSTRATED IT BY HIS ACTIONS. I TELL MY CHILDREN DAILY THAT I LOVE THEM, BUT I GO BEYOND WORDS. SO IT IS WHEN IT COMES TO LOVING JESUS.

b) TWO, TO REALLY LOVE JESUS REQUIRES SERVICE. JESUS SAYS IN MATTHEW 20:28, "EVEN AS THE SON OF MAN CAME NOT TO BE MINISTERED UNTO, BUT TO MINISTER, AND TO GIVE HIS LIFE A RANSOM FOR MANY.” FURTHERMORE, HE SAYS IN MATTHEW 25:35-40, “FOR I WAS AN HUNGRED, AND YE GAVE ME MEAT: I WAS THIRSTY, AND YE GAVE ME DRINK: I WAS A STRANGER, AND YE TOOK ME IN: NAKED, AND YE CLOTHED ME: I WAS SICK, AND YE VISITED ME: I WAS IN PRISON, AND YE CAME UNTO ME.”