Love That Multiplies.
1 John 3:14-15TPT
Have you ever wanted to know the heart of Jesus? Listen to Jesus’ prayer—Not My will but Your will be done.
Jesus knew His will might limit what His Father’s will was. The Trinity is always in cohorts.
Q&A—What did Jesus say we were to possess if we were truly His disciples? Love for one another!
1 John 3:14-15TPT Yet we can be assured that we have been translated from spiritual death into spiritual life because we love the family of believers. A loveless life remains spiritually dead. 15 Everyone who keeps hating a fellow believer is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life residing in him.
John reminds these early believers that to let love wither, or hide in the face of our fear is really to live in death.
However, to love freely and unafraid, filled and empowered with the Spirit’s self-giving love, is to experience resurrection life in all its fullness
Again, 1 John 3:14-15TM The way we know we’ve been transferred from death to life is that we love our brothers and sisters. Anyone who doesn’t love is as good as dead. 15 Anyone who hates a brother or sister is a murderer, and you know very well that eternal life and murder don’t go together.
As a person is translated from spiritual death into spiritual life, it all transpires out of God’s powerful love.
Because of the acceptance of God’s powerful love—We love others in return. P.H
Jesus said in, John 15:7-8TPT But if you live in life-union with me and if my words live powerfully within you—then you can ask whatever you desire and it will be done. 8 When your lives bear abundant fruit, you demonstrate that you are my mature disciples who glorify my Father!
God’s love—multiples, and ours should too.
Upon viewing a famous photograph of the late Princess Diana of Wales. At first glance, the captured scene looks mundane. Smiling warmly, the Princess is shaking the hand of an unidentified man. However it's the photograph's story that makes it remarkable.
On April 19, 1987, when princess Diana visited London Middlesex hospital, the United Kingdom was engulfed in a wave of panic as it confronted the AIDS epidemic. Not knowing how the disease which often killed with terrifying speed was spread, the public at times treated AIDS victims like lepers were treated in Biblical times.
Therefore it was a stunning moment when Diana, with ungloved hands and a genuine smile, calmly shook an AIDS patients hand that day.
That image of love, kindness and respect would move the world to treat victims of the disease with similar mercy and compassion.
This picture of Diana reminds me of something I easily forget—Freely and generously offering the love of Jesus to others is worth it.
In John 21, Jesus meets His troubled disciples—Confused, hurting, perplexed, lonely, and maybe a little cold, calloused, and loveless.
Jesus shows up as His disciples were without a catch.
Jesus gives one command from the shore, the disciples heed, they harvest a huge catch!
Peter’s eyes and heart were opened!
In the caption of my Bible it reads—Peter’s restoration.
John 21:15-17TPT After they had breakfast, Jesus said to Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you burn with love for me more than these?”
Peter answered, “Yes, Lord! You know that I have great affection for you!”
“Then take care of my lambs,” Jesus said.
16 Jesus repeated his question the second time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you burn with love for me?”
Peter answered, “Yes, my Lord! You know that I have great affection for you!”
“Then take care of my sheep,” Jesus said.
17 Then Jesus asked him again, “Peter, son of Jonah, do you have great affection for me?”
Peter was saddened by being asked the third time and said, “My Lord, you know everything. You know that I burn with love for you!”
Jesus replied, “Then feed my lambs!
Notice, John 21:15 again, Jesus say’s, “Simon, son of Jonah…
Jesus called Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah” because Jonah was the prophet who ran from his calling, but was supernaturally restored.
Peter had followed Jonah’s example, by denying Jesus and running away. Yet Jesus now stood before him to fully restore him and heal his heart.
The Aramaic word for “love” is hooba, and is taken from a root word that means “to set on fire.”
This was the word Jesus would have used to ask Peter, “Do you burn with love for me?” Our love for Jesus must be passionate and kindle a holy flame within our hearts.
Song of Songs 8:6-7TPT Fasten me upon your heart as a seal of fire forevermore. This living, consuming flame will seal you as my prisoner of love. My passion is stronger than the chains of death and the grave, all consuming as the very flashes of fire from the burning heart of God. Place this fierce, unrelenting fire over your entire being. 7 Rivers of pain and persecution will never extinguish this flame. Endless floods will be unable to quench this raging fire that burns within you. Everything will be consumed. It will stop at nothing as you yield everything to this furious fire until it won’t even seem to you like a sacrifice anymore.
Again, John 21:15a After they had breakfast, Jesus said to Peter, “Do you burn with love for me?”
Because Peter was a fisherman, many theologians think Jesus said this as Peter was counting this huge load of fish.
Do you love Me more than your occupation?
Do you love Me more than money?
Do you love Me more than these disciples?
Do you love Me more that others opinions.
John 21:15b…Peter answered, “Yes, Lord! You know that I have great affection for you!”
“Then take care of my lambs,” Jesus said.
Before the crucifixion of Jesus, Peter boast that he would never leave Jesus. That boast proved empty, as within hours of making the claim, Peter denied he even knew Jesus three times.
So Jesus asked Peter three times if he loved him. In essence, Jesus knew how to bring healing to Peter and remove the pain of his denial.
John 21:16TPT Jesus repeated his question the second time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you burn with love for me?”
Peter answered, “Yes, my Lord! You know that I have great affection for you!”
“Then take care of my sheep,” Jesus said.
Three times Peter denied Jesus, but three times he made his confession of his deep love for Christ. Listen, By the third time, the “crowing rooster” inside Peter had been silenced, and now he was ready to be a shepherd for Jesus’ flock.
“Jesus calls believer’s into a life of love; A life of genuine affection for others.” P.H
The key issue or thought is, that Jesus wants His sheep and lambs to fed directly from the life-source of love.
John 21:17TM Then he said it a third time: “Simon, son of John, do you love me?”
Peter was upset that he asked for the third time, “Do you love me?” so he answered, “Master, you know everything there is to know. You’ve got to know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.
Jesus is saying—If you want love that multiplies be fed and feed others.
Not part of the text, however, the next few verses express Jesus’ reasoning behind asking Peter—Do you love me more than…
John 21:18-19TPT Peter, listen, when you were younger you made your own choices and you went where you pleased. But one day when you are old, others will tie you up and escort you where you would not choose to go—and you will spread out your arms.”19 (Jesus said this to Peter as a prophecy of what kind of death he would die, for the glory of God.) And then he said, “Peter, follow me!”
Jesus is saying, Peter, I’m worth it, Let love multiple, and follow Me.
1 Corinthians 13:4-8a Love is large and incredibly patient. Love is gentle and consistently kind to all. It refuses to be jealous when blessing comes to someone else. Love does not brag about one’s achievements nor inflate its own importance. 5 Love does not traffic in shame and disrespect, nor selfishly seek its own honor. Love is not easily irritated or quick to take offense. 6 Love joyfully celebrates honesty and finds no delight in what is wrong. 7 Love is a safe place of shelter, for it never stops believing the best for others. Love never takes failure as defeat, for it never gives up.
8 Love never stops loving.
Benediction.
