In this room, you like to do projects.
Sometimes it's a restoration project.
Why do you do it?
Why do you go to all that trouble?
I talked to someone last week who was involved in restoring a house
because they want to live in it.
It's an old house, it's got a lot of character, they said,
and they're working hard to restore it to live in it.
Some of you may have restored a car, an old car, a classic maybe.
Because you want to drive it.
Maybe you want to take it to a car show.
People who go to the trouble of that kind of work, restoring things.
They do it for a reason.
They have a purpose for that work.
You know, God is the same way.
God is in the business of restoring fallen and broken people
because He's not finished with them.
I want you to think about it.
When God makes a person His,
when God works to call a person to Himself
by trusting in Jesus as their Savior and Lord,
He makes them His son or daughter.
God will never wash His hands of them.
No matter what,
God will love,
He will care,
He will intervene.
Sometimes He will make His child's life miserable
to get their attention,
to wake them up,
to bring them back to Himself.
But God never gives up.
Our God is in the restoring life,
restoring business.
And every person He restores,
He has a purpose for.
He has something,
when we fail Him and come back to Him,
He has something for us to do.
He wants us to serve Him.
But what I want us to really think about this morning,
He wants us to serve Him from a heart of love.
Now we saw last week how God rescues people.
For example, in John chapter 21,
when Jesus restored Peter.
Now I want you to turn back with me.
John chapter 21,
beginning in verse 15.
This is part two of a three-part series
on a restoration story.
All coming from John chapter 21.
Let's read.
When they had finished breakfast,
Jesus said to Simon Peter,
Simon, son of John,
do you love me more than these?
Remember from last week,
this is a breakfast around an open fire
with seven disciples,
six Peter and six more.
And so He says,
do you love me more than these guys?
He said to him,
that is Peter,
yes, Lord,
you know that I love you.
He said to him,
feed my lambs.
He said to him a second time,
Simon, son of John,
do you love me?
Peter said to him,
yes, Lord,
you know that I love you.
He said to him,
tend my sheep.
feed my sheep.
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.
And Jesus said to him,
feed my sheep.
Truly,
truly,
I say to you,
when you were young,
you used to dress yourself
and walk wherever you wanted.
But when you were old,
you will stretch out your hands
and another will dress you
and carry you
where you do not want to go.
This he said to show
by what kind of death
he,
that is Peter,
was going to glorify God.
And after saying this,
he said to him,
follow me.
And we're really going to get into that
verse 18 and 19 next week.
What I want us to see first,
sort of a quick review
from last week.
Our Lord is in the restoration business.
Jesus took the initiative
to reach out to Peter.
Peter had failed Jesus
the night that he was arrested
by denying that he even knew him.
He did it not once,
not twice,
but three times.
Well,
you can imagine how Peter felt
when he realized what he'd done.
But Jesus right here,
he reaches out to Peter
to publicly let the other disciples know
it's all right now.
Peter,
he denied me three times.
I'm making him say three times
that he loves me.
To let the others know
Peter's forgiven.
He's been restored now
to fellowship with Jesus.
He's now trustworthy again.
And this is Jesus' way
of restoring him
to be the leader of disciples.
Now, he is a leader among equals.
Peter is not special.
He's not unique among the 12
in terms of giving any kind
of special authority or power.
He is simply the leader
among equals in this group.
This is just one example
of how God never gives up
on his fallen or broken children.
A lot of you,
you've read through the Bible,
you've read a lot of the Bible,
you know that throughout the Bible,
there are story after story
of people who sinned against God,
who failed him miserably,
but God brought them back.
I've been teaching a study
of chapter 11 of the book of Hebrews
on Wednesday nights
called Models of Faith.
Hebrews chapter 11,
it's a long list
of men and women
from the Old Testament
who are being held up
as real examples
of people who trusted God
and just lived faithful lives
serving God.
But you know,
every single one of those people,
every single one
in that long list
of Hebrews 11,
they also failed God.
If you go back
and read about every one of them,
some of them are more
well known and remembered
because of their sin,
because of their failure,
not because of their faithfulness,
but in the big scheme of things,
they're being held up as examples.
Fallen, broken, imperfect people
that God didn't give up on,
but worked in their lives
to bring them back
after they had fallen.
And they've become examples
of faithfulness.
That encourages me.
It should encourage each one of us
because we do fail the Lord
in a lot of ways, don't we?
And if you don't really understand
how you fail God
more often than
you really feel comfortable
talking about,
if you don't find that
and ring a bell with you,
something's wrong.
It could be that you don't have
a high enough view of God
and His holiness
and His perfection,
His majesty.
Maybe you've got too high
of an opinion of yourself.
You don't really understand
how you don't love Him
with all your heart,
soul, mind, and strength,
which is how we're supposed
to love Him.
And so,
most of us in this room,
I think,
we don't have a problem
understanding.
I fail the Lord a lot.
I don't live up to
what I know.
I don't always put into practice
what I truly believe.
And so,
to hear all these stories,
to read all these stories
about how God doesn't give up on us,
how He doesn't throw us away,
how He works to bring us
back to Himself
and restore us,
that should be encouraging
to us.
You know,
back in that Hebrews chapter 11,
King David,
he is probably the most well-known
of those who were restored
from failure.
David failed God terribly
when he committed adultery
with Bathsheba,
then tried to cover it up
by having her husband killed.
What made David's moral
and spiritual failure so bad
is that he knew better.
He knew he was wrong.
That was wrong
from the very beginning.
You know,
that's just sort of a
reminder.
Most of the time,
just about all the times,
our problems are not
that we don't know.
Isn't that right?
Our problem is not
that we don't know
what we ought to do
or what we ought not to do.
We know.
Our problem is
doing what we know.
And that was David's problem.
I want you to notice
Paul,
the Apostle Paul,
he quotes a passage
of Scripture
in the Old Testament
to describe David
as a man
after God's heart.
Look at it on the screen.
It's in Acts chapter 13
and he is quoting
from the Old Testament.
1 Samuel chapter 13.
Look at it.
God raised David up
to be their king
of whom he testified
and said,
I have found in David
the son of Jesse
a man after my own heart
who will do all my will.
David was truly
a man of God.
But that didn't prevent him
from failure.
That didn't make him
immune from temptation.
David was tempted
this man after God's heart.
He was tempted
to give in to sexual immorality
and he did.
He was tempted
to try to cover up
his sin
by killing someone
and he did.
David failed God
in a very public
and shameful way
and he knew better.
But God didn't give up on him.
God actually worked
in his life.
It took some time.
But God actually worked
in David's life
to bring him
to a point
where
he realized
just how
terrible
his sin was.
And he was humbled.
He was broken.
And he truly
repented of that sin
and turned from it
and changed his mind
about it.
You can read about that
in 2 Samuel chapter 11 and 12.
David humbly
and sincerely
confessed his sin
to God
sought God's forgiveness
he sought to be restored.
And he wrote about that
in Psalm 51.
Here's what
some people may need
to hear right now.
God will
God desires
to restore us
when we fail him
if we will humbly
confess our sins
and come back to him
with a renewed
commitment
renewed faith
and trust
and confidence
in him.
But let's move on
in Peter's story
and see what follows
the restoration.
Number two
our Lord's restoration
is both relational
and practical.
What happened
around that breakfast
campfire
is intended
to show us
that first
first
Peter was restored
to a loving
relationship
with Jesus
and then secondly
he was
recommissioned
to serve
the Lord.
You think about
what you're seeing
there
is what we've read.
Love is the one
thing that Jesus
questioned Peter
about
before he
commissioned him
to serve him
again.
Jesus
kept at Peter
emphasizing
the relational
nature
of what
needed to happen.
Peter
do you love me?
Do you love me?
It's only when he
responds yes
that he says
then feed my sheep
take care of these
I'm giving to you.
Restoring Peter
to a loving
relationship
with himself
was Jesus'
first priority.
Love is the
indispensable
quality
of our Christian
faith.
Look with me.
Our relationship
with the Lord
is built
on the foundation
of love.
I want you to
understand
our relationship
with the Lord
is built
on the foundation
of love.
I think
sometimes
we put too
much emphasis
on serving
God
and not enough
emphasis on
loving God.
You think
with me.
there's a lot
of people
in our church
who are involved
in some area
of ministry
doing certain
things
a variety
of things
in our
service to God
and that's good
we should
but think
with me.
Can't you
teach a lesson
sing a song
complete a
project
meet
someone's
need
and not
think so
much about
why we're
doing it
and maybe
not even
think so much
about we're
doing it
because we
love the
Lord and
we're seeking
to honor Him
with our
service.
Let's be
real honest
now.
Standing up
here and
preaching a
sermon
that can be
an ego
trip.
you standing
up in front
of a Sunday
school class
teaching or
standing up
here singing
a song
that can go
to your head.
It can be
your stage
your opportunity
to perform.
now I
figured out
this weekend
that my
granddaughter
is the
smartest
stone
of all
because
she told
me
Friday
when I
was singing
one of my
songs
she said
you ought
to be on
the stage
didn't she
listen
smartest
stone
best ear
of all
but here's
the thing
we can
serve God
in visible
ways
meaningful
ways
helpful
ways
but God's
not really a
part of what
we are doing
as we do
it.
It's all
about us
or all
about
something
else
besides
Him.
We need
to understand
that before
we preach
or teach
or sing
or do a
project
or meet
a need
our motivation
needs to be
right
in order for
it to really
count in
terms of
honoring God
and serving
His purpose.
Kent Hughes
points out in his
book on John
commenting on
this section
of Scripture
by quoting
Roy Hessian
about what
I'm talking
about.
I want you
to look with
me at what
he says.
He says
to concentrate
on service
and activity
for God
may often
actively
thwart
our attaining
of the true
goal
God Himself.
At first sight
it seems heroic
to fling
ourselves away
in the service
of God
and of our
fellows.
We feel
it is bound
to mean
more to
Him
than our
experience
of Him.
Service
seems so
unselfish
whereas
concentrating
on our
walk with
God
seems selfish
and self-centered
but it is
really the
very reverse.
The things
that God
is most
concerned about
are our
coldness
of heart
towards
Himself
and our
proud
unbroken
natures.
Christian service
of itself
can
and so
often
does
leave
our
self-centered
nature
untouched.
That's what
I was talking
about.
We can do
what we do
and it's all
about
me
and there's
no love
for somebody
else.
We can
still be
jealous
and envious.
We can
still be
proud.
We can
still be
just
unconcerned
about those
we are
up before
trying to
serve
and not
even think
even about
what we're
doing.
It's supposed
to be
for the
Lord.
God is
most
concerned
that we
know
Him
and love
Him
and He
wants us
to do
what we
do from
a relationship
of love
for Him.
You know,
this is really
taught and
illustrated
throughout the
Bible.
The Bible
is not
just a
rule book.
Some people
think that it
is.
It's not.
The Bible
in telling
us how
God wants
us to
live
tells us
before anything
else
how God
wants us
to relate
to Him
in a
relationship
of love.
One of
the earliest
confessions
of the
Jewish people
is found
in Deuteronomy
chapter 6
verses 4
and 5.
Some of
you know
it's called
the Shema.
It's
something that
good Jews
in Jesus'
day
repeated
twice a
day.
They
memorized it.
But it
was something
they were
supposed to
to hear,
to believe,
to memorize,
and to
take with
them as
they went
into the
promised
land to
guide them
how to
be God's
people.
Look at
it.
Hear, O
Israel,
the Lord
our God,
the Lord
is one.
You shall
love the
Lord your
God with
all your
heart,
with all
your soul,
with all
your might.
The focus
is God's
people.
Focus on
loving Him,
our one
and only
God.
Well,
Jesus
stressed this
priority
this
priority
of loving
God by
declaring it
to be the
greatest
commandment.
For an
example,
in Matthew
chapter 22,
a teacher
or somebody
came up to
Jesus and
addressed Him
as teacher,
teacher,
which is the
greatest
commandment,
which is the
great commandment
in the law?
And He said,
that is Jesus
to Him.
You shall
love the
Lord your
God with
all your
heart,
with all
your soul,
with all
your mind.
This is the
great and
first commandment.
Again,
Jesus is
reinforcing it.
Love God.
And then,
Jesus
illustrated the
priority of a
relationship over
service in the
home of two of
His friends,
two sisters,
Martha and
Mary.
It's found in
Luke's Gospel
chapter 10.
Martha was
working in the
kitchen, actually
preparing a meal
for Jesus.
Mary, as
Martha, her
sister, was
working, Mary was
sitting at the
feet of Jesus,
listening to Him
teach, the
passage tells
us.
Well, that
bothered Mary.
Made her mad.
She got upset.
Look at how Luke
describes it.
Chapter 10,
verse 40,
I'm reading from
the New Living
Translation.
But Martha was
distracted by the
big dinner she was
preparing.
She came to Jesus
and said,
Lord, doesn't it
seem unfair to you
that my sister just
sits here while I do
all that work?
Tell her to come
and help me.
Doesn't that sound
like a child?
That's not fair.
That's what really
happened between two
grown adults.
Notice how Jesus
responds, verses 41
and 42.
But the Lord said
to her, my dear
Martha, you are
worried and upset
over all these
details.
There's only one
thing worth being
concerned about.
Mary has discovered
it and it will not
be taken away from
her.
Now, understand,
Jesus was not
discounting what
Martha was doing.
What she was doing
was important.
He was going to
benefit from it.
She was fixing
dinner and he was
going to eat it.
So he's certainly
not complaining.
But what he is
doing here, he is
explaining to Martha,
Mary's got it right.
Mary understands the
priority of a
relationship with me
over just doing
something for me.
God wants us to be
doers.
The whole theme of
the book of James is
be a doer of God's
word.
God wants us to
serve him from a
motivation of love.
Service is important.
We're going to look
at it next week.
But God does not
want us to serve
him like a slave or
like an employee.
God wants us to
understand we're his
children.
He wants us to have
such a loving
relationship with him
as our father that we
do what we do for him
motivated by a love
for our father.
We're working as
children, not hired
hands.
That's what we need
to think when it
comes to service.
For right now, I
want us to think, if
we were in Peter's
place, I want you to
think, just imagine
for a moment, you
are face to face
with Jesus.
Imagine him looking
you in the eye and
asking you, do you
love me?
What do you think
you'd say?
How would you
respond?
Would you be able
to respond like
Peter?
Lord, you know
everything.
You know the
truth.
You know that I
love you.
Would that be
true?
Would you want it
to be true?
God, you
know what I
love you?
How can we make
our love for the
Lord the highest
priority of our
life?
Well, if that's
going to happen, if
loving him is going
to become our number
one priority, we've
got to first be totally
honest about where our
love relationship with
him is right now.
If you're going to
start loving Jesus with
all your heart, you've
got to stop right now
and think, what do I
love with all my heart
if it's not him?
Or who is first in my
life if it is not him?
And settle that.
But if we want to
grow in our love for
him, we're going to
have to spend time with
him.
You think about the
people in your life
that you have a good,
close, loving
relationship with.
How did that come
about?
Didn't it come about
because you started
spending time with
them?
You got to know
them?
You got invested
with them?
They got invested
with you?
It took time, but you
developed a loving
relationship.
And you have good
fellowship with them
because you've developed
it over time.
How much time have you
actually spent with the
Lord this past week?
Think about it,
seriously.
How much time have you
spent with the Lord
this past month?
Truth is, we spend
time with those we
love.
Now we may not get to
spend all the time we
want, but we make at
least some time for the
people in our life that
we really love and care
about.
We all do.
And if we love the
Lord and we want to
have a healthy and
growing relationship
with Him, we'll make
time for Him.
We may have to cut out
some other things, but
we'll make time for Him
a priority.
We need to make sure
that when Jesus asks us,
do you love me?
We will be able to say,
Lord, you know all
things.
You know I love you.
You know, the main
focus of this passage
and this message is that
God will restore His
fallen children who
come back to Him.
And that includes you
right now if you are
away from Him.
The way back to Him,
the way to have a
right relationship with
Him is the same for
everyone.
Admit that you are
away from Him.
Confess the sin that
has caused this
problem.
Change your mind
about it.
Turn from it.
Turn from the
selfishness.
Turn from the
worldly attitude.
whatever it is.
Humble yourself
before the Lord as
you confess and turn
from your sin.
And then trust Jesus.
Trust that He has
paid the penalty for
your sin.
You don't have to do
penance.
You don't have to try
to undo what you've
done.
You don't have to try
to work your way back
over a period of
several days or months
to be right with the
Lord.
Once you realize you're
away from Him,
whatever the reason,
if you'll just stop
and admit it,
humble yourself,
turn from it,
and just trust Jesus
has already paid the
penalty for that sin.
Acknowledge that.
Thank Him for that.
Renew your commitment
to living in obedience
to Him.
Showing your love to
Him.
Scripture is real
clear.
If we confess our sins,
He is faithful and just
to forgive us and to
cleanse us from all
unrighteousness.
He'll give us a fresh
start.
And when He gives you
that fresh start,
ask God to give you the
desire and the ability
to obey Him day by day,
situation by situation,
so that you can just
walk in a real relationship
and have good fellowship
with Him every day.
Now, if you are living
in a right relationship
with the Lord this morning,
just thank Him.
Thank Him for the grace
that has allowed you
to do that.
Stay close to Him
by spending time with Him
in His Word,
in prayer,
listening to Him
as He speaks through
His Word,
talking to Him
as you pray.
That's what prayer is.
We all need to learn
to stay in a close
relationship,
being sensitive to
the Spirit of God
who indwells us,
and then obeying
the Holy Spirit
as He prompts us
to obey God,
to resist the temptation,
to do what we do
from a motivation
of love.
Final thought.
Do you love Jesus?
What does
He say
as He examines
your heart?
Let's pray together.
Father,
show us now
just where we are
in our relationship
with You.
Father,
if there are people
in this room
who do not know You,
so work in them
to help them
to understand that,
that their sin
separates them
from You.
And so work,
dear God,
to give them
a true desire
to be forgiven,
to be made right
with You.
Help them,
dear God,
to not just confess
and agree with You
over their sin,
but to turn from it,
to change their mind,
to grieve over it.
And help them
to understand,
Father,
that when Jesus
died on the cross,
He died
to pay the penalty
for their sin,
to suffer
the punishment
that they deserve.
Help them
to trust Jesus
and call upon Him
right now
to save them.
Help them
to understand,
dear God,
that trusting Jesus
and surrendering
to Him
is the most important
response
they could make
this morning.
But then,
dear God,
help all of us
as Christians
to understand
that no matter
how long
we have been Christians,
our greatest need
in life
is to trust You
and obey You.
Help us,
dear God,
to do it
because we love You.
Overwhelm us
right now
with an awareness
of Your love
and Your grace
and Your mercy.
If there's anyone
in this room
who is truly
in a state
of rebellion
or indifference
or hard
or cold-heartedness,
awaken them,
break them,
humble them,
bring them back
to Yourself.
Help us all,
every single one
of us,
dear God,
right now
to be open
and honest
with You.
Help us
to understand
what we should do.
Help us
to do it.
You just pray
and talk to the Lord
and do what He's
telling you to do.
I would be happy
here at the front
to pray with you
in the next few minutes
if you want to come forward.
But you listen
to God
and you do
what He's telling you
to do
knowing that He loves you
and He wants you
to leave here today
in a close,
loving,
personal relationship
with Him.