Road Map to Freedom – Biker.

Life is a journey of faith…  we’re all on a journey to Believing in and Following Christ to Becoming all that HE wants us to become and accomplish HIS purpose in and through our lives.   John’s whole gospel was about that! “So that you would believe that Jesus is the Messiah and that you would have life in His name!”

Preaching through the “Roadmap to Freedom”

Picture of Who we areand where we’re going along this journey, this road of faith in Jesus.

A map to where we want to end up is always good!

GPS (God’s Pos Sys)

1. Freedom: True freedom exists only IN and THROUGH Jesus.  

It’s not about getting to do what we want to do! Getting to do what Jesus want us to do!!!

2 Corinthians 3:17 - The Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.  Without the Spirit we have Chaos!

2. Biker:  Our Community & Focus to reach others for Jesus.  Acts 1:8…  You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and the ends of the earth.  

3. Church:  We want to be HIS CHURCH! Disciples making Disciples ~ Church making Churches.

4. Making Disciples/Multiplying - Loving and Teaching in the Body of Christ and outside of the body to introduce others to Christ!  

5. “Doing Life Together” – We’re Visible - Involved - Available - Friend:  Be a Friend, make a friend, bring a friend to Christ…  HIS Church (Us) should make people hungry for what we have (JESUS).

6. A “Battle-Ready” Brotherhood: We sharpen each other to be Strong in the Lord and His mighty power, able to stand against the devil’s schemes.

7. Gospel:  The Good News of Jesus Christ!  

God Created​Man Fell (Disobeyed)​God Rescues​​Jesus Restores

8. Prayer & Worship:  A lifestyle as opposed to something we do.  Who we are!

9. Bible:  Along with the Holy Spirit, it’s our Guide…  The “inspired” Word of God.  

OT points forward to Jesus – NT points back to Jesus ~  IT’S ALL ABOUT JESUS!​

Let it be R.E.A.L. in your life! ​Read   Evaluate   Apply   Live it

10. Journey:  Where are you?  What Road are you on?  Life in Christ is a “never ending” journey of growing, developing, maturing, mentoring, multiplying in Christ to advance His Kingdom.

​

This week we’re looking at “Biker” on our Roadmap to Freedom.

Why Bikers?  Why a Biker Church? WHY NOT???​

FBC History: Christian Camp outside of Dunn – Christian Motorcycle Ministries started a Biker Sunday, 3rd Sunday of the month.  Bikers were getting saved, but couldn’t find a church where they were accepted & fit in.  

GOD was doing something!!  Bikers needed a place that they could gather and grow in their relationship with the Lord & each other more than once a month!

FBC was birthed out of those Biker Sundays...

God used Mike Beasley, Pastor & member Bikers for Christ to start the 1stFBC.  Mike & his core team with the help from the local Baptist Association began having services in front of a MC shop on Hwy 70 near Garner in 2006.

JD was part of the 1st FBC church plant and he was ordained and was approved as a church planter in 2007.   He and Kellie were called to plant FBC in Fayetteville in the spring of 2009.  God brought His Core Team together (which I was a part of) and FBCF was launched in July 2009 in their barn where it grew to around 150 each Sunday.  Nov 2012 we moved into our current location.

I tell you that not to lift up FBC or JD, but to lift up JESUS!!  This was and is a GOD THING!!

Back to our question.... Why Bikers?  Why a Biker Church?

The simple answer is that Bikers need Jesus too!!

What is a “Biker”?  My opinion is worth about 3 cents...

Someone who RIDES a motorcycle and doesn’t care whether you think they’re a biker or not!

A “Biker” is authentic.

Road Map to Freedom – Freedom.

For the next several weeks we’re going to be looking at what we call a “Road Map.”   A Road Map to Freedom in Christ.

 

Just like Riding…  we’re all on a journey to Believing and Following Christ to becoming all that HE wants us to become and accomplish HIS purpose.  

* Freedom: True freedom exists only IN and THROUGH Jesus.

 

* Biker: Our community.  Acts 1:8…  You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and the ends of the earth.

 

* Church: A Church versus HIS Church!

 

* Making Disciples/Multiplying/“ - Loving and Teaching in the Body of Christ and outside of the body to introduce others to Christ!  

 

* “Doing Life Together” – We’re Visible - Involved - Available - Friend: Be a Friend, make a friend, bring a friend to Christ…  The body of Christ is the example to the rest of the world.

 

* A “Battle-Ready” Brotherhood: We sharpen each other to be Strong in the Lord and His mighty power, able to stand against the devil’s schemes.

 

* Gospel: The Good News of Jesus Christ!  Because people will ask “Why?”

* God Created

* Man Fell (Disobeyed)

* God Rescues

* Jesus Restores

 

* Prayer & Worship: A lifestyle as opposed to something we do.

 

* Bible: Along with the Holy Spirit, it’s our Guide…  The “inspired” Word of God.  It’s Christ himself!   Let it be REAL in your life! Read, Evaluate, Apply, Live it –

 

* Journey: Where are you?  What Road are you on?  Life in Christ is a “never ending” journey of growing, developing, maturing, mentoring, multiplying in Christ to advance His Kingdom.

 

What is Freedom? 

Freedom Defined: “The power or right of an individual to speak, make choices, or act (live) without being hindered, manipulated, forced or restrained.

 

Bill of Rights was added to the Constitution in the form of Amendments to protect the rights of individuals… to ensure FREEDOM for the citizens of the US.  

Example:

* First Amendment (1789):Freedom of religion, freedom of speech and the press, the right to assemble, the right to petition government.

That word “Freedom” is really a dangerous word…

The right to say, choose, and do whatever I want to do is CHAOS unless we have some boundaries.

 

Illustration:   Someone needs money and asks for it, if we don’t give it they take it.   That’s NOT Freedom… That’s Wrong!

 

When “moral relativity” becomes our Freedom (Moral Relativity = Your Truth is your Truth; my Truth is my Truth.)

 

When People do what’s right in their own eyes instead of following a moral code (God’s Word) we don’t have FREEDOM, we have Chaos!   

 

God has established boundaries for Real Freedom. 

 

There are only two forces or kingdoms at work in the world and we’re either living for one or the other.   

* The Kingdom of the one true living God

* Everything else which is the kingdom of Satan.

 

Romans 6:16-22 - 16 Don’t you realize that you become the slave of whatever you choose to obey? You can be a slave to sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God, which leads to righteous living. 17 Thank God! Once you were slaves of sin, but now you wholeheartedly obey this teaching we have given you.18 Now you are free from your slavery to sin,

The Gospel of John…  Wrap Up.

You can’t wrap up the Gospel of John….  How do you wrap up how and why Jesus came and who He is?!  We can’t!   We RESPOND! 

 

So this isn’t a WRAP UP… it’s How we Respond to Who Jesus is and Why He came!    HOW WE RESPOND TO “FOLLOW ME.”

 

We’re going to finish where we started.  John 20:30-31 – 30 The disciples saw Jesus do many other miraculous signs in addition to the ones recorded in this book.31 But these are written so that you may continue to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing in him you will have life by the power of his name.

 

What’s the proper response to what we’ve learned through the Gospel of John?  The Proper Response to WHO Jesus is and WHY He came? 

 

We Believe and continue to Believe…   Believing is Faith and Action.  It’s putting my Faith, Hope, Trust, Dependence and Confidence in Jesus Christ and then living in obedience to Him.

Believing and continuing to Believe means I’ve Surrendered to Him, I’m Sacrificing for Him, I’m Serving Him and Sharing my Faith in Him!

 

John 3:3 – Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

 

To be born again means something must die.   Since we know that we only live once physically that means that SPIRITUALLY we must die so we can experience a NEW BIRTH in Christ!  Romans 6:4 - 4 For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives.5 Since we have been united with him in his death, we will also be raised to life as he was. 6 We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin.

 

The problem for most people (that’s other people, not us right…) is we want to attach Jesus on to our life rather than dying and experiencing a New Birth!  Jesus does not, will not attach himself to us.  We die and we’re Born Again!

 

What do we do with a New Born?   Stick them in the nursery until they grow up and can take care of themselves. 

We love them and teach them, take care of them!  We invest in our kids and DISCIPLE them don’t we! 

 

THE SAME APPLIES SPIRITUALLY!

We “Do Life Together.”  We Disciple and we are Discipled…  We love and Teach and hold each other accountable to grow, develop, mature and become the person that God wants me to become.

John 20:31 - … by believing (our Faith and Action) in Him you will have life (That’s Following) by the power of his name.

John 13:35 - Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”

John 21:15-19 – Peter do you love (agape) me?  Then, “Feed My lambs.  Peter do you love me?  Then, Care for My Sheep.  Peter do you love me (are you even my friend?) then, Feed My Sheep.”

 

Our Believing (Faith + Action) is an ongoing process of Salvation (Following) until the day we die or Jesus comes back!  It’s a constant, ongoing relationship… (Relationship with Jesus and the Body of Christ) and the result is Becoming the person HE WANTS us to be and a great witness for Christ in the world!

John 17:18 – As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.

John 20:21, Peace be with you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send you.

THAT was God’s design from the Beginning before SIN ever entered the world!  WE were made for relationships and community… to be ONE WITH HIM!   

Gen. 2:18 –  Then the Lord God said,

The Gospel of John…  Wrap Up.

You can’t wrap up the Gospel of John….  How do you wrap up how and why Jesus came and who He is?!  We can’t!   We RESPOND! 

 

So this isn’t a WRAP UP… it’s How we Respond to Who Jesus is and Why He came!    HOW WE RESPOND TO “FOLLOW ME.”

 

We’re going to finish where we started.  John 20:30-31 – 30 The disciples saw Jesus do many other miraculous signs in addition to the ones recorded in this book.31 But these are written so that you may continue to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing in him you will have life by the power of his name.

 

What’s the proper response to what we’ve learned through the Gospel of John?  The Proper Response to WHO Jesus is and WHY He came? 

 

We Believe and continue to Believe…   Believing is Faith and Action.  It’s putting my Faith, Hope, Trust, Dependence and Confidence in Jesus Christ and then living in obedience to Him.

Believing and continuing to Believe means I’ve Surrendered to Him, I’m Sacrificing for Him, I’m Serving Him and Sharing my Faith in Him!

 

John 3:3 – Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

 

To be born again means something must die.   Since we know that we only live once physically that means that SPIRITUALLY we must die so we can experience a NEW BIRTH in Christ!  Romans 6:4 - 4 For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives.5 Since we have been united with him in his death, we will also be raised to life as he was. 6 We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin.

 

The problem for most people (that’s other people, not us right…) is we want to attach Jesus on to our life rather than dying and experiencing a New Birth!  Jesus does not, will not attach himself to us.  We die and we’re Born Again!

 

What do we do with a New Born?   Stick them in the nursery until they grow up and can take care of themselves. 

We love them and teach them, take care of them!  We invest in our kids and DISCIPLE them don’t we! 

 

THE SAME APPLIES SPIRITUALLY!

We “Do Life Together.”  We Disciple and we are Discipled…  We love and Teach and hold each other accountable to grow, develop, mature and become the person that God wants me to become.

John 20:31 - … by believing (our Faith and Action) in Him you will have life (That’s Following) by the power of his name.

John 13:35 - Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”

John 21:15-19 – Peter do you love (agape) me?  Then, “Feed My lambs.  Peter do you love me?  Then, Care for My Sheep.  Peter do you love me (are you even my friend?) then, Feed My Sheep.”

 

Our Believing (Faith + Action) is an ongoing process of Salvation (Following) until the day we die or Jesus comes back!  It’s a constant, ongoing relationship… (Relationship with Jesus and the Body of Christ) and the result is Becoming the person HE WANTS us to be and a great witness for Christ in the world!

John 17:18 – As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.

John 20:21, Peace be with you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send you.

THAT was God’s design from the Beginning before SIN ever entered the world!  WE were made for relationships and community… to be ONE WITH HIM!   

Gen. 2:18 –  Then the Lord God said,

What About Him, Lord? John 21:20-25

Review~

John 21:15-19 – Peter Restored  

The Disciples were told to go to a mountain in Galilee and Jesus would meet them there.  They go, but after a while… Peter decides He’s going fishing.  

Peter’s slipping.... He Denied Jesus 3 times, He wasn’t at the cross.

He’d lost faith, confidence, hope in being the person Jesus wants Him to be.

 

Catch nothing all night.  Jesus says to throw the nets on the other side of the boat.  Nets are filled...

John recognizes Jesus ~ Peter swims to shore.

Jesus has breakfast ready for them.

 

Then, in front of the disciples, Jesus restores Peter.

Peter feels the weight of his sin.  He’s broken by it.... but Jesus restores his faith, his confidence, his hope that he could be the person Jesus commanded and commissioned him to be!

 

.... Do you love me? Feed my lambs...Take care of my sheep...  Feed my sheep...

The calling is the same for us!

 

Then Jesus challenged Peter... Telling him what feeding sheep would cost him... He would die on a cross, as Jesus did.

...FOLLOW ME anyway!

 

 

John 21:20-25 What about him, Lord?

 

20 Peter turned around and saw behind them the disciple Jesus loved—the one who had leaned over to Jesus during supper and asked, “Lord, who will betray you?” 21 Peter asked Jesus, “What about him, Lord?”

 

22 Jesus replied, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? As for you, follow me.” 23So the rumor spread among the community of believers that this disciple wouldn’t die. But that isn’t what Jesus said at all. He only said, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?”

 

24 This disciple is the one who testifies to these events and has recorded them here. And we know that his account of these things is accurate.

 

25 Jesus also did many other things. If they were all written down, I suppose the whole world could not contain the books that would be written.

 

 

What to see today~

God can handle your questions but ask the right ones.

You go where you look, so Keep your eyes on Jesus.

You can’t follow from the front.

 

**Focusing your life on His purpose for YOU will result in internal growth and external impact for His Kingdom.  But he has to work in you before he can work through you.**

 

(context ~ start in 21:18) 18 “I tell you the truth, when you were young, you were able to do as you liked; you dressed yourself and went wherever you wanted to go. But when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and others will dress you and take you where you don’t want to go.” 19 Jesus said this to let him know by what kind of death he would glorify God. Then Jesus told him, “Follow me.”

 

John clarifies what Jesus means; But don’t miss that Jesus is telling Peter what will happen! He’s not saying maybe... It could...

Peter, you’re going to be crucified for your faith!   (John), but it will bring glory to God!!

 

It sounds like a negative, but it’s really a positive....

You will stand ~ You will be bold in your faith ~

You will have impact for My Kingdom!!  

Yes, you will suffer for my name, but when the chips are down, you will stand! Follow Me!!!

(You weren’t crucified for walking away!)

 

What About Him, Lord? John 21:20-25

Review~

John 21:15-19 – Peter Restored  

The Disciples were told to go to a mountain in Galilee and Jesus would meet them there.  They go, but after a while… Peter decides He’s going fishing.  

Peter’s slipping.... He Denied Jesus 3 times, He wasn’t at the cross.

He’d lost faith, confidence, hope in being the person Jesus wants Him to be.

 

Catch nothing all night.  Jesus says to throw the nets on the other side of the boat.  Nets are filled...

John recognizes Jesus ~ Peter swims to shore.

Jesus has breakfast ready for them.

 

Then, in front of the disciples, Jesus restores Peter.

Peter feels the weight of his sin.  He’s broken by it.... but Jesus restores his faith, his confidence, his hope that he could be the person Jesus commanded and commissioned him to be!

 

.... Do you love me? Feed my lambs...Take care of my sheep...  Feed my sheep...

The calling is the same for us!

 

Then Jesus challenged Peter... Telling him what feeding sheep would cost him... He would die on a cross, as Jesus did.

...FOLLOW ME anyway!

 

 

John 21:20-25 What about him, Lord?

 

20 Peter turned around and saw behind them the disciple Jesus loved—the one who had leaned over to Jesus during supper and asked, “Lord, who will betray you?” 21 Peter asked Jesus, “What about him, Lord?”

 

22 Jesus replied, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? As for you, follow me.” 23So the rumor spread among the community of believers that this disciple wouldn’t die. But that isn’t what Jesus said at all. He only said, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?”

 

24 This disciple is the one who testifies to these events and has recorded them here. And we know that his account of these things is accurate.

 

25 Jesus also did many other things. If they were all written down, I suppose the whole world could not contain the books that would be written.

 

 

What to see today~

God can handle your questions but ask the right ones.

You go where you look, so Keep your eyes on Jesus.

You can’t follow from the front.

 

**Focusing your life on His purpose for YOU will result in internal growth and external impact for His Kingdom.  But he has to work in you before he can work through you.**

 

(context ~ start in 21:18) 18 “I tell you the truth, when you were young, you were able to do as you liked; you dressed yourself and went wherever you wanted to go. But when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and others will dress you and take you where you don’t want to go.” 19 Jesus said this to let him know by what kind of death he would glorify God. Then Jesus told him, “Follow me.”

 

John clarifies what Jesus means; But don’t miss that Jesus is telling Peter what will happen! He’s not saying maybe... It could...

Peter, you’re going to be crucified for your faith!   (John), but it will bring glory to God!!

 

It sounds like a negative, but it’s really a positive....

You will stand ~ You will be bold in your faith ~

You will have impact for My Kingdom!!  

Yes, you will suffer for my name, but when the chips are down, you will stand! Follow Me!!!

(You weren’t crucified for walking away!)

 

John 21:15-19  - Peter Restored…

 

John 21 is an Epilogue – A summary of what’s taken place after all is said and done.  

 

The Disciples were told to go to a mountain in Galilee and Jesus would meet them there.  They go, but after a while… Peter decides He’s going fishing.

 

We don’t really know why Peter decides to go fishing…  but whatever the case, that wasn’t what Jesus told them to do.  Partial obedience isn’t obedience.

 

Peter was struggling Spiritually, Mentally and Emotionally because of how he denied Jesus and abandoned him at the cross…  how he let Jesus down.  He’s lost faith, confidence, hope in being the person Jesus wants Him to be.  (That ever happened to you?!  I quit this job about every Monday!)

 

Peter’s backing up… goes back to what was comfortable instead of what Jesus had commanded and commissioned him to do.

 

They fished all night and caught NOTHING!  Jesus tells them to cast their nets on the right side of the boat… And the nets are filled!

 

John recognizes Jesus….   Peter jumps in and swims to Him… 

 

Jesus has a charcoal fire going and breakfast ready for them.

 

 

John 21:15-19  - Peter Restored…

 

15 After breakfast Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” Peter replied, “you know I love you.” “Then feed my lambs,” Jesus told him.

16 Jesus repeated the question: “Simon son of John, do you love me?”

“Yes, Lord,” Peter said, “you know I love you.” “Then take care of my sheep,” Jesus said.

17 A third time he asked him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt that Jesus asked the question a third time. He said, “Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Then feed my sheep.

18 “I tell you the truth, when you were young, you were able to do as you liked; you dressed yourself and went wherever you wanted to go. But when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and others will dress you and take you where you don’t want to go.” 19 Jesus said this to let him know by what kind of death he would glorify God. Then Jesus told him, “Follow me.”

 

 

Look at how Jesus addresses Peter. 

Simon son of John.  Peter’s backing up so Jesus called him by his given name…  Jesus had already given Simon a new name…

 

Matthew 16:13-18 - 13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” 14 “Well,” they replied, “some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say Jeremiah or one of the other prophets.”

15 Then he asked them, “But who do you say I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

17 Jesus replied, “You are blessed, Simon son of John, because my Father in heaven has revealed this to you. You did not learn this from any human being.18 Now I say to you that you are Peter (Petros which means ‘little stone’ or piece of the rock’), and upon this rock (Petra, meaning immovable stone) I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it.

 

Jesus called Simon “Petros” which is a piece of rock, small stone…  Peter isn’t THE ROCK, he’s a piece of the Rock… literally a small stone, small rock.

 

Jesus is THE Rock! 

1 Corinthians 3:11 - For no one can lay any foundation other than the one we already have—Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 4:10 - "and all drank the same spiritual drink,

John 21:15-19  - Peter Restored…

 

John 21 is an Epilogue – A summary of what’s taken place after all is said and done.  

 

The Disciples were told to go to a mountain in Galilee and Jesus would meet them there.  They go, but after a while… Peter decides He’s going fishing.

 

We don’t really know why Peter decides to go fishing…  but whatever the case, that wasn’t what Jesus told them to do.  Partial obedience isn’t obedience.

 

Peter was struggling Spiritually, Mentally and Emotionally because of how he denied Jesus and abandoned him at the cross…  how he let Jesus down.  He’s lost faith, confidence, hope in being the person Jesus wants Him to be.  (That ever happened to you?!  I quit this job about every Monday!)

 

Peter’s backing up… goes back to what was comfortable instead of what Jesus had commanded and commissioned him to do.

 

They fished all night and caught NOTHING!  Jesus tells them to cast their nets on the right side of the boat… And the nets are filled!

 

John recognizes Jesus….   Peter jumps in and swims to Him… 

 

Jesus has a charcoal fire going and breakfast ready for them.

 

 

John 21:15-19  - Peter Restored…

 

15 After breakfast Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” Peter replied, “you know I love you.” “Then feed my lambs,” Jesus told him.

16 Jesus repeated the question: “Simon son of John, do you love me?”

“Yes, Lord,” Peter said, “you know I love you.” “Then take care of my sheep,” Jesus said.

17 A third time he asked him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt that Jesus asked the question a third time. He said, “Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Then feed my sheep.

18 “I tell you the truth, when you were young, you were able to do as you liked; you dressed yourself and went wherever you wanted to go. But when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and others will dress you and take you where you don’t want to go.” 19 Jesus said this to let him know by what kind of death he would glorify God. Then Jesus told him, “Follow me.”

 

 

Look at how Jesus addresses Peter. 

Simon son of John.  Peter’s backing up so Jesus called him by his given name…  Jesus had already given Simon a new name…

 

Matthew 16:13-18 - 13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” 14 “Well,” they replied, “some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say Jeremiah or one of the other prophets.”

15 Then he asked them, “But who do you say I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

17 Jesus replied, “You are blessed, Simon son of John, because my Father in heaven has revealed this to you. You did not learn this from any human being.18 Now I say to you that you are Peter (Petros which means ‘little stone’ or piece of the rock’), and upon this rock (Petra, meaning immovable stone) I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it.

 

Jesus called Simon “Petros” which is a piece of rock, small stone…  Peter isn’t THE ROCK, he’s a piece of the Rock… literally a small stone, small rock.

 

Jesus is THE Rock! 

1 Corinthians 3:11 - For no one can lay any foundation other than the one we already have—Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 4:10 - "and all drank the same spiritual drink,

Remember Their Sacrifice

Story of man who gave up his life for his sister.

 

John 15: 9-17   9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. 17 This is my command: Love each other.

 

Story of SGT Barnes and how his family sent a shipping container of supplies to the village where their son was killed.

Matthew 5:44-Love your enemies.

How do we honor those killed in service to our nation-exercise your rights. We love in a free nation that lets us worship freely, speak freely against our government.

Jesus’ death- Mark 15:33-39: 33 At noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. 34 And at three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”).35 When some of those standing near heard this, they said, “Listen, he’s calling Elijah.”36 Someone ran, filled a sponge with wine vinegar, put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink. “Now leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to take him down,” he said.37 With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last.38 The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. 39 And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, saw how he died, he said, “Surely this man was the Son of God!”

How do we honor his sacrifice? By loving and obeying Him. We start this by having a relationship. Much like a marriage- Ephesians 5:22-26, 22 Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. 24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. 25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26 to make her holy, cleansing[b] her by the washing with water through the word.

Battle Ready Brotherhood-2 Samuel 23:13-17 During harvest time, three of the thirty chief warriors came down to David at the cave of Adullam, while a band of Philistines was encamped in the Valley of Rephaim. 14 At that time David was in the stronghold, and the Philistine garrison was at Bethlehem. 15 David longed for water and said, “Oh, that someone would get me a drink of water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem!” 16 So the three mighty warriors broke through the Philistine lines, drew water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem and carried it back to David. But he refused to drink it; instead, he poured it out before the Lord. 17 “Far be it from me, Lord, to do this!” he said. “Is it not the blood of men who went at the risk of their lives?” And David would not drink it.

Who is pouring into you and who are you pouring into?

John 21:1-14 – Jesus Appears to the Disciples by the Sea of Galilee…

 

John 21 is an Epilogue –

* A conclusion or a summary of what’s taken place after the story has ended.

* Reiterates the importance of what was already been shared.

 

Before we get into Chap. 21, let’s flashback 3 years ago when Jesus began His Ministry.  

 

Luke 5:1-11, Jesus calls the First Disciples… One day while Jesus was standing beside Lake Galilee, many people were pressing all around him to hear the word of God. 2 Jesus saw two boats at the shore of the lake. The fishermen had left them and were washing their nets.

3 Jesus got into one of the boats, the one that belonged to Simon, (Peter) and asked him to push off a little from the land. Then Jesus sat down and continued to teach the people from the boat.

4 When Jesus had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Take the boat into deep water, and put your nets in the water to catch some fish.”

5 Simon answered, “Master, we worked hard all night trying to catch fish, and we caught nothing. (We’re exhausted… we’ve worked all night and we’ve just finished cleaning everything up… the boat, the nets, out gear, etc…  We’ve worked all night and caught nothing and you want to go fishing?!)

But you say to put the nets in the water, so I will.” 6 When the fishermen did as Jesus told them, they caught so many fish that the nets began to break. 7 They called to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. They came and filled both boats so full that they were almost sinking.

8 When Simon Peter saw what had happened, he bowed down before Jesus and said, “Go away from me, Lord. I am a sinful man!” 9 He and the other fishermen were amazed at the many fish they caught, as were 10 James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners.

Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid. From now on you will fish for people.”11 When the men brought their boats to the shore, they left everything and followed Jesus.

 

Now Pick it up in John 21:1-14 CSB … Jesus third appearance to the Disciples. 

1 After this, (After the 8th day of the resurrection, but before the 40th day) Jesus revealed himself again to his disciples by the Sea of Tiberias. He revealed himself in this way:  2 Simon Peter, Thomas (called “Twin”), Nathanael from Cana of Galilee, Zebedee’s sons, and two others of his disciples were together. 3 “I’m going fishing,” Simon Peter said to them. “We’re coming with you,” they told him. They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.

 

Jesus instructed them to meet Him in Galilee.  To get out of the hostile environment in Jerusalem.  Meet me in Galilee…   That’s home.

Matthew 28:16 - 16 Then the eleven disciples left for Galilee, going to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go.

 

We don’t know what Mountain, or exactly how long they’ve been waiting for Jesus in Galilee…   Whatever it was, it was too long of a wait for Peter.  I’m going fishing.  The other Disciples followed him.  (James, John, Nathaniel, 2 others and Thomas and Peter.)

* Maybe Peter was to just going fishing until Jesus showed up?

* Maybe He didn’t know what to do so He does the only thing he knows to do?

* Maybe he decided to go back to fishing permanently?

 

WE don’t really know.  However, we do know that Peter isn’t in a good place Spiritually, Mentally or Emotionally…   Jesus wasn’t there to lead, guide, direct, and correct them and he’s feeling pretty worthless.  He denied Him three times, wasn’t even there at the cross!  

I believe Peter decided to go back to what he knew,