WHO CARES?  Nehemiah Series.
"The words of Nehemiah the son of Hacaliah. Now it happened in the month Chislev, in the twentieth year, while I was in Susa the capitol, 2that Hanani, one of my brothers, and some men from Judah came; and I asked them concerning the Jews who had escaped and had survived the captivity, and about Jerusalem. 3A see nd they said to me, “The said remnant there in the province who survived the captivity are in great distress and reproach, and the wall of Jerusalem is broken down and its gates are burned with fire.”  4Now it came about when I heard these words, I sat down and wept and mourned for days; and I was fasting and praying before the God of heaven."

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SIT DOWN TO WEEP

"Now it came about when I heard these words, I sat down and wept and mourned for days..." Nehemiah 1:4

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What Breaks Your Heart?

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Your Personal Destiny Is Inextricably Tied To God’s Work Through The Church In Your City.

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KNEEL DOWN TO PRAY

"...and I was fasting and praying before the God of Heaven."  Nehemiah 1:4b

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Pray That Factors Beyond Your Control Will Turn in Your Favor.    Pray For Overwhelming Confidence!  

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“Hope In The Future Gives You Power in the Present.” - John Maxwell 

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STAND UP TO ACT

Nehemiah 2:2-5

"So the king said to me, “Why is your face sad though you are not sick? This is nothing but sadness of heart.” Then I was very much afraid. 3And I said to the king, “Let the king live forever. Why should my face not be sad when the city, the place of my fathers’ tombs, lies desolate and its gates have been consumed by fire?” 4Then the king said to me, “What would you request?” So I prayed to the God of heaven. 5And I said to the king, “If it please the king, and if your servant has found favor before you, send me to Judah, to the city of my fathers’ tombs, that I may rebuild it.” 

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“Be The Change You Want To See In The World.” - Mother Teresa         

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OUR CITY + YOU = __________ FOR GOD’S GLORY!  

Why Do You Call Me, "Lord, Lord..."

“Why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?  Luke 6:46

“WHY?”
I’m Sorry, I Didn’t Understand The Question.
Because I Wanted To Obey When I Said It.
Because It Doesn’t Fit In To My Current Direction.
Because I’m Afraid.  
Because I’m Proud.
Because I’m Ashamed.  
Because I’m Comfortable.  
Because I’m Tired.  
Because I’ll Be Bored. 
Because I Don’t Really Trust God.  
Because I Don’t Have The Resources. 
Because I Want To Figure It Out Myself. 
Because I Will Fail Again. 
Because I Just Want Him To Do It For Me. 
Because I’m Not Desperate Enough To Change. Because I Want To Protect Myself.  
Because I’ve Been Hurt Following God. 
Because God Hasn’t Answered My Prayers.
Because I Want To Please Somebody Else.
Because I Love Other Things More.   
Because I’m Not Sure What He Wants From Me.
Because I Don’t Know Enough of The Bible.    
Because I Don’t Recognize His Voice. 
Because I’m Really My Own Master.

Luke 6:46-49 (NASB)
“Why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? 47Everyone who comes to Me and hears My words and acts on them, I will show you whom he is like: 48 he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid a foundation on the rock; and when a flood occurred, the torrent burst against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built. 49But the one who has heard and has not acted accordingly, is like a man who built a house on the ground without any foundation; and the torrent burst against it and immediately it collapsed, and the ruin of that house was great.”

What Kind Of Servant?  A BOND SERVANT!  “It Serves Me To Serve My MASTER.” 

Exodus 21:5-6 (ESV)
But if the slave plainly says, ‘I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free,’ then his master shall bring him to God, and he shall bring him to the door or the doorpost. And his master shall bore his ear through with an awl, and he shall be his slave forever.

John 13:3-8 (NASB)
Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come forth from God and was going back to God, 4got up from supper, and laid aside His garments; and taking a towel, He girded Himself. 5Then He poured water into the basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded. 6So He came to Simon Peter. He said to Him, “Lord, do You wash my feet?” 7Jesus answered and said to him, “What I do you do not realize now, but you will understand hereafter.” 8Peter *said to Him, “Never shall You wash my feet!” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.”

John 13:12, 13  (Amplified Version)
So when He had finished washing their feet and had put on His garments and had sat down again, He said to them, Do you understand what I have done to you? 13You call Me the Teacher (Master) and the Lord, and you are right in doing so, for that is what I am. 14If I then, your Lord and Teacher (Master), have washed your feet, you ought [it is your duty, you are under obligation, you owe it] to wash one another’s feet.
  
The Giant Doors Of Opportunity Swing On The Tiny Hinges Of Obedience. 
 
Every Miracle Has A Price.  The Currency Is Obedience.  

John 13:14-16
14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher (Master), have washed your feet, you ought [it is your duty, you are under obligation, you owe it] to wash one another’s feet.  15 For I have given you this as an example, so that you should do [in your turn] what I have done to you.  16 I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, A servant is not greater than his master, and no one who is sent is superior to the one who sent him.

DANIEL - DISCIPLINE

Daniel’s Lesson Of Discipline:  
Success Does Not Come From Trying Harder, But From Training Wiser.

Daniel 6 (NLT)   7 We are all in agreement—we administrators, officials, high officers, advisers, and governors—that the king should make a law that will be strictly enforced. Give orders that for the next thirty days any person who prays to anyone, divine or human—except to you, Your Majesty—will be thrown into the den of lions.

10 But when Daniel learned that the law had been signed, he went home and knelt down as usual in his upstairs room, with its windows open toward Jerusalem. He prayed three times a day, just as he had always done, giving thanks to his God.

• Daniel’s First Discipline – Thanksgiving… 
• Discipline: Any activity I can do by direct effort that will help me do what I cannot do by direct effort.   
• Spiritual Discipline:  
  • Any activity I can do, that will help transform me into a person who has the spiritual power to do what I cannot do.   
• Learn from Daniel’s Prayer Life
  • Prayer is the gateway to all other Disciplines.  Power to Deny Self!  
  • 3 Main Disciplines 
    • Believe…
    • Belong…
    • Become…
  • Fruitful Reward: Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, Self Control.  
• Christianity Without This Kind Of Discipleship Is Always Christianity Without Character.
• A Disciplined Person Is Someone Who Can Do The Right Thing At The Right Time For The Right Reason.  
• A Disciplined Person is FREE!!! --- Free to Set Free the Person God Made Inside… 
• Spiritual Discipline is Where You Become Your Real Self!  

16 So at last the king gave orders for Daniel to be arrested and thrown into the den of lions. The king said to him, “May your God, whom you serve so faithfully, rescue you.”  19 Very early the next morning, the king got up and hurried out to the lions’ den. 20 When he got there, he called out in anguish, “Daniel, servant of the living God! Was your God, whom you serve so faithfully, able to rescue you from the lions?” 21Daniel answered, “Long live the king!  22 My God sent his angel to shut the lions’ mouths so that they would not hurt me, for I have been found innocent in his sight. And I have not wronged you, Your Majesty.” 23 The king was overjoyed and ordered that Daniel be lifted from the den. Not a scratch was found on him, for he had trusted in his God. 

• Spiritual Discipline - Produce - Spiritual Power
• Everything Is Spiritual… Even The Lions In Your Life!  
• Trying Hard can accomplish only so much…
  • If you are serious…you will have to enter into a life of Spiritual Training.   
  • Wise Training Begins With A Clear Decision.  

KING DARIUS…

26 “I decree that everyone throughout my kingdom should tremble with fear before the God of Daniel. For he is the living God, and he will endure forever. His kingdom will never be destroyed, and his rule will never end.  27 He rescues and saves his people; he performs miraculous signs and wonders in the heavens and on earth. He has rescued Daniel from the power of the lions.” 28 So Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian.

COURAGE The Story of Esther, Character Tour – Part 3 

ESTHER’S LESSON OF COURAGE: YOU NEVER HAVE TO BE AFRAID TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT!

The PLAYERS IN THIS STORY

KING  XERXES

Emperor of the great Mede and Persian Empire covering the vast territory from India to Ethiopia.

QUEEN VASHTI

The beautiful High Queen who is removed from her position for publicly disgracing the King. 

She openly defied his request to attend his royal banquet.

ESTHER THE NEW QUEEN

A bold and beautiful peasant girl with a hidden Jewish identity.

She is gathered with the most alluring women of the kingdom into the palace.  

In God’s divine timing she is chosen as the King’s true love, ascends the throne as Queen, and delivers God’s people from destruction.

MORDECAI The JEW

The older cousin of Esther and a leader in the Jewish community. 

He raised Esther as his own daughter after she was orphaned as a child.  

An assassination plot against the King’s life was foiled after being discovered by Mordecai.

HAMAN

A murderous egomaniac who hates Mordecai for not bowing to him. 

He plots a mass genocide against all Jews from his position of second in rank to the King.

Esther 4:11-14 (NIV)  

11 “All the king’s officials and the people of the royal provinces know that for any man or woman who approaches the king in the inner court without being summoned the king has but one law: that he be put to death. The only exception to this is for the king to extend the gold scepter to him and spare his life. But thirty days have passed since I was called to go to the king.” 12 When Esther’s words were reported to Mordecai, 13 he sent back this answer: “Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape. 14 For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?”

 “The Only Thing Necessary for Evil To Prevail is For Good People To Do Nothing”

Esther 5:1-3 (NIV)

1On the third day Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the palace, in front of the king’s hall. The king was sitting on his royal throne in the hall, facing the entrance. 2 When he saw Queen Esther standing in the court, he was pleased with her and held out to her the gold scepter that was in his hand. So Esther approached and touched the tip of the scepter. 3 Then the king asked, “What is it, Queen Esther? What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be given you.” 

Esther 7:3-7 (NIV)

3 Then Queen Esther answered, "If I have found favor with you, O king, and if it pleases your majesty, grant me my life—this is my petition. And spare my people—this is my request. 4 For I and my people have been sold for destruction and slaughter and annihilation. 5 King Xerxes asked Queen Esther, "Who is he? Where is the man who has dared to do such a thing?" 6 Esther said, "The adversary and enemy is this vile Haman." Then Haman was terrified before the king and queen. 7 The king got up in a rage, left his wine and went out into the palace garden. But Haman, realizing that the king had already decided his fate, stayed behind to beg Queen Esther for his life. 

ENDURANCE - NOAH 
Genesis Chapters 6 & 7

NO-AH’s Lesson of Endurance: You have to learn how to say “NO” if you want to get the “­­AH”

Genesis 6:5 The Lord observed the extent of human wickedness on the earth, and he saw that everything they thought or imagined was consistently and totally evil. (NLT) 

8But Noah found favor with the Lord.  (AH…)  (US?)

• People Try To Skip NO – make their own AH… For Selves and God! 
• You Just Can’t have real AH… that lasts, fulfilling, Joy WITHOUT NO… 

13So God said to Noah, “I have decided to destroy all living creatures, for they have filled the earth with violence. Yes, I will wipe them all out along with the earth! 14“Build a large boat from cypress wood and waterproof it with tar, inside and out. Then construct decks and stalls throughout its interior.

• ARK – 450’ L (1½ X Football)   75’ W (W.C.)    45’ H (5 Stories)  
• No to Other  PLANS (Shipbuilder) ----- PEOPLE (Believe Rain?) ----- PLEASURES (Not Really Living Man!) 
• “Ark - Graphic Illustration Noah’s Life Message of Endurance”
  • There’s nothing like a HUGE BOAT to make a Point.
  • “2 Peter 2:5 - Preacher of Righteousness” – Questions?   RAIN? 
    • Righteousness too – Do the NO-AH!  
• No To Friends – Family – Finances – Future.
• Endurance… is about the END!!!  

22So Noah did everything exactly as God had commanded him.    AH AH AH AH AH AH……

Genesis 7:1 When everything was ready, the Lord said to Noah, “Go into the boat with all your family, for among all the people of the earth, I can see that you alone are righteous. 

• Endurance Sometimes Requires You to Stand Alone!    

You May Stand Alone, But You’ll Never Be Alone!          

4Seven days from now I will make the rains pour down on the earth. And it will rain for forty days and forty nights, until I have wiped from the earth all the living things I have created.” 5So Noah did everything as the Lord commanded him. 

10After seven days, the waters of the flood came and covered the earth. 11When Noah was 600 years old, on the seventeenth day of the second month, all the underground waters erupted from the earth, and the rain fell in mighty torrents from the sky. 12The rain continued to fall for forty days and forty nights.  13That very day Noah had gone into the boat with his wife and his sons—Shem, Ham, and Japheth—and their wives.

16bThen the Lord closed the door behind them.

23bThe only people who survived were Noah and those with him in the boat.

Endurance…Is A Long Obedience God In The Same Direction. 

How Long Will You Last?...Noah’s obedience was greater than the life span of people today. 

The Only thing comparable to his length of obedience is our very lives.

Where Will You Be When The Rain Comes Down? Are You in The Boat?

VISION: King David - Character Tour Series.

Character: The Outward Reflection of an Inward Connection.  

BECOMING A PERSON OF VISION

Definition: “A Clear And Convincing Picture Of What The Future Could Be And Should Be”

DAVID’S VISION: Set God’s People Free to Worship Him as a Great Nation.

SHEPHERD:  A Vision of Who I Am.  

The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.  ~ 1 Samuel 16:7

Then the LORD said, "Rise and anoint him; he is the one."  So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the LORD came upon David in power. ~ 1 Samuel 16:12,13  (NIV)

WARRIOR:  A Vision of Why I’m Here.      

• You Discover WHY YOU ARE HERE when WHO YOU ARE CONFLICTS with WHERE YOU ARE! 

1 Samuel 17:45-47  (NIV)

45 David said to the Philistine, "You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46 This day the LORD will hand you over to me, and I'll strike you down and cut off your head. Today I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. 47 All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD's, and he will give all of you into our hands."  

KING: A Vision of Where I’m Going.

• WHO YOU ARE,  and WHY YOU’RE HERE… Will Always Determine WHERE YOU’RE GOING!  

2 Samuel 7:8-9  (NASB)  

8 "Now therefore, thus you shall say to My servant David, 'Thus says the LORD of hosts, "I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, to be ruler over My people Israel.  9 "I have been with you wherever you have gone and have cut off all your enemies from before you; and I will make you a great name, like the names of the great men who are on the earth.   

• If You Remember where You Came From… WHO YOU ARE --- WHY YOU’RE HERE = WHERE YOU’RE GOING!

2 Samuel 7:18,19, 24  (NASB)  

18 Then David the king went in and sat before the LORD, and he said,"Who am I, O Lord GOD, and what is my house, that You have brought me this far?  19 "And yet this was insignificant in Your eyes, O Lord GOD, for You have spoken also of the house of Your servant concerning the distant future…” 

24 "For You have established for Yourself Your people Israel as Your own people forever, and You, O LORD, have become their God.

“ONE DROP OF BLOOD”  

Leviticus 17:11 (NLT)

“for the life of the body is in its blood. I have given you the blood on the altar to purify you, making you right with the LORD. 

It is the blood, given in exchange for a life, that makes purification possible.”

• The average adult has about 10 PINTS OF BLOOD in his body.  Jesus Gave It All For You!  
• “Because Of Love! Love Is Not A Feeling! Love Is Giving Someone What They Need Most When They Deserve It The Least!”

1 Peter 1:18, 19 (NLT) 

“For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. 

And the ransom he paid was not mere gold or silver. 19It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God.

• Circumstances Make Things Precious. 
• HEALTH! vs. SICK!   /   PAIN! vs. COMFORT!   /   FOOD! vs. HUNGRY  /   WATER! vs. THIRSTY!   /   POVERTY vs. WEALTH! 
• SIN Makes The Blood Of Christ Precious.  Redeeming Power.  
• The Blood Of Jesus Christ Is Precious Because Of Its Cleansing Power.  
• “You’re Not Ready To Live Until You’re Ready To Die!”    -/-    “Without The Blood, Not Ready For Death Or Life”                                               

Hebrews 9:14, 22, 26-28 (NLT)

14Just think how much more the blood of Christ will purify our consciences from sinful deeds so that we can worship the living God. For by the power of the eternal Spirit, Christ offered himself to God as a perfect sacrifice for our sins. 

22For without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness.

26But now, once for all time, he has appeared at the end of the age to remove sin by his own death as a sacrifice.

27And just as each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgment, 

28so also Christ died once for all time as a sacrifice to take away the sins of many people. 

He will come again, not to deal with our sins, but to bring salvation to all who are eagerly waiting for him.

In the tomb, Beyond the shroud, beyond the blood and bandages, beyond the spices and the close, dank air, HE STOOD!  

Alive once more, He stood—in six full weeks of sunlight. 

Then on to heaven He went, sending His spirit into our hearts, making us alive forever. 

Now the living Christ rules where the best flags wave, in the interior castles of our hearts, but... He IS Here!

EASTER! - Hell shuddered and the world trembled - the day the living Savior stood the dumbfounded world on its ear! 

EASTER! - The day Christ moved out of His very temporary residence into the best and worst of palaces - the human heart. 

LIFE! - Christ’s Life, this marvelous gift is Ours! We don’t create it! We can’t sustain it. 

This life of His learned obedience on the cross and proved its power by leaving the cold stone slab of a cave grave.

Luke 24:1-7 

Checkmate

1 Corinthians 15:1-10
Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. 2 By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.

3 For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance[a]: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas,[b] and then to the Twelve. 6 After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, 8 and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.

9 For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.

1 Corinthians 15:58
58 Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

Frenemies                                                                                                                                                                                                   
 Matthew 26

47While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived. With him was a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and the elders of the people. 48Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The one I kiss is the man; arrest him.” 49Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed him.  50Jesus replied, “Do what you came for, friend.” Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested him. 

1.One of the saddest moments in the life of Jesus was His betrayal by Judas... - One of Jesus' closest disciples, even one of His twelve apostles, part of Jesus' ministry.

2. What led Judas to betray his Lord and Savior?  How could one who had:   been with Jesus… Seen His miracles… Heard His teachings… betray Him with a kiss?

Definition: A Frenemy Is Someone Who Accesses Their Close Relationship 

With You As A Means To Achieve Selfishly Driven Ends.

Signs Of A Frenemy:

1.) When You Find Yourself Explaining Away Their Behavior.

2.) When You Tell Yourself The Relationship Is Worth It Because Of Other Things They Do For You.

3.) When They Treat You Good, But Other People Badly.

4.) When You Feel Good About Yourself Because This Friend Needs Your Help.  

5.) When You Find Yourself Repeatedly Initiating Relationship Repair.

6.) When You Say, “But I Need Him/Her Right Now.”     

7.) When Other Common Friends Either Warn You Or Start To Choose Sides.    
John 13:1 
Psalm 41:9
Rev 2:4-5 
Rev 2:14-16 
Rev 2:20
Rev 3:1-3 
Rev 3:15-16
Rev. 2:10
John 12:6 
Matthew 26:15
Matthew 13:22
Revelation. 3:16-17 |
Matt 26:49
Luke 22:48
Luke 10:27
Matt. 13:20-21
Romans 10:17

How To Be A Loyal Friend And Love Your Enemies:

1.) Pray And Ask God For Wisdom And Loyal Friends. (Proverbs 18:24) 

2.) Befriend And Help Everyone, But Don’t Give Everyone The Same Access To Your Life. (Proverbs 4:23, Matthew 16:20)

3.) Simply Do Unto Them As You Would Have Them Do Unto You.  (Matthew 7:12) 

4.) Decide In Advance That You’ll Never Advance Your Life At A Friend’s Expense. Even If It’s Done To You. (Gal. 6:7, 1 Peter, 3:9) 

5.) Always Forgive And Let Go Of Every Betrayal Before You Become Infected With Bitterness And Repeat The Pattern. (Hebrews 12:15)

“‘You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 

44But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,” 
Matthew 5:43-44

JUDAS WAS CHOSEN BY JESUS, BUT DIDN’T CHOOSE JESUS.

FISHING LESSONS - John 21:1-18

And He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Matthew 4:19

DON'T FISH WITHOUT CHRIST - Vss. 1-6

1Later, Jesus appeared again to the disciples beside the Sea of Galilee. This is how it happened. 2Several of the disciples were there—Simon Peter, Thomas (nicknamed the Twin), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples. 3Simon Peter said, “I’m going fishing.” “We’ll come, too,” they all said. So they went out in the boat, but they caught nothing all night. 4At dawn Jesus was standing on the beach, but the disciples couldn’t see who he was. 5He called out, “Fellows, have you caught any fish?” “No,” they replied. 6Then he said, “Throw out your net on the right-hand side of the boat, and you’ll get some!” So they did, and they couldn’t haul in the net because there were so many fish in it. NLT

"I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.” 

John 15:5

DON'T FRET OVER THE CATCH - Vss. 7-11

7Then the disciple Jesus loved said to Peter, “It’s the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his tunic, jumped into the water, and headed to shore. 8The others stayed with the boat and pulled the loaded net to the shore, for they were only about a hundred yards from shore. 9When they got there, they found breakfast waiting for them—fish cooking over a charcoal fire, and some bread. 10“Bring some of the fish you’ve just caught,” Jesus said. 11So Simon Peter went aboard and dragged the net to the shore. There were 153 large fish, and yet the net hadn’t torn. NLT 

John 10:27-31 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me, 29for my Father has given them to me, and he is more powerful than anyone else. No one can snatch them from the Father’s hand.  30The Father and I are one.”  31Once again the people picked up stones to kill him.  

DON'T FIGHT WHEN CORRECTED - Vss. 12-17 

12“Now come and have some breakfast!” Jesus said. None of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. 13Then Jesus served them the bread and the fish. 14This was the third time Jesus had appeared to his disciples since he had been raised from the dead. 15After 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. 16Jesus 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. 17A 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.” NLT