DO YOU LOVE ME?

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DO YOU LOVE ME?

Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing.
4 But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus.
5 Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No.
6 And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes.
7 Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher's coat unto him, (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea.
8 And the other disciples came in a little ship; (for they were not far from land, but as it were two hundred cubits,) dragging the net with fishes.
9 As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread.
10 Jesus saith unto them, Bring of the fish which ye have now caught. 11 Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great fishes, an hundred and fifty and three: and for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken.
12 Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine. And none of the disciples durst ask him, Who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord.
13 Jesus then cometh, and taketh bread, and giveth them, and fish likewise.
14 This is now the third time that Jesus shewed himself to his disciples, after that he was risen from the dead.
15 So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.
16 He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
17 He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep. John 21: 3-17

Credit: old.hopechristianchurch.org

Years ago my father, Pa JOHNSON of blessed memory, while preaching one Sunday morning told his audience a story I like to recap here.

One certain day he said, A brother picked his wife on his bike and headed to the neighboring village. At one point, the wife touched the husband who was busy throttling down the road and said, “Darling I love you”.

When she did not get a respond from the husband, she said to him again, “Darling I love you, I love you”.

The husband did not say anything in response. For the third time the wife yelled at her husband and said, “Darling! I love you, I love you, I love you.

Responding this third time, her husband yelled back at her and said, Show it, Show it, Show it.

Love is not only in words but in DEEDS.

Jesus was about to depart from this world as the Savior and was concerned with leaving somebody or a group of people who loved Him. Why?

It is because, “Love is the reason and action is the product”.

Jesus Christ keyed into God’s love program for the world and the end result of this was offering Himself a sacrifice for the salvation of mankind.

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Jesus had compassion on them because they were helpless. One of the products of love is compassion and compassion leads to action.

But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. Matthew 9:36 (KJV)

Let us consider our text.

• Peter, the super Apostle left for his old profession, fishing for fish when his new assigned profession is fishing for men. He went back to his old ways after following Jesus Christ for three and a half years with some Jesus’ disciples.

• They toiled for a whole night without a catch and were exhausted and hungry.

• Jesus knew they were hungry and as a father appeared on the scene.

• That which you came here searching without me, I can still give. Cast your fishing net on the right side of your boat. At the words of Jesus Christ they had a great catch. Did you get that brother? Jesus holds the key to your life.

• The disciples needed for more than anything at that point in time. Jesus knew it. He set food on fire for them to eat, though they didn’t ask for it. Wao! love understands. Love acts. Love brings. Love provides.

• Did you notice that Jesus’ major concern was to bring them back on track to obedience which they have fallen from? He never mentioned their backslidden state.

• “Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine”. We should recall that this is not the first time provided food for his followers. At one time He fed five thousand followers and listeners. Man of God feed my Flock.

What Jesus asked Simon, son of Jonah, he is still asking you today, Do you love Me? If you really do, then follow Jesus’ example. Feed my sheep.

This same Jesus question is presently all you Christ believers and professors, “Do you love Me?”.

Jesus cannot ask you to do what he would not give you grace to do.

This is where we are coming to. Every genuine and born again child of God is a potential shepherd. It does not matter the quantity of food at your disposal but at least, you have something to give to the hungry souls even if it is your widow’s mite.

Feed my flock with what?

With socialism? No!

With M. Scott Peck theory? No!

With current affairs? No!

With the manifestoes of your political parties? No!

With the perverted doctrines of the elders? No!

“Feed My sheep with My word which I have given unto you” John 6:63

The Word of Life.

Follow Jesus’ example.

Feed the hungry soul.

Feed the hungry body.

You have the grace.

Think.

Pray.

Apply the FAITH.

Work.

MARANATHA!

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