THE FOUNDATION OF LOVE FOR ACCEPTABLE SERVICE

TEXT: JOHN21:15,16,17                    MINISTER: PASTOR DR. W.F KUMUYI

Jesus Christ talking about love. He looked at Peter son of Jonas. Jesus Christ is risen, righteous; he had prepared food for his disciples. There are different higher graces of loving when he said “Lovest thou me more than these?” it shows there’s a different between loving, loving more and loving most. Jesus Christ said in this Christ, Peter ought to love Christ, love him very well,and he eventually denied the Lord. For Jesus Christ said “Whosoever denied me, him will I denied before my father”. In 2Samuel 1:26 (Lamentation of David when he heard Jonathan died) ” I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan: very pleasant have thou been unto me: thy love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women “. There is so much reason to love him more.
– He saved you
– He sanctified you
– He heal and look away all your infirmity
– He is going to prepared a place for you
(John 21;15) The Lord asking you all that he has done for you, that ye ” lovest me more than these” that is the question Jesus Christ was asking Peter.
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POINT (1): THE HEART SEARCHING CONCERN ON OUR CHRIST FIRST LOVE FOR CHRIST.
John 21:15-17; Deuteronomy 30:6; Matthew 10:37; Psalms 87:2; Psalms 119:127,128; Psalms 138:2,3.
The love is been translated in different translation “Agape love”. When Jesus Christ first started, he used the word AGAPE! The supreme love, supernatural love, the love he commended towards us. It was when we are sinner ,he died for us ” Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these?” then he translated further HUMAN LOVE. His concern towards woman, the love that comes from heart (Deuteronomy 30:6). If anyone going to love God more than these things on earth, “And the Lord thy God will circumcised thine heart of thy seed, to love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live.” God gave a commandment, Jesus took.your place and he died for you that you all might believe.
There is a kind of love that is heavenly, holy , the love Jesus Christ was referring to (Matthew 10:37). Jesus Christ make it clear there are different kinds of love he has shown unto us. The commandments of God has been illustrated to us how we loved him as more as he thought (Psalms 138:2,3) here is the name of God been mention and there we see something the Lord do not appreciate. In (Songs of Solomon 8:6), here is Christ wanted to know how you love him more than treasures on earth. A love that is so strong. I’m the case of Peter, did he loved him without Regret, Reason, Reward, Reckoning, Retiring “Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.” Jesus Christ talking of the first love, the heavenly love, high love. The Lord is calling you back to that first love (John 21:15,16).
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POINT (2): THE HEART FELT CONSECRATED WITH FUNDAMENTAL LOYALTY TO CHRIST.
John 21:15,16; Matthew 6;21; Exodus 21:2-6; 2Samuel 15;15; Romans 8:36-39;
Jesus Christ asking Simon Peter over and over “Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me…? The word ” Me” written there means The Saviour, Sanctifier of the holy ghost, the one who died on the cross of calvary for there is no comparison for his love. There are kinds of love that is superficial or on the face. True love for Christ I’d a gracious love coming from the heart (Loyalty, obedience, absolute surrender, total submission, faithfulness without hypocrisy, without pretend). His love is covenant love, the love that reaches into the conscience (Matthew 6:21) says “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also”. The love Christ has given before he came to the kingdom. The implications of love (2Samuel 15:15) says, having no will , direction, assignment of thy own. The loyalty to Christ (1Kings 20:4) the love Christ is expecting” lovest thou me more than these?
POINT (3): THE HEART WARMING COMMITMENT TO FAITHFUL LABOUR FOR CHRIST.

John 21:15; Jeremiah 3:15; Jeremiah 23:4; Isaiah 30:19

The commitment he want from us, it is your “Yes” Christ is expecting from you. It is only when you have the commitment to feed the people of God. Who are these? They are saved and sanctified by grace. It is the love in their heart that help them to drag the sinners to Christ. Their hearts is steadfast, sincere, selfless, spirit filled, purposeful, purified. NOTHING WILL SEPARATE ME FROM THE LOVE OF CHRIST.