“Feed My Sheep” John 21:1-19

“Feed My Sheep”John 21:1-19 The Command Excuses and Replies Failure Analysis Enduring Motivation Practical Suggestions

The Command • “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature” Mark 16:15 • “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, … teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you” Matthew 28:19-20 • Do we need a direct command? Luke 9:56; 19:10; 1Timothy 1:15; Galatians 2:20

The Mission of Jesus But He turned and rebuked them, and said, “You do not know what manner of spirit you are of. “For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men's lives but to save them.” And they went to another village. (Luke 9:54-56) This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life. (I Timothy 1:15-16) And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham; for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.” (Luke 19:9-10) “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”(Galatians 2:20)

Excuses and Replies • Inability • Talent – EST 4:14; HEB 5:12; II TIM 2:2; LUK 16:10-11 • Knowledge – I PET 3:15; II TIM 3:16; PSA 119:73; EXO 4:10-12

“Not my talent”? “For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father's house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14) And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. (II Timothy 2:2) “He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much. Therefore if you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?”(Luke 16:10-11) “For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food.” (Hebrews 4:12)

“Not enough knowledge”? “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear” (I Peter 3:15) Then Moses said to the LORD, “O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither before nor since You have spoken to Your servant; but I am slow of speech and slow of tongue.” So the LORD said to him, “Who has made man's mouth? Or who makes the mute, the deaf, the seeing, or the blind? Have not I, the LORD? Now therefore, go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall say. But he said, “O my Lord, please send by the hand of whomever else You may send.” So the anger of the LORD was kindled against Moses, and He said: “Is not Aaron the Levite your brother? I know that he can speak well. And look, he is also coming out to meet you. When he sees you, he will be glad in his heart.” (Exodus 4:10-12) All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. (II Timothy 3:16-17) Your hands have made me and fashioned me; Give me understanding, that I may learn Your commandments. (Psalm 119:73)

Excuses and Replies • Inability • Talent – EST 4:14; HEB 5:12; II TIM 2:2; LUK 16:10-11 • Knowledge – I PET 3:15; II TIM 3:16; PSA 119:73; EXO 4:10-12 • Lack of Organization • Expert Leadership – ACT 8:4; EPH 4:11-16

“It is the elders’ fault”? As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering every house, and dragging off men and women, committing them to prison. Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word. (Acts 8:3-4) “And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head -- Christ -- from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love. (Ephesians 4:11-16)

Excuses and Replies • Inability • Talent – EST 4:14; HEB 5:12; II TIM 2:2; LUK 16:10-11 • Knowledge – I PET 3:15; II TIM 3:16; PSA 119:73; EXO 4:10-12 • Lack of Organization • Expert Leadership – ACT 8:4; EPH 4:11-16 • Doubtful Success • Teach Anyway – MAT 13:3-9; II PET 2:5; EZE 3:4-7

“What’s the use?” ?? … and did not spare the ancient world, but saved Noah, one of eight people, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood on the world of the ungodly; (II Peter 2:5) Then He said to me: "Son of man, go to the house of Israel and speak with My words to them. For you are not sent to a people of unfamiliar speech and of hard language, but to the house of Israel, not to many people of unfamiliar speech and of hard language, whose words you cannot understand. Surely, had I sent you to them, they would have listened to you. But the house of Israel will not listen to you, because they will not listen to Me; for all the house of Israel are impudent and hard-hearted. (Ezekiel 2:4-7) Then He spoke many things to them in parables, saying: “Behold, a sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seed fell by the wayside; … Some fell on stony places, ... And some fell among thorns, … But others fell on good ground and yielded a crop: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”. (Matthew 13:3-9)

Excuses and Replies • Inability • Talent – EST 4:14; HEB 5:12; II TIM 2:2; LUK 16:10-11 • Knowledge – I PET 3:15; II TIM 3:16; PSA 119:73; EXO 4:10-12 • Lack of Organization • Expert Leadership – ACT 8:4; EPH 4:11-16 • Doubtful Success • Teach Anyway – MAT 13:3-9; II PET 2:5; EZE 3:4-7 • Fear of Persecution or Rejection • Strengthened by God – HEB 13:5-6; JER 1:17-19; EZE 2:3-3:11 • Rejected by God – MAT 10:32-33; EZE 3:17-21; 33:1-9; ACT 20:26

“Persecuted by men”? “Therefore prepare yourself and arise, And speak to them all that I command you. Do not be dismayed before their faces, Lest I dismay you before them. For behold, I have made you this day a fortified city and an iron pillar, … They will fight against you, But they shall not prevail against you. For I am with you,” says the LORD, “to deliver you.” (Jeremiah 1:17-19) And you, son of man, do not be afraid of them nor be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns are with you and you dwell among scorpions; do not be afraid of their words or dismayed by their looks, though they are a rebellious house. … Behold, I have made your face strong against their faces, and your forehead strong against their foreheads. Like adamant stone, harder than flint, I have made your forehead; do not be afraid of them, nor be dismayed at their looks, though they are a rebellious house...” (Ezekiel 2:3-3:11) Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” So we may boldly say: “The LORD is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?” (Hebrews 13:5-6)

“Rejected by men”? “Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 10:32-33) “When I say to the wicked, 'O wicked man, you shall surely die!' and you do not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at your hand. Nevertheless if you warn the wicked to turn from his way, and he does not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but you have delivered your soul.” (Ezekiel 33:8-9) “Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men. For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God.” (Acts 20:26-27)

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Failure Analysis • Fear of Punishment Failed – MAT 10:28-33 “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father's will. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 10:28-33)

Failure Analysis • Fear of Punishment Failed – MAT 10:28-33 • Knowledge Failed – I COR 8:1-3 Now concerning things offered to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies. And if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know. But if anyone loves God, this one is known by Him. (I Corinthians 8:1-3)

Failure Analysis • Fear of Punishment Failed – MAT 10:28-33 • Knowledge Failed – I COR 8:1-3 • Faith Failed – II COR 4:13 And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, “I believed and therefore I spoke”, we also believe and therefore speak. (II Corinthians 4:13)

Failure Analysis • Fear of Punishment Failed – MAT 10:28-33 • Knowledge Failed – I COR 8:1-3 • Faith Failed – II COR 4:13 • Love Failed – JHN 10:11-13; 21:1-19; I JHN 4:17-21 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. But a hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them. The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the sheep.” (John 10:11-13)

Enduring Motivation • Fear of Punishment Failed – MAT 10:28-33 • Knowledge Failed – I COR 8:1 • Faith Failed – II COR 4:13 • Love Failed – JHN 10:11-13; 21:1-19; I JHN 4:17-21 • Jesus’ Motivation – JHN 10:11-13; 21:1-19 LUK 9:56; 19:10; I TIM 1:15; TIT 3:3-4

To Love Jesus is to Love His Sheep “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. But a hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them. The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the sheep.” (John 10:11-13) So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Feed My lambs.” He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Tend My sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, 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 all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep.” (John 21:1-19) “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.” (I John 4:18)

Practical Suggestions • Start Where You Are – ACT 1:8 “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” (Luke 19:9-10)

Practical Suggestions • Start Where You Are – ACT 1:8 • Prepare for Rejection – EZE 14:14-20 “Even if these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they would deliver only themselves by their righteousness,” says the Lord GOD. “… even though these three men were in it, as I live," says the Lord GOD, "they would deliver neither sons nor daughters; only they would be delivered, and the land would be desolate.” (Ezekiel 14:14-20)

Practical Suggestions • Start Where You Are – ACT 1:8 • Prepare for Rejection – EZE 14:14-20 • Be Flexible (Humble) – I COR 9:19-23 For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more; and to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law, that I might win those who are under the law; to those who are without law, as without law (not being without law toward God, but under law toward Christ), that I might win those who are without law; to the weak I became as weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. Now this I do for the gospel's sake, that I may be partaker of it with you. (I Corinthians 9:19-23)

Practical Suggestions • Start Where You Are – ACT 1:8 • Prepare for Rejection – EZE 14:14-20 • Be Flexible (Humble) – I COR 9:19-23 • Build upon Their Existing Foundation –compare ACT 2 vs. ACT 17; EXO 13:17 Then it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, “Lest perhaps the people change their minds when they see war, and return to Egypt.” (Exodus 13:17)

Practical Suggestions • Start Where You Are – ACT 1:8 • Prepare for Rejection – EZE 14:14-20 • Be Flexible (Humble) – I COR 9:19-23 • Build upon Their Existing Foundation –compare ACT 2 vs. ACT 17; EXO 13:17 • Teach the Whole Word – ROM 1:16; ACT 20:27; I COR 1:23 • Ask Questions

Set up a Group Bible study at work! • Initiate with private discussion • Common Interest • Influence of a friend • Fellowship with Christians

Start a Neighborhood Bible Study! • Common interest • Minimal risk for attendee • Comfort of a home • Closeness of a friend

24,000 Athens Phone Numbers • 20,300 People (9,000 Homes) • 50 churches • Average 200 members • 10,000 non-Christians! • 1% = 100 new Christians?

24,000 Athens Phone Numbers You: “Hi Mr. Harris, I am a Christian, who lives here in Athens, and I am looking for people, who would like to study the Bible, or have interest in uniting with other Christians on God’s Word.” “Would you be interested in studying about Jesus and God’s will for us?”

Practical Suggestions - More • Pray for Boldness, Reapers, Wisdom, Open Doors – EPH 6:18-19; ACT 18:9-10; LUK 10:2; JAM 1:5; I KIN 3:5-12; REV 3:8

Pray … Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints -- and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel. (Ephesians 6:18-19) “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.” (James 1:5) “but I am a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in. And Your servant is in the midst of Your people … Therefore give to Your servant an understanding heart … that I may discern between good and evil. …”(I Kings 3:5-12) Then He said to them, “The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.” (Luke 10:22) “I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name. (Revelation 3:8)

Practical Suggestions - More • Pray for Boldness, Reapers, Wisdom, Open Doors – EPH 6:18-19; ACT 18:9-10; LUK 10:2; JAM 1:5; I KIN 3:5-12; REV 3:8 • Do Not Take It Personally – LUK 10:16; I THE 2:13 “He who hears you hears Me, he who rejects you rejects Me, and he who rejects Me rejects Him who sent Me.”(Luke 10:16)

Practical Suggestions - More • Pray for Boldness, Reapers, Wisdom, Open Doors – EPH 6:18-19; ACT 18:9-10; LUK 10:2; JAM 1:5; I KIN 3:5-12; REV 3:8 • Do Not Take It Personally – LUK 10:16; I THE 2:13 • Be Diligent – II KIN 13:14-19; LUK 9:62

How much is enough? And Elisha said to him, “Take a bow and some arrows.” So he took himself a bow and some arrows. Then he said to the king of Israel, “Put your hand on the bow.” So he put his hand on it, and Elisha put his hands on the king's hands. And he said, “Open the east window”; and he opened it. Then Elisha said, “Shoot”; and he shot. And he said, “The arrow of the LORD's deliverance and the arrow of deliverance from Syria; for you must strike the Syrians at Aphek till you have destroyed them.” Then he said, “Take the arrows”; so he took them. And he said to the king of Israel, “Strike the ground”; so he struck three times, and stopped. And the man of God was angry with him, and said, “You should have struck five or six times; then you would have struck Syria till you had destroyed it! But now you will strike Syria only three times.”(II Kings 13:14-19) But Jesus said to him, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” (Luke 9:62)

Practical Suggestions - More • Pray for Boldness, Reapers, Wisdom, Open Doors – EPH 6:18-19; ACT 18:9-10; LUK 10:2; JAM 1:5; I KIN 3:5-12; REV 3:8 • Do Not Take It Personally – LUK 10:16; I THE 2:13 • Be Diligent – II KIN 13:14-19; LUK 9:62 • Do Not Grow Weary in Doing Good – GAL 6:8-9 For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith. (Galatians 6:8-10)

Final Encouragement Then His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for Your house has eaten Me up.” (John 2:17) • Pray for Boldness, Reapers, Wisdom, Open Doors – EPH 6:18-19; ACT 18:9-10; LUK 10:2; JAM 1:5; I KIN 3:5-12; REV 3:8 • Do Not Take It Personally – LUK 10:16; I THE 2:13 • Be Diligent – II KIN 13:14-19; LUK 9:62 • Do Not Grow Weary in Doing Good – GAL 6:8-9 • Let God’s Zeal and Love Consume You – JOH 2:17; MAR 6:31-34 And He said to them, “Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.” For there were many coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat. So they departed to a deserted place in the boat by themselves. But the multitudes saw them departing, and many knew Him and ran there on foot from all the cities. They arrived before them and came together to Him. And Jesus, when He came out, saw a great multitude and was moved with compassion for them, because they were like sheep not having a shepherd. So He began to teach them many things. (Mark 6:31-34)

Am I a hireling?Do I love Jesus? “Feed My Sheep”

“Feed My Sheep” John 21:1-19