Preached Mar, 1999 at Faith Baptist Church
By Pastor Steven E. Mays
What's it to You?
John 21:15
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.
18 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not.
19 This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me.
20 Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on his breast at supper, and said, Lord, which is he that betrayeth thee?
21 Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do?
22 Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me.
Perhaps one of the single most important elements, determining success or failure in the Christian life is our abilitity to keep our eyes on the Right thing and off of the wrong thing. In our text tonight, we see Peter being addressed by the Lord, concerning his, (Peter's) love for his Saviour. No sooner has he declared his Love than he has got his eyes off of the object he should love supreemly and on the another Disciple. God help us.
Finally Peter is told by the Lord what manner of Death that he would suffer…. No sooner has the Lord uttered these words than Peter makes a classic statement telling on his Heart. "Lord, How's John going to Die?" The Lord tells him simply What is it to Thee?
Tonight I want to look closely at what caused the Lord to need to bring such a stiff response to Peter.. Tonight I want to deal with the Subject what is it to Thee..
I. Eyes on Others
Matthew 6:22 The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.
The disciples seemed to have problems with Getting their eyes on each other and off of the Lord…
When we get to looking around we are making a grave mistake…
Luke 9: 57 And it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a certain man said unto him, Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest.
58 And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.
59 And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.
60 Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.
61 And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house.
62 And Jesus said unto him,. No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God
When we get our eyes on others we are asking for Trouble for ourself….
Sometimes we are real tough on others we've got our eyes on but we ain't so tough on ourself…
Matt. 7:1 Judge not, that ye be not judged.
2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.
3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?
4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?
5 Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.
6 Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.
Illustration. The fella with the drinking problem…. Wanted to gossip about it.. but didn't really want it fixed… No wonder.. she had a daughter with an illigitimate kid.. she didn't want the light up to bright…
II. Heart Full of Jealousy
The root of this was Jealousy..
John 21: 21 Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do?
Luke 22:21 But, behold, the hand of him that betrayeth me is with me on the table.
22 And truly the Son of man goeth, as it was determined: but woe unto that man by whom he is betrayed!
23 And they began to enquire among themselves, which of them it was that should do this thing.
24 And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest.
25 And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors.
26 But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve.
27 For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth.
Love is blind; jealousy sees too much.
--- Jewish Proverb
The jealous are troublesome to others; a torment to themselves.
-- William Penn the founder of Pennsylvania (1644-1718)
Jealousy is nourished by doubt.
--- French Proverb
Romans 12:3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
Many years ago Michelangelo, the sculptor, and Raphael, the painter, were commissioned to execute works of art for the beautification of the Vatican. Although each had a different job to do and both were highly respected, there arose such a bitter spirit of rivalry between them that at last they would not even speak when they met. Their jealous attitude toward one another was obvious to all who knew them. The most amazing part of it all was that both were supposed to be doing their work "for the glory of God."
Angel's Brother Got a new car.. someone in the church didn't like it so they had the preacher to say something to their parrents..
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