Sermons from Good News: Eight life-changing words

A note before sharing the sermon: something clicked about resisting the devil (or temptation, or evil, etc) when I heard the preacher share the offertory scripture at church this time around. It's not just about resisting the devil (or sin, etc). In tandem, it's about submitting to God and drawing near to Him. I learned a similar type of lesson in the past when I was working to break free of some sinful habits, specifically that unless I replaced those things with something else that was better, it would be very difficult for me to gain freedom from the habits from which I wanted to be free. Submit to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. As you do these things, then you will be able to cleanse your hands and purify your hearts, but trying to cleanse yourselves without first coming to God either will not happen, or it will be very, very, very difficult to do. Or so that's how I understand it. Be blessed.

Church 1/20/2024

Offertory scripture:

Sowing seeds and gaining a harvest. Every time you give it blesses other people that God is wanting and trying to reach.

James 4:7-8

Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

Faith requires action.

Sermon message:

Thesis: Eight life-changing words.

These were spoken by Jesus to Peter.

Exhortation to stop and think about these words.

Breakdown: Five words (a question), followed by three more words (God’s help related to the question).

This takes place after Jesus had been crucified, died, buried, and had risen again. This takes place after Peter had denied Him and then went into hiding and returned to fishing.

Then Peter sees the resurrected Jesus on the shore after trying all night to catch fish (fruitlessly). Then the exchange between Jesus and Peter where Jesus asked Peter if he loved Him. Peter said he does, and Jesus gives him instruction on how love Him: “feed My sheep.”

Jesus proceeded to tell Peter how he was going to die: a martyr’s death.

Then the below:

John 21:21-22

Peter, seeing him, said to Jesus, “But Lord, what about this man?”

Jesus said to him, “If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow Me.”

Here, Peter asked: “What about John?”

Focus line: Jesus’s response: “what is that to you? Come follow me.”

Don’t let other people stop you from fulfilling what God has called you to do. Don’t let Satan use other people to distract you or discourage you from obeying God.

Point #1: Don’t allow anyone to keep you from trusting and serving God.

Even if someone falls into sin, don’t let that distract you.

Romans 14:12

So then each of us shall give account of himself to God.

Even if it is a family member mocking you for trusting God. Or a fellow church member. They don’t know what you know.

Point #2: Listen to Jesus when you are hurt by others.

Continue to trust God.

Proverbs 18:21 death and life are in the power of the tongue... And those who love it will eat its fruit.

We are answerable to God alone.

Point #3: Listen to Jesus when jealousy knows knocks on the door.

This happened to Peter in regards to John, the apostle that Jesus loved.

Sometimes we can get jealous at what God asks a fellow believer to do vs what He asks us to do. Instead, listen to Jesus.

Satan may use jealousy to try to stop you from doing God’s work.

God often uses people who either say “I can’t do it” or people where others say “they can’t do it.” God chooses those people anyway.

Jesus’s words: what does that have to do with you?

Point #4: Don’t let your failures stop you.

All of us have failed.

Romans 3:23

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Jesus’s words: what does that have to do with you? God has forgiven you. Let it go and move on toward what God has called you to do.

John 21:22

Jesus said to him, “If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow Me.”

Point #5: Follow Jesus.

Peter had his eyes on Jesus and took his eyes off Him. Jesus told him to keep his eyes on Him.

What do jealousy, past failures, etc have to do with you? Nothing.

What does Jesus have to do with you? Everything.

Look to Jesus. Don’t look to anyone else. Look to Jesus.