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on Prayeron Prayer

The Key to Prayer:The Key to Prayer:

Loving Loving God God

CompletelCompletelyy

John 21:15-23John 21:15-23

Prayer is and should be born out of Prayer is and should be born out of a growing love relationship a growing love relationship between God and his children. between God and his children. Otherwise, it is unreal and merely Otherwise, it is unreal and merely a futile activity that shows off a futile activity that shows off religiosity.religiosity.

As Jesus publicly reinstates Peter As Jesus publicly reinstates Peter into leadership, he asks the most into leadership, he asks the most important question: “Do you truly important question: “Do you truly love me?”love me?”

Nothing is more important in the Nothing is more important in the Christian life than our love for Christian life than our love for Jesus Christ! Everything else will Jesus Christ! Everything else will not matter if we do not truly love not matter if we do not truly love Him. Him.

Loving God completely requires Loving God completely requires three elements.three elements.

Total DevotionTotal Devotion: : A lifestyle of loving God!A lifestyle of loving God!

(vv. 15-17)(vv. 15-17)

1.1. Total Devotion: A lifestyle of loving God! Total Devotion: A lifestyle of loving God! (vv. 15-17).(vv. 15-17).

““When they had finished eating, When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, Jesus said to Simon Peter, ‘Simon ‘Simon son of John, do you truly love me son of John, do you truly love me

more than these?.’”more than these?.’”

“‘“‘Yes, Lord,’ he said, ‘you know Yes, Lord,’ he said, ‘you know that I love you.’”that I love you.’”

““Jesus said, Jesus said, ‘Feed my lambs.’”‘Feed my lambs.’”

1.1. Total Devotion: A lifestyle of loving God! Total Devotion: A lifestyle of loving God! (vv. 15-17).(vv. 15-17).

““Again Jesus said, Again Jesus said, ‘Simon son of ‘Simon son of John, do you truly love me?.’”John, do you truly love me?.’”

““He answered, ‘Yes, Lord, you He answered, ‘Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.’”know that I love you.’”

““Jesus said, Jesus said, ‘Take care of my ‘Take care of my sheep.’”sheep.’”

1.1. Total Devotion: A lifestyle of loving God! Total Devotion: A lifestyle of loving God! (vv. 15-17).(vv. 15-17).

““The third time he said to him, The third time he said to him, ‘Simon ‘Simon son of John, do you love me?.’”son of John, do you love me?.’”

““Peter was hurt because Jesus asked Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, him the third time, ‘Do you love me?’ ‘Do you love me?’

He said, ‘Lord, you know all things; He said, ‘Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.’”you know that I love you.’”

““Jesus said, Jesus said, ‘Feed my sheep.’”‘Feed my sheep.’”

• Our love for Jesus determines Our love for Jesus determines our readiness to serve the Lord.our readiness to serve the Lord.

1.1. Total Devotion: A lifestyle of loving God! Total Devotion: A lifestyle of loving God! (vv. 15-17).(vv. 15-17).

• Delight yourself in the love of Delight yourself in the love of the Lord!the Lord!

Total SurrenderTotal Surrender: : A lifestyle of obeying God!A lifestyle of obeying God!

(vv. 18-19)(vv. 18-19)

2.2. Total Surrender: A lifestyle of obeying God! Total Surrender: A lifestyle of obeying God! (vv. 18-19).(vv. 18-19).

““I tell you the truth, when you were I tell you the truth, when you were younger you dressed yourself and younger you dressed yourself and

went where you wanted; but when went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not you and lead you where you do not

want to go.”want to go.”

2.2. Total Surrender: A lifestyle of obeying God! Total Surrender: A lifestyle of obeying God! (vv. 18-19).(vv. 18-19).

““Jesus said this to indicate the kind Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would of death by which Peter would

glorify God. Then he said to him,glorify God. Then he said to him, ‘Follow me!’”‘Follow me!’”

• A Christ-centered life A Christ-centered life determines our fruitfulness in determines our fruitfulness in serving the Lord.serving the Lord.

2.2. Total Surrender: A lifestyle of obeying God! Total Surrender: A lifestyle of obeying God! (vv. 18-19).(vv. 18-19).

• Settle the matter of death Settle the matter of death before you serve the Lord!before you serve the Lord!

Total DependenceTotal Dependence: : A lifestyle of trusting God!A lifestyle of trusting God!

(vv. 20-23)(vv. 20-23)

3.3. Total Dependence: A lifestyle of trusting God! Total Dependence: A lifestyle of trusting God! (vv. 20-23).(vv. 20-23).

““Peter turned and saw that the Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was disciple whom Jesus loved was

following them. (This was the one following them. (This was the one who had leaned back against Jesus who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper and had said, ‘Lord, at the supper and had said, ‘Lord,

who is going to betray you?’)”who is going to betray you?’)”

3.3. Total Dependence: A lifestyle of trusting God! Total Dependence: A lifestyle of trusting God! (vv. 20-23).(vv. 20-23).

““When Peter saw him, he asked, When Peter saw him, he asked, ‘Lord, what about him?’”‘Lord, what about him?’”

““Jesus answered, Jesus answered, ‘If I want him to ‘If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is remain alive until I return, what is

that to you? You must follow me.’”that to you? You must follow me.’”

3.3. Total Dependence: A lifestyle of trusting God! Total Dependence: A lifestyle of trusting God! (vv. 20-23).(vv. 20-23).

““Because of this, the rumor spread Because of this, the rumor spread among the brothers that this among the brothers that this

disciple would not die. But Jesus did disciple would not die. But Jesus did not say that he would not die; he not say that he would not die; he only said, only said, ‘If I want him to remain ‘If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to alive until I return, what is that to

you?’”you?’”

• A steady pursuit of Jesus A steady pursuit of Jesus determines our success in determines our success in serving the Lord.serving the Lord.

3.3. Total Dependence: A lifestyle of trusting God! Total Dependence: A lifestyle of trusting God! (vv. 20-23).(vv. 20-23).

• Do not take off your eyes on Do not take off your eyes on Jesus!Jesus!

QuestionQuestion

Why is it that we want to love Why is it that we want to love God so much but in fact love Him God so much but in fact love Him

so little?so little?

Wounded people cannot love!Wounded people cannot love!

““I’m hurt!”I’m hurt!”

QuestionQuestion

Why is it that we want to love Why is it that we want to love God so much but in fact love Him God so much but in fact love Him

so little?so little?

Doubtful people cannot love!Doubtful people cannot love!

““I doubt!”I doubt!”

QuestionQuestion

Why is it that we want to love Why is it that we want to love God so much but in fact love Him God so much but in fact love Him

so little?so little?

Helpless people cannot love!Helpless people cannot love!

““I can’t!”I can’t!”

QuestionQuestion

Why is it that we want to love Why is it that we want to love God so much but in fact love Him God so much but in fact love Him

so little?so little?

Busy people cannot love!Busy people cannot love!

““I’m too busy!”I’m too busy!”