Competent Not Competitive

Competent Not Competitive

Pastor Gene Friberg Trinity Bible Church 12/3/06

Introduction: John 21:17-22

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. 18 Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish." 19 This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, "Follow Me."

20 Then Peter, turning around, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following, who also had leaned on His breast at the supper, and said, "Lord, who is the one who betrays You?" 21 Peter, seeing him, said to Jesus, "But Lord, what about this man?" 22 Jesus said to him, "If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow Me." NKJV

The following was overheard at a recent 'high society' party. "My ancestry goes back all the way to Alexander the Great," said Christine. She then turned to Miriam and asked, "How far back does your family go?" "I don't know," replied Miriam, "All of our records were lost in the flood." *Thanks to Pastor Tim for this joke!* http://www.cybersalt.org/cleanlaugh

Competition, it seems like that is the source of much of our conflict. Where does it come from? How can we not be allured by it and fall prey to its sarcastic tendencies?

*Have you had the joy of holiday shopping yet this year? What was it like? The other day I was standing in line and I noticed the one next to me had one less person in it. As I moved over, the elderly lady I was behind looked amused at my choice. I confessed to her I am always in competition for the best spot so we will see if I won or not. She stated with a smile on her face, “My husband and I have a saying, ‘we are always in a hurry and this is all the farther we’ve gotten?’”

Peter seems to be in competition with John. It’s as if he is saying, “If I have to suffer, what about him?”

Do you have trouble accepting God’s will when you look around and see others that don’t seem to have the same struggles or degree of problems that you have?

May God use this message to refocus you on the One Who gave His life for you and called you to Himself is my prayer.

I. Feed My Sheep. John 21:17

A. Re-commissioned

The military has done this with old battleships like the Missouri. The “Mighty Mo” was used at the end of WWII and again during the Korean War after which she then went into mothballs.

If she was to ever see active duty again, she would have to outfitted with new guns and satellite equipment. The navy did just that and re-commissioned her for the Gulf War but she now is a floating museum in Pearl Harbor.

If Peter was to be the competent spokesman for God during the critical days of the birth of the Church, he needed to know he was forgiven and restored to active duty. This is what has just happened on the shore of the Sea of Galilee. Peter had been re-commissioned to active duty!

B. Preach to yourself.

Part of what we’ve learned about the glory of God in forgiving sinners through the Gospel is the challenge to believe it for ourselves too.

James 3:2 AMP

For we all often stumble and fall and offend in many things.

1 John 1:10 NKJV

If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.

Many times God’s people sin, what can be done about it?

The monk Martin Luther took a whip to himself to be sure God knew he was sorry for his sins and wanted to atone for his mistakes. God was unimpressed. What God desired was faith in Him, not in works.

If you have sinned, I have good news for you. Jesus paid for your sins!

If you would believe Him; that He desires your worship, not works, you can be re-commissioned just as Peter was. God will restore you to fellowship and usefulness.

We will give time at the end of the service if you would desire prayer and help to see this happen.

II. Fear Not the Future John 21:18-19

Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish." 19 This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, "Follow Me."

A. Martyrdom.

We don’t know of the martyrdom of Peter in Biblical records but through writers during the second century we think we know what happened to Peter. “Origen reported that Peter ‘at last came to Rome and was crucified head-down ward’”. Interpreters Bible Dictionary

What was the future for Peter? He couldn’t have known from what Jesus said just how he would die, but what did he know? He knew that his independence would be taken away. He knew that others would bind him hand and foot. He knew he would suffer for the glory of God.

Do you think this was comforting to Peter?

Do we know, did Peter know, of other Biblical persons that received a similar start to their ministry? Or was this a strange way for God to, right in the beginning of their call, tell His servants of the future sufferings?

Jer 1:4-10;19

Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying:

5 "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you;

Before you were born I sanctified you;

I ordained you a prophet to the nations."

6 Then said I:

"Ah, Lord GOD!

Behold, I cannot speak, for I am a youth."

7 But the LORD said to me:

"Do not say, 'I am a youth,'

For you shall go to all to whom I send you,

And whatever I command you, you shall speak.

8 Do not be afraid of their faces,

For I am with you to deliver you," says the LORD.

9 Then the LORD put forth His hand and touched my mouth, and the LORD said to me:

"Behold, I have put My words in your mouth.

10 See, I have this day set you over the nations and over the kingdoms,

To root out and to pull down,

To destroy and to throw down,

To build and to plant."

Then God tells Jeremiah something remarkable, He tells him:

They will fight against you,

But they shall not prevail against you.

For I am with you," says the LORD, "to deliver you." Jer 1:19 NKJV

How about the calling of the prophet Ezekiel? How would you like to be told in the beginning of your ministry that your entire congregation will be rebellious?

Ezek 2:3-8

And He said to me: "Son of man, I am sending you to the children of Israel, to a rebellious nation that has rebelled against Me; they and their fathers have transgressed against Me to this very day. 4 For they are impudent and stubborn children. I am sending you to them, and you shall say to them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD.' 5 As for them, whether they hear or whether they refuse — for they are a rebellious house — yet they will know that a prophet has been among them.

6 "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. 7 You shall speak My words to them, whether they hear or whether they refuse, for they are rebellious. 8 But you, son of man, hear what I say to you. Do not be rebellious like that rebellious house; open your mouth and eat what I give you." NKJV

We could look at Isaiah 6 and others but consider the man Saul of Tarsus who would soon be known as the Apostle Paul. He became born-again and three days later a prophet told him what his calling would be like.

Acts 9:15-16

But the Lord said to him, "Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. 16 For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name's sake." NKJV

B. Speak to me pleasant words.

As you look around the bulk of what Christians are told from pulpits today, what do you hear? Isn’t it a touchy-feely message of “God wants you to be happy”?

Rob Bowman, president of the Center For Biblical Apologetics and a former colleague of Dr. Martin, explains in his book Orthodoxy and Heresy why this kind of bad diet of all cotton candy spiritual “sweets” is so harmful:

The church today is plagued, not only by heresies and aberrations, but by doctrines which I would characterize as “junk-food doctrine.” Junk food won’t kill you, unless that’s all you eat - in which case poor nutrition will eventually catch up with you (p.54).

The people that have iching ears and gather these teachers to speak positive words to them are no different than you and I. In our selfish sinfulness we want to be told how good we are and how much God desires to bless us. But we must resist the mush of sentimentality and instead have a great desire to hear “The whole council of God”.

The prophets and apostles were told right at the beginning that they would suffer and many times they told the people of God under their ministries that they would suffer and their suffering would be the will of God!

Jer 45:2-5

"This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says to you, Baruch: 3 You said, 'Woe to me! The LORD has added sorrow to my pain; I am worn out with groaning and find no rest.'"

4[The LORD said,] "Say this to him: 'This is what the LORD says: I will overthrow what I have built and uproot what I have planted, throughout the land. 5 Should you then seek great things for yourself? Seek them not. For I will bring disaster on all people, declares the LORD, but wherever you go I will let you escape with your life.'" NIV

Acts 14:21-23

And when they had preached the gospel to that city and made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, 22 strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, "We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God." NKJV

III. Follow Me John 21:20-22

Then Peter, turning around, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following, who also had leaned on His breast at the supper, and said, "Lord, who is the one who betrays You?" 21 Peter, seeing him, said to Jesus, "But Lord, what about this man?" 22 Jesus said to him, "If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow Me."

A. Momentary loss of vision.

Peter was walking and talking with Jesus, took his eyes off of Him, and saw John.

Peter had received a re-commissioning, he was outfitted for service with the mandate to “Feed, tend, feed My sheep” as the Lord told him.

What’s the first thing we find him doing after this reinstatement?

Some commentators feel he was concerned that John would not have to suffer and asked the Lord if John would have to suffer too. But I don’t think so (see Matt 14:28-30; Gal. 2:11-14a).

When he sees one of the Lord’s sheep, John, does his calling kick into action? Why not?

Is Peter just plain hopelessly competitive? Is there any hope for him?

Yes, Acts 2 tells of an empowering that gives Peter what he needs to do what God has called him to do.

B. Your calling.

It’s easy to read about Peter and see how he missed the mark but what about you?

Have you been given any blessings?

Have you enjoyed an answer to prayer? Or good health? Or friends and family? Or etc…

But the moment something goes wrong, you complain, gripe, criticize others or even God?!

Lately, have you gotten your eyes off of Jesus and feel that someone else has it better than you and you are tempted to say, “It’s not fair”? Do you think you are in some kind of competition with others for the easiest road to heaven?

I can’t give you any comfort this morning except for the words of the Lord Jesus. If they don’t correct you, than they will be of little comfort either.

Jesus said, “What is that to you? You follow Me”

Conclusion:

So what happened to Peter? Did he ever do what Jesus made him competent to do? Did he overcome any feeling of competition with John?

Acts 2:12-14a So they were all amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, "Whatever could this mean?" 13 Others mocking said, "They are full of new wine." 14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, raised his voice and said to them… NKJV

Acts 3:1 Now Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer. NKJV

Acts 8:14-17 Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them, 15 who, when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. 16 For as yet He had fallen upon none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 17 Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. NKJV

We see from these verses that Peter had a dramatic change of character when he was baptized in the Holy Spirit. He preached boldly, tended and fed the lambs and sheep of God. When the church needed both him and John, they were there, working together, competent, not competitive.

*I was mowing my grass, trying to encourage myself in the Lord a couple months after some men left the church to attend the big AG church in town. An older man in our church stopped by because he had been fishing and didn’t want to clean them so he thought he would give me a blessing and drop them off for me. “Put them in the freezer and when you are ready, thaw them out and clean them at that time”. (It didn’t work)

We began talking about one of the men that left of which he had occasion to fellowship together. “Oh him, he’s growing in the Lord” came the reply.

After he left, misery was my companion and depression was right behind him, knocking at my door. As I mowed the rest of the yard, I tried to pray and fight the feeling of being in competition with the other church. “Why is it Lord, when they leave my ministry, they ‘grow in the Lord’”? Quick as a flash, it was if He said to me, “What is that to you? You follow Me”

The Holy Spirit was good to me to show me out of scripture where my attention must lie, not with competition but with competence!

“Be patient for the early and latter rain…” and “consider the prophets...” and “we count them blessed that endured” and “consider the patience of Job and the goodness of God to him..”

I accepted the Lord’s admonition to me.

Do you need a dramatic change in your character? Are you comparing your life with others and not keeping your eyes on Jesus?

Do you want His help today to keep your eyes on the prize?

We will be available after to service to pray for any that desire this help that only God supplies.