Bible Teaching

Calvary Temple Teaching Library

Strive For The Mastery Pt.1

Hallelujah. Amen! Let's turn to Luke's Gospel this morning. We've been talking about walking in the supernatural and that which is pleasing to God. We saw that those "...that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." We want to talk about that diligent pursuit of God a little bit. The reward doesn't come to the apathetic. It doesn't come to those of us that are just going through the motions and relating to Him based upon legalism, but, as we've been sharing, relationship. We want to talk about having a covenant with God and being able to know the heart of God. The disciples really hit upon that in Luke's Gospel, chapter 13. Let's take a look down at verse 23 and watch as the disciples responded and said this: "Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved?" We're talking about finishing this race. "He that endureth to the end shall be saved." We talked about endurance, that steadfastness, the consistency, that ability to hope against hope, t let the trials of life work in us patience, to be able to count it all joy when we fall into the different temptations, and the ability to stand up and believe that God is going to work His good pleasure in us.

The question was asked then, "Are there few that be saved?" The Lord's response to them in verse 24 was this: "Strive to enter in at the strait gate." You notice He didn't answer the question directly. He didn't say, "There will be few." "There will be many." "There will be three dozen." He said, "If you're going to be saved, you're going to have to strive." There is going to be an effort that is made on your part. Not works, but a working of faith, because faith without works is (say it) dead, being alone. There has to be a working of genuine, biblical faith. "Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in...." In their own strength, with their own standards and rules, and their own methodology. Many will seek to enter in through the different religions and all of the different mores of life, but He tells us there is something that they're going to run up against. Take a look at it. It's going to be a strait gate. It's going to be a narrow way. They will seek to enter but shall not be able. "When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not...." Oh, beloved, those are not the words we want to hear. We want to hear, "Well done, good and faithful servant." "I know you not.... Then shall ye begin to say, [What do you mean, you don't know us?] We have eaten and drunk in thy presence...." I wonder if that could refer not only to what was taking place in the day of Jesus as He walked the streets of Galilee and Jerusalem, but I wonder if that could have to do with us having eaten in His presence, having come and taken these emblems in our hands--the communion--and saying we would do it in remembrance of Him, but live unto ourselves, and trust in our own righteousness, building kingdoms that are other than His own. "What do you mean you don't know us? We've eaten in your presence! We've eaten Your flesh and drunk Your blood. You've taught in our streets. I've known Your presence in the assembly. We've known the visitation. We've worshipped You. We've sung in the Spirit." "But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity."

He says that this is a very straight and narrow way that you and I are being called to. Many are seeking, but few are going to find it, the Scripture says. Remember that when we talked about this before in context, He's talking to a people who perceived themselves to be believers. He's talking to two different segments here. He's talking to the House of Israel and their trust in being the children of Abraham, the fact that they were children of people who knew God, a generation chosen, but individuals who have rebelled. He says there is no corporate salvation; it's individual salvation. He is also talking to the believers, those who are being separated and called into the Kingdom. He is telling them to make very sure that they realize that He is "the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me" (John 14:6). It's not a faith without works. As James makes very clear, the perfecting of our faith is the ability to walk in obedience and experience death to self. There can be no saying, "Be warmed and filled and go your way" and we have the wherewithal to care and to minister to the brethren." Now, listen. If He says that faith is dead when it has the capacity to minister to brothers and sisters and doesn't, what do you think about a faith that has the capacity to minister to the Lord and chooses to minister to self? What about people who have strength to go out and play, but not to pray? We've talked before about how amazing it is. There are people among us that never miss a day's work, but the slightest little ache or pain or sniffle can keep them away from prayer or home fellowship or the gathering of the saints. It can be pouring rain and they're on the golf course. (It was great to see how many people showed up from the DelSignore group to go out witnessing yesterday. How many of you know that that wasn't the nicest day to be out? I don't know exactly where they went to minister, but as they were coming back in, I thought at least the weather was good to go out and talk about the ark and that God wasn't going to destroy the earth by rain this time around, even though it appears that way, but it's going to be by fire.)

I want to talk a little bit in this next couple of sessions about taking heed to our own hearts when we think we stand, lest we fall. As we look at 1 Corinthians 9:27, Paul says, "...when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway." What does that do to you? I can't read that passage without fear striking my heart! I don't know about you. I don't know how confident you are, but when I hear Paul say that, it strikes fear in my heart. When I look at my own life and know that my name can't even be spoken in the same breath as these men, then how confident should I be when these were a people who were concerned for their own salvation? They were concerned with finishing this course that was set before them, never taking for granted their position or the final state of their being until they could say, "I have finished my course... [I've finished this race.] Henceforth, there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness.... ...And not to me only, but unto all them also, [Paul said,] that [look for and] love his appearing, [that are living in this expectation of obedience]" (Titus 4:7-8).

Here we are on Pentecost Sunday, a day when the Church gathered together and waited and tarried for that gift from on high. The place where they gathered was filled with His presence and shaken, and they were all filled and spoke with other tongues as the Spirit of God gave them utterance. Jesus said, "Go tarry and wait and I will give you the promise from the Father, and you shall receive power and be witnesses unto me." Amen? How much power is in your life today? Are you Spirit-filled or do you just talk in tongues? Is there power sufficient to walk a life of holiness, to walk a life of dominance and preeminence as we represent the Kingdom of God? Are we so full of the Spirit that the demons tremble in our presence, that men look upon us and see something different in our faces that shine forth with the glory of God? People who do you favor and don't even know why, because God blesses those that bless us and curses those that curse us. What have you done to "...apprehend that for which also [we've been] apprehended," as Paul speaks in Philippians? We're living in a time right now of apathy, both natural and spiritual. We're living in an environment, in a nation of slumber, and ease, and apathy--of absolute hedonism, the worship of pleasure and ease. In the midst of this generation, we're called to become a people who discipline themselves, a people called to be holy and separate. When another standard has been set and is acceptable, God says, "I don't accept that standard that man has set; I'm calling you to excellence." We seem to think that adequate is sufficient. As we battle this spirit, the age, the prophet said that in the last days this spirit was going to destroy them because of their prosperity, their abundance, their ease.

Have you been aware of the spirit of antichrist? Are you sensing that as you go out about your daily obligations? We look around us and we see the demise of character, of responsibility. It's always somebody else's job or fault. You can't get anything done properly and you can't get anything done on time. Nobody's word means anything anymore. You have to have seven contracts and twelve lawyers to back it up. In the midst of all of that, He said, "I'm looking for a people that will be peculiar. I'm looking for a holy, separate generation of people who will live for one purpose: to glorify My name "...that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light." "Strive to enter in at the strait gate." Many seek, but there are going to be few that find it. Here we are, a people living in this time, and we seem to think that we're okay. We have to go back and take a little bit of time and survey those who have gone before us--the great cloud of witnesses--men who were far greater than any of us, men who were subject to like passions, but nevertheless, a people who were called and prepared to lay the foundations that you and I have built our lives upon. They were shaken to their very source of strength and have said to you and me, "Take heed when you think you stand."

We all remember Peter, as the anointing of God was upon him, and Jesus had asked the question, "Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? And they said, Some say that [you are one of the great prophets. You're a great teacher.] He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ [the Anointed, the Messiah] the Son of the living God." Jesus said, "Peter, you need to rejoice. Listen to the words that just came out of your mouth. That is a gift of God to you. Flesh and blood did not share this with you. This is revelation from the Father. This is revelation from the heart of God. You've spoken beyond your knowledge." Grab a hold of this, beloved. You're speaking beyond your knowledge. You have more revealed to you than you have character to fulfill the task at hand. Many of us listen to our words and listen to our knowledge of God, and listen to our doctrine and because of that, we're able to wow people around us. We're able to delude ourselves into thinking that knowledge is character. "Thou art the Christ" and He said, "You have said properly." "...for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church..." (Matthew 16:16-18). Many people thought that the rock was Peter and that he was the first Pope, Roman Catholicism was built upon his apostolic role and his papacy. That was not what Jesus was saying. Jesus said, "[I say unto you, Peter, that you rightly said and on your saying, on this revelation of Who I am, I will build my church. On this revelation, those who have come to know me and understand Who I am. I will build my church upon those that understand why I was sent and Who I am,] ...and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it."

Here is Peter receiving this great revelation. Based upon this revelation and based upon the admonition that the Lord had spoken to him at that particular moment, Peter makes a profession later on. He said, "Lord, I understand that there is going to be a shaking in our midst. I understand that we're living in a day of adversity and that there are trials. I want you to know one thing, Lord. Though everybody else forsakes You, there is one person You can count on, Lord, and that's me. Don't worry about Peter, I'll be there." How do you see yourself this morning? I'm not saying that we shouldn't have a confidence in the promises of God, in our resolve to finish this course. We have an absolute confidence that no man shall pluck us from His hand. Amen? We have that divine assurance. We know the promise of God that says, "He that endureth to the end shall be saved." Beloved, the enduring isn't as simple as we think it is. It's not guaranteed to anyone but the obedient. As we saw in the last session, He is the faithful God to those who love Him and keep His commandments. He is the faithful God to those who are faithful to Him.

Peter makes the profession, "Though everyone forsakes you, don't worry about me. I'll be there." You know basically what he was saying. Stop and think. What if you were one of the guys in the crowd? Here is what he was saying: "You know, Lord, these guys are chumps, but I really love you. I think these guys are in it for what they can get out of it, but, Lord, there is one person here that has absolutely divested himself of self-will and that loves you unconditionally. I'm the man. You've picked the right guy for Pope." I'm sure the rest of the guys were listening said, "There's Peter, shooting his mouth off again." They knew Peter so they were longsuffering. At least longsuffering by the standards of James and John; they didn't call fire down upon him. You remember James and John, the sons of Thunder? They were ready to call fire down upon anybody who didn't agree with them, praise God. This was quite a group He had, wasn't it? Here is Peter making this analysis of his own commitment. Then we find these words over in Matthew's Gospel. Turn with me if you would. I hope that this speaks to your hearts.

Matthew 26, verse 67 says, "Then did they spit in his face, and buffeted him; and others smote him with the palms of their hands, [mocking Him] Saying, Prophesy unto us, thou Christ, Who is he that smote thee?" While Jesus was inside being subjected to this type of torment and ridicule, sitting outside warming himself--"the Pope!" It says, "Now Peter sat without in the palace: and a damsel came unto him, saying, Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee. But he denied before them all, saying, I know not what thou sayest." He was in the palace and now he separates himself a little further and it says, "And when he was gone out into the porch, another maid saw him, and said unto them that were there, This fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth. And again he denied with an oath...." A little stronger denial. He's separated himself a little further from Jesus. Whether it's on the job because of pressures, we back off our bold stand in declaring the name of Jesus. There are new Federal Laws that are being passed right now. It's going to become against the law to declare your faith in the workplace. (Probably, unless you're a Muslim, but definitely for Christians.) Under the Hate Crime Act and these different areas, it's going to become against the law for you to share your faith in the workplace. What are you going to do? You know one thing you can do? Let me help your conscience. Can I share with you how to be disobedient and be content in your disobedience? Let's come up with a Scripture: we're to obey the laws of the land. How about that? Let's quote a Scripture that will justify our disobedience. It's easy to pull Scripture out of context and say anything you want with it. We deny Him and move farther away from the fellowship of His sufferings. He's inside being spat upon, beaten and mocked and we're seeking how to warm ourselves and to relieve ourselves of any pressure that society would put upon us.

"Aren't you a Christian? Don't you go down there to that "Calgary" Temple? "Cavalry...." What! You all ride horses--you're a cavalry? The "Cavalry" Temple." Jeff was witnessing to some of those skateboarder types, druggies, burn-out type kids up here the other day. He was talking to some of them and as he was witnessing to them, (You talk about a drop-out generation. These guys were just totally burned-out.) Jeff said, "Isn't there anything you guys like to do?" "Yeah, we uh-h-h-h, we like smoke dupe, smoke dope. That's what we like to do." He said, "Did anybody ever share Jesus with you?" "Yeah, there are some people from that "Calgary" Temple down there. I think it's a cult. They beat their kids--in public!" I like that last little bit of emphasis: "in public!" It's too bad the parents of those kids didn't see them and beat them in public. They are making a disgrace of their name.

Here you are in your neighborhood, are you willing to be identified? We've talked with some of the youth just recently. There has been such a draw upon many of our young people, more so than we've had on any of our other groups. I was sharing with Jeff yesterday as we were discussing the meeting that had just gone on with the Young Adults and the Youth. We were discussing that meeting and sharing what was going on. I said, "What I see to be the difference between some of our youth right now and the others is the fact that, not only is that draw there--it's the same draw that's always been there--but it is being reinforced." They are reinforcing one another's appetites for the things of the world. No one is standing up and saying, "This isn't right!" No leaders to the straight and the narrow way. A lot of biblical knowledge that will step back and find Scriptures that will make the tolerances as wide as we can make them. What is lawful for us? How far can we go lawfully and how close can we get to the world lawfully, not how narrow can we make this thing and how can we strive to be perfect and better than anybody else? There is an acceptance of mediocrity that can end up in sin. I don't even know who you are. Your standards have become so diluted, so polluted, that I don't recognize them as the Word of God. Unlawful use of the Law to justify your own carnality. Here we are as a people living in a generation, when, as he was sharing, so many of our young people know the names of all these carnal kids in the neighborhood, "Scooter Girl," and all of these other distractions that are out there. They know our kids' names and they know what they drive. Let me ask you this. Do they know the Name of Jesus? Do they know the vision and the heartbeat of Him that died for you or, are [you kids] out warming your hands with "Scooter Girl" while Jesus is being spat upon in the Temple; and the shame that we're turning our backs upon instead of embracing, as Moses counted it a greater treasure to be identified with the sufferings of the people of God.

On this Pentecost Sunday, what power have we been filled with? The power to be witnesses doesn't mean the power to hand out tracts; it means the power to live victoriously over sin and over the world's principles and standards. "We don't want to be identified. We want to be accepted on the job. We want to be the next one in line for promotion. We want the kids in the neighborhood to think we're cool." I want to tell you something: If you're properly identifying with Jesus, you will not be the next for promotion. You will be hated and mocked, laughed at by those people you seem to think are so cool because we're a separate people. Where's your treasure? "I'll never deny the Lord!" You already have. Now you're further away than you were before. Look at what the Scripture goes on to say as this narrative continues. "This time with an oath. And after a while [verse 73] another comes and said to Peter, Surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech bewrayeth thee." Now this is probably talking about the Galilean accent somewhat. Let's put it toward some Biblical principles. Has our speech betrayed us? "Out of the abundance of the heart... [what happened?]" We can't help but talk about Biblical principles. We can't help but talk about truth and what is just and right and holy. It has revealed who we are. We believe in justice. We believe in doing things that are right. We believe in running the race lawfully, (Amen?) as we look at that in Corinthians 9 in just a second. The world today doesn't care anything about that.

This thing the other day with Sosa, they find his bat corked. Everybody still wants to make him some kind of a hero. They want to celebrate his 500^th home run and the dude is a cheater. Every home run he's hit since he stopped hitting 30 a season and started hitting 60 ought to be taken out of the books, because if he was cheating that day, he was cheating the other days, because it's what's in man. "Oh, it was an accident, his batting practice bat happened to get into the game." "Yeah, like you don't know the difference between your bats!" I'll tell you what! Those guys know the difference between their bats. They can recognize their bats more than they can recognize their children. Our society just embraces them. There is no penalty for lack of character, injustice.

Here we are looking at the generation of lawlessness, and because our morality is a notch ahead of the rest of them, we seem to think that we're doing okay. What about the standard of His holiness? What about the straight and narrow? What about the call to be a peculiar people? What about the admonition to put our body under in this fight--called the good fight of faith--so we don't, like the apostle said, "...when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway" (1 Corinthians 9:27). We're going to study that out in detail, but beloved, that ought to strike fear to your heart. Surely your speech betrays you. Verse 74. "Then began [Peter] to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man." Do you think you'll ever come to that day? What do think is going to happen? What do you think your response will be when you hear those words come out of your mouth? I guarantee you, those words will come out of your mouth if you're not striving and pressing towards the mark. If you're not moving toward Him, you're moving away from Him. There is no static relationship in the Kingdom of God. You're for Him or you're against Him. You love Him or you hate Him. You're growing or you're dying.

Now where are we today in our pursuit? Where are we today in our personal preparation of purifying ourselves as He is pure? [Peter] took an oath, and now he swears and curses the day he was identified with Jesus. Now, this is something that is interesting. It wasn't the words that came out of his mouth that convicted him. Do want to know what convicted him? The crowing of the cock. "And Peter remembered the word of Jesus...." You see, he had so deluded himself, he had so separated himself from the presence of Jesus, he was now so much like them that his words, his actions, had no effect on him. The Scripture says it this way: it's the searing of our conscience. Ultimately, it comes to the turning over, the Scripture says, to a reprobate mind. A mind that is unable to discern good and evil. As he moves from where Jesus was being tormented, to farther away, farther away, he now finds himself cursing the very day he was related to Jesus. The cock crows and "Peter remembered the word of Jesus that, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice." Then his eyes were opened. What is it going to take to open your eyes? Do we have to come to this? We can't receive the admonition of a teacher, a parent? Are we so confident in our own self-analysis? "Nobody else understands. Everybody is just trying to rain on my parade. Everybody is just bummed out because I have my act together, because I have a little more maturity and liberty than the rest of them. They're just trying to put me back under the law." Don't use your liberty as an occasion to the flesh. When you're at total liberty, then you're at liberty to be in the safety of the law at different times. You don't trust in the law, but you move in its safe haven because it's the schoolmaster that continually conforms us and points us to Jesus. We don't trust in it for salvation, but the law is good (Amen?) and it's holy. It's just.

Peter denies the Lord this third time and it says "...he went out, and wept bitterly." He goes out, and I wonder what he was going through. Have you ever been in this position? Have you ever been in this position where you denied the Lord? I have! Your denial is in degrees. Just to know to do good and do it not is, what? That's denying the Lord. To do your own will is denying the Lord. To choose your own kingdom over His, to have a treasure that is more meaningful to you than the pearl of great price, that is denying the Lord. You can walk in it and you can be comfortable in it. You can hear people around you and you're able to justify your behavior, or whatever it is. Then all of a sudden, the cock crows and your heart is smitten and you feel lonely and afraid and you feel like your heart is going to explode. That is where Peter was. He was undone! As he's weeping bitterly, they take Jesus out and as He walks by, He looks at Peter. What do you think those eyes did to him? How deeply did they pierce into his heart? Jesus went to the cross and died before Peter could ever say, "I'm sorry." All of those people that he tried to become close with for his own safety brought him no comfort. Now he is alone, not part of the believers' band, and Jesus is gone. Then, of course, the Scripture tells us that the Lord is raised and appeared to the believers, He said, "Go tell the brethren and Peter that I am risen." Aren't you glad that, though we deny Him, He cannot deny Himself? He is always good and He is always faithful. He is always ready to forgive us. It's not a matter of God's forgiveness; it's a matter of our pursuit. We have to draw nigh. We have to leave to leave the pigpen. We have to humble ourselves and return home. "Go tell the disciples and Peter that I am risen." Peter's heart is now encouraged, I'm sure.

Turn over to John's Gospel. At the same time, the Scriptures tell us that Peter was still a little disoriented. In this time of non-specific guidance--we're going into these couple of sessions because I want to teach on divine guidance. I want to teach on hearing the voice of God and spiritual guidance in our next series. I'm using this because we've always said that to get where God want us, we have to be (what?) how He wants us. That is what we're talking about, the "how" right now. We're going to talk about how to get where, in specifics, in some more of the teaching. In a nutshell, here is what we're saying: God is not going to talk to you if you won't do what He tells you. Do you want to hear the voice of God? He is not going to make suggestions to you. You will not hear the voice of God until you're broken enough to say, "Whatever You say, I'll do it. Whatever it costs, I've already offered it up. I possess nothing." You can't hear God's voice when you already have an agenda set. God will not answer you with multiple choices. At this time of non-specific guidance, Peter says, "...I go a fishing..." (John 21:3). Where are you in your pursuit of God right now? Fishing?

This is Pentecost Sunday. When we should be in the Upper Room tarrying and waiting for the promise, are you on the boat fishing? Have you gone back to your own vocation, your own strength, your own provision and said, "That was a great experience. That was a good three years we just had. What a great opportunity! I believe that when I write my memoirs, this will be a primary chapter, the three years we spent with Jesus. We saw some exciting things. We saw the dead raised and the lepers healed. We saw the lame walk. We got to see some great things. We got to see demons cast out, but these things can't go on forever. We had our day and we had our visitation and now we're back fishing." The call and the gifts of God are without repentance. There is no place to turn back. The Scripture speaks to us and says, as Peter said, "I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee." How are you influencing people today? Toward the Upper Room or toward the boat? How is your life influencing people today? Denying Him or being conformed into His image? We don't live to ourselves and we don't die to ourselves. "They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing." Haven't we already proven what we can do in our own strength? What did all of your self-will gain you eternally? Let me ask you a question. At the height of your personal lordship, were you at peace? Did you have the assurance of eternal life? Did you have a friend that stuck closer than a brother? "Without me ye can do [say it!] nothing." "And... they caught nothing." There is nothing there. Why keep turning back? Why, like Lot's wife, keep looking back? What is there that is still appealing to you? Do you still have something invested back there? The tendency to look back is always going to be there until you sell everything and purchase that pearl of great price. Then you will look ahead. There is nothing to look back for. You've already liquidated everything and it's invested in that pearl of great price. "For me to live is Christ" (Philippians 1:21).

They catch nothing. We know the story. As the Scripture goes on, it says that they look up and "Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples [Verse 4] knew not that it was Jesus. Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No." Not too many days in the future, a crippled man is going to look at Peter and ask him for alms and Peter is going to say, "Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk" (Acts 3:6), but right here, he had nothing to give. "What do you have? Do you have anything? Have you caught anything? Do you have any meat?" "No." "And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, [we know the story] and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes." All of a sudden, the contrast between their own ability and the presence of God in their lives revived in their hearts. The disciple whom Jesus loved, John, said, "It's the Lord! Only God can do this, give exceeding abundant above anything that we could ask or think." Why work for crumbs when God will give you an absolute multitude of harvest?

We know the story and John's recognition of the Lord. The Scripture says (Don't you love Peter?), "Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher's coat unto him, (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea." The one thing I like about Peter is once he sets a course, he goes for it. Peter was subject to like passions just like you and I. Peter blew it royally, but his obedience was immediate! He throws himself into the sea and swims toward the shore. The other guys were coming in the boat dragging this net of fish with them, verse 8 says. "As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread." Did you notice that Jesus didn't feed them with what they got at their own hands? I wonder where Jesus got those fish. I wonder what kind of a pole and bait He used. Wouldn't you like to go fishing with Jesus? I can see it, "Hey, fish! Get up here!" The thing jumps into the pan already filleted. The Lord provides. "Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great fishes, an hundred and fifty and three... yet was not the net broken. Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine. And none of the disciples durst ask him, Who art thou? This is now the third time that Jesus shewed himself to his disciples, after that he was risen from the dead. After they had dined and had been refreshed the Lord revealed Himself to them, [Verse 15] Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these?"

Jesus was speaking here and He was actually addressing two different topics with one question. We're going to talk about the obvious. "Do you love Me more than what I can provide for you?" Do you remember when the Lord spoke to Moses? He said, "Listen, you go on up and I'm going to give you all the promises. I'm going to give you your enemies into your hands. You're going to prosper. You're going to take the land, but my presence isn't going with you." Moses' response was, "I'm not interested in the blessings You can give me. I only want your presence. If Your presence doesn't go, I'm not going." Is that where our hearts are today? "I'll prosper you. You're going to be healthy the rest of your life. You're going to prosper. You will have everything your little heart desires but My presence. You want to go do it your way? I'm going to let you go and I'm going to see to it that you prosper, but you're not going to have My favor, the favor of My presence. Just map it out. Tell Me what you want. You want to live there? You want to live in that kind of a house? You want to drive that kind of a car? You want to marry that type of person? You want to wear these kinds of clothes? You want to involve yourself in these types of recreation? I'll make it all for you. I just won't be with you." "No, I would never choose that!" Then why are you choosing less than that, by the daily denial of His Lordship and the small choices of self-will to where we eat the crumbs of the world and self-induce the resistance of God. "God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble" (James 4:6). Everything we do that originates in self, God resists, but He gives grace to the humble. He gives favor to the humble. His presence accompanies the humble. For "...by humility and fear of the Lord are riches and honour and life" (Proverbs 22:4).

As God is working to get our attention in this way, beloved, as He is trying to draw us away from everything that our flesh gravitates toward, He says, "Make Me your sufficiency." He, first of all, has to have us answer a question, through different trials in our lives, through revelation, through His Word, whatever it takes to get us to this place. He has this one question: "Do you love Me more than these? Do you love Me more than I can provide for you?" I think He was asking another question, because it wasn't too many days before, that [Peter] said, "I love you more than anybody else. Though everybody denies you, I will never deny you." [Jesus] turns to him and says, "Do you love Me more than the rest of these guys? You love Me more than these? The last time we talked, that was your profession. What do you think today? Are you the man?" Now we shared this with you before, but I want you to get it again in your thinking. Listen to the dialogue. In the Greek, the words were so specific. That is why the Lord gave us the revelation of Scripture in the Greek language. It's so specific, so descriptive. He asks the question and says, "Peter, do you agape me more than these?" We know what agape is. It's perfect love. It's an unconditional love. It's a self-emptying love. He says, "Do you agape Me?" Simon responded and said, "Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I [phileo] thee." Phileo, friendship. I have a strong affection for you. "Do you agape Me?" "I phileo you." At least he is being honest. He is beginning to get a little bit of an insight into who he is. [Jesus] said, "If that is the case, then, bosko my lambs." Bosko is a Greek word. It literally means "to nourish." "Take the little ones, the immature believers, and nourish them. Teach them what I taught you. Be vulnerable enough to teach them through your failures what you re learning here. Open your heart and take the little ones and keep them from making the same mistakes you made, if you love Me."

"He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou [agapé] me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I [phileo] thee. He saith unto him, [poimaino] my sheep." Poimaino is the word for pastor or shepherd. Be a pastor. Not only nourish, not only teach, but lead. Be an example to the flock in word and in doctrine. I'm not just asking you to bring good doctrine. I'm asking you to live a life that can be followed. Set a standard for the flock. "He saith unto him the third time...." Isn't it interesting? [Peter] denied three times and now He's getting him to confess Him three times--the mercy of God. "Simon, son of Jonas, [phileo] thou me? [Not agape this time.] Peter was grieved because [the Lord] said unto him the third time, [Phileo] thou me?" Is that all you've got for Me, Peter? Peter was grieved that that was all he had to offer up. "And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep." Nurture them. Instruct them in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. "Take heed to yourself and to your doctrine that you might save both yourself and those that hear you," Paul admonished Timothy.

I believe the proper response for us this morning is this: "Thou knowest, Lord." I believe we're never wiser than when we just put our hand over our mouth and say, "Thou knowest, Lord." All I know is this: "Your grace is sufficient for me." What I do know is this: "It's you that's at work within me to will and to do Your good pleasure." What I know is this: "You will never leave me nor forsake me." Do you see that what we're doing is taking the focus off our self and we're looking to the finished work of Jesus, the grace of God, but we're always recognizing our potential failure? Take heed when you think you stand, lest you fall. How many of us are so sure today that it will never happen to us?

I was talking to Jeff about some of our young people the other day. Oh, beloved, listen to me. In your naiveté, listen to me. So many far greater than you have been brought down. How can you think, contrary to God's revelation, that a little leaven won't leaven your lump, that fire taken into your bosom will not destroy you? How is it that you perceive yourself greater than the cloud of witnesses that has gone on before you who have been set forth as our example? Every one of them tells you, "Come out and be separate." Every one who has gone before you in this great cloud whose lives have been opened up for our admonition. We sit and look at the Scriptures and we read about Abraham, Moses, David, and Peter, and somehow we think that we're superior, that we can follow the same course they did without the same results.

I want to read this Scripture. This is where we were supposed to be and we'll finish it up tonight. 1 Corinthians 9:27. Can I share something with you this morning? You don't have the same anointing upon you that Peter did, and he denied the Lord. "What do you mean? We're all sons of God, heirs and joint heirs with Christ Jesus." Yes, we are, but we don't all have the same call and the same anointing. We've not all been called to be the foundation of the Church of Jesus Christ. We've not all been called to sit upon twelve thrones. Two of the greatest: one, we read, denies Him, and the other one says, "[I am afraid of denying Him], ...lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway." We walk through life like we're not even in a war, like there is nothing to worry about. "This couldn't happen to me. Hey, we're talking about me here. You know, the Kid." (That's what they always called my brother. "I'm the Kid." Back in our day that was cool. When you were "the Kid," you were bad. He used to sign things "The Kid." You think you're "the Kid." His response was, (of course, we didn't smoke). Everybody would come up and say, "You got a match?" He would say, "I haven't had a match since Superman died." When you're "the Kid," you can say that.) Who are you? Who do you think you are? (See, my brother was twelve and I was eight. I thought he was "The Kid.") Who do you think you are this morning? What's working in you this morning to finish the course? Chapter 9, verse 24. We'll just finish by reading this and then we'll get into detail tonight. "Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain."

We're living in the day of participation plaques. Participation trophies. That's amazing. You show up and you get a trophy for showing up. What's this all about? I come from another generation. You know what? When I grew up you had to win, not show up! Participant. Big whoopee! I read something in one of our magazines the other day. I like this guy's outlook in the National Dragster. They asked him what his goal was for this year. His goal was to win the National Championship. He said, "If I don't, then I will at least win the Divisional Championship, and if I don't win the Divisional Championship, then I will at least win one race. If I don't win one race, I will at least win one round. If I don't win one round, then I will at least pass one car on the way to the races." I like that! Is that how you live your life? Is that how you are pursuing the Kingdom? I will extend myself. I will put my hand to the plow. I will strive for the mastery. "And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. [Natural man does] it to obtain a corruptible crown, but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection." That word "subjection" is an interesting word. It means to beat black and blue. It means to give a black eye. Did any of you ever see the movie Liar, Liar? I love that bathroom scene where he is just beating the tar out of himself. That is what Paul is talking about here. The guy comes out with a black eye. You can tell who won! Paul says, "My spirit man is beating my carnal man to a pulp." That is what this is saying in the Greek. If you want to envision it, I want you to see your natural man just standing there, beat up, black eye, and the spirit man just sitting there saying, "I'm not going to tell you again." That is what is being said right here. "...And bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway." Found unworthy, unable to meet the standards. Unacceptable, rejected. I preached it to everybody else, but I justified my own carnality and ultimately I swore that I knew not the man.

Father, we ask for Your grace and Your strength to cause us to finish this course. In this day of great delusion, in the hour that we live, which we have convinced ourselves that there are standards other than the Biblical standards--that somehow we're the exception--that the cloud of witnesses were inferior believers and we are superior. "We're special. I'd never deny the Lord." You deny Him every time your flesh wins out, and you say what you shouldn't have said, look at what you shouldn't have looked at, go the direction you shouldn't have gone, and invest where you shouldn't have invested.

Let's stand before the Lord this morning as Gary plays for us. Are you standing before the fire this morning warming yourself while His name is being mocked and He is being spat upon? When given the opportunity to identify with Him, do you go to the outer court and find another place on the porch? "Maybe He'll supernaturally bring down the nation of the Kingdom of Rome and destroy the Sanhedrin and come forth as the Messiah that He is, but He looks awfully vulnerable right now, and I'm not comfortable in a vulnerable position. I could follow Him when He was showing power, but I don't want to identify with this vulnerability stuff. I'm going to step back and see if He makes it through this or not." When given the opportunity, do we step up and say, "Yeah, I know how the world does everything. I know all about this dating game. We don't do it that way. Our emphasis is on community and body--the Kingdom of God." "If you keep talking about Jesus, we're going to have to fire you. You know the new law. They told us we don't have to be real aggressive on this, but you're getting a little carried away." "All I can do is to throw the windows open and pray like Daniel. I cannot help but speak the things that I have seen and heard." They took them and beat them, and said, "Don't any longer speak or teach in this name of Jesus." "For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard."

He's loved us. He's died for us; we will not deny Him. We get the good report that we heard about Helena. You can't help but say, "That is Jesus. Praise God. Just want to tell you about it." This name and faith in His name has made this man whole, praise God. You want me to talk about something else? No. He is the lover of my soul. It's in Him that I live and move and have my being. For me to live is Christ. Make it real to us, Jesus. Let us go from warming ourselves by the fire to casting ourselves into the fire that we may be purified as pure gold. As we sing this together, just rejoice in His call on your life this morning. Oh, Lord, we delight ourselves in you. "This is my desire, to honor You...."

Who do you say Jesus is, this morning? If He is Lord, then we keep His commandments. He said, "Strive to enter in at the strait gate" (Luke 13:24). "Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, ...and few there be that find it" (Matthew 7:14). When you seek Him with all of your heart, you will find Him, praise God. When you find Him, there is rest and there is peace and nothing else satisfies.

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