Jesus Using Sign Language Do You Hear The Warning, Can you see the signs?! (Matthew 24:3) And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of your coming, and of the end of the world? The Lord is speaking to us with signs telling us that he is coming soon. He is giving us signs with instructions on how to read them and how to be ready for his return. He is also telling us the consequences we will suffer if we ignore them. Signs play a crucial role in ensuring safety. They help to alert individuals to potential dangers, hazards, and risks. By providing clear and concise information, signs can help to prevent accidents, injuries, and even fatalities. It is important to pay attention to signs and take appropriate action to avoid harm. Signs are used to convey information or to issue commands. When signs are given, if they are ignored, he or she will venture into danger or even fall into some type of destruction. Many people ignore the sign language given by the Lord and Ezekiel 12:2 tells us why. People are ignoring the signs of the last days because they are dwelling in the midst of a rebellious house, which have eyes to see, and see not; they have ears to hear, and hear not: for they are a rebellious house. Signs alert us when to do something. Being told by Jesus about the signs that will be before his return, should give excitement to us that know him, because we know how to escape the coming crisis. These same signs should bring horror to those that don’t know him, because of the destruction that is going to befall them because they ignored them. Listen up! The Lord's last day warnings are here, and they demand your attention! Matthew 24:4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. The first sign of his coming back in the last days, is found in verse 4 of our text, and that is to “Take heed.” Taking heed means for us to watch carefully, be on the lookout for something, be careful, He said, “Take heed, that no man deceive you.” People are deceived or led astray with the use of words that wicked people are using to twist or with words which have double meanings. The greatest deceiver is the devil himself. From the beginning he deceived Eve by saying, “Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?” When what God said was, “Of every tree of the garden you mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, you shalt not eat of it: for in the day that you eatest thereof you shalt surely die.” To make a lie believable, there must be a measure of truth in it. Today deception comes to us by that same great deceiver using the multiple various translations of the scriptures that we have; defining in the translator’s own words what they perceive the meaning of what God is saying. The apostle Paul gives us an example of how 2 men misled people through misinterpretation of the word of God. That misleading is shown in 2 Timothy 2:17-18, And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus; Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some. Peter spoke in 2 Peter 1:21 For the prophecy (the scripture) came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. Don’t be deceived while reading those other translations of the bible because some of them have left out or twisted the meaning of what the Lord has said. Someone said that the bible is Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth. Matthew 24:5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. Jesus continues to tell us explaining the sign how those men, who are working as agents of the devil, are going to deceive us. He said, “For many shall come in my name.” These deceivers shall be saying, I am Christ; (calling themselves the Messiah or the anointed one). “and shall deceive many.” Jesus told us that they will be wearing the name of Christ, calling themselves Christians while they themselves don’t believe the word of God, the virgin birth, nor the divinity of Jesus. Yet they are saying they are of Christ, or that they are Christians when they are not, and many shall be deceived. Some of you here can remember Jim Jones and his deception, killing over 900, including some 300 who were age 17 and under. Jesus is warning us using sign language. Look at your neighbor and ask, can you see the signs? Matthew 24:6 And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. Matthew 24:7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. Jesus gave us his second sign of his return. This second sign is unfolding in our lives today. Look at the Russian President as he illegally invades a country and threatens nuclear war if there is any interference with his plan. Look at North Korea as they continue to evaluate their rocket’s capable of destroying many. Not only them but look at Iran and their growth in the field of nuclear capability wanting to wipe Israel off the map. China is threatening Taiwan even today. Jesus said you shall hear of wars and rumours of wars; for nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: but we as his children should not let those happenings trouble us. He said these things must be done before his return, but the end is not yet. Jesus is warning us using sign language. Look at your neighbor and ask, can you see the signs? This sign also included Famine, pestilences, and earthquakes. The third sign Jesus continues with is that there shall be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. When I was a child, we had the worldwide project called Feed the Children, and they would show us pictures of places like Africa, India, Pakistan, showing us starving and sick children. But today you don’t have to look overseas to see these afflictions, look in your own neighborhood. People right next door to you are starving, sick, penniless, and without ample clothing to wear. A few days ago when you went to the grocery store you would find empty shelves. Eggs, milk, and bread are priced so high that it is incredible. We are not allowed to have chickens or cows within the city limits to help combat these situations; which brings about a necessity to pay those prices, causing many to go without. Even the church is in a dilemma because people have stopped attending most services because of fear, as if the church is the only place where they can catch Covid, causing the storehouse of the Lord to be empty. Jesus told us about the pestilences that were going to happen. Pestilences are fatal epidemics, diseases that happen to people worldwide, called pandemics. He told us that people will be sick with all types of diseases. In the recent past there were pestilences like the Bubonic Plague, Smallpox, SARS, Avian Flu, Ebola, Polio, and that’s just to name a few. But today in our season we have pestilences of Heart Disease, Cancer, Alzheimer and Dementia, Diabetes, Chronic lower respiratory diseases – COVID, and the list could go on and on. Jesus is warning us using sign language. Can you see the signs? The Word of God is being fulfilled. Television has been a big influence by pushing information to the public on getting the covid-19 vaccination. My own take on that is, you have to be careful of what you see and hear on television. Just knowing all that is said and done on television is not reality. A man told me the other day that he heard about a situation in the Amish community where a survey was done on why the Amish community was not affected with Covid. The Amish man was asked the question why his community was not affected by Covid. His answer was, “Because we don’t watch television.” You’ll put that together later. Included in the third sign is Jesus’s warning about the earthquakes that are going to happen before his return. In March of 2005, an earthquake of 8.6 magnitude killed 1,300 people in Indonesia. In January of 2010 in Haiti an earthquake killed over 100,000 people. In 2022 a 9.0 magnitude earthquake killed 18,400 people in Japan. In June of 2022 in Afghanistan an earthquake killed 1,100 people, and in February of 2023 in Turkey and Syria an earthquake in magnitude 7.8 killed above 50,000 people. The frequency and scale of damage continues to increase. Again, he said that these are just the beginning of sorrows. Jesus is warning us using sign language, telling us he’s coming back. Can you see the signs? I am not talking about things that will come, I am talking of things that have just recently happened. That’s why I am saying we are not only in the last days, but we are in the last hours of the coming of the Lord Jesus. Matthew 24:9 Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake. The fourth sign that Jesus told us that would happen before he return is when he said in Matthew 24:9, Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake. Today in countries such as Afghanistan, North Korea, Pakistan, and many others; Christians are being afflicted and killed for the gospel of Christ. An affliction here in America is when churches were closed in 2022 because the world said to do so. But many of the world’s events were allowed to continue. Football, basketball, and soccer games were still being played, and other events where thousands of people gathered still took place while the doors of churches were demanded to be shut. We the people here in America are being killed because of hate crimes, by people shooting randomly on the streets, in workplaces, malls, grocery stores and churches, shooting and killing dozens of people. Jesus warned us that we shall be afflicted, some of us killed, and we shall be hated of all people for His name’s sake. Jesus is warning us using sign language, telling us he’s coming back. Can you see the signs? Matthew 24:10 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. Sign number five that Jesus gave us of his return is found in Matthew 24:10. And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. In the recent past there was fear of the KKK, but now we have gangs like Aryan Nations, Skinheads, Borderkeeppers, Black Power groups, New Black Panther Party, Nation of Islam, The LGBTQ community, and the list goes on with many more groups. The LGBTQ community betrays and hates us because we will not embrace their deviant lifestyle. They betray us on the job by complaining to human resources that he wasn’t called Josephine by his coworker when his mother named him Joe. We get fired and new laws are twisted and passed to cover their deviancy. We as a country have allowed gays and homosexuals to come out of the closets many of whom are seeking popularity and deviant notoriety by associating with such a group. They are parading and holding rallies, marching in the streets of our cities, with cameras focusing in on men kissing men, and women kissing women, openly declaring that they are married to someone of the same sex, plus they are raising children in that type of environment. Marriage should be between a man and a woman. The LGBTQ community, this deviant group has convinced government to pass laws using the laws that gave the Negro rights. Using those rights that were written to bring equality to the Negro, the LGBTQ community are using those rights, as the planks in their foul platform, and Congress is twisting laws in their favor. You were born into a race of people. The Negros were born black. No one and none had a choice as to which race we were born into. These rights were passed to bring equality to a race of people, but gays and homosexuals are not a race of people, they have a choice to be who they are, and no law should be twisted or passed giving them the rights as if they were a race of people. Romans 1:26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. Meet, meaning being suitably fit or proper, the inevitable consequences and penalty of their wrong-doing and going astray, which was [their] fitting retribution, or just punishment. Many homosexual persons have come down with AIDS, HIV and Monkeypox, these are meet or suitable punishments that God has allowed. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness, abounding iniquity (as noted in one of the signs happening in the days before his coming), fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them. If God does not do something about this homosexual agenda, He owes a genuine and sincere apology to Sodom and Gomorrah. I love every one of them, and no, they were not born that way, they made a choice to take on that type of lifestyle, and they can be delivered from that way of living, they can be saved and set free by changing their minds and giving their life to Jesus. Jesus is warning us using sign language, telling us he’s coming back. Can you see the signs? Matthew 24:11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. The sixth sign that Jesus gave us of his return is in Matthew 24:11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. Jesus tells us the second time what to expect by repeating in verse 11 what was said in verse 5, speaking of deceivers and false prophets, that they shall deceive many with their signs and wonders. In Matthew 24:25 Jesus said, Behold, I have told you before. He is saying, “Look, I have shown you the sign.” Look at these false prophets, and these false preachers. The preachers have stopped preaching the message of the bloody gospel and they are preaching a gospel of wealth and prosperity. Philippians 3:18d-19 tells me, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things. They are telling the people that the Lord has delayed his coming. But I heard the word of God say that the day would come and there would be a famine in the land, not a famine of bread or water but for the hearing of the word of God. When the Lord’s word is repeated, it is best that we pay close attention to it. The bible says in Hebrews, Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. In 2022 the Oak Lawn United Methodist Church appointed an LGBTQ person as pastor. In the First Baptist church of Greenville, South Carolina, Pastor David Uth of the Southern Baptist Convention; in the wake of widespread criticism of this abominable gay-affirming event; (the church then asked homosexuals to come forward to be anointed and have hands laid upon them), David Uth prayed that God would strike discerning Christians dead if they criticized him. Jesus is warning us using sign language, telling us he’s coming back. Ask your neighbor, can you see the signs? Matthew 24:12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. The seventh and final sign that Jesus gave us of his return is in Matthew 24:12 and Jesus says, And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. One of the many causes of trouble in the world is that iniquity is abounding, not only here in America but around this entire world. Iniquity is immoral or clearly unfair behavior, which is lawlessness. Iniquity is abounding in America and is being shown through the passage of laws that are causing millions of unborn babies to be aborted because of immoral sex conduct through fornication or adultery. When I was younger; women had more respect of themselves and cared about their reputation. Today the women will publicly and without any shame admit that they have lain with several men and will openly call the men’s names. Jesus is warning us using sign language, telling us he’s coming back. Can you see the signs? Iniquity that is abounding comes from the outlaws, the cartels, the corrupt government officials, and gangs of many names, they are rampant throughout the world. Since people don’t love nor respect themselves, how do you expect them to love or respect you? Jesus said that the love of many shall wax cold. Love is fervent affection, meaning it is intense and hot, but one of the signs that we are living in the last days is that there would be no love or affection for each other. Matthew 10:36 says, And a man's foes shall be them of his own household. Look at those twin sisters who killed their children. Can you see that we are living in the last days and that Jesus is on his way back? I look forward to his return daily. The word of God tells us to take heed, watch and pray for we know not when the time is. Jesus is warning us using sign language, telling us he’s coming back. Can you see the signs? People, this same Jesus who was born in Bethlehem of Judea, is coming back. This same Jesus who taught in the temple in Jerusalem, his words are still as true now as they were then. He is coming back. This same Jesus who was baptized by John the Baptist, he is coming back. This same Jesus who healed the sick and raised the dead, this same Jesus who fed thousands, he is coming back. He came the first time to bring salvation into a lost and a rebellious world, to redeem us back to his father’s kingdom as brothers and sisters of himself. But on the next return he is not coming as a babe lying in a manger, nor as our savior, but he is coming to bring judgement. For if the word spoken by angels lasted throughout the ages, and every transgression and disobedience received a just punishment; How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation? HEBREWS 2:3 KJV Hang on in there. For the bible says, he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. And this gospel, which is the Good News; of the kingdom of God, shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come. As one of the television preachers would say, Get Ready, Get Ready, Get Ready. You can see the signs so get ready. How can we be ready? The bible tells us in Matthew 25:13, Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh. Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation. Stop, Look, and Listen. Stop your sinning and repent, look at the way you are living and repent, and Listen to the word of God and repent, for you don’t know when the time is that Jesus is coming back. The church is sleeping at a dangerous time. People are living as if Jesus is not going to return. They are ignoring the signs. Knowing the time, that now it is high time to wake up out of sleep: for now our salvation is nearer than we first believed. “Romans 13:11 The night is about over, the new day is dawning, let us therefore cast off the works of darkness and let us put on the armour of light. “Romans 13:12 Let us live in a right way, like people who are expecting Jesus to come at any moment. Let us not have wild parties or be drunk as they were in the days of Noah. Let us not be involved in sexual sin or in any kind of immoral behavior. But let us be like the Lord Jesus Christ, so that when people see us and what we do, they will see Christ. Don't think about how to satisfy the desires of the flesh. Be careful. Hold firmly to your faith. Have courage and be strong. Do everything in love. Put on the breastplate of faith and love, and the helmet of the hope of salvation. For God did not choose us to suffer his anger. “1 Thessalonians 5:9 But God chose us to have salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. Judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it begins at us first, what shall it be like for them that obey not the gospel of God? And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? Control yourselves and be careful! Because the devil is your enemy, and he goes around like a roaring lion looking for someone to attack and destroy. He is constantly giving you the opportunity to find and take drugs and alcohol. The enemy, the devil, is bombarding us with sexual advertisements in every avenue of our lives and opening doors for you to commit fornication and adultery. On the television and in our government, they are underhandedly telling our children that it is ok to have two mothers or two fathers. That abomination is openly being taught and pushed into society by the highest leaders of our country, instilling it into the minds of our innocent children who will grow up thinking that that type of lifestyle is all right. University is teaching our youth that the Word of God is a myth and they are refusing to let scripture be openly taught in the curriculum, but they can teach the Quran without any backlash. Refuse to follow the devil. Jesus is warning us using sign language, telling us he’s coming back. Look over and ask your neighbor, can you see the signs? Stand strong in your faith. You know that your brothers and sisters all over the world are having the same sufferings that you have. The bible tells us that he that will live godly shall suffer persecutions. Yes, you will suffer for a short time. But Jesus is going to rapture the church in the middle of the air. Then; Immediately after the tribulation of those days, the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: the sun will refuse to give his light, and the moon, shall run down in blood, and the stars, are going to fall from heaven like leaves falling from trees, the mountains shall skip as rams and the hills as little lambs, they will be telling men there is no hiding place. The skies are going to be rolled shut like a scroll. Then shall appear the sign of the Son of man: every eye shall see Him, and then shall all the people of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds with power and great glory. “Mark 13:26 He chose us to share in His glory, and if you know Him you will go back with him riding on a cloud. Now you ask me, what will be the sign, how will I know him when he comes back? You will know him from the scars on his brow from the thorny crown that they placed on his head. You will know him from the scars that are on his back where they whipped him, tearing his flesh from the bones. You will know that it is Jesus from the puncture wound on his side, where they pierced him with the spear. You shall know him, from the holes in his feet where they nailed him to that old rugged cross. What will be the sign, how will I know him when he returns? You will know that it is the same Jesus who stepped from the Mount of Olives onto that celestial cloud, stepping off Terra Firma from the finite into the infinite. You will know that it is Jesus when you see him riding on that cloud, coming with the sound of the trumpets announcing his arrival. Therefore, be ready: If you are not ready when he returns you shall be cast into that lake that is burning with fire and brimstone, and there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. What will be the sign, how will I know it is Jesus when he returns? The song writer tells us with words from his song, he says, I shall know him, I shall know him, when redeemed, by his side I shall stand. I shall know him, I shall know him, by the prints of the nails in his hands.

Come and Dine (John 21:3 KJV) Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, “We also go with thee.” They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing. (John 21:12 KJV) Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine. And none of the disciples durst ask him, Who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord. It happened a little while after Jesus was risen from the dead that as a couple of his disciples were walking on their way home, on the road to Emmaus. Jesus, in his glorified body, after the resurrection, began to walk with them. They were intensely talking about the circumstances that had recently occurred, in so much so that they didn't recognize the Lord. Much of the time we can get so involved in current events until we can’t see the Lord's hand in it. While they were walking and discussing the events that had happened in the past 3 days, and that was the crucifixion of Jesus, they continued rehearsing the horrendous death that they had witnessed, but not only that, they were perplexed that the body of Jesus, was not in the grave where he had been laid. Jesus joined in the conversation asking them questions, and they asked him had he not heard of the big news going around Jerusalem. So, he began expounding to them, from the scriptures, why these events had to happen. When they arrived at their destination, they invited him to come inside with them. He went inside and sat down with them to eat. They gave him bread; and when he given thanks over the bread, he broke it; and only then did they recognize that it was the Lord. Jesus had not been physically amongst his disciples in a few days, and Peter, became restless, and decided to go back to his old lifestyle. When you have had Jesus in your life and now you don’t have him in your life, reverting back to old habits is easy. So, Peter says to the other disciples that were with him, “I’m going fishing;” and they all decided to go fishing with him. You can’t expect to be successful in whatever you undertake when you are out of the will of God. The story begins today as the disciples had just finished an unproductive night of fishing. They had fished all night and had nothing to show for their efforts. The prize is not given to someone that gives up, you have to finish your race or your assignment if you want to be paid. I admonish you to do the work that God has given you to do until it is finished, because he will show up when you least expect him to. These seven disciples didn’t have their mind on Jesus, they were wondering why they weren’t catching fish, and when they gave up all hope of catching any fish they headed back home. As they were coming back to the shore, Jesus was standing on the bank, and He asked them if they had caught any fish. They answered no. No is not what Jesus wants to hear from you when it concerns your livelihood, He want to hear that you are prospering and being fruitful. His desire is to hear you say, "Yes Lord". When it comes to your means of support, He will supply all your every needs according to his riches in glory. Since they didn't answer yes; he told them to cast their net on the right side of their boat. The bible says in (Isaiah 1:19 KJV) If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land. They obeyed and threw the net on the right side of the ship, and they caught 153 great fish. John recognized that this event was not a natural occurrence but that it had a miraculous distinction about it. He knew that it was not through their knowledge of fishing that this was done but this was caused by the hand of someone who controls the elements of the world. He looked up and he recognized Jesus, and he told the others that were with him that it was Jesus who told them to cast their net on the right side of the ship. When Peter heard it was Jesus, he jumped in the water, swam to the shore, and met him there. As the others arrived in the boat they looked and saw fish cooking. Jesus then invited them to breakfast of fish and bread. I’m reading today from the English Standard Version. (John 21:12 ESV) Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. These fishermen were tired and weary of their work and to get a good free breakfast was a bonus for them. Now none of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. These seven men were familiar with Jesus, and he was no stranger to them. (John 21:13 ESV) Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and so with the fish. Jesus gave parables in two ways. He either taught about the parable and then demonstrated it, or he demonstrated it and then taught about it. He had already taught them that the son of man came not to be served but to serve. (Matthew 20:28) and we see him here demonstrating this today by serving them breakfast. (John 21:14 ESV) This was now the third time that Jesus was revealed to the disciples after he was raised from the dead. The first time he came to them he showed himself alive, but Thomas was not with them. The second time 8 days later he showed himself again and this time Thomas was present. So, this appearance is the third time he revealed himself in his glorified body to them. (John 21:15 ESV) When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” I can only speculate on what Jesus meant when he was talking about these. More than these what? Do you love me more than you love these fish? Do you love me more than these other disciples do? What the these are, that Jesus was asking about is not explained; but Peter knew. Jesus knew that Peter had left his ministerial duties behind and that he was now living in a backslidden condition. Peter had returned to his old way of living, which was fishing, and others decided to follow him. So, the Lord had to get Peter re-focused on the mission that he had taught him in the past three years. Jesus used this breakfast as a time of restoration for Peter because Peter was sinking deeper into worldly living. He was a backslider. Jesus is married to the backslider. (Jeremiah 3:14 KJV) Turn, O backsliding children, saith the LORD; for I am married unto you. The love that Jesus had for Peter, and the love that Peter, the backslider, had for Jesus is shown here by them having a conversation with one another. If you can talk about a situation, you can usually work it out. After Peter's cursing and denying of Jesus, after he backslid, Mark said in the 14th chapter and verse seventy-two that Peter thought about it and wept. I’m a witness, in that backsliding and being separated from the Christ will cause you to weep. As a backslider you feel all alone. You are surrounded by people, but your soul is in distress. You have turned away from the best friend you have ever had. He didn't leave you; you left him. You tried to fit in with people of the world, but as a member of the body of Christ, there is a mark on you. People will ask you, what are you doing here? You don't belong with us. You try to be with the members of the body of Christ, but you feel uncomfortable with them, and you feel out of place. You may know the songs of Zion, You may know when the word of God is rightly divided, but it is not reaching your spirit because you are disconnected from fellowship with the Lord. Like Peter did, you may keep trying to run with the brethren, they can tell something is wrong, but nobody will confront you and tell you that the life you are living is wrong. But there is a children song that you learned as a child that says, Jesus loves me this I know, for the bible tells me so. He is still pleading with you to come back to him. Those he loves he chastise. Jesus didn't put you in the situation you find yourself in, but he allowed it so. He wants your soul to be saved, so that you can be reclaimed by him. As a backslider you are on your way to a burning hell. You may think that you are all right until you stand and see yourself in the spiritual mirror. Have you had breakfast with the Lord? Are you a backslider like Peter was? You may answer; I'm still going to church; I’m still spending time together with church folk. I’m still serving on the finance committee; I still serve as an associate minister or a deacon. I’ve maintained my position as an usher. I still even sing in the choir. But Jesus is asking you the question maybe for the first time: Sally, Bill, or whatever he calls you, do you love me? How are you going to answer him? Do you love me more than these? These what? More than these fine clothes. More than these positions you hold. Do you love me more than these football or basketball teams or players, do you love me more than these cars, these houses, and titles that people call you? Do you love me more than these? The Lord wants your answer to be Yes Lord. If you are a backslider, your soul is at risk. You are treading on dangerous ground. The Lord is standing there calling you back to him. He is asking you, saying Sally, Jim, or whatever your name is, Do you love me? Be truthful and say Lord, I'm empty, I've been away from you too long. If you just listen to his words and do what he says for you to do, he will reclaim you. If you have to do like Peter did and jump off the boat that is full of worldly goods, jump off the ship that your friends are in full of worldliness and swim to meet him. He is waiting to hear you say Yes Lord. Back to verse 15- Notice what Jesus called him, Simon, son of John. This salutation could have shocked Peter, because he was not use to Jesus calling him by his full given name. Jesus usually called him Peter, the name that he affectionately gave him at their first meeting. When they first met Jesus saw a quality in Simon, a quality great enough to make him a close friend, and this friendship was close enough to give him a nickname of Cephas or Peter. So, when Peter heard his full name maybe it stunned him a bit. And hearing this shocking question also dazed him. Peter was known in the past to speak without thinking it through, and in his quick-tongue manner he casually answered him Yes, Lord; you know that I love you. Peter is saying, I love you, as a close friend, but maybe not like it was when we first met, because I denied you. “He (Jesus) said to him, “Feed my lambs.” I just fed you; I still love you; I want you to do as I have done for you. Jesus is saying here "Peter, the little ones, the babies, those that are the weakest of the flock, they need to be fed." Peter you need to refocus on the duty I gave you to do. Now you, the mature sheep of the flock, listen to me. A shepherd does not have paps or breasts for the baby lambs to nurse. The nourishment for these baby lambs must come from the mothers until these little lambs are able to eat the grass along with the older sheep. It is the shepherd’s responsibility to make sure the mother is eating well so that she can produce the milk for her baby. The same holds true in the church. The new ones coming in, they can't digest the food from the shepherd, the pastor, right away. They need to hear the testimonies from the congregation which is their milk. The milk from these testimonies is the telling of how Jesus kept you safe from the wolves of this world. These testimonies give these little one’s nourishment and strength; these testimonies give these little ones a reason to continue seeking for the Lord. These testimonies fill their spiritual bellies; these testimonies fill their hearts and gives them encouragement and a reason to keep coming until they have reached maturity, until they get saved and are able to eat from the pasture, or until they are able to digest what the pastor is saying. Jesus knew Peter well enough to give him an opportunity to think his answer through before he answered in the off the top of the head manner he was known to make. So, while Peter is sitting here with a full stomach, face to face with Jesus, I believe many precious memories could have crossed his mind. I think Peter is wondering, Why is Jesus asking me a question like that? Peter is thinking and saying in his heart, I remember my first meeting with Jesus’ days ago when I was out fishing with the boys. We fished all day long that day too and we didn't catch anything. Kinda like it was last night, and Jesus did a miracle that time for us also. We caught so many fish until our nets were breaking, and our ship was sinking, and I had to call for help from my partners on the other ship. We filled both ships to the brim, and we had a time bringing those ships to shore. (See Luke 5:4-11) That's when Jesus called me to the ministry and gave me the nickname Peter. After that haul of fish, I stopped fishing and followed this man named Jesus. Is that why he is asking me if I love him? How could I not love him for all he has done for me? So, my answer to him is Yes Lord. (John 21:16 ESV) He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter begins to think again. He said when I answered him the first time, he said to me to Feed my lambs. Is he reminding me of the time when the children were trying to get to him and me and the other disciples were keeping them away? or is he referring to the little boy's sack lunch that we had to borrow so that the 5,000 men could be fed. What is he talking about feeding my lambs? I'm not educated enough to know what he is telling me to do. All I know is fishing. I’ve been fishing since my childhood, and he’s telling me to do the work of a shepherd. I don't think I'm qualified to be a shepherd. Or could it be when after we had eaten the Passover meal and he went and started washing our feet and when he came to me, I told him that he shouldn't be doing that and that I was not going to let him wash my feet. He said to me if I don't wash your feet, you have no part with me. So, I said Yes Lord to him then. I’ll answer almost like I did the first time but this time with a little more volume in my voice. He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He (Jesus) said to him, “Tend my sheep.” Peter begins to think again about the days he had spent with Jesus. First, he tells me to feed his lambs. Now he's talking about tending to his sheep. What is he talking about when he says, tend my sheep? I remember when the tax collector came and was talking to me about whether Jesus paid taxes or not. I opened my mouth, and I said, yes, he does. When I got back to the house Jesus didn't give me a chance to tell him what happened. He just taught me a lesson about who should be taxed and who shouldn't be taxed. Then he sent me to do what I loved to do before he came into my life. He sent me fishing. But that time I caught a fish that had enough money in its mouth to pay not only taxes for Jesus, but enough for me to pay mine too. So, Jesus tended me. He looked after my needs. Also, just the other night, just before they came and arrested him, we had gone into the garden after we had eaten supper and were so full. Jesus told us to watch with him, but man I was very tired and sleepy, so I sat down and rested myself against a rock. I thought I was watching but my eyes closed and before I knew it, I was fast asleep. Jesus came and had to wake me up three times. He tended to me; he watched over me while I slept. Is he telling me to watch over his flock while they sleep? I guess so. Look at today. I was out all night long, doing what I wanted to do with my buddies. We were on our way home, broke, busted, and disgusted. We had nothing, no fish to show our wives to prove to them we were not out having fun. But Jesus tended us. He served us an unexpected breakfast. When I leave here, I can sell my portion of fish and have money in my pocket. Maybe that’s what he means when he says tend my sheep. He is telling me to feed them and give them their daily needs. Do You Love Me? What do I answer? Peter made up his mind and said Yes Lord. I love you. (John 21:17 ESV) He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved he was saddened and hurt because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. The Lord is giving you a test today and the test has only three questions. I advise you to study your lesson carefully. There is only (1) one answer for all three questions. Here is what your answer should be. Yes Lord. If you answer Yes Lord to the questions on the test that means you passed the test. Do you love me? If you answer Yes Lord. That means that when you saw a hungry person you gave them food to eat. You fed Jesus’ little lambs. You took them in and gave them a meal both naturally and spiritually. You taught them about how I left my throne in glory and led them out of Egypt- led them out of sin. You actually made them a meal and didn't give them one of those microwaved, frozen food, that kind of meal. You went to the cookbook, which is your bible, and prepared for them a real meal of meat and bread. In other words, you studied what you were going to say to them. Do you love me? If you answer Yes Lord, that means that when that person was thirsty you gave them water to drink. You showed my sheep how to receive and drink living water. You led them to salvation. Do you love me? If you answer Yes Lord, that means when I was a stranger you didn't turn me away. You tended me, you took me in and fed me the word of God and showed me how to live a holy life. Do you love me? If you answer Yes Lord, that means that when I was naked running through the world without being properly clothed, you showed me how to clothe myself with humility. You taught me how to be clothed with a meek and quite spirit. You showed me how to clothe myself by putting on Jesus. You showed me how to put on bowels of mercies, and to be clothed with the robe of kindness. You taught them how to be girdled with humbleness of mind; you outfitted them with the belt of meekness and long suffering. Do you love me? If you answer Yes Lord, that means that when I was sick you tended to me. When I was in jail you visited me, you came to my rescue. If you love me, feed my sheep. If the sheep are fed, they will not stray. Fed sheep get full, and when they are full, they will lie down in green pastures. The shepherd has given them constant care. The shepherd has walked over the pasture removing all the harmful plants. In other word he has given them the nourishment of the word of God. If sheep are fed, they will follow the shepherd. Fed sheep knows their shepherd’s voice. Fed sheep know that the shepherd will protect them from harm and danger. If sheep are fed, they won’t be sick and weak. Fed sheep have a nutritious diet; they receive strength from the good pasture. If the flies and gnats which are the problems and distresses of daily living, are pestering them, causing them worry and concern, they know that the shepherd is going to anoint their heads with oil, shooing away those pests. If sheep are fed, they will willingly give of themselves. The shepherd won’t have to beg them to pay their tithes and to give their offerings. The sheep will give of their increase willingly. Their increase is their wool, which is their tithe. The wool will be full and strong because of a good nutritious diet. Fed sheep will give of their increase and their increase is their milk, their testimonies of how God provided food when there was no money to buy food for the children. The increase is their testimonies of how God kept a roof over their head when there was no money left to pay the rent or the car note. The fed sheep will give freewill offerings, they give willingly. The milk will be full of rich cream because of a good diet, and that rich milk makes the lamb strong. If sheep are fed, they will produce healthy offspring, this is of their increase. A fed church will continue to grow. The little lambs will continue to come for more milk. They will be jumping and playing but they will be subjective to the shepherd because he carried them in his arms over the rough places in life. The Lord told Peter, when you get converted, strengthen your brothers. Peter is repeating what Jesus told him. He says feed, tend, nurture, guard, and guide the flock of God. That is your responsibility. Don’t do it by forcing them or by constraining them, but do it willingly; not dishonorably, not motivated by money, but do it eagerly, cheerfully, and God through the sheep will give you your reward. Likewise, you he-goats and rams of the flock, those who are not the shepherd but may be a church official; Stop your pushing and shoving for positions. Stop your goading and thrusting with your horns. Be careful how you treat the shepherd and God’s little ones, because God is keeping record. Submit yourselves to the spiritual leaders of the church--giving them due respect and yielding to their godly counsel. Clothe yourselves with humility. For God is against the proud but he gives grace to the humble. (Psalms 75:4-10 KJV) I said unto the fools, Deal not foolishly: and to the wicked, Lift not up the horn: Lift not up your horn on high: speak not with a stiff neck. For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another. For in the hand of the LORD there is a cup, and the wine is red; it is full of mixture; and he poureth out of the same: but the dregs thereof, all the wicked of the earth shall wring them out, and drink them. But I will declare for ever; I will sing praises to the God of Jacob. All the horns of the wicked also will I cut off; but the horns of the righteous shall be exalted. If you love me, feed my sheep. Then Jesus said unto him, Follow me. If you are following, you are not in front. The following means you are walking after him. You are walking in his footsteps. By Jesus being your good shepherd, he will lead you into good pastures. Jesus, Mary’s baby, Jesus the lamb of God, that lamb that was sacrificed on Calvary. He is calling you back today, a little while after His resurrection because you have strayed and gone back to doing what you used to do, and He is listening for you to say, Yes Lord. He is waiting on you; to follow him and he will make you fisher of men. Come on and say Yes Lord, I hear you calling me. Come in and let us dine together.