Sep 3, 2023 “Growing Deeper in the Love of God”(John 21:15-19, Ephesians 3:14-19)

John 21:15-19 English Standard Version

Jesus and Peter

15 When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” 

16 He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” 

17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. 

18 Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.” 

19 (This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, “Follow me.”

Ephesians 3:14-19 English Standard Version

Prayer for Spiritual Strength

14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 

15 from whom every family[a] in heaven and on earth is named, 

16 that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 

17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 

18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 

19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

Growing Deeper in the Love of God 

John 21:15-19, Ephesians 3:14-19 

 

 

The real question is, "How much do you love God," and not "How much does God love you?" This is seen in John 21 when Jesus asks Peter three times "Do you love me?" 

 

After Jesus dies, his apostles leave him and go back to their lives. They are casting their nets and catch nothing. Jesus tells them to cast their nets on the other side and they catch many fish. Then they know this is Jesus. Did they live for Jesus because he provided for them or they loved him unconditionally?  

 

Jesus asks Peter if he loves him three times and Peter tells him he does. Jesus does not want a verbal confession, but a true confession of love. Jesus pushed Peter to think about what the love for Jesus. Love comes with an action. If you do not act your love with Jesus, you do not love him. 

 

1.      Spend time with Jesus. How much time do you spend with Jesus in prayer, Bible study and meditation. We create time for the people we love. Jesus wants quality time from you. 

2.      Obeying Jesus' words. It is not enough to say you work for Jesus; you must obey Jesus. 

3.      Serving Jesus' children. We serve others because we love Jesus. 

 

The breadth and length and height and depth of the love of God is different for all 

 

And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” 

Luke 10:27 ESV 

 

All your soul 

All your heart 

All your strength 

All your mind 

 

This is a hard order to follow but it is necessary. It takes time, but it can be done. However, we may ask why we should do this. 

 

1.      You are known and recognized by God, and this is done by your love for God.  

 

If anyone imagines that he knows something, he does not yet know as he ought to know. But if anyone loves God, he is known by God. 

1 Corinthians 8:2-3 ESV 

 

God loves everyone but he favors us differently. The more we love God, the more God will know you.  

 

Knowing God is not enough. It is a privilege to be known by God. If we love God deeply enough, God will know us.  

 

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 

Romans 8:28 ESV 

 

If God knows us, He works for us. If something bad happens to us and we still love God, it is not a problem.  God will use our trauma to bring us closer to him. The disaster comes to bring us good. 

 

Our love for God preserves us from Evil and the Evil One. When we love God, we hate evil.  

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