AWAKE, ARISE, AND TRIUMPH
Wednesday – May 12, 2021, Sivan 1, 5781
LOVEST THOU ME?
Greetings dear children and sons of God and welcome back to our study of the wonderful and powerful Bible Book of John. Our God is so good to give us His Word. He does not intend; it is not His will, that we be in the dark (ignorant) about anything concerning the Kingdom of God. As you are well aware, our study of the Book of John is drawing to a close but I am sure the Lord still has some very important nuggets to share with us. Last week I spoke about putting God (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) first. Do we in the body of Christ really understand this concept, this idea to its fullest extent? It is not a suggestion but a command!
Matthew 6:33 (KJV)
33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
What does this mean to me, to you? Is He serious? Are we to put Him first, seek Him first in all things or are we to pretty much run the show and come to Him when it doesn’t matter to our carnal nature?
Deuteronomy 6:4-6 (KJV)
4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:
5 And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.
6 And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:
Seems to me that God is serious about our focus being on Him, on the Kingdom of God. The Bible is replete with the promises of God but receiving them requires us to die to self and be focused on Him, on the Kingdom. In this way we can be without lack in our spiritual and physical lives. Meditate on the following.
Hebrews 9:16-17 (KJV)
16 For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.
17 For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.
A testator is one entering into a covenant. Jesus already entered into Covenant and He died to self. In order for us to partake of the fulness of this Blood Covenant, covenant promises of Scripture, we must die to self. Remember that is part of the definition of love (agape). Now, let’s turn our attention to our primary Bible text from the Book of John and read it aloud, yes, out loud.
John 21:15-17 (KJV)
15 So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.
16 He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
17 He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
I suspect that all of us have heard this passage read, taught, and preached at one time or another. The translation in the King James Version is faulty with regard to the word “lovest”. It is more accurate in the Complete Jewish Bible.
John 21:15-17 (CJB)
15 After breakfast, Yeshua said to Shim‘on Kefa, “Shim‘on Bar-Yochanan, do you love me more than these?” He replied, “Yes, Lord, you know I’m your friend.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.”
16 A second time he said to him, “Shim‘on Bar-Yochanan, do you love me?” He replied, “Yes, Lord, you know I’m your friend.” He said to him, “Shepherd my sheep.”
17 The third time he said to him, “Shim‘on Bar-Yochanan, are you my friend?” Shim‘on was hurt that he questioned him a third time: “Are you my friend?” So he replied, “Lord, you know everything! You know I’m your friend!” Yeshua said to him, “Feed my sheep!
As you can see, the first two times that Jesus questions Peter He uses the Greek transliterated word agape but not the third time. Each time Peter answers that he (Peter) is a friend (phileō according to Strong’s Talking Greek & Hebrew Dictionary) to Jesus. The third time Jesus asks Peter if he is a friend and again Peter affirms, he is Jesus’ friend. You will remember that Peter was the one that most adamantly stated that he would never be offended in Jesus but in the end, he was the only one that denied knowing Jesus. The others fled and hide, abandoned Jesus, but did not deny knowing Him. So far as Scripture records, the Apostle John is the only one that did not abandon Jesus and was at the foot of the Cross. Peter is timid here, perhaps ashamed of what he had done in denying the Lord but that all fads away on the Day of Pentecost when he preaches very boldly and 3000 are saved.
Acts 2:41 (KJV)
41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
Lord willing, I will pick up right here tomorrow.
2 Chronicles 20:20 b (KJV)
20 … Believe in the LORD your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper.
Until our next publication, as your Bible Teacher and a Prophetic Voice in your life I speak this blessing over each and every one of you, receive it, believe it, and speak over yourself and your family by faith in Jesus’ name!
Numbers 6:24-26 (AMP)
24 The Lord bless you and watch, guard, and keep you;
25 The Lord make His face to shine upon and enlighten you and be gracious (kind, merciful, and giving favor) to you;
26 The Lord lift up His [approving] countenance upon you and give you peace (tranquility of heart and life continually).
By: Dr. David Wood, Author, Bible Teacher, and Prophetic Voice
PRAYERS AND QUESTIONS – please, anytime you have an issue that you want me, this ministry to pray for you, a person you love or a situation contact me. Accordingly, if you should have a question about the Bible, please do not hesitate to ask it.
PARTNERSHIP AND GIVING – Those of you who are not Partners of this Ministry and you find this ministry to be of value to you and perhaps others with whom you share it, we ask you to consider becoming Partners. A Partner is one who prays for the Ministry on a regular basis and contributes to the Ministry on a regular basis (monthly, quarterly, annually). Thank you and may the Lord be pleased with your decision.
CONTACT E-MAIL: pastordavidwood@gmail.com
BLOG: https://awakeariseandtriumphministries.org
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/awakearisetriumphministries
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/PastorDavidWood
MAILING ADDRESS: 10 Village Green Circle, Oakland, Maine 04963
MY BOOKS: https://awakeariseandtriumphministries.org/shop/
