Kentucky MBC
12.14.25 Sunday Morning

      • John 15:13KJV1900

      • Psalm 71:23KJV1900

  • Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus

      • Luke 1:38KJV1900

  • Hark The Herald Angels Sing
  • O Come All Ye Faithful
  • What Can I Give Him

      • Romans 8KJV1900

  • I Have Decided to Follow Jesus

  • Matthew 1:21 KJV 1900
    21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.
    The Bible presents several opposites of love, but indifference, selfishness, and fear are often cited as its primary counterparts. While hate is contrary to love, some interpretations argue it is a form of love "gone bad" and that indifference is the truer opposite, as it signifies a complete lack of care and concern for others. Indifference
    A complete lack of care, concern, or emotion toward others, which is seen as the most direct opposite of love's selfless concern.
    It is a state of apathy where a person is unconcerned about what happens to another, whether good or bad. 
    Selfishness
    Love, as described in Corinthians 13, is selfless, while selfishness is self-serving and putting one's own interests above others.
    Acts of self-serving behavior such as arrogance, envy, and not seeking the best interests of others are considered opposite to love. 
    Fear
    According to passages like 1 John 4:18, "perfect love casts out fear," indicating that fear is the opposite of love because it is based on a desire for self-preservation, not selfless love. 
    Fear can lead to negative behaviors like resentment, anger, and destructive actions, which are antithetical to love. 
    Hate
    While hate and love are often considered opposites, some interpretations argue that hate is not the pure opposite because it still involves a strong, albeit negative, emotion and concern for the object of hatred. 
    In this view, hate is seen as a corrupted form of love—a love that has turned bad and is driven by anger, resentment, and a desire for harm instead of good. 
    How many of you do a Christmas Breakfast instead of a lunch or dinner?
    Well, today’s message is found around a breakfast.
    Let me ask you another question,
    Have you ever failed miserably in life?
    Perhaps you had set certain goals you wanted to reach and you have not reached those goals.
    You wanted certain relationships to work out like a marriage that has perhaps ended in divorce.
    You had hoped that one day you would get a degree from a wonderful university and you never quite made it.
    You were hoping you would be very successful in business at this point in life and maybe you are not.
    Have you ever made bad decisions?
    Been somewhere you shouldn’t have been.
    Been somewhere when you should have been somewhere else.
    Maybe you haven’t failed or made bad decisions, but you have had people disappoint and fail you.
    In our message this morning, we are going to discover the Gift of Love and ironically, the Gift of Love is intertwinned with forgiveness.
    Before we read the text, let’s set the scene.
    As you all recall Peter was radically backslidden at this point. It was not something he had planned on doing, but one thing led to another and he ended up into deep trouble.
    All of Peter’s problem seems to have started in the upper room after Peter would let Jesus wash his feet.
    Then Jesus said that there was one among them that was going to betray them.
    Then He said that all of the disciples were going to abandon Him in His hour of need.
    Simon Peter spoke up and said,
    Matthew 26:35 KJV 1900
    35 Peter said unto him, Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. Likewise also said all the disciples.
    Jesus of course told him that before the rooster had crowed twice, Simon Peter would specifically deny the Lord three times.
    Peter said there was no way and it wasn’t going to happen.
    After that, as they were in the Garden of Gethsemane the Lord asked Peter, James and John to be praying because the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. Instead of praying they slept.
    The Lord was arrested and Peter was woken up from his slumber and he pulled out his sword and began to wildly swing cutting off the ear of the high priest servant and just making a mess of things. As the Lord was taken away, Peter followed at a distance. It wasn’t long after that in the glow of the fire that he denied the Lord the third time.
    It was i that momebt that Simon Peter made eye contact with Jesus. You have to imagine the devastation of Peter when he realized what he had done. He looked the Lord in the eyes and realized how horribly he had failed him.
    The last sight that Simon Peter had of His Lord was watching Him hanging there on a cross so beaten and bloodied He was beyond human recognition. Poor Peter. All that he held dear was now dead in a Roman tomb. He had so many regrets. He wanted to say that he was sorry.
    You know what it is like if you have ever had a loved one unexpectedly die. You think about your last conversation and encounter with them and maybe you had a disagreement or you didn’t leave on the best terms and you regret that. You wish you could tell that person how much you loved them. Imagine how Simon felt if only he had said this. Why did it have to be after my denial?
    Of course three days later our Lord rose again and sent out this message, “Tell the disciples and Peter I am risen.”
    Mark 16:7 KJV 1900
    7 But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you.
    There are two ways you can interpret that message.
    One way would be, “I am coming after that boy.”
    Or it could have been said with hope and encouragement in it. I prefer the latter interpretation.
    Peter did indeed encounter the Lord and they had some time together that we don’t know much about because the scripture doesn’t address it. We can be confident that it was there that the Lord forgave Peter and pardoned him for all of his sin.
    In John 20, Jesus had just showed and proved to Thomas that He was alive and John writes this.
    John 20:30–31 KJV 1900
    30 And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: 31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.
    Amen.
    That is what we all want. That is what we all desire. We want life. We want a good life. We want a blessed life. We want an abundant life.
    However, John doesn’t stop there.
    John 21:1–3 KJV 1900
    1 After these things Jesus shewed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias; and on this wise shewed he himself. 2 There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of his disciples. 3 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.
    Now, does this sound like life? Does it sound like blessings? Does it sound life abundant living?
    I would definitely say not. However, morning was coming.
    Breakfast is about to be served.
    John 21:4–7 KJV 1900
    4 But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus. 5 Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No. 6 And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes. 7 Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. 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.

    Jesus Finds Peter

    Peter was not enjoying a relationship with Jesus Christ. He had decided to return back to his old lifestyle of fishing.

    Jesus Found Peter Laboring.

    This is kind of a very interesting event. There are so many coincidences or some would say déjà vu found in this passage surrounding Peter and his relationship with Jesus Christ.
    When Jesus initially found and called Peter, he had been fishing and not catching very much when Jesus told them when, where, and how to fish and caused their nets to be full.
    Luke 5:4–8 KJV 1900
    4 Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught. 5 And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net. 6 And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake. 7 And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink. 8 When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.
    Remember our study in Genesis 3 and the judgment placed upon man.
    Genesis 3:19 KJV 1900
    19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.
    When they were in the wilderness and found their self hungry, with no food, no restaurants, nothing and Jesus fed them with 5 loaves and 2 fishes.
    Now, after Jesus had proven himself to Thomas, Peter decides to head fishing once again.
    Peter has worked all night fishing. He was tired. He was hungry. Again, He has failed in fishing and left unsatisfied and unfulfilled. not living the abundant life he had experienced before everything went bad.
    But the good news is you can’t hide from Jesus. Jesus finds Peter.
    John 21:4 KJV 1900
    4 But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus.
    John 21:5 KJV 1900
    5 Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No.
    Jesus makes them admit their struggle, failure, and frustration.
    “Did you catch anything?
    Have you been successful?
    Have things gone the way you had hoped they would go?
    Are you satisfied?”
    God will often ask probing questions in the Bible.
    Again, after the sin of Adam in the garden, what did the Lord say to him? “Adam, have you eaten of the tree that I commanded you not to eat of.” Was God ignorant of what Adam had done? No. Why did God ask the question? He wanted confession.
    They needed to say, “No Lord. We are not satisfied. We have not been successful. We are not having fun.”
    Without Jesus, there is no life.
    Now, Jesus speaks,
    John 21:6 KJV 1900
    6 And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes.
    “Do it my way. Throw the net on the other side of the boat.” They pull in all of these fish.
    John 21:7 KJV 1900
    7 Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. 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.

    Jesus Found Peter Naked.

    He wasn’t worried about his clothing until he realized Jesus was in his presence.
    Sin removes us from the presence of Jesus.
    How many of us get so far away from Jesus Christ that we forget we are always in the presence of Jesus Christ?
    Again, remember, right after Adam and Eve sinned they recognized their nakedness.
    Peter recognized everything that He was lacking.
    Ephesians 4:24 KJV 1900
    24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
    Peter was a man out of the presence of Jesus.
    But when he knew it was Jesus, He clothed himself and jumped in the water.
    Another occasion, and I don’t know if this was on Peter’s mind, but after feeding the multitude with 5 loaves of bread and 2 fishes, Peter found himself in a storm that caused Jesus to appear walking on water and Peter asking
    Matthew 14:28 KJV 1900
    28 And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.
    and you remember the story. For a period of time, Peter walked on water. Now, we don’t know here if Peter walked on water, thought he could walk on water but we find him out of the boat with his eyes on Jesus.
    John 21:8 KJV 1900
    8 And the other disciples came in a little ship; (for they were not far from land, but as it were two hundred cubits,) dragging the net with fishes.
    200 cubits is about 300 feet or 100 yards.
    Not only does Jesus Find Peter but

    Jesus Feeds Peter

    John 21:9–14 KJV 1900
    9 As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread. 10 Jesus saith unto them, Bring of the fish which ye have now caught. 11 Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great fishes, an hundred and fifty and three: and for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken. 12 Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine. And none of the disciples durst ask him, Who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord. 13 Jesus then cometh, and taketh bread, and giveth them, and fish likewise. 14 This is now the third time we have recorded that Jesus shewed himself to his disciples, after that he was risen from the dead.
    When Peter, and the other Disciples, reached the shore, they found that Jesus had a fire prepared with fish already cooking. They found there, with the Savior, all the things they needed after being out on that boat all night long.
    They found food, warmth and fellowship.
    They found a Savior who loved them and who had all the provisions in place that they needed. Everything they lacked out on that boat, they found when they came to Jesus!
    The last time Peter was recorded around a fire when he locked eyes with Jesus was when he had denied Jesus Christ.
    Now, Jesus is sitting by a fire inviting them to come and dine.
    Don’t miss this this morning.
    Some of you have toiled and labored since you have been away from the Lord. You are miserable, there is no peace and no joy in your life and you need to get right with the Lord.
    Let me encourage you this morning to come back to Jesus.
    Jesus wants you!
    And when you come to Him, you will find that He still loves you and that He has all the things you lacked while you were away from Him.
    However, Some of you have people in your life that you need to treat like Jesus treats you.
    You need to show the love that Jesus has shown you.
    You need to seek them out and let them know that you love them and forgive them.
    Not only did Jesus find Peter, but Jesus feeds Peter and then we come to the good part right after they were filled and satisfied.

    Jesus Frees Peter

    John 21:15–17 KJV 1900
    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.
    In these verses, we find the Lord Jesus re-commissioning Simon Peter for service.
    I am sure that Peter felt that his work and ministry was forever gone, especially since he went back to fishing.
    But Jesus came to call him back into the fight! This was a time of unique fellowship and restoration between Jesus and Simon Peter. In these few verses, Jesus freed Peter from the bondage of his sin and failure and set him back about the business of serving the Lord and His church.
    Jesus asks Peter three times, Do you love me? The word for love is agape; a selfless sacrificial love.
    Peter replies three times, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee, Phileo; a brotherly love.
    However, it is not what Peter replied that was important, it is Jesus that is important and Jesus can use anyone.
    All three times Jesus told Peter to Feed his lambs and his sheep.
    Lambs are always associated with Jesus Christ, ceremonial clean lambs. This refers to those who follow Jesus.
    Sheep can be good or bad, referring to those who follow Jesus and even those who do not know or follow Jesus.
    Basically, what we see is what Jesus has done for Peter, then Peter is to do for others. Those like John that didn’t deny Jesus but was there during his time of death or even men like Peter that claimed to be a follower of Jesus Christ but fled at the first sign of danger. Jesus fed them both.
    The same will be true for every backslidden child of God who returns to the Father’s house today. Not only will He forgive your sins, but He will restore you to that place of service you once held with Him. He will put you back on the battle field. He longs to meet with you this morning and to put you back into that place of service. You still have a Friend in Jesus regardless of how far you have fallen!
    There is also so of you that need to restore others. This is the Christmas season. The celebration of Christ.
    We need to receive the gift of Peace, the gift of Joy, and the gift of Love, but we also need to give the gift of Peace, the gift of Joy, and the gift of Love.
    What will you choose? Can you really have one without giving the other?

      • Matthew 1:21KJV1900

      • Matthew 26:35KJV1900

      • Mark 16:7KJV1900

      • John 20:30–31KJV1900

      • John 21:1–3KJV1900

      • John 21:4–7KJV1900

      • Luke 5:4–8KJV1900

      • Genesis 3:19KJV1900

      • John 21:4KJV1900

      • John 21:5KJV1900

      • John 21:6KJV1900

      • John 21:7KJV1900

      • Ephesians 4:24KJV1900

      • Matthew 14:28KJV1900

      • John 21:8KJV1900

      • John 21:9–14KJV1900

      • John 21:15–17KJV1900

  • The Savior Is Waiting

      • Psalm 71:23KJV1900

Kentucky MBC
kmbc@att.net
(501) 794-1640
http://www.kentuckymbc.org
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