SPEAKER_00: John 6.
SPEAKER_00: Look at verse, if you would, brethren.
SPEAKER_00: Look at verse 43.
SPEAKER_00: Verse 43.
SPEAKER_00: And I want you to see two words.
SPEAKER_00: I want to talk with you just a little bit about that and lead into something.
SPEAKER_00: John chapter 6, look at verse 43.
SPEAKER_00: Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, Murmur not among yourselves.
SPEAKER_00: No man can come to me except the Father which has sent me.
SPEAKER_00: What's the next two words?
SPEAKER_00: Draw him.
SPEAKER_00: And I will raise him up at the last day.
SPEAKER_00: Now, draw him talks about, if you would, the idea of enticing someone, or if you would, this word, a lure.
SPEAKER_00: A-L-L-U-R-E.
SPEAKER_00: For example, when you think about a lure, those of you who know anything about fishing, and I wasn't going to do this, but if you know anything about fishing, you use a lure to entice that fish.
SPEAKER_00: Is that right?
SPEAKER_00: Amen.
SPEAKER_00: And the idea of alluring or attracting or enticing, it's more than just an invitation.
SPEAKER_00: It's drawing.
SPEAKER_00: And he says, if the Father will draw him.
SPEAKER_00: Did God draw you to himself?
SPEAKER_00: Did he allure you to himself?
SPEAKER_00: Did he attract you and entice you?
SPEAKER_00: Look at John chapter 12.
SPEAKER_00: John chapter 12, with this idea also in mind.
SPEAKER_00: Stay with me now.
SPEAKER_00: John chapter 12.
SPEAKER_00: It's interesting what he uses to allure us or entice us towards himself.
SPEAKER_00: John chapter 12.
SPEAKER_00: Look if you would at verse 30.
SPEAKER_00: Verse 30, brethren.
SPEAKER_00: You're holding your place in Genesis chapter 24.
SPEAKER_00: Jesus answered and said, This voice came not because of me, but for your sakes.
SPEAKER_00: Now his judgment is the judgment of this world, uh now is the judgment of this world.
SPEAKER_00: Now shall the prince of this world be cast out.
SPEAKER_00: Look at verse 32.
SPEAKER_00: And I, who's speaking here?
SPEAKER_00: Jesus, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw who?
SPEAKER_00: All men unto me.
SPEAKER_00: And don't worry, ladies, when he says all men, he's talking about women too.
SPEAKER_00: The idea is Jesus says that not only must the Father draw, but Jesus will draw all men unto himself.
SPEAKER_00: And if you would look at John chapter 1.
SPEAKER_00: John chapter 1.
SPEAKER_00: You're holding your place in Genesis 24.
SPEAKER_00: We're studying our Bible just a little bit.
SPEAKER_00: He said, I'll draw you in.
SPEAKER_00: I'll draw you unto me.
SPEAKER_00: I'll tract you.
SPEAKER_00: I'll allure you.
SPEAKER_00: I'll entice you, I'll provoke your interest in me.
SPEAKER_00: Look, if you would in John chapter 1, and notice the simplicity of verse, starting with verse 45.
SPEAKER_00: Verse 45 of John chapter 1.
SPEAKER_00: Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him of whom Moses and the law and the prophets did write.
SPEAKER_00: Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.
SPEAKER_00: And Nathaniel said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth?
SPEAKER_00: Philip saith unto him, What?
SPEAKER_00: Say it, Come and see.
SPEAKER_00: Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him and saith of him, Now Jesus, here comes Nathanael walking up, and Jesus said to him, Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile.
SPEAKER_00: Hey, you know what?
SPEAKER_00: Jesus already knew who Nathanael was.
SPEAKER_00: Nathanael said unto him, Whence knowest thou me?
SPEAKER_00: Jesus answered and said unto him, Watch this carefully.
SPEAKER_00: Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw you.
SPEAKER_00: I saw thee.
SPEAKER_00: You know what?
SPEAKER_00: That impressed Nathaniel.
SPEAKER_00: He said, You know what?
SPEAKER_00: Before Philip came and called you, Nathaniel, I saw you over there sitting under that fig tree.
SPEAKER_00: Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God, thou art the King of Israel.
SPEAKER_00: Jesus answered and said unto him, Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig tree, believest thou?
SPEAKER_00: Thou shalt see greater things than these.
SPEAKER_00: You know what was important to Nathaniel?
SPEAKER_00: Nathanael, when Jesus said, uh, yeah, you know, um, before Philip came and talked to you about me, uh, I saw you sitting over there under that fig tree.
SPEAKER_00: You know what impressed Nathaniel?
SPEAKER_00: That Jesus was observed enough to know what Nathaniel was doing and took the time out of all that he could see.
SPEAKER_00: He was looking at him.
SPEAKER_00: And let me ask you the question: wasn't it something when God began to draw you to him that God took a personal interest in us?
SPEAKER_00: I mean, God, God looked down on me, and and somebody says, Well, when do you know he was looking?
SPEAKER_00: I know he was looking for a long time, but it wasn't until I was 22 or 23 that I realized that he was interested in me.
SPEAKER_00: The very fact that he said, I saw Nathaniel, I saw you while you were under that fig tree, impressed Nathanael enough to believe.
SPEAKER_00: And he said, You're the Son of God.
SPEAKER_00: You're the king of Israel.
SPEAKER_00: And Jesus said, Nathaniel, uh, you know what?
SPEAKER_00: If you're impressed by that, wait till you see what I'm going to do next.
SPEAKER_00: Now, one of the things that draws us and attracts us and allures us to the Lord, please look up here, is he has the ability to individually look on us and individually care for us and individually show his affection for us.
SPEAKER_00: He shows a wife affection, he shows a husband affection.
SPEAKER_00: He shows a single person affection.
SPEAKER_00: And the greatest thing about God, he can show us all affection at once.
SPEAKER_00: You see, what impresses people is that God is interested in them specifically.
SPEAKER_00: Look, if you would at John 4, stay with me.
SPEAKER_00: John 4.
SPEAKER_00: It's one of his ways of drawing people to himself.
SPEAKER_00: Look at John chapter 4.
SPEAKER_00: The situation here is the woman at the well, if you know the story.
SPEAKER_00: And this woman, if you would, was uh was culturally a downcast, if you know the dealings of uh Samaria.
SPEAKER_00: And the the Jews here in verse 9, when they saw that Jesus was talking to this woman, said, Don't you know that we Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans?
SPEAKER_00: And he goes on, Jesus goes on and doesn't worry about the cultural barriers, and just begins to talk to this woman.
SPEAKER_00: And when she begins to talk back and they have this conversation, look down at verse 16, brethren, and watch this.
SPEAKER_00: Jesus saith unto her, Go, call thy husband and come hither.
SPEAKER_00: The woman answered and said, I have no husband.
SPEAKER_00: Jesus said unto her, Thou hast well said, I have no husband.
SPEAKER_00: But he doesn't stop there.
SPEAKER_00: For thou hast had five husbands.
SPEAKER_00: And he whom thou now hast is not thy husband.
SPEAKER_00: In that sayest thou truly.
SPEAKER_00: Now, you say, Wow, that was offensive.
SPEAKER_00: No, that was honesty.
SPEAKER_00: Jesus was honest about who this woman was, and he said, Hey, uh, go call your husband.
SPEAKER_00: I don't have a husband.
SPEAKER_00: Well, you know, you're right.
SPEAKER_00: You don't have a husband.
SPEAKER_00: And uh, by the way, uh, you know what, uh you've done some immoral things in your life.
SPEAKER_00: And the guy that you're now with, he's not thy husband.
SPEAKER_00: Look what she says in verse 19.
SPEAKER_00: She didn't get offended.
SPEAKER_00: The woman saith unto him, Sir, I perceive that thou art a what?
SPEAKER_00: You know this woman didn't say, What a thing to say.
SPEAKER_00: That highly offends me.
SPEAKER_00: You know why?
SPEAKER_00: She knew he was right.
SPEAKER_00: Amen.
SPEAKER_00: He looked and saw the the things that she had done wrong and just pointed out what it was, and she didn't have a chip on her shoulder and say, Well, you know what?
SPEAKER_00: Uh, you know, well, you know, that's just your opinion.
SPEAKER_00: Now she said, you know what?
SPEAKER_00: That's pretty good.
SPEAKER_00: How'd you know me?
SPEAKER_00: You're a prophet, aren't you?
SPEAKER_00: You say, did she really believe that?
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, look at verse 28.
SPEAKER_00: Verse 28.
SPEAKER_00: The woman then left her water pot, went her way into the city, and saith to the men, Come what?
SPEAKER_00: Say it, see a man which told me all things that ever I did.
SPEAKER_00: Is not this the Christ?
SPEAKER_00: She was impressed that he knew something about her.
SPEAKER_00: You know what's so great about how God draws us in?
SPEAKER_00: He even knows the bad and is willing to receive us.
SPEAKER_00: He sees us what we're doing, and he knows the bad about us, and please look up here, he knows the bad about us more than anybody else.
SPEAKER_00: He knows things about us that he knows things about, I'm gonna say this, he knows things about you that nobody else knows.
SPEAKER_00: Your husband doesn't know, your wife doesn't know, your pastor doesn't know, your mama doesn't know.
SPEAKER_00: Your daddy doesn't know, your best friend doesn't know.
SPEAKER_00: He knows the thoughts and intents of our heart.
SPEAKER_00: And by the way, I don't want anybody to know all mine.
SPEAKER_00: It's like, what kind of guy are you?
SPEAKER_00: I'm like you are.
SPEAKER_00: Amen?
SPEAKER_00: And he knows us for who we are, and still just point blank sometimes tells us who we are, but he receives us.
SPEAKER_00: What a great God.
SPEAKER_00: Look at Genesis 24.
SPEAKER_00: Genesis 24.
SPEAKER_00: I'm talking about the drawing, the alluring, the enticement, the attraction.
SPEAKER_00: Now look at Genesis 24.
SPEAKER_00: You say, what about that fish stuff?
SPEAKER_00: I'll show you in a minute.
SPEAKER_00: Genesis 24.
SPEAKER_00: Now, what happens is Genesis 24 is a type, and I just want you to read the story, then I'll explain it to you.
SPEAKER_00: Look at verse 2, verse 2, and we won't go through the whole thing, just hit some highlights.
SPEAKER_00: Abraham and Abraham, verse 24, or chapter 24, verse 2.
SPEAKER_00: Abraham said unto his eldest servant of his house, that ruled over all that he had.
SPEAKER_00: Now think, this is this is the guy's second command of his house.
SPEAKER_00: Put, I pray thee, thy thigh under, or thy hand under my thigh.
SPEAKER_00: And he makes some make a covenant that he would go out and take a wife for his son.
SPEAKER_00: But look at verse 4.
SPEAKER_00: But thou shalt go into my country, into my kindred, and take a wife unto my son Isaac.
SPEAKER_00: So he told his eldest servant, his most trusted person that he has, I want you to go make sure you get a bride for my son.
SPEAKER_00: Go to my people, go to my kindred, and go get him a wife.
SPEAKER_00: Now they have this conversation if the wife will come, if the wife won't come.
SPEAKER_00: But what happens here is this servant does go out, and he takes with him some gifts.
SPEAKER_00: He finds this bride to be, and look at, if you would, at verse 22.
SPEAKER_00: Verse 22.
SPEAKER_00: And it came to pass, as the camels had done drinking, that the man, this is the servant, took a golden earring of half a shekel weight, and two bracelets for her hands of ten shekels weight of gold.
SPEAKER_00: And said, Whose daughter art thou?
SPEAKER_00: Tell me, I pray thee, is there room in thy father's house for us to lodge in?
SPEAKER_00: When this servant, through a matter of circumstances, you read it later, knew that this was God's choice for the bride for his master's son, he gave this woman some bracelets, gifts.
SPEAKER_00: Look, if you would, at verse 30, please.
SPEAKER_00: Verse 30.
SPEAKER_00: They come back to Father's house, Laban, verse 30, and it came to pass, this dad, it came to pass when he, the dad, saw the earrings and bracelets upon his sister, I'm sorry, his sister, his brother was Laban, his sister's hand, and when he heard the words of Rebekah, his sister, saying, Thus spake the man unto him, unto me, that he came unto the man, and behold, he stood by the camels at the well.
SPEAKER_00: What I want you to see is simply this.
SPEAKER_00: You know what those bracelets were all about?
SPEAKER_00: You know what those little gifts were all about?
SPEAKER_00: You know what the earrings were all about?
SPEAKER_00: It was an enticement.
SPEAKER_00: It was an allurement.
SPEAKER_00: You say, well, he was trying to buy her off.
SPEAKER_00: No, he was trying to verify that what he was offering was really real.
SPEAKER_00: Hey, have you ever been made promises and nothing ever came of it?
SPEAKER_00: When this servant went out to get this bride, he took with him something to be able to say to this woman, listen, I've come to find a bride for my master's son, and by God's providential will, you're it, and here I have a gift for you, because I want you to know it's reality.
SPEAKER_00: I want you to know it's very real, and I want you to know there's love on the other side of this thing, and we want you to take it seriously.
SPEAKER_00: Alright?
SPEAKER_00: Maybe you got one, ladies, maybe you didn't.
SPEAKER_00: The standard practice in our country, socially, and if you didn't, don't go, oh, that just hurts me.
SPEAKER_00: When a man asks a woman to marry the bride, if the guy can afford it, I'm trying to be on your side, guys, amen.
SPEAKER_00: Get you out of the doghouse you've been in ten years, amen.
SPEAKER_00: If a man can afford it and God works it out, normally that man may give that future bride what?
SPEAKER_00: Engagement ring.
SPEAKER_00: You know what that is?
SPEAKER_00: Let's seal this deal, baby.
SPEAKER_00: Put it on.
SPEAKER_00: I want everybody to know you're taken.
SPEAKER_00: You're promised.
SPEAKER_00: So here, this is this is uh this is something that I want you to wear.
SPEAKER_00: It's uh it's just something that I want to show my love and my appreciation, my affection.
SPEAKER_00: You say, oh, don't say all that.
SPEAKER_00: I didn't get her one.
SPEAKER_00: He still loves you.
SPEAKER_00: He gave you something.
SPEAKER_00: Cracker jacks, I don't know.
SPEAKER_00: But it was done with the right heart.
SPEAKER_00: But I use this as an illustration because it's, if you would, an earnest uh uh, if you would, uh the the the idea of an allurement, something to say, hey, this is real.
SPEAKER_00: I'm investing in this thing.
SPEAKER_00: Now, let me just say a marriage isn't built on rings.
SPEAKER_00: Amen.
SPEAKER_00: Let me say it again.
SPEAKER_00: A marriage isn't built on rings.
SPEAKER_00: I mean, somebody says, this marriage is off.
SPEAKER_00: It's just a ring that went flying across the room.
SPEAKER_00: The marriage still may be on.
SPEAKER_00: All right, the marriage is on.
SPEAKER_00: I'm gonna put it on.
SPEAKER_00: It's off, it's on, it's off, it's on, it's off, it's on.
SPEAKER_00: Marriage is a matter of the heart, not a matter of a ring.
SPEAKER_00: It's just an example because, please look up here, what this servant did was he went to get the bride.
SPEAKER_00: And then he asked this, look at verse 58.
SPEAKER_00: Stay with me.
SPEAKER_00: Verse 58.
SPEAKER_00: Because now the allurement is there and God's providential hand is there.
SPEAKER_00: And verse 58, and they called Rebecca and said unto her, would you would you read the question with me?
SPEAKER_00: Ready?
SPEAKER_00: Begin.
SPEAKER_00: Wilt thou go with this man?
SPEAKER_00: Is my wife here?
SPEAKER_00: Where are you at, Patty?
SPEAKER_00: Didn't I use that with you?
SPEAKER_00: Did I?
SPEAKER_00: You don't remember?
SPEAKER_00: Well, I wanted to.
SPEAKER_00: Well if I'll go with this man.
SPEAKER_00: Hey, just mark it down.
SPEAKER_00: It was free will.
SPEAKER_00: It was her choice.
SPEAKER_00: Just because she got the bracelet and wore the earrings doesn't mean she made a commitment yet.
SPEAKER_00: She's got a free will.
SPEAKER_00: Well if I'll go with this man.
SPEAKER_00: And she said, say it.
SPEAKER_00: Say it?
SPEAKER_00: One more time?
SPEAKER_00: Oh.
SPEAKER_00: Isn't that sweet?
SPEAKER_00: By the way, the same way that this servant went to go get the bride is a type of how the Holy Spirit comes to get us for the Son.
SPEAKER_00: Amen?
SPEAKER_00: The Holy Spirit does the alluring, the Holy Spirit does the enticing.
SPEAKER_00: The Holy Spirit does the drawing.
SPEAKER_00: How does he do it?
SPEAKER_00: Through his word and through the care and the compassion.
SPEAKER_00: You say, well, let me ask you something.
SPEAKER_00: He didn't give me any bracelets or earrings.
SPEAKER_00: Let me show you what God does.
SPEAKER_00: Look at Luke 5.
SPEAKER_00: Now you may not be excited about this, but this is something that you may be able to relate to.
SPEAKER_00: Luke 5 and John 21.
SPEAKER_00: Luke 5, John 21.
SPEAKER_00: Please turn there, and I won't ask you to turn to many more scriptures.
SPEAKER_00: Luke 5, John 21.
SPEAKER_00: Now there's a lot of ways God draws us to Himself, but I want you to see, just like the master got the servant and said, Go find my bride, the Father sends the comforter through, if you would, and says, Go get the bride for my son.
SPEAKER_00: Is that right?
SPEAKER_00: Abraham's a type of the father.
SPEAKER_00: The son there, and the daughter, if you would, the bride to be.
SPEAKER_00: The bride is the type of Christ, or a type of the church.
SPEAKER_00: Now stay with me.
SPEAKER_00: You know what's so great about God?
SPEAKER_00: He knows what will attract us personally.
SPEAKER_00: Let me show you.
SPEAKER_00: Look at Luke 5.
SPEAKER_00: Jesus, verse 3, he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon's, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land.
SPEAKER_00: And he sat down and taught the people out of the ship.
SPEAKER_00: So he gets into Simon's little boat, they go out a little ways, and he sits down and begins to teach all the people that are on the land.
SPEAKER_00: Now he's done speaking, verse 4, and he says to Simon, launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a draught.
SPEAKER_00: What he's trying to do is giving him a little rent money for his boat, amen.
SPEAKER_00: Verse 5.
SPEAKER_00: And Simon answering, said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night and have taken nothing.
SPEAKER_00: Hey, by the way, most discouraging thing to a fisherman is work all night long and get nada.
SPEAKER_00: Nothing.
SPEAKER_00: Nevertheless, at thy word I will let down the net.
SPEAKER_00: And I'm not talking this morning, but those of you who know there's a difference between verse 4, the nets, and verse 5, the net.
SPEAKER_00: And when they had done this, or had this done, they enclosed a great multitude of what?
SPEAKER_00: Say it?
SPEAKER_00: Fishes.
SPEAKER_00: And their what?
SPEAKER_00: Their net break.
SPEAKER_00: And they beckoned unto the partners.
SPEAKER_00: I tell you what, you're talking about some excited fishermen.
SPEAKER_00: They had fished all night long, they had caught nothing.
SPEAKER_00: Here's this guy that gets on their boat, goes out just a little ways, teaches, and says, Go on out and let your nets down.
SPEAKER_00: And they start enclosing fishes.
SPEAKER_00: They beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, and that they should come and help him.
SPEAKER_00: And they came and filled both the ships so that they began to sink.
SPEAKER_00: Verse 8, look at it.
SPEAKER_00: When Simon Peter saw it, what?
SPEAKER_00: That the boats were sinking and what God had done, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, Depart from me, for I'm a sinful man, O Lord.
SPEAKER_00: Why did he say that?
SPEAKER_00: Because in verse 5 he had doubted.
SPEAKER_00: Please look up here.
SPEAKER_00: He had just heard him teach the multitudes on the shore.
SPEAKER_00: Amen?
SPEAKER_00: What do you think Jesus taught them?
SPEAKER_00: I'll guarantee you it was about something about himself.
SPEAKER_00: Amen.
SPEAKER_00: Simon was sitting there in the boat, steady in the boat, however he was doing it, and was listening to Jesus teach everybody about himself.
SPEAKER_00: And then he says, Okay, let's launch out, Peter, now.
SPEAKER_00: You know what?
SPEAKER_00: We we fished all night, Lord.
SPEAKER_00: There's nothing out there.
SPEAKER_00: Go on, let's go.
SPEAKER_00: All right.
SPEAKER_00: At your word, we'll go.
SPEAKER_00: They throw the net over, it begins to break.
SPEAKER_00: They beckon their partners, James and John.
SPEAKER_00: They come over, they fill both boats up, and when Simon Peter says it, he says, Oh man, I'm sorry.
SPEAKER_00: Hey, this is depart from me.
SPEAKER_00: You know why he doubted?
SPEAKER_00: Verse 9, look at it.
SPEAKER_00: For he was astonished.
SPEAKER_00: And all that were with him at the draw the fishes which were taken.
SPEAKER_00: And so was also James and John, the son of Zebedee, and were partners with Simon.
SPEAKER_00: And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not.
SPEAKER_00: From henceforth thou shalt what?
SPEAKER_00: Say it.
SPEAKER_00: Catch men.
SPEAKER_00: And in other scriptures it says this follow me.
SPEAKER_00: And I will make thee what?
SPEAKER_00: Fishers of men.
SPEAKER_00: I don't get it.
SPEAKER_00: You know what enticed Peter?
SPEAKER_00: You know what allured Peter?
SPEAKER_00: You know what Peter was impressed with?
SPEAKER_00: Come on, look up here.
SPEAKER_00: You know what Peter was impressed with?
SPEAKER_00: Say it.
SPEAKER_00: What?
SPEAKER_00: Fish.
SPEAKER_00: To a fisherman, fish is important.
SPEAKER_00: And Jesus knew that.
SPEAKER_00: He says, I know how I get Peter.
SPEAKER_00: I know Peter.
SPEAKER_00: We'll fill up his boat with fish.
SPEAKER_00: He's going to be amazed and astonished.
SPEAKER_00: I'll say, follow me.
SPEAKER_00: And he's in.
SPEAKER_00: Hey, please look up here.
SPEAKER_00: You know what?
SPEAKER_00: Jesus knows what impresses you.
SPEAKER_00: And it's different to different people.
SPEAKER_00: What Jesus used to impress you?
SPEAKER_00: Compassion?
SPEAKER_00: Love?
SPEAKER_00: Fear?
SPEAKER_00: Tragedy?
SPEAKER_00: Well, I don't think it should be done this way.
SPEAKER_00: Don't you understand?
SPEAKER_00: God does it individually for the individual.
SPEAKER_00: Well, it wasn't done that way with me.
SPEAKER_00: Well, that's because he knew what you wanted.
SPEAKER_00: He knew what was important to you, and what was important to someone else was not what was important to you.
SPEAKER_00: Amen?
SPEAKER_00: You may say, I wouldn't have been impressed with fish.
SPEAKER_00: Hey, stay with me just for a moment.
SPEAKER_00: You know what?
SPEAKER_00: Some of y'all right now, you're probably listening to this and saying, I don't know if I like this guy.
SPEAKER_00: Forget about me.
SPEAKER_00: Don't you know God drew you in here and he's trying to get a hold of you?
SPEAKER_00: Forget about what I look like.
SPEAKER_00: Forget about whether you like my voice or not.
SPEAKER_00: Forget about whether you think it's too cold or not.
SPEAKER_00: Forget about what you think about.
SPEAKER_00: What would be your fish?
SPEAKER_00: What would be your ring?
SPEAKER_00: What would be your bracelet?
SPEAKER_00: Somebody says, money.
SPEAKER_00: Now he'd do something much more personal than that.
SPEAKER_00: You'd say, oh no, that's personal enough.
SPEAKER_00: Now he'd do something much more personal than that.
SPEAKER_00: He can set things up and create situations to where there's no way out and then handle it.
SPEAKER_00: I wonder why they didn't catch any fish the night before.
SPEAKER_00: I'm saying God has a way of drawing us in.
SPEAKER_00: Now wait a minute.
SPEAKER_00: One more scripture.
SPEAKER_00: Look at John 21.
SPEAKER_00: Please, please, please.
SPEAKER_00: And I'm watching the time.
SPEAKER_00: Wendy's is still open.
SPEAKER_00: Amen?
SPEAKER_00: John 21, watch this now.
SPEAKER_00: I don't know what he's using on you, and if you're not saved yet, I'll guarantee you he's trying to draw you in.
SPEAKER_00: Maybe he's using another person.
SPEAKER_00: Maybe he's using something in your life.
SPEAKER_00: He can use anything.
SPEAKER_00: He can use a sickness.
SPEAKER_00: He can use a tragedy.
SPEAKER_00: He can use things that are positive.
SPEAKER_00: And use things that are negative.
SPEAKER_00: But he doesn't just stop there.
SPEAKER_00: Look at John chapter 21.
SPEAKER_00: Now, please look up here.
SPEAKER_00: Please.
SPEAKER_00: Now Peter has been walking with him for a long time now.
SPEAKER_00: Probably over three years now.
SPEAKER_00: And Peter's already gone through the denial and the sifting process.
SPEAKER_00: He's already stuck his foot in his mouth and say, you know, you know, where Jesus had to say, get thee behind me, Satan.
SPEAKER_00: And he's gone through all that.
SPEAKER_00: And we come up to the end here where Jesus is dealing with Peter just before his ascension.
SPEAKER_00: And look at John chapter 21.
SPEAKER_00: Verse 3.
SPEAKER_00: Simon Peter saith unto them what?
SPEAKER_00: Say it.
SPEAKER_00: I go a fishing.
SPEAKER_00: They say unto him, We also go with me.
SPEAKER_00: With thee.
SPEAKER_00: You know, uh, once a fisherman, always a fisherman, amen.
SPEAKER_00: They went forth and entered into a ship immediately.
SPEAKER_00: And that night they caught what?
SPEAKER_00: Say it.
SPEAKER_00: What'd they catch?
SPEAKER_00: Nothing.
SPEAKER_00: But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore.
SPEAKER_00: But his disciples knew not that it was Jesus.
SPEAKER_00: Then Jesus said unto them, I like this.
SPEAKER_00: I like the Lord's sense of human.
SPEAKER_00: Children, have you any meat?
SPEAKER_00: You know what he's saying?
SPEAKER_00: Have you ever caught anything out there?
SPEAKER_00: Worst thing you can ask a fisherman when he's caught nothing is what'd you catch?
SPEAKER_00: He knew what he was doing.
SPEAKER_00: Children having any meat?
SPEAKER_00: Have you ever caught any fish?
SPEAKER_00: They answered him one word.
SPEAKER_00: What?
SPEAKER_00: Now, when you run into a true fisherman, they say, Well, no, you know, you know, they're not binding to the day, the conditions are bad and everything, and the equipment is this and the bait's this and all that, you know.
SPEAKER_00: They just said, No.
SPEAKER_00: And he said unto them, look at it, cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find.
SPEAKER_00: They cast, therefore, what they got to lose.
SPEAKER_00: And now they were not able to draw it in for the multitude of fishes.
SPEAKER_00: You know what?
SPEAKER_00: When you go fishing with Jesus, you always catch something, amen.
SPEAKER_00: There was one time Peter went fishing and caught some money, amen.
SPEAKER_00: In the fish's mouth.
SPEAKER_00: Therefore, the disciple whom Jesus loved, that's John, saith unto Peter, It is the Lord.
SPEAKER_00: Now, when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, hey, you know what?
SPEAKER_00: Peter's just bold.
SPEAKER_00: He just jumps in, swims to shore.
SPEAKER_00: The rest of them drag the fish in.
SPEAKER_00: They come in, and Jesus says in verse 10, look at it, bring of the fish which ye have now caught.
SPEAKER_00: I like that little statement.
SPEAKER_00: Verse 10, bring of the fish which who caught?
SPEAKER_00: Ye have now caught.
SPEAKER_00: And Jesus said, fish, get in the net.
SPEAKER_00: Amen?
SPEAKER_00: They say, I don't believe this.
SPEAKER_00: This is so far-fetched.
SPEAKER_00: Wait till you see the Lord.
SPEAKER_00: You'll believe it.
SPEAKER_00: Simon Peter went up and drew the net to the land full.
SPEAKER_00: Full of what?
SPEAKER_00: Say it.
SPEAKER_00: Come on.
SPEAKER_00: Great fishes.
SPEAKER_00: 150 and three.
SPEAKER_00: And for all that there were so many, yet was the net, or was not the net broken.
SPEAKER_00: And look at what Jesus is doing.
SPEAKER_00: You say, What in the world is he doing here?
SPEAKER_00: Please look up here.
SPEAKER_00: He's alluring again.
SPEAKER_00: He's enticing.
SPEAKER_00: He's drawing Peter to something.
SPEAKER_00: He says to Jesus, or Jesus says to him, Come and dine.
SPEAKER_00: They eat.
SPEAKER_00: And then he says in verse 15, look at it, please.
SPEAKER_00: So when they had dined, Jesus said to Simon, Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than what?
SPEAKER_00: What are these?
SPEAKER_00: The fish.
SPEAKER_00: He saith unto him, Yea, Lord, thou knowest that I love thee.
SPEAKER_00: He saith unto him, What?
SPEAKER_00: Talk to me.
SPEAKER_00: Feed my lambs.
SPEAKER_00: Mark it down.
SPEAKER_00: He's enticing him to service.
SPEAKER_00: Not just salvation, but service.
SPEAKER_00: Not just I'm saved and I'm going to heaven, but he says, I've got a job for you.
SPEAKER_00: I want you to feed my lambs.
SPEAKER_00: I've got a place for you.
SPEAKER_00: I've got a position for you.
SPEAKER_00: I've got something for you to do, Peter.
SPEAKER_00: He saith to him again the second time.
SPEAKER_00: Simon, son of Joseph, lovest thou me?
SPEAKER_00: He said unto him, Yea, Lord, thou knowest that I love thee.
SPEAKER_00: He saith unto him, Alright, I got a job for you to do.
SPEAKER_00: Feed my sheep.
SPEAKER_00: He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me?
SPEAKER_00: Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time.
SPEAKER_00: Now remember, Peter had denied him three times.
SPEAKER_00: He said unto him the third time, lovest thou me.
SPEAKER_00: And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things.
SPEAKER_00: Thou knowest that I love thee.
SPEAKER_00: Jesus said unto him, Feed my sheep.
SPEAKER_00: Please look up here.
SPEAKER_00: You know what that second group of fish were?
SPEAKER_00: An allurement?
SPEAKER_00: To convince him to go off into service.
SPEAKER_00: Many of you in here have already been lured, enticed, attracted to salvation.
SPEAKER_00: Don't be surprised if God attracts you, allures you, entices you to doing something for him.
SPEAKER_00: Like teaching a Sunday school, working a bus route, working a nursery, being an usher.
SPEAKER_00: Now, wait a minute, preacher.
SPEAKER_00: Hey, I don't mind salvation, but this service thing.
SPEAKER_00: Well, let me ask you a question.
SPEAKER_00: Lovest thou him more than that?
SPEAKER_00: Whatever it is.
SPEAKER_00: For me, you know what the fishes were?
SPEAKER_00: And don't be offended at this.
SPEAKER_00: The Marine Corps.
SPEAKER_00: I loved it.
SPEAKER_00: I mean, I loved it.
SPEAKER_00: I loved jumping out of airplanes.
SPEAKER_00: I loved repelling.
SPEAKER_00: I love swimming underwater.
SPEAKER_00: I love them paying me to have a good time.
SPEAKER_00: I love telling guys what to do.
SPEAKER_00: I loved it.
SPEAKER_00: I loved PT and getting paid for it.
SPEAKER_00: I loved the spit and the polish and all that.
SPEAKER_00: I loved it.
SPEAKER_00: I really did.
SPEAKER_00: And I'm not saying if you're in the Marine Corps that you have to get out, but for me, it was something that God said, hey, do you love me more than that?
SPEAKER_00: Now, please look up here.
SPEAKER_00: You can still be in the Marine Corps or Navy or military or whatever and still serve God.
SPEAKER_00: But for me, it was something because it was almost an idol to me.
SPEAKER_00: I loved it.
SPEAKER_00: He allured me to salvation.
SPEAKER_00: And then he began to lure me to service.
SPEAKER_00: Doing something.
SPEAKER_00: Many of you know, you know where I started in this church?
SPEAKER_00: An usher.
SPEAKER_00: You'd say, well, wait a minute, what do you mean?
SPEAKER_00: Well, you know what?
SPEAKER_00: God may say, hey, do you love me enough to give me a little time?
SPEAKER_00: And take a little bit of time away from that which you love.
SPEAKER_00: Might be a hobby.
SPEAKER_00: Might be a business.
SPEAKER_00: And it begins to allure us again.
SPEAKER_00: And to attract us and to entice us.
SPEAKER_00: Don't take this offensively.
SPEAKER_00: It could be family.
SPEAKER_00: I'm not talking about breaking up a marriage.
SPEAKER_00: Let me say that again.
SPEAKER_00: I'm not talking about breaking up a marriage.
SPEAKER_00: I'm talking about, like, do you love me enough to give that up a little bit?
SPEAKER_00: Do you understand the message?
SPEAKER_00: Because he allures us to salvation.
SPEAKER_00: He knows us.
SPEAKER_00: Nathaniel, I saw you sitting under a tree.
SPEAKER_00: Wow, really?
SPEAKER_00: You're the Christ.
SPEAKER_00: I'm impressed you took time for me.
SPEAKER_00: Woman, uh, you've had five husbands.
SPEAKER_00: The husband you're now with is not really your husband, it's just a man you're living with.
SPEAKER_00: Wow, I'm impressed.
SPEAKER_00: Come see a man.
SPEAKER_00: Here, uh, here, here's Rebecca.
SPEAKER_00: Here's some bracelets and here's some earrings.
SPEAKER_00: This is from my master.
SPEAKER_00: We want you to come.
SPEAKER_00: You're the one God has chosen to marry his son.
SPEAKER_00: Wilt thou go with me?
SPEAKER_00: Wilt thou go with this man?
SPEAKER_00: It's okay.
SPEAKER_00: Young man, is it is it?
SPEAKER_00: That's okay.
SPEAKER_00: Look, just a minute.
SPEAKER_00: Is it a boy?
SPEAKER_00: You know what?
SPEAKER_00: Every time they get a look at me, this happens.
SPEAKER_00: Amen.
SPEAKER_00: Oh no, it's not me.
SPEAKER_00: He's looking at Brother French.
SPEAKER_00: Just turn him the other way and everything will be fine.
SPEAKER_00: Amen.
SPEAKER_00: Probably was looking at Brother French and saw me.
SPEAKER_00: First time he ever saw a real man, amen.
SPEAKER_00: Just kidding, Brother French, amen.
SPEAKER_00: Mrs.
SPEAKER_00: French, I'm really just kidding.
SPEAKER_00: I'll give you a fish after the service, amen.
SPEAKER_00: The idea is, not only does brethren he allure us to salvation, but he really does allure us to service because he wants us to do it of our free will.
SPEAKER_00: He wants us to do it because we love him.
SPEAKER_00: And may I remind you that he loved us before we loved him?
SPEAKER_00: He sought us before we ever knew he was around.
SPEAKER_00: He was after us, seeking us.
SPEAKER_00: And then look at one more verse.
SPEAKER_00: You're there, verse 18.
SPEAKER_00: Because now he was going to say something to Peter that was important.
SPEAKER_00: Verily, verily, he's talking to Peter.
SPEAKER_00: I say unto thee, when thou wast young, hey Peter, when you were a young guy, you girdest yourself and walkest whither thou wouldest.
SPEAKER_00: You're controlling your own shots there, Peter.
SPEAKER_00: Controlling your own destiny.
SPEAKER_00: But when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands.
SPEAKER_00: Wait, what does that mean?
SPEAKER_00: Please look up here.
SPEAKER_00: Like this.
SPEAKER_00: Help me.
SPEAKER_00: What do I do?
SPEAKER_00: And another shall gird thee and carry thee whether thou wouldest not.
SPEAKER_00: You know what that simple statement says, Peter?
SPEAKER_00: You used to decide what you were going to do, and now, because I know what you're saying is true, because you love me more than you love these fish and you've let that go.
SPEAKER_00: Not that you can't go fishing once in a while, Peter, just don't love the fishing more than you love me.
SPEAKER_00: Hey, I was visited the Marine Corps base about two months ago.
SPEAKER_00: It's not that I can't go back and visit.
SPEAKER_00: It's just not something that God wants for me.
SPEAKER_00: Now, if you're in the Marine Corps, don't say, well, boy, that was an indictment.
SPEAKER_00: No, he may want you in there.
SPEAKER_00: Peter was allowed to go fishing.
SPEAKER_00: He just was being asked by God to do something.
SPEAKER_00: And to allow God to control his life.
SPEAKER_00: I already know something.
SPEAKER_00: And I'm not trying to be arrogant, but I already know something.
SPEAKER_00: Somebody in this room, God has been working to allure you to salvation.
SPEAKER_00: And don't look to the person next to you and a friend or anything like that and go, oh no, I don't want anybody to know.
SPEAKER_00: Hey, you know what?
SPEAKER_00: You ought to not be ashamed that God's interested in you.
SPEAKER_00: Man, what a great thing.
SPEAKER_00: The one that created this universe, the one that knows all the names of the stars, he knows you and is interested in you.
SPEAKER_00: And somebody in here, God is alluring to salvation.
SPEAKER_00: But I also know this.
SPEAKER_00: Many others in here probably God is alluring to service.
SPEAKER_00: Feed my sheep.
SPEAKER_00: Hey, uh, could you give up just a little bit more?
SPEAKER_00: Surrender just a little bit more?
SPEAKER_00: And uh would you be willing, willing, of a free will to do a little more for me.
SPEAKER_00: Go to the mission field, learn to preach, be a nursery worker, work in the beginner's department, go visit a convalescent center home, go out on the streets and pass out some tracks, go knock some doors.
SPEAKER_00: Just something.
SPEAKER_00: It's not me alluring you.
SPEAKER_00: It's God alluring us through his book and through his Holy Spirit.
SPEAKER_00: Some he's a little more forceful with than others because he knows our personalities.
SPEAKER_00: But if you've been having one of those periods of time where you said, man, I don't know what's going on.
SPEAKER_00: Whew, man, something.
SPEAKER_00: I don't know, something.
SPEAKER_00: Maybe God's enticing you.
SPEAKER_00: Maybe God's alluring your provoking your interest to greater commitment and greater service.
SPEAKER_00: You know what we do sometimes?
SPEAKER_00: Oh, my life is falling apart.
SPEAKER_00: Well, that's probably true.
SPEAKER_00: But it may be God's way of alluring.
SPEAKER_00: Lovest thou me more than whatever it is?
SPEAKER_00: He just wants to help us to make us the best we can possibly be.
SPEAKER_00: And please, last statement, he does it because he truly does love us.
SPEAKER_00: And he is love.
SPEAKER_00: I didn't say he has love.
SPEAKER_00: He has love, but he is love.
SPEAKER_00: And he loves you.
SPEAKER_00: And I hope you won't be offended if I say very confidently, and he loves me too.
SPEAKER_00: You say, I don't think you should say that.
SPEAKER_00: Why not?
SPEAKER_00: I know he does.
SPEAKER_00: And he knows everything about me and he still loves me.
SPEAKER_00: He knows all my weakness, all my failures, all my mistakes, all my misgivings, all the way I treated somebody wrong.
SPEAKER_00: He knows all that and he still loves me.
SPEAKER_00: And he still loves you.
SPEAKER_00: Maybe today he's alluring you to salvation.
SPEAKER_00: Oh, oh.
SPEAKER_00: Why are you doing that?
SPEAKER_00: So you remember the message?
SPEAKER_00: Sometimes it takes a while.
SPEAKER_00: Big bass don't bite right away.
SPEAKER_00: Amen.
SPEAKER_00: And sometimes for Christians.
SPEAKER_00: Got that action down pretty good, don't we?
SPEAKER_00: Just a little lure going by.
SPEAKER_00: You know what happens?
SPEAKER_00: That fish looks at that thing going by.
SPEAKER_00: He doesn't move his head, just moves his eyes, amen.
SPEAKER_00: And he looks at that thing going by again, looks at that thing going by again.
SPEAKER_00: And then they put a little smell in that thing and he smells it going by, amen.
SPEAKER_00: Just keeps watching.
SPEAKER_00: Just keep a good one.
SPEAKER_00: Just keeps watching.
SPEAKER_00: And after a while, he's gotta eat it.
SPEAKER_00: And that thing comes by one more time, and how many times are we gonna let it come by?
SPEAKER_00: Before we do something about it.
SPEAKER_00: God's very patient.
SPEAKER_00: Very patient.
SPEAKER_00: Don't let the creek dry though.
SPEAKER_00: Don't wait too long.
SPEAKER_00: Salvation?
SPEAKER_00: Today would be a good day.
SPEAKER_00: Don't wait.
SPEAKER_00: That's why you're here.
SPEAKER_00: Service?
SPEAKER_00: Better look at that lure.
SPEAKER_00: Better look at it.
SPEAKER_00: God's got a plan.
SPEAKER_00: Let him have his way with thee.
SPEAKER_00: Let's all stand.
SPEAKER_00: Please don't leave.
SPEAKER_00: Let's all stand.
SPEAKER_00: Now I wait just a moment.
SPEAKER_00: That's okay.
SPEAKER_00: That young guy's just had a rough life so far.
SPEAKER_00: Amen.
SPEAKER_00: Please look right up here.
SPEAKER_00: I'm not the one that puts the lure out.
SPEAKER_00: God does.
SPEAKER_00: But he does it through his word.
SPEAKER_00: He does it through preaching.
SPEAKER_00: He does it, obviously, without a doubt, through his word using the Holy Spirit to edify, and using the Holy Spirit to edify the preaching.
SPEAKER_00: I'll guarantee you, he knows what's attractive to you.
SPEAKER_00: Not what's going to cause us to fall, but what's attractive to us.
SPEAKER_00: And he'll use that which is attractive to gain our interest.
SPEAKER_00: Wilt thou go with this man?
SPEAKER_00: He said to Peter, hey, uh, Peter, follow me.
SPEAKER_00: I'll make you fishers of men.
SPEAKER_00: And then, just before his ascension, he said to Peter, hey Peter, now.
SPEAKER_00: Follow me at a new level.
SPEAKER_00: Because now you used to call the shots, now I'm going to call.
SPEAKER_00: You used to carry yourself, now I'm going to tell you where to go.
SPEAKER_00: Just follow me, Peter.
SPEAKER_00: Trust me.
SPEAKER_00: Praise the Lord.
SPEAKER_00: You see Peter in the book of Acts preaching at the day of Pentecost.
SPEAKER_00: You see Peter over in Acts chapter 9 and 10 with that sheet let down and taking the gospel to the Gentiles.
SPEAKER_00: Peter took the bait.
SPEAKER_00: I'm glad he did.
SPEAKER_00: Now it's our turn.
SPEAKER_00: Is he alluring you?
SPEAKER_00: Let him have his way with thee.
SPEAKER_00: With your heads bowed and your eyes closed.
SPEAKER_00: Pastor Fisher, would you, before we leave today, pray for me?
SPEAKER_00: I do believe God has something for me.
SPEAKER_00: It's past salvation.
SPEAKER_00: It's something else he wants of me.
SPEAKER_00: And I do want to do his will.
SPEAKER_00: I know he knows what's best for me.
SPEAKER_00: If that's you.
SPEAKER_00: Could I at least include you in on the closing prayers?
SPEAKER_00: Would you slip up your hands and say that's me?
SPEAKER_00: God bless you.
SPEAKER_00: You may put him down.
SPEAKER_00: Pastor Fisher.
SPEAKER_00: Maybe he's alluring me today to salvation.
SPEAKER_00: I don't know if I died if I'm on my way to heaven, really.
SPEAKER_00: I read this Bible, and I I honestly don't know how well I know the God of that Bible.
SPEAKER_00: And I don't know.
SPEAKER_00: I got some things going on.
SPEAKER_00: It just seems like he's.
SPEAKER_00: It's not a coincidence.
SPEAKER_00: Something's working, something's happening.
SPEAKER_00: Maybe he's drawing you in.
SPEAKER_00: With your heads bowed and eyes closed.
SPEAKER_00: Pastor, would you pray for me when we close?
SPEAKER_00: I am interested in Christianity and in Christ.
SPEAKER_00: Pray for me about my salvation.
SPEAKER_00: Would you hold up your hand, sir?
SPEAKER_00: Ma'am.
SPEAKER_00: God bless you, ma'am.
SPEAKER_00: God bless you, sir.
SPEAKER_00: With your heads bowed and eyes closed.
SPEAKER_00: Okay.
SPEAKER_00: God bless you, ma'am.
SPEAKER_00: And we will pray for you.
SPEAKER_00: God knows your name.
SPEAKER_00: One last thing.
SPEAKER_00: Maybe you know someone.
SPEAKER_00: Either for salvation or someone you've been praying for that they would surrender more to doing God's will.
SPEAKER_00: Before we close, how many say, I know someone I've been praying for?
SPEAKER_00: Well, I I hope I just pray that God will continue to put that in front of them and draw them into Himself for salvation or for service.
SPEAKER_00: Would you hold up your hand and say, I know someone?
SPEAKER_00: God bless you.
SPEAKER_00: Many of us do.
SPEAKER_00: Many of us, I do too.
SPEAKER_00: I really do.