STEP OUT OF DENIAL!
Notes
Transcript
Mini-testimony of where I was
molested as a kid
20 year addiction
10 commandments
bully
4 felonies
abandoned my daughter
I was my own God
Principle 1: Realize I’m not God. I admit that I am powerless to control my tendency to do the wrong thing and that my life is unmanageable.
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Step 1: We admitted we were powerless over our addictions and compulsive behaviors, that our lives had become unmanageable.
18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find.
Oswald Chambers said to, “Continually examine your attitude toward God to see if you are willing to “go out” in every area of your life, trusting in God entirely.”
Tonight we’re going to look at someone that couldn’t seem to get it right.
If you are willing and able, please stand for the reading of God’s Holy Word.
12 And through the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people. And they were all with one accord in Solomon’s Porch.
13 Yet none of the rest dared join them, but the people esteemed them highly.
14 And believers were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women,
15 so that they brought the sick out into the streets and laid them on beds and couches, that at least the shadow of Peter passing by might fall on some of them.
16 Also a multitude gathered from the surrounding cities to Jerusalem, bringing sick people and those who were tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all healed.
Pray. Thank you. You may be seated.
We see here a man named Peter that was used in such a way that even his shadow could heal people.
Could you imagine?
The truth is that Peter was a lot like me and maybe a lot like you.
Peter met Jesus while fishing and they weren’t having any luck.
Jesus told them to cast there nets on the opposite side.
Low and behold they hit the jack pot
So at the height of Peter’s career, Jesus tells him leave his nets and follow Him.
This was one of the rare occurrences that Peter got it right
illustration of owning a business and hitting it big
Let’s fast forward to Matthew 16 where Peter confesses Jesus as the Christ and a few minutes later is rebuked by Jesus after Jesus had just praised him.
In the next chapter we find that Peter sees Jesus and all His glory on a mountain top experience that we could only dream of and then he starts arguing over who is the greatest of the disciples.
It’s a constant roller coaster. Can any of you relate?
In chapter 26 Jesus tells the disciples what is about to happen and Peter says not me.
Jesus tells Peter that he will deny Him 3 times.
No I’ll die with You (Get loud)
Arrest cut off ear
18 Now the servants and officers who had made a fire of coals stood there, for it was cold, and they warmed themselves. And Peter stood with them and warmed himself.
Peter denies Jesus 3 times and rooster crowed and Jesus looked at Peter and ran and wept.
Why is this so important?
Jesus is Peter’s best friend unless you ask John.
33 But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.
justify Peter’s decision
The D in denial stands for DISABLES our feelings.
The D in denial stands for DISABLES our feelings.
Hiding our feelings, living in denial, freezes our emotions and binds us. Understanding and feeling our feelings is where we find freedom.
19 While they promise them liberty, they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by whom a person is overcome, by him also he is brought into bondage.
The next letter in denial is E, which stands for ENERGY lost.
The next letter in denial is E, which stands for ENERGY lost.
7 Who executes justice for the oppressed, Who gives food to the hungry. The Lord gives freedom to the prisoners.
Denial NEGATES growth.
Denial NEGATES growth.
13 Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, And He saved them out of their distresses.
14 He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, And broke their chains in pieces.
Denial also ISOLATES us from God.
Denial also ISOLATES us from God.
5 This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.
6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.
7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.
Our denial not only isolates us from God, it ALIENATES us from our relationships.
Our denial not only isolates us from God, it ALIENATES us from our relationships.
What’s the answer? Listen to
25 Therefore, putting away lying, “Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,” for we are members of one another.
Remember it is always better to tell the ugly truth rather than a beautiful lie.
some relationships we might need to be separated from to the glory of God
Finally, denial LENGTHENS the pain.
Finally, denial LENGTHENS the pain.
We have the false belief that denial protects us from our pain. In reality, denial allows our pain to fester and grow and to turn into shame and guilt. Denial extends your hurt. It multiplies your problems.
Truth, like surgery, may hurt for a while, but it cures. God promises us in
17 For I will restore health to you And heal you of your wounds,’ says the Lord, ‘Because they called you an outcast saying: “This is Zion; No one seeks her.” ’
Despite our shortcomings can we be used by God?
Absolutely!
3 Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We are going with you also.” They went out and immediately got into the boat, and that night they caught nothing.
4 But when the morning had now come, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus.
5 Then Jesus said to them, “Children, have you any food?” They answered Him, “No.”
6 And He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast, and now they were not able to draw it in because of the multitude of fish.
7 Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment (for he had removed it), and plunged into the sea.
8 But the other disciples came in the little boat (for they were not far from land, but about two hundred cubits), dragging the net with fish.
9 Then, as soon as they had come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid on it, and bread.
10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish which you have just caught.”
11 Simon Peter went up and dragged the net to land, full of large fish, one hundred and fifty-three; and although there were so many, the net was not broken.
12 Jesus said to them, “Come and eat breakfast.” Yet none of the disciples dared ask Him, “Who are You?”—knowing that it was the Lord.
13 Jesus then came and took the bread and gave it to them, and likewise the fish.
14 This is now the third time Jesus showed Himself to His disciples after He was raised from the dead.
15 So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, 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 again a second time, “Simon, son of Jonah, 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 Jonah, 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 all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep.
18 Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish.”
19 This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, “Follow Me.”
354 times fire is mentioned in the Bible
Only twice is this type of fire mentioned
(anthrakia), n. charcoal fire.
Peter gets in his own way.
But God turns him in to a man that is used so powerfully that even his shadow can heal people.
God wants to use you in that same way. Are you willing to get out of the way.
Illustration of what God can do when we get out of our own way and step out of denial
We are not defined by what we did wrong! We are defined by what Jesus did right!
On July 21st, 2019 God reconciled me to Him!
On that day Jesus radically changed my life.
HE TOOK ALL MY SINS AND NAILED THEM TO THE CROSS!
On August 18th I was baptized.
He made me clean.
He gave me a new wife and a new family.
On August 24th 2019 He allowed me to marry Natalie Johnson.
My daughter was the maid of honor.
Fletcher, my son, was the best man.
River was the flower girl.
August of 2020 God allowed Natalie and I to buy our first house. He restored my fiances and my credit.
January 5, 2021 God allowed us to start Cordele’s first and only Celebrate Recovery.
Countless people have found Jesus, been baptized, and discipled through the 12 steps.
Men and women have laid down the needle and picked up a Bible.
In 2021 God allowed me to adopt Fletcher as my only son.
In 2021 God called me to start a men’s residential Christ-centered recovery home and placed a phenomenal team of board members around me.
In January 2022, God called me to go to school.
I now attend the Baptist College of Florida online and I am currently working on an associate of divinity.
April 17th, 2022, God called me to surrender to ministry.
October 2, 2022, God called Ebenezer Baptist to ordain me into ministry.
In December of 2022, God made a way for Peniel Recovery Ministries to get their 501c3 status.
God then allowed a partnership with Thrive Church and the recovery ministry in Omar Heights.
On January 29, 2023, God called Ebenezer Baptist to commission the Johnson family as local missionaries to minister through Thrive Church, Celebrate Recovery, and Peniel Recovery Ministries.
On February 5, 2023, I preached my first sermon at Thrive and my beautiful daughter, Clara Mae, was there. This is the same beautiful daughter I abandoned during my addiction. My daughter told me that that morning she truly forgave me.
On February 10, 2023, I received a letter from probation releasing me from probation 7 years early.
What is the secret to what some would see as success?
His name is Jesus!
100 % sold out obedience.
Jesus wants to do this in and though each of you.
Will you allow Him?
He wants to make you a new creation through reconciliation.
He wants you to be an ambassador for Christ.
4 take a ways for bouncing back and being of value through restoration. (I stole these from the mens conference)
Every past failure is preparation for some future opportunity.
Don’t turn your moment into a monument.
Don’t allow your history to control your destiny!
If you live in the past, you die to your future. BOUNCE BACK!
invitation 3 chairs or knock knock