Peter: Falling to Faithful
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ILLUST - (Extra stories)
Peter’s denial, Luke 22
“Woman, I do not know Him”
“Man, I am not!” (one of them, too)
“Man, I do not know what you are talking about!” (being a Galileean and with Jesus)
Peter wept bitterly
But remember: Jesus tells the women to make sure to tell Peter
Road to Emmaus in Luke 24, the LORD has risen and appeared to Simon
THIS ACCOUNT - Peter’s Restoration - We see Jesus to Peter, Discipling him
READ: John 21:1-17
Peter - Discipled by the LORD
Peter - Discipled by the LORD
1) Pressing in - Pulling him up
1) Pressing in - Pulling him up
Jesus literally pulled him up from the water
Every misstep of Peter is met with Jesus coming at him
Not to scold, but to correct, grow
Jesus wants to use him, and it’s not going to be an easy life
After this passage Peter is told how he will be martyred someday
Jesus presses in
Peter’s confession is the rock the church will be built on
(They didn’t even know what the “church” was then)
“Go tell Peter I’m alive”
Luke says Jesus appeared to the 11, and names Peter specifically
Constant pressure from Jesus - keeps Peter on his feet, keeps him going
Peter jumps, literally, at the chance to talk with Jesus and be restored (review this later)
In this account, Peter jumps into the water, too bad he couldn’t walk on it this time :)
2) The Past is buried
2) The Past is buried
Let’s talk about forgiveness - follows repentance, and Peter is repentant
Think Jesus ever “forgot” about what Peter did?
If You, Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? But there is forgiveness with You, That You may be feared.
Forgiveness - three MAJOR aspects
I will not bring this up to you again
I will not bring this up in my mind again
I will not bring this up to God again
(Not “forgive and forget” - but “not remember” - don’t recall it, it’s done, settled!
That’s Jesus to Peter - it’s done, never to be brought up again
Peter is NOT defined by his past failure - but by being forgiven
Peter is NOT defined by his past failure - but by his faithfulness
(Let that sink in for a bit) - Check out Matthew 18 for a great parable on forgiveness
3) Prepared him for service
3) Prepared him for service
(Peter’s way of thinking)
I’m so excited to see Jesus - but I really disappointed Him
I may as well just stick to fishing, it’s all I’m good at (sometimes)
(Jesus’ way of thinking)
YOU, Peter, are going to feed my sheep
Not Peter’s sheep - The LORD’s sheep
Peter, you are important to get this done
I’m choosing to use you
“Do you love Me?”
“Do you love Me?”
“Do you love Me?”
Yes, of course
Yes, You know I do
YES! Please stop asking me!
“Go feed my sheep, tend them, care for them”
“They are important to Me”
“I’m entrusting them to you!”
Denial - three times - no mistaking or misunderstanding that
Restored - three times - no mistaking or misunderstanding that
NOW - Peter is prepared
He has been taught, tried, tempted, rebuked, sharpened
It’s time to get to work
Jesus is leaving; the Holy Spirit will come to help) - the work now belongs to Peter
Time to get to work, because people need Jesus
Someone has to lead them to Jesus
Someone has to care for them, disciple them, when they meet Him
You Ready to Work?
You Ready to Work?
so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.
And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.
You are being prepared every day, for the work He has for you
Remember what He told Peter, when He first met him?
And He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.”
CHALLENGE
What does it take for you to follow faithfully?
Think on Peter, what did he have to overcome?
What have YOU overcome?
How have you gotten in your own way, where have you “failed?”
Abuse, divorce, drunkenness, addiction
Inconsistency, pride, gossip, slander, adultery
Maybe these happened TO you, maybe BY you, maybe both
That was then (such were some of you)
NOW you are a follower of Jesus
THAT is who you are - THAT is how you are identified
I was born a sinner, lost
Now I am a saint, set apart for His work
And so are you....IF you are His sheep
Sin is not good - right?
Our past is not perfect, but God is able to use it for His good, if you love Him
And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.
God is not shocked by your past failures - He knew they’d happen, and He still wants to use you
(You’ve done what? Oh, never mind… NOT)
QUESTIONS:
Do you love Him? Peter was asked the same question
YES? Well then, you are called to His purpose - to serve Him
Make disciples, obey His teaching, live for Him
This is God’s will for your life
His plan is to use YOU
Where you’ve been, who you’ve been, what you’ve done
You are not credible to be used by Him?
YOU tell that to Him
And He’ll ask you - “Do you love Me?’
If YES, He’ll tell you, “Go - I have work for you to do”
We fall, Jesus forgives! That’s a great formula for the Savior I love
Peter is expected to show up for work
He’s been prepared by Jesus pressing in, pulling Him up, putting the past where it belongs
You are expected to show up for work
You are being prepared by Jesus
He presses in, He pulls you up (sometimes getting out of bed is Him doing this)
BIGGIE: He has put the past in its place, have you?
The repentant believer looks ahead, not back
But Jesus said to him, “No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”
Look ahead, see the work He has for you
The repentant believer sees today as an opportunity to serve Him
“Do you love Him?”
“Do you love Him?”
“Do you love Him?”