Trust His Forgiveness
Notes
Transcript
Can you believe that we are already in the 5th week of the year! We have experienced some great bible study together on how to Trust and Obey God. This week we will continue in our pursuit of why we can trust our God because of His Forgiveness. We serve a God who understands and knows what real forgiveness is. We think we understand what forgiveness is but we really do lack the biblical understanding of forgiveness and how it pertains to our Heavenly Father.
A pastor asked, “How many of you are willing to forgive your enemies?” Everyone raised their hand except for one elderly woman. “Why aren’t you willing to forgive your enemies?” the pastor asked. The woman smiled and said, “I don’t have any. I’ve outlived them all!”
Today we will be in a few different passages of Scripture as we explore the life of Peter. We will see how Jesus interacted with Peter before he denied Him, While he denied Him, and After he denied Him.
62 percent of American adults say they need more forgiveness in their personal lives.
Practicing forgiveness is associated with lower levels of depression, anxiety, and hostility; reduced substance abuse; higher self-esteem; and greater life satisfaction.
Levels of forgiveness, stress, and mental and physical health symptoms show significant change and individual variability over time.
Forgiveness decreases anger, anxiety, and depression and increases self-esteem and hopefulness for the future.
We have a God who embodies forgiveness. Not the kind of forgiveness we are used to seeing where it is used to make us feel better. God utilizes forgiveness not to make Himself feel better but to let us know that He loves us and cares for us and understands our disposition in this fallen world. Today we will see the forgiveness of our Father through the example of Forgiveness that Jesus displayed to Peter. We will be in 3 separate passages today. First we will be in Luke 22:31-34 then Luke 22:54-62 and Finally John 21:15-19. In these scriptures we will see three aspects of our Fathers forgiveness. First, His forgiveness is pre-determined. Second, His forgiveness is present. Third, His forgiveness Restores. Read the scripture with me this morning.
31 “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, 32 but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” 33 Peter said to him, “Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death.” 34 Jesus said, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow this day, until you deny three times that you know me.”
54 Then they seized him and led him away, bringing him into the high priest’s house, and Peter was following at a distance. 55 And when they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat down among them. 56 Then a servant girl, seeing him as he sat in the light and looking closely at him, said, “This man also was with him.” 57 But he denied it, saying, “Woman, I do not know him.” 58 And a little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.” But Peter said, “Man, I am not.” 59 And after an interval of about an hour still another insisted, saying, “Certainly this man also was with him, for he too is a Galilean.” 60 But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are talking about.” And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. 61 And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the saying of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.” 62 And he went out and wept bitterly.
15 When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, 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 a second time, “Simon, son of John, 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 John, 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 everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. 18 Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.” 19 (This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, “Follow me.”
Let’s pray.
His forgiveness is Pre-determined
His forgiveness is Pre-determined
31 “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, 32 but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” 33 Peter said to him, “Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death.” 34 Jesus said, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow this day, until you deny three times that you know me.”
There is something truly remarkable about this scripture. Read it again. Did you catch it? Jesus tells Simon Peter that Satan has requested to test him. Jesus also said that He has prayed for Simon. What I find interesting is that Jesus did not say I have prayed that you do not stumble and fall and deny me. What Jesus says is that I have prayed that your faith does not fail and that when you have turned again that you will use this time to strengthen your brothers. What a powerful statement Jesus just made. In essence Jesus just told Simon Peter, you are going to stumble and fail and you are going to deny me. My prayer is that after you have made this choice that your faith does not fail you and that you are able to turn again to your faith and use your stumbling to strengthen your brothers. So why is it that Jesus did not pray that Simon would not sin and would not stumble but instead prayed that after he did that his experiences would lead to him strengthening his brothers? Is it because Jesus understood the human disposition and failing of the flesh? Is it because Jesus knew that in order for the disciples to be able to make it through what they were about to face they would need to see someone who had failed, restored and lifted up on the wings like eagles? The answer is yes. Jesus understood first the disposition of the human flesh.
12 Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned—
5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity,
and in sin did my mother conceive me.
8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
20 Surely there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins.
Jesus knew Simon Peter was going to fail and fall and make a fool of himself. Jesus was well aware of the failures of the flesh. Not only did He wage against the flesh His entire life but He also had see humanity from the beginning of time. Jesus was not a stranger to the ways of man. Jesus also knew that Peters failure would do one of 2 things. It would lead him to become a great leader and example of the grace and love of our Father. Or it would shut him down and he would wither away to nothing and be forgotten in time. Jesus knew that this was the opportunity for Peter to see why He really came. To forgive those who have made mistakes, to use their lives to build that faith. What are you doing with your life? Are you letting your failures and mistakes lead you to a place of desolation and despair? or are you letting your failures lead to being a faithful follower of Christ? The fact is that God knows and expects that you are going to fail. He is not sitting on His throne and saying that He will forgive us when we decide to live perfect lives. No when we decide that we want to live for Him and for His glory, and like Peter not allow our faith to fail us after failures but to use them for the Glory of God.
8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
You are going to fail in your life and God already knows it. He also knows that you are not defined by your sin, you are defined by your ability to use your failures as building blocks of your faith and to strengthen those around you.
When Jim Burke became the head of a new products division at Johnson & Johnson, one of his first projects was the development of a children's chest rub. The product failed miserably, and Burke expected that he would be fired. When he was called in to see the chairman of the board, however, he met a surprising reception. "Are you the one who just cost us all that money?" asked Robert Wood Johnson. "Well I just want to congratulate you. If you are making mistakes, that means you are taking risks, and we won't grow unless you take risks." Some years later, when Burke himself became chairman of J&J, he continued to spread that word.
We can talk all day about how you see your failures and mistakes. The fact though is that it does not matter how you see your failures and how you forgive yourself. That is useless. The fact is that God see’s your failures before they happen and He sets before you His forgiveness before you have ever fallen. His forgiveness is Pre-determined. His forgiveness is also present.
His Forgiveness is Present
His Forgiveness is Present
52 Then Jesus said to the chief priests and officers of the temple and elders, who had come out against him, “Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs? 53 When I was with you day after day in the temple, you did not lay hands on me. But this is your hour, and the power of darkness.”
54 Then they seized him and led him away, bringing him into the high priest’s house, and Peter was following at a distance. 55 And when they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat down among them. 56 Then a servant girl, seeing him as he sat in the light and looking closely at him, said, “This man also was with him.” 57 But he denied it, saying, “Woman, I do not know him.” 58 And a little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.” But Peter said, “Man, I am not.” 59 And after an interval of about an hour still another insisted, saying, “Certainly this man also was with him, for he too is a Galilean.” 60 But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are talking about.” And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. 61 And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the saying of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.” 62 And he went out and wept bitterly.
We often times believe that this took place outside of the place where Jesus was being questioned but the fact is that these interactions all took place within sight of Jesus. Peter had positioned himself so that he could see what was happening to Jesus and in some aspect may have been trying to rescue Jesus from the evil men holding him. After all He had already cut one guys ear off to save Jesus. Peter positioned himself close so that he could hear and see what was going on. The issue with this though is that Jesus could also see and hear what was going on with Peter. As we read this scripture I find it interesting that as Jesus hears this happening, after the first time Jesus does not turn to Peter, after the second He does not turn to Peter, but after the third time Jesus turns and looks at Peter. We often times get this image that in our failures and struggles, and sin that God is far off and that He is unable to see or hear us. Why would He want to see or hear from us we are sinning and making a mockery of His name. Just like Jesus was near to Peter in this moment in his life God is never far from you or me when we are struggling in our lives. He knows where we are and what we are doing and He still loves us through it. God does not leave or forsake us even in the middle of the times of our life when we are denying Him. What He will do is to remind you of His presence. Have you noticed this in your life that God’s presence is always there?
Ordering pizza every day may actually turn out to be a lifesaver. Just ask Oregon's Kirk Alexander, who is alive today because of his intense loyalty to his local Domino's. When Alexander hadn't ordered any pizzas in more than a week, the Domino's staff got concerned. According to the general manager, it was "not like him at all" to go so long without an order—he'd been ordering almost every day since becoming a consistent customer in 2009. The manager asked a delivery driver to go check on him, and sure enough, Alexander didn't answer the door or his phone: even though his lights and TV were on. Thanks to the driver's 911 call, Alexander—who had required "immediate medical attention"—is now recovering at a local hospital.
God is never far from us even in the deepest darkest parts of our lives He stands ready for us to see Him. For us to simply lock eyes with Him and experience the same feeling Peter had. Peter saw the eyes of Jesus and left weeping. His failure lead him to a place of weeping and repentance. This same presence of God is evident in our lives, not looking to destroy us but to lead us to repentance.
28 But for me it is good to be near God;
I have made the Lord God my refuge,
that I may tell of all your works.
18 The Lord is near to the brokenhearted
and saves the crushed in spirit.
23 “Am I a God at hand, declares the Lord, and not a God far away?
8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
God is not far from you and your sin does not deter Him from showing His loving presence in your life. His presence should lead us to repentance. God knows that we are going to struggle and fail and yet His forgiveness is pre-determined for us, when we are in the middle of the worst of our lives He is there with us and His presence does not leave us. His forgiveness also restores us.
His Forgiveness Restores
His Forgiveness Restores
15 When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, 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 a second time, “Simon, son of John, 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 John, 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 everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. 18 Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.” 19 (This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, “Follow me.”
Three times Peter denied Jesus and Three times Jesus affirmed His purpose for Peter. The failure and falling of Peter was not the defined purpose for Peter but the building of His brothers and the spreading of the Gospel to the world were. Jesus in this dialogue with Peter was not drawing Peter to a place of hating himself but of seeing Jesus’ love for him. Jesus knew the path forward for Peter and what this experience would lead him to do in his life. The failure was a part of the building process for Peter. Are your failures and struggles leading you closer to Christ in a more committed way and restoring you every time or are they leading you away? This is your choice. Jesus stands ready to restore you to give you a hope and a future and to provide for you the understanding that your shortcomings are not meant to allow the devil to win the glory but to be used to bring glory to a forgiving and loving God. We serve a God who desires to forgive and a God who loves desperately knowing what we are going to do and where we are going to go. These situations where we deny Christ in our lives are meant to build our faith and to lead us to changing the world. You are a world changer if you will not allow the failures in your life to define you. We cannot live in a life that chooses sin but we cannot live a life that allows failures and sin to cripple our faith either.
A few years ago, an angry man rushed through the Rijks Museum in Amsterdam until he reached Rembrandt's famous painting "Nightwatch." Then he took out a knife and slashed it repeatedly before he could be stopped. A short time later, a distraught, hostile man slipped into St. Peter's Cathedral in Rome with a hammer and began to smash Michelangelo's beautiful sculpture The Pieta. Two cherished works of art were severely damaged. But what did officials do? Throw them out and forget about them? Absolutely not! Using the best experts, who worked with the utmost care and precision, they made every effort to restore the treasures.
By His sovereign grace, God can bring good out of our failures, and even out of our sins. J. Stuart Holden tells of an old Scottish mansion close to where he had his little summer home. The walls of one room were filled with sketches made by distinguished artists. The practice began after a pitcher of soda water was accidentally spilled on a freshly decorated wall and left an unsightly stain. At the time, a noted artist, Lord Landseer, was a guest in the house. One day when the family went out to the moors, he stayed behind. With a few masterful strokes of a piece of charcoal, that ugly spot became the outline of a beautiful waterfall, bordered by trees and wildlife. He turned that disfigured wall into one of his most successful depictions of Highland life.
Your life does not need to be defined by the stains of sin but in how God can restore that stain to a beautiful picture of His grace and His mercy, and His love. Just like God restored Peter He wants to restore us every time we enter periods of denying him in our lives.
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
and uphold me with a willing spirit.
7 Instead of your shame there shall be a double portion;
instead of dishonor they shall rejoice in their lot;
therefore in their land they shall possess a double portion;
they shall have everlasting joy.
10 And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.
19 Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, 20 that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, 21 whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago.
11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.
We can trust in God’s forgiveness. Some in here this morning need to forgive themselves. You like Peter have returned to your old life and are living as if you never experienced the power of Christ. It is time to listen to Him say to you that He loves you and is not done with you yet. Some in here have never experienced the love of God, maybe you have heard about it, maybe you have seen glimpses of it but you have never repented of your sin and given your heart to a God who restores. That can be yours this morning.
