Peter: Repentance drives Reconciliation

Good morning.

Just a quick camp update these are the students who have signed up for Jr Sr High Camp

Kaley Compton

Kinley Compton

Katy Sue Pritchett

Declan Washburn

Jaycee Washburn

I want to draw your attention to a few things that are happening

i want you to use these things for yourself but also use them as an introduction to us and Jesus to your lost friends and family members.

On the website there is a new page that is my blog

this will be updated each week and recaps the sermon from the Sunday before

It is a great place for someone who is standoffish about church but open to doing some reading

it is also a great place for you to go to have another look at the past week’s message

In addition to the notes page you noticed another document.

That is a 5 day devotional based of today’s message.

hard copies of those will be available each week here at church

It will also be on the CCC app

again if you do not have the app go to the play store or the apple store and search cccnevadamo and download and make an account

again both the 5 day devotional and the app are a great way to reach out to the lost

they may not dawn the door of the church but they will an app or may accept and read a daily devotional

reminder on the app

there is access to all of our sermons

now the 5 day devotionals and so much more

there is also a bible function that you or they may use to read the bible and when they come across a scripture that has been used in a sermon there is a link to the sermon video right there

another thing that is now available that hopefully will help many is i have the ability to make small group discussion guides complete with questions etc from each sermon

if you are feeling called to lead a life group yet are intimidated by what to teach you could use these and dive deeper into the message each week...i will not publish these but would be glad to share them with you

please use the app yourself and talk about it with as many people as you come in contact with

again not for our glory but as a tool to spread the Gospel to as many as possible

lets pray

This morning we dive into repentance drives reconciliation through Peter and his denial of Christ

This is a powerful story pointing to true life change and reconciliation through repentance

Peter’s denial of Jesus caused tremendous heartache, but he confessed and left transformed

I pray when you leave here this morning you will know and understand even in your most helpless, fearful state, and after boldly denying your sin, you can still confess your wrongdoing and be transformed by Jesus

Turn to

Luke 22:31–34

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“And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren. And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death. And he said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me.”

Simon Peter

Full of passion and zeal

you and I are a lot like Peter being full of passion and zeal for Jesus when we know it is safe

it is easy to claim right now that we will gladly face prison or death for Jesus

you and i don't face prison or death.....I pray when....not if…but when we do we will still be so bold

Lets dive into this powerful conversation

Luke 22:31–32

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“And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.”

do you ever stop to think about the spiritual warfare going on around you at all times

Ephesians 6:12

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“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”

make no mistake about spiritual warfare is raging around each and every one of us

many don’t recognize it

many don’t take it seriously

many are being destroyed by it but blaming worldly things

drugs

alcohol

porn

nicotine

family

friends

government

political parties

they are caught up fighting a fleshly war when the war is spiritual

Jesus gives us a glimpse of this in vs 31

“Satan hath desired to have you”

Spiritual warfare.......you must understand who you are fighting and more importantly must understand WHO is fighting those battles for you

without Jesus you and i are doomed

I love that Jesus is already pointing towards reconciliation even before the sin that needs to be repented of happens

look at the last part of 32.....”when thou are converted” not only was Jesus predicting Peters fall but also his restoration

Jesus is saying when you get through this and are back in right standing with me and my Father

strengthen you brothers

be a leader

serve

love

teach

admonish

Lead them

Pretty cool stuff

Jesus predicts Peter’s fall

Peter says I will go to prison

I will die for you

Jesus says before the cock crows....before the morning you will deny me three times

stark difference

complete opposite

This is the background for our main scripture this morning

Luke 22:54–62

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“Then took they him, and led him, and brought him into the high priest’s house. And Peter followed afar off. And when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the hall, and were set down together, Peter sat down among them. But a certain maid beheld him as he sat by the fire, and earnestly looked upon him, and said, This man was also with him. And he denied him, saying, Woman, I know him not. And after a little while another saw him, and said, Thou art also of them. And Peter said, Man, I am not. And about the space of one hour after another confidently affirmed, saying, Of a truth this fellow also was with him: for he is a Galilaean. And Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest. And immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew. And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And Peter went out, and wept bitterly.”

Let all that sink in for a little bit

Sometimes when we read scriptures and something heavy happens like this we need to sit in it a while

Let the emotions

let the intensity of it be observed

put yourself in the area around the fire

the sights

the sounds

feeling it happen

this is intense

all of it

super intense

we look at Peter boldly proclaiming he would go to prison and even die for Jesus and hours later

deny

deny

deny

Now before we attack Peter

he had real threats to fear

they had just arrested Jesus

the entire focus of the past 3 years of his life was taken by the mob to the high priests house

what would they do to Jesus

what would they do to His disciples

this was a real

legitimate threat to Peter

how many times have you justified denial because of a legitimate threat

loss of job

loss of money

lost of friends and family

loss of status

you get the picture

Peter was fearful

in that fear he lied

he denied

self-preservation

as Dion Sanders said business decision

corner backs are built for speed and agility not size and sometimes they make a business decision and decide not to come up and hit much larger men

Peter made a business decision....this is not safe for me

avoid

lie

deny

but eye contact.......one look into Jesus’ eyes and Peter broke

If I am honest with you I don’t know that I have ever really caught that part before

I have heard this scripture

I have read this scripture

I have taught this scripture before but

never noticed “And the Lord, and looked upon Peter”

Imagine the guilt

the shame

the embarrassment

the failure that Peter felt in that moment

Jesus....

the One Peter was loyal to

Peter’s savior just looked into his eyes IN HIS FAILURE

Unfortunately I have failed my beautiful bride many times....I know hard to believe......but I have failed her and sadly will fail her again in the future and when that realization that i failed her who i love so deeply sets in it is heartbreaking

it is soul crushing

the guilt

the shame

the pure sorrow for failing the one I love so very much is overwhelming

One look from Jesus melted him into tears of godly sorrow for his sin

Peter wept bitterly

this is sobbing

this is a complete emotional wreck

this is that ugly cry

face soaked in tears

snot running out your nose

sobbing....complete breakdown

Is that you?

Last week we talked about repentance leading to transformation

this cross was full of things that you came and gave to Jesus

Transformed believers melt to tears of godly sorrow for their sin

Peter got away and wept bitterly tears of godly sorrow for his sin

This is one of many things that separates religion from relationship

I don't know who Tim Keller is but he wrote a book on repentance and in it he says

“In religion we only are sorry for sin because of its consequences to us. It will bring us punishment and we want to avoid that. So we repent. But the Gospel tells us that sin can’t ultimately bring us into condemnation (Romans 8:1)

thus in religion repentance is self-centered; the Gospel makes it God centered. In religion we are mainly sorry for the consequences of sin but in the Gospel we are sorry for the sin itself”

There is a huge difference

when you sin why are you sorry

are you sorry because you got caught and now have to face the music or are you sorry because you sinned against God

hurt God

failed God?

Here Peter denied Jesus because he was fearful at even being associated with Him but one look from Jesus brought him to his knees

Peter wept because he broke Jesus’ heart

Peter wept because he failed his best friend and savior

Is that truly who Jesus is to you?

Is Jesus truly your best friend and savior?

Church this is so important

If you don’t have relationship with Jesus your religion doesnt matter

you can come to church every Sunday for 100 years and if you don’t have a personal relationship with Jesus you will go to hell

Hell is real and without Jesus you are doomed to spend eternity there

If the only time you claim Jesus is here on Sunday mornings you have issues that only Jesus can solve

It is about relationship not religion

Peter repented and Jesus forgave

Lets turn to John to see Jesus forgiveness to Peter

John 21:15–17

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“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. 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. 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.”

Jesus lovingly restored Peter

Peter denied Jesus 3 times

Jesus restored him 3 times

For Jesus religion is worthless but relationship is everything

Jesus knew Peter needed restored

Jesus knew Peter loved Him despite his denying Him

There are people in your life that need to know you love them despite their sin and shortcomings

There are people in your life that need to know you love them despite their failing you

Won’t you seek relationship this morning?????

Jesus is showing us scripture being played out

1 John 1:8–9

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“If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

You must understand the process of confession and repentance

When you confess and repent you are forgiven

cleansed of all unrighteousness

Put back in perfect relationship with Jesus

Do you get it

Do you see it

Peter saw it

Peter got it

Peter went from hiding

Peter went from lying

Peter went from denying

to delivering the Gospel with passion and conviction and authenticity that lead to 3000 people came to repentance and salvation and baptism

Peter confessed

Jesus forgave and restored Peter

Repentance leads to reconciliation

I don't know where you are but you do and God does

This is the time to confess

this is the time to repent

This is the time to be restored this morning

If God has moved in your heart this morning come

If the Holy Spirit is calling you to salvation in Jesus this morning come to me and lets talk about it

whatever it is come

Invitation

Gracefully Broken