In the Middle of a Miracle
Sermon • Submitted • Presented
0 ratings
· 9 viewsNotes
Transcript
There is Refining before the Shinning
There is Refining before the Shinning
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.”
Here’s the beauty of Easter Sunday wrapped up and with a bow. Often times we hear of the story of Judas and how Judas betrayed Jesus and then went and killed himself, but that was never the desired outcome. The difference between Judas and Peter- Both failed- Both Denied Christ
Peter- Knew Jesus was Lord
You may be sitting here wondering why are we reading a verse about Simon and talking about Peter.
Because each of us are two different people. You have Simon who failed often-And Peter-The one who is called by God.
We have two names—The one our mother calls us when we were in trouble and the one God calls us.
Here’s the truth”
Failure is an event. Jesus is our Identity.
It doesn’t matter how far you feel you walked away from God you aren’t the sum of your past mistakes. You are who Jesus called you to be.
Satan was trying to shift Simon just like Satan tries to throw things in your life. God doesn’t create the issues in your life. Somtimes Satan does—Mostly it’s us. God just teaches us how to properly hit the curve ball out of the park.
Satan is trying to slip Simon up because Satan was Peter to have the same road that Judas took. If Satan can burden you with depression, guilt or shame then he can stop you because the burden made you too tired to carry the weight any further.
32 but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. …”
Jesus knows what Peter is about to face. He knows the spiritual attack, the personal failure, the deep shame BUT
Jesus stepped in ahead of time with intentional and specific intercesson.
The many people think the opposite of failure is success, but this scripture Jesus didn’t pray for success.
The opposite of failure is faith
Jesus prayed for fiath—because faith transcends failure. What you need when you fail, what yo need when you fall isn’t success—it’s faith. Faith that if God is for you who can be against you. Faith that you can do all things through Christ who gives you strength. Faith is what overcomes.
16 for the righteous falls seven times and rises again…
8 Rejoice not over me, O my enemy; when I fall, I shall rise; when I sit in darkness, the Lord will be a light to me.
Now techincally where there is a semi colon there could be a period. If there were a period
If there was a period the next sentance would read: Rejoice not over me, oh my enemy becuase when I sit in darkness the Lord will be the light to me.
Why?
Maybe you didn’t fail; Maybe you just didn’t finish.
32 …And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.”
Chapter 10, 20, 50
But when you have turned again. Listen Peter you didn’t fail, you just took a pause. You took a detour. When you get back up. When you dust yourself off. When you have turned again—Strengthen your brothers.
You’re failure doesn’t hav eto be a black stain in your past—
What shook you can be the pillar in someone else's earth quake.
You just aren’t done. The story isn’t finished.
You are in the middle of a miracle
The miracle just isn’t finished yet.
That’s the beauty of the cross. Jesus being hung on the cross is a one time event, but the story that’s written from the cross is still being written. Don’t make one event final. Make it chapter.
If the cross was the final chapter you and I wouldn’t be alive. The cross is where change happen and a new chapter starts. The cross, the death, the resurrection of Jesus continues in every story. Last week WE had 18 new chapters start when 18 people gave their life to Christ.
Who is ready to start a new chapter? Whose ready to turn the page on their failure and see how God is going to use it to build our faith?
