From Regret to Restoration

Experiment -= trying something, not knowing how it will turn out; testing the waters; believing God is leading, but still discerning -a method of discernment; pray, dwell in the Word, but at some point our discernment must take concrete action.

Failure does happen, in ministry (make bad decision without hearing from God), in relationships, work and family.

Peter has failed (public denial). He has encountered the risen Jesus, but he has not been reconciled to Jesus. When we hurt someone, we can’t just pretend that things are okay. Wait until things subside - have a polite conversation and things are okay. Things are not okay between Peter and Jesus.

Peter is back to where Jesus first found him: fishing. Some say this was Peter’s way to cope with his bitter disappointment and personal failure. Others say that he was simply doing what Jesus said:

Mark 16:7 NIV

But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’ ”

I think there was a little of both here. He was going to Galilee where Jesus instructed them to go, but he is also resuming the only life he knew. Plus he has to eat.

John 21:4–19 NIV

Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus. He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?” “No,” they answered. He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish. Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, “It is the Lord,” he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards. When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread. Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.” So Simon Peter climbed back into the boat and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead. When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.” The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!”

The sermon is about Peter’s regret, and how he moved on from that regret and was restored to right relationship with God. We hear the term “personal failures,” but personal failures almost always hurt other people. (addiction, anger, dishonesty, poor priorities, physical health). We cannot move on from our failures without reconciliation.

Regret: God’s Favor to Failures

John 21:6 NIV

He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.

God shows favor - he blesses, even when we fail; hard to see when we carry guilt, when our sin seperates us from God;

God shows Peter favor - he gives him a successful catch. Remember the purpose of fish - could be perceived as a miracle to be observed, but remember when Peter was first called - “...cast your nets on the other side.” The miraculous catch, the huge pile of fish pointed to something greater than good fortune = pointed to calling; success in ministry that only comes from God.

“Sell those fish, make some money and take care of your family. Expand your business. Upgrade your way of living. God’s blessings are a beginning, not a means to an end.

Every week I get bombarded with advertisements for Christian organizations promising to improve the church. How to market your church. How to reach new people. How to preach better. How to grow programs. There are so many resources for churches that it’s easy to get lost in them. And yet churches still struggle. I get tired of them; waste of paper too.

I have a friend who was a pastor, but became a missionary to China. (tired of business side of church, the politics; he described his work in China as ‘raw Gospel.’ Teaching the Word, making disciples. He left he business behind. He left the church growth brochures behind. He said, “If you have dreams of being a successful pastor and growing a large church, stay out of missionary work. You will never fulfill that dream. You will lead people to Christ, you will disciple people, but they wiill go and start their own churches.”

Churches in China Third World countries have no clue when it comes to these ‘success’ driven methodologies. In their poverty and they have to rely on prayer for the power of God and the simple sharing of the gospel. Christianity in some Third World areas appears to be growing almost out of control. My point: God’s favor is not for our own benefit - it is for the kingdom of God. The miracle of the fish is not an extra source of income - it symbolizes how Peter will lead countless numbers of people to Christ.

The Message of John 1. Fishing with Jesus (21:1–14)

Interestingly, by contrast, the churches of the Third World are, by and large, uninformed concerning these new discoveries and ‘success’ methodologies. In their poverty and weakness they have to rely on prayer for the power of God and the simple direct sharing of the gospel. The results are often remarkable. Christianity in some Third World areas appears to be growing almost out of control. Obviously there are massive generalizations involved in these observations (though they are made from first-hand experience on several continents). The trouble with the ‘know-how’ of the western churches is not the knowledge in itself, in most cases, but the insidious temptation to trust in it. It is there that the breakdown occurs, and where this story speaks so relevantly. There was nothing wrong with the disciples’ fishing ‘know-how’; it simply did not bring them any fish when they relied upon it. When they followed Jesus and relied on him, to some extent in defiance of the instincts of their experience, the harvest was overwhelming.

Regret: God’s Fellowship with Failures

When the resurrected Jesus appeared to people, there was always food invoved.

John 21:13 NIV

Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish.

Luke 24:30 NIV

When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them.

Luke 24:41 NIV

And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?”

Jesus made his post-resurrection appearances to failures: people who did not understand he was going to die, ran when he was arrested, and even had trouble believing even when seeing him. Jesus did not avoid poeple who had hurt him.

Who do you avoid? People that are different (race, economic status, religion [muslim attire], personality that doesn’t mesh with yours; when we know we’ve hurt someone we might avoid them; or people who have hurt us;

eating - intimate fellowship (ex. dr.s private room in cafe; friend working for trucking company, not allowed to eat with managers; eat with stranger at school?)

Jesus has an infinite capacity to forgive - he is carrying visible wounds that have resulted from his abandonment; it’s hard to forigive when we’re still carrying the wounds; Jesus forgives, it’s one thing to say “I forgive you,” it’s another to offer intimate fellowship; that’s a sign of true forgiveness and a desire to reconcile;

Jesus’ fellowship is a form of confrontation - we also avoid poeple whom we’ve hurt; the goal of confronting the offender - reconciliation; ex. follow the directions of Jesus solves so many conflicts - “Do we have to do that?”

it’s hard to forgive when the woulds still exist; the good news for us: Jesus has an infinite ability to forgive - he fellowships with sinners, with failures, with the best and the worst of us;

Restoration: Confronting our Failures

John 21:16 NIV

Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”

John 21:

charcoal fire? - anthrakia, specific type of fire; Question asked 3x; coincidence?

I talked a minute ago about avoiding poeple who have hurt us - what people we have hurt?

Peter, face your sin; face your victim (AA - not just internal healing, recognizing the damage to others; not just about your healing, but the healing of others you have hurt; AA gets it right, we struggle with it)

Acknowledge specifically your sin to the victim, ask for their forgiveness - freedom for you, freedom for the victim if they are ready to receive it; THAT’S FREEDOM!

Acknowledge specifically your sin to the victim, ask for their forgiveness - freedom for you, freedom for the victim if they are ready to receive it; FREEDOM!

John 18:18 NIV

It was cold, and the servants and officials stood around a fire they had made to keep warm. Peter also was standing with them, warming himself.

anthrakia

I talked a minute ago about avoiding poeple who have hurt us - what people we have hurt?

Acknowledge specifically your sin to the victim, ask for their forgiveness - freedom for you, freedom for the victim if they are ready to receive it; THAT’S FREEDOM! Freedom from sin and gulit - forgiveness isn’t just between me and God - it also involves the person I’ve offended. Facing your sin means facing your victims - which is harder - asking forgiveness from God or from the person you’ve hurt? (ex. mistake in ministry, hard to preach)

rebuild marriage without rebuilding trust? i like this example because it represents harsh betrayal, deep wounding, struggle to forgive, struggle to make the relationship whole; test the commitment (do you love me? prove it: accountability, transparency). test is for the spouse and for ourselves.

Peter, do you love me? Prove it. Love my sheep. Don’t give me words on Sunday morning, show me your love on the other 6 days.

Restoration: Reinstatement for Mission

John 21:18–19 NIV

Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!”

John 21:18 NIV

Great news! ??? Believe it or not, this is restoration. Restoration means forgiven, wholeness, right relationship with God, but it also means God putting us back on the mission field.

(Farming 4 Hunger - inmates experienced forgiveness, but they also have a sense of mission)

Great news! ??? Stretch out your hands, the

ex. rebuilding a marriage wi

Great news! ???

In fact, how can we say we are restored to right relationship with God is we are not being obedient, fulfilling our part of the covenant?

Stretch out your hands, the kind of death he would die. Many scholars say that Jesus was specifically referring to crucifixion. According to early church tradition he was crucified under Emperor Nero, who ordered the persecution of Christians and Jews. One tradition even says that Peter requested to be crucified upside down, because he was unworthy to be executed in the same manner as Jesus.

Peter: The “Finished” Product

I put the words “finished” in quotes, because we will always be a work in progress - if you think you have arrived, you have regressed; if you are proud of your accomplishments, you have regressed. If you are willing to stand up in th marketplace, family or neighborhood and share the Gospel, that’s a good sign of the Potter’s work in your life. For Peter, we see 3 wordsH stood up -

Acts 1:15 NIV

In those days Peter stood up among the believers (a group numbering about a hundred and twenty)

Acts 2:14 NIV

Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say.

Acts 1:15 NIV

In those days Peter stood up among the believers (a group numbering about a hundred and twenty)

Acts 1:

Acts 4:8 NIV

Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: “Rulers and elders of the people!

Before the 11 Disciples who needed leadership; Day of Pentecost, Before those that executed Jesus.

No excuses for avoiding the mission field - if anyone could present a laundry list of excuses it would be Peter. Peter was a failure - he publicly denied Jesus. Guilt over his past could have hindered him from mission, but God restored him.

Acts 2:

What excuses do we have for avoiding the mission field? Our past? Our weakness? our excuses make it all about us.

Acts 2:14 NIV

Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say.

God takes us, formless clay and makes us useful to the world; when that happens, we know that it’s not about us, but about the master potter.

Acts 4:8 NIV

Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: “Rulers and elders of the people!

John 21:18 NIV

John 21:18–19 NIV

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