There is Hope 7/14/2019

Hopeless people are miserable people. Satan is the huckster of hopelessness. He wants you to abandon any hope.

An inscription over the huge, hideous iron gates of the prison De La Roquette, in Paris, France…Which is set apart for criminals who are condemned to death, reads, “Abandon hope, all ye who enter here!” Many people live out that inscription.

People without hope are:

Like a farmer who sows, but never reaps.

Like a merchant who never sells a dollar’s worth of goods;

Like a doctor who never cures a patient.

Satan wants us to picture ourselves as beyond God’s reach. Beyond God’s help, concern or interest.

How could God care about me?

The way I’ve treated Him...

The way I’ve talked about Him...

The way I’ve used His name...

How could God care about me?

All part of Satan’s plan to thwart the purpose of God in our lives. In contrast to Satan’s measure of hopelessness…there is God’s incredible expanse of hope.

Bible’s greatest illustration of transformed hopelessness is found in one of the New Testament’s greatest heroes. A man named Simon Peter.

Peter preached the first gospel message of the new testament.

Death, burial, and resurrection

Offers hearers a remedy for their failure

Acts 2:37-38

Acts 2:37–38 NKJV

Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Peter is prominent figure in Acts 3, 10, and 11. He wrote two letters to the church that deal with patience in suffering.

Peter was a hero of the faith.

Crucified in Rome.

Cruelly forced to watch as his wife was put to death, dying painfully before his eyes.

When it was his turn to be crucified, he ask that he be crucified upside down, declaring himself unworthy of dying in the same way as Jesus Christ.

Simon Peter has to be classified as a hero of the faith.

Well what does that have to do with me? I’m no hero. I am far from any of the things you said about Peter.

He was in the inner circle of disciples, I’ve struggled to serve the master.

Peter was a preacher, it could be argued that I’m not even a good church member. What does Peter have to do with me?

Look at the Bible. It is the evening of the Passover supper… Jesus has just washed his disciples feet and spent time giving them final instructions concerning the future. They are leaving Jerusalem on the way to Gethsemane.

Matthew 26:30–35 NKJV

And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. Then Jesus said to them, “All of you will be made to stumble because of Me this night, for it is written: ‘I will strike the Shepherd, And the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ But after I have been raised, I will go before you to Galilee.” Peter answered and said to Him, “Even if all are made to stumble because of You, I will never be made to stumble.” Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you that this night, before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” Peter said to Him, “Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!” And so said all the disciples.

Notice the disciples self confidence… Simon Peter leading. He is talking a serious level of commitment. Even if I have to die...

Luke 22:56–62 NKJV

And a certain servant girl, seeing him as he sat by the fire, looked intently at him and said, “This man was also with Him.” But he denied Him, saying, “Woman, I do not know Him.” And after a little while another saw him and said, “You also are of them.” But Peter said, “Man, I am not!” Then after about an hour had passed, another confidently affirmed, saying, “Surely this fellow also was with Him, for he is a Galilean.” But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are saying!” Immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had said to him, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” So Peter went out and wept bitterly.

The denial! Why did Peter fail so miserably?

Videos, memes of DIY projects - Nailed it! This is Peter’s nailed it moment.

Our society holds in high regard…self confidence and self reliance. Peter was both. Even if I have to die, I will not deny you!

Whatever comes I can handle it.

Some things you cannot make it through by yourself… you just can’t do it.

Peter’s comfort became important. He warmed his hands at the fire of the enemies of the Lord. His seeking personal comfort led to the final thing.

When personal comfort becomes important, and we often don’t know how important it is to us. We get tuned in to what others think. When what others think becomes important, pride steps in. Before Peter knew what was happening he denies the Lord three times.

We can relate to that… what Peter had committed himself to he now denies. He disowns the Lord, not one time but three times in the space of a little time.

We know failure...

Marriage

Parenting

Business

Christianity

So we can relate to Simon Peter. But the story does not end there.

Luke 22:60–62 NKJV

But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are saying!” Immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had said to him, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” So Peter went out and wept bitterly.

Prophecy was fulfilled. What Jesus said would come to pass did come to pass. Don’t have to look far to see that Prophecy is being fulfilled. All that Jesus said would come to pass, has and will continue to do so.

Peter is brought to a crisis moment in his life. Does he continue downward? He’s lied and cursed. Does he continue in his failure? Or is there another way? In the face of failure Judas committed suicide. What would Peter do?

Peter went out and wept bitterly. This is a picture of repentance. Peter is repentant of his failure. His failure would not be the last chapter in his life. He wept bitterly in repentance.

Need the Church

Altar Music

Peter, in spite of his failure, joined himself to the rest of the disciples and believers. He was not the only failure in the group. They had all fled. Matthew, James, John, Thomas, Thaddeus, all the others. All had failed at the crucifixion of Christ. It was a company of failures.

You need a church. Not a church of perfect people. A church of failures. Mixed up, messed up humanity. A company of failures.

Mark 16:1–7 NKJV

Now when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, that they might come and anoint Him. Very early in the morning, on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb when the sun had risen. And they said among themselves, “Who will roll away the stone from the door of the tomb for us?” But when they looked up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away—for it was very large. And entering the tomb, they saw a young man clothed in a long white robe sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed. But he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid Him. But go, tell His disciples—and Peter—that He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him, as He said to you.”

A specific invitation. Don’t leave out the denier. Tell the disciples, and Peter. Make sure he knows I want him there, I want to see him in Galilee.

You may have failed but the Lord is calling for you.

You may feel hopeless, Satan having lied to you that you cannot recover. But the Lord’s purpose and plan are bigger than your failure.