Reborn for Greatness - Session 3 - Restoration and Spirit Power

Pick up your card

What are some feelings that come to mind when you think about this thing or things on the card?

In what ways have you seen this hinder your relationship with Christ? With others?

How has it impacted the way you think the Lord sees you/feels about you?

Restoration and Spirit Power

The story didn’t end for Peter after he denied Jesus…

In fact, in many ways, it was really the beginning of the most fruitful and spiritually powerful parts of Peter’s life.

John 21:1–19 ESV

1 After this Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias, and he revealed himself in this way. 2 Simon Peter, Thomas (called the Twin), Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples were together. 3 Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will go with you.” They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. 4 Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. 5 Jesus said to them, “Children, do you have any fish?” They answered him, “No.” 6 He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, because of the quantity of fish. 7 That disciple whom Jesus loved therefore said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment, for he was stripped for work, and threw himself into the sea. 8 The other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, but about a hundred yards off. 9 When they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire in place, with fish laid out on it, and bread. 10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.” 11 So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, 153 of them. And although there were so many, the net was not torn. 12 Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” Now none of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. 13 Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and so with the fish. 14 This was now the third time that Jesus was revealed to the disciples after he was raised from the dead. 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.”

John 21:1-19

How does it make you feel to know that Jesus would look at your deepest and darkest sin and forgive you?

Points:

Jesus took Peter back to that place (figuratively - the charcoal fire) where he had denied Jesus

Jesus took Peter back to that place (figuratively - the charcoal fire) where he had denied Jesus?

Jesus isn’t afraid of those moments of your failure.

In fact, He will press into those moments to redeem them

Peter denied Jesus three times while next to a charcoal fire

Jesus now asks Peter three times - do you love me.

Jesus was in effect, wiping out Peter’s denial by having him profess his love for Jesus three times.

There are going to be areas of your heart that you do not want to let Jesus into…

You will think it is too bad… too ugly… too wrong…

Or that Jesus could not possibly still love you if you gave Him access to that thought…

But these are lies from the enemy, meant to keep you in the darkness, meant to keep you hiding.

It is precisely these areas that Jesus goes straight towards in your heart.

He knows that when He steps into your darkest fear/failure, that it will set a precedent in your heart for trusting Him with everything.

Jesus restored Peter’s position in ministry PUBLICLY!

Remember, when Peter so boastfully said that he was ready to go to his death with Jesus, everyone was around.

He also denied Jesus publicly.

So that those around him would know the grace of God, Jesus restores his position of ministry publicly.

This is part of the reason that it is so important to confess your sins to one another, because in doing so, we experience healing in a few ways.

1. we get it off our chests

2. Our brothers/sisters help us carry those burdens

3. We get to witness Jesus’ grace poured out to us, in spite of our sin.

The first words that Jesus spoke to Peter personally were also the last - Follow me!

When Jesus first encountered Peter, fishing in the Sea of Galilee, He said to Him “Follow Me”

And now, the last words that we have recorded of Jesus speaking to Peter are “Follow Me”

The call is the same call for you…

He is calling to you now - follow me.

In spite of what is on that card… follow me

He is saying that He will deal with that, you just follow Him.

As we close in prayer, I want you to take that card, and I want you to place it in the fire and watch it burn up…

says that as far as the east is from the west, so far does He remove our transgressions from us.

The point is - they’re gone.

Jesus died for that..

He was punished for that, so you no longer stand under condemnation.

He took the wrath for that, so you don’t need to remain captive to the pain that it causes.