God's Not Done

ASTERISK SERIES*

Everyone has an Asterisk over their life — God has more than you can see, ask, or imagine —

Jeremiah 29:11 NLT

11 For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.

Only HE knows the plans — They are for Good — Spend our lives saying “God what do you want? What would you have me do? How can I follow you better?”

Do you miss college football?

UGA Fan — Game Vs. Cin. — Down 2 Points with 3 Seconds left — Hit the FG — Then A Safety — These are my favorite games

THERE’S STILL TIME LEFT — As long as there is time on the clock: anything can happen

THE SAME IS TRUE FOR YOU — No matter your past, present, or future you’re still alive — And if there’s still time left that means you’re not dead — IF YOU’RE NOT DEAD GOD’S NOT DONE

PETER

One of the first disciples — Walks on water — Preaches one of the first post resurrection sermons

PETERS LIFE WAS MARKED BY FAILURE

If you have ever felt like failure PETER IS YOUR DUDE — Game night — Job — relationships — PETER HAS YOU BEAT — Nothing like hearing someone else did worse — Also marked by God still having a plan — ASTERISK

PETER’S INTRO TO FOLLOWING JESUS STARTS GREAT

Matthew 4:18–20 NLT

18 One day as Jesus was walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers—Simon, also called Peter, and Andrew—throwing a net into the water, for they fished for a living. 19 Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!” 20 And they left their nets at once and followed him.

This is a great — Leaves everything Behind to follow Jesus — No questions — Do I have to stop dipping?

[PAUL BLUE — GIVE IT ALL TO JESUS STORY]

Peter & Jesus seem close — Healing of Mother In Law — Then we see one of Peter’s most famous moments

Matthew 14:28–31 NLT

28 Then Peter called to him, “Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water.” 29 “Yes, come,” Jesus said. So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. “Save me, Lord!” he shouted. 31 Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him. “You have so little faith,” Jesus said. “Why did you doubt me?”

This is what seems like the start of everything for Peter — Everyone would call this failure — How could you doubt? — Imagine what he THINKS Jesus thinks about him?

Did you know that what you think others think about you is usually not accurate? — we can get so caught up in what we think… others think. — Most marriage fights? what you thought the other thought

Jesus just said “why did you doubt” — He didn’t say “you idiot, can’t believe you, how stupid” — but how often do we fill in those gaps?

We do the same with God — His feelings about you hasn’t changed — When we think God doesn’t like us we do 1 of 2 — Push away OR try to make it up

1. Failure may be something you did. But it’s not who you are.

You will make mistakes — we all will — but you’ve got to know that its not your failure that defines you, it’s your reaction when you fail that defines you — Push away or Make it up — or JESUS HELP!

Even after failure here is what Jesus says about PETER

Matthew 16:18 NLT

18 Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means ‘rock’), and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it.

You are loved — you were worth dying for — you have purpose — Shift your focus from what you think to what God has said “LEAN NOT ON YOUR OWN UNDERSTANDING”

When you get in your head and start to believe lies about yourself it’s a slippery slope — That’s what happened to Peter — Jesus in the garden praying — about to go to cross — Asks Disciples to pray — Peter asleep

Matthew 26:40 NLT

40 Then he returned to the disciples and found them asleep. He said to Peter, “Couldn’t you watch with me even one hour?

Notice how its says he found all the disciples sleeping but He calls out Peter — How do you feel if you’re Peter? — Can’t do anything right — Ever felt that way?

Not too long after Jesus is arrested — And Peter has another one of his most famous moments — This is his lowest moment

Matthew 26:69–75 NLT

69 Meanwhile, Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. A servant girl came over and said to him, “You were one of those with Jesus the Galilean.” 70 But Peter denied it in front of everyone. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said. 71 Later, out by the gate, another servant girl noticed him and said to those standing around, “This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.” 72 Again Peter denied it, this time with an oath. “I don’t even know the man,” he said. 73 A little later some of the other bystanders came over to Peter and said, “You must be one of them; we can tell by your Galilean accent.” 74 Peter swore, “A curse on me if I’m lying—I don’t know the man!” And immediately the rooster crowed. 75 Suddenly, Jesus’ words flashed through Peter’s mind: “Before the rooster crows, you will deny three times that you even know me.” And he went away, weeping bitterly.

His faith became inconvenient — So he denies knowing Jesus — This is Peter’s biggest failure — How do you forget something like this? — Get past it?

Is there something in your past that you haven’t gotten past? — Maybe it keeps you up some nights? — maybe it’s made you completely inactive — Why try again if i’ll just fail again?

“Satan deals in hopelessness. He wants us to see ourselves as outside the reach of God and his forgiveness”

Jesus nailed to cross — Dies — Buried — If Peter wasn’t feeling shame he is now

One morning three days later a few women go to the tomb where Jesus is —

Mark 16:5–7 NLT

5 When they entered the tomb, they saw a young man clothed in a white robe sitting on the right side. The women were shocked, 6 but the angel said, “Don’t be alarmed. You are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead! Look, this is where they laid his body. 7 Now go and tell his disciples, including Peter, that Jesus is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there, just as he told you before he died.”

2. IF YOU’RE NOT DEAD, GOD’S NOT DONE

Greater things are ahead — If you’re still breathing God still has a plan for your life — 9 or 99 you have a purpose — God wanted Peter to know I still have plans for you — I’m not done with you yet

Peter is then reinstated by Jesus — “Feed my sheep”

Then Peter does something incredible

Acts 2:14–15 NLT

14 Then Peter stepped forward with the eleven other apostles and shouted to the crowd, “Listen carefully, all of you, fellow Jews and residents of Jerusalem! Make no mistake about this. 15 These people are not drunk, as some of you are assuming. Nine o’clock in the morning is much too early for that.

Acts 2:22–24 NLT

22 “People of Israel, listen! God publicly endorsed Jesus the Nazarene by doing powerful miracles, wonders, and signs through him, as you well know. 23 But God knew what would happen, and his prearranged plan was carried out when Jesus was betrayed. With the help of lawless Gentiles, you nailed him to a cross and killed him. 24 But God released him from the horrors of death and raised him back to life, for death could not keep him in its grip.

Acts 2:36 NLT

36 “So let everyone in Israel know for certain that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, to be both Lord and Messiah!”

Acts 2:40–41 NLT

40 Then Peter continued preaching for a long time, strongly urging all his listeners, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation!” 41 Those who believed what Peter said were baptized and added to the church that day—about 3,000 in all.

3. THERE’S TOO MUCH ON THE LINE

[GEORGE SMITH STORY]

DON’T GIVE UP. THERE IS TOO MUCH ON THE LINE. There’s people who need your story, need your friendship, need your leadership in their lives because God will use it to lead them to Him and change their lives forever. Im not talking about just better habits. Im not talking about just better church attendance. Im talking about life changing. Family changing, generational change that makes a difference in the world. YOU’RE NOT DEAD, SO GOD’S NOT DONE, SO DON’T GIVE UP.