Failure and Uncertainty

Story:

Peter is a failure. He committed a public act of hypocrisy. The Good Friday story: Peter promised he would never leave Jesus’ side, but when Jesus was arrested, he denied knowing Jesus three times. Peter has failed, he did it publicly.

Personal reflection (my response to). Examples of failure that hurt? (temper, lying) , actions family, ministry, career - it’s everywhere) Consequences: damaged relationships, career, church, you. paralyzes, demotivates, lose confidence - fear repeating that mistake, shame.

Message: How do we overcome failure?: How does Christ help Peter? 3 c’s:

Confront our failure. Accept a new Challenges us to new calling. God does it, and gives us a new confidence.

Confronting failure.

he does it by a fire (a specific type of fire),. the original language helps us. (technical?) The fire is a specific type of fire - a charcoal fire.

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. John 18:17–18

they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread. John 21:9

2 fires, similar, confrontation. Peter is confronted with his failure 3 times. See the deep impact?

“Love me more than these?” 3x - reminder of Peter’s public failure? Remember that time you denied my three times? You’ve commited before, but failed. It’s painful.

Remember your painful failures: words can’t take back (recipe for failure); betrayed someone, a rewind those tapes, imagining yourself trying again but doing if differently? I am preaching to myself. Confront it, not. relive it. Acknowledge to God its effect on you and others

don’t stop there. When we confront past failures, we are challenged for new things.

A weird challenge here:

Love me more than these? (fish?) Imagine over the dinner table - love me more than this casserole? That can’t be what Jesus meant (an interesting sermon I suppose)

Fish represents Peter’s old trade: Are you going back to your predictable, stable job, where I first called you? A good career, same ministry provides stability. Or will you leave that behind and follow me:

The challenge: feed my sheep. Feed my lambs. Get unstuck and get out there.

Peter is uncertain.

When Peter saw him, he asked, “Lord, what about him?” Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me. John 21:21-22

Jesus doesn’t really give a great pep talk: “You can do it!” v. “It’s going to cost you big time.” “But God will be glorified.” Not, “Oh yeah, it’s going to kill you” v. God will be glorified.“ His name will be magnified.

Summary:

Failure will continue to hurt you. Like acid on your soul It will paralyze you. Take away your confidence. 1) God will give you grease to confront it, name it. Acknowledge its impact. 2) God will not just restore you, God will challenge you. That chain is gone, you are free from and free for. 3) Where are you sent? Who knows? There will be uncertainty, but by God’s grace you can have confidence, .

Confront the failure Accept the new challenge. Have confidence