Testify even if you've messed up

Introduction

Last week we talked about testifying when you’re young and not allowing yourself to be silent about the gospel because you are a teenager. This is so important and transformational for you to realize and understand that Jesus WANTS you to partner with Him in bringing the good news of salvation to your friends. We need you to be bold. We need you to set the pace. We need you to step up. Jesus desires for you to do so and chooses to work through you! What a privilege we have. Some of you don’t have a problem with being bold, you just know you’ve messed up, and so do others…you feel disqualified, you feel shame, you feel like nobody will listen to you because of what you’ve done, or Jesus won’t forgive you because you’ve sinned too much. Or he can’t use you because you’re too messed up. So, can God use a broken vessel?

Jesus knew Peters mess ups, and he knows yours (Luke 22:33-34; Luke 22:54-62)

Peter didn’t realize his own weakness. Jesus knew Peter better than Peter knew himself. Jesus knows us better than we know ourselves, and yet he still loves us knowing the depths of our weakness. Peter swore that he was ready to die for Christ and assured the Lord that he would never deny him. But Jesus knew better because he foreknew.

Peter does exactly as Jesus tells him he is going to do. He messed up. He wasn’t bold when it counted. He didn’t step up to the plate and hit a home run. There was a lot of hostility in the room and this could have Peter arrested too and he knew that. So he denied Jesus. Peter was heartbroken as Jesus looked at him and he went away in shame.

Jesus prays for you when Satan desires to sift you (Luke 22:31-32)

Satan’s intent for you is to be sifted, broken, shattered, godless, rejecting God, going after your own way because of your lack of ability to see God’s goodness in the midst of your trials. Satan wants to kill, steal, and destroy. Satan demanded to have the disciples and have them tossed back and forth and destroyed by trial and hardship.

BUT JESUS PRAYED FOR THEM THAT THEIR FAITH WOULD NOT FAIL. Jesus prayed for Simon and the other disciples that they would take heart and have faith. Jesus prays for you to have faith as well. How encouraging is that? Jesus didn’t pray for his disciples to be freed from trouble or trial but that THEY WOULD HAVE FAITH IN THE MIDST OF THEM. FAITH IS SO IMPORTANT IN DEEP WATERS

SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN THROUGH DEEP WATERS HAS THE EXPERIENCE TO BE OF HELP TO OTHERS. (2 Corinthians 1:6 “If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer.”)

Jesus forgives you and continues to walk with you (John 21:15-25)

Jesus came to sit and have breakfast with seven of the disciples by the sea of Tiberias. Afterwards He has a conversation with Peter that just shows us a look at how Jesus never gives up on His people, even when they crack under pressure. Again, He knows you to the uttermost. He knows your deepest doubts, he knows what you struggle with, he knows about your disobedience, he knows! And yet, He still chose to forgive you and call you to walk with Him and be adopted into the family of God!

Three times He asked Peter if Peter loved Him. Jesus knew Peter loved Him, and maybe this was looking back to the moment Peter denied Jesus three times. Regardless, Jesus still calls Peter to great things in spite of his mistakes. Jesus chooses to use broken vessels to display His mighty power and transformative good news.

Conclusion

Jesus knows your worst, and still chooses to use you.

Jesus prays for you when Satan wants to destroy you.

What God says goes.

Jesus’ forgiveness is greater than your greatest sins. Follow Him. He is mightier than you can imagine or comprehend.