I've been thinking about my pastor's sermon all week. It was
so real and so needed for me and for many others. As a counselor, a believer
and a human I know full well the insecurities that can rage inside... the
feeling of not being good enough, having failed God in any capacity.
Pastor began on Sunday..."Failures can defeat or
develop you..." The Bible is full of people who have failed God... Adam.
Eve. David. Samson. Moses. Peter....Ah, yes. One of my new favorite characters.
I love Peter for his passion. He comes to the forefront of Gospel passages
because of his boldness to frequently speak and act. He loved Jesus. He stepped
out of the boat, humbled himself before Jesus over the increase in their catch
and acted protectively of Jesus in the garden.
In Luke 22:31-34 Jesus tells Peter “Simon, Simon, Satan has
asked to sift all of you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your
faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”
But he replied, “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death.” Jesus
answered, “I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny
three times that you know me.”
Jesus warns Peter, “You will deny Me”.... An
"overconfident Peter did not heed the warning and the outcome was not
pretty."
We learn Peter, when tested, denied being a disciple of
Christ three times. “Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: ‘Before
the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.’ And he went outside and
wept bitterly (Matthew 26:75).” I think this is significant in the second part
of the story. I believe Peter was heartbroken when he realized what he had
done. I think he came face to face with his weakness, his failure, his
inadequacy and his great need for a Savior's pardon. I believe his Godly sorrow
led to repentance.
Pastor quoted another minister: "If you are ever going
to be great you must be broken." Full potential is not met until you are
broken. I've convinced it's because you come face to face with the reality that
HIS GRACE is SUFFICIENT, HIS power is made perfect in WEAKNESS, so I will boast
all the more gladly about my weaknesses so that Christ's power may rest on me
(2 Corinthians 12:9)." You know your great need for Savior.
In Mark 16: 6, an angel tells Mary Magdalene, “Don’t be
alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified.
He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. But go, tell
his disciples and Peter, ‘He is
going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’”
AND PETER. Jesus could simply have said “disciples” but He
called out to Peter. In a dark, broken time in Peter’s life, Jesus called out
to him, once again. As my pastor said, “Peter
was on the Lord’s mind… Jesus will come to those who have failed… Jesus still wants to have breakfast with
someone who fails Him…”
In John 21, as they eat breakfast together, Jesus asks Peter
if he loves Him 3x encouraging him to then “Feed My sheep.” Remember when Jesus
warned Peter he would deny Him? Well Jesus also gave Peter hope... "...that
your faith may not fail. And WHEN YOU HAVE TURNED BACK…” followed with directions
“strengthen your brothers." Jesus was reaffirming His call to Peter, a
reinstatement, a reminder of his place as a Son of God and his purpose. How
amazing that Jesus would speak to the very insecurity that must have been
occupying Peter’s thought?
In Acts 2 we find the bold, passionate Peter not daring to
shy away, but loudly proclaiming to a crowd “Therefore let all Israel be
assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and
Messiah.” And in verse 37 “When the people heard this, they were cut to the
heart.” Peter did not deny the power of Christ on the day of Pentecost. He
strengthened his brothers as they were cut to the heart and 3,000 were saved
that very day.
Peter walked with Christ. He knew Christ. He had proclaimed
Christ as the Son of God and yet he failed. But once he came face to face with
his need for grace and the power of the work of Christ through death and resurrection,
I don't think anyone could have stopped him. Peter recognized his sin; he
proclaimed Christ and he walked boldly into his calling. Sure he was unworthy.
Sure he had made a mistake. Sure he had fallen. But he like Micah 7:8 said “Do
not gloat over me my enemy, though I have fallen I will rise.” Some of you need
to declare this in your life today.
Having ministered two nights this week a Christ centered
Drug and Alcohol recovery program, I've been constantly reminded of this
message. I heard friends give testimonies of their imperfections and failures and
the perfect grace of God that covers all sins. Y’all, God's grace is so much
greater than any fall. He saves. He transforms. He restores. He calls. He
keeps. He leads. What a mighty, awesome God we serve.
If you stumble, get
back up. Peter did.
