1 00:00:01,840 --> 00:00:04,680 Followers of Jesus followed a pattern that we looked at in the 2 00:00:04,680 --> 00:00:05,520 first chapel. 3 00:00:06,080 --> 00:00:09,800 It's pretty consistent as you look at those who were walking and 4 00:00:09,800 --> 00:00:13,280 talking and living with Jesus, what happened in their lives. 5 00:00:14,080 --> 00:00:17,640 It started with that looking for meaning and purpose. 6 00:00:17,640 --> 00:00:22,000 And then it went to be drawn to his beauty and his power and his 7 00:00:22,000 --> 00:00:23,520 teaching and trusting him. 8 00:00:24,000 --> 00:00:27,600 And then finally they realized he was the Son of God and. 9 00:00:28,180 --> 00:00:33,460 And were overwhelmed by the cross and the resurrection and then 10 00:00:33,460 --> 00:00:34,340 transformed. 11 00:00:34,740 --> 00:00:39,860 And that pattern follows pretty succinctly with each of the 12 00:00:40,100 --> 00:00:42,980 disciples or those that followed Jesus. 13 00:00:43,540 --> 00:00:45,460 And last week we looked at Matthew. 14 00:00:46,020 --> 00:00:48,340 Now, Matthew really started at the very bottom. 15 00:00:48,340 --> 00:00:52,380 Remember, Matthew the tax collector found a new identity in 16 00:00:52,380 --> 00:00:52,740 Christ. 17 00:00:53,790 --> 00:00:57,830 He was the worst of the worst kind of people in that culture in 18 00:00:57,830 --> 00:00:58,430 that time. 19 00:00:59,390 --> 00:01:01,390 And today we're going to look at Peter. 20 00:01:01,870 --> 00:01:08,030 Now, Peter was way on up the stairs as he was grown in his following 21 00:01:08,030 --> 00:01:08,670 of Christ. 22 00:01:10,190 --> 00:01:14,670 He was probably, you know, up there in path number six or so to 23 00:01:14,670 --> 00:01:16,270 see he was the Son of God. 24 00:01:16,270 --> 00:01:18,030 Peter said that multiple times. 25 00:01:19,320 --> 00:01:23,720 He was the last person, the last person if you picked out all 26 00:01:23,720 --> 00:01:24,360 the disciples. 27 00:01:24,440 --> 00:01:28,760 He was the last person you would ever expect to fail. 28 00:01:29,320 --> 00:01:30,280 The very last. 29 00:01:30,440 --> 00:01:32,280 He was a leader among the disciples. 30 00:01:32,920 --> 00:01:36,280 You know, if Peter was a student here today and he was enrolled 31 00:01:36,280 --> 00:01:38,840 here, he'd be like the model Christian. 32 00:01:39,480 --> 00:01:41,480 He'd be all in for Jesus. 33 00:01:41,480 --> 00:01:43,160 He'd be leading the Bible study. 34 00:01:43,480 --> 00:01:45,450 He'd have the scripture tattoo. 35 00:01:45,450 --> 00:01:48,290 He would have the Jesus shirts on all the time. 36 00:01:48,530 --> 00:01:50,490 He'd be encouraging out front. 37 00:01:50,490 --> 00:01:55,970 He'd be the one passing out the programs for RUF and FCA and 38 00:01:55,970 --> 00:01:59,170 any other worship event we had on campus. 39 00:01:59,170 --> 00:02:02,770 He'd be the one who's really trying to make it all happen. 40 00:02:03,170 --> 00:02:04,290 That was Peter. 41 00:02:05,570 --> 00:02:08,850 But Peter failed horribly. 42 00:02:10,060 --> 00:02:11,420 Peter failed horribly. 43 00:02:12,060 --> 00:02:13,180 See, Peter was strong. 44 00:02:13,340 --> 00:02:14,500 Peter was determined. 45 00:02:14,500 --> 00:02:15,580 Peter was confident. 46 00:02:16,060 --> 00:02:17,580 Peter knew the scripture. 47 00:02:18,300 --> 00:02:20,540 He wanted to grow as a follower of Christ. 48 00:02:21,020 --> 00:02:22,620 He was committed to it. 49 00:02:22,620 --> 00:02:27,020 And there was nothing fake about him at all. 50 00:02:27,660 --> 00:02:28,940 He was insightful. 51 00:02:29,420 --> 00:02:30,700 He was a spokesperson. 52 00:02:30,700 --> 00:02:32,460 He said, you are the Messiah. 53 00:02:32,540 --> 00:02:34,580 He spoke for the disciples. 54 00:02:34,580 --> 00:02:37,080 When Jesus asked, who do you say that I am? 55 00:02:37,160 --> 00:02:39,000 He was always the spokesperson. 56 00:02:39,720 --> 00:02:45,480 But he was missing one key element that made all the rest of 57 00:02:45,480 --> 00:02:46,600 it not matter. 58 00:02:47,240 --> 00:02:49,400 And he failed horribly. 59 00:02:50,200 --> 00:02:53,760 And today we're going to look at his story when failure is not 60 00:02:53,760 --> 00:02:54,120 final. 61 00:02:54,520 --> 00:02:57,080 And it was not final for Peter. 62 00:02:58,040 --> 00:03:04,750 Well, Peter, the bottom line is he had to reach the end of his 63 00:03:04,750 --> 00:03:09,910 confidence before he could become the leader God intended him 64 00:03:09,910 --> 00:03:10,350 to be. 65 00:03:10,430 --> 00:03:13,390 You see, Peter's problem was not lack of devotion. 66 00:03:14,270 --> 00:03:18,190 It was he trusted in his own spiritual strength too much. 67 00:03:19,390 --> 00:03:25,870 And his failure shattered that self confidence that he was the strong 68 00:03:26,430 --> 00:03:28,100 spiritual disciple. 69 00:03:29,140 --> 00:03:30,660 Jesus restored him. 70 00:03:31,300 --> 00:03:32,860 The Holy Spirit empowered him. 71 00:03:32,860 --> 00:03:35,540 And then Peter became an even stronger leader as we're going to 72 00:03:35,540 --> 00:03:37,300 see as we unravel this story. 73 00:03:37,460 --> 00:03:41,700 But his confidence was no longer after the failure, centered 74 00:03:41,700 --> 00:03:42,420 in himself. 75 00:03:42,500 --> 00:03:45,620 It was centered in Christ where it needed to be. 76 00:03:46,340 --> 00:03:50,420 And it's amazing what happened when he failed. 77 00:03:50,740 --> 00:03:52,740 Jesus didn't kick him out of the disciples. 78 00:03:53,190 --> 00:03:54,350 I mean, he failed badly. 79 00:03:54,350 --> 00:03:55,830 We're going to hear the story here in a minute. 80 00:03:56,230 --> 00:03:57,670 He really failed. 81 00:03:58,710 --> 00:04:01,670 And you'd think Jesus would say, well you know, you didn't pass 82 00:04:01,670 --> 00:04:02,950 the test, sorry, you're out. 83 00:04:03,030 --> 00:04:04,070 He didn't at all. 84 00:04:04,790 --> 00:04:07,990 Jesus wasn't even disappointed in Peter. 85 00:04:08,869 --> 00:04:11,830 Jesus loved him and restored him. 86 00:04:12,950 --> 00:04:19,490 But after Peter failed, he was a very, very different father follower 87 00:04:19,490 --> 00:04:20,090 of Christ. 88 00:04:20,490 --> 00:04:25,890 And I think there's a lot for us to learn about being strong in 89 00:04:25,890 --> 00:04:29,930 our faith but trusting in Christ rather than our own confidence. 90 00:04:30,010 --> 00:04:31,690 So let's look at the story of Peter. 91 00:04:34,889 --> 00:04:38,330 Peter was locked in for Jesus. 92 00:04:38,730 --> 00:04:39,650 He was locked. 93 00:04:39,650 --> 00:04:43,450 He was a guy who put face first every single time. 94 00:04:43,450 --> 00:04:44,730 He was the natural leader. 95 00:04:44,890 --> 00:04:46,330 He was the one who spoke first. 96 00:04:46,330 --> 00:04:47,210 He was brilliant. 97 00:04:47,210 --> 00:04:50,590 Sometimes he was, he was impulsive, sometimes he was incorrect. 98 00:04:50,750 --> 00:04:53,350 But he was never afraid to jump in with the answer. 99 00:04:53,350 --> 00:04:55,870 And he was never afraid to be bold in his faith. 100 00:04:57,710 --> 00:04:58,590 He was so bold. 101 00:04:58,590 --> 00:05:00,630 Peter was the one who got out of the boat. 102 00:05:00,630 --> 00:05:03,910 Do you remember when the disciples were out there fishing 103 00:05:03,910 --> 00:05:08,790 in the lake and a storm came up and they got scared to death and 104 00:05:08,790 --> 00:05:11,590 Jesus had been on the shore praying and all of a sudden they 105 00:05:11,590 --> 00:05:13,790 see Jesus come walking to them on the water. 106 00:05:15,120 --> 00:05:19,400 Peter looks and he says, lord, if it's really you, tell me to come 107 00:05:19,400 --> 00:05:20,000 to you. 108 00:05:20,800 --> 00:05:24,840 And Peter got out of the boat and started walking on the water 109 00:05:24,840 --> 00:05:25,440 to Jesus. 110 00:05:25,600 --> 00:05:27,680 That's how strong his faith was. 111 00:05:29,520 --> 00:05:32,480 Another part of the lesson in that don't take, don't forget this 112 00:05:32,480 --> 00:05:36,240 part because it deserves more attention than we have time. 113 00:05:36,480 --> 00:05:40,400 But Peter was walking on the water as long as his eyes were fixed 114 00:05:40,400 --> 00:05:41,070 on on Jesus. 115 00:05:41,070 --> 00:05:43,270 And then the scripture said he started to look around at the wind 116 00:05:43,270 --> 00:05:45,110 and the waves and he started to sink. 117 00:05:45,510 --> 00:05:49,990 And when you are in trouble, keep your eyes on Jesus. 118 00:05:50,390 --> 00:05:52,710 And Peter was the one who did that. 119 00:05:53,110 --> 00:05:55,790 That's how strong he was in his faith. 120 00:05:55,790 --> 00:06:01,590 Peter was bold in his faith, but Peter was self confident in his 121 00:06:01,750 --> 00:06:02,230 faith. 122 00:06:03,510 --> 00:06:06,550 More than faith in what God was doing in him. 123 00:06:07,330 --> 00:06:11,250 Peter felt he was the one Jesus could depend on because his 124 00:06:11,250 --> 00:06:12,290 faith was so strong. 125 00:06:12,770 --> 00:06:13,290 I'm sure. 126 00:06:13,290 --> 00:06:15,170 He said, jesus needs me. 127 00:06:15,650 --> 00:06:18,050 He can't do this ministry without me. 128 00:06:20,290 --> 00:06:26,810 But too dependent on his faith, in his strength rather than 129 00:06:26,810 --> 00:06:27,810 being a follower of God. 130 00:06:27,810 --> 00:06:29,010 You see, there was no humility. 131 00:06:29,730 --> 00:06:31,490 There was no real trust. 132 00:06:32,460 --> 00:06:37,260 There was no realizing that all that God was doing in him was 133 00:06:37,260 --> 00:06:40,860 coming from God, not by his ability alone. 134 00:06:41,500 --> 00:06:43,540 His faith came from God. 135 00:06:43,540 --> 00:06:47,980 But Peter acted like his faith was a gift to God. 136 00:06:49,820 --> 00:06:52,140 And there are a lot of Christians who live that way. 137 00:06:52,780 --> 00:06:56,220 I'm doing so much good stuff for the Lord, man. 138 00:06:56,300 --> 00:06:57,820 God couldn't make it without me. 139 00:06:58,630 --> 00:06:59,990 Look at the impact I'm having. 140 00:07:01,350 --> 00:07:04,790 And we forget that our faith comes from God. 141 00:07:05,350 --> 00:07:07,070 It's not our gift to God. 142 00:07:07,070 --> 00:07:08,710 God loves us no matter what. 143 00:07:09,030 --> 00:07:13,630 Some Christians get caught in that trap of spiritual pride, of 144 00:07:13,630 --> 00:07:19,430 spiritual pride, where they think we are significant in how strong 145 00:07:19,510 --> 00:07:20,070 we are. 146 00:07:21,350 --> 00:07:26,240 The significance is coming, though, in how dependent we are on 147 00:07:26,240 --> 00:07:26,600 Christ. 148 00:07:27,560 --> 00:07:32,240 Peter's self confidence was so strong, he even corrected Jesus. 149 00:07:32,240 --> 00:07:33,640 Have you seen this in the Bible? 150 00:07:33,880 --> 00:07:35,080 He corrected Jesus. 151 00:07:35,160 --> 00:07:38,000 Jesus explains to the disciples he's going to suffer and 152 00:07:38,000 --> 00:07:38,360 die. 153 00:07:38,840 --> 00:07:41,640 And Peter says, lord, can I talk to you a minute? 154 00:07:41,640 --> 00:07:42,920 Let's talk privately here. 155 00:07:43,560 --> 00:07:44,680 You're not going to do that. 156 00:07:45,480 --> 00:07:46,400 That's not going to happen. 157 00:07:46,400 --> 00:07:47,240 We don't want that. 158 00:07:47,320 --> 00:07:48,400 You have this wrong. 159 00:07:48,400 --> 00:07:49,160 Peter said. 160 00:07:50,770 --> 00:07:55,010 And Jesus responds really sharply. 161 00:07:55,090 --> 00:07:57,090 He says, get away from me, Satan. 162 00:07:57,970 --> 00:07:59,090 Get away from me. 163 00:07:59,890 --> 00:08:02,210 So often we're tempted by the people closest to us. 164 00:08:02,210 --> 00:08:07,410 You know that Peter believed deeply in Jesus, but Peter also believed 165 00:08:07,410 --> 00:08:08,770 deeply in Peter. 166 00:08:09,890 --> 00:08:15,610 And he had learned to follow Jesus, but he had not learned to 167 00:08:15,610 --> 00:08:18,390 depend on Jesus totally. 168 00:08:19,750 --> 00:08:23,190 Peter's greatest strength was his weakness as well. 169 00:08:23,270 --> 00:08:25,630 You know, I think as a principle of life, it's a principle 170 00:08:25,630 --> 00:08:26,150 of work. 171 00:08:26,950 --> 00:08:27,830 I'm that way. 172 00:08:27,990 --> 00:08:29,310 I lead this institution. 173 00:08:29,310 --> 00:08:31,350 I have a big picture perspective on things. 174 00:08:31,350 --> 00:08:32,390 I move really fast. 175 00:08:32,470 --> 00:08:33,910 I make fast decisions. 176 00:08:33,910 --> 00:08:38,790 And those are my strengths, but they're also my weaknesses. 177 00:08:39,190 --> 00:08:43,110 And so I purposely put people around me who are more detailed, 178 00:08:43,340 --> 00:08:47,300 who go slower, who ask deeper questions, because I need that to 179 00:08:47,300 --> 00:08:51,260 counterbalance my strengths, which can become my weaknesses. 180 00:08:51,260 --> 00:08:54,140 And in our spiritual life, it can be the very same thing. 181 00:08:54,220 --> 00:08:58,100 Our spiritual strength of Peter being strong in leadership 182 00:08:58,100 --> 00:09:00,620 is a great thing, but it also can be his weakness. 183 00:09:01,100 --> 00:09:04,620 He was courageous and he was decisive and he was loyal. 184 00:09:04,620 --> 00:09:05,820 He would take responsibility. 185 00:09:05,900 --> 00:09:10,220 He knew the scripture, but he believed his spiritual strength is 186 00:09:10,220 --> 00:09:13,670 what Jesus really admired in him and why Jesus loved him. 187 00:09:13,670 --> 00:09:15,310 And Jesus must be proud of him. 188 00:09:16,110 --> 00:09:17,310 My strength is enough. 189 00:09:18,670 --> 00:09:22,230 And Peter turned that relationship upside down from how 190 00:09:22,230 --> 00:09:23,230 it's supposed to be. 191 00:09:23,790 --> 00:09:27,270 Some People are so sure in themselves spiritually that when 192 00:09:27,270 --> 00:09:32,830 God directs them or restricts them, they somehow feel like they've 193 00:09:32,830 --> 00:09:33,870 got to correct God. 194 00:09:34,270 --> 00:09:37,070 Oh, God, you don't really realize what's going on here. 195 00:09:37,470 --> 00:09:39,710 And I hear you saying, that's what I ought to do, but. 196 00:09:39,920 --> 00:09:42,240 But really, that's not the best answer. 197 00:09:43,360 --> 00:09:46,320 And we think in our own spiritual strength we know more. 198 00:09:47,840 --> 00:09:51,760 That's the world Peter was living in as a follower of Jesus. 199 00:09:53,520 --> 00:09:58,800 Well, Peter believed he would stay committed to Jesus no matter 200 00:09:58,800 --> 00:09:59,200 what. 201 00:09:59,680 --> 00:10:03,280 There wasn't anything that could happen in his life that would 202 00:10:03,280 --> 00:10:05,520 keep him from being completely committed to Jesus. 203 00:10:06,830 --> 00:10:10,830 So at the Last Supper, just before Jesus is going to be arrested, 204 00:10:10,990 --> 00:10:16,990 crucified, resurrected, at the Last Supper, Jesus tells the disciples 205 00:10:18,030 --> 00:10:19,630 that you're going to abandon me. 206 00:10:20,270 --> 00:10:23,030 And Peter strongly objects. 207 00:10:23,030 --> 00:10:26,990 I can imagine him pounding on the table saying, there is no way. 208 00:10:27,950 --> 00:10:30,990 Peter doesn't simply say, I won't be unfaithful. 209 00:10:32,240 --> 00:10:35,520 Peter's problem is he's built on comparison. 210 00:10:35,920 --> 00:10:37,360 He's built on comparison. 211 00:10:37,920 --> 00:10:39,120 And this is what he says. 212 00:10:39,440 --> 00:10:44,960 He says, even if everyone else deserts you, I will never desert 213 00:10:44,960 --> 00:10:45,280 you. 214 00:10:46,480 --> 00:10:50,680 My faith is stronger than everybody else's, so it's got to 215 00:10:50,680 --> 00:10:51,120 be good. 216 00:10:54,160 --> 00:10:58,810 He went on to say, if I've got to die, Lord, I'll die. 217 00:10:59,610 --> 00:11:02,250 I will never, ever fail you. 218 00:11:02,250 --> 00:11:06,890 He was adamant, and Peter meant it. 219 00:11:07,210 --> 00:11:08,250 He was sincere. 220 00:11:09,210 --> 00:11:11,210 His problem wasn't hypocrisy. 221 00:11:11,210 --> 00:11:14,810 His problem was self confidence and comparison. 222 00:11:15,530 --> 00:11:17,130 That's where his problem was. 223 00:11:18,570 --> 00:11:20,330 And Peter, excuse me. 224 00:11:20,330 --> 00:11:24,580 Jesus knew Peter better than Peter knew himself. 225 00:11:26,020 --> 00:11:29,620 This is what is so key in our relationship with God. 226 00:11:29,620 --> 00:11:32,420 You know, once you understand that wherever you are in your walk 227 00:11:32,420 --> 00:11:36,860 with God, once you understand that God knows everything about you 228 00:11:36,860 --> 00:11:39,860 right now, there's nothing hidden from him. 229 00:11:40,180 --> 00:11:42,820 That's when you can grow in Christ. 230 00:11:43,860 --> 00:11:47,580 No matter where you are on the journey, if you're far away or you're 231 00:11:47,580 --> 00:11:48,900 close to God, either one. 232 00:11:49,370 --> 00:11:53,450 When you realize he knows it all, when we understand that that's 233 00:11:53,450 --> 00:11:55,530 what opens the door to spiritual growth. 234 00:11:55,770 --> 00:12:00,410 And Jesus knew how Peter would fail even before he called him. 235 00:12:00,490 --> 00:12:06,210 When Peter was fishing and Jesus first went by the beach where 236 00:12:06,210 --> 00:12:10,090 they were and called him to be a disciple, he knew at that moment 237 00:12:10,090 --> 00:12:13,370 Peter would eventually fail and he called him anyway. 238 00:12:15,220 --> 00:12:16,820 His name was Simon. 239 00:12:17,060 --> 00:12:21,620 Peter called him Simon Peter because Peter meant the rock. 240 00:12:22,260 --> 00:12:25,780 In other words, you're going to be so strong that I'm going to 241 00:12:25,780 --> 00:12:30,260 give you this nickname, Peter, because I can count on you. 242 00:12:31,300 --> 00:12:34,340 Jesus knew all that at the beginning. 243 00:12:35,220 --> 00:12:36,900 He knew all that at the beginning. 244 00:12:36,980 --> 00:12:38,500 And look what the scripture says. 245 00:12:38,660 --> 00:12:41,260 It says, peter, Let me tell you something. 246 00:12:41,260 --> 00:12:42,940 This was at the Last Supper. 247 00:12:43,180 --> 00:12:44,180 Let me tell you something. 248 00:12:44,180 --> 00:12:47,940 Before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will deny me 249 00:12:47,940 --> 00:12:51,420 three times that you even know me. 250 00:12:51,980 --> 00:12:54,220 And Peter can't imagine it. 251 00:12:54,620 --> 00:12:59,940 He was insulted that God would think at this critical point he's 252 00:12:59,940 --> 00:13:03,660 going to run away, but Jesus already knew he would. 253 00:13:04,940 --> 00:13:09,560 And then Jesus said something really, really important. 254 00:13:11,560 --> 00:13:13,240 If I can get the next slide up here. 255 00:13:15,080 --> 00:13:15,800 There we go. 256 00:13:16,360 --> 00:13:16,800 Simon. 257 00:13:16,800 --> 00:13:17,160 Simon. 258 00:13:17,160 --> 00:13:19,480 Remember, he calls him Simon and Peter both. 259 00:13:19,720 --> 00:13:20,320 Simon. 260 00:13:20,320 --> 00:13:21,000 Simon. 261 00:13:21,480 --> 00:13:26,520 Satan has asked to sift each of you like wheat. 262 00:13:27,480 --> 00:13:30,840 But I pleaded in prayer for you, Simon, that your face should 263 00:13:30,840 --> 00:13:31,400 not fail. 264 00:13:31,720 --> 00:13:34,210 So that when you have repented and. 265 00:13:34,360 --> 00:13:38,040 And return to me again, strengthen your brothers. 266 00:13:38,040 --> 00:13:41,280 Not if you repented, but when you have repented. 267 00:13:41,280 --> 00:13:42,600 He knew he'd come back. 268 00:13:43,240 --> 00:13:45,560 You know what it means to sift wheat in those days? 269 00:13:46,280 --> 00:13:49,600 That means you take a bunch of wheat, you cut it down with the stalks 270 00:13:49,600 --> 00:13:52,840 and the whole thing, and you put it on this big kind of tarp thing 271 00:13:53,000 --> 00:13:55,320 and then you just beat the daylights out of it. 272 00:13:55,320 --> 00:13:59,920 I mean, you beat it so hard, and you beat it until the grain falls 273 00:13:59,920 --> 00:14:04,580 out, and then you pick up what's left and you violently shake 274 00:14:04,580 --> 00:14:04,900 it. 275 00:14:05,540 --> 00:14:10,780 So when the scripture says, satan has asked me to sift each of 276 00:14:10,780 --> 00:14:15,820 you like wheat, in other words, satan has asked me to rock 277 00:14:15,820 --> 00:14:20,420 your world so hard to see if you can stand up. 278 00:14:24,340 --> 00:14:26,580 And sometimes that's what happens to us. 279 00:14:27,620 --> 00:14:28,980 We get rocked that hard. 280 00:14:30,980 --> 00:14:43,420 Well, Jesus said, when you come back, when you come back, use 281 00:14:43,420 --> 00:14:46,020 your failure to strengthen others. 282 00:14:46,740 --> 00:14:50,380 What's going to happen to you is what you're going to be able to 283 00:14:50,380 --> 00:14:53,410 use to help others so they won't fail. 284 00:14:53,570 --> 00:14:56,850 Peter's failure surprised Peter. 285 00:14:57,170 --> 00:14:58,850 It never surprised Jesus. 286 00:14:59,490 --> 00:15:03,770 Even before Peter failed, Jesus had already had a future ministry 287 00:15:03,770 --> 00:15:04,930 planned out for Peter. 288 00:15:05,330 --> 00:15:09,170 He just knew he needed humility and he needed dependence 289 00:15:09,410 --> 00:15:13,410 if he was finally going to become Peter. 290 00:15:14,210 --> 00:15:18,760 That Jesus had seen from the beginning, the one he knew he could 291 00:15:18,760 --> 00:15:19,120 be. 292 00:15:19,760 --> 00:15:26,320 So Peter's failure then became massive, and it was public, and it 293 00:15:26,320 --> 00:15:27,120 was terrible. 294 00:15:27,840 --> 00:15:30,000 Peter declared he would fight for Jesus. 295 00:15:30,800 --> 00:15:32,720 And in the Garden of Gethsemane, he did. 296 00:15:33,520 --> 00:15:36,960 You know, they came to arrest Jesus. 297 00:15:37,120 --> 00:15:38,280 So what's Peter do? 298 00:15:38,280 --> 00:15:42,240 He grabs a sword and he cuts off the ear of one of the soldiers. 299 00:15:42,800 --> 00:15:44,440 Well, he didn't mean to cut off his ear. 300 00:15:44,440 --> 00:15:46,320 He meant to split right down the middle of his head. 301 00:15:46,320 --> 00:15:48,560 He missed and he hit the ear instead. 302 00:15:49,520 --> 00:15:53,920 And Jesus reaches down, picks up the ear, puts it back on and heals 303 00:15:53,920 --> 00:15:54,240 it. 304 00:15:56,080 --> 00:16:00,680 Peter he'd been taught turn the other cheek didn't catch too 305 00:16:00,680 --> 00:16:00,960 well. 306 00:16:01,760 --> 00:16:02,800 He pulled out the sword. 307 00:16:02,800 --> 00:16:04,080 He was going to fight for Jesus. 308 00:16:04,160 --> 00:16:07,760 That's classic Peter, to defend Jesus no matter what. 309 00:16:12,160 --> 00:16:18,070 He was so spiritually self confident, he gave up complete dependence 310 00:16:18,070 --> 00:16:20,910 on Christ to come through that moment. 311 00:16:21,390 --> 00:16:24,110 Peter didn't lack commitment or courage or love. 312 00:16:24,510 --> 00:16:28,510 He lacked an understanding of his own weakness and how much he 313 00:16:28,510 --> 00:16:33,790 needed to depend on God rather than expecting God to depend on him. 314 00:16:34,990 --> 00:16:36,190 Well, Peter failed. 315 00:16:36,190 --> 00:16:40,750 At the very point he thought he was the strongest, Jesus was arrested. 316 00:16:41,220 --> 00:16:42,900 Peter followed along, back behind. 317 00:16:43,540 --> 00:16:45,900 You know, he didn't want to get arrested too, so it wasn't too 318 00:16:45,900 --> 00:16:47,700 close, but he was close enough he could see him. 319 00:16:47,700 --> 00:16:51,420 They had this mock trial and he's there in this little courtyard 320 00:16:51,420 --> 00:16:56,580 and this servant girl first of all says to him, aren't you one of 321 00:16:56,580 --> 00:16:58,340 those guys who are with him? 322 00:16:59,460 --> 00:17:01,220 Jesus says, I don't even know him. 323 00:17:04,020 --> 00:17:08,310 A few hours later that was the same Peter who a few hours earlier 324 00:17:08,550 --> 00:17:10,230 had said, I'll die for you. 325 00:17:11,030 --> 00:17:15,790 And now a little servant girl who's the least powerful person in 326 00:17:15,790 --> 00:17:18,270 that whole society says, don't you know him? 327 00:17:18,270 --> 00:17:20,670 And he says, aren't you one of them? 328 00:17:20,670 --> 00:17:22,310 And he says, I don't even know him. 329 00:17:23,430 --> 00:17:29,590 Well, a little bit later, Peter was around a small group and 330 00:17:29,590 --> 00:17:31,830 they kind of recognized him. 331 00:17:33,040 --> 00:17:36,400 And they said, weren't you there with him when he was arrested? 332 00:17:37,600 --> 00:17:39,680 He said, I don't even know the man. 333 00:17:40,400 --> 00:17:41,600 I don't know who you're talking about. 334 00:17:41,600 --> 00:17:42,720 I don't even know him. 335 00:17:43,600 --> 00:17:46,760 And then a little bit later, somebody kind of noticed his accent, 336 00:17:46,760 --> 00:17:51,000 the Galilean accent, and recognized him real clearly from 337 00:17:51,000 --> 00:17:52,400 the garden of Gethsemane. 338 00:17:52,960 --> 00:17:54,800 And he said, you are one of them. 339 00:17:54,800 --> 00:17:58,160 And Peter said, a curse on me if I'm lying. 340 00:17:58,600 --> 00:18:00,680 I do not know the man. 341 00:18:02,120 --> 00:18:05,480 And immediately a rooster crowed. 342 00:18:06,440 --> 00:18:07,320 Immediately. 343 00:18:08,040 --> 00:18:10,920 And here's the most painful detail of the entire story. 344 00:18:13,960 --> 00:18:18,280 At that moment, the Lord turned and looked at Peter. 345 00:18:20,360 --> 00:18:21,320 Can you imagine? 346 00:18:24,210 --> 00:18:26,690 Jesus looks at us too when we fail. 347 00:18:27,170 --> 00:18:29,490 He looks us square in the eyes when we fail. 348 00:18:31,490 --> 00:18:33,490 And those eyes still say, I love you. 349 00:18:35,570 --> 00:18:41,090 Well, Peter could have spent the rest of his life with the label 350 00:18:41,650 --> 00:18:44,610 failure, coward, unfaithful. 351 00:18:45,410 --> 00:18:48,210 But Jesus was not finished with Peter. 352 00:18:49,090 --> 00:18:52,490 So Jesus was after that crucified three days. 353 00:18:52,490 --> 00:18:53,450 He rose from the grave. 354 00:18:53,450 --> 00:18:54,650 He was resurrected. 355 00:18:54,650 --> 00:18:58,570 And remark in the Book of Mark, he records the most remarkable 356 00:18:58,970 --> 00:19:02,410 message that was given at the empty tomb. 357 00:19:02,490 --> 00:19:07,930 Now, at the empty tomb, the women went there and the angel was 358 00:19:07,930 --> 00:19:09,970 there telling them what happened. 359 00:19:09,970 --> 00:19:11,530 And here's what the angel said. 360 00:19:11,770 --> 00:19:17,530 Now go and tell his disciples, including Peter, that Jesus is not 361 00:19:17,530 --> 00:19:18,490 going to. 362 00:19:18,640 --> 00:19:20,640 Jesus is going ahead of you to Galilee. 363 00:19:20,640 --> 00:19:25,760 You will see him there, just as he told you before he died. 364 00:19:27,440 --> 00:19:27,920 Wow. 365 00:19:29,200 --> 00:19:33,760 Peter, on purpose by the angel, was invited back in. 366 00:19:36,000 --> 00:19:42,080 After that failure, which was miserable and public and humiliating, 367 00:19:43,360 --> 00:19:46,550 the great spiritual leader completely, completely fell. 368 00:19:47,670 --> 00:19:50,390 And the first word is to invite him back in. 369 00:19:50,790 --> 00:19:54,630 Before Peter ever found his way back to Jesus, Jesus was already 370 00:19:54,790 --> 00:19:58,310 making sure that Peter knew he was wanted. 371 00:19:59,350 --> 00:20:05,270 And God's grace always takes the initiative, especially when we 372 00:20:05,350 --> 00:20:05,750 fail. 373 00:20:07,270 --> 00:20:10,470 Well, grace does not mean our failures do not matter. 374 00:20:11,280 --> 00:20:11,920 They do matter. 375 00:20:12,640 --> 00:20:16,000 But grace means our failures do not have to be final. 376 00:20:18,240 --> 00:20:23,040 A few days later, Peter and some of the disciples were fishing. 377 00:20:23,360 --> 00:20:26,240 Now, I'm sure these guys were under horrible stress at this point. 378 00:20:26,400 --> 00:20:28,560 They really didn't understand what was going on. 379 00:20:28,800 --> 00:20:30,320 And so they did. 380 00:20:30,640 --> 00:20:33,840 What you do when you're under stress, you go to kind of your core 381 00:20:33,840 --> 00:20:34,080 thing. 382 00:20:34,080 --> 00:20:37,160 They were fishermen, so let's go fishing, because that's what we 383 00:20:37,160 --> 00:20:38,830 understand, that's what we can kind of control. 384 00:20:39,070 --> 00:20:43,230 They were fishing, and Jesus meets them on the shore. 385 00:20:43,310 --> 00:20:44,670 And breakfast is cooking. 386 00:20:44,750 --> 00:20:46,110 Jesus has a fire going. 387 00:20:46,830 --> 00:20:51,470 It's a charcoal fire, which is an interesting detail in the story 388 00:20:51,470 --> 00:20:55,710 because it was a charcoal fire around which the little servant girl 389 00:20:55,790 --> 00:20:58,310 first said, aren't you one of his? 390 00:20:58,310 --> 00:20:59,470 And he denied him. 391 00:21:00,350 --> 00:21:06,280 And now when you fail, there are senses of a sight or smell or 392 00:21:06,280 --> 00:21:09,760 something that can trigger that memory. 393 00:21:11,360 --> 00:21:16,480 And Jesus around that fire asked Peter three questions you read 394 00:21:16,480 --> 00:21:18,640 to them earlier today. 395 00:21:18,960 --> 00:21:19,920 Three questions. 396 00:21:22,240 --> 00:21:25,520 Simon, son of John, do you love me? 397 00:21:26,800 --> 00:21:28,320 Peter said, of course I do. 398 00:21:28,640 --> 00:21:30,080 He said, feed my lambs. 399 00:21:30,640 --> 00:21:32,800 He asked him again, do you love me? 400 00:21:33,360 --> 00:21:37,760 Jesus said, Peter said, of course I do. 401 00:21:37,760 --> 00:21:39,920 And he said, feed my sheep. 402 00:21:40,400 --> 00:21:41,520 Gave him responsibility. 403 00:21:41,520 --> 00:21:44,000 First was, feed my lambs priority. 404 00:21:44,240 --> 00:21:46,639 Second responsibility, Feed my sheep. 405 00:21:46,960 --> 00:21:49,160 And then he asked him a third time. 406 00:21:49,160 --> 00:21:50,320 And Peter was hurt. 407 00:21:51,040 --> 00:21:52,800 I kind of told you twice. 408 00:21:54,480 --> 00:21:55,440 Do you love me? 409 00:21:56,890 --> 00:21:58,650 Peter said, of course I do, Lord. 410 00:21:59,290 --> 00:22:01,610 He said, feed my lambs. 411 00:22:01,690 --> 00:22:03,690 In other words, follow me. 412 00:22:05,210 --> 00:22:12,370 Three denials, three questions, three affirmations, same 413 00:22:12,370 --> 00:22:15,050 invitation to follow me. 414 00:22:16,970 --> 00:22:20,330 Peter's failure was not final. 415 00:22:21,940 --> 00:22:25,780 It was an invitation to a new level of ministry. 416 00:22:26,020 --> 00:22:28,740 Jesus did not ignore Peter's failure. 417 00:22:29,220 --> 00:22:31,220 He restored Peter through it. 418 00:22:31,380 --> 00:22:35,540 Jesus restored Peter not only to relationship, but right back to 419 00:22:35,540 --> 00:22:36,180 leadership. 420 00:22:36,580 --> 00:22:39,500 You know, Jesus could have said, well, Peter, I forgive you, 421 00:22:39,500 --> 00:22:42,500 and we're okay, but you need to take a back seat for a while. 422 00:22:42,740 --> 00:22:44,300 You need to kind of get stronger. 423 00:22:44,300 --> 00:22:47,300 And when you do, we'll see about giving you some Responsibility. 424 00:22:47,730 --> 00:22:48,770 He didn't do that at all. 425 00:22:49,090 --> 00:22:50,610 He said, feed my lambs. 426 00:22:53,010 --> 00:22:54,530 He was just not forgiven. 427 00:22:54,850 --> 00:22:58,930 He was restored to the leadership position he was in before, 428 00:22:59,170 --> 00:23:01,890 but now there was one huge difference. 429 00:23:02,610 --> 00:23:05,730 Peter was still Peter, but now he was humble. 430 00:23:06,450 --> 00:23:12,610 And he knew how much he had to depend on God even when he felt strong 431 00:23:13,180 --> 00:23:13,980 in his faith. 432 00:23:14,620 --> 00:23:16,820 Jesus didn't erase Peter's personality. 433 00:23:16,820 --> 00:23:17,780 He was still bold. 434 00:23:17,780 --> 00:23:18,940 He was still decisive. 435 00:23:18,940 --> 00:23:23,060 He was still outspoken, always ready to lead, willing to take risks. 436 00:23:23,060 --> 00:23:23,820 That was Peter. 437 00:23:24,620 --> 00:23:28,220 But the source of his confidence had completely changed. 438 00:23:28,939 --> 00:23:33,780 Before the failure, Peter's posture often sounded like, I can 439 00:23:33,780 --> 00:23:37,460 handle this, whatever it is, I'll fight for you, Lord. 440 00:23:37,460 --> 00:23:38,300 I can handle this. 441 00:23:39,190 --> 00:23:43,590 And afterwards, Peter increasingly points away from himself 442 00:23:43,990 --> 00:23:45,270 and toward Christ. 443 00:23:45,670 --> 00:23:48,710 And we see that in his preaching in the Book of Acts. 444 00:23:50,150 --> 00:23:57,190 Well, humility is strength that knows where its strength comes 445 00:23:57,190 --> 00:23:57,590 from. 446 00:23:58,550 --> 00:24:00,310 Peter did not become weaker. 447 00:24:00,470 --> 00:24:01,670 He became humbler. 448 00:24:01,990 --> 00:24:04,150 And humility is not weakness. 449 00:24:04,230 --> 00:24:08,060 Humility is what opens the door to spiritual significance. 450 00:24:08,620 --> 00:24:12,860 In the Book of Acts, which happened about maybe six weeks later, 451 00:24:13,580 --> 00:24:17,420 after Jesus was crucified, five weeks, six weeks, something 452 00:24:17,420 --> 00:24:19,860 like that, the Book of Acts opens. 453 00:24:19,860 --> 00:24:21,740 There are 120 people gathered together. 454 00:24:22,220 --> 00:24:23,900 And who stands up to lead? 455 00:24:24,620 --> 00:24:31,780 Peter, the same guy who failed just a little over a month ago, he 456 00:24:31,780 --> 00:24:32,780 stands up to lead. 457 00:24:33,300 --> 00:24:34,260 Judas is gone. 458 00:24:34,500 --> 00:24:38,220 The apostles need to determine what to do next, and Peter takes 459 00:24:38,220 --> 00:24:38,980 the initiative. 460 00:24:39,220 --> 00:24:43,220 Peter provides biblical direction, and Peter leads them forward. 461 00:24:43,620 --> 00:24:47,860 His leadership ability is still there, even after he failed. 462 00:24:48,260 --> 00:24:51,540 But now there's something very different that's about to happen. 463 00:24:52,500 --> 00:24:55,540 The Holy Spirit comes and changes everything. 464 00:24:55,780 --> 00:25:00,780 You see, Jesus told the disciples, I must go so that the 465 00:25:00,780 --> 00:25:04,860 Holy Spirit can come, the third person of the Trinity, and 466 00:25:04,860 --> 00:25:07,180 live among you and live in you. 467 00:25:08,140 --> 00:25:12,540 And in Acts chapter two, the crowds gather and Peter preaches. 468 00:25:12,780 --> 00:25:17,620 And the contrast between I don't know him and Peter preaching 469 00:25:17,620 --> 00:25:22,380 the risen Christ is absolutely night and day. 470 00:25:23,980 --> 00:25:29,280 And look at this scripture, what he said, Peter said, God raised 471 00:25:29,280 --> 00:25:32,480 Jesus from the dead, and we are all witnesses to this. 472 00:25:32,480 --> 00:25:36,000 Now he's exalted to the place of the highest honor in heaven, at 473 00:25:36,000 --> 00:25:37,000 God's right hand. 474 00:25:38,200 --> 00:25:42,240 And the Father, as he has promised, gave the Holy Spirit to 475 00:25:42,240 --> 00:25:47,000 pour out upon us, just as you see and hear today. 476 00:25:47,880 --> 00:25:52,640 And that day there were 3,000 people baptized and the church was 477 00:25:52,640 --> 00:25:53,000 born. 478 00:25:54,230 --> 00:25:58,230 The voice that had said just a few weeks before, I don't know him, 479 00:25:58,710 --> 00:26:02,710 became the voice God used to start Christianity. 480 00:26:04,310 --> 00:26:12,710 Jesus left it in the hands of a person who failed miserably because 481 00:26:12,710 --> 00:26:17,230 he knew who Peter could be when he was dependent on God. 482 00:26:17,230 --> 00:26:18,150 And humble. 483 00:26:19,440 --> 00:26:21,760 This is a follower's restoration. 484 00:26:22,160 --> 00:26:24,040 This is a follower's transformation. 485 00:26:24,040 --> 00:26:28,640 This is a follower living in connection with the Holy Spirit. 486 00:26:29,600 --> 00:26:34,160 Now, the older Peter later in his life writes like a man who had 487 00:26:34,160 --> 00:26:35,760 learned dependence the hard way. 488 00:26:38,720 --> 00:26:40,480 Peter knew something about pride. 489 00:26:40,720 --> 00:26:41,600 He'd been there. 490 00:26:41,600 --> 00:26:42,240 It hurt. 491 00:26:43,840 --> 00:26:45,920 And so he wrote this. 492 00:26:46,760 --> 00:26:49,720 And it really ought to be a memory verse for every follower of 493 00:26:49,720 --> 00:26:51,880 Christ who feels strong in their faith. 494 00:26:52,040 --> 00:26:56,200 This is what Peter wrote in first Peter, God opposes the proud, 495 00:26:56,840 --> 00:26:58,600 but gives grace to the humble. 496 00:26:59,400 --> 00:27:04,760 So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right 497 00:27:04,760 --> 00:27:08,520 time, he will lift you up in his honor. 498 00:27:09,640 --> 00:27:12,520 That's Peter telling the story of what happened to Peter. 499 00:27:12,670 --> 00:27:16,910 Peter, right there, boy. 500 00:27:16,910 --> 00:27:20,350 He knew what it meant for Satan to sift somebody like wheat. 501 00:27:20,990 --> 00:27:23,470 He knew what it meant to collapse under pressure. 502 00:27:23,470 --> 00:27:25,230 He knew what it meant to be restored. 503 00:27:27,150 --> 00:27:28,590 Have you ever had a big failure? 504 00:27:31,150 --> 00:27:33,390 You can be redeemed and restored. 505 00:27:34,110 --> 00:27:37,110 Do you feel like maybe you can't even try to be close to follower 506 00:27:37,110 --> 00:27:39,070 of God because you just had too many failures? 507 00:27:40,690 --> 00:27:43,170 Jesus says, you're welcome. 508 00:27:43,570 --> 00:27:44,210 Come in. 509 00:27:45,250 --> 00:27:47,810 Maybe you haven't failed yet, and I hope you haven't. 510 00:27:49,170 --> 00:27:51,330 Take Peter's life as a warning sign. 511 00:27:51,730 --> 00:27:52,450 You could. 512 00:27:52,610 --> 00:27:57,490 If Peter can fail, anybody can fail in their faith. 513 00:27:58,690 --> 00:28:03,650 So let me give you some quick takeaways from Peter's story. 514 00:28:03,970 --> 00:28:05,380 First is listen. 515 00:28:06,260 --> 00:28:09,620 Being strong is not the same thing as being spiritually mature. 516 00:28:11,860 --> 00:28:15,700 God is not asking you to prove how strong you are, but to learn 517 00:28:15,700 --> 00:28:18,580 how dependent on him you need to be. 518 00:28:19,940 --> 00:28:21,060 That's the priority. 519 00:28:22,820 --> 00:28:26,260 We're most vulnerable when we believe we cannot fail. 520 00:28:26,580 --> 00:28:29,940 You see the moment you think, that could never be me, what happened 521 00:28:29,940 --> 00:28:34,500 to Peter is the moment you most need humility and caution. 522 00:28:35,780 --> 00:28:38,740 And so take those signals and be prepared. 523 00:28:39,700 --> 00:28:44,020 Thirdly, failure can teach us what success never could be. 524 00:28:44,660 --> 00:28:46,580 Sometimes God uses failure. 525 00:28:48,260 --> 00:28:52,260 Sometimes God uses failure to teach you what you never could have 526 00:28:52,260 --> 00:28:54,660 learned if it was all going well. 527 00:28:55,620 --> 00:28:59,890 Peter became a very different person because of his failure. 528 00:29:01,090 --> 00:29:03,810 And I think when you look at the path of Peter's life, he could 529 00:29:03,810 --> 00:29:06,610 not have gotten there almost without the failure. 530 00:29:07,010 --> 00:29:10,530 And then the fourth takeaway, our failure does not have to become 531 00:29:11,170 --> 00:29:12,130 our identity. 532 00:29:13,090 --> 00:29:18,650 What you did may be part of your story, but it's not what has 533 00:29:18,650 --> 00:29:21,170 to define you or who you become. 534 00:29:22,370 --> 00:29:23,570 Failure is not important. 535 00:29:24,330 --> 00:29:25,050 Unimportant. 536 00:29:25,370 --> 00:29:26,330 Failure is important. 537 00:29:26,330 --> 00:29:30,170 It's not unimportant, but there's something more important 538 00:29:30,650 --> 00:29:31,370 than that. 539 00:29:32,650 --> 00:29:35,850 Failure does not have to be final. 540 00:29:36,250 --> 00:29:38,170 And we see that in the life of Peter. 541 00:29:38,170 --> 00:29:39,690 Peter's failure was real. 542 00:29:40,330 --> 00:29:42,010 Peter's tears were real. 543 00:29:42,330 --> 00:29:43,850 His heartbreak was real. 544 00:29:43,850 --> 00:29:45,290 His repentance was real. 545 00:29:45,450 --> 00:29:46,770 His grace was real. 546 00:29:46,770 --> 00:29:48,490 His restoration was real. 547 00:29:50,100 --> 00:29:52,980 And the ministry that followed was real. 548 00:29:54,180 --> 00:29:58,900 Peter had spent three years learning to follow Jesus, but he 549 00:29:58,900 --> 00:30:05,540 still had one enormous lesson to learn about where to trust. 550 00:30:07,060 --> 00:30:09,660 And it's really our verse of the year. 551 00:30:09,660 --> 00:30:12,980 I'm sure it's a verse Peter knew well and could quote. 552 00:30:13,940 --> 00:30:15,190 Not by power, but by. 553 00:30:16,060 --> 00:30:18,940 Nor by might, but by the spirit of the Lord Almighty. 554 00:30:19,340 --> 00:30:24,180 We don't follow Christ through our power or our might or our grit 555 00:30:24,180 --> 00:30:25,500 or our determination. 556 00:30:25,660 --> 00:30:27,580 That's what Peter was trying to do. 557 00:30:28,700 --> 00:30:31,980 We do it by dependence on the Lord Almighty. 558 00:30:32,780 --> 00:30:37,380 Peter had to reach the end of his confidence in Peter before he 559 00:30:37,380 --> 00:30:39,740 could discover what God could do. 560 00:30:39,740 --> 00:30:43,760 Through a Peter completely dependent on Christ. 561 00:30:45,360 --> 00:30:46,600 What a transformation. 562 00:30:46,600 --> 00:30:47,360 What a change. 563 00:30:48,080 --> 00:30:52,160 Now your failure may reveal that you're weaker than you thought 564 00:30:52,160 --> 00:30:52,640 you were. 565 00:30:53,360 --> 00:30:55,440 And if it does, that's good. 566 00:30:55,840 --> 00:30:56,800 That's a good thing. 567 00:30:57,680 --> 00:31:01,680 It can also be a place where you can finally discover how strong 568 00:31:01,840 --> 00:31:02,720 Christ is. 569 00:31:03,440 --> 00:31:06,720 And that's an even better thing when you discover that. 570 00:31:07,880 --> 00:31:12,200 And it can be a place where he opens the door for all the best he 571 00:31:12,200 --> 00:31:13,080 has for you. 572 00:31:13,720 --> 00:31:15,560 And that's the very best thing. 573 00:31:17,000 --> 00:31:18,120 And how do you get there? 574 00:31:18,760 --> 00:31:20,840 Because you know Christ loves you. 575 00:31:21,160 --> 00:31:24,680 And it's what our benediction verse says, and let's pray it together. 576 00:31:25,240 --> 00:31:30,280 No eye is seen, no ear is heard, no mind has conceived, but 577 00:31:30,280 --> 00:31:32,530 God has prepared for those who love love. 578 00:31:32,530 --> 00:31:33,010 Kim. 579 00:31:33,250 --> 00:31:33,930 God bless. 580 00:31:33,930 --> 00:31:34,690 Have a good day.