Restoration @imagechurch Dumfries, VA @tobyward00
If your life was put on the big screen, would you be proud of what everyone was watching?
No single person in the New Testament was corrected, rebuked, challenged, or failed more than Peter.
We do what we love, we share what we love, we live what we love. What does your life reflect? An addiction is an addiction, something we struggle with that we put above God. Sin is Sin. Christ can still redeem our brokenness.
Our additions are secret sin, doing things in compartments and hiding, is a practical form of Atheism. When we think we sin in secret, that it doesn't hurt anyone, we deny the existence of an omnipresent God.
It was a common theme in Peter's life that when he stayed focused on Jesus, things went great. But when he did it on his on, he failed miserably!
Peter was the embodiment of blue collar and uneducated. God chooses those the world deems "unworthy" to accomplish great things.
When Jesus corrected him, He called him Simon but when we was referring to him for what he would become, Jesus called him Peter.
How bold is Peter to see Jesus face to face and tell him to go away because "I'm a sinner." When Christ comes face to face with us, there is no running away.
No disciple was as bold for Jesus as Peter, but no one denied Jesus as boldly as Peter. Satan goes after the weak and the strong. He desires to break the weak further or yank you off your horse to join the weak. Satan sees in us the same thing that Jesus does, Jesus desires to build us up to glorify Himself and Satan desires the opposite.
When we question the plan of others against ourselves, we deny the perfect desire of God for us personally. Our lives are not about us. If God has a plan for us, we will get there eventually. If we go willing, it will be easier, but not necessarily safe. In the hands of God, what can we fear?
How many of us relate more to Peter than Paul? Broken, beaten, flawed but given #Restoration
All good leaders are transparent and learn from their mistakes. Close your mouth and open your heart.
Jesus rebukes us, calls us out, let's us fall down to refine us and bring us closer to Himself, our dependence. Peter was always leading, whether he meant to or not. He was leading, Jesus saw this and wanted to make sure he lead to Christ.
After his denial of Jesus, we don't hear much about Peter until Jesus confronts him. He was probably at the lowest point in his life.
Jesus called the men, to be fishers of men, of course they caught nothing when they tried to fish again. Jesus appeared to them for the 3rd time. When Peter heard that Jesus was the one calling them again after His death, he dressed and jumped in. Peter always ran to Jesus as quickly as he could.
When Jesus gives us a command, and we are obedient to it, no matter how impossible the task seems, it can be accomplished.
If anyone had the right to be resting, after his death and resurrection, it was Jesus but he still served the disciples.
Peter was at the lowest point in his life. Jesus openly asks him if he loves Jesus. After the 3rd time, he grieved and got even lower. Yet Jesus restored him.
The weight that we carry, that drags us down is not from God. The closer we get to Jesus, the more we see our faults. Ultimately the way we handle sin in our lives is a reflection of how we love Jesus.
God is so graceful and loving with us, yet how would we react if Jesus dealt with us the way we deal with our kids?
1. Jesus calls us to OBEY
2. Jesus desires to RESTORE YOU
3. Jesus wants you to FOLLOW HIM
Jesus tells Peter on the life cycle of his ministry by feeding the lambs (young ones). Then he will tend the sheep (mature people). Finally He will feed the sheep (deep truths). With everything he did wrong, Jesus still choose Peter, and we see the impact the invest can be in Acts 2.
Jesus primary focus is to restore us. He wants to restore us to eternal life with God.
Imagine having sinned so deeply against Jesus, yet He is serving you and then asks you if you love Him...
Following Jesus is the deepest and most fulfilling relationship we can have, yet there is a cost to our personal lives. It doesn't matter how we start, but matters how we finish.
When Jesus comes calling, and He will, get there FAST!
Why did Peter run to Jesus as fast as he could, he understood the significance of Jesus and how important He is to his life. Grace is free and Jesus gives it to the wicked. Jesus uses jacked up people all throughout scripture (Noah, Moses, Abraham, David) and STILL DOES TODAY!
Created about 1 year ago
