It's Not Too Late For Peter Series

Sermon for August 16, 2009

Sermon Series: It’s Not Too Late:

Sermon #05: It’s Not Too Late For Peter, the Rebel:

Scripture Ref: St. John 21: 15-17

15. So when they had dined, Jesus said to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou Me more than these? He said unto Him, Yea, Lord, thou knowest that I love Thee. He said unto him, Feed My lambs. 16. He said unto him again, the 2nd time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou Me? He said unto Him, Yea, Lord, thou knowest that I love Thee. He said unto him, Feed my sheep. 17. He said unto him the 3rd time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou Me? Peter was grieved because He said unto him the 3rd time, Lovest thou Me? & he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus said unto him, Feed My sheep.’

Introduction:

This morning we take a look at PETER, the MOST OUTSPOKEN of the LORD’S DISCIPLES.

In our text, JESUS asks PETER a very SOUL SEARCHING QUESTION:

‘PETER, LOVEST THOU ME, MORE THAN THESE? ’

What is it that CAUSED JESUS to ASK PETER this QUESTION?

‘LOVEST THOU ME, MORE THAN THESE?

Throughout JESUS’ MINISTRY HE had been TRYING to PREPARE HIS DISCIPLES for HIS DEATH.HE had been SPEAKING to them about THE DAY when HE WOULD NO LONGER BE WITH THEM. HE WARNED them that AFTER HIS DEPARTMENT THINGS would BE DIFFERENT.THINGS were going to GET ROUGH &TOUGH & they would NEED ONE ANOTHER MORE THEN THAN EVER BEFORE.

How many of us KNOW that WHEN TIMES get TRYING, we can DRAW STRENGTH from our BROTHERS & our SISTERS in the LORD?

So we NEED that UNITY & that FELLOWSHIP AMONG US. Amen?

But the QUESTION is:

WHY does JESUS ASK PETER the QUESTION?

‘LOVEST THOU ME MORE THAN THESE?”

Turn in your BIBLES to Luke chapter 22:

The setting is the LAST SUPPER with JESUS & HIS 12 DISCIPLES:

It is just a FEW HOURS BEFORE the ROMAN SOLDIERS would ARREST JESUS.

JESUS has DISTRIBUTED the BREAD & the WINE AMONG the MEN & then HE SPEAKS.

Luke 22:20-21 20: But behold, the hand of him that betrays ME is with ME on the table. 21. & truly the SON of MAN goes, as it is was determined but woe unto that man by whom HE is betrayed.’

Verse 23: tells us the DISCIPLES began to QUESTION AMONG THEMSELVES WHO the BETRAYER WAS.

Now it is IMPORTANT that we UNDERSTAND, that at THIS POINT the DEVIL was not only TRYING to have JESUS KILLED --- he was also TRYING HIS HARDEST to DESTROY the CHURCH, those 12 MEN who JESUS CALLED to CARRY HIS GOSPEL.

Because SATAN KNOWS that he is SO MUCH MORE EFFECTIVE at HURTING the CHURCH when he can ATTACK from INSIDE the RANKS of HER OWN PEOPLE..

I have WONDERED SO MANY TIMES in my MINISTRY.

HOW DOES SATAN MANAGE to GET SUCH a FOOTHOLD of DESTRUCTION WITHIN US?

Have you EVER WONDERED that?

HOW does the DEVIL GET INSIDE the CHURCH & then BRING ABOUT CONFUSION & STRIFE & DIVISIONS & so many HURTS are BIRTHED.

There is really ONLY ONE WAY SATAN CAN GET INSIDE THE CHURCH:

WE have to CARRY HIM IN – INVITE HIM IN ---WE OPENED the DOOR for HIM.

We have to BRING HIM IN WITH US & THEN UNLOOSE HIM.

Here is the DIFFICULT THING for me to UNDERSTAND:

We are to be the MOST LOVING –the MOST FORGIVING --- the MOST GENTLE --- the MOST FORBEARING ---the KINDEST ---the SWEETEST of PEOPLE to be FOUND ANYWHERE.

OR AM I MISTAKEN?

WHAT is WRONG?

WHY does the DEVIL, so often, at the LEAST BIT of MISUNDERSTANDING or FAILURE or WHATEVER the CASE MAY BE:

WHY do we CARRY IT –to the POINT that it ENDS UP – CAUSING so much HURT & DESTRUCTION?

But PASTOR, PEOPLE SHOULD NOT DO CERTAIN THINGS.

NO, PEOPLE SHOULD NOT DO THE THINGS THEY DO:

BUT, NEITHER SHOULD WE REACT to THEIR BAD DEEDS with a BAD SPIRIT.

Galatians 6:1 ‘Brethern, if a man be overtaken in a fault, (he messes up) ye which are spiritual, restore such a one in the spirit of meekness, considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.’

We are often TOO QUICK to SPOT the FAULTS of OTHERS & NOT QUICK ENOUGH to SPOT OUR OWN FAULTS.

There was much taking place around the LORD’S TABLE that EVENING:

Luke 22:24 ‘& there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest.’

WHO is going to be IN CHARGE AFTER JESUS was GONE from them?

So there was this DISCENSION BREWING AMONG the 12 DISCIPLES:

As I said earlier PETER is the MOST VOCAL of the TWELVE & I can VISUALIZE him as he BEGINS to BOAST & to BRAG about his LOYALTY & ALLIGENCE to JESUS while BELITTLING the OTHER DISCIPLES.