Jesus & Simon Peter

Jesus & Simon Peter

October 3, 2021 Morning Service

Immanuel Baptist Church, Wagoner, OK

Rick Boyne

Message Point: Jesus was concerned about restoring Peter before His ascension.

Focus Passage: John 21:1-17

Introduction: Backsliding. The very word brings up questions. Is it even possible for a Christian to backslide? It is possible for a Christian to fall down? Is it possible for a Christian to sin? I think every one of us know the answer to that. Yes. To our shame, the answer is yes. We all fall down. We all have lapses of judgment where we are enticed by the world. We all have moments of spiritual amnesia where we forget what God has done for us and how good He is to us. And when we do, unless we quickly confess and repent, we are miserable. The Holy Spirit won’t let us continue to sin without being totally completely miserable in that sin. It won’t satisfy. It won’t bring pleasure like it used to. We are in the wrong and we know it. If we continue doing that, the Lord will sometimes allow us to express our free will, but it doesn’t not bring Him glory. HOWEVER, when we fall down (sin) but recognize that we are adopted children of God, He is able to do great things through us.

Set the backstory: Jesus says He is to be crucified. Peter jumps up and said that he would die with Him. Jesus says that before the night is over, Peter would deny Him three times. And that is what happens. Jesus is then crucified, buried, and has come back to life. He told the women to tell His Disciples, especially Peter, to meet Him in Galilee. He appears to them twice behind locked doors.

I. Return

a. Peter didn’t know what else to do so he went fishing

b. He took six other men with him.

c. Backsliding is rarely a singular event. It always effects others.

II. Respond

a. They had fished all night and caught nothing.

b. Jesus told them to fish on the other side of the boat; a ridiculous notion.

c. Obedience brought them results.

d. Peter jumped in to get back to Jesus

III. Restoration

a. Jesus told him to get the fish.

b. Peter was able to do what 7 of them together could not do.

c. Jesus restored Peter; He gave him instructions.

d. Peter wanted to know about John.

e. Jesus told him to not worry about others, but be obedient in his faith.

Application/Call to Obedience: Is there a sin for which you have slipped back in to and are feeling miserable about because of it? Confess it and repent of it! It is time to get back to following Jesus! It is time to be restored! If you have never trusted Jesus in the first place, the Bible says that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. (Romans 10:9-10 NASB)