Sunday Evening 1/10/2010
Kick Start (Adapted from Day 8 of One Month to Live)
Introduction:
A. Do we ever feel powerless in life?
B. Many people don’t change because they feel powerless to alter the circumstances in their lives. May have a habit that feels powerless to break. Maybe we have a problem in a relationship, and we’ve tried everything to restore it, yet it’s still falling apart. Maybe an issue at work is draining our energy, and we can’t see a solution. Maybe our schedule is overloaded, and we feel completely overwhelmed and burned out. At times we all feel powerless.
C. Kerry and Chris Shook- Recently my family and I went to a motocross track and were amazed at all the bumps, turns and curves packed into the rolling hillside before us. As our turn to ride approached, we were instructed on how to control our bikes. They pack a small engine with a lot of power. Then it occurred to me: what if I just pushed my motorcycle around the motocross track? That would be crazy, wouldn’t it? Yet this is the way so many face life. We have God’s power available to us. God store of strength provides the oomph we need to power our lives. We have God’s power to help us, to heal our marriages, to restore our finances, to save our families, to intervene in our workplaces, and to rescue our lives.
D. People facing the end of their lives are forced to recognize their powerlessness and limitations. The weaker they get, the more they have to depend on others to take care of them. At the end of the day, they know that much of their lives are out of their control. They are forced to turn to God. For many it is too late to make major changes.
E. We have God’s power available to us each and every day. (Eph 1:19 NIV) and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, (Eph 1:20 NIV) which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms.
F. In what areas of life can you honestly say that this is by God’s power?
WBTU:
A. Life bears many similarities to motocross. Tough turns and sharp curves. In motocross the bumps and hills are called whoops- how ironic? These are just the normal bumps and bruises to be expected as part of the fun. And then there are the crashes.
B. When a motocross rider goes into a turn and leans in too far and crashes, it’s called a low side crash. But when a rider goes into a turn, then flips, it’s called a high side crash. A high side crash is much more violent than a low side because of the leverage and increased G forces. High side crashes can be deadly.
C. At time we all crash on the track of life. It’s not a matter of if we fail but when we fail. It’s a part of life. Everyone who has succeeded has also failed many times. While struggling to invent an electric light, Thomas Edison said, “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that don’t work.” We need that persistence to keep going. The greatest power we need in our lives is the power to begin again.
D. The best example of someone rebounding from a high side crash is one of Jesus’ apostles, Simon Peter. As far as crashes go, he wiped out! Yet God gave him the power to begin again. Peter became a great champion for Christ, and laid the foundation for the church on the day of Pentecost. But before that he suffered a high side crash.
Thesis: If we reconstruct Peter’s crash site, 3 lessons emerge that are as relevant for us as they were for him.
For instances:
1. We must learn from our losses.
A. We must admit our failures if we are going to learn from them.
B. Jesus bragged on Peter. (John 1:42 NIV) And he brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, "You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas" (which, when translated, is Peter). Also Rock.
C. Peter became overconfident. (Mat 26:31 NIV) Then Jesus told them, "This very night you will all fall away on account of me, for it is written: "'I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.'(Mat 26:32 NIV) But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee."(Mat 26:33 NIV) Peter replied, "Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will."(Mat 26:34 NIV) "I tell you the truth," Jesus answered, "This very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times."(Mat 26:35 NIV) But Peter declared, "Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you." And all the other disciples said the same.
D. Well we know what happened. Peter, the Rock, became afraid, lost his nerve, and denied Jesus three times. (Luke 22:61 NIV) The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: "Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times."(Luke 22:62 NIV) And he went outside and wept bitterly.
E. When have you felt like crawling into a hole, never to return? When have you been the goat in a game?
E. Just like Peter, some of us are in the middle of a crash site. Maybe it’s a crash in our marriage, a crash with our kids or parents, a crash in our business, or an emotional crash. Jesus just looks with compassion right in our hearts. He doesn’t have to say anything.
F. Failure is never final. We have the God of the second chance, and He wants to give us the power to begin again. But we have to admit our failure.
G. (Prov 28:13 NIV) He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy.
H. Peter admitted to his failure, maybe a little too much.
2. Release our guilt
A. For a time Peter did not consider himself a disciple of Jesus because he messed up. (Mark 16:7 NIV) 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.'"
B. Peter was like the prodigal son. (Luke 15:21 NIV) "The son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.'
C. Because of this Peter got a personal appearance from the Lord after his resurrection. (Luke 24:33 NIV) They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together (Luke 24:34 NIV) and saying, "It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon."
D. The Lord Jesus himself reinstated Peter in front of several of the other apostles. (John 21:15-17) When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?" "Yes, Lord," he said, "you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Feed my lambs.” Again Jesus said, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me?" He answered, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Take care of my sheep.” The third time he said to him, "Simon son of John, do you love me?" Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, "Do you love me?" He said, "Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Feed my sheep.”
E. What helps to restore you after you’ve “blown it”?
E. We must get rid of our guilt if we are going to get back up again. God forgives and we need to forgive ourselves. Let it go, give it to Jesus, let it go the guilt you feel inside, there’s no need for you to feel defeated, when there’s nothing left to hide, for his blood destroyed the traces sin had left behind, walk on in his forgiveness, mercy granted one more time.
F. Jesus took some dramatic steps to help Peter get rid of his guilt. We also need to realize that people are going to fail us. We need to make an effort to those who fail us to restore them. We need to allow people to run to us. We also need to ask hard questions.
3. Surrender to God’s strength
A. Peter realized he’d been using the wrong fuel- his own strength.
B. (2 Cor 12:8-10) Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
C. Peter was a strong person and had to learn to rely upon God’s strength.
D. (1 Pet 4:11 NIV) If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ.
E. Every day of my life I realize more and more that I can’t do it. I come to the place where I say I want to engage with my kids, but I feel worn out. I want to be a better marriage partner, but I don’t have the love I need. I want to make a difference at work and in my ministry, but I don’t have the energy. “God, I can’t do it. I give up.” And God says, Finally, I’ve been waiting for that. Now I can get involved and give you My power and My strength.
F. (Zec 4:6) ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,' says the LORD Almighty.
G. (Acts 2:33 NIV) Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear.
H. (Acts 2:41 NIV) Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.
