“The Restoring Power of Christ!”
John 21:15-17- So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.
He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
Opening Prayer
Introduction:
Tonight I would like to look at a powerful story of salvation, receiving a calling, falling away and the restoring power of Christ. I would like to share with you my personal testimony and the parallels I share with the Apostle Peter. Christ saves, Christ Calls when we fall away Christ is there to restore!
I would like to begin with a poem:
If you never felt pain,
Then how would you know that I’m a Healer?
If you never went through difficulty,
How would you know that I’m a Deliverer?
If you never had a trial,
How could you call yourself an overcomer?
If you never felt sadness,
How would you know that I’m a Comforter?
If you never made a mistake,
How would you know that I’m forgiving?
If you never were in trouble,
How would you know that I will come to your rescue?
If you never were broken,
Then how would you know that I can make you whole?
If you never had a problem,
How would you know that I can solve them?
If you never had any suffering,
Then how would you know what I went through?
If you never went through the fire,
Then how would you become pure?
If I gave you all things,
How would you appreciate them?
If I never corrected you,
How would you know that I love you?
If you had all power,
Then how would you learn to depend on me?
If your life was perfect,
Then what would you need me for?
Pause and consider that final line for a moment:
If your life was perfect,
Then what would you need me for?
Ryan “Beginnings”
I. Drawn to Christ in 1988 at 1st Baptist Church of Arlington.
a. 11 years old, Father Saved/Baptized.
b. Active in the youth group, followed my parents.
c. Moved to Corona and began to feed the homeless at our church mission.
d. By 14 I started a Christian Club at my high school and taught a weekly bible study.
e. Called to the ministry.
f. Interviewed and visited California Baptist College.
II. In ’93 moved to Tennessee with my parents.
a. They were not “churched”, after the move.
i. Family was broken, parents divorced.
b. I continued to attend church.
i. Began slacking in some areas, no direction.
III. In ’95 met my wife and began my adult life.
a. We attended church and was very active.
b. Heartbroken over church issues (disenfranchised.), left.
c. Had a bible study at my house on Wednesday’s night and church shopped.
IV. 1999 my career exploded and I was sent to Michigan.
a. Unexpected but God prepared us for our move. We claimed it!
b. 23 and we were virtually debt free!
Peter “Beginnings”
I. Simon, is approached by Jesus and told “follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. (Matthew 4:19)
a. Matthew tells us that they immediately responded by leaving their nets and following Christ.
II. Peter experiences Jesus in the flesh! Seeing all kinds of miracles, signs and wonders!
a. WALKS ON WATER! (Matt 16:17)
III. Matthew 16:17 Simon’s name was changed to Peter, he was told by Jesus “That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”
IV. He witnessed Christ’s glory on the mountain top during his transfiguration!
V. Peter was being equipped to lead the Church!
Ryan “I got this”
I. Year 2000 God had blessed me immensely!
a. Had a great job, great family. The need for powerful Jesus in my life began to fade away.
b. I had this figured out!
II. My wife and children became lost in a foreign land!
a. My support was nonexistent.
b. I needed to continue to work and achieve great things!
c. My life became centered on my job. My family became secondary.
III. Satan used this as a mechanism to launch me into a lifestyle that included alcohol.
a. I was losing control.
b. My wife was left to fend for the wellbeing of my family.
c. Longed to return to Tennessee to be with her family, I often wondered why!
i. Could it have been because she had a faithless weak husband?
IV. God took care of my wife and I received a job offer to move back to Tennessee.
a. By this time I was drinking daily to cope with the world.
b. Had the bull by the horns, the world counted me as successful! This is what mattered to me. I was very proud.
V. By 2008 the alcohol and stress of a life without Christ began to take its toll on me.
a. Needed to get fixed, saw my Doctor.
b. Doctor stated that my issue was anxiety and they make a pill for that!
c. Doctor told me that I should be fine continuing to drink and take a SSRI pill.
Peter “I got this”
I. In Matthew 16 22-23 we find a picture of Peter
a. From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day. Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee. But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.
b. Pride! Jesus rebukes him and his actions. Who was he to “take” Jesus! Christ always thought in a very prophetic manner!
II. Jesus prophesies in Mark 14:29 that Peter will deny him three times before the rooster crows!
a. Peter has this figured out, he will die with Christ!
III. At Jesus arrest Peter decides to take matters into his own hands and cuts off the High Priest servant’s ear! (Jn 18:10)
a. Jesus insists that Peter put his sword away! He was not going to stop what the Father had ordered! (Jn 18:11)
b. Peter was trying to do an admirable thing, however he was getting in the way of scripture being fulfilled and allowing Christ to die for our sins.
IV. In Mark 14:71 we find Peter denying Christ in a very real way!
a. His Lord had been arrested! (was he Lord)
b. His faith was being attacked! (was he following the right person)
c. He cursed, swore and denied even knowing Christ!
V. Rooster Crowed!
a. Direct prophecy revealed!
VI. Peter Wept when he realized what he had done! (Mark 14:72)
Ryan “I Don’t Got This”!
I. 2008 I still was crying out to God to take away the anxiety I had!
a. God had an answer for me, I did not recognize it.
b. I wondered why God would let this happen to me.
II. People around me were being saved. They would ask me for guidance.
a. Tried to witness while drinking with friends. Bible in the garage.
III. I was tired.
a. Physically.
b. Emotionally.
c. Spiritually.
IV. Working 12-16 hours/day.
a. World still saw me as successful! (Jag/F150)
b. I was in more debt than I could handle.
c. Money was not buying happiness!
d. My family was drifting away right in front of my eyes!
V. My family was not right with God, my relationship had spread like a virus.
Peter “I don’t got this!”
I. Christ is crucified!
a. Anxiety. Lost. Three + years with Christ. (What to do now?)
b. He had wept (repented) however had not spoken to Christ and was struggling forgiving himself.
II. He is risen!
a. Mary Magdalene, Mary mother of James and Salome wife of Zebedee (mother of James and John) were told by an angle to go tell his disciples “and Peter”.
b. Others recognized Peter’s mistakes, he denied Christ publicly.
III. Mark 16:14 tells us that the disciples were unsure of what the eyewitnesses had seen and Jesus rebuked their unbelief.
IV. 8 days later……..Risen Christ appears again.
a. The disciples saw Jesus, his wounds (hands/side).
b. They believe!
V. In John 21:3 we are shown that Even after the denials and the prophecy being directly fulfilled. Even after seeing the empty tomb. Even after seeing Jesus, not once but twice, what does Peter do? He goes fishing!
a. When Peter makes this decision, the others follow suit! Peter was a leader!
b. He was not a fisherman anymore! He was a fisher of men!
c. This paints an ironic picture of Peter reverting back to his past comforts.
i. Jesus was gone.
ii. He was confused about his fate. Could Jesus even use him anymore?
iii. Peter had repented however he had not been restored.
Ryan, “The Perfect Restoration”
I. My Mother in Law had been praying diligently for her family to be brought back to Christ.
a. There is power in the prayer of a Mother!
II. My Wife told me one Saturday that she and the kids would be attending a church service.
a. Halleluiah! Alone time! Recovery time from the night before!
b. In two weeks my children were saved! It was Baptism time.
III. The Holy Spirit began to convict me! Drawing me to him!
a. I attended a church service. (obeyed)
b. I was drawn to the alter where I wept and asked Christ to once again be the Lord of my life. (submit)
c. I was immediately forgiven, healed and filled!
IV. Restoration has been a gradual process.
a. One day I was struggling about my personal calling and what God intended for my life. My Pastor gave me a word I will never forget, he said “Brother Ryan, God will give you back all the years that the locusts have taken away”. Joel 2:25
V. Today my wife and I are restored! My children are saved and Baptized and a mighty work has begun in our close and extended families!
Peter, “The Perfect Restoration”
I. During the night, the fishing was not fruitful at all!
a. Peter had repented however he had not forgiven himself.
II. In John 21:4 we see Christ on the shore in the Morning (sun shining).
a. He asked them if they had any food.
b. They answered NO!
c. They did not recognize Jesus.
III. Jesus directs the them to cast the net on the right side of the boat. (obey/submit)
a. They catch 153 fish!
b. John realizes it is Jesus and declares so to Peter, “it is Lord!” (John 21:7)
IV. After Breakfast Jesus addresses Peter:
John 21:15-17- So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.
He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
V. Ever wonder why Jesus asked Peter these three questions?
a. He perfectly forgave Peter. Three times he denied Christ. Three times Jesus forgives. He refers to him as “Simon son of Jonah”.
i. Feed my lambs (teach)
ii. Tend my sheep (Pastor)
iii. Feed my sheep (mature)
b. Peter received his ministry back!
c. Peter was humbled and gained strength.
Conclusion:
What has stopped you from fully submitting to Christ? Do you feel like you have a missed calling? Do you need to be restored?
Do you need salvation?
Invitation/Prayer
