INTRODUCTION
• Were you ever naive as a Christian?
• Maybe you thought that after you accepted Christ, you would never sin again or that you would never struggle with failure.
• We can have unrealistic expectations for ourselves as Christians: We are followers of Jesus, so naturally, the new life that Paul talks about should just happen.
• We should always resist temptation, say the right thing, and hear God's voice every moment of the day.
• But reality hits us, and we realize that we aren't as sinless as we thought, that the new life in Jesus is a journey that takes time, and that other believers are not always perfect.
• What do you do when you fail in life?
• Maybe you were a failure as a spouse or a parent.
• Maybe you experienced failure in your career.
• Failure is a part of life.
• The question is, does failure have to define you?
• For some, it does.
• In your life, how have you addressed failure?
• We can deal with failure in a variety of ways.
• We can ignore it and never acknowledge it.
• We can let it destroy our life.
• Today we will examine one of the most powerful stories of failure and redemption.
• I want us to take you through a very trying time in the life of the Apostle Peter.
• There will come a point in the life of Peter when he will have to decide how he will respond to an epic failure in his life.
• Would Peter go the way of Judas, who ended his life because of his epic failure, or will Peter follow a different path?
• Let's begin our look at the difficult part of the life of Peter.
• We will start in Luke 22:31-34.
Luke 22:31–34 (NET 2nd ed.)
31 “Simon, Simon, pay attention! Satan has demanded to have you all, to sift you like wheat,
32 but I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. When you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”
33 But Peter said to him, “Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death!”
34 Jesus replied, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow today until you have denied three times that you know me.”
SERMON
I. The boast.
• Before we get to this point in the life of Peter, we need to remember that he was a fisherman by trade.
• That Job was physically demanding, and most fishermen were typically not highly educated men.
• Peter tended to be the first one to speak.
• Peter was in Jesus' inner circle.
• Peter was the only one to get out of the boat and walk on the water in Matthew 14:28-31.
• When Jesus asked the disciples who others said he was and who they thought He was, it was Peter who said that Jesus was the Christ, the son of God.
• In John 6:66-69 when His followers were leaving Jesus in large numbers, it was Peter; when asked by Jesus if he and the rest of the twelve were going to leave Him, it was Peter who said that they had nowhere to go, that Jesus had the words of eternal life!
• When Jesus was arrested, it was Peter who drew his sword and cut off the ear of Malchus, the slave of the High Priest in John 18:10-12.
• It appears that Peter was a man who acted before he took the time to think.
• When Jesus plucked Peter off the fishing boat, He knew what He was getting.
• Peter had to be excited about the notoriety and crowds.
• Peter was the perceived leader of the disciples; this was evident from all we read about the interactions.
• In the past, when Jesus spoke of His death, Peter would have none of that; when Jesus washed the disciple's feet, Peter would have none until Jesus rebuked him.
• The discussion we read between Jesus and Peter probably takes place in the upper room, just before the Garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus is arrested and taken to be crucified.
• Jesus looks at Peter and tells him to pay attention that Satan has demanded to test all the disciples.
• This is a similar request Satan made of Job in Job 1:12, 2:6.
• Jesus said Satan wants to sift them like wheat.
• To sift means to toss about violently in a sieve to separate the good from the bad.
• The sifting process would reveal the true inner character of Peter.
• Jesus tells Peter that He would pray that Peter's faith would not fail.
• Notice that Jesus does not pray for the sifting not to happen, but rather that Peter's faith would stay strong.
• I find that to be interesting that Jesus was not going to stop the sifting.
• Peter needed the test to see where his faith's weaknesses existed.
• Jesus tells Peter that when he fails, fail forward and use the experience to help others grow.
• The way verse 32 is written, Jesus is telling Peter he will fail.
• In verse 33, in typical Peter fashion, Peter boldly boasts that he will go to prison or die for Jesus!
• Jesus has to be shaking His head about now.
• He tells Peter that he will deny he knew Jesus three times before the rooster crows.
• Hours later.
Luke 22:54–62 (NET 2nd ed.)
54 Then they arrested Jesus, led him away, and brought him into the high priest’s house. But Peter was following at a distance.
55 When they had made a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat down among them.
56 Then a slave girl, seeing him as he sat in the firelight, stared at him and said, “This man was with him too!”
57 But Peter denied it: “Woman, I don’t know him!”
58 Then a little later someone else saw him and said, “You are one of them too.” But Peter said, “Man, I am not!”
59 And after about an hour still another insisted, “Certainly this man was with him, because he too is a Galilean.”
60 But Peter said, “Man, I don’t know what you’re talking about!” At that moment, while he was still speaking, a rooster crowed.
61 Then the Lord turned and looked straight at Peter, and Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before a rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.”
62 And he went outside and wept bitterly.
II. The failure.
• Remember Peter boasting that he would die or go to prison with Jesus?
• I believe Peter believed what he was saying.
• It has been said you are not boasting if you can back it up.
• Peter has good intentions.
• However, he overestimated the strength of his faith.
• Sometimes we judge others because we think we would not do what they did.
• People make decisions they make for a reason, whether good or bad.
• It would behoove us to try walking in the other person's shoes before we judge their decisions.
• It would be easy to say I would die for my Jesus, but when the gun is in my face, would I see it differently?
• I hope not!
• Now Peter gets to back up his boast with some action!
• When Jesus was arrested, where was Peter?
• He must have been right next to Jesus, defending Him!
• No, Peter was following at a distance.
• In verse 56, a slave girl says that Peter was a follower of Jesus.
• Denial number 1!
• I DON'T KNOW HIM!
• In verse 58, a little while later, Peter is accused again.
• Denial number 2!
• No, I am not with Him!
• In verse 59, about an hour later, someone said that since Peter was a Galilean like Jesus, Peter must be with Jesus!
• Verse 60, denial number 3!
• Look what happens!
Luke 22:60–62 (NET 2nd ed.)
60 But Peter said, “Man, I don’t know what you’re talking about!” At that moment, while he was still speaking, a rooster crowed.
61 Then the Lord turned and looked straight at Peter, and Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before a rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.”
62 And he went outside and wept bitterly.
• Peter's response in verse 62 tells us something about Peter.
• But what?
• Judas was sorry for what he did to Jesus, and then he went out and hanged himself. Matthew 27:3-5.
• When we are sorry, we can be sorry for two reasons, worldly or Godly.
2 Corinthians 7:10 (NET 2nd ed.)
10 For sadness as intended by God produces a repentance that leads to salvation, leaving no regret, but worldly sadness brings about death.
• The word sadness is sorrow.
• Are we sorry we did what we did, or are we sorry we got caught?
• Then what will you do if you are sorry for what you did?
III. The choice.
• What do you do when confronted with failure?
• Peter boasted that he would go to jail or die for Jesus, but when the heat was turned up, Peter melted like a snowflake.
• Peter openly denied Jesus three times, as Jesus knew Peter would.
• Jesus hoped that Peter would repent and come back stronger than ever, but for that to happen, Peter would have to do something that was part of repentance; Peter would have to acknowledge what he did.
• This takes place post-resurrection.
• Jesus is with the disciples; Peter is there.
• Jesus needed to lead Peter to open confession.
• Breakfast was served, and finally, the tense silence was broken as Jesus turned to Peter and spoke.
John 21:15–19 (NET 2nd ed.)
15 Then when they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these do?” He replied, “Yes, Lord, you know I love you.” Jesus told him, “Feed my lambs.”
16 Jesus said a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He replied, “Yes, Lord, you know I love you.” Jesus told him, “Shepherd my sheep.”
17 Jesus said a third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was distressed that Jesus asked him a third time, “Do you love me?” and said, “Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you.” Jesus replied, “Feed my sheep.
18 I tell you the solemn truth, when you were young, you tied your clothes around you and went wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and others will tie you up and bring you where you do not want to go.”
19 (Now Jesus said this to indicate clearly by what kind of death Peter was going to glorify God.) After he said this, Jesus told Peter, “Follow me.”
• Jesus did not say, "Peter, are you not ashamed of how you denied me? Didn't I tell you that you would?"
• Peter, I forgive you this time, but you have to promise never to do anything like that again!
• Jesus broke the silence by asking Peter if he loved Jesus more than these do (speaking of the other disciple's love for Jesus).
• Are you still boastful?
• Did you learn your lesson?
• The man who said he would go to jail and die for Jesus denied Jesus three times publically!
• In his answer, Peter does not look at the others and say, YES, I AM BETTER THAN THESE GUYS!
• Peter does not boast about the future.
• When asked if he loves Jesus more than these others, Peter responds, YES, YOU KNOW I LOVE YOU!
• The focus is on "I LOVE YOU," not in comparison to the others.
• In verse 15, Peter is saying, I no longer boast. I am not claiming to be better than the others.
• In verse 16, Jesus drops all comparisons with the others and asks Peter if he loves Jesus with his whole person; Peter gives the same answer.
• In verse 17, Jesus descends to Peter's level by using the word PHILEO (brotherly affection) versus AGAPE (a more profound love).
• Peter says you know I love you!
• When we fail, confess it, and grow from it.
• Quit denying what everyone else can see!
• Be honest with yourself and God!
1 Peter 1:15–18 (NET 2nd ed.)
15 but, like the Holy One who called you, become holy yourselves in all of your conduct,
16 for it is written, “You shall be holy, because I am holy.”
17 And if you address as Father the one who impartially judges according to each one’s work, live out the time of your temporary residence here in reverence.
18 You know that from your empty way of life inherited from your ancestors, you were ransomed—not by perishable things like silver or gold,
IV. The lesson.
• Peter learned a lesson from his failure.
• Jesus' breakfast encounter with Peter isn't the last time we hear from the apostle Peter.
• Peter went on to be a leader in the early church and wrote two of the New Testament letters.
• In 1 Peter, he describes the importance of holiness in Christian living.
• If anyone knew about failing, redemption, and living for Christ, it was the man who denied him at Jesus's trial.
• But Peter received love and forgiveness from God.
• Peter's reminder of the father-child theme in this context (vv. 14, 17) is appropriate, for it is the nature of children to want to imitate their parents.
• Christians should delight in imitating God, both because He is their Father and because His moral excellence is inherently beautiful and desirable—to be like Him is the best way to be" (Wayne A. Grudem, 1 Peter, The Tyndale New Testament Commentaries 17 [Downers Grove, IL: IVP, 1988], Logos).
• Peter's lesson was that we are to be like the Father, to live out our lives in reverence to and for Him!
CONCLUSION
• Christians need to realize and express their failures and perseverance with humility to grow as believers.
• It is easy to present ourselves as always strong or that we always have it together, but we are painting an unrealistic picture of ourselves to the world.
• Not being honest about our struggles and our failures will do nothing but hurt us.
• Even though it's difficult, it is impossible to fail forward if we never acknowledge failure in the first place.
› Application Point: We will not pretend we have it all together.
› After all, the world can see our brokenness.
› So, instead, we will find safe people to be honest with about our failures.
