Opening Illustration
Two Kentucky horse racing stable owners had developed a keen rivalry. Each spring they both entered a horse in a local steeplechase. One of them thought that having a professional rider might give his horse an edge in the race, so he hired a hot-shot jockey.
Well, the day of the race finally came, and as usual, their two horses were leading the race right down to the last fence. But that final fence was too much for both of the horses. Both of them fell, and both riders were thrown. But that didn’t stop the professional jockey. He remounted quickly and easily won the race.
When he got back to the stable, he found the horse owner fuming with rage. He really didn’t understand his behavior, because he had won the race. So the jockey asked, “What’s the matter with you? I won the race, didn’t I?”
The red-faced owner nodded, “Oh, yes, you won the race. But you won it on the wrong horse!”
(From 1001 Humorous Illustrations for Public Speaking, by Michael Hodgin, p. 148.)
That jockey had the best of intentions. He intended to win the race. But he became distracted from the task. He made a bad decision. And, ultimately, he failed in what he was trying to do.
Transition
You know, often times we wind up doing the same thing in our walk with Jesus. We start out strong. We have the best of intentions. We are excited, and we want to succeed in the faith. We have a desire to be faithful followers of our Savior. Yet, so often, we become distracted from the faith. We allow the wrong influences in our lives. We experience a challenge or a setback. We make a bad decision. We experience the spiritual failure of allowing sin into our lives, and our relationship with Jesus suffers.
Today we are continuing our SURVIVOR series of messages. And as I talk about surviving failure … that is what I am really talking about … surviving the failure of sin. As followers of Christ, this is one of our greatest challenges in life … especially in the life of the church. Because so often our sin problems are not only between us and God … many times the sin in our lives is known by others. It has consequences that go beyond self. As believers, our failures and our sin can affect our families, our friends, and our church. Therefore, it is appropriate that we look together as a church to God’s word to find the guidance for surviving the failure of sin.
Transition to the Example of Peter
As a I prayed over this message and as I asked God to show me the perfect example of forgiveness, restoration, and survival after the failure of sin, God brought to my mind the name of one person … Peter.
Peter was a bold, brash, straight-talking fisherman. He was as honest as he was rugged. From my study of the life of Peter, I have the picture of a man who said whatever came to his mind. I also have a picture of a man who, when he committed himself to something, committed all the way. There was no wishy-washy half-heartedness to Peter. He left his life of fishing to go with Jesus and become a fisher of men. He was a sold-out follower of Jesus … and he didn’t hesitate to tell anybody.
Even when Jesus warned him that he would someday deny him, Peter said, “Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will.” (Matthew 26:33) When Jesus attempted to explain his coming death, and how the disciples could not go with Him, but that they would follow later, Peter said, “Lord, why can’t I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.” (John 13:37)
Yet we know that despite his enthusiasm and claims … when the moment of truth came … Peter did just as Jesus warned he would do. Look and see how Peter responded in that moment of decision … that moment of persecution.
Video Clip
Show Peter’s denial scene from Franco Zeffirelli’s production of Jesus of Nazareth, RAI/ITC Entertainment Ltd. / Bridgestone Group, 1977, videotape 3.
Debrief Video
Peter did just as Jesus warned he would. He failed Jesus. He publicly denied him three times at that ultimate moment of decision. And as we look at that, we must think, “What a failure! He denied Jesus! How could he ever be restored? How could he ever be forgiven?” Yet he was forgiven and he was restored. The Bible tells us so. And so, today, as we look to God’s word for instruction on how we might survive the failure of our own sin, we can find no more perfect example than that of Peter.
So, what must you know so that you can survive the failure of sin?
Lessons from Scripture
1. Nobody is perfect … everyone fails.
Scripture: As Simon Peter stood warming himself, he was asked, “You are not one of his disciples, are you?” He denied it, saying, “I am not.” (John 18:25-26)
None of us are immune to sin. None of us are immune to letting Jesus down … not even the people who were closes to Him on this earth. Peter walked and talked and laughed and ate with Jesus for three years. He was in the inner circle of the disciples. You might even say that he was one of Jesus’ best friends. Yet he let Jesus down. Three times he denied even knowing Jesus ... all within view of Jesus Himself.
So, should we be surprised by the failure of sin that enters our lives? No. Is God surprised when we fail in our sin and let Him down? No! Does He stop loving us? No!
God knows our tendency to sin all too well. He created us. He was there at the moment when man rebelled and took that step from holiness into sin. He recorded in His word in Romans 3:23 that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” All of us…every single one of us have sinned.
Despite what we may think of ourselves or what we may think of the believers who surround us, we are all just human. We are not perfect. We will fail. We will sin. So, perhaps the first important step is to stop being beating ourselves up. There is nothing to be gained in that. There is no forgiveness or restoration in hating and punishing ourselves for the sin we commit that is absolutely no surprise to Jesus. Indeed, if it is truly forgiveness and restoration that we seek, then we need to go directly to the giver of life and forgiveness … our Lord Jesus Christ.
Transition Illustration
When I was growing up I had a friend named Brad. He was my best friend. We did everything together. We played together every day. Then, one day while I was gone away from home, Brad broke one of my toys. He tore it all to pieces. When I found out we had it out over that broken toy. We fought the meanest, ugliest, bloodiest fight you ever saw between two nine-year-olds. We drew quite a crowd. Even the grown-ups let it go and watched us for a little while. You would think that the toy vandalism incident and the infamous fight would have been the end to our friendship. But, once we had it out, it was over. The next day Brad was back over at my house playing. We had other problems and other fights … but when it you boiled everything down, no matter what may have gone wrong between us, he was my friend. And that’s all that mattered.
2. No matter what you do, Jesus is still your friend.
Scripture: Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.” (John 21:10) “Come and have breakfast.” (John 21:12a)
Peter had denied Jesus when it counted. He had publicly turned his back on Christ. Yet the risen Jesus enjoyed watching Peter catch a net full of fish. He cooked breakfast for him. He invited him to sit down and eat. He enjoyed time and fellowship with Peter.
The same goes for you. No matter how you have failed, no matter what sin you have allowed into your life, the Savior who died for you still loves you. He is still your friend. And He still wants you to sit down with Him, talk with Him, and be with Him. Because, friends, it is only through those moments of sharing and communication that the failure can be addressed and resolved. So, please understand, no matter how you might fail, Jesus is still your friend. He still loves you. He still wants to be near to you.
Transition Illustration
On December 14, 1996, the grain freighter Bright Field was heading down the Mississippi River at New Orleans, Louisiana, when it lost control and veered toward the shore. The boat struck a riverside shopping mall. 116 people were injured. The impact demolished parts of the wharf that housed over two hundred shops and restaurants and the Hilton hotel.
After a year-long investigation, the Coast Guard reported that the freighter lost control because the engine shut down. The engine shut down because of low oil pressure. The pressure was low because of a clogged oil filter. The oil filter was clogged because the mechanic had failed to maintain the ship properly.
So, failing to change the oil wiped out a mall and injured 116 people.
3. You must understand that your sin has consequences.
Scripture: When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon peter, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these? (John 21:15a)
Often those circumstances go far beyond your self. Your sin does affect those who are close to you … your family, your friends, and even your church. But, more important than anything else, your sin failure affects your relationship with Christ.
Just look at Peter and Jesus. Yes, Jesus still loved Peter. He was still His friend. But that relationship was damaged. It was strained. And the damage to that relationship had to be dealt with. Jesus confronted Peter. He said, “So, Peter … I remember all of that stuff you said … how you would always stick by me … how you would never fall away … how you would die for me. But look at what you did. Do you still think you love me more than all of these other guys?”
Peter had to be confronted. He had to understand the consequences of what he had done. He had to realize that he just couldn’t go back to fishing … he just couldn’t go back to the way things had been before. His choices, and his sin, had forced a change upon his relationship with Jesus, and that change had to be dealt with. He had to understand that the consequences of his actions went far beyond himself.
Friends, this is a lesson that we must never forget. Our sin has implications with our families, our friends, and our church. We must acknowledge those implications and deal with them. We have to understand that our own choices and actions do not just affect us … they affect everyone around us, especially those we care about the most.
Transition Illustration
You know, all of us have things that we try to keep hidden from people just as long as we possibly can. I heard a man named Doug Fields tell a story one time about his love for maraschino cherries. He absolutely loved them! And his mom kept a jar of them in the refrigerator as a reward for the kids. Well, one day when his mom was out of the house, Doug couldn’t take the temptation of those cherries. He got the jar out and started eating. And before he knew it, the jar was gone. So, in desperation, he came up with a plan. He poured some of the cherry juice on the floor around the refrigerator, then he took the jar and poured juice on the hands and clothes of his little toddler sister … who couldn’t talk yet! He pinned the crime on her, and he got away with it! He didn’t tell his mom and sister about his little scam until he was an adult!
You know, our first inclination when faced with the failure of sin in our lives is to try and hide it. Somehow we think that if we just put it out of sight and out of mind, and if enough time passes, that it won’t matter anymore. But, friends, I hope that you know that approach won’t work. Sin that is hidden is sin that festers and grows and infects.
No, in order to survive the failure of your sin …
4. You must confront your sin, admit your sin and confess your sin.
Scripture: It was cold, and the servants and officials stood around a fire they had made to keep warm. Peter also was standing with them, warming himself … (18:18)
When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it … 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. (21:9, 15-17)
This is an incredible moment! I have pointed out these verses to you because I want you to understand how Jesus has set up the circumstance.
Do you see the reference to the fire in chapter 18, at the moment of the denial, and the reference to the charcoal fire here in chapter 21? The Greek word for charcoal fire, anthrakian, is found only in theses two places in the entire New Testament! That is not a coincidence. On the night of the denial, Peter warmed himself in the darkness by a charcoal fire. Now he finds himself warmed by a fire at sunrise with Jesus.
Now, how many times did Peter deny Jesus? Three. And how many times, sitting there by that fire, did Jesus ask Peter about his love for him? Three! Do you see how Jesus set up this important moment for Peter?
Yes, Jesus still loved Peter. And, yes, several days had passed since that horrible night when Peter denied Him. But that failure, that denial, that sin was real. It had to be confronted. It had to be brought out in the open. It had to be addressed.
Friends, God’s Word promises us in 1 John 1:9 that, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” But we must admit … we must confess. No amount of hiding, no amount of pretending, no amount of “sweeping under the rug” can resolve our sin problem. The only solution is openness and confession with Jesus.
5. Jesus still has a purpose and mission for you.
Scripture: Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.” (John 21:17)
Yes, Peter had failed miserably. He had denied his Lord. But he saw that Jesus still loved him, he understood the consequences, and he confronted his sin. So, by giving Peter this three-part affirmation, he let Peter know that he was still valuable to the cause. He was useful. He did have a purpose. In fact, he would still be a great leader.
Closing Illustration
I want you to flash forward with me a few weeks in the Scriptures. I want you to see the rest of the story … what happened with Peter after the resurrection of Jesus and the coming of the Holy Spirit. It is fifty days after Jesus ascended into heaven. The Holy Spirit came upon the group of believers in a violent wind and with tongues of fire. They began to speak in other languages, languages that they did not know … but that od gave them so the people nearby could understand.
But look at what happens in Acts 2:13-14, and 40-41.
Friends, that same Peter who cowered in the darkness and denied Jesus on the night before he was crucified stood boldly in front of the entire population of Jerusalem and told them all about Jesus Christ!
Isn’t that amazing?! Isn’t that powerful?! Friends, please understand … no matter how you have failed … no matter how you have allowed sin to infect your life … Jesus has the remedy for that sin. He wants to restore that relationship with you. He wants to forgive you. He wants to be your very best friend. But there are some steps that you have to take … confronting your sin, admitting it, and confessing it. Once you resolve that, God can and will restore you and use you in mighty ways to make a difference in His kingdom.
LIFE APPLICATION
I want to urge you … if sin has led you down the wrong path of your life … find you way back through the power, might, and love of Jesus Christ. He will show you how to be the ultimate survivor out of the failure of sin.
Challenge, Gospel presentation & prayer.
Closing remarks.
