Religion & Spirituality
WHAT CAUSES OUR PERSONAL FAILURES? 3 Things Peter Did Wrong 1. WE OVERSTATE OUR _STRENGTHS__ 2. WE FEAR THE DISAPPROVAL OF OTHERS_ 3. WE SPEAK WITHOUT THINKING WHAT SHOULD I DO WHEN I FAIL? 3 Things Peter Did Right 1. GRIEVE 2. LET MY SMALL GROUP SUPPORT ME 3. CAST MYSELF ON GOD’S MERCY WHAT DOES JESUS DO WITH OUR FAILURES? “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you like wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail. So when you have repented and turned back to me again, strengthen and build up your brothers.” Luke 22:31-32 1. HE ISN’T SHOCKED “God certainly knows what we are made of. He bears in mind that we are dust.” Psalm 103:14 (GW) 2. HE PRAYS FOR US “Jesus is able to save us completely because (in heaven) he lives to intercede on our behalf. He is always talking to the Father, asking him to help us.” Hebrews 7:25 3. HE BELIEVES IN US “. . . so WHEN you have repented and turned back to me again . . .” Luke 22:32 “For even though a righteous man falls seven times, he will rise again!” Proverbs 24:16 The Angel said, “I know you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. But he is not here—he’s risen from the dead . . . Now go tell his disciples, AND tell Peter, that he’s going ahead of you to Galilee and he’ll see you there, just as he promised!” Mark 16:6-7 4. HE SHOWS US MERCY WHEN WE’RE DOWN (Two weeks later) “Jesus appeared again to the disciples beside the Sea of Galilee. Seven of the disciples were there and Simon Peter said, ‘I'm going fishing.’ ‘We'll come, too’ they all said. So they went out in the boat, but even though they fished all night, they caught nothing. At dawn the disciples saw a man standing on the shore but they couldn't see it was Jesus. He called out, ‘Friends, have you caught any fish?’ ‘Not a thing!’ they replied.’ Then Jesus said, ‘Throw out your net on the right-hand side of the boat, and you'll get plenty of fish!’ So they did what Jesus said to do, and they instantly caught so many fish, they couldn't even draw in the net because it was so full of fish! Then John said to Peter, ‘IT’S THE LORD!’ “When Peter realized that he put on his tunic (for he had stripped for work), jumped into the water, and swam ashore, leaving the others in the boat to pull the loaded net to the shore, for they were only out about three hundred feet. “When they got to shore they saw that Jesus was cooking fish and bread over a charcoal fire. Jesus said, ‘Bring some of the fish you just caught.’ So Peter went back aboard and dragged the net ashore. It was filled with a 153 large fish, and yet the net had not torn. ‘Now come and have some breakfast!’ Jesus said. Now they were sure it really was the Lord! Then Jesus served them the bread and the fish. This was the third time Jesus had appeared to his disciples since he had been raised from the dead.” John 21:1-14 “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22-23 5. HE USES OUR FAILURES TO BUILD HIS CHURCH “When you have turned back to me, strengthen and build up your brothers.” Luke 22:32 “After breakfast Jesus said to Simon Peter, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?’ ‘Yes, Lord, you know I love you,’ Peter replied. ‘Then FEED my lambs,’ Jesus said. Then Jesus repeated the question: ‘Peter, do you love me?’ Peter said, ‘Yes, Lord! You KNOW I love you!’ ‘Then TAKE CARE of my sheep,’ Jesus said. Then Jesus asked the same question one more time: ‘Peter, do you love me?’ Now Peter was grieved that Jesus asked the question a third time, so he said, ‘Lord, you know everything! You know I love you!’ And Jesus replied ‘Then feed my sheep!’” John 21:15-17 Jesus: “Now I say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I WILL BUILD MY CHURCH, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it!” Matthew 16:18