WHEN WE FEEL WE’VE FAILED GOD- Lessons from the Life of Peter
OPENING COMMENTS: HAVE YOU EVER FELT YOU HAVE FAILED GOD? SOMETIMES EVEN IN OUR BEST INTENTIONS WE, EVEN AS CHRISTIANS SEEM TO COME SHORT. DURING THOSE TIMES, WE NEED TO KNOW THAT GOD IS FOR US AND NOT AGAINST US.
THE BIBLE SAYS THAT “JESUS IS AN EVER PRESENT HELP IN A TIME OF NEED” (Psalm 46:1).
Psalm 46:1
[ For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. According to Alamoth. A song. ] God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.
TODAY I WANT TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE LIFE OF A MAN WHO I BELIEVE TRULY LOVED THE LORD. I THINK AS WE READ ABOUT HIM MANY OF US MAY BE ABLE TO RELATE TO HIM ALSO. AT TIMES HE FAILED MISERABLY AND WHERE ALL COULD SEE HIS FAILURE. YET JESUS LOVED HIM AND HE WENT ON TO BECOME ONE OF THE GREAT MEN OF GOD IN THE BIBLE. WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE APOSTLE PETER.
I. RELATING TO PETER’S HISTORY & CHARACTER:
- HE WAS A ROUGH AND UNREFINED MAN. NOT A PROFESSIONAL IN A 3 PIECE SUIT WITH PERFECT SPEECH. HE WOULD HAVE BEEN EQUIVALENT PROBABLY TO THE AVERAGE GUY TODAY…MAYBE LIKE A CONSTRUCTION WORKER OR LABORER. HE WAS A PROFESSIONAL FISHERMAN. HE WAS A GUY WHO WORKED OUTDOORS AND WITH HIS HANDS, CAME HOME DIRTY. NO DOUBT FROM THAT HE WAS A STRONG, ROUGH LOOKING AND WEATHERBEATEN MAN.
- HE PROBABLY DID NOT USE THE BEST OF LANGUAGE BEFORE BEING SAVED AND IN FACT WAS CALLED A “SON OF THUNDER” (Mark 3:16-18). SO HE WAS LOUD, BOISTEROUS, AND PROBABLY PRETTY CRUDE AND UNREFINED.
Mark 3:16-18 (New International Version)
16These are the twelve he appointed: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter 17 James son of Zebedee and his brother John (to them he gave the name Boanerges, which means Sons of Thunder); 18Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot
- WE KNOW FROM READING THE BIBLE THAT PETER WAS A MAN WHO SPOKE HIS MIND AND OFTEN PUT HIS FOOT IN HIS MOUTH. IN FACT, HE WAS PROBABLY THE ONLY DISCIPLE I CAN THINK OF RIGHT NOW THAT GOD ACTUALLY HAD TO MORE OR LESS TELL TO “BE QUIET AND [AY ATTENTION” ON ONE OCCASION RIGHT OUT OF HEAVEN AND AGAIN ON ANOTHER OCCASION HE WAS PERSONALLY REBUKED BY JESUS.
- A. DURING THE TRANSFIGURATION (MARK 9:1-7)
B. WHEN HE TRIED TO REBUKE JESUS FOR GOING TO THE CROSS. (MT 16:21-23)
- PETER WAS NATURALLY IMPULSIVE (MT. 14:28; 17:4; JN 21:7)
- PETER WAS TENDERHEARTED & AFFECTIONATE (MT. 26:75; JN 13:9; 21:15-17)
- FULL OF STRANGE CONTRADICTIONS & AT TIMES PRESUMPTUOUS (MT 16:22; JN 13:8; 18:10)
- TIMID & COWARDLY (MT. 14:30; 26:69-72)
- SELF SACRIFICING (MK 1:18)
- INCLINED TO BE SELF-SEEKING (MT. 19:27)
- GIFTED WITH SPIRITUAL INSIGHT (JN 6:68)
- SLOW TO APPREHEND THE DEEPER TRUTHS (MT 15:15-16)
- MADE TWO GREAT CONFESSIONS OF HIS FAITH IN CHRIST (MT 16:16; JN 6:69)
- MADE THE MOST COWARDLY DENIAL (MT 14:67-71)
II. HIS HIGHS:
- IT WAS UPON HIS REVELATION OF WHO JESUS WAS THAT CHRIST SAID HE WOULD BUILD HIS CHURCH ON THAT GREAT REVELATION. (MT 16:13-19)
Matthew 16:13-19 (New American Standard Bible)
Peter's Confession of Christ
13(A)Now when Jesus came into the district of (B)Caesarea Philippi, He was asking His disciples, "Who do people say that (C)the Son of Man is?"
14And they said, "Some say (D)John the Baptist; and others, (E)Elijah; but still others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets."
15He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?"
16Simon Peter answered, "You are (F)the Christ, (G)the Son of (H)the living God."
17And Jesus said to him, "Blessed are you, (I)Simon Barjona, because (J)flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.
18"I also say to you that you are (K)Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of (L)Hades will not overpower it.
19"I will give you (M)the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and (N)whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven
III. HIS LOWS:
1. PETER TOLD TO BE QUIET AT THE TRANSFIGURATION (MK 9:1-7 )
2. PETER REBUKED FOR FORBIDDING JESUS TO GO TO THE CROSS (MT. 16:21-23)
3. PETER TELLS JESUS THAT HE WILL NEVER DENY HIM, AND ARGUES WITH HIM ABOUT IT EVEN AFTER JESUS PREDICTS IT AND TELLS HIM. AND THEN IT HAPPENS.
We read in John 13, versus 37-38 the following conversation between our Lord and Peter.
37 Peter said to Him, "Lord, why can I not follow You right now? I will lay down my life for You."
38 Jesus answered, "Will you lay down your life for Me? Truly, truly I say to you, a rooster will not crow until you deny Me three times."
In the Book of Matthew, we read another account of the above conversation and we see Peter taking the matter a step further by arguing the point with Jesus, stating, "Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You." -Matthew 26:35.
IV. THE SETTING OF HIS DENIAL OF CHRIST.
1. WHERE DID THE CONVERSATION ABOUT PETER’S DENIAL FIRST TAKE PLACE? AT THE LAST SUPPER WHEN THEY WERE EATING AND DRINKING TOGETHER.
2. HOW MANY TIMES DID HE DENY PETER? THREE TIMES (AND THIS IS IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER BECAUSE WE WILL SEE SOMETHING INTERESTING LATER IN THIS MESSAGE)
V. THE SETTING OF PETER’S RESTORATION & HOW IT CAME ABOUT.
- PETER WEEPS BITTERLY AT HIS DENIAL. HE IS SORRY. (MT. 26:69-75)
No doubt, Peter was sincere about his belief that he would never deny the Lord, but as we see in reading further in Matthew's gospel (Matthew 26:69-75) and in other accounts, he did exactly that...and then wept bitterly afterwards.
It would have been sad if the very real and true story of Peter ended here, but it does not. Jesus went on to be crucified and as foretold by Himself and also the prophets from generations beforehand, He was gloriously resurrected from the dead and appeared to many thereafter before ascending into Heaven.
- PETER IS SORRY…BUT HE ALSO REPENTS. WE WILL SEE HOW WE KNOW THAT PETER REPENTED IN A MOMENT. JESUS FORGIVES HIM. WE KNOW THAT BECAUSE JESUS TELLS THE OTHERS TO CALL FOR THE DISCIPLES TO COME TO HIM “AND PETER”. LIKEWISE JESUS IS ALWAYS THERE TO SEEK US OUT EVEN WHEN WE HAVE FAILED. HE SAYS THAT IF HE WILL LEAVE HIS SHEEP IF ONE IS LOST TO LOOK FOR THAT ONE LOST SHEEP. THAT IS THE LOVE OF OUR LORD.
- WHY DOES HE SINGLE PETER OUT? BECAUSE HE KNOWS PETER IS DEPRESSED OVER HIS DENIAL. PERHAPS HE IN CONDEMNATION OVER IT AND HE ALSO WANTS THE OTHERS TO KNOW PETER IS TO BE RESTORED AND ACCEPTED
To "turn away" is essentially what the word, "repentance" means. It means to do a 180 degree turn and go the opposite direction. We know Peter was repentful because in the end, despite his denial of Christ and the certain guilt and shame that was surely there because of it, Peter was right there at the feet of Jesus. Although in denying Him, Peter was essentially separating himself from the Lord by word and deed, He was quick to change his mind and stay close to Him despite what had occurred. That is repentance. Not only that, but Peter was never forgotten by God through everything that happened. We know this because in Mark 16, verses 6-7, an angel is sitting by the open tomb of Jesus after He was resurrected and when that angel spoke to several women who had come there to anoint Jesus' body, he said the following:
6 And he said to them, "Do not be amazed; you are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who has been crucified. He has risen; He is not here; behold, here is the place where they laid Him.
7 "But go, tell His disciples and Peter.........
Notice that Peter is singled out and given a specific invitation and is included among the other disciples. Why? Because in Peter's mind he had separated or isolated himself from the others and he saw himself as a failure for that moment. He, of all the disciples, needed encouragement and restoration. He obviously was feeling very low, very isolated and discouraged at this time. Certainly he felt as if he had failed God Himself. But God is a God of total love, total forgiveness and total restoration.
- SO PETER CALLS JESUS AND IT IS ALMOST DEJEVU. THEY ARE IN A SIMILAR SETTING AS WHEN HE DENIED THE LORD. JESUS IS AGAIN SEATED WITH HIS DISCIPLES AND ABOUT TO HAVE A MEAL…EAT AND DRINK WITH THEM.
So we "fast-forward" in this story to that final period of time before Jesus' ascension into Heaven. As stated, He had been crucified and was then resurrected three days later. For a period of time Jesus then indisputably appeared in many places and before multitudes of people. As we go back to the Book of John, we find ourselves at the end..the 21st chapter. Jesus was having breakfast with his disciples and Peter was among them. A very interesting scenario takes place here. Notice that, just as in the last supper, the scene, in an awe- inspiring way repeats itself. Just like during the last supper, Jesus and His disciples are all together and eating in one place. I am sure a much more humble and somewhat broken Peter is sitting among them. One can only surmise that he probably did not have much to say. Jesus had to the best of our knowledge, never addressed the issue of Peter’s denial and failure before this moment and even in this very moment our Lord never actually addressed Peter's specific failure. In fact, our Lord Jesus Christ replaced Peter's failure with His amazing grace and restoration as we read:
John 21:15-17: So when they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these?" He said to Him, "Yes Lord; You know that I love You." He said to him, "Tend My lambs." He said to him a second time, "Simon, son of John, do you love Me?" He said to Him, "Yes Lord; You know that I love You." He said to him, "Shepherd My sheep." He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of John, do you love Me?" Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, "Do you love Me?" And he said to Him, "Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You." Jesus said to him, "Tend My sheep".
Now to understand this fully, you first have to understand that our Lord Jesus was not on some insecurity trip when he repeatedly asked Peter whether he loved Him. Jesus was subtly trying to make a point and here it is:
Do you remember that in a similar setting, where Jesus and His disciples were eating together, that Peter tried to express his love for the Lord by stating that he was willing to die for Him? In that setting, Jesus told Peter the he would deny the Lord three times before the rooster crows. Now here we are, after the resurrection. A different Peter has emerged. One that "was grieved" because Jesus asked him a third time whether he loved Him. Why was Peter grieved? I think it was probably because he felt, after being asked the same question three times, that maybe Jesus questioned or even doubted Peter's love for Him. I am sure that Peter was reflecting back on his three denials of our Lord in one night, after stating he would never deny Jesus and was willing to die for Him. Peter probably felt very small or low at this moment. He probably felt humiliated; maybe even a deep sense of guilt and failure. But Jesus showed Peter and also us what His heart really is towards perceived failure when, at this moment, He revealed His wonderful love, grace and willingness not to break fellowship with us but rather to completely restore us; even in the midst of failure. Yes, this same Peter who denied Jesus three times was given the grace and opportunity to reaffirm his love for our Lord...also three times. Jesus accepted Peter's affirmation of love and without ever bringing the matter of his denial up, the Lord lovingly commissioned Peter to walk in that Shepherd's ministry that he had always been called to walk in. So in the same way, it is God's desire that we understand that, just like with Peter, it is His will to restore us totally and completely. The guilt of past failures is totally redeemable in Christ. We do not have to live a life that is guilt ridden. We do not have to separate ourselves from God if we have failed in anything...even if we feel we have failed Him, as Peter no doubt also had felt. The will of the Lord for you is total restoration into fellowship and fulfillment of a special calling or commission that Jesus Christ has for you. Just like Peter's denial three times and his subsequent reaffirmation of his love for Jesus three times, God is showing us in scripture that to the same total degree that we have failed, His grace will also restore us. Peter was a man who, for lack of any better terminology, "was very human". He was a man like you or I with similar emotions and reactions. Yet, it is men and woman of like manner, passions and emotions that Jesus desires to use and have fellowship with everyday. Can you relate to Peter? Do you see something of Peter in yourself or something of yourself in him?
- HOW MANY TIMES DID PETER DENY CHRIST? HE DENIED HIM 3 TIMES.
- WITH EACH OF PETER’S ANSWERS JESUS RESPONDED AND TOLD HIM (JOHN 21:15-17)
- TEND MY LAMBS
- SHEPHERD MY SHEEP
- TEND MY SHEEP
- DO YOU SEE THE DEPTH OF THE GRACE OF GOD IN ALL OF THIS? YOU SEE, TO THE SAME DEGREE THAT PETER HAD FAILED AND DENIED CHRIST, THE LORD EXTENDED AN EQUAL AMOUNT OF GRACE TO HIM TO BE RECONCILED AND RESTORED. THAT IS GOD’S ATTITUDE IN CHRIST TOWARDS US. TO THE DEGREE THAT WE FAIL, HE IS WILLING TO EXTEND GRACE TO SEE THAT WE SUCCEED AND ARE RESTORED TO HIM.
A CLOSING THOUGHT:
In closing, some things that are important to note are that despite Peter's failure, he was sorry and repentful. We know that he was sorry because the scriptures tell us that he wept bitterly about what he did. Yet sorrow in itself is not enough. The Bible says that "Godly sorrow produces repentance." (2 Corinthians 7:10) So we must repent also. Being sorry for the wrong things we have done is only helpful when that sorrow causes us to turn away from those things...whatever they may be. To "turn away" is essentially what the word, "repentance" means. It means to do a 180 degree turn and go the opposite direction. We know Peter was repentful because in the end, despite his denial of Christ and the certain guilt and shame that was surely there because of it, Peter was right there at the feet of Jesus. Although in denying Him, Peter was essentially separating himself from the Lord by word and deed, He was quick to change his mind and stay close to Him despite what had occurred. That is repentance. Not only that, but Peter was never forgotten by God through everything that happened. We know this because in Mark 16, verses 6-7, an angel is sitting by the open tomb of Jesus after He was resurrected and when that angel spoke to several women who had come there to anoint Jesus' body, he said the following:
6 And he said to them, "Do not be amazed; you are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who has been crucified. He has risen; He is not here; behold, here is the place where they laid Him.
7 "But go, tell His disciples and Peter.........
Notice that Peter is singled out and given a specific invitation and is included among the other disciples. Why? Because in Peter's mind he had separated or isolated himself from the others and he saw himself as a failure for that moment. He, of all the disciples, needed encouragement and restoration. He obviously was feeling very low, very isolated and discouraged at this time. Certainly he felt as if he had failed God Himself. But God is a God of total love, total forgiveness and total restoration.
Have you failed? Your perceived failure really is no surprise to God. Just in the same way the Lord loved and restored Peter, He will do the same for you. So allow yourself to be restored. Through Jesus Christ, you will be forgiven. God can still use you. What do you need to do? The answer to that question is simple. Just go the other way. Turn and walk towards Him. Like Peter, hear the call to "come." Then, go and sit at His feet. Do you feel that you have failed Him? Do you need forgiveness? If so, Jesus is here for you. In fact, He never left you. Let Him take your life and restore it. Let Him mold you into what He wants you to be, as He did Peter. Nothing you have done and no failure in your life is impossible for Jesus to forgive and for you to overcome.
We bless you with this message. Amen.
Mischa S. Safdie’
Mischa S. Safdie’ Ministries
136 N. Grand Ave., Ste. 278
W. Covina, CA 91791
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