Church in the Peak

06/12/20 // Failure Redeemed In Jesus // Phil Hardy

December 06, 2020 Church in the Peak
Church in the Peak
06/12/20 // Failure Redeemed In Jesus // Phil Hardy
Show Notes

Phil spoke about Peter and how Jesus redeemed him from his failures. Jesus redeems us from our failures. 

In any sporting event like Olympic Games every four years, probably 90 percent of the best athletes in the world do not win a medal. They try but they fail. Likewise, the Bible records many people who failed. Often times we fail at the point of our greatest strength. All failure can be redeemed in Jesus 

 

Peter’s boasted that even if all the other disciples forsook Jesus; he would not. 

This is the same Peter who had courage to get out of the boat and also the same man who pulled out a sword to defend Jesus in the Garden. 

Now that Jesus had been arrested, Peter denied Jesus three times just as Jesus said he would. John 18:15-17; John 18:25-27

It appeared that Peter was a failure but thankfully failure was not final in Peter’s life.

 

Peter realized that he was not as strong as he first thought. Peter discovered that God’s love and forgiveness was not dependent on success. God measure success and failure different to us. Peter discovered that Jesus still loved him in spite of his failure. So did Peter quit? Give up as a failure, never to serve again? No.  John 21:15‐19 records the wonderful restoration Jesus brings to Peter.

 

Peter learned from his failures. Peter went out and wept bitterly. He had great remorse. Peter’s remorse was different from Judas’ remorse. (Failure)

Unlike Judas, Peter’s remorse led him to make some changes in his life. Just as Peter denied Jesus three times by the fire, in John 21 Jesus asked Peter “Do you love Me?” three times by the fire. (Success) Jesus expressed love and grace to Peter there was no condemnation 

The success in this story is not Peters Failure but Gods Grace to redeem that failure and restore Peter not to position of ministry but to relationship with Jesus 

Romans 8 V 1 & 2 says there is no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus - Fully redeemed 

 

To Be Redeemed is 

1. compensate for the faults or bad aspects of.

2. gain or regain possession of (something) in exchange for payment.

 

 

Jesus has accomplished both for us 

There’s no record of Jesus reminding Peter saying I told you so, Love keeps no record of wrongs or failure. 

Peter proved by his actions that he was serious in his love for Jesus. In Acts 4, Peter stood in the same courtyard in which he denied Jesus and boldly proclaimed Jesus before the same crowd in which he had denied Jesus. 

Filled with the Holy Spirit, the same man who had cursed and denied Jesus earlier was now standing unafraid before the same crowd that called for the crucifixion of Jesus. 

This crowd realized that there was something different about Peter. 

They knew Peter was uneducated and unschooled, yet they were amazed and recognized that they (Peter and John) had been with Jesus.

 

Verse 3 in the song So Will I by Hillsongs

Spending time with Jesus made all the difference in Peter’s life. 

Jesus wants to make that same difference in our lives. 

Do others see through your life that you have “been with Jesus”? 

The same Jesus that impacted and changed Peter’s life waits to impact and change our lives as well.

 

Questions for Groups - Living it out

1. Following the Lord at a distance can leave room for failure. How close is your walk? Is it safe or amazing?

2. Would you be willing to pray for more boldness?

3. Is there anyone in Scripture was redeemed from failure that you identify with?

4. Peter needed to say, “I love you” to Jesus.  Do you need to do this?