Date: 08-May-2024
Name: Nelson Chibwe
Topic: HOPE AFTER FAILURE
Content:
A. Failure in the past does not nullify purpose in the future.
· By God’s grace, your mistakes and failures do not disqualify you from God’s purpose and call on your life.
B. In your failure, God moulds you into an instrument that brings hope to others.
· God uses your failures and mistakes to equip you with the experience to minister to others who are broken.
To work through these two points, let us briefly journey through the life of Simon (the disciple later known as Peter).
FAILURE IN THE PAST DOES NOT NULLIFY PURPOSE IN THE FUTURE.
1. In Mark 1: 16-18 – Jesus called Simon into ministry.
16 As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 17 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” 18 At once they left their nets and followed him.
· Simon was a fisherman by trade, and we also know that he was a married man (as Mark 1:29-31 references to Simon’s mother-in-law).
· At once, Simon dropped his nets (left his “career” so to speak) at once to follow Jesus. This gives us the first indication of how impulsive Simon was. A trait that was both good and bad – as we see later in the text.
2. Following his calling, Simon gravitated into a leadership role amongst the 12 disciples.
3. Simon took on the role of spokesperson for both the 12 and at times, Jesus.
· He was bold enough to ask the question/questions that the others were probably thinking but not bold enough to ask:
ü Matthew 15:15 - 15 Peter said, “Explain the parable to us.”
ü Matthew 18:21 - 21 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?”
ü Matthew 19:27 - 15 Peter said, “Explain the parable to us.”
· He was also the person people asked questions and he answered.
ü Matthew 17: 24 - 25 - 24 After Jesus and his disciples arrived in Capernaum, the collectors of the two-drachma temple tax came to Peter and asked, “Doesn’t your teacher pay the temple tax?” 25 “Yes, he does,” he replied.
4. Through his impulsiveness and loyalty to Jesus – Simon becomes the first to declare Jesus as the Messiah. And through that confession – Jesus called Simon, Peter (meaning “Rock”) – and he declared the following over Peter – (a) he will be the rock on which I will build my church and (b) the gates of Hades will not overcome it. This was massive! A high point!
ü Matthew 16:13-17 - 13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” 14 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” 17 Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. 18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.
ü Fun fact – my full name is Kabwe (Stone / Pebble) Nelson Chibwe (Rock) – so I might as well change my name to Peter right?
5. As mentioned earlier – Peter was very loyal to Jesus. So loyal that at times he overstepped the boundaries.
ü Matthew 16: 21-24 - 21 From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests, and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life. 22 Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!” 23 Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”
6. Again, Peter’s loyalty is highlighted in Mark 14 – the chapter that highlighted the lowest point in Peter’s walk with Jesus.
ü Mark 14: 27-30 - 27 “You will all fall away,” Jesus told them, “for it is written: “‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’ 28 But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.” 29 Peter declared, “Even if all fall away, I will not.” 30 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “today—yes, tonight—before the rooster crows twice you yourself will disown me three times.”
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ü Mark 14: 66-72 - 66 While Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high priest came by. 67 When she saw Peter warming himself, she looked closely at him. “You also were with that Nazarene, Jesus,” she said. 68 But he denied it. “I don’t know or understand what you’re talking about,” he said, and went out into the entryway. 69 When the servant girl saw him there, she said again to those standing around, “This fellow is one of them.” 70 Again he denied it. After a little while, those standing near said to Peter, “Surely you are one of them, for you are a Galilean.” 71 He began to call down curses, and he swore to them, “I don’t know this man you’re talking about.” 72 Immediately the rooster crowed the second time. Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows twice you will disown me three times.” And he broke down and wept.
· At that point, the “penny dropped” so to speak – and Peter just went against all that he had stood fall / and what he had been declaring just a few verses ago. That was devastating / that is a failure that lasts a lifetime – imagine the regret / Jesus is on trial / he is being crucified and you just confirmed what he said you would. That is something that would damage life.
7. In life, we may not have done the same thing as Peter did just then. However, in many ways, we have also rejected the Lord. It may be in our speech, in our conduct with others – be it at home / in the marketplace. Some of us may have made big mistakes that tore our families and relationships apart. Big mistakes that we think we cannot recover from. When we are in the moment, it all seems to be over – we are done, it is finished.
8. But whatever you may be going through, thank you Lord for the Gospel – thank you for his grace. We serve a God of second chances / a God that never lets go / a God whose plan for our lives never changes.
9. Peter’s road to restoration and redemption starts 2 chapters later in Mark 16.
· Jesus knew that Peter had denied him / that Peter was in the dumps. But when God has a plan for you / he will make sure you know about it / he will be specific with you.
ü Mark 16:5-7 - 5 As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed. 6 “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. 7 But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’”
10.Fast forward to the book of John / to the 3rd appearance of Jesus Christ following his death – Jesus is having a chat with Peter – “
ü John 21:15 - 15 When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” 16 Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.” 17 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. 18 Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.”
11.The Lord knew that he had failed – but this was an invitation for him to get up and get back into it! This was his second chance / the lord had called him and set him apart for this. His denial was in the past.
· Remember Jesus’ declarations in Mark 16: 13-17 He declared the following over Peter – (a) he will be the rock on which I will build my church and (b) the gates of Hades will not overcome it.
· Despite Peter’s failures, God was not done with him/he was still the rock on which he was to build his church and that was true!
12.When you look in Acts – for the first 12 chapters – Peter became the central figure in the early church:
· Acts 1 – he oversees the appointment of the apostle to replace Judas.
· Acts 2 – he preaches the first sermon of the Gospel / the one where 3,000 people get saved.
· Acts 3 – he heals the lame man at the temple.
· Acts 4 – he faces up with the Sanhedrin.
If you go back to the time of the denial / if you told Peter that he would do all the things he had done in Acts – do you think he would have believed you? Of course not!
We tend to remember too long the evil that we do / we remember the denial / we remember the failure / we tend to overlook and forget the greatness of a life that has been broken. Peter is a wonderful example of a man who was given a second chance / it is a great thing that God did it to him and because he did it to him – he can do it to you and me!
YOUR BROKENESS IS GOD’S INSTRUMENT IN BRINGING RESTORATION TO OTHERS
13.Peter’s acts did not stop in Acts / he proceeded to write two letters which were included in the bible – 1st and 2nd Peter.
14.When you look at 1st Peter – you will see that Peter had a heart for the broken/ he developed a ministry for those who are suffering / those who are scattered.
15.Peter writes to those who are suffering persecution and provides encouragement / and hope. Peter turned his brokenness into a ministry for others / a ministry that brought hope. You can do the same.
16.Your failure / your suffering was not in vain – it was God’s training and equipping you to be used as an instrument to bless others and to bring hope to others.
Prayer Points:
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