Alrighty everyone, I'm back again! This time I'm going to bring you up to date with the thursday message from the sixth week of LT. Wow. Message 12 already. Phew.
So, John is back once again. And when I first heard the title of the message I got kind of nervous. It was simply titled "Failure." So let's see how this all plays out!
Here's the story:
"A dispute also arose among them as to which of them was considered to be the greatest. Jesus said to them, 'The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves. For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves. You are those who have stood by me in my trials. and I confer on you a kingdom, just as my Father conferred on on me, so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. Simon, Sinom, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers."
"But he replied, 'Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death.' Jesus answered, 'I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me." -Luke 22:24-34
And also this:
"Then seizing him, they led him away and took him into the house of the high priest. Peter followed at a distance. And when some there had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter sat down with them. A servant girl saw him seater there in the firelight. She looked closely at him and said, 'This man was with him.'
"But he denied it. 'Woman I don't know him.' he said."
"A little later someone else saw him and said, 'You also are one of them.' 'Man, I am not!' Peter replied.
"About an hour later another asserted, 'Certainly this fellow was with him, for he is a Galilean.' Peter replied, 'Man, I don't know what you're talking about!' Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed. The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: 'Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times.' And he went outside and wept bitterly." -Luke 22:54-62
Peter failed in his proclamation to Jesus. Though he said he would never leave him, he denied him thrice.
We have had many experiences where we have communicated to God that we are committed to following him, but we are going to fail and have failed in that. It's unfortunately unavoidable. I mean, even the disciples did it! The more serious we take out life and following Jesus, the more we see our brokenness and sin more clearly and how much it affects us.
Ultimately, how we deal with those failures is going to determine how we lead in God's kingdom. Leaders know how to fail, but it's hard to do especially in our culture. Why is that?
Because we avoid our failure, and we do that because we are afraid of feeling worthless. But Jesus knows about it all. And by the grace of God we are freed from worthlessness and free to walk in honesty with him.
Peter knew how to own his failure, because he wept bitterly. He was distraught about his mistake, and he desperately wanted it to change. Our culture and society struggles with the idea of dealing with failure, because no one wants to show weakness. And we have secrets that we hold dearly to us, because we are afraid of giving it to God.
Acknowledging our failures makes us look LESS glorious and makes God look MORE glorious. His power is made perfect in our weakness.
Leaders RUN TO JESUS after they fail. We start with grace, and we have to continue in that grace. Feeling sorry for ourselves and running, not wanting to hear from God, is ultimately rejection of the gospel. When we run back to Jesus, we receive grace. and receiving that grace is an act of faith. It's not just about learning from our mistakes, it's about embracing them with God at the forefront.
And the coolest part of the story?
God used Peter in the most spectacular ways, even though he failed. Leaders renew their commitment to Jesus and move forward in faith. We have been commissioned by God to change the world, but it's only through HIS power, not our own. Without God it is impossible to come out on top.
"God does not call the qualified. He qualifies the called."
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