Welcome to Connect with Skip Heitzk Weekend Edition. Thanks for joining us for today's program. At Connect with Skip, our mission is to help you connect with God's Word in a deeper way and see how it applies to everyday life. That's why we make Bible teaching like today's available to you and people all around the world, on radio, online, and through resources that equip you to grow in your faith. One great way to do that is by taking the 30K 30-day challenge, a free daily email journey through the New Testament.
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Now, let's dive into today's teaching from Pastor Skip Heitzig. Would you turn to the screen for just a moment? Let me show you a restored 1957 Chevy. See all the guys starting right now to salvate just a little bit. That is a classic.
That's a 1957 Chevy Bel Air. Doesn't get any more classic than that.
Next is a restored. 1942 Harley-Davidson flathead that still runs. All restored.
Next is a 1955 restored human being. I don't know if it's a classic yet, but. Maybe it's old enough to uh Qualify. You know, there's something. Wonderful.
about seeing an old car or an old bike. that has been wrecked and worn. and is in failure Get restored. In fact, to see a restored vehicle is sometimes even better than a new car. to think where it has been, what it has seen, what it has gone through, and once marginalized and put off to the sideline, then rescued, restored, brought back to its original luster, maybe even greater than that.
There's just something wonderful about that and inspiring about that. And people like vehicles, can get wrecked. and need to be restored. Because people like vehicles. Fail.
We all do. In fact, It's been said by researchers that one of Human beings' greatest fears in life is the fear of failure. And dream analysts tell us that the most common dream Our anxiety dreams where there is an event. where failure is possible. a job interview you're going to face, a speech you have to give.
Um A test you have to take. And because you're facing that, there's anxiety that comes with it because you're afraid that you might fail. And yet. Failure has been a part of our lives since we were on this earth to begin with. Think about it.
First time you learned how to walk, did you fall? Who didn't? You failed at that. The first time you plunged into a swimming pool, you perhaps almost drowned. You weren't perfect.
The very first ball that was thrown your way that you had to hit. You probably didn't hit it. Did you ace every test you ever took in life? Did you get straight A's in every class throughout your Educational career. No, probably not.
If you did, nobody liked you. Right. Have you ever let someone down? A spouse? A boss?
A teammate? And when failure happens, how do you feel? You feel pretty rotten, don't you? You feel broken inside. James said, We all stumble in many ways.
And though the Bible says that we fail, it doesn't take the sting away.
Now, for the Apostle Peter, who failed the Lord one night, three times, denying the Lord. He was at a low point. His was spiritual failure. He denied that he even knew Jesus Christ. I struggled before with spiritual failure.
I remember after my brother died on a motorcycle, I somehow felt that I failed the Lord and failed my brother, that I didn't win him to Christ, that I didn't do enough, that I didn't say enough, that I didn't act enough. And that haunted me for months afterwards.
Now for Peter. His failure became the fulcrum of his victory. That is, what he learns from failure, he goes on. To become very, very victorious and successful. Peter's the one who preaches on Pentecost, and thousands of people come forward.
Peter's the one that opens the door to Cornelius the Gentile, and the gospel goes into that realm. Peter's the one who helped superintend the spread of the gospel north. into Antioch of Syria. Peter is the one who in Acts 15 addresses the council at Jerusalem.
So for a guy who failed and denied the Lord.
Something happened to him. to make him become very, very prominent in the book of Acts. He learned from his failure. Chuck Colson, who went to heaven just a few days ago, wrote these words. The real legacy of my life was my biggest failure.
That I was an ex-convict. My greatest humiliation, being sent to prison, was the beginning of God's greatest use of my life. He chose the one experience in which I could not glory. and used it. for his glory.
This is a message I'm calling I failed, now what? And these are the elements. of being restored. What does it mean to be restored with the Lord? Peter denied the Lord over a fire.
Jesus restores Peter over a fire that he builds on the shores of Galilee.
Now, what you and I are about to read is a conversation between two people, Jesus and Peter. They're the only ones doing the dialogue. They're the only ones engaging in the conversation. And yet... There are other disciples around Peter, looking over his shoulder, so to speak.
And here we are. We get the advantage of being able to eavesdrop on a conversation, peering over Peter's soldier, shoulder, as it were. and find out what happened. And what now?
So we're going to look at three Elements that Jesus restores us to if we have fallen. And the first is to love Christ supremely. That's what he would want to restore to us, our love for him. Verse 15.
So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonah, do you love me more than these? He said to him, Yes, Lord, you know that I love you. He said to him, Feed my lambs. He said to him again, a second time, Simon.
Son of Jonah. Do you love me? He said to him, Yes, Lord, you know I love you. He said to him, Tend by sheep. He said to him the third time, Simon, son of Jonah, 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. And Jesus said to him, Feed my sheep. Here's a question I have: Why did Jesus have?
Have this conversation with Peter. As others were listening, why not privately? This sounds like the kind of conversation you have with somebody one-on-one, not while people are watching or listening.
Well, number one, We believe that has already happened, that there has been a private meeting with Peter before this event. And that is because in Luke 24, the message was. The Lord is risen indeed, and has appeared to Peter. That happened before this event. And that became an established fact in the church, so that when Paul writes to the Corinthians years later, And he gives a synopsis of what we know.
He said, Jesus Christ died according to the scriptures, was buried, and rose again according to the scriptures, and has appeared to Peter and then to the twelve.
So we believe that There was a private meeting between Peter and Jesus before this. public meeting And probably, presumably, They hashed this out.
So why does he bring it up again then, or why does he deal with it publicly?
Well, here's the second reason. The first, it's already been done privately. The second is. How did Peter deny Jesus? Publicly.
He did it publicly. He did it as people were watching.
So the Lord allows Peter to confess and be restored. publicly. Listen to this. Charles Spurgeon said, a man's. Repentance.
must be as notorious as his sin. And since it was public denial, It requires public confession and public restoration.
Now you'll notice in verse 15, 16, and 17, there's three questions, or really the same question asked three times. And if you look a little more carefully, you'll notice there's three parts to each question. There's the question itself. Followed by the reaction of Peter, followed by the commission of Jesus. Peter, do you love me?
Yeah. feed or tend. my sheep or my lambs.
Now, notice he calls him Simon.
Son of Jonah. He doesn't say Peter. but Simon son of Jonah.
Now that itself must have hurt Peter. Because the word Simon is the old name before he met Jesus. Jesus changed his name to Peter. Which means a small stone, Cephas, a small stone.
Now, Peter spent his whole life trying to prove that he was a massive rock, a mountain of a man. instead of a little pebble. And that I was part of Peter's problem. and to remind Peter of who he really was. He calls him Simon.
Son of Jonah. This is Connect with Skip Heitzig Weekend Edition. Before we return to today's teaching, let me ask. Are we living in the last days? With uncertainty, conflict, and moral confusion dominating the headlines, it's a question many believers are asking.
Pastor Skip wants to help you understand what God's Word says about the end times so you can face the future with confidence. That's why this month we're offering two timely resources: his 2 CD teaching from Daniel, Bible from 30,000 feet. and his booklet, Are We Living in the Last Days? These will give you a clear biblical perspective on what's happening in the world. and how to be ready for what's ahead.
Request your copies when you give a gift of $25 or more at connectwithgift.com/slash offer. or call 800-922. 1888.
Now let's get back to today's teaching. You see, Peter needed to learn something that he hadn't learned. Until he failed. And that was what Jesus said to the disciples: Without me, you can do what? Nothing.
I don't know how many here believe that. There's a few things I can do without him. I live my life every day without him. That's part of the problem. You're so self-assured and so self-sufficient.
And as somebody once said, he who looks up and admires his own halo gets nothing more than a pain in the neck. And Peter could be a pain in the neck sometimes. Always assuring the Lord that he was better than the others.
Now look at the question. Simon, son of Jonah, do you love me more than... These What does that mean? What are these? What is he referring to?
Let me give you three options and I'll let you choose. Option number one. Jesus was looking around. At the boats, the nets, the fish, the lake, and saying, Peter, do you love me more than these, this stuff, the fish, the boats, the nets, the lake, your profession, your chosen career? Are you willing to give it all up?
Are you willing to let it go and lose that? Do you really love me more than you love your occupation? That's one possibility. Another possibility is the word these refers to the disciples. And it could be stated: Peter, do you love me more than you love these?
Friends of yours? No, I don't think he meant that. Because loving the other disciples more than Jesus was never a problem for Peter. There's never a time where Peter said, do I love Thomas more or Jesus more? I mean these guys argued a lot, am I right?
So he probably didn't mean when he said these that do you love me more than you love these Here's the third option, and I lean to this. personally. Peter Do you love me more than these others love me? Is your love for me greater than the love of all of these other guys for me? And the reason I believe that is what it means is because that is exactly what Peter bragged about.
That he loved Jesus more than these guys. Because when our Lord promised that every one of his disciples were gonna fail that night, and we're going to flounder and flee away. Peter said basically, well, they might. But I won't. All of these may be made to stumble because of thee, but surely not I.
I am willing, he said, to go to prison, even to death. In effect, he's saying, I love you more than they do. And so three times he says, Peter, do you love me? Yes, Lord. Peter, do you love me?
Yes, Lord. Peter, do you love me? Why three times? Because Jesus was denied by Peter how many times? Three times, as Jesus predicted.
You're going to deny me three times this night.
So The Lord was so gracious to allow Peter three times, just like he denied him. to affirm his love for him. Listen, anybody can fail. Everybody will fail. The issue becomes what do you do?
Now that you have failed, once you have fallen, Where do you go from here? I failed.
So now what? What do you learn from it? How will you use that as a springboard rather than an anchor? I've always loved the story about the little boy who fancied himself a baseball player and he went to the back yard one day and Do you remember this guys where you just it's you and yourself? And you throw the ball up and you try to hit it.
So he got out there with his baseball and his mat. And he stood there and he announced, nobody was there to listen to him, but he announced: I'm the greatest batter in the world. He threw up the ball and swung and missed it. and said, strike one. He uh then Reached down, got some dirt, spit in his hands, you know, like the pros do, grabbed the ball again and.
tried it the second time and he Shouted, I'm the greatest batter in the world, threw it up, swung, Missed it and said, strike two.
Well, he knew he had one more chance, so he Took his time on this last one. And announced again with great confidence, I am the greatest. Batter in the world. Threw up the ball, swung, strike three. And he paused for a moment.
And he got a big smile on his face. And he said, well, what do you know? I'm the greatest pitcher in the world. It's a good way to look at it. I can't hit the side of a barn door.
I must be a great pitcher. I have denied the Lord three times, and I come to that point of failure.
So what is next?
Now notice the question is not Peter, do you know me? Because he denied that he even knew the Lord. But that's not the question. It's not Peter, do you have the right intellectual, doctrinal, theological stance about who I am? That's not the question.
Neither did he say, Peter, will you work hard for me?
Now the issue is the issue of love. The issue is being honest about how much you love the Lord. Because that's where you begin. The Lord wants your heart before he wants anything else. Once the Lord has your heart, He'll have your mind, He'll have your hands, He'll have the rest of you, but He's always after your heart.
That's why the Bible says, keep your heart with all diligence, for out of your heart proceed the very issues of life.
So he says, do you love me? Notice the reaction. Yes, Lord. You know that I love you. Now, there's some interesting wordplay that you do not get from reading this in English that I need to tell you about that's in the original language.
In Greek, there are several words for love. Two of them are used here. There is the word agape or agapa'o, and when Jesus asks the question, Peter, do you love me? He uses that word, agapa'o, agape love. That's the highest form of love.
That's the love of the will. That's the love of total commitment. Let's call that, for today's sermon's sake, 100% love. Super duper love. Peter, do you 100% super duper love me?
That's the question. And Peter answered him and said, Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.
Now, when Peter used the word love, he used a totally different word. And this is what you have to realize. The word wasn't a gapa'o, it was fileo, which means I have a fondness for you, I have an affection for you, I have a friendship for you.
So, this is how it goes. Peter, do you, with a total commitment, 100% super-duper love, love me? And Peter said, Well, Lord, you know, I like you a lot. And he's being very honest. He can't say, oh, of course, Lord, you know that I aga you.
I love you with a super duper love, because that would be a lie. He just proved by his actions and his denial that he didn't. Lord, you know that I'm fond of you.
So that happens twice. Diagapi me, Iphile you. Diagapi me, Iphile you. Now look at the third question, verse 17. Simon, son of Jonah.
Now there's a change in vocabulary. Jesus does not use the highest form of love, agapa'o. He now descends to Peter's word, phileo. And he says, in effect, Peter or Simon, son of Jonah. Are you fond of me?
Do you like me? Is there an affection for me? I mean, even the safe kind of love that you are now claiming is even that true? And I think that broke Peter's heart. Because he wasn't sure.
And so, here's what I love about Peter. He appeals. to Jesus' knowledge. He says, Lord, you know. You know.
I can't pull the wool over your eyes. You know that I like you. And the second time, you know that I like you. And then the third time, grieved in his heart because Jesus said, Are you fond of me? He said, Lord, you know all things and you know.
that I'm fond of you. Hmm. This signifies a real change in Peter, a good change. You know me. I'll be honest.
You know why that's a change? Because before, In effect, In effect, Peter was saying to Jesus, You really don't know me. Because when our Lord announced You are all going to be made to stumble tonight because of me. Peter said, Oh, no. They might, but I will not, I will die for you.
So, what was he saying to Jesus effectively? He was saying, Jesus, you don't know me because if you really knew me, you wouldn't say that about me. He's not saying that anymore. He's saying, you know all things. And you know that I like you.
You know that I'm fond of you.
So I'll be honest. And that's what God wants. God wants for us to make an honest evaluation of ourselves before God. I think if God were to ask you, Do you love me? You would have to honestly say, I like you.
A lot. I'm fond of you. Because as I look at the course of my life and my thought and my actions and my commitment, it doesn't show that I have 100% super-duper love for you.
So I'll admit I like you a lot. And Jesus might even say, really? Is that even true? Are you fond of me? But whatever it is, he wants us to honestly, and we're not really good at honesty.
We're especially not good. with each other. In fact, I think the church is the worst place. You get out of your car in the parking lot, you see someone, how are you? And they say, great, might not be true.
See somebody else walking in. How are you doing? Fine. May not be true. Sit next to somebody, how you doing?
Great, awesome. Maybe a lie. The reality might be she has three kids at home. She's just struggling every day to get by. This is so hard.
The reality might be he just lost his job, has no idea how he's going to make the payment this month. The reality might be that person feels so far from God, so removed, so isolated, so lonely, but we say, done great. There's one place where honesty should prevail a bit more. It ought to be around God's people. Listen, the church is not a Museum for saints, it's a hospital for sinners.
There's people saying I'm pretty beat up today Would you just pray for me?
Well give me a word of encouragement. That's honesty. Peter has to learn that. Thanks for listening to Connect with Skiff Heitzig Weekend Edition. Before you go, don't miss your chance to request this month's featured resources from Pastor Skip.
The Bible from 30,000 feet 2 CD teaching from Daniel, and his booklet, Are We Living in the Last Days? Together, they'll help you understand what the Bible says about the future and how to be ready for it. These resources are our thanks for your gift of $25 or more to help share God's Word with more people. Call 800-922-1888 or visit connectwisgift.com/slash offer. And while you're there, sign up for the free 30K 30-day challenge to grow in your knowledge of God's Word.
We'll see you next time for more verse-by-verse teaching of God's Word here on Connect the Skip Heitzit Weekend Edition. Make a connection. Make a connection at the foot of the crossing. Catch your burdens on his wood. Make a connection.
Connection. Connect with Skip Heitzig is a presentation of connection communications, connecting you to God's never-changing truth in ever-changing times.
