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Now, here's today's message from Pastor Skip. 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 fancying himself a baseball player and he went to the backyard one day and Do you remember this guy's 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. tried it the second time and he shouted, I'm the greatest batter in the world threw it up, swung, Missed it and said straight to 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've 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? But 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. Three 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 agapa'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, well, of course, Lord, you know that I have got to 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. Dio agapi me, Iphalao you. Diogapi 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're 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 our 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.
And 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. Yeah. 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. It's people saying, I'm pretty beat up today. Would you just pray for me? Or give me a word of encouragement.
That's honesty, and Peter has to learn that. And so Jesus gives him a commission three times. This is the beauty of it. Peter's honest. I sure like you a lot.
You know what? Jesus doesn't say, well, Peter, if it's not 100%, then I'm done with you. Thomas, come here, let's try you now. It's as if he says, I can deal with just that 75% love. You like me, you're fond of me, great.
I have a job for you to do. and feed my flock. That's so what encouragement. to a fallen leader. To hear these words, I'm not done with you.
In fact, Peter. You love me a lot less than you thought you did.
Okay.
Now you're honest.
Now I'm going to entrust to you. what is most valuable and precious to me, and that is my flock for whom I shed my blood. And I want you. To pasture them, to pay. to shepherd them.
Feed them. and tender. And I'll tell you what that would do for Peter. Like for any of us. It would birth within us and within him.
A love for Christ supremely, his love for Jesus would grow. would grow. And if you're ever wondering, did Peter ever make it to that 100% agape love? Yes, he did. Read his two letters in the New Testament.
And one verse in particular where he said, Concerning Jesus, whom having not seen yet. We Agape. Love fervently. This is Connect with Skip Heitzig Weekend Edition. Before we return to Pastor Skip's message, think about this.
If we really are living in the last days, wouldn't you want to know? The Bible doesn't leave us guessing about the future. It offers clear prophecies, solid truth, and real hope to anchor your faith in uncertain times. That's why this month, we'd like to send you two 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? These explain key end times passages, how they apply today, and how to live with confidence in Christ. They're yours when you give $25 or more to support Connect with Skip Heitzig. Request yours at connectwithskip.com slash offer. or call 800-922-822-2.
Mm-hmm. Let's return now to today's message.
So number one, He would restore us to this: love Christ supremely. Number two, serve Christ. Unswervingly, look at verse 18. Most assuredly, Jesus said, every time he says that, It's like, listen up. This is.
Reality For you. Most assuredly, I say to you, When you were younger, You girded yourself, that is, you got dressed. And you walked where you wished, you did whatever you wanted. But when you are old, You, Peter, Will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish.
Now, Jesus has spent a few verses talking about Peter's life.
Now he addresses Peter's death. His martyrdom. And the term for stretch out was a common Greek phrase that meant crucifixion, to be stretched out, the hands and the feet, to be crucified on a cross. In effect, Jesus is predicting Peter's death by crucifixion. You go, well, I think you're sort of stretching that verbally.
No, look at the next verse, verse 19. This he spoke, signifying by what death He would glorify God. According to history, And in particular, the church historian Eusebius tells us that. Peter lived his life, and in the end, he was bound. Girded.
They took him to Rome to be crucified. They stretched him out on a cross. And before he died, he said, I have one last request, and that is that you crucify me upside down. I am not worthy to be crucified like my Lord. And that is how he died.
So what Jesus was in effect saying is Peter When you were young, you did whatever you wanted, but when you're old, they're going to take you out like they did to me, and they're going to kill you by crucifixion. I know some of you are thinking. You call this a restoration? I mean, what are the good parts here? That sounds so depressing to tell somebody not only they're going to die, but how they're going to die.
Well, if you think that, you misunderstand this. This was not depressing for Peter. This would be encouraging for Peter. You go, how would it be encouraging?
Well number one. Because Peter once bragged that he would die for Jesus. I will go to prison and even death for you. Really? Because when the pressure was on Peter, you couldn't even live for me, let alone die for me.
And after that failure, I bet Peter thought, boy, Lord, if I could only get a second chance. And Jesus said, You'll not only get a second chance, you'll be successful. You'll be victorious. You will stand for me when the heat is on. and be victorious.
Number two, it proves something else. It proves that Peter. Isn't going to die when he's young. He's going to live a life. Kelly's old.
Notice he says, when you are old. In the book of Acts chapter 12. It's a fascinating story. You don't have to turn there. It's a fascinating story about Peter.
He's arrested. James, his buddy is arrested. And they cut James' head off. They behead him. Herod sees that it pleases the Jews, so he plans to kill Peter.
But what is odd about the text is, so Peter that night, was fast asleep chained between two soldiers. You know why that's weird? If you knew you were going to die the next day, probably the last thing you would be able to do is sleep. I mean, some of you can't sleep when you know you're going to live the next day. If you think my head's on the line, I'm gonna die tomorrow, you're gonna be awake.
Not Peter, he is sleeping, probably snoring. He's fast asleep, chained between two soldiers. Question. How do you fall asleep thinking you're going to die? Peter didn't think he was going to die.
Jesus made a promise when you are old.
So Peter went to sleep that night thinking, I have years to live, I'm going to get out of this somehow. Jesus said, when I'm old, this is going to happen, and I'm still young. And history shows that for the next three decades, Peter served the Lord. Faithfully And really that's the idea here. Peter.
You're gonna die for me, which means you will have lived for me. faithfully, unswervingly, which will cause you to get arrested. and caused you to have to die for me.
So, for Peter, this was very encouraging because though he knew he was facing crucifixion one day when he's older. He knew that he would never deny the Lord again. Like he had once before. And that brought great hope to him. I've told you before about pilgrim's progress and that It's a book that I recommend everybody read at least once.
I started to read it again a couple weeks back. There's a scene in the book. Or Christian the main character. It comes to the house of somebody called Interpreter. An interpreter takes him inside and shows him a fire burning.
against a wall, really in a fireplace. that uh serves two rooms, one on each side, open on both sides. And the fire is burning. A wall is separating the two rooms. And on one side in one room is a man with a pitcher of water pouring water on the fire.
And though he's pouring water on the fire, the fire, the flames get brighter and hotter and bigger. And Christian doesn't know what it means, so the interpreter says. This man with the water? is the devil.
Now, let me show you why the fire doesn't go out. And he took him to the next room on the other side of that wall, and there was a man secretly pouring oil on the fire. An interpreter said to Christian, That man is Christ. And with the oil of the Holy Spirit, He continually maintains the work already begun in the hearts of his people.
So here's the truth. When you come to Jesus, In love, and you love him at whatever level you are honestly before him, and he's saying, I love you this much when you're honest about it and you love him. He'll give you the strength and the power. to serve him. That's what he does for Peter.
And there's a truth here I want to just touch on before we go to the third. And closing point. When you come to Christ, you do something that isn't often discussed. You surrender your life. When you come to Christ, you are saying, I.
Surrender my own control. and I am willing to be controlled by an alien will. That's commitment. And Jesus said, He who does not take up his cross and follow me. Is not worthy of me, so that potentially you surrendering your life to Christ may cause you to have to pay the ultimate price.
Perhaps not in this country. But I will say this, persecution isn't just coming. It's here. And it's going to be increasing. Have you ever thought about the Great Commission?
You know what the Great Commission is, right? Go into all the world. Did you notice that Jesus never said anything about returning? He just said go. He didn't say go, and then you'll come back and be furloughed, and you'll retire.
He just said, go. Go. That's the Commission. And actually, here's what I want to get across. Actually.
When a person settles the issue of death, He's ready to live. You see, if you know and you live with this, I know that when I die, I know unequivocally I'm going to be in God's presence, I'll be in heaven forever. Boy, it caused you to live a little more courageously. A little more boldly. A little more without fear.
Because if you know after this is heaven, You live differently.
So You want to get ready to live? Be ready to die. And so Peter is now ready to live because Jesus just said, here's the end game, and it looks pretty good.
So now he's ready to live.
So love Christ supremely. Serve Christ unswervingly. And third, in this restoration, follow Christ continually. Verse 19. That's the last verse we'll cover today.
This he spoke. Signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he said to him, Follow me.
Now I can just see a little smile. Appearing on Peter's face when Jesus said, Follow me. This is a memory trigger. You know what a memory trigger is, right? You hear a song, and you're immediately transported back to the first time you heard that song, where you were, what you were doing, right?
Or you smell something cooking and that transports you back to your mother's kitchen for... Good or bad. Those are memory triggers. This was one of the earliest things Peter ever heard Jesus say to him. At the shores of the same lake, Jesus said to Peter and the other disciples.
Follow me and I will make you become fishers of men. And now Jesus in effect says the same thing: Follow me, I will make you become shepherd of sheep. Tend my sheep, feed my lambs. Peter? You're going to start all over again.
Follow me. You fell down. I'm going to take you right back to where we began. Follow me. Be my disciple.
And the word follow is in a Present tense. It means continually, actively, perpetually. Follow me. Don't start, stop, start, stop, rededicate, stop, rededicate, stop. Just follow me perpetually, continually.
That's what I want to restore you to. of Peter is like it was before. I want to give you a new start.
So to sum up this wonderful passage, Peter denied Jesus in the big city of Jerusalem. Jesus restores Peter. Where he started at the lake in the countryside. Jesus denied, or Peter denied Jesus at night. Jesus restores Peter during the day.
Three times Jesus was denied by Peter, three times Jesus is now affirmed. By Peter. for this new start. He failed. He's fallen.
He got up. You have fallen? You can get up. You have failed. I have failed.
We can learn from it. And get up. You say, Yeah, but I feel so far from God.
Well, guess who moved? God didn't. And if you've moved from him, Then turn back toward him. There was a man who visited his friend in a large American city. What impressed The man visiting Was that in the center of the town was an impressive park filled with trees, grass, fountains, lots of people on benches?
That was impressive enough. He said he'd never seen a park quite like it. But what impressed him even more is his friend who lived there said, Did you know that at one time this was the city dump? But the fathers of this town had the foresight and the energy to pump money into it and to reclaim this land and restore it. Here it is, beautiful.
better than it was before. That's the business God is in. Jesus took a week. Failed apostle. And made him one of his greatest ambassadors, and he wants to do the same.
for you. If you let him. Thanks for listening to Connect with Skiff Heitzig Weekend Edition. Before we go, remember to request Pastor Skip's two C D teaching from Daniel, Bible from 30,000 Feet. and his booklet, Are We Living in the Last Days?
They'll give you clarity and confidence about the days ahead. And they're yours when you give $25 or more to support Connect with Skip Heitzig. Call 800-922-1888 or visit connectwithskip.com slash offer. And while you're there, sign up for the 30K 30 Day Challenge and take your Bible study deeper. Come back next time for more verse-by-verse teaching of God's Word here on Connect with Skip Heitzig.
We'll see you next time for more verse-by-verse teaching of God's Word. Here on Connect the Skiff Heitzig Weekend Edition. Make a connection! Make a connection at the foot of the crossing. Cast your burdens on his wood.
Make a connection. A connection. Connect with Skip Heitzig is a presentation of connection communications, connecting you to God's never-changing truth in ever-changing times.
