Failure IS an option...
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Immediately after this, Jesus insisted that his disciples get back into the boat and cross to the other side of the lake, while he sent the people home.
After sending them home, he went up into the hills by himself to pray. Night fell while he was there alone.
Meanwhile, the disciples were in trouble far away from land, for a strong wind had risen, and they were fighting heavy waves.
About three o’clock in the morning Jesus came toward them, walking on the water.
When the disciples saw him walking on the water, they were terrified. In their fear, they cried out, “It’s a ghost!”
But Jesus spoke to them at once. “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Take courage. I am here!”
Then Peter called to him, “Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water.”
“Yes, come,” Jesus said. So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus.
But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. “Save me, Lord!” he shouted.
Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him. “You have so little faith,” Jesus said. “Why did you doubt me?”
Sometimes We Experience FAITH FAILURE
Sometimes We Experience FAITH FAILURE
As maturing Christians, we can be very harsh in the area of belief, trust, faith.. but like Peter and the rest of the disciples, we are human and we experience FAITH FAILURES in our walk with the Savior
Jesus fully realized all that was going to happen to him, so he stepped forward to meet them. “Who are you looking for?” he asked.
“Jesus the Nazarene,” they replied. “I Am he,” Jesus said. (Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them.)
As Jesus said “I Am he,” they all drew back and fell to the ground!
Once more he asked them, “Who are you looking for?” And again they replied, “Jesus the Nazarene.”
“I told you that I Am he,” Jesus said. “And since I am the one you want, let these others go.”
He did this to fulfill his own statement: “I did not lose a single one of those you have given me.”
Then Simon Peter drew a sword and slashed off the right ear of Malchus, the high priest’s slave.
Sometimes we experience PERSPECTIVE FAILURE
Sometimes we experience PERSPECTIVE FAILURE
In God’s Eternal and Unobstructed view, His Plans and Purposes are clear… But many times we are in our own head-space and we FAIL to see things GOD’S WAY - The Son of God Fully Understood His Path and Purpose… But Peter Failed to See Jesus - in this moment - as God’s Passover Lamb - The ONE who takes away the sin of the world...
He was not walking according to the Spirit, but the Flesh
Peter had to stay outside the gate. Then the disciple who knew the high priest spoke to the woman watching at the gate, and she let Peter in.
The woman asked Peter, “You’re not one of that man’s disciples, are you?” “No,” he said, “I am not.”
Because it was cold, the household servants and the guards had made a charcoal fire. They stood around it, warming themselves, and Peter stood with them, warming himself.
Meanwhile, as Simon Peter was standing by the fire warming himself, they asked him again, “You’re not one of his disciples, are you?” He denied it, saying, “No, I am not.”
But one of the household slaves of the high priest, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, asked, “Didn’t I see you out there in the olive grove with Jesus?”
Again Peter denied it. And immediately a rooster crowed.
Sometimes We Express OPEN DENIAL Through Word or Deed...
Sometimes We Express OPEN DENIAL Through Word or Deed...
In the First case, Jesus Catches Peter… and rebukes Peter
In the Second Matter - Jesus Heals Malchus’ ear and rebukes Peter
In the Final Matter - Jesus continues His Path - for his rebuke had already taken place
In each case, Peter FAILS - BUT He is **NOT CAST OUT**
His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence,
by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.
For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge,
and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness,
and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love.
For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins.
Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall.