August 23, 2020 - Restoration
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1000 Illustrations for Preaching & Teaching Reenlistment
Captain John Callender of the Massachusetts Militia was guilty of cowardice at the Battle of Bunker Hill. One of General Washington’s first duties as he assumed command of the American forces at Cambridge was to order the court-martial of Captain Callender. This is an infamous crime to a soldier, the most humiliating of all, so the captain was stripped of his commission and expelled in disgrace. However, there was another side to this man. In the meanwhile, something happened. He observed Washington, and later Callender reenlisted in the army as a private. During the Battle of Long Island, Callender demonstrated such conspicuous courage that Washington publicly revoked the sentence and restored him as an officer in his army.
Restoration:
It’s something that we’ve all been a part of...
We fail in some form or fashion...
And yet - later - RESTORED...
Today - as we close out this Gospel of John...
We come to the restoration of Peter...
If you recall - back in chapter 18 of this book...
Jesus was arrested and brought before the High Priest...
And PETER - asked 3 times if he was WITH Jesus…if he KNEW Jesus...
And Peter - EACH time - denied it...
He DENIED knowing Jesus...
Today, we’re going to see a RESTORATION take place...
And hopefully it will help us…in OUR lives...
Get BACK on MISSION…where we need to be
Let’s get to our text...
15 When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, 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.”
16 He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.”
17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, 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 everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.
18 Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.”
19 (This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, “Follow me.”
**You ever been in a situation before where maybe you had been in an AWKWARD conversation with someone...
a tough situation with someone...
And things went down...
It was uncomfortable...
AND THEN - you see that person at a later time...
MAYBE weeks/months later...
AND IT’S WEIRD!??
Yes - in those times - we can FEEL the need for - RESTORATION…right?
It’s always good - when things can get AIRED out...
TALKED OUT...
And Restoration can occur!
Well - it wouldn’t have been any different in the 1st century...
Peter - since the crucifixion...
Had seen Jesus 3 times up until our text today...
PRIOR to THAT - the last time Peter saw Jesus - (at least that we’re told of) Before his post resurrection appearances...
60 But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are talking about.” And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed.
61 And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the saying of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.”
62 And he went out and wept bitterly.
Peter DENIES Jesus - and Jesus immediately turns and looks at Peter
We’ve all gotten THAT look from our spouses...
And that’s not fun…right…?
BUT to get THAT LOOK from God in the flesh??
What was the result of that look from Jesus?
Peter went out and wept!
I think if anyone in the history of humanity - ever felt like they wanted a DO-OVER...
It was probably - Peter! For this reason here...
And this is where REPENTANCE comes into play - IN THE LIFE of a CHRISTIAN...
NOW - I’ve heard this before from Christians - they’ll say this...
If Repentance and Faith brings salvation from SIN…forgiveness of SIN...
Sins - past, present, and future...
THEN - why do Christians need to continue to REPENT of SIN?
What we see in the Bible is that the REPENTANCE that takes place at conversion...
BEGINS a progressive, life-long process of CONFESSION...
8 Bear fruits in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham.
John the Baptist here - speaking to those who may have been looking for a FREE - Get out of Jail Card...
He PUSHES back and says - NO - KEEP with Repentance… and therefore bear fruit....
What kind of fruit?
Jesus spoke of this in the sermon at the mount...
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
5 “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
This active, continuous attitude of repentance produces the poverty of spirit, mourning, and meekness Jesus speaks of here...
And AS Christians…this HEART POSTURE is the fertile soil of Sanctification!!
Continual repentance keeps us in a state of - Intimacy...
Try out this logic with - marriage
What if we said - WELL - because we’re married now we don’t need to REPENT to each other...
How would that work?
8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
10 If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
KEEP on with repentance...
And thus - BEAR FRUIT....
Fruit that keeps us in a POSTURE conducive to Spiritual growth!
See repentance and RESTORATION - go hand-n-hand
NOW - back to our text...
Jesus asks Peter 3 times if he loves Him...
And if you’ve had any history with these verses, much is usually made about the 2 different words for LOVE that Jesus uses when questioning Peter...
First thing - I don’t think there is much to that...
Those 2 words for LOVE are used interchangeably throughout the Gospel...
But what I do want to focus on is the CONVERSATION as a whole…and then the response of Jesus to Peter...
Let’s look again...
15 When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, 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.”
16 He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.”
17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, 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 everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.
If we think back to the scene of Jesus’ arrest...
When Peter stood outside the courtyard...
WARMING himself by the fire…with the scoffers and unbelievers...
We can SEE here - the SIMILARITIES with our text today...
The scene is SIMILAR...
There was a FIRE in place…everyone standing around...
AND JESUS - USES this as an opportunity to (IN A SENSE) - give Peter that - DO-OVER!
We’ve heard this before right… He’s the God of second chances...
Who’s grateful for that?
What we see here has to do with Repentance and Restoration...
SLIDE: Restoration: Proven Through Opportunities to Display It
Restoration
Restoration
When we think about the DENIAL of Jesus - BY PETER - we have to understand...
that Peter HAD AN OPPORTUNITY that night to display his FAITH…in Jesus
When he was asked outside that courtyard…if he was WITH Jesus...
He had an opportunity to DISPLAY his faith...
Did he take that opportunity?
Of course not...
He denied Jesus - 3 times...
NOW - Because Peter was a TRUE Follower of Jesus...
He’s going to get MORE Opportunities… Unless he’s called home...
And so JESUS decides - that Peter is going to GET an OPPORTUNITY to display his faith..AGAIN...
And how does Jesus do this?
By asking Peter to CONFESS His name - before men...
32 So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven,
33 but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.
NOW - granted - the GROUP OF MEN that Peter was in front of (IN OUR TEXT today) - were all - - On the Same Team...
They were a HOME-CROWD...
It’s not like Peter was in HOSTILE territory...
BUT - That’s just a MERCY of God...
Think about it - many of us have had NUMEROUS opportunities to CONFESS Jesus - even here...
praying in front of others you’ve known for decades...
AND YET....
So Jesus - Here - offers Peter a - RE-DO...
“Will you confess Me before men Peter?”
Do you LOVE Me?
How does Peter respond?
“You KNOW i love You...”
Jesus asks again… “Do you love Me?”
Peter responds - “Yes Lord, you know that I love you”
Jesus asks a THIRD time… “Do you love Me?”
And Peter responds - “LORD, you know everything…you know that I love You”
NOW - As I said before - MUCH seems to be made about the different words used for LOVE here...
I don’t think that plays a key role in this passage...
RATHER - I believe JESUS’ responses to Peter are the focus...
And if we looked at them all together - this is what we’d see...
SLIDE:
Feed My lambs
Tend My sheep
Feed My sheep
From the 1st question - to the 3rd question...
When Peter responds with - Yes I love You...
These are the responses that Jesus gives - Back to Peter… (*walk thru it)
NOW this is Jesus here - RESTORING Peter...
NOT restoring Peter - to Salvation...
Peter never LOST his faith…BUT this is Peter’s restoration...
BUT look what this restoration is POINTING toward...
SLIDE: Restoration: For Us....For Others
Restoration
Restoration
When Jesus comes and graciously gives Peter another GO_ROUND at confessing Him before men...
Jesus does so - YES - to Help Peter...
But it doesn’t END there...
To help Peter - to HELP OTHERS…!
Jesus asks - DO YOU LOVE ME?
Peter says - YES
OK - well that LOVE has a purpose in your life PETER...
15 When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, 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.”
FEED My lambs
Feed the - YOUNG in the faith...
Those YOUNG in the faith need to be fed...
Infants don’t feed themselves!!
Infants need care…
What happens to an INFANT that is not fed…?
Is it any wonder that later in Peter’s life he would write this?
2 Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation—
Jesus says - FEED my lambs Peter!
Your LOVE for Me has a purpose!
“Do you REALLY love Me Simon Peter?”
16 He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.”
TEND My sheep...
SHEPHERD My sheep…Peter
Those who have faith need to be cared for...
They need guidance...
WOLVES will come...
Injuries will come...
SUFFERING will come...
Temptations in this world will come...
25 For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
What do sheep do --- they stray!
Which is why…Peter comes to say...
2 shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly;
TEND My sheep - Jesus says...
Your LOVE for Me, Peter, has a purpose!!
“Do you REALLY LOVE Me…Simon Peter?”
17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, 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 everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.
FEED My sheep...
HOW do we FEED others the truth of God??
16 Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.
Keep a close watch on - YOURSELF and on the TEACHING!
So we not only FEED others God’s truth by TEACHING.....but also -
by DOING!!
(keep close watch on YOURSELF)
THIS RESTORATION that we’re seeing by Jesus today -
… It’s ALLOWING Peter to - KEEP a close watch on himself...
to EXAMINE himself - to see if he’s IN THE FAITH...
And then FROM THERE - teach others....
FEED Jesus’ Sheep!
DO you SEE how Restoration is FOR US - FOR OTHERS!
**Being a parent - You come to realize more and more that your DINNER if for you - FOR the kids
Restoration is FOR US - FOR OTHERS!
And if we go back and look at a conversation Jesus had with Peter...
Right before the DENIAL...
We’ll see that JESUS KNEW this RESTORATION was COMING...
31 “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat,
32 but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.”
33 Peter said to him, “Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death.”
34 Jesus said, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow this day, until you deny three times that you know me.”
What did Jesus say?
He said - Peter, Satan wants to SIFT you...
32 but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.”
“When you have TURNED again…do what?
Strengthen your brothers!
Jesus doesn’t say - Hey Peter, after you deny me, IF YOU DECIDE to rededicate yourself....let Me know!
NO - He says - WHEN YOU HAVE TURNED again… (there’s the RESTORATION!)
Strengthen your brothers! (for others)
Restoration - FOR US - For Others...
And so it REALLY IS for us… so that it can REALLY BE - for others!
But HOW DOES Restoration come?
As we know - Jesus isn’t WALKING the earth, asking people if they LOVE Him...
So how does this RESTORATION - which is so important - happen?
It can happen in MANY ways...
BUT - let’s look at a couple...
SLIDE: Restoration: Through The Word of God
Restoration
Restoration
The word of God - is the POWER of God...
13 And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers.
God’s WORD - WORKS in Believers...
12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
(1) It has power to transform lives and characters
(2) It has power to cleanse hearts and lives
3 Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you.
How can we keep clean in this evil world?
We must read, receive and meditate on the Word of God and it will have a cleansing effect on us.
(3) It has power to impart and deepen faith
17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
Whether it is faith for justification, sanctification, to pray effectively, to trust for His provision, or in times of adversity...
It has POWER to impart and deepen faith
(5) It has power to feed, nourish and build up
(6) It has power to give guidance and wisdom
15 and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,
17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
(7) It has power to give assurance and confidence
assurance of salvation (John 5:24; Romans 10:9; 1 John 5:13);
forgiveness of sin (1 John 1:9; 2:1);
that God will keep us until the end of the journey (2 Timothy 1:12; Jude 24);
Our future - after death (John 14:2-3; 2 Corinthians 5:1-10).
AND SO - Restoration - FOR US - occurs THROUGH the Word of God!
AND ALSO...
SLIDE: Restoration: By Means of Mankind
Restoration
Restoration
If we just think back to the story of David...
David commits adultery with Bathsheba..
And then has her husband Uriah KILLED so the coming child will look legit...
How does God choose to RESTORE David?
7 Nathan said to David, “You are the man! Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you out of the hand of Saul.
Nathan (the prophet) comes to David and delivers a message from God...
What was the point of the message?
13 David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” And Nathan said to David, “The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die.
Restoration CAME - by means of MANKIND...
God will USE you…and me....to help bring RESTORATION to others...
When Jesus approached Peter that day..
He was wanting to RESTORE Peter
so that he could then STRENGTHEN his brothers...
AND BE strengthened himself!
Why would Peter need STRENGTHENED?
Back to our text...
17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, 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 everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.
18 Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.”
19 (This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, “Follow me.”
Jesus - AND PETER - knew that the last time Peter “FOLLOWED Jesus” - Peter never ENTERED that courtyard...
He remained OUTSIDE...
Jesus entered in - and was executed...
Peter remained outside - and DENIED Jesus!
HERE - Jesus describes what is coming for Peter...
Jesus describes the day when Peter will be executed for his faith...
“When you are old Peter, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go...”
And what does Jesus say to finish this out…?
FOLLOW ME
Where last time - you remained outside that courtyard...
STAY strong Peter...
Your LOVE for Me has a purpose...
When you’re old - and WE come to that COURTYARD… don’t REMAIN outside...
I’ll be with you… FOLLOW ME… to the end...
to the cross - - to the DEATH…even death on a cross...
This is what Jesus has been preparing these men for…
We talked about it last week =
The Providence of God - seen through TRUTH and OBEDIENCE...
Builds an EVER-INCREASING confidence in God!
Jesus knows that these men are going to NEED confidence in Him…as they approach GOSPEL SUFFERING!
That’s why RESTORATION is a PERSONAL thing...
The question is - DO YOU have confidence in God??
Confidence ENOUGH - to do what Jesus said - FOLLOW ME?
AND before we start looking around and saying - well what about him/her?
20 Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them, the one who also had leaned back against him during the supper and had said, “Lord, who is it that is going to betray you?”
21 When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, “Lord, what about this man?”
22 Jesus said to him, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!”
23 So the saying spread abroad among the brothers that this disciple was not to die; yet Jesus did not say to him that he was not to die, but, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you?”
24 This is the disciple who is bearing witness about these things, and who has written these things, and we know that his testimony is true.
25 Now there are also many other things that Jesus did. Were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.
The question goes out to YOU!
And maybe you DON’T have any confidence in God today!
Maybe you need RESTORED...
SUMMARY:
Restoration
Proven Through Opportunities to Display It
For Us … For Others
Through the Word of God
By Means of Mankind
Gospel suffering is coming for those of us who are saved...
Be RESTORED…that you may be used of God for His purposes...
Let’s pray...