We began yesterday to explore the elements of Restoration for a Heart shattered by Sin. We explored David’s story and began to look at the first four elements which in some ways are our part; yet, without God shining His light deep into our hearts we might go on obvious to our own plight. We would continue to plunge downward into an eternity separated from the only true source of Joy, Love, Hope, and Glory which is God Him self. For those of us whose eternity is secure in Christ, I can guarantee that your spirit and soul are in the most miserable of places whenever sin stands between you and full fellowship with God. (If you can happily live in sin, then look very deep into your heart to find out whether you have ever accepted Christ as your Savior) Let’s continue on to look at the Elements of Restoration for which we will turn to Peter’s denial and Peter’s restoration.
Luke 22: 60 And Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest. And immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew.
61 And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.
62 And Peter went out, and wept bitterly.
Peter’s spirit at that point was broken—whatever concept of himself he had before this denial was suddenly crushed into the realization that he even being warned could not stand a single night without betraying His Lord and Savior. This the same Peter who had so boldly declared that Christ was the Son of God, the same one who walked on the water, and only a few hours prior declared that he was willing to go to prison or death with Christ. A few hours later here he was having denied his Lord 3 times. Imagine the scene of a rugged fisherman sobbing bitterly from his broken spirit, broken and contrite heart. How could that have happened? Had he not been warned by Christ himself? Couldn’t he have done better than that? After all, he had walked side by side with Jesus. His was the same brokenness, same questions, same declarations of “never could I betray you, Lord” as mine before any of my failures. I have the Holy Spirit and the gospel with me. I have walked with Christ for 50 years. I, like Peter, have no excuses that can be rationalized within my own life and heart. He was devastated by that glimpse of Jesus who in the midst of being beaten and accused took a moment to glimpse over at this His disciple with eyes of compassion and love. Though He had warned Peter, He knew the depth of brokenness this would create in the heart of this His follower. (excerpt from A Broken and Contrite Heart).
Element #5: The Intercessory Prayer of Christ. God is the Master Weaver and has a plan for Your Life that all Things will work together to transform each child that accepts Him into the likeness of His Son. Sometimes that means He allows Satan to sift you. God could say No; which is what I always wondered about. Why God, did you not stop me? Ahh, but without free will, stumbles and even falls; would I learn to walk with Him because of love, devotion, and desire to become like Him? Could this covetous, self exalting heart ever truly love God if it were never shattered by it’s own sin–learning to hate sin with the passion that God hates it? Yet, even when God allows Satan to sift you, Christ is seated at the right hand of God making intercession for you just as He did for Peter. (Luke 22: 31-32)
Element #6: The Compassionate Love of Christ. In the most painful moment, while enduring the beatings of the soldiers; Christ turned to compassionate look upon Peter. This was not an “I told you so” look. It was, “Peter, I love you; I do this for you and later you will understand. Remember I prayed for you. How many times has Christ looked down from heaven and even wept tears for me because I did not understand; yet, compassionately, gently He looked upon me.
Element #7: The Intervening work of Christ on the Cross and His Resurrection. That was why we see in Mark 16; "6 And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him.7 But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you." It was as if Christ was already saying, now run, tell Peter that His redemption, His forgiveness has been bought by my death and I have overcome the sin which hath beset you. Good news Peter, I conquered your sin; once and for ever.
Element #8: God’s call to Service. As Peter, we may say that all is good and well with His intercessory prayer and His finished plan of Redemption; but still, I have failed so badly that God could never use me. Note, Peter went back to fishing fish, not men as Christ had called Him to do. He returned to where it had all begun, and Christ met him there once more to call him to service. Christ was waiting on the shore with food to feed their physical hunger and then he asked Peter to go for a walk. Imagine the scene.
So they begin this walk, Peter hardly able to contain himself with the thoughts most likely running through his mind. It was the first time they were alone and Christ wanted to talk to him. Then came the piercing questions in a series of three; just like the denial had been a series of three so too the restoring questions are a series of three. Peter prior to the incident was so confident that he loved Christ better than the other disciples and that he would go to prison or death because of his love for Christ. Yet, Peter, came to realize that his own love was not perfect; instead he needed to rest on the assurance that Christ’s love was all sufficient. So it is that Christ asked Peter “Simon, son of Jonah, lovest thou me?” Note that Christ once more is calling Peter by his human name and not the spiritual name he had been given. Another point of great interest is the word “lovest”, In the latin languages, there are various distinctly different words that refer to love. One type of love is “agape” love. This is an unconditional, never failing, God like love. The other word for love that is used in these verses is phileo love (this refers to a general brother-like love) and would be considered a good type of love; but certainly, with limitations and flaws. It is more like an affection rather than a steady burning, unconditional love. Therefore, the conversation went something like this. Christ said, “Simon, do you love me with a burning, unconditional agape love?” Peter’s response is “yeah Lord, I love you with an affectionate, brother like Phileo love.” Christ commands Peter to feed his sheep. Remember once more this is the same Peter who had previously swore his love to be greater than anyone’s and now he hesitates in his own description of his love for Christ, doubting the depth and sincerity of it. . So, Christ again asks Peter, “Simon, do you love me with a burning, unconditional agape love?” Peter’s response again is “yeah Lord, I love you with an affectionate, brother like Phileo love” Christ commands Peter once more to feed his sheep, as demonstration of that love and devotion—He is calling Peter into service again. Then on the third question, Christ asks; “Simon, do you love with an affectionate, brother like love?” What a grievous question. Peter must have quickly thought as I have at times thought, “Lord is my ability to love you so flawed that I cannot even attempt to demonstrate it, does it not even show?” Yet, very humbly, Peter now replies: “Lord, you know all things, look into my heart Lord and You will not need to ask such a question.” Once more the Lord calls Peter into service with “Feed my sheep” (Excerpts from A Broken and Contrite Heart)
Peter had come to realize that he, himself was nothing and had nothing to boast of except for Jesus Christ. He came to realize that in the power of his own love, he would fail. His self-righteous spirit was broken completely. His heart had been broken for Christ and now restored was a humble heart that recognized that unless it is Christ’s love and work through him, there was no work at all. Now with all self pride stripped away, Peter was ready to become the preacher he needed to be. He found his own central core of hope in future grace set firm in Jesus Christ and Christ Alone-“the hope for Glory” (Excerpts from a Broken and Contrite Heart)
So dear child, if you have found yourself at that point; as Peter, as David, and as I have in my life; where you believe that God could never use you again, let me assure you He can. My prayer for you is the same as Paul wrote in
Ephesians 3:
17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,
18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;
19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.
Love Divine
by
Effie Darlene Barba
He comes to me when night is still
I hear his gentle, loving voice
He whispers words or sometimes songs
To help me choose which choice
I feel the warmth of His embrace
When darkness, sorrow fills the air
I feel such comfort, safety there
So far from Satan’s lair
So many years I searched to find
A human love, true friend for me
Yet, were there one, oh could I hear
His voice, such clarity
If I were left to choose which path
Is better, higher here to trod
And knew this much as now I know
I surely would choose God
You see, what I had thought was loss
Through tears and pain I now can see
He had a plan, a perfect plan
Of love and joy for me
Though sorrow, pain may be the way
He draws me close and holds me near
I know that He has felt each pain
And cried with me each tear
And though at times I was untrue
His love, His strength His hope is mine
What wondrous joy delight I know
Such gracious love divine