Failure wasn't the end of Simon Peter's story, and it doesn't have to be the end of our's either. God offers us second chances.

Notes:

Focus verses - Luke 22, Matthew 26

God sees the big picture.

God chose Peter for his potential, not his perfection.

Failure doesn’t have to be the end of your story.

"I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten…”
Joel 2:25

Jesus entered Peter’s world by the Sea of Galilee.

Jesus saw what Peter would become, not just what he was.

Peter saw sin. Jesus saw a spiritual leader.

Our shortcomings and failures come as no surprise to God.

Often the doorway to success is entered through the hallway of failure.

The past cannot be changed, but our response to it can be.
God can take our endings and turn them into beginnings.

Peter was always talking.

Peter confessed Jesus is the Christ.
Matthew 16:13–17

Peter reprimanded Jesus.
Matthew 16:22–23

Peter was at the transfiguration of Jesus.
Mark 9:2–6

Peter is infamous for his denial of Jesus.

Read Luke 22:31–32

Satan can do nothing in the life of the child of God without our Father’s permission.

God has built a wall of protection around you.

Were it not for the prayers of Jesus, we wouldn’t have a chance.

"But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren."
Luke 22:32

#1 Peter’s first step down was self confidence.
Matthew 26:33

Peter’s words revealed unfounded confidence in himself and
directly contradicted what Jesus said.

#2 Peter’s next step down was his prayerlessness.
Matthew 26:39–41

Jesus was in anguish as He contemplated the horrors of the cross.
All He wanted was for the disciples to be present and praying.

Pride and prayerlessness go hand in hand.

Peter had no idea about the storm that was brewing.

Prayerlessness can be as much of a sin as breaking a commandment.
It’s a sin of omission.
James 4:17

#3 Peter fell because he trusted human efforts instead of God’s power.
Matthew 26:51-53

Peter just couldn’t get it right:
1. He was boasting when he should have been listening.
2. He was sleeping when he should have been praying.
3. He was fighting when he should have been surrendering.

Peter fought the wrong enemy with the wrong weapon.

Our enemies are not flesh and blood and they cannot be defeated with ordinary weapons.

Read Matthew 26:69–75

#4 Peter warmed himself by the enemy’s fire.

Following at a distance, Peter became cold.

“…and he [Peter] went in and sat with the servants to see the end.”
Matthew 26:58

#5 Peter denied Christ.

Peter wanted to be near Jesus, but he didn't want to stand up for Him.

Peter denied Christ for the third time.
Matthew 26:74

Peter had lost all sense of reality and seemingly all awareness of God.
Luke 22:59–62

Peter’s disappointment would lead to a divine appointment.
Peter’s greatest test would lead to his greatest trust in God.

Jesus never gave up on Peter, and He never gives up on us.

"Return, faithless people; I will cure you of backsliding."
Jeremiah 3:22 (NIV)

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