Participants:
Series Code: IIW
Program Code: IIW020227S
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00:19 >>John Bradshaw: This is It Is Written.
00:21 I'm John Bradshaw. Thanks for joining me. 00:25 Success doesn't always come easy, 00:28 and frequently success follows repeated failure. 00:33 After working on a whaling ship, 00:35 Rowland started a business with his brother in California. 00:39 The business failed. 00:41 So he headed east and opened a store. 00:44 Then another, then another, then another. 00:48 They all failed. 00:50 So then he went all in, moving to New York City 00:54 and opening yet another store. 00:57 This time the business didn't fail. 01:00 In fact, it became a big success. 01:02 After his death, that store was moved to 34th and Broadway, 01:06 where Macy's became one of the largest department stores 01:11 in the world. 01:12 Henry Ford's success in the auto industry is the stuff of legend. 01:16 But that success wasn't instant. 01:19 His first venture folded without producing a single car. 01:23 His second attempt was just as unsuccessful as the first. 01:26 He quit his next company, but Ford eventually revolutionized 01:31 not only the vehicle manufacturing industry 01:34 but industry himself. 01:36 He said, "Failure is simply the opportunity to begin again, 01:40 this time more intelligently." 01:43 How many people fail at faith before making a success 01:47 of their spiritual life? 01:48 Well, the answer is probably everyone. 01:51 Today we're continuing our series 01:53 "Great Characters of the Bible," 01:56 and we're looking at someone 01:57 who took a long time to get it right. 02:00 His experience has to be an encouragement to anyone 02:03 who knows the feeling of blowing it as a follower of Jesus, 02:07 of falling short, of wondering if you'll ever get the hang 02:10 of being a disciple of Christ. 02:13 So how bad was it for this man? 02:14 Well, he was violent. 02:17 He was racist. 02:18 He made promises he didn't keep, 02:21 and was even referred to as "Satan" 02:24 by none other than Jesus Himself. 02:27 When we're introduced to Peter in the Bible, 02:29 he's a fisherman. 02:30 His name is Simon Bar-Jonah, Simon the son of Jonah. 02:35 And Jesus gave him the surname Peter, 02:39 which is why he's sometimes referred to as Simon Peter. 02:42 When we read of his call to follow Jesus in Matthew 4, 02:45 we get the impression that he'd been acquainted with Jesus 02:48 for some time. 02:50 Jesus called to Peter and Andrew his brother 02:52 and said, "'Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.' 02:56 And they straightway left their nets, and followed Him." 03:00 Now, it's significant that Jesus called Peter, of all people. 03:05 Peter wasn't a religious leader. 03:08 He hadn't graduated from the best religious schools 03:11 in the land. 03:12 But it's not that Peter hadn't been educated; 03:15 he hadn't been miseducated. 03:18 The schools in that day were riddled with pride and bigotry. 03:22 Jesus was looking for someone genuine, teachable, humble, 03:27 someone with moral worth who had a desire to see God honored. 03:31 If you have that, 03:33 God can use you, no matter what you do in life. 03:37 And there's another reason it's significant 03:39 that Jesus called Peter, and that's because Peter was... 03:43 Peter was Peter. He was far from perfect. 03:47 He was rough around the edges, 03:49 and it was going to take a lot of sanding 03:51 before Jesus could smooth those rough edges out. 03:55 He once said to Jesus, "See, we have left all and followed You. 03:59 Therefore what shall we have?" 04:01 In other words, what's in it for us? 04:04 Peter would ask questions that other people wouldn't ask, 04:07 and he'd say the things that others wouldn't say. 04:10 When Jesus was going to wash the disciples' feet, 04:12 Peter said, "You shall never wash my feet!" 04:15 Before telling Jesus to wash not only his feet, 04:18 but his hands and his head also. 04:20 When he saw Jesus on the shore of the lake one time, 04:22 he was so excited he dived in and swam for shore. 04:27 That was Peter: 04:28 impetuous, in a hurry, an action man, 04:31 speak first, think second. 04:34 "I will lay down my life for [You]," he told Jesus. 04:37 And of course we know how that turned out. 04:40 Peter had some growing to do. 04:43 And that's who Jesus calls to be His disciples: 04:46 people who have some growing to do. 04:49 Because the fact is that's everyone. 04:53 No one is the finished product. 04:55 If you feel God is calling you, and He is, 04:58 don't wait until you're ready to accept that call. 05:02 Don't wait to be good enough for God. 05:05 Peter accepted Jesus' call, and he grew. 05:09 Peter was transparent. He was honest, 05:12 honest about his feelings, honest about his love for God, 05:16 and honest about himself. 05:18 So let's take a look at several episodes from the life of Peter. 05:22 We'll see what we can learn, not only about Peter, 05:25 but about ourselves and how we can have 05:28 a successful relationship with God in spite of our failings. 05:33 One of the most memorable Peter moments occurred on a lake 05:38 late one night. 05:40 Jesus had fed the thousands with just five loaves and two fish. 05:43 And then He sent the disciples on ahead by boat 05:46 to the other side of the lake. 05:48 A storm came up. 05:49 The Bible says, "The boat was... tossed by the waves, 05:52 for the wind was contrary." 05:54 And based on what John writes, it seems like the disciples 05:57 were about 3/4 of the way across the sea when Jesus appeared 06:02 walking on the water. 06:06 The disciples were initially afraid, 06:07 not certain of what they were seeing. 06:09 But Jesus said, 06:10 "Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid." 06:14 Peter was beside himself. 06:17 He called to Jesus and said, "'Lord, if it is You, command me 06:21 "to come to You on the water.' So He said, 'Come.' 06:24 "And when Peter had come down out of the boat, 06:27 he walked on the water to go to Jesus." 06:30 Walk on water? 06:33 Since when? 06:34 But this is what God can do. 06:36 Loudmouth Peter, shoot-first, aim-second Peter, 06:41 and Jesus gave Peter a unique experience. 06:44 No other disciple ever did what Peter did that night. 06:49 But Peter was about to learn something, 06:51 something he would forget when he really needed to remember it. 06:56 He began to sink. 06:57 Evidently he took his eyes off Jesus 06:59 and looked instead at the stormy sea. 07:01 When you look at the storms of life, that's what happens. 07:04 When you focus on the problems more than on the solution, 07:07 when you forget that God is able, 07:09 that's what happens. 07:10 Peter sank into a stormy sea in the dead of night, 07:14 with no lifejacket. 07:16 But he had the presence of mind to do the right thing, 07:18 and he called out to Jesus. 07:20 There was no time for eloquence or oratory. 07:22 There was no time for flowery language. 07:24 He cried out from the heart just a three-word prayer: 07:28 "Lord, save me!" 07:30 And what did Jesus do? 07:32 He reached out to Peter, took him by the hand, 07:35 and got him back in the boat. 07:36 Matthew 14:32, 07:38 "And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased." 07:42 When you take your eyes off Jesus, 07:44 that's when the trouble starts. 07:45 When you call out to God in desperation, 07:47 He hears you, and He answers your prayer. 07:50 It was Peter's own fault that he was in a fix. 07:54 But that didn't matter to Jesus. 07:56 He came to Peter's aid. 07:58 And that's what He does for you. 08:00 In the storms of life, don't take your eyes off Jesus. 08:05 In a moment, Peter forgets the lesson he learned 08:08 that night on the lake. 08:10 I'll be right back. 08:11 ♪[music swells and ends]♪ 08:20 >>John: Deceptions in the modern church-- 08:22 more common that you think, 08:24 and you don't want to be led away from faith in the Bible. 08:27 "Deceptions in the Modern Church," a revealing book 08:30 exposing common teachings undermining Christianity. 08:33 Get your free copy 08:35 of "Deceptions in the Modern Church." 08:37 Call 800-253-3000, 08:39 800-253-3000. 08:41 You can write to the address on your screen 08:43 or visit iiwoffer.com. 08:46 Get "Deceptions in the Modern Church," 08:48 800-253-3000. 08:51 >>John Bradshaw: Thanks for joining me today 08:52 on It Is Written. 08:54 This is "Great Characters of the Bible," 08:57 and while we know how it worked out in the end for Peter, 09:01 Peter wasn't an instant success as a follower of Jesus. 09:05 When Jesus asked His friends who people said He was, 09:07 "They said, 'Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, 09:11 "and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.' 09:14 "He said to them, 'But who do you say that I am?' 09:17 "Simon Peter answered and said, 'You are the Christ, 09:21 the Son of the living God.'" 09:23 But just down the page in the same chapter, 09:27 as Jesus is explaining to them that He is going to suffer 09:30 at the hands of the religious leaders, 09:32 and that He'll be crucified, and that He'll be raised 09:35 from the dead on the third day, Peter speaks up again. 09:39 The Bible says Peter "began to rebuke [Jesus]," 09:43 to admonish Him, to censure Jesus. 09:47 He said, "Far be it from You, Lord; 09:50 this shall not happen to You!" 09:53 Now, Peter wasn't helping Jesus by saying that; 09:56 he was trying to discourage Jesus from carrying out 09:59 His mission to save the world. 10:01 He was trying to prevent the death of Jesus on the cross, 10:03 whether he realized that or not. 10:05 You know, you're not always helping someone 10:07 when you show what you think is concern. 10:10 A missionary is going off to a faraway place; 10:12 you don't always help him by telling him how dangerous 10:14 that place is going to be. 10:16 Someone's committed to a great humanitarian work 10:19 or some great community project of some kind; 10:21 you're not necessarily helping them when you tell them to think 10:25 of the cost and what else they could buy with all that money. 10:29 Peter expressed concern, 10:31 but not in a way that was assisting Christ's mission. 10:34 Jesus responded by saying this: 10:37 "Get behind me, Satan! You are an offense to me, 10:42 "for you are not mindful of the things of God, 10:45 but the things of men." 10:46 [inhales sharply] Ooh, that had to sting! 10:49 But Peter in his zeal didn't realize what he was doing. 10:52 Satan was trying to discourage Jesus, 10:55 and he was using Peter. 10:57 Peter was slow to learn that Jesus' path 11:01 and the path of Jesus' followers 11:03 was a path of difficulty and humility. 11:07 Peter shrank away from trials. 11:09 Jesus was direct with Peter because Peter needed to grow. 11:13 He needed to see the state of his heart, 11:15 and Jesus knew we'd read these words one day, 11:18 and so He was speaking for our benefit, too. 11:21 But Peter did learn eventually. 11:23 Here's what he wrote later in 1 Peter chapter 4: 11:26 "Beloved, do not think it strange 11:28 "concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, 11:31 "as though some strange thing happened to you, 11:34 "but rejoice to the extent that you partake 11:36 "[in] Christ's sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, 11:40 "you may also be glad with exceeding joy. 11:43 "If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, 11:47 for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you." 11:51 Here's the thing with Peter; 11:52 he learned; he grew. 11:55 God was patient with him, which means God will be patient 11:58 with you as you grow in your faith. 12:02 In fact, again in the same chapter, when Peter said 12:04 to Jesus that Jesus was the Son of the living God, 12:08 Jesus said this to Peter: 12:10 "And I also say to you that you are Peter, 12:13 "and on this rock I will build my church, 12:16 and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it." 12:20 Now, some want to believe that Jesus was calling Peter 12:24 "this rock," or that Peter was the first pope, 12:27 the first bishop of Rome. 12:29 Well, He wasn't. 12:31 There were no popes in the first century A.D. 12:34 He wasn't a pope, he wasn't a Catholic, 12:38 and he wasn't "the rock." 12:40 Now, you could see how somebody might want to read it that way, 12:43 but the evidence of the Bible just doesn't support that. 12:46 Look at it linguistically. 12:48 Remember, Jesus gave Peter the name Peter. 12:52 It's from the Greek "pétros," which means "a stone," 12:55 a small slab of stone maybe. 12:58 Jesus said, "You are [Pétros]," a stone, 13:02 "and upon this rock"--this "pétra," a big rock, a boulder-- 13:08 "I will build my church, and the gates of hell"-- 13:11 the Greek word there is "Hades," the grave-- 13:13 "the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." 13:17 Peter himself was certainly prevailed against. 13:20 Linguistically, Peter isn't "the rock." 13:22 Experientially, Peter isn't "the rock." 13:25 You don't want your church built on Peter. 13:29 But the Bible refers to Jesus as "the rock" again and again. 13:33 Second Samuel chapter 22: 13:34 "The Lord liveth; and blessed be my rock; 13:38 and exalted be the God of the rock of my salvation." 13:41 Psalm 89: 13:42 "He shall cry unto me, 'Thou art my Father, 13:44 my God, and the rock of my salvation.'" 13:48 This is divinity being referred to. 13:51 Now, Peter made an immense contribution 13:54 to not only the early Christian church, 13:55 but to the growth and development of Christianity. 13:58 And he still does. 14:00 But he wasn't "the rock," and he wasn't a pope. 14:04 He was a faulty man used by God to do great things. 14:10 And as far as we can tell, only four people wrote 14:13 more books of the Bible than Peter did. 14:17 But unfortunately, for a man who wrote two books of the Bible, 14:20 he's probably best remembered for his worst moment. 14:25 It was the night before Jesus died. 14:27 They're in the upper room, 14:29 and Jesus had just instituted the Lord's Supper. 14:31 "Then Jesus said to them, 'All of you will be made to stumble 14:35 "'because of me this night, for it is written: 14:38 "'"I will strike the Shepherd, 14:39 and the sheep of the flock will be scattered."'" 14:42 Jesus quoted the prophet Zechariah. 14:45 Then He said, "'But after I have been raised, 14:49 "I will go before you to Galilee.' 14:51 "Peter answered and said to Him, 'Even if all are made to stumble 14:55 "because of You, I will never be made to stumble.' 15:00 "Jesus said to him, 'Assuredly, I say to you that this night, 15:05 "before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.' 15:09 "Peter said to Him, 'Even if I have to die with You, 15:12 I will not deny You!' And so said all the disciples." 15:17 I'm sure you and I would have said the same thing. 15:19 "Oh, no! I'd never do that, no, not me." 15:22 And then it all unraveled. 15:25 But that's the thing with Peter; 15:27 someone who fell so low was able to bounce back 15:31 and become a truly outstanding follower of God. 15:35 How can that happen? 15:37 Well, we'll find out in just a moment. 15:40 ♪[music swells and ends]♪ 15:49 >>John: Deceptions in the modern church-- 15:51 more common that you think, 15:53 and you don't want to be led away from faith in the Bible. 15:56 "Deceptions in the Modern Church," a revealing book 15:59 exposing common teachings undermining Christianity. 16:02 Get your free copy 16:04 of "Deceptions in the Modern Church." 16:05 Call 800-253-3000, 16:08 800-253-3000. 16:10 You can write to the address on your screen 16:12 or visit iiwoffer.com. 16:15 Get "Deceptions in the Modern Church," 16:17 800-253-3000. 16:20 >>John: More than 5 million people in the United States 16:23 currently live with dementia, 16:25 ♪[somber music]♪ 16:26 almost 50 million people around the world. 16:29 And numbers are rising. 16:32 Many people live in fear, wondering if they'll be next. 16:36 ♪[upbeat music]♪ 16:37 If there were something you could do to combat 16:39 cognitive decline, you'd want to know. 16:42 Don't miss part 1 of "Preventing Cognitive Decline," 16:45 brought to you by It Is Written. 16:48 Author and international speaker Dr. Wes Youngberg 16:51 lets you know that there is hope in the battle for the mind. 16:54 Sharing solid signs and the results 16:56 of comprehensive research, 16:58 Dr. Youngberg provides reliable advice 17:01 that has seen many people turn back the advance of dementia. 17:04 Dementia impacts individuals, families, communities, 17:08 and it kills. 17:09 Don't miss "Preventing Cognitive Decline" 17:11 and learn what you can do to give yourself the best chance 17:14 at a bright tomorrow. 17:16 "Preventing Cognitive Decline" on It Is Written. 17:21 >>John Bradshaw: Peter was confident. 17:22 He was too confident, really. 17:24 Like when he walked on water and took his eyes off Jesus, 17:27 down he went. 17:29 Well, he clearly took his eyes off Jesus again, 17:32 because not long after telling Jesus he would die 17:36 before he denied Him, things aren't going well. 17:40 Jesus went to Gethsemane to pray. 17:43 Peter, James, and John are told to go with Him and pray for Him, 17:48 but they fall asleep. 17:50 Jesus even said to Peter when He found Peter sleeping, 17:53 "Could you not watch with me one hour?" 17:56 He was warning Peter: 17:57 Peter, for a man who said he would rather die than deny me, 18:02 you're not off to a great start. 18:04 When Jesus is arrested, Peter takes his sword and swings it, 18:09 cutting off the ear of the high priest's servant. 18:13 Now, you don't think Peter aimed for his ear, do you? 18:16 He was either the best swordsman in all of Israel, 18:20 or what's more likely is that he was aiming for the man's head. 18:24 The man must have ducked at just the right time. 18:28 After Jesus is arrested, Peter denied Him: 18:31 "I do not know what you are saying." 18:33 That's Matthew 26, verse 70. 18:35 Then "he denied with an oath, 'I do not know the Man!'" 18:39 That's two, if you're counting. 18:41 And someone says, "[You're] one of them." 18:43 We can tell by "your speech," your dialect. 18:46 "Then he began to curse and swear, saying, 18:50 "'I do not know the Man!' Immediately a rooster crowed. 18:54 "And Peter remembered the word of Jesus who had said to him, 18:58 "'Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.' 19:03 So he went out and wept bitterly." 19:07 And that had to be bitter. 19:11 "I'll never deny You. I'd rather die." 19:15 That has to be just about as low as you can get. 19:18 Have you ever been that low? 19:20 Well, look at what happened. 19:22 When Jesus was raised from the dead, 19:24 an angel told the women who went to the tomb, 19:27 "Go, tell His disciples-- and Peter-- 19:32 that He is going before you into Galilee." 19:35 You see? Jesus hadn't forgotten Peter. 19:39 He hadn't cast him off. 19:40 In John 21, when Peter miraculously catches 19:43 those 153 big fish, and they're eating with Jesus on the shore, 19:49 Jesus says to him, "'Simon, son of Jonah, 19:53 "do you love me more than these?' 19:56 "He said to Him, 'Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.' 20:00 He said to him, 'Feed my lambs.'" 20:03 No self-assurance now. 20:05 Jesus asked him a second time, same reply. 20:08 "He said to him the third time, 20:10 "'Simon, son of Jonah, do you love me?' 20:14 "Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, 20:16 "'Do you love me?' And he said to Him, 20:19 "'Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.' 20:23 Jesus said to him, 'Feed my sheep.'" 20:28 What's interesting is if you look at the Greek words used-- 20:31 Jesus asks him, "Do you love me?"-- 20:35 but He used the Greek word "agapé" when He asked him 20:38 those first two times. 20:40 "Agapé," that's a self-sacrificing love. 20:43 It's the highest form of love. 20:45 It's not "phileó," brotherly love; 20:47 it's unconditional love. 20:50 "Peter, do you love me with that?" 20:54 That's the kind of love that motivates someone 20:56 to stand for Jesus even if he has to die. 21:01 Peter answers, "You know I [phileó] You." 21:04 I love You with brotherly love. 21:07 Jesus asked him a second time, "Do you love me, Peter?" 21:09 Do you [agapé] me, love me unconditionally? 21:14 Again, Peter says, "You know I [phileó] You," brotherly love. 21:19 Now, that third time He said, "Peter, do you [phileó] me?" 21:23 Do you love me with brotherly love? 21:25 Peter said, "Lord, You know all things," which is interesting. 21:31 You know I love You with a brotherly love. 21:33 You also know that the last time I made a big profession, 21:38 I fell flat on my face. 21:40 You know how weak I am. 21:43 And Jesus said to him, twice actually, 21:46 "Feed my sheep." 21:48 Peter denied Jesus three times. 21:51 Jesus puts it to him three times. 21:55 And three times Peter came through. 21:59 Now, think about that. 22:00 Peter had failed dismally, and yet Jesus commissioned him 22:05 to be a leader in the church. 22:07 He restored Peter. 22:10 He showed love for Peter. 22:15 And what Jesus did for Peter, He can do for you...or anyone else. 22:22 So what happened to Peter? 22:24 At Pentecost he was filled with the Holy Spirit 22:28 and preached powerfully. 22:30 Three thousand people were baptized in that one day 22:34 when the floodgates opened, and the church exploded with growth. 22:39 He and John were met by a paralyzed man in Acts chapter 3, 22:43 a beggar hoping for coins. 22:45 "Peter said, 'Silver and gold have I none; 22:48 "'but such as I have give I thee: 22:51 In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.'" 22:56 The man went "walking, [and] leaping, and praising God." 23:01 Peter was a miracle-worker now. 23:04 He delivered some of the most bold, 23:06 some of the most stirring lines in the book of Acts. 23:10 "Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you 23:12 "more than to God, you judge. For we cannot but speak 23:16 the things which we have seen and heard." 23:19 In Acts chapter 5, he was arrested for his faith. 23:21 He was put in prison, liberated by a miracle of God, 23:25 and then went straight back to the temple to preach, 23:28 saying, "We ought to obey God rather than men." 23:32 Herod had Peter arrested in Acts chapter 12. 23:35 James had been executed. 23:37 Peter was clearly next, but when his life was hanging 23:41 by a thread, he was in prison and slept so soundly 23:47 an angel had to smite him to wake him up, 23:51 and he walked out of the prison 23:53 as the gates miraculously opened up before him. 23:56 This was a new man. 23:58 God took that rough stone and polished it, 24:02 and Peter was used powerfully for God. 24:06 Now, he wasn't perfect. 24:08 Acts chapter 10 makes clear he still had race issues. 24:11 Bigotry was sort of the order of the day back then, 24:14 and Peter hated gentiles. 24:18 But he was given the vision of the sheet 24:19 lowering the unclean animals. 24:22 This is where God said, "Rise, Peter; kill and eat." 24:25 Peter protests, 24:26 "I have never eaten anything common or unclean." 24:28 But then he realizes God is telling him 24:31 not to call the gentiles unclean. 24:35 This had nothing to do with food; 24:37 it had to do with his racism. 24:39 The scales fell off his eyes, and off his heart. 24:43 And Peter grew and changed... and learned to love all people. 24:50 What a character! 24:53 Peter--impetuous, impulsive, rash, reckless at times, 25:00 but Jesus hung in there with him, 25:03 lovingly brought him to repentance, 25:06 and loved him even after he had really messed up. 25:10 There are lessons there that we can learn 25:12 about how to treat others-- 25:13 but also about how God treats us. 25:17 If you can see yourself in Peter, 25:20 then you can see God's love for you 25:23 in Jesus' treatment of Peter. 25:26 God loves you. 25:27 There's a Peter in all of us-- 25:30 and a new Peter just waiting to come out. 25:34 Trust God with your life today, with your faults, 25:38 with your failings, with your brokenness, 25:40 with your inadequacy, 25:42 and know that God will make you a whole new person, 25:46 just like He did Peter. 25:48 >>John: Thank you for remembering that It Is Written 25:50 exists because of the kindness of people just like you. 25:54 To support this international life-changing ministry, 25:57 please call us now at 800-253-3000. 26:01 You can send your tax-deductible gift 26:03 to the address on your screen, 26:04 or you can visit us online at itiswritten.com. 26:08 Thank you for your prayers and for your financial support. 26:11 Our number again is 800-253-3000, 26:15 or you can visit us online at itiswritten.com. 26:19 >>John Bradshaw: Let's pray together now. 26:21 Our Father in heaven, I thank You that You demonstrate 26:23 in Peter's experience that people can fail 26:27 and then find success, 26:29 that sinners really can be turned around, 26:31 that those who make mistakes can learn from them and grow 26:35 and become just what You want them to be. 26:38 We thank You for Your patience. 26:39 As You were patient with Peter, 26:40 we know that You're patient with us. 26:42 And, Father, I ask that You would work in our lives 26:44 just as You worked in Peter. 26:46 Now, friend, would you like to ask God right now 26:49 to work in your heart and give you hope and a new life? 26:52 Maybe you've done that before, 26:53 so perhaps your prayer is just a prayer of agreement. 26:56 Although maybe you're that one who is saying, 26:59 "Oh, I'm far from God. I'm the failure. 27:02 "I'm more likely to take the sword and swing it 27:04 "or make a rash promise that I can't keep 27:07 than I am to simply be humble and faithful." 27:10 Friend, if you've failed, God can restore you, wants to. 27:13 If you've blown it, 27:15 God can put the broken pieces back together again. 27:18 In fact, God can do better than that. 27:20 He can completely remake you. 27:22 Would you like that? 27:23 If you would, lift up your heart to God right now. 27:25 You might even want to lift up your hand right now, if you can. 27:28 Our Father and our God, thank You for treating us 27:32 the way You treated Peter 27:34 and for giving us hope that You can make a person new. 27:38 We thank You for that newness. 27:40 We claim it now through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. 27:45 And it's in Jesus' name that we pray. 27:48 Amen. 27:50 Thank you so much for joining me. 27:52 Look forward to seeing you again next time. 27:54 Until then, remember: 27:56 "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, 28:00 but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.'" 28:04 ♪[dramatic theme music]♪ |
Revised 2020-12-03