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We’re edging our way to the book of Acts, but we must make one more stop before we get there. As I was reading over the different accounts of the resurrection of Jesus, I came across something that I believe will be beneficial for all of us. I believe that this will help us on our journey of becoming UNLEASHED.
As powerful as the resurrection story is, and rightfully so. As powerful as those words are, "He isn’t here, He Is Risen, just as He said He would.“ Those words remain unmatched in the faith hall of fame all on their own. The words I want to share with you are centered around the disciple Peter. Peter was that dude. Peter was bout it, bout it. If something popped off, Peter was the one that you wanted with you to have your back UNTIL, until that one time when Peter found himself face to face with himself. Even greater than that, Peter found himself eye to eye with Jesus in a moment that would change EVERYTHING for him.
As Jesus’s time was nearing the cross. In an instance, Jesus picks up on something in the spirit and Jesus cries out to Peter in Luke 22:31-32,
““Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.””
Luke 22:31-32
“But he replied, “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death.””
Luke 22:33
“Jesus answered, “I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows TODAY, YOU WILL DENY THREE TIMES THAT YOU KNOW ME.””
Luke 22:34
Jesus goes on to be arrested, and the unthinkable happens to Peter.
“Then seizing him, they led him away and took him into the house of the high priest. Peter followed at a distance.”
Luke 22:54
“And when some there had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter sat down with them.”
Luke 22:55
“A servant girl saw him seated there in the firelight. She looked closely at him and said, “This man was with him.” But he denied it. “Woman, I DON’T KNOW HIM,” he said.”
Luke 22:56-57
“A little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.” “Man, I AM NOT!” Peter replied.”
Luke 22:58
“About an hour later another asserted, “Certainly this fellow was with him, for he is a Galilean.” Peter replied, “Man, I DON’T KNOW WHAT YOU’RE TALKING ABOUT!” Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed.”
Luke 22:59-60
“THE LORD TURNED AND LOOKED STRAIGHT AT PETER. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times.”
Luke 22:61
“And he went outside AND WEPT BITTERLY.”
Luke 22:62
These are the life altering events that transpired before we see just how good our God is. These are the life changing moments that took place before Mark’s gospel, testifies of the goodness of God! After all of that was said in done, and after Jesus was crucified, Mark 16:2 says,
“Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb and they asked each other, “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?””
Mark 16:2-3
“But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed.”
Mark 16:4-5
““Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him.”
Mark 16:6
“But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’ ””
Mark 16:7
I want to speak to you from this subject today…
Sermon Title: HE STILL WANTS TO SEE YOU
“But go, tell his disciples AND PETER…”
Mark 16:7
Jesus sent word through an angel to address the issues that Peter was wrestling with in his mind. Go, tell his disciples AND PETER! Hold up, wait a minute. I thought Peter was a disciple. Why did the angel single Peter out from the rest of the disciples? Go tell his disciples—AND PETER? Peter indeed was one of the disciples.
THE PROBLEM WAS THAT PETER NO LONGER SAW HIMSELF AS A DISCIPLE.
📝 Victory doesn’t reside just in how YOU SEE YOURSELF. True Victory resides in how GOD SEES YOU through Jesus Christ.
Go, tell his disciples AND PETER!
Peter saw himself as UNQUALIFIED, but God still saw Peter as a disciple.
Luke 22:62 says…
“And HE WENT OUTSIDE AND WEPT BITTERLY.”
Luke 22:62
In Luke 22:62 we see Peter GOING OUT, but in Mark 16:7 we see Grace pulling Peter BACK IN.
Go, tell his disciples AND PETER!
📝 If Peter was here, he would tell us that, "My DENIAL of Him, didn’t constitute to His DENIAL of ME.”
Go get the disciples AND PETER. In that one moment, God’s message to all of us was this…
📝 Even when you think you AREN’T, grace says you STILL ARE.
In spite of what you did…
You STILL ARE my beloved. You STILL ARE called. You STILL ARE chosen. You STILL ARE in my starting line up. Go, tell his disciples AND PETER! AND PETER. AND PETER.
📝 Grace INCLUDES you even when you want to EXCLUDE yourself.
Then the angel said…
“…‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. THERE YOU WILL SEE HIM, just as he told you.’ ””
Mark 16:7
I almost titled this message He wants to see you but that would’ve been too easy. We know He wants to see us, but not after we fall short. We know He wants to see us, but not after we do the very thing that we vowed never to do, over and over again. See it’s after all of that where the angel says, "HE STILL WANTS TO SEE YOU.”
It’s after all of that when God still sends his messenger to say, "He is going ahead of you into Galilee. THERE YOU WILL SEE HIM.”
In others words, It’s THERE YOU WILL SEE His love. It’s THERE YOU WILL SEE His Grace. It’s THERE YOU WILL SEE His Mercy. It’s THERE YOU WILL SEE His forgiveness. Don’t be afraid Peter….
He still wants to see you, to build you back up, not to tear you down.
He still wants to see you to REDEEM you.
Redeem- to buy, get, or win back.
“In him we have REDEMPTION through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace”
Ephesians 1:7
“He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins.”
Ephesians 1:7
“You came near when I called you, and you said, “Do not fear.””
Lamentations 3:57
“You, Lord, took up my case; you REDEEMED my life.”
Lamentations 3:58
““Remember these things, Jacob, for you, Israel, are my servant. I have made you, you are my servant; Israel, I will not forget you.”
Isaiah 44:21
“I have swept away your offenses like a cloud, your sins like the morning mist. Return to me, for I HAVE REDEEMED YOU.””
Isaiah 44:22
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”
1 John 1:9
He still wants to see you to RECONCILE you.
“When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.””
John 21:15
“Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.””
John 21:16
“The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.”
John 21:17
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”
2 Corinthians 5:17
“All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and GAVE US THE MINISTRY OF RECONCILIATION:”
2 Corinthians 5:18
He still wants to see you to REENLIST you.
“Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.””
John 21:18
“Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “FOLLOW ME!””
John 21:19
“And Jesus, walking by the Sea of Galilee, saw two brothers, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. Then He said to them, “FOLLOW ME, and I will make you fishers of men.””
Matthew 4:18-19
On the day of Pentecost guess who God used to preach the very first message which would be the start of His church…
God’s selection process is different than our selection process.
When Jesus told Peter in Matthew 16:18 that, "Upon this rock, I WILL BUILD MY CHURCH! He already calculated Peter’s sins, setbacks, and misfires into this equation. Grace made up the difference.
“For God saved us and called us to live a holy life. He did this, not because we deserved it, but because that was his plan from before the beginning of time—TO SHOW US HIS GRACE through Christ Jesus.” 2 Timothy 1:9
📝 Through the grace of God, you’re still CALLED not CANCELED.
Go get the disciples AND PETER.
Here’s THE WHY behind this morning’s message….
📝 God has to unleash you from your PAST before you can be unleashed into your FUTURE.
I say unto you today…
Be unleashed from guilt.
Be unleashed from shame.
Be unleashed from regrets.
Be unleashed from pain.
Go tell the disciples AND Peter! HE STILL WANTS TO SEE YOU! WHY???
📝 HIS GRACE > MY REGRETS
He’s going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him. In that moment, Peter had a choice. Would he run to the Father or away from him? Because in that moment, Peter had a choice to make AND SO DO YOU. HE STILL WANTS TO SEE YOU but the question is….
WILL YOU ACCEPT HIS INVITATION?
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