1 00:00:05,200 --> 00:00:09,200 Good afternoon. I was planning to go into Mark 2 00:00:09,200 --> 00:00:13,200 today with you, but will be change of plans just for this 3 00:00:13,200 --> 00:00:16,900 special occasion. I really just want to speak from 4 00:00:16,900 --> 00:00:19,600 my heart. I just want to speak to you from 5 00:00:19,600 --> 00:00:21,800 the word of God. Not my own ideas, or my own 6 00:00:21,800 --> 00:00:24,500 experiences, of course, from the word of God. 7 00:00:24,500 --> 00:00:27,300 But something that's been placed on my heart just through prayer 8 00:00:28,400 --> 00:00:33,400 that I hope will bless you and encourage you as you pick 9 00:00:33,400 --> 00:00:40,000 yourself up and Advance into this new year, And so this is 10 00:00:40,000 --> 00:00:42,500 not going to be a structured sermon for say. 11 00:00:42,500 --> 00:00:45,100 There's not going to be three points or five points. 12 00:00:45,100 --> 00:00:47,500 It's just going to be one. Thought that I pray will be 13 00:00:47,500 --> 00:00:52,300 driven into your soul and Infuse a strength into your being, that 14 00:00:52,800 --> 00:00:54,600 will be able to help you and carry you. 15 00:00:55,200 --> 00:00:57,200 Not just for this year but I pray for the rest of your life. 16 00:00:57,200 --> 00:01:01,100 I pray that this word will have such an impact on you and so I 17 00:01:01,100 --> 00:01:03,100 want us to pray and ask the Lord for help. 18 00:01:03,100 --> 00:01:04,099 I don't know how long this will be. 19 00:01:04,099 --> 00:01:06,400 It can be anything from 20 minutes to an hour and 20 20 00:01:06,400 --> 00:01:07,200 minutes. I don't know. 21 00:01:07,900 --> 00:01:10,500 But I just want to trust the Lord to leadership and ask you 22 00:01:10,500 --> 00:01:13,400 to join me in faith to ask the Lord to lead us, exactly how he 23 00:01:13,400 --> 00:01:16,000 would to benefit us in our sanctification. 24 00:01:16,000 --> 00:01:23,000 Would you join me as we pray? Louis, thank you. 25 00:01:25,100 --> 00:01:28,000 That your word has been made available to us. 26 00:01:29,400 --> 00:01:34,500 And that it is your voice, the living voice of God. 27 00:01:36,100 --> 00:01:41,400 And Lord in this moment. You know what, we need more than 28 00:01:41,400 --> 00:01:44,800 what we know. And we're we just humble 29 00:01:44,800 --> 00:01:50,600 ourselves in your presence. And we express our hunger for 30 00:01:50,600 --> 00:01:54,400 righteousness. We want to be righteous. 31 00:01:55,500 --> 00:01:57,400 We want to know about your righteousness. 32 00:01:59,400 --> 00:02:07,300 Rescue us from our slumber. Rescue us, Lord from our sin. 33 00:02:08,500 --> 00:02:14,200 Deliver Us Lord from our apathy. Anything that would hinder us 34 00:02:14,400 --> 00:02:18,200 from doing exactly what we heard from first Thessalonians 4 and 35 00:02:18,200 --> 00:02:23,500 that is to go higher in you. To do so more and more. 36 00:02:25,300 --> 00:02:29,800 And so Lord we just ask that you would have mercy on this vessel. 37 00:02:31,100 --> 00:02:34,100 And have mercy on all the vessels who are here ready to be 38 00:02:34,100 --> 00:02:38,300 filled. We give you thanks in advance 39 00:02:38,300 --> 00:02:42,100 for your goodness. In Jesus name, we pray, amen. 40 00:02:42,500 --> 00:02:45,700 Amen. Meet me briefly and Philippians 41 00:02:45,700 --> 00:02:56,200 chapter 3. Philippians 3, verse 13. 42 00:02:57,100 --> 00:03:00,900 This is just a launching pad for a time together today. 43 00:03:01,400 --> 00:03:05,300 So, in well-known scripture, the scripture is probably one of the 44 00:03:05,300 --> 00:03:07,900 most popular ones when it comes to this time of the year. 45 00:03:09,200 --> 00:03:10,800 But I just want to pull out one. Thought for you. 46 00:03:10,800 --> 00:03:15,000 Before we continue, here's Paul in Philippians 3:13 speaking to 47 00:03:15,000 --> 00:03:18,100 the church. A Philippine he writes Brothers. 48 00:03:18,100 --> 00:03:22,600 I do not consider. That I have made it my own but 49 00:03:22,600 --> 00:03:29,300 one thing I do one thing I do forgetting what lies behind and 50 00:03:29,300 --> 00:03:32,900 straining forward to what lies ahead. 51 00:03:33,900 --> 00:03:39,600 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of 52 00:03:39,600 --> 00:03:49,000 God in Christ Jesus verse 15. Let those of us who are mature 53 00:03:49,200 --> 00:03:55,000 think this way And if anything you think otherwise God will 54 00:03:55,000 --> 00:04:00,800 reveal that also to you only let us hold true to what we have 55 00:04:00,800 --> 00:04:04,000 attained. So much can be said of these 56 00:04:04,000 --> 00:04:07,400 verses but the one thing I want to underscore is that Paul 57 00:04:07,400 --> 00:04:09,800 through these instructions is revealing what spiritual 58 00:04:09,800 --> 00:04:15,200 maturity really is. What spiritual maturity looks 59 00:04:15,200 --> 00:04:20,200 like and includes many things. Yes, persistence pressing on 60 00:04:20,200 --> 00:04:24,300 believing God moving forward, but I love what he says early 61 00:04:24,300 --> 00:04:26,800 on. He says one thing that I do 62 00:04:27,400 --> 00:04:32,100 forgetting One of the disciplines of maturing 63 00:04:32,100 --> 00:04:33,800 spiritually is learning how to forget. 64 00:04:35,400 --> 00:04:37,500 I'm sure you've heard that before but it's clear. 65 00:04:37,600 --> 00:04:40,200 It's here. Forgetting forgetting. 66 00:04:40,200 --> 00:04:45,100 What lies behind? And moving forward to what God 67 00:04:45,100 --> 00:04:48,400 has in store ahead. Now, when we think about 68 00:04:48,400 --> 00:04:54,100 forgetting we often think about our failures that is true but 69 00:04:54,100 --> 00:04:59,000 Paul also includes his success See, he wasn't like one of the 70 00:04:59,000 --> 00:05:01,700 churches in Revelation who had a reputation of being alive, but 71 00:05:01,700 --> 00:05:05,600 was dead who was just riding based on what has been or what 72 00:05:05,600 --> 00:05:08,500 has been done, or what he did do or what they did do for God. 73 00:05:08,500 --> 00:05:10,900 No, there's more land to cover, there's more land to explore. 74 00:05:10,900 --> 00:05:12,800 There's more things to be accomplished for the glory of 75 00:05:12,800 --> 00:05:19,600 Christ. and we can touch on that, but peripherally thinking 76 00:05:19,600 --> 00:05:23,700 about this, I've realized that one of the most crippling things 77 00:05:23,700 --> 00:05:27,600 to people's Spirit spirituality is in fact the inability to 78 00:05:27,600 --> 00:05:32,300 forget The success part? Yes, that's one group and we're 79 00:05:32,300 --> 00:05:34,300 not going to address that group. Today, we're going to address 80 00:05:34,300 --> 00:05:38,400 those who can't forget what has been done in terms of their 81 00:05:39,100 --> 00:05:42,800 failures. And their sin. 82 00:05:45,100 --> 00:05:48,500 And their shortcomings and their inconsistencies name it, 83 00:05:48,500 --> 00:05:51,500 whatever it is, whatever it is, that does not glorify God. 84 00:05:55,700 --> 00:05:58,500 Not being able to forget not being able to move on not being 85 00:05:58,500 --> 00:06:00,300 able to trust in the Forgiveness of Jesus Christ. 86 00:06:00,300 --> 00:06:03,200 As one of the most crippling things to a person spirituality. 87 00:06:04,500 --> 00:06:07,800 There are some believers who are in love with the Lord, but they 88 00:06:07,800 --> 00:06:11,200 are, there are haunted by things that they have done. 89 00:06:12,200 --> 00:06:13,800 I'm not talking about things before you met. 90 00:06:13,800 --> 00:06:16,800 Chris, I'm talking about the things after you met Christ, 91 00:06:17,000 --> 00:06:20,100 after you made those vows, I've never failing him, never 92 00:06:20,100 --> 00:06:22,700 disappointing. Him after making all these 93 00:06:22,700 --> 00:06:25,300 promises of the man you were going to be in your single 94 00:06:25,300 --> 00:06:26,300 years. The woman you're going to be in 95 00:06:26,300 --> 00:06:27,500 your singers. The man you're going to be. 96 00:06:27,500 --> 00:06:28,900 Once you got married, the woman you were going to be. 97 00:06:28,900 --> 00:06:30,800 Once you got married, the father, you're going to be. 98 00:06:30,800 --> 00:06:32,500 Once you had children the mother, you're gonna be once you 99 00:06:32,500 --> 00:06:35,600 had Shield, I'm talking about What the failures? 100 00:06:37,500 --> 00:06:44,100 That, you know, in your heart. Is extra strong because you 101 00:06:44,100 --> 00:06:47,800 never thought you would do it, you never thought that you would 102 00:06:47,800 --> 00:06:49,400 fall. So short, those kind of 103 00:06:49,400 --> 00:06:52,800 failures, the ones that are nagging the ones that can't let 104 00:06:52,800 --> 00:06:55,500 you go, the ones that have brought you to a place where you 105 00:06:55,500 --> 00:06:58,500 have no motivation anymore. Because what's the point I had 106 00:06:58,500 --> 00:07:02,400 motivation at one point here I am this is just a waste of time. 107 00:07:04,500 --> 00:07:08,200 And people look at their sanctification, like a New 108 00:07:08,200 --> 00:07:11,700 Year's resolution. They get excited. 109 00:07:11,700 --> 00:07:14,400 But after after time goes on, after you live long enough, you 110 00:07:14,407 --> 00:07:16,300 just stop making resolutions because you just know what's 111 00:07:16,300 --> 00:07:20,100 going to happen. Two weeks into the new year. and 112 00:07:20,100 --> 00:07:22,700 so they just coast along and they just go through the motions 113 00:07:22,700 --> 00:07:26,100 and then just they just try to survive. 114 00:07:27,400 --> 00:07:30,300 They just they just try not to mess up even more and even if 115 00:07:30,300 --> 00:07:33,100 they do, then what can I do? I already got this far. 116 00:07:36,700 --> 00:07:38,600 This could be for one person, it's going to be 45. 117 00:07:38,600 --> 00:07:40,200 I don't know. I just want to trust that the 118 00:07:40,200 --> 00:07:43,500 Lord will speak to our hearts today as we reflect upon the 119 00:07:43,508 --> 00:07:49,500 mercy of Jesus Christ. And trust and believe that he is 120 00:07:49,500 --> 00:07:50,900 more loving than you can imagine. 121 00:07:52,100 --> 00:07:53,900 He is more gracious than you can fathom. 122 00:07:54,900 --> 00:07:57,600 He is beyond good. He is gloriously good. 123 00:08:00,100 --> 00:08:04,100 And to understand that he is, he is a God who does not give up on 124 00:08:04,100 --> 00:08:07,300 us, we give up on ourselves, much easier than he does. 125 00:08:08,900 --> 00:08:11,000 I was just thinking about this. I mean, I know these are not 126 00:08:11,000 --> 00:08:14,100 profound thoughts, but I just thinking about this past week 127 00:08:14,100 --> 00:08:18,800 and just praying just pockets of time throughout the week and the 128 00:08:18,800 --> 00:08:23,300 strangest text came to mind. A text that you would not 129 00:08:23,300 --> 00:08:27,200 consider. To find some kind of Jewel. 130 00:08:27,600 --> 00:08:30,700 In relation to the goodness of God, the mercy of God, the God 131 00:08:30,700 --> 00:08:35,700 who gives more than Second Chances, a billion of them. 1st 132 00:08:35,700 --> 00:08:38,500 Corinthians 15. Would you meet me there in 1st 133 00:08:38,500 --> 00:08:39,700 Corinthians? 15 briefly. 134 00:08:43,900 --> 00:08:49,500 Let's begin together. And verse 3. 135 00:08:53,200 --> 00:08:55,400 There's a buzzing, I don't know if it's me or if it's if you 136 00:08:55,400 --> 00:08:58,800 guys hear if it's a buzzing in my own head but if somebody can 137 00:08:58,800 --> 00:09:00,800 help with that, buzzing sound, that'd be great. 138 00:09:02,600 --> 00:09:06,400 In First Corinthians, 15:3. Read for I delivered to you as 139 00:09:06,400 --> 00:09:10,500 of first importance, what I also received that Christ died for 140 00:09:10,500 --> 00:09:16,000 our sins in accordance with the scriptures that he was buried, 141 00:09:16,100 --> 00:09:20,000 that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the 142 00:09:20,000 --> 00:09:24,200 scriptures and that he appeared to cephas then to the twelve. 143 00:09:24,600 --> 00:09:26,800 Then he appeared to more than 500 Brothers. 144 00:09:26,800 --> 00:09:29,900 At one time, most of whom are still alive, though. 145 00:09:29,900 --> 00:09:34,400 Some have fallen asleep then He appeared to James then all the 146 00:09:34,400 --> 00:09:39,000 apostles last of all as to one untimely born, he appeared also 147 00:09:39,000 --> 00:09:45,300 to me to me. This is a text in which Paul 148 00:09:45,300 --> 00:09:50,900 seeks to build the faith of the Corinthian Believers to really 149 00:09:50,900 --> 00:09:53,700 believe that there is a bodily resurrection. 150 00:09:54,200 --> 00:09:57,400 And what he does is he points to a list of names who have been 151 00:09:57,400 --> 00:10:00,500 eyewitnesses to that account of how Christ did. 152 00:10:00,500 --> 00:10:05,400 In fact, raise he did arise, he did conquer death, and he still 153 00:10:05,400 --> 00:10:09,500 had the same scars. Of the body that was nailed to 154 00:10:09,500 --> 00:10:12,500 that tree. And what's? 155 00:10:12,500 --> 00:10:15,600 So encouraging here is that we have a historical reliability 156 00:10:15,600 --> 00:10:17,800 for our faith. That's what people usually come 157 00:10:17,800 --> 00:10:21,700 to this text for to see that. There was multiple multiple 158 00:10:21,700 --> 00:10:25,500 multiple people who had with their own eyes with their own 159 00:10:25,500 --> 00:10:30,500 hands, beheld. Him recognized him, heard him 160 00:10:30,500 --> 00:10:36,100 seen him, that's great. But we can't fail to seize that 161 00:10:36,100 --> 00:10:38,800 when Paul is writing this account when he is making a 162 00:10:38,800 --> 00:10:42,100 case, he's doing so in chronological order, he's 163 00:10:42,100 --> 00:10:44,900 writing the sequence of the appearances of Jesus, though, 164 00:10:44,900 --> 00:10:47,700 not including everyone. And there's a reason for that. 165 00:10:47,700 --> 00:10:50,900 It doesn't include the woman who first saw Christ and that we 166 00:10:50,900 --> 00:10:54,000 don't have the time to get into why he is really trying to 167 00:10:54,000 --> 00:10:58,000 authenticate the apostleship of some of the Corinthian Believers 168 00:10:58,000 --> 00:11:02,200 that they admired. Including Peter and so he's 169 00:11:02,200 --> 00:11:04,000 writing a Chronicle chronological order. 170 00:11:04,000 --> 00:11:06,600 And what's fascinating here is who he mentions first. 171 00:11:07,900 --> 00:11:09,800 Who he mentions first and verse five. 172 00:11:10,400 --> 00:11:15,500 And that he appeared to cephas. That is Peter and so, Paul by 173 00:11:15,500 --> 00:11:20,300 the spirit is letting the church know and us know that when Jesus 174 00:11:20,300 --> 00:11:26,500 rose from the grave, one of the first people that he was on a 175 00:11:26,500 --> 00:11:31,100 mission to manifest himself to Was the Apostle Peter? 176 00:11:34,300 --> 00:11:41,600 To me it is beyond just the fact that Peter was a leader not just 177 00:11:41,600 --> 00:11:44,800 a leader in the church but a leader among the apostles and so 178 00:11:44,800 --> 00:11:47,700 it would have been a comforting truth to know that the leader of 179 00:11:47,700 --> 00:11:50,600 the Apostles had that experience for himself. 180 00:11:50,600 --> 00:11:54,200 I think it's far greater than that though that is important. 181 00:11:55,800 --> 00:11:59,600 out of all the people that you would reveal yourself to Lord 182 00:12:00,100 --> 00:12:04,500 first, Peter is not on my top list. 183 00:12:06,100 --> 00:12:08,800 Because we know what Peter did before Christ died. 184 00:12:10,500 --> 00:12:15,500 Denied him, horribly horrific lie and what's even more 185 00:12:15,500 --> 00:12:17,500 painful. About those denies has that it 186 00:12:17,500 --> 00:12:22,400 was followed by this boast. It was preceded by this, this 187 00:12:22,400 --> 00:12:25,800 claim of faithfulness and he fell on his face miserably. 188 00:12:28,400 --> 00:12:35,000 And Peter here. apparently, Was one of the ones that Jesus made 189 00:12:35,000 --> 00:12:38,500 a priority to visit, once he conquered the grave. 190 00:12:41,000 --> 00:12:42,900 We don't have we don't have that account in scripture. 191 00:12:43,700 --> 00:12:46,400 We didn't know the ones in the house, all we know that it was 192 00:12:46,400 --> 00:12:48,300 after he revealed himself to Mary. 193 00:12:49,200 --> 00:12:52,800 And before he revealed himself to the 12, even those two on the 194 00:12:52,808 --> 00:12:55,600 road to Emmaus, when they had their own experience of the 195 00:12:55,600 --> 00:12:58,000 resurrected Christ, they ran back to the disciples and they 196 00:12:58,008 --> 00:13:02,100 said he has risen indeed and he has revealed himself to Simon. 197 00:13:03,600 --> 00:13:09,000 So, somewhere in between those moments, Peter experience Christ 198 00:13:09,000 --> 00:13:15,800 resurrected, get this alone. We have limited Peter's 199 00:13:15,800 --> 00:13:18,500 experience of the resurrected Christ in John 21 when he was on 200 00:13:18,500 --> 00:13:22,000 that fishing trip with his boys. But according to First 201 00:13:22,000 --> 00:13:24,500 Corinthians 15, there was this period. 202 00:13:24,600 --> 00:13:29,700 There was this appointment that Jesus had with Peter one on one. 203 00:13:30,900 --> 00:13:33,700 One on one. Did he deserve it? 204 00:13:34,400 --> 00:13:36,400 Here's my honest answer. No. 205 00:13:37,700 --> 00:13:44,100 No. I could see us thinking to 206 00:13:44,100 --> 00:13:46,000 ourselves. If we were in the shoes of 207 00:13:46,000 --> 00:13:49,700 Jesus, I'm gonna wait till the last person. 208 00:13:50,500 --> 00:13:53,300 Peter being the last one that I will reveal myself to let him 209 00:13:53,300 --> 00:13:57,300 sit a little bit and think about what he has done. 210 00:13:58,300 --> 00:14:02,600 Let him let him simmer and let him be sobered by his failure. 211 00:14:03,100 --> 00:14:05,400 Let him wallow in the mire a little bit longer just so he'll 212 00:14:05,400 --> 00:14:09,800 never forget and not think that you can just open his mouth 213 00:14:09,800 --> 00:14:12,800 whenever he Wants to let him just be there and then I'll 214 00:14:12,800 --> 00:14:15,900 come, it makes sense to come to those who are at least a little 215 00:14:15,900 --> 00:14:17,800 bit more faithful. And then come to the one who 216 00:14:17,800 --> 00:14:24,300 really really, really messed up. it would make sense to us in the 217 00:14:24,300 --> 00:14:29,000 flesh for Jesus, to be reluctant to come to Peter and yet He was 218 00:14:29,000 --> 00:14:31,400 the first. He was the first. 219 00:14:32,000 --> 00:14:35,300 He was the first. Did he deserve it? 220 00:14:36,300 --> 00:14:38,700 No. Did he need it? 221 00:14:39,100 --> 00:14:45,600 I think so. think about this, when Christ comes out of that 222 00:14:45,600 --> 00:14:50,400 tomb, And when he breaks the chains of death, and when he 223 00:14:50,408 --> 00:14:55,600 makes a statement of victory that is resounding today, one of 224 00:14:55,600 --> 00:15:00,900 his top desires was I must see Peter. 225 00:15:03,600 --> 00:15:10,000 And I must comfort him as he's enduring the pain of his 226 00:15:10,000 --> 00:15:15,400 shortcoming and his failure. And he does just that. 227 00:15:16,900 --> 00:15:21,500 And the fact that Jesus appears to Peter as a priority, not only 228 00:15:21,500 --> 00:15:25,000 emphasizes the grace of Jesus Christ because that's exactly 229 00:15:25,000 --> 00:15:30,500 what we're seeing here. it highlights his quickness, his 230 00:15:30,500 --> 00:15:34,700 swiftness to forgive he's not slow. 231 00:15:36,200 --> 00:15:38,800 He doesn't dangle our failures over us. 232 00:15:41,100 --> 00:15:45,500 And how and just cause us to hop, and to LEAP into, try to do 233 00:15:45,500 --> 00:15:48,200 anything in our strength, eliminate those memories, he 234 00:15:48,200 --> 00:15:51,400 doesn't do that, nor does he withhold the possibility of 235 00:15:51,400 --> 00:15:56,100 reconciliation for the repentant. know when Peter was 236 00:15:56,500 --> 00:16:00,400 shattered in his heart and when his eyes were weary from weeping 237 00:16:01,100 --> 00:16:07,800 Jesus shows up then, I wish we had that encounter in the 238 00:16:07,800 --> 00:16:11,500 scriptures. What was it like for Peter to 239 00:16:11,500 --> 00:16:14,300 see him alone? What were his words? 240 00:16:14,300 --> 00:16:15,900 What were the words of the master? 241 00:16:18,800 --> 00:16:20,400 Doesn't just emphasize his grace. 242 00:16:20,400 --> 00:16:25,400 It emphasizes his swiftness to forgive Christ is so quick, so 243 00:16:25,400 --> 00:16:30,800 quick. To come to clean and to restore. 244 00:16:31,900 --> 00:16:34,600 And we see it here even in the most unlikely place in a place 245 00:16:34,600 --> 00:16:38,200 where Paul is trying to make a case for the resurrection. 246 00:16:38,200 --> 00:16:43,100 We see also a message of the goodness of God And Jesus. 247 00:16:44,500 --> 00:16:48,500 Planned this because Jesus knew what Peter was going to do 248 00:16:48,508 --> 00:16:51,900 before he did it. Here's the thing. 249 00:16:51,900 --> 00:16:56,200 Christ isn't just appeared to Peter with a priority to restore 250 00:16:56,200 --> 00:16:58,300 and reconcile him. Yes John 21. 251 00:16:58,500 --> 00:17:00,600 That's something else. That's his commissioning into 252 00:17:00,600 --> 00:17:03,100 the ministry. This is a personal thing. 253 00:17:03,700 --> 00:17:05,900 This is this is for Fellowship sake. 254 00:17:08,800 --> 00:17:10,300 But he doesn't just bring him in. 255 00:17:10,300 --> 00:17:13,099 He doesn't just draw him close to his heart again. 256 00:17:14,200 --> 00:17:16,700 Turn with me to Luke quickly in 22. 257 00:17:17,800 --> 00:17:19,900 And I want you to see what Jesus said to Peter. 258 00:17:27,400 --> 00:17:29,900 Just moments before he would disappoint his master. 259 00:17:32,800 --> 00:17:42,100 Luke 22 verse 31. Simon Simon You know, Peter 260 00:17:42,100 --> 00:17:47,100 acted like Simon a lot more than he didn't act like Peter Simon. 261 00:17:47,100 --> 00:17:50,600 Simon. Behold Satan demanded to have 262 00:17:50,600 --> 00:17:52,600 you that he might sift. You like wheat? 263 00:17:53,400 --> 00:17:57,700 But I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. 264 00:17:58,000 --> 00:18:02,200 And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers 265 00:18:05,100 --> 00:18:09,400 Strengthen your brothers Peter. You are going to fall. 266 00:18:09,900 --> 00:18:14,600 You are going to stumble. And he could have stopped there, 267 00:18:14,600 --> 00:18:19,900 he could have just predicted it. And he could have said, and when 268 00:18:19,900 --> 00:18:21,500 you turn again, I'll be right here. 269 00:18:21,500 --> 00:18:25,900 Ready to forgive, not, let me pause here and say this a 270 00:18:25,900 --> 00:18:31,100 message, like this, Will stir the True Believer to Greater 271 00:18:31,100 --> 00:18:34,800 holiness. You know, people get worried of 272 00:18:34,800 --> 00:18:36,700 preaching messages like this because they think it will 273 00:18:36,700 --> 00:18:40,400 encourage the one who has a false Faith to continue in their 274 00:18:40,400 --> 00:18:43,000 sin and that is true. But the difference between the 275 00:18:43,000 --> 00:18:45,700 believer who has truly experienced salvation and the 276 00:18:45,700 --> 00:18:48,300 one who thinks they have been having is that when you hear 277 00:18:48,300 --> 00:18:52,300 what I'm about to say that Christ is ready to forgive when 278 00:18:52,300 --> 00:18:56,700 you fail, The believer will say though that I would never fail 279 00:18:56,700 --> 00:19:00,400 him. Oh that I would love if he is 280 00:19:00,400 --> 00:19:03,400 like that. I want to love him with 281 00:19:03,400 --> 00:19:06,600 everything within me. The unbeliever will say, well if 282 00:19:06,600 --> 00:19:10,200 this is who Jesus is and let's eat and drink and be merry for 283 00:19:10,200 --> 00:19:15,200 tomorrow. He forgives Jesus. 284 00:19:16,300 --> 00:19:20,600 Says, when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers, 285 00:19:20,600 --> 00:19:22,800 he could have said, when you turn again, I'm right here to 286 00:19:22,800 --> 00:19:28,200 forgive, but he goes beyond that, he says, Peter when you 287 00:19:28,200 --> 00:19:36,700 turn I still have use of you. I still have a purpose for you. 288 00:19:37,700 --> 00:19:42,100 Your brother still need you. I've put something in you that 289 00:19:42,100 --> 00:19:47,300 will bless the others. And so, even in the cry, in the 290 00:19:47,300 --> 00:19:50,900 mind of Christ, his Redemptive power. 291 00:19:52,300 --> 00:19:55,900 The reconciliation that he offers in those nail-pierced 292 00:19:55,900 --> 00:20:00,800 hands is able to recycle our failures and bless others 293 00:20:00,800 --> 00:20:05,700 through it. And so, he even tells him in 294 00:20:05,700 --> 00:20:07,400 advance. It's gonna happen. 295 00:20:08,400 --> 00:20:12,500 You will fall. But I am here, and I'm not just 296 00:20:12,500 --> 00:20:16,700 here to restore you. I'm here again, to launch you 297 00:20:17,600 --> 00:20:21,800 and to propel you and to use you for my namesake. 298 00:20:23,100 --> 00:20:27,700 We don't think that when we fall short, that's why it's in here. 299 00:20:28,700 --> 00:20:32,100 And listen, I know some of you perhaps are still trying to just 300 00:20:32,100 --> 00:20:33,600 fight to stay awake but bear with me. 301 00:20:33,600 --> 00:20:41,300 Okay, bear with me. There could the failure of your 302 00:20:41,300 --> 00:20:45,000 life in the past few years, it cannot just be like, it doesn't 303 00:20:45,000 --> 00:20:47,900 have to be this huge gross immorality. 304 00:20:48,200 --> 00:20:50,300 It could be the failure to be fervent for him. 305 00:20:52,000 --> 00:20:54,800 It could be just a failure to be zealous and consistent. 306 00:20:56,100 --> 00:20:57,800 It could be you finding other Loves. 307 00:20:57,800 --> 00:21:00,500 You Still Love Jesus, but you don't love him above all things. 308 00:21:00,500 --> 00:21:04,600 I'm talking about any kind of failure that has convinced you 309 00:21:04,600 --> 00:21:07,300 to say. I'm not like look, it's been a 310 00:21:07,308 --> 00:21:08,300 year. It's been two years, three 311 00:21:08,300 --> 00:21:09,600 years. I'm not changing. 312 00:21:09,600 --> 00:21:11,100 I'm Lord, just put me on the Shelf. 313 00:21:11,300 --> 00:21:14,000 I'll see you in glory. I want you to break free from 314 00:21:14,000 --> 00:21:16,400 that. Because here, we see a man who 315 00:21:16,800 --> 00:21:20,100 monumentally fails and Christ. Still tells him it. 316 00:21:20,100 --> 00:21:23,100 Consoles him in advance, I have use of you. 317 00:21:23,900 --> 00:21:26,900 I say I want to use, I want to do things through you. 318 00:21:30,300 --> 00:21:36,000 Strengthen your brothers. Because in Christ's mind when he 319 00:21:36,000 --> 00:21:39,200 forgives and when he restores, even those things that have 320 00:21:39,200 --> 00:21:44,200 severed us from enjoying his fellowship or of crushed us or 321 00:21:44,200 --> 00:21:48,900 have or have hindered us from experiencing Ministry, fruitful 322 00:21:48,900 --> 00:21:52,400 Ministry. Christ believes that. 323 00:21:52,400 --> 00:21:58,700 Even those things that we dread, that makes us shrink with shame. 324 00:21:58,700 --> 00:22:02,800 Can be used, go and comfort, your brother's going, encourage 325 00:22:02,800 --> 00:22:06,900 them, go warn them. After you have failed to take 326 00:22:06,900 --> 00:22:11,000 heed to my warning, gather all of those pieces, and let me put 327 00:22:11,000 --> 00:22:15,000 them together and use it as an instrument for my glory. 328 00:22:16,600 --> 00:22:20,700 And Peter obeyed. He might have forgotten what 329 00:22:20,700 --> 00:22:23,700 Jesus said immediately because he did fall. 330 00:22:23,700 --> 00:22:27,300 I mean, if you hear that, if you hear such a prophecy or Christ, 331 00:22:27,300 --> 00:22:29,800 looks you in the eyes as you're gonna, you're gonna fail. 332 00:22:30,900 --> 00:22:33,700 You're going to fall short, you're not going to totally be 333 00:22:33,700 --> 00:22:36,100 destroyed in your faith. He says, that clearly, Satan 334 00:22:36,100 --> 00:22:38,500 would love that. Wouldn't that make you fall on 335 00:22:38,500 --> 00:22:40,700 your knees and say, Lord, just have mercy on me, let it not. 336 00:22:40,700 --> 00:22:43,000 Be a Peter doesn't even register that. 337 00:22:43,000 --> 00:22:46,000 He's so self-confident that he just brushes it off. 338 00:22:46,400 --> 00:22:49,800 But I believe with all my heart, then after everything was said 339 00:22:49,800 --> 00:22:54,200 and done, he did remember the command of Jesus strengthen your 340 00:22:54,200 --> 00:22:57,600 brothers. Strengthen your brothers. 341 00:22:58,100 --> 00:23:02,200 Pick yourself up? Come before the cross laid at 342 00:23:02,200 --> 00:23:05,900 the foot of this cross? And then from that, move on. 343 00:23:07,500 --> 00:23:10,400 Go. There are people still need to 344 00:23:10,400 --> 00:23:12,500 be touched. There are things that still need 345 00:23:12,500 --> 00:23:15,200 to be accomplished. And when you just take a glimpse 346 00:23:15,200 --> 00:23:19,500 at the Epistles of Peter, you get the strong impression that 347 00:23:19,500 --> 00:23:24,200 he really did take this command. Seriously from his master, look 348 00:23:24,200 --> 00:23:27,000 with me quickly just to get an idea and first Peter one want 349 00:23:27,000 --> 00:23:34,300 you to see with your own eyes. And 1st Peter. 350 00:23:35,500 --> 00:23:36,900 Let's go to chapter 5 very quickly. 351 00:23:36,900 --> 00:23:48,000 You know this passage very well. What did you say here? 352 00:23:48,700 --> 00:23:53,700 And verse 6 of First, Peter 5, humble yourselves, What, you 353 00:23:53,708 --> 00:23:56,000 know why Peter failed because you didn't humble himself? 354 00:23:58,500 --> 00:24:01,200 I won't deny you. They might do it. 355 00:24:01,200 --> 00:24:03,000 I won't here. He is. 356 00:24:03,700 --> 00:24:06,200 Humble yourselves. Therefore, under the mighty hand 357 00:24:06,200 --> 00:24:07,800 of God? So that the proper time, he may 358 00:24:07,800 --> 00:24:10,000 exalt. You casting all your anxiety on 359 00:24:10,000 --> 00:24:12,200 him because he cares for you. Be sober. 360 00:24:12,200 --> 00:24:16,300 Minded Peter was not sober minded Peter wasn't sober minded 361 00:24:16,300 --> 00:24:18,600 when Christ predicted his fall and he wasn't sober minded 362 00:24:18,600 --> 00:24:23,000 because of his failure to pray. But Be sober-minded Be watchful 363 00:24:23,600 --> 00:24:26,500 your adversary, the devil prowls around, like a roaring lion 364 00:24:26,500 --> 00:24:30,500 seeking someone, Want to devour is pure inspired by the spirit, 365 00:24:30,500 --> 00:24:33,700 absolutely but the spirit is using Peters experience. 366 00:24:34,700 --> 00:24:40,500 Peter can remember that night in that Garden when his pride cause 367 00:24:40,500 --> 00:24:44,300 them to sleep when it's Pride cause I'm not see the necessity 368 00:24:44,300 --> 00:24:48,600 to pray and Be watchful and the devil was right there to devour 369 00:24:48,600 --> 00:24:51,900 his faith. And so now he writes to the 370 00:24:51,900 --> 00:24:56,300 church has Hey listen, if there is an enemy out there this 371 00:24:56,300 --> 00:24:58,500 Warfare It's bigger than you can imagine. 372 00:24:58,500 --> 00:25:01,600 Trust me. So Be watchful be sober minded 373 00:25:02,300 --> 00:25:05,400 and look what he says here in his Second Epistle and 1:10, 374 00:25:05,900 --> 00:25:09,400 second, Peter, 1:10, therefore Brothers. 375 00:25:10,500 --> 00:25:13,200 Therefore brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your 376 00:25:13,200 --> 00:25:17,600 calling and election for a few practice these qualities you 377 00:25:17,600 --> 00:25:21,400 will never fall. You will never fall. 378 00:25:21,400 --> 00:25:24,700 Here's a fallen brother who has fallen telling other Christians. 379 00:25:24,900 --> 00:25:29,800 I want to tell you how you you cannot fall and the preceding 380 00:25:29,800 --> 00:25:33,100 throughs are there given by the spirit and he dishes these 381 00:25:33,100 --> 00:25:35,100 things out. I mean, what kind of Grace are 382 00:25:35,100 --> 00:25:39,100 we talking about for a fallen disciple to tell other 383 00:25:39,100 --> 00:25:47,100 disciples, how not to Fall. Peter. when you turn again, 384 00:25:48,100 --> 00:25:51,300 strengthen your brothers, I have Ministry for you. 385 00:25:53,300 --> 00:25:57,400 I have people in mind that your personal life, your testimony, 386 00:25:57,400 --> 00:25:59,700 even the things that you're ashamed of, because you've 387 00:25:59,700 --> 00:26:01,600 repented, because you have brought it to me. 388 00:26:02,800 --> 00:26:09,300 Will do much good. But the extent of Peter's 389 00:26:09,300 --> 00:26:12,000 experience, the extent of his willingness to obey, the Lord 390 00:26:12,000 --> 00:26:14,200 goes beyond, just the Epistles that he's written. 391 00:26:15,600 --> 00:26:19,200 It is more personal than just corporate letters. 392 00:26:21,500 --> 00:26:23,900 And we see that in a very interesting place. 393 00:26:24,900 --> 00:26:29,300 In second Timothy 411. Just scroll back in your Bibles 394 00:26:29,300 --> 00:26:39,700 and go to 2nd Timothy with me. Second Timothy, 411, Paul and 395 00:26:39,700 --> 00:26:44,100 his dying moments makes final requests. 396 00:26:45,700 --> 00:26:48,400 And there is a surprising appeal that he makes to his spiritual 397 00:26:48,400 --> 00:26:50,500 son. Timothy and verse 11 of 2nd, 398 00:26:50,500 --> 00:26:52,600 Timothy, for Luke alone is with me. 399 00:26:53,600 --> 00:26:57,800 Get Mark. Get Mark and bring him with you 400 00:26:57,800 --> 00:27:00,700 for he is very useful to me for Ministry. 401 00:27:00,900 --> 00:27:04,000 I love the way, the ESV puts it very useful. 402 00:27:07,400 --> 00:27:11,800 Are you sure Paul is talking about the same, Mark the same 403 00:27:11,800 --> 00:27:15,500 Mark, that Paul refused to give a second chance to in Acts 15 404 00:27:16,300 --> 00:27:20,400 when they were ready to go on another missionary circuit and 405 00:27:20,400 --> 00:27:24,700 Barnabas brings the Sheepish young man and the presence of 406 00:27:24,700 --> 00:27:30,900 this Mighty Lion of an apostle. And Request that we give John 407 00:27:30,900 --> 00:27:35,000 Mark another chance and Paul a do-or-die kind of leader. 408 00:27:36,200 --> 00:27:40,400 He doesn't play games. Are you kidding me? 409 00:27:40,700 --> 00:27:43,500 Do you remember what he did in Acts 13 abruptly? 410 00:27:43,500 --> 00:27:47,000 Just left us and you want to bring him again? 411 00:27:48,000 --> 00:27:50,300 And here's Barnabas I can just imagine the conversation. 412 00:27:50,800 --> 00:27:52,200 We got to give him another chance. 413 00:27:52,200 --> 00:27:54,200 You know that the son of encouragement. 414 00:27:54,200 --> 00:27:58,100 Let's come on, Paul. Let's just he's willing. 415 00:27:58,100 --> 00:28:01,500 I mean look he's young. We here's Paul saying no way. 416 00:28:02,700 --> 00:28:04,800 This is not Sunday school stuff. Barnabas. 417 00:28:05,700 --> 00:28:07,100 We're going out into the front lines. 418 00:28:07,100 --> 00:28:09,100 We can't afford to be discouraged again. 419 00:28:09,100 --> 00:28:12,100 We don't know why. John, Mark left an extra team, 420 00:28:12,100 --> 00:28:14,600 but it was enough to frustrate this man of God. 421 00:28:15,800 --> 00:28:19,800 It was enough for him to say I've lost all trust in this man. 422 00:28:19,800 --> 00:28:21,200 Yes he's a Believer. He's a young man. 423 00:28:21,200 --> 00:28:23,400 He's a fine young man but he's not cut out for this thing 424 00:28:23,400 --> 00:28:30,800 called Ministry. And yet it is the same mark. 425 00:28:31,900 --> 00:28:36,000 We're years have gone by and Paul in his final moments, 426 00:28:36,100 --> 00:28:39,800 looking to be ministered to and to give final instructions for 427 00:28:39,800 --> 00:28:42,600 Ministry. Beyond his life says get that 428 00:28:42,600 --> 00:28:46,700 Mark. For his very useful to me. 429 00:28:47,800 --> 00:28:52,700 In the ministry. Many years have passed between 430 00:28:52,700 --> 00:28:56,100 acts 15 and second Timothy chapter 4. 431 00:28:57,000 --> 00:29:01,600 What happened to Mark? Well, the clear observations 432 00:29:01,600 --> 00:29:06,900 that, he grew, he matured and and it was enough to convince 433 00:29:06,900 --> 00:29:10,700 the Apostle Paul at this time to say, you've changed, you've 434 00:29:10,700 --> 00:29:15,200 grown God has stretched you. And you have laid your life down 435 00:29:15,200 --> 00:29:18,600 again, to allow him to stretch you And so, there was something 436 00:29:18,600 --> 00:29:21,200 observable. There was something measurable 437 00:29:21,200 --> 00:29:25,700 to Paul who again, did not play games, who didn't flatter and he 438 00:29:25,700 --> 00:29:30,300 says, I want you something happened to you come But what 439 00:29:30,300 --> 00:29:31,200 was it? Exactly? 440 00:29:31,200 --> 00:29:33,100 What was the instrument of change? 441 00:29:33,100 --> 00:29:35,000 Yes. Obviously his own personal 442 00:29:35,000 --> 00:29:38,500 accountability to the Lord, but could it be that the Catalyst? 443 00:29:38,500 --> 00:29:42,700 Could it be that the launching influence and John Marks life? 444 00:29:44,000 --> 00:29:48,700 Was how he was poured into how he received encouragement and 445 00:29:48,700 --> 00:29:53,700 how he received attention and mercy for him to find the wind 446 00:29:53,700 --> 00:29:57,300 and the grace again, to say, okay, I'm going to go for this 447 00:29:57,300 --> 00:29:59,800 again. I'm going to believe God, again, 448 00:30:00,100 --> 00:30:02,500 I didn't just fail. God, I failed the people of God. 449 00:30:02,500 --> 00:30:05,000 I failed my Ministry, I failed my local church. 450 00:30:05,800 --> 00:30:09,000 I've disappointed them, I didn't show up when I was supposed to 451 00:30:09,000 --> 00:30:10,300 show up. I didn't serve when I was 452 00:30:10,300 --> 00:30:12,500 supposed to serve. I took my Ministry lightly, 453 00:30:13,000 --> 00:30:14,800 maybe, maybe this. Is helping now, maybe this is 454 00:30:14,800 --> 00:30:20,200 coming home a little bit. And so what what happens is high 455 00:30:20,200 --> 00:30:24,000 believe with just the evidence of scripture with people like 456 00:30:24,000 --> 00:30:27,500 Barnabas in his life, who ended up taking, John Mark with him, 457 00:30:27,900 --> 00:30:30,400 and that Ministry team was severed for a moment. 458 00:30:31,600 --> 00:30:33,900 And said, let's let's do this. I'm with you. 459 00:30:36,200 --> 00:30:38,600 But I believe it was more than just barnabas's influence. 460 00:30:38,600 --> 00:30:41,000 I believe it was more than his presence and his encouragement, 461 00:30:41,400 --> 00:30:45,300 and I'll tell you why. Go back to 1st Peter 5 quickly 462 00:30:46,000 --> 00:30:51,900 with me. And look how Paul concludes his 463 00:30:51,900 --> 00:31:03,800 epistle. And verse 13. he writes, she who 464 00:31:03,800 --> 00:31:07,400 is at Babylon, who is likewise chosen, sends you, greetings and 465 00:31:07,400 --> 00:31:16,600 so, does Mark My son so does Mark my son, physical sun? 466 00:31:16,600 --> 00:31:18,400 No, spiritual son. Yes. 467 00:31:19,600 --> 00:31:24,800 The same Dynamic, I believe that Paul had with Timothy Peter had 468 00:31:24,800 --> 00:31:28,200 with this Mark. That's not very hard to see. 469 00:31:28,200 --> 00:31:31,500 It seems as though Peter had a special place and John Marks 470 00:31:31,500 --> 00:31:36,800 life even in the book of Acts you see that Peter Knew 471 00:31:36,800 --> 00:31:40,700 instinctively how to go to the House of Prayer in Acts 12. 472 00:31:40,700 --> 00:31:43,900 That was Mary's house seeking the Lord on his behalf for his 473 00:31:43,900 --> 00:31:46,600 imprisonment which was the house of John. 474 00:31:46,600 --> 00:31:48,900 Mark. Seems as though he was familiar 475 00:31:48,900 --> 00:31:52,700 with his family seems as though there was a special relationship 476 00:31:52,700 --> 00:31:56,500 that this particular Apostle had with this unit, which included? 477 00:31:56,500 --> 00:32:02,400 John Mark. and some believe that it was Peter, who led John Mark 478 00:32:02,400 --> 00:32:05,200 to the Lord that is not for certain about what is for 479 00:32:05,200 --> 00:32:10,200 certain that at some point the Apostle Peter adopted Mark as a 480 00:32:10,200 --> 00:32:16,500 spiritual son and raised him up in the Lord, raised him up in 481 00:32:16,500 --> 00:32:19,600 the Lord where he can say he's my son. 482 00:32:20,500 --> 00:32:25,100 He's my son. And based on this many, if not 483 00:32:25,100 --> 00:32:28,600 all have come to the conclusion that the gospel written 484 00:32:28,600 --> 00:32:32,700 according to mark. Was heavily influence and 485 00:32:32,700 --> 00:32:35,800 supplied by the eyewitness testimony of his spiritual 486 00:32:35,800 --> 00:32:39,400 Father. Peter And so, you can just 487 00:32:39,400 --> 00:32:42,800 imagine, here's John, Mark, sitting with Peter, who would 488 00:32:42,808 --> 00:32:46,000 make frequent visits to his home and perhaps, even after his 489 00:32:46,000 --> 00:32:49,400 failure, where he comes back to Jerusalem, aborting the mission, 490 00:32:49,400 --> 00:32:51,000 Peter still stays in touch with them. 491 00:32:51,000 --> 00:32:54,000 You can just imagine the times together, where he would tell 492 00:32:54,000 --> 00:32:56,400 him of the eyewitness accounts. He would tell them of the 493 00:32:56,400 --> 00:32:59,500 personal testimonies that would eventually Supply. 494 00:32:59,500 --> 00:33:02,800 And give us what we are studying as a church, the gospel of Mark. 495 00:33:06,800 --> 00:33:08,800 And I think that is quite special. 496 00:33:11,300 --> 00:33:14,000 And I believe there's internal evidence for that because only 497 00:33:14,000 --> 00:33:16,200 Mark has a detail. If you were there for the first 498 00:33:16,200 --> 00:33:20,200 message of the Gospel of Mark study, you'll remember this only 499 00:33:20,200 --> 00:33:25,000 Mark has a detail about the resurrection that all the other 500 00:33:25,000 --> 00:33:26,500 gospel accounts. Oh, mint. 501 00:33:28,100 --> 00:33:30,700 And it makes sense, right? If Peter was the spiritual 502 00:33:30,700 --> 00:33:34,100 father of Mark and he was getting all that he needed from 503 00:33:34,100 --> 00:33:38,400 this man as his main source. Then this detail is just it's 504 00:33:38,400 --> 00:33:43,300 heartwarming it's in the last chapter of Mark, Mark 16 verse 505 00:33:43,600 --> 00:33:48,200 7. Matthew. 506 00:33:50,100 --> 00:33:53,900 And we have Mark. Mark 16. 507 00:33:59,100 --> 00:34:05,300 Here's the angel. And in verse six, young men who 508 00:34:05,300 --> 00:34:07,500 is sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe. 509 00:34:07,700 --> 00:34:09,800 He said to them do not be alarmed. 510 00:34:09,800 --> 00:34:12,600 You seek Jesus of Nazareth who was crucified. 511 00:34:12,699 --> 00:34:19,199 He has risen, he is not here. See the place where they laid 512 00:34:19,199 --> 00:34:26,600 him, but go tell his disciples and who Peter Did he is going 513 00:34:26,600 --> 00:34:30,199 before you to Galilee? There, you will see him just as 514 00:34:30,199 --> 00:34:36,300 he told you. Go tell the disciples and Peter 515 00:34:36,699 --> 00:34:40,500 go tell the disciples and Peter. Wasn't Peter disciple. 516 00:34:40,500 --> 00:34:43,699 Absolutely, but I have a hunch. He didn't feel like a disciple 517 00:34:43,699 --> 00:34:49,199 at this point. and so here's a messenger from Heaven who's been 518 00:34:49,199 --> 00:34:52,199 given specific instruction and the instruction was passed along 519 00:34:52,199 --> 00:34:58,300 to this group and he tells this group when you go to those, when 520 00:34:58,300 --> 00:35:04,200 you go to those men who are hiding for their life, let them 521 00:35:04,200 --> 00:35:09,700 know that he has risen, but make sure that you named Peter 522 00:35:10,400 --> 00:35:14,000 separately. Make sure you say to the 523 00:35:14,000 --> 00:35:17,100 disciples and Peter highlight. Peter. 524 00:35:18,000 --> 00:35:21,100 Why? Because Peter needed to hear his 525 00:35:21,100 --> 00:35:26,100 name, Peter needed to know that even as he was sitting in his 526 00:35:26,100 --> 00:35:31,700 failure, Christ has him in mind and wants to see him. 527 00:35:34,400 --> 00:35:37,100 Can you imagine what it was like for Peter to share that with 528 00:35:37,100 --> 00:35:38,700 Mark? When he wrote it down? 529 00:35:40,200 --> 00:35:45,500 Mark listen, when the angel did come He said go and tell his 530 00:35:45,500 --> 00:35:50,200 disciples. And Mark get this, he singled me 531 00:35:50,200 --> 00:35:53,500 out. Make sure you mention that he 532 00:35:53,500 --> 00:35:59,900 said my name. Disciples and Peter. 533 00:36:01,300 --> 00:36:04,700 By the spirit, Mark, the soul. And all of this is starting to 534 00:36:04,700 --> 00:36:07,900 make sense. Now met here, is Mark at the end 535 00:36:07,900 --> 00:36:10,800 of Paul's life, who is very useful to his ministry and you 536 00:36:10,800 --> 00:36:13,900 see in another place that Peter was his spiritual father and 537 00:36:14,200 --> 00:36:16,800 surely, there's some kind of connection to the growth had to 538 00:36:16,800 --> 00:36:19,100 do with the influence of this men and his life. 539 00:36:19,100 --> 00:36:24,400 And it makes sense for Peter to take the time to bring in Mark 540 00:36:24,400 --> 00:36:28,000 and to pour into him because he himself was restored. 541 00:36:30,900 --> 00:36:33,600 He himself knew what a second chance can do. 542 00:36:34,300 --> 00:36:38,500 He himself knew the power of compassion and forgiveness, and 543 00:36:38,500 --> 00:36:42,500 mercy and kindness. Do you know who are the 544 00:36:42,500 --> 00:36:47,100 Christians who forgive those who have been forgiven and know it, 545 00:36:48,800 --> 00:36:54,300 you know, do you know the Christians that that are willing 546 00:36:54,300 --> 00:36:58,100 to open their arms and bring in those who have even disappointed 547 00:36:58,100 --> 00:37:00,400 them? Those who know that? 548 00:37:00,400 --> 00:37:03,400 They I've lost the number of times that they have 549 00:37:03,400 --> 00:37:07,900 disappointed their lord and yet Christ, every time says come 550 00:37:07,900 --> 00:37:15,400 back to me. Forgiven people forgive people. 551 00:37:17,400 --> 00:37:19,900 Merciful people have tasted Mercy. 552 00:37:21,600 --> 00:37:24,600 Those who don't give up on others even when they have 553 00:37:24,800 --> 00:37:27,500 turned their back on you and rejected you in a failed. 554 00:37:27,500 --> 00:37:29,900 You are those who live under the Revelation? 555 00:37:29,900 --> 00:37:34,100 I've done worse to my Lord and He Still Loves Me. 556 00:37:38,000 --> 00:37:43,100 And so here, we see Mark very useful because of a man who felt 557 00:37:43,100 --> 00:37:49,200 useless was reminded when you turn again, strengthen your 558 00:37:49,200 --> 00:37:55,900 brothers, strengthen your brothers, It's amazing. 559 00:37:55,900 --> 00:37:57,800 How meditating on our own failures. 560 00:37:58,900 --> 00:38:02,100 Can either crippled us into 2023. 561 00:38:03,300 --> 00:38:06,000 And just keep us in the same place or even worse than before. 562 00:38:07,700 --> 00:38:10,900 Or like Peter. It can make us much more 563 00:38:10,900 --> 00:38:16,200 forgiving. Make us much more soft and 564 00:38:16,200 --> 00:38:21,900 tender. and willing to say, yes, willing to say no matter what 565 00:38:21,900 --> 00:38:28,800 you've done, I'm ready to forgive you Peter knew how to 566 00:38:28,800 --> 00:38:32,300 patiently work with Mark, because he saw the patience of 567 00:38:32,300 --> 00:38:35,400 Jesus. And the fragments of marks, 568 00:38:35,400 --> 00:38:40,400 life, give us the hope and obliterates that cynical 569 00:38:40,400 --> 00:38:42,300 attitude. That looks at others and says, 570 00:38:42,300 --> 00:38:47,300 they'll never change. They'll never change. 571 00:38:49,100 --> 00:38:52,800 The miracle of Mercy is that even the most unlikely can 572 00:38:52,800 --> 00:38:59,000 change. and even those who are sitting in the pool of their 573 00:38:59,000 --> 00:39:12,800 regret, Can soar again for the glory of Jesus Christ. 20:22 for 574 00:39:12,800 --> 00:39:17,000 some of you, perhaps, for many of us could have been a terrible 575 00:39:17,000 --> 00:39:20,000 record. Of how we live for the glory of 576 00:39:20,000 --> 00:39:24,200 Jesus Christ. And that can either cause us to 577 00:39:24,200 --> 00:39:28,000 just be numb. And go back fishing. 578 00:39:29,700 --> 00:39:36,500 And just do life. Or it can cause us to say, Lord 579 00:39:36,500 --> 00:39:43,000 are you serious that even even in my idolatry even in my shame 580 00:39:43,000 --> 00:39:46,900 even in my unfaithfulness, you are still willing to say turn 581 00:39:46,900 --> 00:39:49,500 again. And let me clothed. 582 00:39:49,500 --> 00:39:55,000 You and Empower you and Turn you back and push you into a life 583 00:39:55,000 --> 00:39:57,600 that is beyond your imagination. Is that really you? 584 00:39:57,600 --> 00:40:00,900 Lord, it is him. It is him. 585 00:40:02,600 --> 00:40:05,500 So maybe you didn't pray like you were supposed to pray in 586 00:40:05,500 --> 00:40:10,000 2022, maybe in 2022, you didn't know it. 587 00:40:10,000 --> 00:40:12,300 But you got a new vacuum and it was your Bible because it's just 588 00:40:12,300 --> 00:40:17,000 collecting dust. Maybe. 589 00:40:18,600 --> 00:40:22,200 Maybe you have really hurt others, not just the Lord like 590 00:40:22,200 --> 00:40:27,400 John Mark, you've hurt good. Men, Godly men Godly woman. 591 00:40:30,300 --> 00:40:34,200 And you just want to be hidden and sneak in and out. 592 00:40:35,800 --> 00:40:39,600 And just make sure that you get into those Gates even though 593 00:40:39,600 --> 00:40:41,500 your clothes might smell like fire. 594 00:40:43,500 --> 00:40:46,000 I'm telling you that this Jesus is ready. 595 00:40:48,600 --> 00:40:52,500 To cleanse you. To look past all of that. 596 00:40:53,600 --> 00:40:57,800 To not just hold you for eternal life to make much of you in this 597 00:40:57,800 --> 00:41:00,400 life. Make much of you in this life. 598 00:41:01,900 --> 00:41:05,400 He's not dangling, your failure of 2022 as you enter in 2023 599 00:41:05,400 --> 00:41:07,200 Series. Yeah I know you're going to do 600 00:41:07,207 --> 00:41:10,100 the same thing. Look at you. 601 00:41:10,600 --> 00:41:13,400 Ah, no, not you. There was people way more 602 00:41:13,400 --> 00:41:17,800 faithful than you and 2022. Thank you but you just stay 603 00:41:17,800 --> 00:41:19,500 there. Stay quiet. 604 00:41:19,500 --> 00:41:21,200 Don't mess up. More than you already have. 605 00:41:21,200 --> 00:41:23,000 I'll see you at the Judgment seat of Christ. 606 00:41:23,000 --> 00:41:28,300 That's not Jesus. That's not the Lord. 607 00:41:29,800 --> 00:41:34,300 He makes it a priority to restore those who have fallen he 608 00:41:34,300 --> 00:41:41,000 first appeared to cephas. If that is the heart of Christ, 609 00:41:41,000 --> 00:41:45,100 as I see it. Then who Christ is drawn to In 610 00:41:45,100 --> 00:41:48,400 This Place. Whoever is listening who does 611 00:41:48,400 --> 00:41:53,800 not have much to boast about. We don't at all. who has more to 612 00:41:53,800 --> 00:41:58,800 be ashamed of such as the person that the Lord desires to 613 00:41:58,800 --> 00:42:04,100 manifest himself to To fill your fresh with the Holy Spirit. 614 00:42:05,200 --> 00:42:08,400 And to so cause you to Marvel at his Mercy. 615 00:42:10,400 --> 00:42:12,800 You would know his strength like you've never known before. 616 00:42:14,300 --> 00:42:18,900 I pray that today, you would forget. forget in a way that it 617 00:42:18,900 --> 00:42:22,000 would not hinder you from growing and maturing in the Lord 618 00:42:22,800 --> 00:42:25,300 for getting in the way that Jesus forgets, the omniscient 619 00:42:25,300 --> 00:42:28,800 one who doesn't delete his memory but the never holds what 620 00:42:28,800 --> 00:42:31,700 you've done against you ever again, when you ask for that 621 00:42:31,700 --> 00:42:37,600 forgiveness, I pray that you would grow more and more and 622 00:42:37,600 --> 00:42:40,400 letter the revelation of the goodness of Jesus Christ and how 623 00:42:40,400 --> 00:42:46,300 fitting, as we come to remember his mercy and these emblems And 624 00:42:46,300 --> 00:42:50,000 rehearse over our souls that it's what he has done for us. 625 00:42:51,400 --> 00:42:54,700 It's the rejoicing of his love for us and not our love for him 626 00:42:54,700 --> 00:42:57,300 necessarily. Could you prepare your hearts 627 00:42:57,300 --> 00:42:59,500 with me as we just meditate on these truths together? 628 00:43:34,300 --> 00:43:43,800 Oh, Lord. We're just amazed, we are 629 00:43:43,800 --> 00:43:47,400 amazed. As we are in the presence of 630 00:43:47,400 --> 00:43:55,700 Jesus, the Nazarene. And we just ask for one simple 631 00:43:55,700 --> 00:44:02,100 thing. Just a Touch. 632 00:44:04,100 --> 00:44:07,200 Of your mercy. To heal us again. 633 00:44:09,000 --> 00:44:13,000 And to motivate us again unto righteousness and faithfulness 634 00:44:13,000 --> 00:44:18,600 to you. You just pray Lord that if 635 00:44:18,600 --> 00:44:23,100 anybody here has been overwhelmed. 636 00:44:25,100 --> 00:44:27,200 Anything in between gross iniquity. 637 00:44:29,300 --> 00:44:34,300 Or just spiritual laziness. We just pray that they would 638 00:44:34,300 --> 00:44:38,200 sense The Nearness of your presence. 639 00:44:39,700 --> 00:44:45,300 Coupled with the truth. That you are Beyond us. 640 00:44:46,400 --> 00:44:48,800 In your willingness to forgive and restore. 641 00:44:50,300 --> 00:44:54,700 That you take Delight in restoring us that it actually 642 00:44:54,700 --> 00:44:59,600 brings you pleasure to reposition Us in you again. 643 00:45:03,400 --> 00:45:09,600 And so Lord At the beginning of this new year. let Faith arise 644 00:45:10,200 --> 00:45:13,400 to trust that you have great things in store for each of us 645 00:45:14,500 --> 00:45:18,600 and that you do not hold any sin that has been repented of 646 00:45:20,000 --> 00:45:26,200 against us moving forward. and with that truth Lord, even as we 647 00:45:26,200 --> 00:45:33,700 partake of the bread and the cup Maybe like Peter extend the 648 00:45:33,700 --> 00:45:38,100 mercy that we have been shown. Be willing to forgive others. 649 00:45:38,800 --> 00:45:42,200 And to believe that our willingness to give others a 650 00:45:42,200 --> 00:45:45,300 second chance, could be the very thing that causes them to be 651 00:45:45,300 --> 00:45:49,900 very useful to you. As they experience your love 652 00:45:49,900 --> 00:45:53,000 through us. And so Lord, we thank you for 653 00:45:53,000 --> 00:45:55,700 the cross. We thank you. 654 00:45:55,700 --> 00:45:59,000 That that Crimson flow is endless. 655 00:46:00,300 --> 00:46:04,100 In that it is able to constantly wash us. 656 00:46:05,900 --> 00:46:12,600 Over and over again, that Fountain never runs dry and 657 00:46:12,600 --> 00:46:16,800 though, our sins may be many your mercy is more. 658 00:46:17,600 --> 00:46:21,200 It is more. It is always always more. 659 00:46:22,000 --> 00:46:26,300 And so Lord this afternoon, we come broken, we come broken and 660 00:46:26,300 --> 00:46:31,100 we confess our failure. And our unfaithfulness and are 661 00:46:31,100 --> 00:46:34,900 distractions and idolatry and we just everything that has been 662 00:46:34,900 --> 00:46:40,100 gathered up to this point and we just bring it to this moment and 663 00:46:40,100 --> 00:46:43,100 we say Lord I put it all aside and give it to you. 664 00:46:43,100 --> 00:46:48,400 I ask that you, you just take it all away and Lord, please, as I 665 00:46:48,408 --> 00:46:51,600 turn again to you. Use me. 666 00:46:52,700 --> 00:46:55,900 Use me. Use me. 667 00:46:57,400 --> 00:46:59,000 We ask these things in Jesus name. 668 00:46:59,600 --> 00:47:02,700 Amen, We Stand. Let's Worship the Lord together.