The Face Of Failure, Simon Peter.

Hey everyone and welcome to Refinery Life Church.

“Beneath the Cross of Jesus” is the theme for this series that consists of eight biographical sermons about the people who were there when Jesus was dying on the cross.

Today’s message is titled The Face Of Failure, Simon Peter.

Any of us could have done what Peter did.

Failure as a disciple does not require exceptional weakness or extreme character flaws.

This careful record of Peter’s failure is a good reminder of this fact.

Peter, a chief apostle, was present at the cross as a failure.

Let’s review the facts we know about Peter so that we can put his failure into proper perspective.

He joined the followers of Jesus very early after his brother, Andrew, brought him to Jesus.

He gave up a fishing business to become a fisher of men.

Jesus chose him to be one of the twelve apostles and later included him in the inner circle.

He was present at the transfiguration of our Lord and was an eyewitness of most of his miracles.

He has received personal instruction from the Lord on a daily basis for over three years before his failure.

Peter had not always been a failure.

He was the one who gave the bold confession that so delighted Jesus’ heart.

Peter had never been without words before.

But now under the pressure of the circumstance, facing the scrutiny of the group in the courtyard of the high priest, he vehemently denied three times that he knew the Lord.

Though he had loved the Lord, he denied Him.

Most of us who have been disciples a while can identify with Peter.

We know the pain of failure.

We can learn from Peter’s experience.

Until next time

Stay in the Blessings