My Wife's Testimony @ Bay Revival

Sharon and I are featured on this pic but her testimony is midway into the video.

Bay of Holy Spirit Revival Meetings

 

February, 2011

 

My Friend and I attended the Bay of Holy Spirit Revival Meetings at Sayreville, NJ

This is Lydia Stanley leading in anointed worship.

 

 

 

 

 

Pastor John Kilpatrick and Evangelist Nathan Morris

 

 

 

Amazing attendance!

 

 

 

 

Pastor John Kilpatrick and Evangelist Nathan Morris

 

 

 

 

Host Pastor doing carpet time with Holy Spirit

 

 

 

The response to the altar call after the delivery of a powerful

message by Evangelist Nathan Morris

 

Authentic Christianity

1 John 4:7-5:1-11

Let me begin with a question. Are you confident that you are an authentic Christian?” If the answer to this question is negative then this message is for you. Perhaps, the best indicator of uncertainty is the feeling of anxious concern causing distress of mind. The apostle Paul stated “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.” (2 Corinthians 6:6)

If you were to die at this moment are you certain that your life is in good order and you are ready to meet your Creator? To put it another way; if the Lord was to return today are you certain that you are ready for the catching way or does the thought of it cause anxious concern or distress of mind? If this is the case you fear judgment and fear of judgment is an issue we need to address.

John saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of like. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books.” (Revelation 20:11-12)

What is your emotional response to the idea of standing before the judgment throne of God? The Lord is expecting you to be completely honest in your response to this question? Your answer can only be “Yes, I am absolutely confident” or “no, I’m not confident and I’m not certain that my name is written in the Lambs book of life.

For you who are uncertain I will read to you what is written in the First Epistle of John on this matter. It’s my role to show you the grounds on which a person may be sure with much confidence that your name is written in the Book of Life.

The first letter of John 4: 18, “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.”

In a loving relationship fear and love cannot coexist. We cannot love and fear at the same time. In a relationship of mutual love there is no possibility of fear. Where there is a perfect relationship of love, it drives out all fear of God because fear is bound up with punishment. A person who stands in a right relationship of love can look forward to the future day of judgment without fear and apprehension...there is no danger of condemnation and judgment. We need not be afraid of God. God is love. If a person is afraid of God, this is because the love of God has not yet filled his heart and driven out all fear.

Many believe salvation has to do with belonging to the right religion. There is not a single strand of teaching in the Bible that requires you to be affiliated with a particular religious tradition or denomination. On the contrary, the Christian life is completely relational not religious. We don’t have a religion that saves; we have a relationship with God that saves us. It’s your relationship with heavenly Father that count’s not your religion.

 It is similar but not the same as your relationship with your spouse, children, relatives and friends. 

“A crowd was sitting around [Jesus], and they told him, “Your mother and brothers are outside looking for you.” “Who are my mother and my brothers? He asked. Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.” (Mark 3:32-34)

Their commitment to God’s will in sending Jesus created a bond with him and his disciples more intimate than those achieved through physical relationships. It is the doing of God’s will which is the deciding factor in determining kinship with Jesus. The pursuing of God’s will binds a person intimately to Jesus and His new family. Jesus said “By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." (John 13:35)

The word of God gives a number of key indicators that show as to who is an authentic Christian.

Hear the words of the first Epistle of John 4: 7-12

Key #1   Love and Knowing

“Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.” (1 John 4:7 and 8)  

John has already made it clear that love is one of the evidence of the new birth. The supreme demonstration of love for others is shown in the sending of God’s Son as an atoning sacrifice for sin. Now John goes on to claim that Christians ought to love one another because God loved them.

Romans 5:8 says, “but God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” The beginning of love is to be found in love shown by God, and the true nature of love is to be discovered by considering what loves means in the sending of God’s son as an atoning sacrifice for our sin. Anyone who shows this kind of love, the love that belongs to the divine sphere, must belong to the sphere.

1 Corinthians 13:4-8, “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.”

 1 Peter 4:8^, “Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.”

Key #2           Love and Believing

 “If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the son of God, God lives in him and he in God.” (1John 4:15)

To be sure the statement of love is open to misunderstanding. One might conclude that anybody who shows love is a child of God, regardless of whether he actually believes in Jesus as the Son of God. This misunderstanding can only arise if this statement is plucked out of context in the letter.  John makes it plain that the true child of God must believe and love.

 Perhaps you are thinking, “how is possible for people who do not believe in Jesus to love one another- as they surely do?” There is love outside of the Christian faith, and sometimes non-Christians seem to love one another better than Christians. How is this love be explained and does it place them in right standing with God? The doctrine of creation can explain, in part, the answer to this question. It is because men are created in the image of God, an image which has been defaced but not destroyed by the fall and because this is true people have the capacity to love. Besides this, society is deeply influenced by the gospel and understands the obligation to love one another even though they fail to respond to the call to believe in Jesus.

Human love, no matter how nice it may feel, falls short if it refuses to include the Father and the Son. Human love falls short of the divine pattern, and by itself cannot save a man; it cannot compensate for the sin of rejecting God. Love alone is not a sign of being born of God. 1 John 5: begins by affirming that everybody who holds the true confession of faith about Jesus has been born of God. Faith is a sign of the new birth, just as love and doing what is right are also indicators that a person has been born of God. John is not trying to explain the new birth; his aim is rather to indicate the evidence which shows that a person stands in the continuing relationship of child to God his Father: that evidence is that he holds to the true faith about Jesus.

 “Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God...” (1 John 5:1) But this statement is to merely prepare the church for the point.

Key #3   Love and Obeying

   “...everyone who loves the Father loves his children as well. This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome...” (1 John 5: 2 and 3)

We would expect John to say, “Everyone who is born of God must love his fellow Christians” But this is not what he says. John does not refer forward, he refers backward. Normally we would say loving our brothers is proof we love God.  It must refer backwards. Love must start with God and the keeping of His commandments. “We know that we ought to love the children of God whenever we love God and keep his commandments.” The content of loving God and keeping his commandment is love for God’s children, since love for God must involve love for his children.

Key #3   Love and Overcoming

“And this is not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the son of God.”  (1 John 5:1-5)

The world can’t love like this. An Atheist can’t love like this. A Moslem can’t love like this. A Hindu can’t love like this. A Confucianist can’t love like this. A Jehovah Witness can’t love like this. A Mormon can’t love like this. “Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God” can love like this....What the Epistle of John is saying is “only an authentic Christian can love like this!” This level of love is too burdensome for anyone who does not “believe Jesus is the son of God.”  They simply can’t rise to this level of relationship. It’s only possible through the new birth, through the regeneration of the heart, through the forgiveness of sins by the blood of Jesus. This kind of love is dispersed in our hearts by the Holy Spirit.

How may we be sure that “we may be confident and unashamed before him at his coming” (2:28)? “This how we know that he lives in us: we know it by the Spirit he gave us.” (1 John 3:24b)

Walking in Forgiveness

Luke 7:36-50

This is another amazing story of God’s mercy

It’s a story of God’s love and forgiveness of sin. The theme of forgiveness is huge in the scriptures. It’s at the core of the gospel...the essence of the Christian faith and yet forgiveness is one of the most widely misunderstood doctrines of scripture.

Sometimes divine forgiveness is confused with human forgiveness which merely involves an apology.

Divine forgiveness, on the other hand, is one of the most complicated undertakings, demanding complete satisfaction to meet the conditions of God’s outraged holiness.

Just think about it; The Bible consists of 66 in-depth books. It takes 66 books and more than 4000 years and counting to deal with the issue of sin and to reveal God’s plan for reconciliation.

The book of Genesis is the first one. It means beginnings- many beginnings – the beginning of the universe, the beginning of man and woman, the beginning of human sin, the beginning of God’s plan for forgiveness of sin and the beginning of a special relationship between God and Abraham. There are four other books, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. The first five books of the Bible are called the Torah which means Law. The law set forth God’s standard of acceptable moral and ethical behaviour. The Torah is where you will find the 10 commandments. I will not assume that everyone is familiar with the 10 commandments. I will give them to you.

The 10 Commandments are found in Exodus, Chapter 20.

They were given directly by God to the people of Israel at Mount Sinai after He had delivered them from slavery in Egypt:

"And God spoke all these words, saying: 'I am the LORD your God…

ONE: 'You shall have no other gods before Me.'

TWO: 'You shall not make for yourself a carved image--any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.'

THREE: 'You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain.'

FOUR: 'Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.'

FIVE: 'Honor your father and your mother.'

SIX: 'You shall not murder.'

SEVEN: 'You shall not commit adultery.'

EIGHT: 'You shall not steal.'

NINE: 'You shall not bear false witness against your neighbour.'

TEN: 'You shall not covet your neighbour's house; you shall not covet your neighbour's wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbour's.'

Christ's Summation in the New Testament

About 1,400 years later, the 10 Commandments were summed up in the New Testament at Matthew 22, when Jesus was confronted by the religious "experts" of the day:

"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbour as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments" (Matthew 22:36-40).

A reflective reading of Christ's teaching reveals that the first four commandments given to the children of Israel are contained in the statement: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind." It continues that the last six commandments are enclosed in the statement: "Love your neighbour as yourself."

Now turn in your Bibles to Matthew 19:16-22 to hear a dialogue between a Rich Young Ruler and Jesus. The Rich Ruler asked Jesus a vital question.

The scripture says “Now a man came up to Jesus and asked, "Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?" "Why do you ask me about what is good?" Jesus replied. "There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, obey the commandments." "Which ones?" the man inquired. Jesus replied, " 'Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother,' and 'love your neighbour as yourself.'

Note Jesus’ response: “If you want to enter life.” He didn’t answered by saying if you want “eternal life” – The rich man is concern about the hereafter. The 10 commandments is about the here and now...it’s all about character and the quality of life you live here on earth. The Rich Young Ruler is looking for affirmation not transformation. He’s looking for assurance not change. Jesus impressed upon him that if you want eternal life then you must change the way you are living here and now.

"All these I have kept," the young man said. "What do I still lack?"

Jesus answered, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.

The Rich Young Ruler was convinced he had lived in obedience to the 10 commandment and had considered himself good, “all these I have kept,” he said and we since from this exchange that there’s a nagging feeling in his heart that something wasn’t quite right. He’s in doubt. He’s not 100 % sure.

When tested to see if he really had kept the 10 commandments it became obvious that he’s a failure. Selfish greed and personal gain corrupted love for God and responsibility for the poor.

“There is only One good,’ and it’s certainly not this man. He walked away sad – He walked away condemned. Was he condemned by Jesus? No! The Law condemned him. John 3: 17, “For God did not send his son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”

Romans 3:20 says,“Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by the observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin.”

Through the law we become conscious of the need for forgiveness and the remission of sin.

The law says ‘There is no righteous, not even one...” Everyone stands guilty...the Pharisees, the Sadducees, the Priest...everyone stands condemned by the Law. Scriptures says righteousness is a gift, it is not merited! `

Romans 3:22, ``this righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

The Rich Young Ruler didn`t get it. He needed repentance and forgiveness and yet he walked away from Jesus. Now he is twice condemned! John 3: 18, Whoever believes (receives) in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men love darkness instead of light because their deeds are evil.”

The Rich Ruler stood face to face with the righteousness of God. He looked into the eyes of God’s son who was ready to offer pardon for transgression but he just didn’t get it; his vision was blurred by greed and great gain. The gospel message makes no since to those who think they’re good enough...who think they are OK just the way they are.

It makes no since to the moralist...the self-righteous...those that trust in riches, political or economic gain. It makes no since to the self-righteous and religious person who trust in rituals, ceremonies, and liturgy as the way.

There were others in Israel who just didn’t get it. It was mostly the religious; the Pharisees and the Sadducees. But thank God sinners got it! Simon the Pharisee didn`t get it but a woman who lived a sinful life did.

Turn to Luke 7: 36-50 and let us listen to a dinner conversation.

Simon was thinking to himself: “If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is – that she is a sinner.” (V.39)

It appears that Simon had no concept of God’s forgiveness. Forgiveness was not included in his theology. Jesus message was radical. His whole mission was based on forgiveness. It says in verse 37 “a woman who had lived a sinful life.” It’s written in the past tense. She lived (pass tense) a sinful life which means she no longer did. Something happened and something changed; she’s no longer an immoral woman. What happened? She met Jesus and now she’s forgiven! She found God.

Simon is struggling with all of this...he’s refusing to accept her new status. “She’s a sinner...a harlot out of the red light district...the other side of town...the brothel and nothing can change that! Well, Jesus did change that!

Why is Simon struggling with it? I will tell you why. Jesus had just erased a boundary line that existed for centuries...the boundary line between the “righteous” and “sinners”.

Jesus is asking Simon, “Are you saying you are not a sinner? Are you saying you have no sin Simon?” Are you saying you have no need forgiveness? I have something to tell you. You are a sinner! And you do need forgiveness and you need it as much as this woman needed it.

The difference between you and this woman is quantitative...it’s the amount...the number of sins committed. Simon’s sins amount to 50 and the woman’s sin amount to 500. “Simon, you are a sinner too.” Sin is sin; small sins, big sins, few sins or many sins? Whether 50 sins or 500 sins they all require forgiveness.

Hey wait a minute Jesus! Simon says, “I don’t get it...you’re putting me in the same category as this woman?” “Yes I am”, says Jesus, the only difference is she in the big league and you’re in the small league. His strength is morals but his weakness is pride. Everyone, those with covert sins of the spirit as well as those with overt sins of the flesh, stands in need of forgiveness.

The overt sinner who received forgiveness and covert sinner did not. It’s easy to speak about the sins of others but why is it next to impossible to speak about one’s own?

Simon’s sin is the hidden kind, covert sins of the spirit...hidden, until now. The woman’s sin is the open kind, overt sins of the flesh...unhidden but forgiven.

Turn in your Bibles to John 8: The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law of Moses commanded us to stone such a woman. Now what do you say? But Jesus bent down to write with his finger.

(What did he write? He wrote Dt. 17:7 “The hands of the witness must be the first in putting her to death, and then the hands of all the people.”)

Jesus knew it takes two to tangle...He knew there was a second adulterous person somewhere hiding among the crowd. One or more of those accusers was as guilty as the accused.

Paul was a Pharisee in his time and he knew all about the hypocrisy among the religious leaders. He wrote these words in Romans 2: 21-23 which says “you, then, who teach others, do you not teach yourself? You who preached against stealing, do you steal. You who say that people should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery?”

Yes, there’s an adulterous witness somewhere among the accusers.

When they kept on questioning Jesus, he straightened up and said to them, “If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone.” Again he stood down and wrote on the ground. All those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. Jesus straightened up and asked her,

‘Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you? ‘No one sir, she said. ‘Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”

Evangelist Reinhard Bonnke believes the Holy Spirit came and settled down on all the accusers that day and suddenly they received a vision of the 10 commandments and they heard a voice saying: The 1^st Commandment “GUILTY!” 2^ndCommandment, “GUILTY!”

Let’s return to Simon’s house and listen some more to what Jesus has to say.

Now look at the woman. Why did she come to Simon’s house, to see Simon? Hardly not! She went into Simon’s house against all her own prejudices, the old prejudices...if you like, the scorn in heart for the cold moralist. She knew perfectly well with what scorn that sort of man would look on her, but she was blinded to everything. Jesus was in the house, and into the house she went. The scripture is clear that she had received forgiveness of sin. But Simon could not see that. He could only see her for what she was. Simon needed help in seeing who she is not who she was. Jesus showed him came way of comparison...by way of contrast not on the level of morality but on the level of social hospitality.

Simon’s invitation was not cordial, but rude. Jesus pointed out to Simon that when He entered his house, he neglected the common courtesies of an Eastern home. In an Eastern home the first thing on the arrival of the guest is the bringing of water to wash the feet; the first mark of welcome and salutation is kiss upon the cheek; and the guest is offered oil for his head. Simon did none of these things.

He said, “Now look at this woman. Let me help you to see her. I came and you were rude to me. You brought me not water she bathed me with her tears. You refused me the kiss of welcome. She smothered my feet with kisses. You did not bring oil. She brought me ointment.

Simon, you said, If I were a prophet I could see her. Can you see her, Simon? I have put you side by side with her, and by comparison you are as coarse as sandpaper and she as fine as silk.

There are members of the Christian church today who look at that woman as she use to be, and never see her as Christ made her. Are we giving Him a cordial or a rude reception? Our Lord notices neglect and He values adoration.

The NEB reading is to the point: “And so, I tell you, her great love proves that her many sins have been forgiven; where little has been forgiven, little is shown.” Why is the woman known to be forgiven? The answer is that her display of affection is evidence of it. She loved much.

The Requirements for Forgiveness

Because God hates sin, the price for forgiveness is high. Scripture gives the following requirements for forgiveness:

• Sacrifice. Hebrews 9:22 says that "without the shedding of Blood, there is no forgiveness." In the Old Testament, a sacrifice of an unblemished lamb was required to satisfy God's wrath. Jesus, the sinless Son of God, died on the cross and became the ultimate sacrifice for sin. Jesus bought our forgiveness when he died on the cross.

"For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God." (1 Peter 3:18a)

"In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace." (Ephesians 1:7)

• Confession of sin. We must admit our sins to God if our relationship with Him is to be restored completely. Looking back at the real need for forgiveness, we see that unconfessed sin can separate us in our relationship with God. Confession is the way to restore that relationship with the Lord, remembering that it is for our own benefit that we confess to return to the Lord because He is faithful even when we are not (2 Timothy 2:13).

"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9)

• Repentance. We must decide to change, to turn from our sins.

"Therefore this is what the Lord says, 'If you repent, I will restore you that you may serve me.'" (Jeremiah 15:19a)

The Results of Forgiveness

The Bible promises the following benefits of God's forgiveness:

• Happiness. When we know God's forgiveness, we are blessed (happy).

"Blessed (happy) is he whose transgressions are forgiven, who sins are covered. Blessed (happy) is the man whose sin the Lord doesn't count against him and in whose spirit is no deceit." (Psalm 32:1,2)

• God chooses not to hold our sins against us. Another result of forgiveness is that God doesn't keep a record of our sins, He does not hold them against us. Because the blood of Christ covered our sins, God chooses to put them out of His mind.

"I, even I, am he who blotsout your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more." (Isaiah 43:25)

Supernatural Restoration

Scripture Reading: John 21:1-9

A preacher stood up at a pastor’s conference to testify to his faith. His testimony was a bit of a shock to everyone when he said, “I am a lay pastor of a small, not-growing church. I am not ordained. I am not seminary trained. I was asked to leave both colleges I attended. I am divorced and remarried. I am capable of being a jerk with my wife and family.

I am terminally insecure, which causes me to compensate with bouts of arrogance. At times people irritate me, and I hide fro them. I am impulsive, which causes me to say things I shouldn’t and make promises I cannot keep. I am inconsistent.

My walk with Christ is a stuttering, stumbling, bumbling attempt to follow Him. At times His presence is so real I can’t stop the tears, and then, without warning, I can’t find him.

Some days my faith is strong, impenetrable, and immovable – and some days my faith is weak, pathetic, helpless, knocked about like a paper cup…”

I have been a Christian for 45 years. I am familiar with the vocabulary of faith, and I am often asked to give advice about matters of faith. But I am still a miss. I am light-years away from being able to say with Paul, “Copy me”.

I am fifty years old and still struggling –a flawed, clumsy, unstable follower of Jesus. “A bona fide failure…”

Perhaps you can identify with this story. Perhaps your life is marked with mistakes.

Perhaps you can put yourself in Peter’s place this morning. Like Peter, you have sinned and went from God and now you wonder can God still love me after all that I’ve done. Is there still a place and purpose for me in His Kingdom?

Peter’s life was also one of ups and downs. After boasting that he would never leave Jesus, Peter watched from a distance as Jesus is led away…to be tried in the court of the high priest and eventually to be crucified. Peter could have taken a stand on the night of Jesus betrayal but he stood outside and chose to warm himself by the fire, and three times Peter was recognized, three chances he had to make a bold stand for the Lord, and three times he blew it. And when the rooster crowed, scriptures say, that Peter wept bitterly. He too was a bona fide failure.

Fred Astaire was without dispute one of the top singers, dancers and actors of all time. In Top hat, Swing Time, Holiday Inn, and other famous movies, he danced and crooned his way into people’s hearts worldwide.

But in 1932, when Astaire was starting out, a Hollywood talent judge wrote on his screen test: “Can’t act. Can’t sing. Can dance a little.” As Christians, we may fail badly. What kind of a Christian would do that? We think. How can I ever serve Christ again?

But we develop in the Christian life when we leave those failures behind and daily use our God-given gifts for Him. In time those failures will be forgotten footnotes.

My friends let us visit with Jesus and his disciples where Jesus appears to the disciples for the third time after His resurrection and confronts Peter with a fireside chat. The account is found in John 21:1-18.

Notice the similarities between Peter’s first calling to follow Jesus and this account. Both occurred on the Sea of Galilee, both times Peter couldn’t catch a thing, both times Jesus told him to throw his nets into the water and both times there is a miraculous catch.

Here Jesus is going to offer Peter another starting point, a second chance to make things right. The impression is that Peter and John is living with no sense of purpose, no sense of mission…they are without a plan and with no settled aim.

They were fishing for the sake of making a living. Maybe there wasn’t anything else to do. So after a meal together, Jesus turns to Peter and in front of all the other disciples, and confronts Peter.

I suspect he feared the day when Christ might say something like, “Peter, why did you deny me? Why Peter? Why did you turn your back on me? I am glad Jesus is not like that. No, that is not like Him. His mission was to take away Peter’s guilt.

Look at Jesus’ approach with Peter. It is filled with grace and mercy. In verse 15 we read, “When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, ‘Simon son of John, do you truly love me more then these? Do you love me more than the fish…more than this way of life? Perhaps Jesus is thinking about Peter’s boast in the upper room (“I will lay down my life for you.”) and He was asking, “Simon, are you still willing to make that claim? And Peter wasn’t willing to make this claim, at least, not at first.

He response by saying “Yes, Lord…why are you asking me this?’ ‘You know I love you” Many of us make the claim that we would never find ourselves in the sins that others commit. But we never know. That is why we should always be vigilant, always on guard.

David never thought he would commit adultery. Solomon never thought he would worship idols. Peter never thought he would deny knowing Jesus. That is why 1 Corinthians 10: 12 says “If you think you are strong, you should be careful not to fall.”

Peter was overconfident but he soon learned that he wasn’t as strong as he thought.

Peter did respond in an honest fashion. He knew that his actions didn’t match that kind of devotion, and that he wasn’t quite there. To paraphrase this text “Peter, do you love me 100% MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE?” Peter says “Lord, you know I like you.”

Peter was simply being honest here. He wasn’t at that level of love yet. Don’t pretend your relationship with Christ is fine when it is not. And let me tell you, It’s OK to admit to that.

The first step to recovery is to admit the weakness and be totally transparent about it.

It was possible for Peter to be a successful fisherman without having to love his source of employment. He could despise his work; express contempt towards the hard work, low wages and the heat of the day. He could even hate the social stigma associated with the life style of unlearned fisherman but it could not be so being a fisher-of-men, a servant of Jesus Christ.

“Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?’ ‘Yes Lord, he said, you know that I love you.” Jesus said,“Feed my lambs.” Take care of my sheep. Take care of my church. Get involved in ministry. Get connected…know your place and serve.

The success of Peter’s new mission depended completely upon his love for Christ. The results and success of this new commission would depend deeply upon the emotional and spiritual bond between Peter and Jesus – unless there is a strong bond, Peter would eventually abandon his mission. Love is the adhesive that holds the church together.

There may be many imperfections in the heart and mind; there is one prime quality that must show – love for Jesus and for His church.

It is not intellect…it is not eloquence…it is not gifting, talent or charisma or any other self-centered quality but love to Christ pouring over in love for people.

Paul says in the scripture “And now I will show you the most excellent way. It is not speaking in tonque, prophesy, knowledge or faith. The most excellent way is love for Christ! It is love for His church. It is love for one another.

As far as success goes in biblical language“success is failure turned inside out.” Time, location, seasons, technology, experience are not always relevant with God. Jesus said, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find fish.”

Peter’s renewed calling comes with an external focus. Success in ministry comes when it is no longer about me but about others. Love for others…love for people.

To recap:

First, no matter how missed up your pass maybe, Jesus stands ready not only to forgive but to restore. He will restore and use you for His glory. Even if you are a bona fide failure, Jesus stands ready to turn your life around and reposition you in His body.

Second, if you are going to be restored then you must be completely transparent about your spiritual condition. Some are not doing that great. You lack devotion. You lack commitment. You lack in support. You lack in zeal. The first thing you need to do is to admit that. Admit that your walk with our Lord is not what it should be and then allow Christ and the Church, take you to the level where you need to be.

Third, recognize that when you are honest with God; be prepared for God to be forthwith with you. And if you come to God saying, “I just don’t feel close to you.” Be prepared to hear, “well, I haven’t heard from you in a while, where have you been?”

The Lord will put His finger at the root of the problem and that is not always an easy thing for us to take.