Sermons.love Support us on Paypal
Contact Us
Watch 2022-2023 online sermons » Greg Laurie » Greg Laurie — Fallen, but Forgiven

Greg Laurie — Fallen, but Forgiven


  • Watch
  • Audio
  • Donate
  • Become Partner
TOPICS: Forgiveness

Hey let's turn in our Bibles now to Matthew 26. I love the way you just lunged for your Bible. That was awesome. I had a guest speaker out recently and he said, "You know what I loved about your church"? I said, "What"? He said, "The rustle of Bible pages. How the people all were looking at their Bibles". I know some of you look at your Bible on a cell phone or a tablet. That is fine. But just the fact that we reference the scripture as we work our way through a particular text.

Now we are in a series that we are calling God Came Near. It is a chronological look at the life of Jesus from all four Gospels. Today the title of the message is Fallen but Forgiven. Matthew 26. Let's begin with prayer. Now Father, I pray for our time together. I pray for those that are here. Those that are watching. Those that are listening. I pray that if there are any who are fallen today who have fallen away from their faith that this would be the day that they come back home again. I also pray for any that may not know you yet that this would be the moment that they make that commitment to follow you. We commit this time of Bible study to you. In Jesus' name we pray, amen.

A quick question. Have you ever fallen unexpectedly? Maybe you weren't paying attention to where you were going. You tripped over something. Worst of all is when you can't break your fall and you do a total face plant. Have you seen that commercial on TV for that little device where you can push the button if you are in trouble you know the phrase is "I have fallen and I can't get up". Right. Why are you laughing at that? That is not funny. The lady fell. Come on. What is wrong with you people? No seriously. It is the way she says it. We have all had that moment when we have fallen. That can happen to us spiritually as well. You feel like you have fallen and you can't get up. That can happen to us spiritually as well. If it has I want you to know two things. You can get up and you must get up again.

I want to talk about a man who fell. This guy fell hard. I also want to talk about how he was restored by Jesus. I am talking about Simon Peter. Now you know his name was not always Peter. His given name was Simon. When Jesus chose him to be one of his followers he said I am giving you a new name. It is Peter which means rock. He was the rock. Or rocky. That was his new name. I wonder of some of the other disciples were kind of snickering a little. Is Jesus serious? Does he really know Simon? When you think of a rock you think of something solid, dependable. Simon was hot headed. He was impulsive. He was impetuous. Actually the last thing he was, was a rock. But you see when Jesus looks at someone he doesn't just see them for what they are. He sees them for what they can become. God is eternal. Thus he knows all things. He can see the end from the beginning.

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow said, "Great is the art of beginning but greater is the art of ending". God knows what you will become. You see we see a failure. God sees a potential success. We see a blank canvas. God sees a finished painting. We see a lump of coal. God sees a refined sparkling diamond. We see an end. God sees a new beginning. Here is the problem. Before Peter would fully live up to that name of rock he would have a serious lapse. Maybe you would say I have failed in the past. I have fallen. Well listen. The past cannot be changed. But our response to it can be. I can't control my past any more than I can unscramble an egg. But I can have something to say about my response to my past. Have I learned anything from my mistakes? We are going to see how Jesus took Peter's ending and turned it into a beginning.

So as our story begins we are back in the upper room for the last supper. Jesus has just identified his betrayer Judas Iscariot. He has dismissed him. Our Lord said whatever you do, do it quickly. To put it in the vernacular. Just get on with it. Get it over with. So Judas leaves the room and Peter observing all of this feels this would be a good time to boast of his love for Jesus. We pick the story up in Matthew 26:31. "Then Jesus said to them, 'all of you will be made to stumble because of me this night, for it is written: "I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered". But after I have been raised, I will go before you to Galilee.' Peter answered and said, 'even if all are made to stumble because of you, I will never be made to stumble.' Jesus said to him, 'assuredly, I say to you that this night, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.' Peter said to him, 'even if I have to die with you, I will not deny you' and so said all the disciples" we will stop there.

Now this is a chronological look at the life Jesus. So Luke fills in an important detail here that is not found in Matthew. Luke tells us that Jesus said to Peter in Luke 22, "Simon, Simon, satan has asked for you that he may sift you as wheat but I have prayed for you that your faith should not fail: and when you have returned to me, strengthen your brothers". Peter's first step down was self-confidence. Verse 33. "Peter said, 'even if all are made to stumble because of you, I will never be made to stumble.'" What prompted that statement? It was a revelation from Christ that one of them was a traitor. Of course it was Judas Iscariot. Peter thought this would be a good opportunity to boast of his love for Jesus. He said, "If all are made to stumble, I will never be made to stumble". James and John the so-called Sons of Thunder. Andrew. Matthew. I don't know about these guys. But you can depend on me Jesus. I am the rock. Remember you gave me that new name Adrian. I am going to do it Lord. Don't worry about it.

Loose paraphrase. Jesus says well rock since you brought it up not only are you going to deny me, you are going to do it three times. Listen. Here was the problem with Peter. He was boasting of his love for God instead of God's love for him. Some people talk about how much they love the Lord. Oh I love the Lord so much. I am so committed to Jesus. I am so devoted to him. Ok. But I would rather boast of the love of Jesus for me. You want to know something. My love runs hot and cold. My love is fickle. Some of you say, "Yeah it sure is Greg". No. Yours too. Ok. When I say mine I mean us. But his love is consistent. His love is never changing.

I love the way that John in his Gospel spoke of himself as the disciple whom Jesus loved. It almost sounds like boasting doesn't it? Is that the perk of writing your own Gospel? You get to effectively say you know what? Jesus loved me more than anyone. That is not what John was saying. When he identifies himself as the disciple whom Jesus loved, he was just saying he loved me. He could have identified himself as the disciple who loved Jesus. But no. He is the disciple whom Jesus loved. You want to know something. You are the disciple who Jesus loves. You can boast of his love for you.

Jesus said you are going to fail. You are going to fall away. Peter in saying he would not was revealing an unfounded confidence in himself and really was directly contradicting what Jesus said. When Jesus says something it is true. When Jesus says something is going to happen man listen it is going to happen. You can take it to the bank. When the Bible speaks of our future in what we call Bible prophesy I am telling you it is going to happen exactly as scripture says. Jesus said you are going to betray me buddy or deny me rather. Peter is saying no it is not true. You are wrong on this. Mark's Gospel tells us that Peter repeatedly insisted on this. You are wrong on this Jesus. You are wrong. You are wrong. I am not going to. Actually you are going to.

It is an interesting thing to look at some of the great men and women of the Bible who fell in areas that they were known to be strong in. For instance when we think of Elijah we think of a gutsy guy. Courageous. Fearless. Facing down the prophets of Baal up on mount Carmel. But then after that great contest that God won when fire fell Elijah heard that Jezebel wanted to kill him and ran away in fear and even wanted to die. Or we think of the great Abraham who was known for his faith but he had some serious lapses of faith on a number of occasions. Or how about the super human Samson who was overcome in his moral weakness. That is why we must never lower our guard in any area of our lives. We must beware of trusting in our commitment to God instead of his commitment to us. It is self-confidence. It is where you say I will never fall. Don't ever say stuff like that. I will tell you a person that says I will never fall in this area man you are all most setting yourself up to fall in that area. Eventually you have got to come to the revelation that you are not all that and a bag of chips. Ok. You are weaker than you think you are. You are more vulnerable than you realize. And pride, the Bible says, goes before a fall.

Ok. Step 2. Step 1 was self confidence. Step 2 that led to Peter's fall. Prayerlessness. I don't even know if prayerlessness is a word but I have been using it for so long I think it may be. At least to me. A lack of prayer. Go back to Matthew 26. Now we are in the garden of Gethsemane. Jesus takes with him Peter, James, and John. Verse 39. He goes a little bit further. He falls on his face. He prays, "'O my Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.' Then he came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, 'what! Could you not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.'"

Our Lord is contemplating the horrors of calvary. Having complete foreknowledge as God he knows what is about to happen. He knows he is going to be beaten. He knows he is going to be crucified. He knows he is going to have to bear the sin of the world. And he recoils from it and says, "Father if it is possible let this cup pass from me". All he asked from Peter, James, and John was for a little companionship. Boys can you just like stay awake and pray. I am warning you. Watch and pray. The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.

You see this was a direct result of the first sin of self-confidence. Pride and prayerlessness go hand in hand. I don't need God. I have a lot of money in my bank account. I don't need God. I have an amazing doctor. I don't need God. I have job security. I don't need God. I have fill in blank here. One of these days something is going to happen where you are going to realize how much you need God. You should be praying. If you are not praying for help then offer up thanks in your prayers for all that you do have which has come to you from God. Sometimes we say I don't need to pray. That is what the disciples thought. We would rather sleep. We are tired. So Jesus is warning them. You see prayer is not only something that is there for petition. It is also there for protection and preparation. Prayer not only gives us what we want. It prepares us for and protects us from what we don't want.

Jesus was preparing Peter for what was ahead. A storm was coming. The disciples didn't realize it but right around the corner comes Judas Iscariot and the temple guard and some Roman soldiers to arrest our Lord. The disciples' lives are going to change in just just moments. So Jesus is saying guys listen to me now. Watch and pray. Has the Lord ever put a burden on your heart to pray for someone or something? Then do it. I like the words of Martin Luther when he said, "I just pray about it and let God worry about it". Good news. God doesn't worry but God can handle it. Lord there is not much I can do at 3:00 in the morning but I give this to you. I pray about this. I lay this at your feet. Watch and pray.

Listen to this. Prayerlessness can be as much of a sin as breaking a commandment. We know it is a sin to take the Lord's name in vain. We know it is a sin to lie. We know it is a sin to steal. Did you know it could also be a sin to not do what God tells you to do? That is the sin of omission. James says, "To him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is a sin". If the Lord puts it upon your heart to pray for something or pray for someone and you say no I am not going to do it. That could be a sin. In Peter's case it was a deadly sin because it was part of his fall.

Peter's fourth step down was following at a distance. Verse 58. "Peter followed him at a distance to the high priest's courtyard. And he went in and sat with the servants to see the end". Listen to this. This distance from the Lord and closeness of fellowship is at the heart of every fall. Peter was still following but at a distance. There are a lot of people like him today. They come to church but they always arrive late and they leave early. I am not singling out the third service but let me single out the third service for a moment. It is a funny thing. First service no one is ever late. Never late for an 8:00 service. Third service it starts pretty late. People are late. A lot to do. Ok. Instead of arriving late and leaving early why don't you get here early and leave late. Why? Because worship is not a warmup act. Worship is a time of adoring and glorifying God. That is why you were created. Get here on time. Don't miss this amazing worship of an amazing God.

When you leave early you miss out on all of that fellowship. I think sometimes we want to just put in, and I am not saying if you come late you are a token believer. But hey if the shoe fits wear it. Whatever. But I am not saying that. What I am saying is don't follow at a distance. Stay and get to know people and fellowship. You may have that encouraging word for someone who has come here today. They may have that encouraging word for you. We are the church. We are the family of God. We need each other. Don't rush this. This is not a movie theater. Don't come in for your showing and get out. Engage. Involve. Enjoy and be blessed as a part of the church. Following at a distance. This will always happen. When you are a distance you are at a disadvantage.

You ever watch those nature programs on television and you see the lion or whatever the animal is going after its prey. I have been to Africa and I have seen lions in the wild. They are amazing creatures. I never make cat jokes when I am around them because they are very big cats. You know lions don't want to expend needless energy. They will just kind of kick back in the sun looking at things. It is lunch time and some zebra cruises by. They think I am not so much in the mood for striped food today. Then they maybe he gazelle coming through. Running and jumping. I don't know. That is a lot of work. They jump and stuff. Then there is that pack of gazelles moving in sync. There is that one other one about 30 feet behind the lion says that looks like lunch to me. Moves up on him. Grabs him by the throat. Bites him. Party is over. Lunch is served.

Here is the devil sizing up the church. I want to bring somebody down. Look at those Christians pray for each other. Encouraging one another. Holding each other accountable. That is a little hard to penetrate that group. Look at this straggler. Look at this person following at a distance. I think I will go after them. That is what happened to Peter.

Now we come to the fifth step in Peter's fall. Matthew 26:69. Warming himself at the enemy's fire. "Now Peter sat outside in the courtyard. And a servant girl came to him, saying, 'you also were with Jesus of Galilee.' But he denied it before them all, saying, 'I do not know what you are saying.' and when he had gone out to the gateway, another girl saw him and said to those who were there, 'this fellow also was with Jesus of Nazareth' But again he denied with an oath, 'I do not know the man!' And a little later those who stood by came up and said to Peter, 'surely you also are one of them, for your speech betrays you.' Then he began to curse and swear, saying, 'I do not know the man!'"

Immediately a rooster crowed. And Peter remembered the word of Jesus who had said to him, "Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times". So he went out and wept bitterly. Following at a distance he became cold. He was attracted to the warmth of the fire in the courtyard of Caiaphas to take the chill out of the night. As he is there among all of these people really just waiting to see the end. That is what verse 58 says. Peter just wanted to see it end. He didn't know it was going to be the beginning. A new beginning. Christ would die for the sin of the world and then rise. He thought it is the end. It is the end of Jesus. It is the end of my dreams. It is the end of everything. I have come this far. I might as well just watch it all end.

He is warming himself by the fire. Someone says I know you. You are one of those Jesus people. You are one of his followers. You have got the wrong guy. Not me. Time passes. Another person comes. A girl hey I know you. You were with Jesus. No you are wrong. He actually takes an oath. I swear never knew the guy. Just then the rooster crows. If that is not bad enough Jesus is being led out from Caiaphas' home and he makes eye contact with Peter. That is why Peter went out and wept bitterly. What kind of look do you think Jesus gave Peter? Did you think Jesus looked at him and just or do you think he rolled his eyes I think it was a look of love. He predicted it didn't he? He looked at Peter. He looked right through him. He knew what was going on. He had his number. But he loved him.

Now here is the question. Did Jesus knew this would happen? Yes. Did Peter fail? Yes. Did he deny the Lord? Again yes. Was Peter still a believer? Absolutely. But remember Jesus said you will come back again. Because this setback would be temporary. Later on Jesus forgave and recommissioned Peter again just as he said it would happen. Simon Peter. Fallen but forgiven.
Comment
Are you Human?:*