PETER’S PERSONAL EXPERIENCE OF FORGIVENESS
INTRODUCTION
WHAT IS THE GREATEST EXPRESSION OF LOVE?
THE POWER OF FORGIVENESS
- PETERS QUESTION AND SELF ANSWER:
MATHEW 18: 21 NASB: THEN PETER CAME UP AND SAID TO HIM, “LORD, HOW MANY TIMES SHALL MY BROTHER SIN AGAINST ME AND I STILL FORGIVE HIM? UP TO SEVEN TIMES?”
- JESUS SPIRIT FILLED CORRECTION:
22 JESUS SAID TO HIM, “I DO NOT SAY TO YOU, UP TO SEVEN TIMES, BUT UP TO [A]SEVENTY-SEVEN TIMES.
PERSISTENTLY
- MANKIND’S ATTITUDE:
I WILL FORGIVE BUT NEVER FORGET.WHICH SIMPLY TANTAMOUNTS TO I WILL NEVER EVER TRUST YOU AGAIN.
THE OFFENDER WILL NEVER AGAIN BE THE ONE THAT YOU WILL CONFIDE IN. WHICH SIMPLY MEANS YOUR HEART IS CLOSED UNTO THE OFFENDER.
THE OFFENDER WILL NEVER HAVE THAT SPRCASIL PLACE IN YOUR HEART THAT HE/SHE ONCE HAD -THEY BEEN EVICTED.
- THE CONVINCING FACTORS (EVIDENCES OF TRUE FORGIVENESS)
REINSTATEMENT
RESPONSIBILITY
RESPECT AND HONOUR) (REGARD, REVERENCE, ESTEEM).
4.1 THE NECESSITY FOR PETER’S REINSTATEMENT
NOT THAT JESUS EXPELLED PETER FROM THE APOSTOLIC BAND. PETER’S THREE DENIALS DESTROYED HIS CONFIDENCE IN SELF. HE KNEW HE FAILED THE LORD AT THE LORD’S DARKEST MOMENTS. HE WAS NOT AT THE CRICIFIXION. HE DENIED THE LORD THRICE, EVEN USED PROFANE LANGUAGE. PETER KNEW WITHIN IN HIMSELF THAT THE GREATEST EVIDENCE IN A RELATIONSHIP OF MENTORING, SERVANTHOOD AND FRIENDSHIP, WE NEVER FORSOOK EACH OTHER IN OUR MOMENTS OF ADVERSITY. PETER FORGOT THE TRUTH THAT A FRIEND STICKS CLOSER TAN A BROTHE. INSTEAD OF GATHERING THE APOSTLES TO WAIT UPON THE LORD, HE TOOK THEM FISHING.
NO DOUBT IF I WAS JESUS I WOULD HAVE EXPELLED PETER,. HOW COULD I ENTRUST A MAN THAT FAILED ME AT MY DARKEST HOURS. NOT ONLY DID HE TURN HIS BACK ON ME AT THE CRUCIFIXION, HE COULD NOT EVEN PRAY FOR ME FOR ONE HOUR. HIS SLEEP WAS MORE IMPORTANT THAN MY SPIRIRTUAL NEED. HE EVEN LOOKED JESUS FULL IN THE FACE AT ONE TIME WHEN DENYING THE LORD. TO TELL YOU THE TRUTH I WOULD HAVE SPOKEN TO PETER AS I WOULD SPEAK TO A DOG- VOETSAK, GET OUT OF MY FACE.
JESUS DID NOT CHASE PETER AWAY, RATHER HE ATE A MEAL WITH PETER AND THE OTHER TWO APOSTLES. THIS WAS AN OUTSTANDING ACT FROM JESUS. EATING A MEAL OFTEN SPEAKS OF A COVENANT RELATIONSHIP. I FOR ONE NEVER DO EAT WITH THOSE WHO BACK BITE ME AND DESREGARD ME AT MY DARKEST HOURS. TO ME A FRIEND IN NEED IS A FREIND INDEED.
JESUS ATE WITH PETER A SIN OF RENUNION AND FELLOWSHIP. THIS WAS A CLEAR ACT OF REINSTATEMENT AND FORGIVENESS.
4.2: THE NECESSITY FOR RENEWED RESPONSIBILTY.
SEVERAL YEARS AGO I READ A BOOK ENTITLED “FAILURE THE BOOK DOOR TO SUCCESS” AND MAY I ADD THAT WHICH I READ IS DEEPLY IMPRINTED IN MY SPIRIT AND MIND. OFT TIMES WE LEARN FROM OUR MISTAKES. JESUS WAS WELL AWARE OF THIS AND NOT JUST BECAUSE OF HIS GRACE JESUS LOVED PETER AND THOUGH JESUS SAW THE IMPERFECTIONS IN PETER, JESUS ALSO SAW THE POTENTIAL IN PETER THAT WOULD LEAD TO PERFECTION IN MINISTRY FOR THE SIMPLE FACT JESUS KNEW THE FRAILTY OF MAN’S WEAK SPIRIT AND THAT IS WHY HE FILLED PETER, THE OTHER APOSTLES AND DISCIPLES WITH THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
JESUS HAD FAITH IN PETER FOR THE SIMPLE FACT PETER WAS TO BE EMPOWERED BY THE HOLY SPIRT WHICH WOULD MAKE PETER A POWERHOUSE FOR THE WORK OF THE LORD.
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