Encountering Christ In Your Failures

Encounters With Christ - Part 2

By John Youell, Sr., April 14, 2024

BIG IDEA: is not with God.

The Apostle Peter found this to be true on the night Jesus was arrested to face death on the cross. We see three things that Peter did in his life are the three common causes of failure in our life too.

  • We overestimate our .

    (Matthew 26:31-35 NLT) On the way, Jesus told them, “Tonight all of you will desert me. For the Scriptures say, ‘God will strike the Shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered. ’But after I have been raised from the dead, I will go ahead of you to Galilee and meet you there.” Peter declared, “Even if everyone else deserts you, I will never desert you.” Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, Peter—this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny three times that you even know me.” “No!” Peter insisted. “Even if I have to die with you, I will never deny you!” And all the other disciples vowed the same.

  • We fear the of others.

    (Luke 22:54-57 NLT) “So they arrested him and led him to the high priest’s home. And Peter followed at a distance. The guards lit a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat around it, and Peter joined them there. A servant girl noticed him in the firelight and began staring at him. Finally she said, “This man was one of Jesus’ followers!” But Peter denied it. “Woman,” he said, “I don’t even know him!”

  • without .

    (Luke 24:58-60 NLT) “After a while someone else looked at him and said, “You must be one of them! “No, man, I’m not!” Peter retorted. About an hour later someone else insisted, “This must be one of them, because he is a Galilean, too. ”But Peter said, “Man, I don’t know what you are talking about.” And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed.”

Steps to Recovery from Failure

1. in failure.

(Luke 24:28-29 NLT) At that moment the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Suddenly, the Lord’s words flashed through Peter’s mind: “Before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will deny three times that you even know me.” And Peter left the courtyard, weeping bitterly.

2. Get from others.

(Luke 24:30-32 NLT) And within the hour they were on their way back to Jerusalem. There they found the eleven disciples and the others who had gathered with them, who said, “The Lord has really risen! He appeared to Peter.”

3. Rely on God’s .

(1 Peter 1:3 NLT) All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead.

What Does Jesus Do with Our Failures?

1. Jesus for us.

(Luke 22:31-32 NLT) “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift each of you like wheat. But I have pleaded in prayer for you, Simon, that your faith should not fail. So when you have repented and turned to me again, strengthen your brothers.”

2. Jesus shows us .

(Mark 16:7 NLT) Now go and tell his disciples, including Peter, that Jesus is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there, just as he told you before he died.”

3. Jesus uses to build His Church.

(Matthew 16:18 ESV) And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

What Is God Saying To Me?