But if we won't receive and accept God's forgiveness, what we're saying is, is that somehow or another, the death of Jesus Christ on the cross is inadequate for my sin. God wants you to be free so he can use you for maximum fruit. The kingdom suffers when we're carrying shame.

But if we won't receive and accept God's forgiveness, what we're saying is, is that somehow or another, the death of Jesus Christ on the cross is inadequate for my sin. God wants you to be free so he can use you for maximum fruit. The kingdom suffers when we're carrying shame.

Well, we've all known fellow Christians who have fallen morally, ethically, or in any other form of bad behavior. And often our first thought is that they will be put on a shelf no longer useful to God or His kingdom. But is that a fair assessment? Well, it depends on how sin is dealt with. Here's the question have we overlooked some important biblical guidelines, important directives in dealing with the serious failures of brothers or sisters in Christ? Join us for our study. Welcome to Living a Legacy, featuring the Bible teaching ministry of Doctor Crawford Lawrence. Today, Crawford concludes his message titled Forgiven and Restored, based on John chapter 21. For nearly 55 years, our speaker has served with a number of Christian ministries and among them Campus Crusade for Christ, Promise Keepers, and Family Life marriage conferences. He led the congregation of Fellowship Bible Church in Roswell, Georgia for 15 years, and our weekly messages come from Crawford's time at fellowship. Now in retirement, he heads the Christian Leadership Mentoring Program known as Beyond Our Generation. Peter in the New Testament failed in a big way. He denied affiliation with Jesus when Jesus was arrested and led away to be tried and crucified. After the resurrection, Jesus confronted Peter and offered grace and restoration. And what did Peter do with that opportunity? Well, let's find out more. Our text again is John chapter 21. Here's Crawford Lawrence on Living a legacy.

Well, we've all known fellow Christians who have fallen morally, ethically, or in any other form of bad behavior. And often our first thought is that they will be put on a shelf no longer useful to God or His kingdom. But is that a fair assessment? Well, it depends on how sin is dealt with. Here's the question have we overlooked some important biblical guidelines, important directives in dealing with the serious failures of brothers or sisters in Christ? Join us for our study. Welcome to Living a Legacy, featuring the Bible teaching ministry of Doctor Crawford Lawrence. Today, Crawford concludes his message titled Forgiven and Restored, based on John chapter 21. For nearly 55 years, our speaker has served with a number of Christian ministries and among them Campus Crusade for Christ, Promise Keepers, and Family Life marriage conferences. He led the congregation of Fellowship Bible Church in Roswell, Georgia for 15 years, and our weekly messages come from Crawford's time at fellowship. Now in retirement, he heads the Christian Leadership Mentoring Program known as Beyond Our Generation. Peter in the New Testament failed in a big way. He denied affiliation with Jesus when Jesus was arrested and led away to be tried and crucified. After the resurrection, Jesus confronted Peter and offered grace and restoration. And what did Peter do with that opportunity? Well, let's find out more. Our text again is John chapter 21. Here's Crawford Lawrence on Living a legacy.

I think the text doesn't say this, but I'd bet my house and everything else on it. I think he asked him three times, do you love me? Because Peter had denied the Lord three times, he had denied him three times. And Jesus asked him three times, do you love me? Now, again, again, again, again. This gave Peter three opportunities to affirm his love for Jesus. Now hear me on this. Jesus didn't need the information from Peter. Peter needed the information from himself. Peter, this is this is gracious. What Jesus did was he wanted Peter to express the reality that's in his heart. And he wanted Peter to know that his love for him was greater than his denial of him. And he was underscoring Peter, Peter, Peter. Well, what's important is not your perfection, but your love. And he wanted Peter to hear it. Say it again, son. Say it again, son. Say it one more time. It's like when your own child, they don't think you love him. Say I love you. Now you say that back to me. You love me. Say it again. You love me. Say it one more time. I think that's what Jesus was doing. He was repairing Peter's soul. You're not defined by the mistake you made. You've come clean. Foundation. Is love. Now, he asked the question in verse 15. Do you love me more than these? That's kind of curious, isn't it? What do you mean by that? I believe what Jesus was doing was reminding Peter of his prideful statement. He said, where did he get that from? The more than these are are the disciples who are there. There's another indication he was having the conversation. The disciples were right there. They were right there. This wasn't Jesus off to the side and said, I'll be back over here, and I want to talk to Peter and put him back together. No, he was having this conversation while they were looking on. Dual meaning he wanted them, wanted to understand. Hey hey hey hey hey, get off your high horse. I'm putting them back together. Don't you repeat this thing. And the other piece is, I think when he said more than these, he was reminding Peter. Now, son, you made an arrogant statement. But I need you to I need you, I need you, I need you to understand something about pride where it will take you. You made that arrogant statement back over in Matthew chapter 26, verses 33 and 35. You said, I will never deny you. I told you back then before the cock crows, you will deny me three times. Don't assume because I bless you and use you that somehow or another you're better than these. Do you love me more than they do? And this is a good word for those of us who who? Um. And let's face it, uh, you know, the more we walk with the Lord, uh, and we don't do certain things that we used to do, and we don't struggle in the same area that we used to struggle in. This hellacious Pharisee spiritual pride thing will get us. I hear Christians talking about the evil out there in the world, and how can these people make these decisions and this kind of thing? How can they act like that? And a lack of humility in our voices is appalling. We become terribly smug and obnoxious. This is a good reminder. This is what Jesus was saying to Peter. Now careful, buddy. You see? What I've discovered in my life is that pride is always the call to sinful humiliation. If we're full of pride, no matter what it is, it's not whether or not we're going to be humiliated. It's just a matter of when pride comes before a fall. So when he said, Peter, do you love me more than these? Do you really? This is. This is. Settle down a little bit here, buddy. Paul, put it this way. First Corinthians chapter ten, verse 12. Hey hey hey hey, hey, watch it man. Don't say what you wouldn't do. Let he who thinks he stands take heed lest he falls. A couple months ago, I talked about David's fall with Bathsheba. They're sweet. David? Yeah. The one who wrote the anthology of worship for the most part, the Psalms. Yeah. Sweet. David. it. Aha! The one that felt the anointing of God on a sweet David ran 16 years from Saul, hiding out in caves. God delivered him, sweet David. Yeah, he committed murder, adultery. And he had no apparent remorse. So don't say what you wouldn't do. You love me more than these. Don't say that, buddy. The other piece here is that as he walks through all of this with him. He's underscoring the fact that your love is everything. But I want you to notice that when he says your love is everything. Each time he raises the question, he gives Peter a commission. Did you know that? Notice that in the passage. He says, do you love me, Peter? Verse 15. Yeah, I love you. Well, feed my lambs. Do you love me, Peter? Yes, I love you. Well, tend my sheep in verse 16. Do you love me, Peter? Yes. In verse 17 will feed my sheep. What is he saying? What is he saying to Peter? He's saying to Peter what he's saying to us, and that is just because we have failed does not mean we are no longer useful to God. Jesus is calling him out of self-pity. That's what he was he was doing. He's calling him out of self-pity. Who said, I can't use you? Who said that? Did you hear me say that to you? Peter, is. There's more for you to do. Why are you allowing your shame? And why are you allowing your struggle to keep. I didn't put I didn't put that lid there. I didn't do that. Well, they later for they. And he commissions him. He commissions him now. Um, I gotta say here, he doesn't just commission him to usefulness. Notice the nature. What? He he he commissions him to be a leader to shepherd. In fact, as you know, the rest of the story of Peter, um, Peter would be the human instrument. By and through whom the Holy Spirit would use to inaugurate the church. Yeah, yeah. The one that denied Jesus. See, here's the point. I want you to understand this. Um, I'm not talking about some premature restoration. I don't want anybody coming out. Walking out. I've seen situations where people have been prematurely restored. There are several ingredients involved. I mean, first, there's the sin, and then there are the causes for the sin that need to be rooted out. And so you do people a disservice when they stand up and say, Will you forgive me or forgive me? Okay, next day, here's some ministry opportunity. Oh, wait a minute. It's not that you're trying to punish them. They need to work through the issues that caused the problem. That's what biblical restoration is all about. So I'm not suggesting that at all. It is for their benefit and our benefit to make sure that there's strength in that area of weakness and and so that when they're giving a platform, they're, uh, there's strength there. And that's what that's what Galatians six one is all about, isn't it? That the text says, if you see someone overtaken in any fault or any sin, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness. Considering considering yourself now the word restored. There is a very interesting Greek word. It is a word, is a verb that was used of mending nets, mending nets. It's a word that was used of putting joints back in place. It was a word that was used of of of of of setting bones, with the exception of mending nets. Those other two are very, very painful. There's a process involved. Yeah. But listen, I would argue this. Why do you mend a net? Why do you put a joint back in place? Why do you reset a bone? You do it so that you can use it again. So the restoration that Paul is talking about and the restoration that Jesus gives to Peter, they're consistent. They're for usefulness. Therefore blessing. So who said God can't use you? But we restore people. And again, the restoration is not cheap. No. You go through a process. This young leader I was talking about, that anger and pride got to him. He's been through a process. And there's a number of us who have vouched for him. He did more than what was asked to do. So why should we punish him? You see, God's grace and mercy eclipses our failures. And one of the reasons why the Lord lets us fall is to teach us that weakness is an advantage. Because when you're weak, you're dependent. When you're strong, paradoxically, you're most vulnerable. So Jesus commissions Recommissions Peter. So there's a charcoal fire. There's a conversation with Jesus. And then finally, there's the calling renewed. So what does Jesus do after this? Okay. Yeah. Alright. If I ask you three times. Got it. I just want I did that for you because I want you to get it. I wanted you to get it. I wanted you to get it. That it's your love for me means everything. Then Jesus says, look, I want to. I want to recommission you. Verse 18 and 19 has caused a little bit of problem, but I don't see the problem in this altogether. Verse 18 says, Jesus says to Peter, truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted. But when you are old, you will stretch out your hands and another will dress you and carry you wherever you do not want to go. Now verse 19. The first part says this. He said to show what kind of death he was to glorify God. Now take the expression Glorify God. That is very important to understand here what Jesus is talking about here. Most scholars believe, and I agree with this. Most scholars believe that he is speaking of Peter's crucifixion. And history tells us that Peter was crucified. Now, the reason why you need to go back to the expression glorify God here is that Peter's death is not to be taken as a consequence of his denial. No, just the opposite. Peter's death, the way he would die, would is the privilege of identification with his Savior. It is just the opposite. No, you denied me. But you're going to live in such a way that you're going to be singularly focused and devoted to me. So much so that I'm going to give you the privilege to die the way I die. It's not a consequence. It's a privilege. In fact, I think there's an interesting applicational implication here, and that is that serving God is not an entitlement. It's not an entitlement. It is a privilege. Always, always twinge when I hear people selling themselves too much in the church. Over overemphasizing what they bring to the vitality of a ministry. This is not a place for us to shop our talents. It's not a place to showcase our abilities. It is a place to graciously and gratefully serve because of the privilege of having been forgiven. And that's where it all starts. So I think in a preliminary way, Jesus said to Peter, okay, okay, Peter, here it is, buddy. Right here, right here, right here man. You're going to be radically committed to me. Now I'm going to use you to help. Found this thing called the church. And you're going to have suffering in your life. But it's not punitive. It's going to be a blessing, buddy. And then he wraps this up by saying these two words. Follow me. That's what this charcoal fire was all about, buddy. That's. This conversation's been about. Peter. Draw a curtain over the denial. It's over. It's over. Buddy. There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. It's over. It's over. They better not talk about it. And I don't want you handicapping your impact for me by you constantly rehearsing it. Yeah, I want you to remember the pain that it caused. That's redemptive. But the guilt and shame I've carried away. So, Peter, look me in the eye. Follow me. By the way, in the Greek text, the word, the verb follow. There's a present active indicative verb. Uh, what was that all about? Well, it means it means that that that it's not a guarantee. It means. It means that that it could have been translated. Keep on following me. Keep on following me. It implies that you can't be distracted. It implies that you can take your eyes off of me. It implies that I can't help but think maybe Jesus had in mind. Or maybe Peter had in mind when he mentioned that, you know, Peter had little issues with distraction. I don't want to get too much on his case because, you know, the rest of them suckers stayed in the boat, and then they want to bust Peter for walking a few steps and sinking. Well, you ain't walk no steps. So, um, I'm just saying. So Peter gets out on the boat and he is in a stormy sea, and he looks at Jesus. And as long as he's looking at Jesus, he's stable man. He's walking, he's confident. And then he said, it's the storm out here. And the other thing is this, you know, this is not a good way to end a message, but I do have to kind of like allude to this in the very next verses we're talking this verse 19. They didn't have verses back then, but there's verse 19, verses 20 through 22. You know what happens. Oh, hold your mama. You know what happens. Jesus. Just one of those conversations with him. Put him back together. Follow me and it's okay. Everything's fine. You know, you don't need to be distracted by them. And this this kind of stuff. You know what happened? You know what Peter says after all of this? He looks over and sees John. He says, uh, what about him now? I ain't Jesus, had that been one of my sons, you little prick? What have I got to say? So I don't know if Jesus shook his head or he was omniscient, but I would have. Oh, we can't get there from here. Jesus just said to Peter, eh? Come on, man, seriously, here's the deal, Peter, I'm going to say this again. My business with John ain't your business. You have? absolutely, categorically nothing to do with what I do in and through John. Your business is to be concerned with all of my business. For you, I wish Christians would get that. Your business is to be concerned with all of my business for you. Listen, the way to impact it really is not that heavy. It really is not the weight of effectiveness. It's not that deep. Just keep following Jesus. Have you put a lid on your life because of past failure? Are you still beating yourself up because of bad decisions. Choices. God has forgiven you. Why don't you embrace his forgiveness? Listen, this sounds cruel. What I'm going to say here. At a certain point, shame is idolatry. More specifically, shame is really an expression of pride because we're more concerned about who I've disappointed, what I think about myself, and what other people think about me than what God says he wants to do in me and through me and for me. That's where it's a pride piece, and we sanitize it by saying little nice, poor theology statements like, well, I just can't forgive myself. Well, think about that statement. Number one. You're absolutely right. We are. None of us can forgive ourselves because we're not deity. We can't forgive ourselves. What we're really saying is that we won't receive and accept God's forgiveness. That's what we're saying. But if we won't receive and accept God's forgiveness, what we're saying is, is that somehow or another, the death of Jesus Christ on the cross is inadequate for my sin. That ain't true. Will you accept his forgiveness? Will you embrace it? God wants you to be free so he can use you for maximum fruit. The kingdom suffers when we're carrying shame. Carrying shame. Your family suffers. Joy is conditional. He wants to set us free. Come to the charcoal fire. Lord Jesus, thank you for who you are. Thank you for your grace. Thank you for what you've done in our lives. Thank you. Thank you for leaving this in the sacred text. Thank you. Oh God, that you do not deal with us according to our sin. Bless your name, but according to your abundant mercy. Lord, you delight in showing mercy to us. Thank you for your grace. In Jesus name, Amen.

I think the text doesn't say this, but I'd bet my house and everything else on it. I think he asked him three times, do you love me? Because Peter had denied the Lord three times, he had denied him three times. And Jesus asked him three times, do you love me? Now, again, again, again, again. This gave Peter three opportunities to affirm his love for Jesus. Now hear me on this. Jesus didn't need the information from Peter. Peter needed the information from himself. Peter, this is this is gracious. What Jesus did was he wanted Peter to express the reality that's in his heart. And he wanted Peter to know that his love for him was greater than his denial of him. And he was underscoring Peter, Peter, Peter. Well, what's important is not your perfection, but your love. And he wanted Peter to hear it. Say it again, son. Say it again, son. Say it one more time. It's like when your own child, they don't think you love him. Say I love you. Now you say that back to me. You love me. Say it again. You love me. Say it one more time. I think that's what Jesus was doing. He was repairing Peter's soul. You're not defined by the mistake you made. You've come clean. Foundation. Is love. Now, he asked the question in verse 15. Do you love me more than these? That's kind of curious, isn't it? What do you mean by that? I believe what Jesus was doing was reminding Peter of his prideful statement. He said, where did he get that from? The more than these are are the disciples who are there. There's another indication he was having the conversation. The disciples were right there. They were right there. This wasn't Jesus off to the side and said, I'll be back over here, and I want to talk to Peter and put him back together. No, he was having this conversation while they were looking on. Dual meaning he wanted them, wanted to understand. Hey hey hey hey hey, get off your high horse. I'm putting them back together. Don't you repeat this thing. And the other piece is, I think when he said more than these, he was reminding Peter. Now, son, you made an arrogant statement. But I need you to I need you, I need you, I need you to understand something about pride where it will take you. You made that arrogant statement back over in Matthew chapter 26, verses 33 and 35. You said, I will never deny you. I told you back then before the cock crows, you will deny me three times. Don't assume because I bless you and use you that somehow or another you're better than these. Do you love me more than they do? And this is a good word for those of us who who? Um. And let's face it, uh, you know, the more we walk with the Lord, uh, and we don't do certain things that we used to do, and we don't struggle in the same area that we used to struggle in. This hellacious Pharisee spiritual pride thing will get us. I hear Christians talking about the evil out there in the world, and how can these people make these decisions and this kind of thing? How can they act like that? And a lack of humility in our voices is appalling. We become terribly smug and obnoxious. This is a good reminder. This is what Jesus was saying to Peter. Now careful, buddy. You see? What I've discovered in my life is that pride is always the call to sinful humiliation. If we're full of pride, no matter what it is, it's not whether or not we're going to be humiliated. It's just a matter of when pride comes before a fall. So when he said, Peter, do you love me more than these? Do you really? This is. This is. Settle down a little bit here, buddy. Paul, put it this way. First Corinthians chapter ten, verse 12. Hey hey hey hey, hey, watch it man. Don't say what you wouldn't do. Let he who thinks he stands take heed lest he falls. A couple months ago, I talked about David's fall with Bathsheba. They're sweet. David? Yeah. The one who wrote the anthology of worship for the most part, the Psalms. Yeah. Sweet. David. it. Aha! The one that felt the anointing of God on a sweet David ran 16 years from Saul, hiding out in caves. God delivered him, sweet David. Yeah, he committed murder, adultery. And he had no apparent remorse. So don't say what you wouldn't do. You love me more than these. Don't say that, buddy. The other piece here is that as he walks through all of this with him. He's underscoring the fact that your love is everything. But I want you to notice that when he says your love is everything. Each time he raises the question, he gives Peter a commission. Did you know that? Notice that in the passage. He says, do you love me, Peter? Verse 15. Yeah, I love you. Well, feed my lambs. Do you love me, Peter? Yes, I love you. Well, tend my sheep in verse 16. Do you love me, Peter? Yes. In verse 17 will feed my sheep. What is he saying? What is he saying to Peter? He's saying to Peter what he's saying to us, and that is just because we have failed does not mean we are no longer useful to God. Jesus is calling him out of self-pity. That's what he was he was doing. He's calling him out of self-pity. Who said, I can't use you? Who said that? Did you hear me say that to you? Peter, is. There's more for you to do. Why are you allowing your shame? And why are you allowing your struggle to keep. I didn't put I didn't put that lid there. I didn't do that. Well, they later for they. And he commissions him. He commissions him now. Um, I gotta say here, he doesn't just commission him to usefulness. Notice the nature. What? He he he commissions him to be a leader to shepherd. In fact, as you know, the rest of the story of Peter, um, Peter would be the human instrument. By and through whom the Holy Spirit would use to inaugurate the church. Yeah, yeah. The one that denied Jesus. See, here's the point. I want you to understand this. Um, I'm not talking about some premature restoration. I don't want anybody coming out. Walking out. I've seen situations where people have been prematurely restored. There are several ingredients involved. I mean, first, there's the sin, and then there are the causes for the sin that need to be rooted out. And so you do people a disservice when they stand up and say, Will you forgive me or forgive me? Okay, next day, here's some ministry opportunity. Oh, wait a minute. It's not that you're trying to punish them. They need to work through the issues that caused the problem. That's what biblical restoration is all about. So I'm not suggesting that at all. It is for their benefit and our benefit to make sure that there's strength in that area of weakness and and so that when they're giving a platform, they're, uh, there's strength there. And that's what that's what Galatians six one is all about, isn't it? That the text says, if you see someone overtaken in any fault or any sin, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness. Considering considering yourself now the word restored. There is a very interesting Greek word. It is a word, is a verb that was used of mending nets, mending nets. It's a word that was used of putting joints back in place. It was a word that was used of of of of of setting bones, with the exception of mending nets. Those other two are very, very painful. There's a process involved. Yeah. But listen, I would argue this. Why do you mend a net? Why do you put a joint back in place? Why do you reset a bone? You do it so that you can use it again. So the restoration that Paul is talking about and the restoration that Jesus gives to Peter, they're consistent. They're for usefulness. Therefore blessing. So who said God can't use you? But we restore people. And again, the restoration is not cheap. No. You go through a process. This young leader I was talking about, that anger and pride got to him. He's been through a process. And there's a number of us who have vouched for him. He did more than what was asked to do. So why should we punish him? You see, God's grace and mercy eclipses our failures. And one of the reasons why the Lord lets us fall is to teach us that weakness is an advantage. Because when you're weak, you're dependent. When you're strong, paradoxically, you're most vulnerable. So Jesus commissions Recommissions Peter. So there's a charcoal fire. There's a conversation with Jesus. And then finally, there's the calling renewed. So what does Jesus do after this? Okay. Yeah. Alright. If I ask you three times. Got it. I just want I did that for you because I want you to get it. I wanted you to get it. I wanted you to get it. That it's your love for me means everything. Then Jesus says, look, I want to. I want to recommission you. Verse 18 and 19 has caused a little bit of problem, but I don't see the problem in this altogether. Verse 18 says, Jesus says to Peter, truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted. But when you are old, you will stretch out your hands and another will dress you and carry you wherever you do not want to go. Now verse 19. The first part says this. He said to show what kind of death he was to glorify God. Now take the expression Glorify God. That is very important to understand here what Jesus is talking about here. Most scholars believe, and I agree with this. Most scholars believe that he is speaking of Peter's crucifixion. And history tells us that Peter was crucified. Now, the reason why you need to go back to the expression glorify God here is that Peter's death is not to be taken as a consequence of his denial. No, just the opposite. Peter's death, the way he would die, would is the privilege of identification with his Savior. It is just the opposite. No, you denied me. But you're going to live in such a way that you're going to be singularly focused and devoted to me. So much so that I'm going to give you the privilege to die the way I die. It's not a consequence. It's a privilege. In fact, I think there's an interesting applicational implication here, and that is that serving God is not an entitlement. It's not an entitlement. It is a privilege. Always, always twinge when I hear people selling themselves too much in the church. Over overemphasizing what they bring to the vitality of a ministry. This is not a place for us to shop our talents. It's not a place to showcase our abilities. It is a place to graciously and gratefully serve because of the privilege of having been forgiven. And that's where it all starts. So I think in a preliminary way, Jesus said to Peter, okay, okay, Peter, here it is, buddy. Right here, right here, right here man. You're going to be radically committed to me. Now I'm going to use you to help. Found this thing called the church. And you're going to have suffering in your life. But it's not punitive. It's going to be a blessing, buddy. And then he wraps this up by saying these two words. Follow me. That's what this charcoal fire was all about, buddy. That's. This conversation's been about. Peter. Draw a curtain over the denial. It's over. It's over. Buddy. There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. It's over. It's over. They better not talk about it. And I don't want you handicapping your impact for me by you constantly rehearsing it. Yeah, I want you to remember the pain that it caused. That's redemptive. But the guilt and shame I've carried away. So, Peter, look me in the eye. Follow me. By the way, in the Greek text, the word, the verb follow. There's a present active indicative verb. Uh, what was that all about? Well, it means it means that that that it's not a guarantee. It means. It means that that it could have been translated. Keep on following me. Keep on following me. It implies that you can't be distracted. It implies that you can take your eyes off of me. It implies that I can't help but think maybe Jesus had in mind. Or maybe Peter had in mind when he mentioned that, you know, Peter had little issues with distraction. I don't want to get too much on his case because, you know, the rest of them suckers stayed in the boat, and then they want to bust Peter for walking a few steps and sinking. Well, you ain't walk no steps. So, um, I'm just saying. So Peter gets out on the boat and he is in a stormy sea, and he looks at Jesus. And as long as he's looking at Jesus, he's stable man. He's walking, he's confident. And then he said, it's the storm out here. And the other thing is this, you know, this is not a good way to end a message, but I do have to kind of like allude to this in the very next verses we're talking this verse 19. They didn't have verses back then, but there's verse 19, verses 20 through 22. You know what happens. Oh, hold your mama. You know what happens. Jesus. Just one of those conversations with him. Put him back together. Follow me and it's okay. Everything's fine. You know, you don't need to be distracted by them. And this this kind of stuff. You know what happened? You know what Peter says after all of this? He looks over and sees John. He says, uh, what about him now? I ain't Jesus, had that been one of my sons, you little prick? What have I got to say? So I don't know if Jesus shook his head or he was omniscient, but I would have. Oh, we can't get there from here. Jesus just said to Peter, eh? Come on, man, seriously, here's the deal, Peter, I'm going to say this again. My business with John ain't your business. You have? absolutely, categorically nothing to do with what I do in and through John. Your business is to be concerned with all of my business. For you, I wish Christians would get that. Your business is to be concerned with all of my business for you. Listen, the way to impact it really is not that heavy. It really is not the weight of effectiveness. It's not that deep. Just keep following Jesus. Have you put a lid on your life because of past failure? Are you still beating yourself up because of bad decisions. Choices. God has forgiven you. Why don't you embrace his forgiveness? Listen, this sounds cruel. What I'm going to say here. At a certain point, shame is idolatry. More specifically, shame is really an expression of pride because we're more concerned about who I've disappointed, what I think about myself, and what other people think about me than what God says he wants to do in me and through me and for me. That's where it's a pride piece, and we sanitize it by saying little nice, poor theology statements like, well, I just can't forgive myself. Well, think about that statement. Number one. You're absolutely right. We are. None of us can forgive ourselves because we're not deity. We can't forgive ourselves. What we're really saying is that we won't receive and accept God's forgiveness. That's what we're saying. But if we won't receive and accept God's forgiveness, what we're saying is, is that somehow or another, the death of Jesus Christ on the cross is inadequate for my sin. That ain't true. Will you accept his forgiveness? Will you embrace it? God wants you to be free so he can use you for maximum fruit. The kingdom suffers when we're carrying shame. Carrying shame. Your family suffers. Joy is conditional. He wants to set us free. Come to the charcoal fire. Lord Jesus, thank you for who you are. Thank you for your grace. Thank you for what you've done in our lives. Thank you. Thank you for leaving this in the sacred text. Thank you. Oh God, that you do not deal with us according to our sin. Bless your name, but according to your abundant mercy. Lord, you delight in showing mercy to us. Thank you for your grace. In Jesus name, Amen.

Crawford Loritts, our speaker here on Living a Legacy in Review. Peter's path to restoration centered around a charcoal fire, a conversation with Jesus, and a calling restored. You know, it's amazing that God would extend his grace to us when we fail him. Now, how about you ever felt like your sin was beyond God's ability to forgive? Well, remember Jesus encounter with Peter. Peter faced his sin, confessed it, and went on to symbolize Petra, the rock upon which the church was to be built. Remember Crawford's question who told you God was done with you? Forgiven and restored the title of today's message to hear it again go to Living a Legacy. Look for the past programs. Link. Living a legacy. Crawford has authored nine books and among them leadership as an Identity Lessons from a Life Coach, and Unshaken Real Faith in Our Faithful God. To learn more about Crawford's Leadership Mentoring program, Search Beyond Our Generation. Com. It's all one word beyond our generation.com. Thanks so much for joining us today on Living a Legacy for Crawford Loritts I'm Bill Davis. This program has been a production of Moody Radio, a ministry of Moody Bible Institute.

Crawford Loritts, our speaker here on Living a Legacy in Review. Peter's path to restoration centered around a charcoal fire, a conversation with Jesus, and a calling restored. You know, it's amazing that God would extend his grace to us when we fail him. Now, how about you ever felt like your sin was beyond God's ability to forgive? Well, remember Jesus encounter with Peter. Peter faced his sin, confessed it, and went on to symbolize Petra, the rock upon which the church was to be built. Remember Crawford's question who told you God was done with you? Forgiven and restored the title of today's message to hear it again go to Living a Legacy. Look for the past programs. Link. Living a legacy. Crawford has authored nine books and among them leadership as an Identity Lessons from a Life Coach, and Unshaken Real Faith in Our Faithful God. To learn more about Crawford's Leadership Mentoring program, Search Beyond Our Generation. Com. It's all one word beyond our generation.com. Thanks so much for joining us today on Living a Legacy for Crawford Loritts I'm Bill Davis. This program has been a production of Moody Radio, a ministry of Moody Bible Institute.