When Life Doesn’t Go The Way You Hoped

On The Night Jesus Was Betrayed They have had a good week. Palm Sunday, miracles, Jesus’ teaching They expected Jesus to be accepted as the Messiah and usher in God’s kingdom Things are about to go terribly wrong as Judas brings the Temple guards to the garden to arrest Jesus.

What do we do when sin or weakness get the best of us?

And Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away, because it is written, ‘I will strike down the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered.’ But after I have been raised, I will go ahead of you to Galilee.” But Peter said to Him, “Even though all may fall away, yet I will not.”

And Jesus said to him, “Truly I say to you, that this very night, before a rooster crows twice, you yourself will deny Me three times.” But Peter kept saying insistently, “Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!” And they all were saying the same thing also. Mark 14:27-31

“Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat; but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” Luke 22:31-32

Satan will sift you (all) like wheat

Satan will sift you (all) like wheat For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Ephesians 6:12

<=> Beliefs <=> Behaviors <=> Feelings Satan will sift you (all) like wheat <=> Beliefs <=> Behaviors <=> Feelings

<=> Beliefs <=> Behaviors <=> Feelings Satan will sift you (all) like wheat <=> Beliefs <=> Behaviors <=> Feelings Values & Will

Satan will sift you (all) like wheat But seeing the wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” Matthew 14:30

Satan will sift you (all) like wheat Jesus … explain … he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things … he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life. Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!”

Satan will sift you (all) like wheat Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.” Matthew 16:21-23

“Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat; but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” Luke 22:31-32

Satan will sift you (all) like wheat I (God) am praying for you Your faith won’t fail despite the sin of self-protective denial When (not if) you turn again Strengthen others through your experience of both failure and the grace

Frank Buchman’s Oxford Groups / Christian fellowship groups are the basis of A.A. and our Changing Lives ministry Honesty – Admitting you have a problem Finding hope through Christ Faith in Christ’s work to bring us out of sin and into a life of godly character and behavior

So when they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Tend My lambs.” He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Shepherd My sheep.”

He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Tend My sheep. John 21:15-17

Twice Jesus asks Peter if he loves him in a self-sacrificing way, as Jesus has loved him Twice Peter answers that he loves him as a brother The third time Jesus asks him if he loves him as a brother Peter is broken by Jesus’ change of wording Jesus reaffirms his calling on Peter’s life to feed and tend the Jesus’ flock.

Peter is broken by Jesus’ change of wording, but has to own his weakness Jesus reaffirms his calling on Peter’s life to feed and tend the Jesus’ flock. He has turned again, now it is time to strengthen other’s with grace he has experience through his failures and weakness

In the Oxford Group or A.A./Changing Lives Peter would be heading toward Step 4-6 The courage to honestly look at himself The integrity to own up to the exact nature of his wrongs to God and others. James 5:16 The willingness to let go of what is wrong and to have God remove all these defects of character.

Some men came down from Judea and began teaching the brethren, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.” And when Paul and Barnabas had great dissension and debate with them, the brethren determined that Paul and Barnabas and some others of them should go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and elders concerning this issue. Acts 15:1-2

But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. For prior to the coming of certain men from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he began to withdraw and hold himself aloof, fearing the party of the circumcision.

The rest of the Jews joined him in hypocrisy, with the result that even Barnabas was carried away by their hypocrisy. But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in the presence of all, “If you, being a Jew, live like the Gentiles and not like the Jews, how is it that you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews? Galatians 2:11-14

Had Peter been sifted once again by Satan, due to his fears and weakness?

After there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, “Brethren, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles would hear the word of the gospel and believe. And God, who knows the heart, testified to them giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He also did to us; and He made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith.

Now therefore why do you put God to the test by placing upon the neck of the disciples a yoke which neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? 11 But we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in the same way as they also are.” Acts 15:7-11

In the Oxford Group or A.A./Changing Lives Peter acted out Step 4-8 The courage to honestly look at himself The integrity to own up to his wrongs to God and others. (6-7) Willingness and humility to ask God to remove all these defects of character. (8-9) Identify people wronged and make amends

“and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers” Peter and Mark “and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers”

“and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers” Peter and Mark “and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers” Blessed be the God … who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

In the Oxford Group or A.A./Changing Lives The final steps include: Be genuine, not hiding from sin and weakness, but promptly admitting to it. Stay close to God to know His will for us and the power to carry that out. Service other with gratitude

Mark and Paul … also Barnabas’s cousin Mark (about whom you received instructions; if he comes to you, welcome him) Colossians 4:10 Pick up Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for service. 2 Timothy 4:11

Conclusion Being honest with our self, God, and others is key to moving from sin and weakness to Christ-likeness. We are dependent on others in the body of Christ to help us to be genuine, guide us back to the right path, encourage us in our growth and finding our purpose in Christ’s kingdom work.