Up In Smoke : week 1

Levi Lusko - Fresh Life Church

Good Night Failure, Good Morning Grace

Apostle Peter

One weekend of his life.

Matthew, Mark, Luke + John all give a complimentary account of the same story.

Mark 14:27-31

John 18:15-18 + 25-27

Peter began to curse Jesus as if to say would a disciple of Jesus curse him like this?!

Luke 22:61-62

The power of your tongue!

Peter was talking about how terrible he thought Jesus was as Jesus was walking by.

Peter went to go fishing. 

Basically his way of saying, 'I'm going back to my old way of life.'

John 21:4-19

Jesus was replicating how he called Peter to be his disciple in how He revealed Himself after His resurrection.

If it could happen to Peter it could happen to me.

4 Things That Will Help You Avoid Going Up In Smoke :

1. Keep Your Guard Up

The problem is pride.

If you're standing take head lest you fall.

If you're standing, you're perfectly poised to fall.

Broken heart to see others sin.

Luke 22:31 MSG Simon, stay on your toes!

2. Get Back Up

If you've been knocked down, get back up!

What now?

It helps to think of God as our parent.

Your Father knew you were going to fall before you fell.

Luke 22:32 - when you fall, strengthen your brethren!

It can be something new and something beautiful!

3. Don't Get Tied Up

Look around to those around you and you'll make yourself a critic.

Feed my lambs, feed my sheep, the end of your life is going to be a persecution for your faith...John 21:21 "what about this man?"

God gives you a second chance and you're so tied up in wondering what God has given someone else?!

Hebrews 12:1-2

Don't worry if God has given others more grace!

4. Hold Your Head Up

Separate the forgiveness from the shame.

John 18:18 warming himself by the fire. So Peter is smelling smoke. Chapter 21:9 fire of coals. 

Do you love me? Do you love me? Do you love me?

Jesus gave Peter an opportunity to have a different smell associated with the smell of smoke. 

More powerful than sound or sight is smell.

He heard the rooster and as he did he remembered that Jesus is our Redeemer!

Jesus was saying goodnight to all of Peter's failure and saying good morning to new grace!!

Here are my mistakes, make me new!