I. Confession is important

Matthew 16:13b-16 ESV

…He asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” 14 And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

Matthew 26:31a NLT

31 On the way, Jesus told them, “Tonight all of you will desert me.”

Matthew 26:33-35 NLT

33 Peter declared, “Even if everyone else deserts you, I will never desert you.”

34 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.”

35 “No!” Peter insisted. “Even if I have to die with you, I will never deny you!” And all the other disciples vowed the same.

Matthew 26:69-74 NASB

69 Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard, and a servant-girl came to him and said, “You too were with Jesus the Galilean.” 70 But he denied it before them all, saying, “I do not know what you are talking about.” 71 When he had gone out to the gateway, another servant-girl saw him and *said to those who were there, “This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.” 72 And again he denied it with an oath, “I do not know the man.” 73 A little later the bystanders came up and said to Peter, “Surely you too are one of them; for even the way you talk gives you away.”74 Then he began to curse and swear, “I do not know the man!” And immediately a rooster crowed.

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II. Confusion: Jesus was not the Messiah Peter expected.

If you are not careful expectations can destroy your faith.

Peter was not the follower he thought he would be.

Matthew 26:75 NASB

75 And Peter remembered the word which Jesus had said, “Before a rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly.

John 20:1-4 NLT

Early on Sunday morning, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance. 2 She ran and found Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved. She said, “They have taken the Lord’s body out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!” 3 Peter and the other disciple started out for the tomb. 4 They were both running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first.

Jesus wasn’t the Messiah Peter expected, Jesus was greater than He imagined!

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III. Clarity: Hope is in the empty tomb.  

Peter wasn’t defined by failure, he was defined by hope.  

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1. HEAR–Respond to God
Titus 3:4-6

But—“When God our Savior revealed his kindness and love, he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit.a 6He generously poured out the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior.

God meets a real need inside each and every one of us.

Isaiah 49:16

we are engraved on the palm of His hand;

 

Psalm 17:8

you are the apple of His eye.

Quote from Packer.
“There is tremendous relief in knowing that His love to me is utterly realistic, based at every point on prior knowledge of the worst about me, so that no discovery now can disillusion Him about me, in the way I am so often disillusioned about myself, and quench His determination to bless me.”

Jeremiah 9:23-24
This is what the Lord says:

“Don’t let the wise boast in their wisdom,

   or the powerful boast in their power,

   or the rich boast in their riches.

24 But those who wish to boast

   should boast in this alone:

that they truly know me and understand that I am the Lord

   who demonstrates unfailing love

   and who brings justice and righteousness to the earth,

and that I delight in these things.

   I, the Lord, have spoken!

We were made to know God.

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2.  KNOW–Recognize His voice

John 10:3

The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep recognize his voice and come to him. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.

John 10:4

After he has gathered his own flock, he walks ahead of them, and they follow him because they know his voice.

John 10:14-15

“I am the good shepherd; I know my own sheep, and they know me, 15 just as my Father knows me and I know the Father. So I sacrifice my life for the sheep.

Sheep have excellent hearing.  If we know Jesus, we should know and recognize His voice.

Sheep are also easily distracted.

If we are not careful we drown out the voice of God with all the noise that we have continually around us.

John 17:21

I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me.

I and the Father are one…
“His profound relationship with God characterizes the intimacy He seeks with His followers.”

It is also why Jesus died.  He has a profound commitment to the ones He loves…like the shepherd with His sheep.

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3. OBEY–Do what He says.

HOW TO WALK THIS OUT

Colossians 3:12

Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.

Kindness is the disposition to think about others, it adds greatly to the joy of their existence to let them see (even in little ways) that we are not forgetting them, but are giving them a place in our thoughts. As God’s holy and beloved, we are to be the vehicles of the Divine thoughtfulness.

JOHN 10:27

Colossians 3:12 NLT

Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.

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I. Clothe yourself with Kindness

Kindness is the quality of being friendly, generous, and considerate in an effort to meet the need of others.

Simply put, “Kindness is love in action”

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II. Kindness makes you look good!

http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/beautiful-minds/is-kindness-physically-attractive/

Here is what the research study found…Kind people are more physically attractive.

Proverbs 19:22 TLB

22 Kindness makes a man attractive. And it is better to be poor than dishonest.

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III. Kindness is Intentional

2 Samuel 9:1 NLT

1.One day David asked, “Is anyone in Saul’s family still alive—anyone to whom I can show kindness for Jonathan’s sake?”

“Is there anyone to whom I can show kindness?”

2 Samuel 9:2-4 NLT

2 He summoned a man named Ziba, who had been one of Saul’s servants. “Are you Ziba?” the king asked. “Yes sir, I am,” Ziba replied.

3 The king then asked him, “Is anyone still alive from Saul’s family? If so, I want to show God’s kindness to them.”

Ziba replied, “Yes, one of Jonathan’s sons is still alive. He is crippled in both feet.”

4 “Where is he?” the king asked.

“In Lo-debar,” Ziba told him, “at the home of Makir son of Ammiel.”

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IV. Kindness Costs Something

2 Samuel 9:7-11 NLT

7 “Don’t be afraid!” David said. “I intend to show kindness to you because of my promise to your father, Jonathan. I will give you all the property that once belonged to your grandfather Saul, and you will eat here with me at the king’s table!”

8 Mephibosheth bowed respectfully and exclaimed, “Who is your servant, that you should show such kindness to a dead dog like me?”

9 Then the king summoned Saul’s servant Ziba and said, “I have given your master’s grandson everything that belonged to Saul and his family. 10 You and your sons and servants are to farm the land for him to produce food for your master’s household.[b] But Mephibosheth, your master’s grandson, will eat here at my table.” (Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.)

11 Ziba replied, “Yes, my lord the king; I am your servant, and I will do all that you have commanded.” And from that time on, Mephibosheth ate regularly at David’s table,[c] like one of the king’s own sons.

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March Kindness Challenge: What is something you can give away this week?

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Romans 12:9-16 NET

9 Love must be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil, cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another with mutual love, showing eagerness in honoring one another. 11 Do not lag in zeal, be enthusiastic in spirit, serve the Lord. 12 Rejoice in hope, endure in suffering, persist in prayer. 13Contribute to the needs of the saints, pursue hospitality. 14 Bless those who persecute you, bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty but associate with the lowly. Do not be conceited.

We were all strangers.

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Leviticus 19:33-34 NLT

33 “Do not take advantage of foreigners who live among you in your land. 34 Treat them like native-born Israelites, and love them as you love yourself. Remember that you were once foreigners living in the land of Egypt. I am the lord your God.God brought us home.

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Titus 3:3 NLT

3 Once we, too, were foolish and disobedient. We were misled and became slaves to many lusts and pleasures. Our lives were full of evil and envy, and we hated each other.

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God brought us home.

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Leviticus 19:34 ESV

34 You shall treat the stranger who sojourns with you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.

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Exodus 20:2 NLT

4 But—When God our Savior revealed his kindness and love,

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We help others feel at home.

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