Warriors Arise: October 13, 2020
John 21:15-17 (NKJV) So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Feed My lambs.” 16 He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Tend My sheep.” 17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, 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.”
What is Jesus really saying by asking the same question three times? Seriously, this would bother me, especially if I didn't understand why. In Simon's third response, he says, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.” Therefore, since Jesus knows all things, why is He continuing to ask the same question?
This stuck out to me years ago. It really bothered me. The emotion describing Peter seems a little odd to me until I understood why. Jesus does know all things and He knows Peter is still being hounded by guilt and shame. Those are two powerful tools of the enemy. When the enemy can get us to embrace guilt and shame he badgers us as if he has the strings to control us. He uses the guilt to control us with shame.
Most people know when we sin we come clean when we repent, confess our sin to God and receive His forgiveness. However, what happens when you have done that but you still feel the guilt? Guilt is like a sickness running through your body making you weak, tired, and have the desire to isolate yourself or some form of hiding. Shame comes in and fogs your mind from thinking clearly. Shame causes us to loose hope on ever being free. Shame is overwhelming; because when we allow the enemy to cloak us with shame we have to immediately throw it off. But how? No one wants to live imprisoned by guilt and shame.
My Dad was speaking Sunday to the youth at our Barnyard Olympics. He said something that has been grinding my mind at all day. One of his seven points, "I must forgive myself." Why is this so hard? It is easy to ask God to forgive me, because I know His amazing love toward me. Most of the time, I can humble myself to seek forgiveness from those whom I have hurt, without too much trouble. God points out my wrong and I yield; then I go take care of it. After I have repented to God and sought forgiveness from others, why do I still feel cruddy? I want to be free from the guilt and shame.
I must forgive myself.
Jesus asked Simon three times, "Do you love me?" Asking this question three times is very important. Peter is grieved, because Jesus is applying the question and Peter's denial to three other questions. Peter is grieved at the memory when his love for Jesus was in question.
ONE
John 18:17 (NKJV) Then the servant girl who kept the door said to Peter, “You are not also one of this Man's disciples, are you?”
He said, “I am not.”
John 21:15 (NKJV)...Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.”
TWO
John 18:25 (NKJV) Now Simon Peter stood and warmed himself. Therefore they said to him, “You are not also one of His disciples, are you?” He denied it and said, “I am not!”
John 21:16 (NKJV) He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.”
THREE
John 18:26-27 (NKJV) One of the servants of the high priest, a relative of him whose ear Peter cut off, said, “Did I not see you in the garden with Him?” 27 Peter then denied again; and immediately a rooster crowed.
John 21:17 (NKJV) He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, 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.”
For each time Peter denied Jesus, He asked Peter to state his love for Him. Each time, it got more real. Jesus didn't ask Peter three times, because He didn't know Peter's love for Him. Jesus asked Peter three times to cancel out each time Peter had denied Him. Jesus led Peter to conquer guilt and shame with the truth. The response of Peter's love for Jesus, cancelled out his denial of Jesus, as a disciple of Jesus. Jesus had already forgiven Peter but Peter had to forgive himself so the guilt and shame would not dominate his life. Peter had to be restored to his calling with no guilt and no shame.
Jesus could have told Peter, I know you love me, I forgive you; we are good. But when you know you have sinned against the Lord, you were a poor representation of the Father's love, not only do you need to confess your sin to God, but you need to forgive yourself. Jesus helped Peter to forgive himself by having him answer the question, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?”
God doesn't need to hear us profess our love for Him. But sometimes we need to declare our love for Him because we need to get the right perspective, God's perspective. After we have confessed our sin and repented then guilt and shame have no place in our life. If you are still struggling with sins you have already repented for why do you profess your love for the Lord. For each confessed sin that still haunts you, declare your love for God. Every time the enemy wants to remind you of sin hear the Lord ask, "Do you love Me?" And answer it. He has forgiven us now we need to forgive ourselves.
Father, I love You. I love You because You loved me before I even knew I needed to be loved. I love You because You are ready and willing to forgive me even before I am ready to forgive me. I love You because You never give up on me. I love You because You have always been with me in my darkest days and every success. I love You because You set me up to win. I love You because You gave me purpose. I love You because You gave me a new life in Christ. I love You because You hold me when I need loved and heal me when I am hurt. I love You because You share Your wisdom when I ask and teach me Your ways. I love You because You want the very best for me. I love You because when I am weak You strengthen me. I love You because You are my Advocate and Defender; You are my Rock and Strong Tower, You are my shield and my protector. I love You because You have never turned me away. I love You because You are with me of every minute of every day. I love You because You encourage me, cheer for me, and celebrate me. I love You because You created me with a destiny. I love You because You work all things out fo my benefit. I love You because You have given me authority over the enemy. I love You because You have taught me how to take down the enemy. I love You because You sent Jesus to be the pure sacrifice for my sins. I love You because You sent the Holy Spirit to guide, comfort, and direct me in Your ways. I love You because Your love never fails in Jesus' name amen.
A Warrior in the Lord’s Army,
Veridee Joy
My hope is for Believers in Jesus Christ to join together each day to pray, to push back the enemy as we release God’s power here on earth against the coronavirus, riots, and lies. The prayers will be listed each day as Warriors Arise. I will put a date with it so we can keep them straight. If you have any questions please feel free to make a comment or private message me. If you would like this to come to your email directly please go to verideehand.com and subscribe.
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