| RESTORATION TIME ! I KNOW HOW LOW PETER FELT AFTER DENYING JESUS AND NOW HE WAS ALIVE . YES THERE WAS JOY WHEN HE APPEARED TO THEM IN THE UPPER ROOM AND OTHER PLACES BUT THE FEELING OF DISCONNECTION TO THE MASTER PERSISTED FOR PETER. IT HAPPENS TO EVERYONE OF US WHEN WE LOST TRACK OF THE RIGHT WAY AND STRAY INTO THE SNARES OF THE ENEMY ; DEGRADING OUR ORIGINAL STATUS WITH THE FAMILY. NOW THAT WE REALIZED IT IS ALL VANITY AND THE POWER OF THE FLESH IS WEAK ; WE BECOME DEPRESS AND LOW IN SPIRIT ! HAD THEY LISTENED CAREFULLY WHEN THE MASTER WAS WITH THEM , THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN PREPARED FOR HOUR LIKE THESE . WHY DO YOU THINK HE TOLD THEM THE PARABLE OF THE PRODIGAL SON ? FOR ALL HAVE SINNED AND FALLEN SHORT OF GOD'S GLORY AND NEEDS TO E RESTORED . NOW WHEN IT'S RESTORATION TIME ; A NEW CHAPTER IN LIFE OPENS FOR THE NEW US AS THE CATERPILLAR BECOMES A BUTTERFLY. IN THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 21; HE APPEARS AT THE SEASIDE AFTER A NIGHT OF FRUSTRATION . THE NIGHTS ARE USUALLY LONG AND COLD AND COULD DAMPEN OUR SPIRITS TO THE LOWEST IT CAN GO. PETER HAD ENCOURAGED THE BRETHREN TO GO FISHING TO BLOW OFF SOME EMOTIONAL STREAM ;BUT IT WAS A UNSUCCESSFUL TRIP AND THEIR TOILING ALL NIGHT YIELD NOTHING. INTERESTINGLY. OUR GOD ALWAYS APPEARS WHEN EVERYTHING ELSE SEEMS TO FAIL. THAT'S WHAT I LOVE ABOUT JESUS CHRIST MOST. ALWAYS THAT LIGHT AT THE END OF OUR DARKNESS TUNNELS. STANDING AT THE SEASIDE THAT DAY ; THE MASTER HAD COME TO RESTORE PETER TO THE PATH OF HIS DESTINY ONCE MORE . BUT FIRST HE DEMONSTRATED THAT IN HIM ONE CAN ACHIEVE ANYTHING PHYSICAL , SPIRITUAL OR OTHERWISE! HE WANTED THEM TO KNOW THAT THERE WAS NO IMPOSSIBILITIES IN THE DICTIONARY OF HEAVEN AND THOSE THAT DWELL IN HIM AND HIM IN THEM CAN ACHIEVE WHAT THE EARTH SEES AS IMPOSSIBLE . HE COMMANDED THEM TO LET DOWN THEIR NETS ONE MORE TIME. IT SEEMS ABSURD AFTER A NIGHT OF TOILING BUT WHEN THEY OBEYED THEIR EYES WERE OPEN TO THE MYSTERIES OF A GOD OF POWER WHO CREATED ! IT'S RESTORATION TIME BUT USUALLY WE DO NOT UNDERSTAND THAT RESTORATION COMES WITH A SENSE OF DUTY ! " (15 So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. 16 He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.17 He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.) PETER HERE IS AN EXCELLENT CHANCE TO MAKE THINGS RIGHT AGAIN ; FEED MY SHEEP ! PETER NOW THAT YOU KNOW THAT POWER OF LIFE AND DEATH BELONGS TO GOD ; I CAN TRUST TO TO SHEPHERD MY FLOCKS; NOW THAT YOU HAVE KNOWN THAT THE FLESH IS WEAK AND YOUR STRENGTH COMES ONLY FROM GOD ABOVE ; THUS MAKING YOU QUALIFIED TO FEAR OR LOVE NO ONE ELSE EXCEPT YOUR MASTER ; TAKE CARE OF MY FLOCKS; NOW THAT YOU KNOW THAT THE CATTLE'S UPON A THOUSAND HILLS ARE MINE , THE RICHES OF THE EARTH, SEA AND SKIES ARE MINE ; YOU ARE QUALIFIED TO WATERED MY FLOCKS WITHOUT EATING OR SELLING THEM . PETER NOW THAT YOU KNOW THAT EVEN IF YOU LABOR THE ENTIRE YEAR WITHOUT THE POWER OF GOD IT CAN BE FRUITLESS BUT WITH GOD A SECOND IS ENOUGH TO TURN YOUR DARKEST NIGHTS INTO DAY ; YOU CAN FEED MY SHEEP BECAUSE YOU WILL KNOW THAT I AM CAPABLE OF CARING FOR YOU AND MY FLOCKS. BE THOU RESTORED TO YOUR FORMER POSITION FOR UPON THIS ROCK MY CHURCH SHALL FLOURISH....
|
