Don’t Quit! – Turn your Failure into Faithfulness

Pastor Phil Derstine 8-10-25

Peter Quit – John 21:1-22

  • Look for the Fingerprints of God – He can Turn your Failure into Faithfulness 
  • Vrs. 3 (Peter) “I’m going fishing…” (not for fun or food, but out of discouragement and shame)
  • Peter had seen miracles, walked on water, had revelation “Thou art the Christ!”
  • He vowed to never fail Jesus, yet denied Him 3 times.
  1. We all Fall – But don’t let your fall define you!
  • Romans 7:18 “I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.”
  • Proverbs 24:16 “For though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again, but the wicked are brought down by calamity.”
  1. Other’s Followed – Your life has leadership for good or bad.
  • Your leadership affects OTHERS – Your decisions have ripple effects!
    • I Timothy 4:12 “Be an example for believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.”
  • Philippians 2:12 “Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.”
  1. Life didn’t get Better – They caught NOTHING!
  • Sometimes God lets us fail so we realize we need Him.
  • Galatians 6:7 “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.”
  • Sow to the flesh – reap destruction.  Sow to the Spirit – reap Life everlasting
  1. Jesus showed Up – God is always pursuing You.
  • When Jesus shows us, things change, but we must listen!
  • Luke 19:10 “For the Son of man came to seek and to save the lost.”
  • Matthew 28:20 “Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”
  • Psalm 46:1 “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”
  1. Jesus gave an Instruction – “Throw your net on the RIGHT side!”
  • Your ANSWER is as close as your willingness to OBEY
  1. Abundance comes from God – this reminded Peter of his original call.
  • “153 large fish and the net was not broken” – The Fingerprints of God!
  • Luke 5:4 (Peter’s original calling) “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a large catch! (5) Peter answered, Master, we have toiled all night and have taken nothing: nevertheless, at thy word, I will let down the net.”
  1. Peter swam to Jesus – He didn’t wait for the boat to dock; he jumped in and swam!
  • Proverbs 18:10 “The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.”
  • Don’t delay – run back to Jesus the moment you recognize Him.
  1. Jesus made Breakfast
  • “Come and Dine!” – God desires family and fellowship
  • “A fire of coals” (Gr: anthrakia) – only used here and John 18:18, when Peter denied Christ.
  1. Love is the Test – before restoration, there’s a heart check.
    • “Do you truly love Me?”  (3 times: perhaps to mirror Peter’s 3 denials)
  • Gr: Agape (Sacrificial, Divine) vrs. Phileo (Friendship affection)
  • James 4:8 “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.”
  • John 15 (Prodigal sons) – One strayed and one stayed…both were out of fellowship with the Father.
  1. Jesus Re-commissioned Peter
  • “Feed my sheep… Follow Me”  (3 Times)
  • Hebrews 12:2 “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith.  For the joy set before Him he endured the cross… (3) Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” 
  • Peter got it - Tradition tells us that he was crucified, with his wife, upside down because he did not feel worthy to suffer in the same way as his Lord.
  • Don’t Quit!  Failure is not your finish line! – God turned Peter’s Failure into Faithfulness!