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The Mercy of God
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“No, no, I don’t know Him.”
“I saw you, I know you…”
“No, I don’t know Him. I’m telling you, I don’t know Him.” He stood out there and spoke curses
and denied the Lord. Do you reckon how low he felt when the rooster crowed, and he
remembered what Jesus told him when he stood up there so adamant saying, “I will never deny
You. If I die with you, I will…”? The Bible says he wept bitterly. He cried. (Luke 22:62)
I suspect Peter thought that was it, and there are indications that say so. When Jesus was raised
from the dead, He said, “Go tell My disciples and Peter…” (Mark 16:7) because Peter wasn’t in
the group. Do you remember that? Then, after He’s raised from the dead and they caught the fish
and were sitting there on the side of the lake, Jesus took him aside. He said, “Peter.” He knows
he’s hurting. “Boy, do you love Me?” (John 21:15)
He said, “Yes.” How many times did He ask him? He asked him three times. Peter had denied
Him three times.
He asked him again. “Peter, do you love Me?”
He said, “Yes, yes.” The last time they talked and He told him he was going to deny Him, Peter
was so vocal, so adamant, but he probably came across a little milder this time. He was probably
thinking, “Umm, I think so. You tell me.”
But he said, “Yes, Lord.”
And then a third time He said, “Peter, do you love Me?”
He said, “Lord, You know everything. You know I do.”
Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.” (John 21:15) What does that mean? He’s going to have a job in the
kingdom. He’s not out. And on the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit fell on them and Peter stood
up. He wasn’t moping around and dragging his feet thinking he’s not in the bunch and that he
missed it. He stood up and preached like a house afire. Thousands came in, and the Book of Acts
follows him right on through. There were miracles, and people were getting healed by his
shadow falling on them. Now that is getting used of God. That was after standing out there
cursing and denying the Lord.
I’m telling you, the Lord’s mercy endures forever. I don’t care what you’ve done. I don’t care
how badly you’ve blown it and messed up. If you’re willing to repent, there’s a future for you, a
bright future for you. You can still be used of God. Yes, you can. Don’t let the devil tell you any
other thing.
But if you want to beat yourself over the head and say, “I’ve blown it and I know I’m not
worthy. Don’t try to talk to me about it,” well, that is the only thing that can hold you out—your
stubbornness and your pride.