"Your Reboot Takes Determination" #3

The woman said to Peter, “You are not also one of this man’s disciples, are you?” He said, “I am not.” Now the slaves and the police had made a charcoal fire because it was cold, and they were standing around it and warming themselves. Peter also was standing with them and warming himself.

John 18:25–27 NRSV

Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. They asked him, “You are not also one of his disciples, are you?” He denied it and said, “I am not.” One of the slaves of the high priest, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, asked, “Did I not see you in the garden with him?” Again Peter denied it, and at that moment the cock crowed.

INTRODUCTION

BELOVEDS, BEGINNING ON YOUR NEW BEGINNING IN 2023 TAKES GUTS, REQUIRES STRENGTH AND DEMANDS

DETERMINATION......IN OTHER WORDS, YOUR REBOOT MAY AT TIMES FEEL LIKE AN UPHILL JOURNEY......AND

FOR

THAT JOURNEY GOD HAS GIVEN US THE GIFT OF MANY UNFORGETTABLE BIBLE CHARACTERS.....

St. Peter was a very determined, AND SOMETIMES stubborn fellow, who was quick to jump to extremes with Jesus.

While Peter’s determined attitude may have gotten him in trouble from time to time, it also is what led him to

follow Christ as faithfully as he did. Peter was the disciple who stepped out on the water with Christ. Peter was one

of the few disciples present for Christ’s transfiguration. And Peter was the one to recognize Christ as the Messiah

saying, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16).

ST PETER SHOWED US OVER AND OVER AGAIN WHAT THE GOOD FOLKS AT TEMPLESOUL AFFIRM ABOUT

DETERMINATION:

Determination is knowing what you want and going after it. It is having unwavering faith in yourself and

your ability to achieve your goals. It is putting all your efforts and energy into a particular task and then

setting out to achieve it. It is never losing sight of your goal and never giving up

You are practicing determination when you:

– Believe that what you are doing is important,

– Set goals for yourself,

– Stay focused without being distracted,

– Keep going even if it gets difficult,

– Ask for help when you need it, and

– Finish what you started

WHEN YOU ARE REBOOTING YOUR LIFE IN ONE AREA OR ANOTHER PLEASE KNOW BELOVEDS, DETERMINATION IS

NECESSARY.....DETERMINATION IS SOMETHING WE HAVE TO KNOW, USE AND ENCOURAGE IN OTHERS AROUND

US.....

WITHOUT THE OTHER DISCIPLES SEEING, FEELING AND KNOWING ST. PETER’S SENSE OF DETERMINATION HE

COULD NOT HAVE EFFECTIVELY LED THEM......HE COULD NOT HAVE BECOME THE ROCK ON WHOM JESUS CHRIST

HIMSELF WOULD BUILD THE CHURCH........

AND AS LOUD A LIFE AS ST. PETER THE FISHERMAN LIVED, BELOVEDS, WE’RE REMINDED OF THE AFRICAN PROVERB

THAT TEACHES US:

Don't underestimate the determination of a quiet person.

OR WHO AMONG US WOULD QUESTION THE WISDOM OF THE INDIAN PROVERB THAT SAYS WITH SUCH SANGUINE

SUCCINCT SURITY:

Life is not a continuum of pleasant choices, but of inevitable problems that call for strength,

determination, and hard work.

NO ONE WOULD DENY THE IMPORTANCE THEN, OF DETERMINATION TO DEVELOP, TO DEEPEN.....TO DELVE INTO

OUR NEXT STEPS.......AND TO PREPARE FOR OUR NEXT VICTORIES IN OUR LIVES......

DETERMINATION ACCORDING TO THE HAMMER

SOMETIMES WHEN WE STOP TO CONSIDER AND REFLECT ON SOME OF THE THINGS WE ARE ABLE TO EASILY PUT

OUR HANDS ON THERE ARE LIFE LESSONS AND LIFE AFFIRMATIONS WE CAN APPLY DAY BY DAY.......

BELOVEDS THIS MORNING, YOU’RE INVITED TO CONSIDER THE HAMMER.....ON ITS WAY TO FULFILLING ITS

PURPOSE:

THE HAMMER #1 - IT KEEPS ITS HEAD.....

THE HAMMER #2 - IT DOESN’T FLY OFF THE HANDLE......(OR IT’S NOT SUPPOSED TO ANYWAY, AMEN?)

THE HAMMER #3 - IT KEEPS POUNDING AWAY

THE HAMMER #4 - IT FINDS THE POINT THEN DRIVES IT HOME

THE HAMMER #5 - IT MAKES MISTAKES, BUT WHEN IT DOES, IT STARTS ALL OVER

THE HAMMER #6 - IT IS THE ONLY KNOCKER IN THE WORLD THAT DOES ANY GOOD.....

AS WE REBOOT OUR LIVES THIS NEW YEAR....LET’S SEE HOW MUCH MORE WE CAN BE LIKE THE HAMMERS THAT DO

THEIR WORK WELL.....WITH DETERMINATION, GRACE AND STREGNTH.....

IT WAS PAUL’S ENCOURAGEMENT TO THE GALATIANS THAT WE REMEMBER AS WE GEAR UP, TO GET OUR

CONVICTION AND COURAGE UP TO KEEP DONG GOD’S WILL....GALATIANS 6:9

Galatians 6:9 NRSV

So let us not grow weary in doing what is right, for we will reap at harvest time, if we do not give up.

DETERMINATION IS GREAT BUT NOT ALL WE NEED

BELOVEDS, TODAY WHEN WE REALLY RECEIVE AND LISTEN TO THE LIFE AND MINISTRY OF ST. PETER WE SEE JESUS

BUILDING HIM UP WITH DETERMINATION AND EVEN MORE.........IF DETERMINATION WAS ALL WE NEEDED MORE

NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS WOULD BE KEPT......MORE PROMISES WOULD NOT BE BROKEN.......MORE FAMILIES

WOULD STAY TOGETHER........MORE PEOPLE WOULD HAVE THE TESTIMONY OF MAKING IT TO THE TOP OF THE

MOUNTAIN OR EVEN THE TOP OF THE HEAP......

DETERMINATION IS IN MANY WAYS AN INDISPENSABLE GIFT.....WE ALL NEED A MIGHTY MEASURE OF

IT....AMEN?

BUT WE NEED DETERMINATION AND EVEN MORE.....CONSIDER THE STORY OF JACK THE PAINTER...

AFTER DECADES OF WORKING HARD AS AN ARTIST AND TEACHER, JACK FOUND HIMSELF DRINKING ALONE

AT NIGHT AND FEELING SUICIDAL. FOR YEARS JACK HAD PLAYED THE STRUGGLING ARTIST IN THE SCENE OF

GALLERIES, CRITICS AND OPENINGS. AFTER A GREAT DEAL OF INTENSE EFFORT, HE FELT THE CRITICS HAD

NEVER BEEN FAIR TO HIM, AND FROM WHERE HE STOOD, IT LOOKED AS THOUGH HE WOULD NEVER BE THE

SUCCESSFUL, FAMOUS PAINTER HE FELT HE SHOULD BE. THIS CRUSHING DEFEAT WAS LEAVING HIM ANGRY

AND DESPERATE.

BUT JACK ALSO GREW UP IN A TIME WHEN THE ARTISTIC MYTH WAS STRONG: THE STRUGGLING, HARD-

WORKING AND DETERMINED ARTIST, MISUNDERSTOOD BY ALL, FIGHTS AND CLAWS HIS WAY THROUGH THE

JUNGLE OF THE ART WORLD TO REDEEM ALL THE ILLS OF A LOST AND EVIL WORLD. JACK — DRIVEN TO BE

GOOD, TO BE WORTHY, TO BE RECOGNIZED AS A SUCCESSFUL PAINTER — PUSHED AND PUSHED, DROVE

HIMSELF BEYOND HIS CAPACITIES, WORKED UNTIL HE WAS EXHAUSTED, AND DRANK TO SOOTH HIS

DISAPPOINTMENT AND ANGER. IN JACK THE FAMOUS QUOTED BY SOMERSET MAUGHAM CAME ALIVE: “THE

ARTIST PRODUCES FOR THE LIBERATION OF THEIR SOUL.”

THIS WAS JACK THE ARTIST. BUT JACK THE PAINTER WAS MUCH GENTLER. PAINTING WAS BEAUTIFUL AND

EASY. WHEN JACK PAINTED, HE WOULD QUIET HIMSELF DOWN AND LISTEN TO HOW THE COLOR, THE

SHAPE, THE LINE SPOKE TO HIM, FOLLOWING THE BRUSH AS IT SOUGHT THE SPACES BETWEEN THINGS. HE

LISTENED FOR THE TINIEST INDICATION OF WHAT WAS NECESSARY, WHAT WAS REQUIRED. NOTHING

MORE.....

BELOVEDS, I ASK YOU THIS MORNING, WHICH VERSION OF JACK IS MORE SPIRITUAL? MORE CONNECTED TO HIS

PURPOSE.....MORE A RESULT OF HIS OWN PERSONAL REBOOT.......IF YOU WERE PRESSED TO PURSUE ONE PATH OF

JACK’S AND ONE PATH ONLY.....WOULD IT BE THE ONE THAT WAS MOST DRIVEN, MOST DETERMINED AND THE ONE

MOST LIKELY DETERMINED BY THE MYTH OF WHAT HE SHOULD BECOME?

THE DETERMINED PETER CHANGED HIS WAYS

IN OUR SCRIPTURE FOR THIS MORNING, PETER SHOWED A POWERFUL DETERMINATION TO DECEIVE IN JOHN 18: 17-18

John 18:17–18 NRSV

IT SEEMED THAT PETER MIGHT GET AWAY WITH HIS DECEPTION AT FIRST......THAT HIS DETERMINATION MIGHT WIN

THE DAY....BECAUSE PETER STOOD THERE WARMING HIMSELF AROUND THE FIRE JUST LIKE THE SLAVES AND THE

POLICE IN THE PASSAGE WERE DOING TOO.......

STANDING AROUND.....DELVING EVEN MORE DEEPLY INTO HIS OWN DETERMINATION.......

TAKE A LOOK AT OUR SCRIPTURE IN PART 2 OF THE PASSAGE FOR THIS MORNING AND YOU WILL SEE PETER EVEN

DOUBLING DOWN ON HIS DENIAL OF JESUS, A POWERFULLY DETERMINED DENIAL THAT HE WAS PART OF JESUS’

INNER CIRCLE, PART OF JESUS’ CLOSEST BAND OF FOLLOWERS, PART OF THAT GROUP OF SPECIAL PERSONS THE

BIBLE CALLS JESUS’ OWN DISCIPLES.....BECAUSE PETER WAS DETERMINED TO SAVE HIS OWN LIFE IN THAT

MOMENT.......JOHN 18: 25-27

John 18:25–27 NRSV

IN THE MOMENT PETER THOUGHT HE’D GOTTEN AWAY WITH HIS DETERMINED DECEPTION......JESUS

REMINDER

MADE A COME BACK FOR JESUS HAD TOLD PETER YOU WILL DENY YOU KNOW ME PETER, NOT ONCE, NOT TWICE,

BUT 3 TIMES....... “AGAIN PETER DENIED IT.....AND AT THAT MOMENT THE COCK CROWED....”

OH ST. PETER, IF DETERMINATION WAS ALL WE NEEDED......YOU WOULD HAVE SHOWN US THE WAY

OH ST. PETER, IF DETERMINATION WAS THE ONLY INGREDIENT IN THE REBOOT RECIPE....YOU WOULD HAVE BEEN

OUR GREATEST AND BEST EXAMPLE…YOU WOULD HAVE MADE US A WAY WORTHY TO FOLLOW......

THERE WAS ANOTHER CHARCOAL FIRE IN THE LIFE OF ST. PETER BELOVEDS......A FIRE ON A BEACH WHERE JESUS

MET ST. PETER AGAIN AFTER THE RESURRECTION.....AND IT WAS IN THAT MEETING AFTER THE RESURRECTION

THAT ST. PETER GOT TO KNOW A MEASURE OF FORGIVENESS AND REDEMPTION........

THIS WAS NOT ST. PETER IN HIS MOST DETERMINED FRAME OF MIND OR WILL.......FOR ALL MY BIBLE SCHOLARS

STAY THERE IN THE GOSPEL OF ST. JOHN AND FLIP OVER TO JOHN 21: 4-6

John 21:4–6 NRSV

Just after daybreak, Jesus stood on the beach; but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, “Children, you have no fish, have you?” They answered him, “No.” He said to them, “Cast the net to the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in because there were so many fish.

AND PETER IS THERE TOO FOR THE BIBLE TELLS US.....JOHN 21: 7-12

John 21:7–12 NRSV

That disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on some clothes, for he was naked, and jumped into the sea. But the other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, only about a hundred yards off. When they had gone ashore, they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish on it, and bread. Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.” So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, a hundred fifty-three of them; and though there were so many, the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” Now none of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?” because they knew it was the Lord.

AND IT WAS THERE ON THE BEACH FOR BREAKFAST THAT PETER HAD HIS BREAKTHROUGH......

IT WAS THERE ON THE BEACH FOR BREAKFAST THAT PETER HAD HIS 3-FOLD DENIAL MIRACULOUSLY CHANGED TO

A 3-FOLD FORGIVENESS FROM JESUS HIMSELF.......

IT WAS PERHAPS RIGHT THERE THAT ST. PETER’S OWN REBOOT BEGAN TO TAKE HOLD

CONCLUSION

BELOVEDS, AS YOU CONTINUE PRAYERFULLY PURSUING NEW PATHWAYS IN 2023........AS YOU PUT YOU CONTINUE

REBOOTING IN THIS AREA OF YOUR LIFE OR THAT AREA OF YOUR LIFE......BE ENCOURAGED.....GOD CAN USE YOUR

DETERMINATION AND SHOW YOU EVERYTHING ELSE YOU NEED TO MAKE YOUR REBOOT STICK.....

TO BRING YOUR NEW BEGINNING TO COMPLETION.....AND TO KEEP YOU WHOLE IN THE PROCESS.....REMEMBER

AND CELEBRATE THAT THERE’S MORE TO YOU AND YOUR SOUL THAN JUST YOUR DETERMINATION ALONE....

REMEMBER ART HISTORIAN SISTER WENDY BECKETT’S ENCOURAGEMENT.....

“WE HAVE A THRIFTY GOD......WHO LETS NOTHING THAT IS GOOD WITHIN US EVER GO TO WASTE......”

YES, YOUR DETERMINATION IS NEEDED FOR YOUR REBOOT BUT WE ALL NEED OUR FRIENDS HELPING US ON THIS

JOURNEY....THANK YOU RUTH AND NAOMI FOR YOUR INSPIRATION.......WE ALL NEED THE REAL REFLECTIONS THAT

HELP GUIDE US IN OUR PRAYER LIFE TOO.....THANK YOU MOSES FOR YOUR INSPIRATION.......

NEXT SUNDAY, AS WE CLOSE OUT, WE’LL CONSIDER QUEEN ESTHER AND HOW PRECIOUS TIME TRULY IS, AS WE

CONSIDER THE MESSAGE, “DON’T LET THE TIME SLIP BY FOR YOUR REBOOT....”

LET US PRAY.....

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