A PEEK BEHIND THE CURTAIN (2): A PROVIDENTIAL MASTERPIECE

(Luke 22:31-34)
August 7, 2017

Read Luke 22:31-34 Why were you saved? To go to heaven? That is a

wonderful result of faith in Christ. But thats not why God saved you. After
telling how we get saved in Eph 2:8-9, Paul tells us why in v. 10. It may
surprise you. Eph 2:10: For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus
for good works. His is emphatic. Of Him we are a workmanship. Hes
creating something new of us. Were a Workmanship, of good works!
Workmanship is the Greek word -- a making of God. By Pauls
time the word meant a work of art and not just any art the art of Him! -- a
creation intended to allure, to dazzle knocking off rough edges -- a
painstakingly crafted work of exquisite beauty. Christ is making of each of us
a masterpiece of good works! Were not saved for us; were saved for Him
to show His glory by the way we live in response to His love for us.

But most of us dont feel like a masterpiece. We feel weve blown it long ago.
Phillie announcer, Harry Kalas, once introduced Garry Maddox by saying,
Garry has turned his life around. He used to be depressed and miserable.
Now hes miserable and depressed. Perhaps thats you this morning. In
your efforts to turn yourself ard youve only gone from depressed and
miserable to miserable and depressed. In that case, youre exactly the raw
material Gods seeking. If it takes an artisan to make a masterpiece out of
Italian marble, imagine what it takes to make art out of scrap metal from the
dump. But thats Gods specialty -- making masterpieces out of junk. He uses
every good and every miserable, even sinful experience to do just that.

Ever watch those HG shows where they take some dilapidated house and turn
it into a thing of beauty? Patty loves those. But let me tell you, God is the
greatest renovator of all. I dont care what your past, what colossal failure or
sin youve been thru, God will create a masterpiece of it if you let Him.

The disciples need renovation having a trivial argument about greatness

even as Jesus faces death. Jesus shows true greatness lies in serving. But Hes
not done yet. Then He gives a sneak peek at what goes on behind the curtain
of the spiritual universe where God and Satan reside. This will profoundly
affect them all particularly Peter. Hell learn God can take junk and make a
masterpiece. But it wont be easy! We saw the first part of this last week.

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 I. The Profane Petition Last week we saw that Satan demands to
have all the disciples to destroy their faith exactly his intention for all of us.
II. The Priestly Prayer What saves them (and us) is Jesus praying
for us. He doesnt ask for removal of the test; He asks for building of faith.
III. The Prideful Pronouncement Peters response? Dont need
your help; in fact, Ill help you. Count on me. Ill do my own masterpiece.

IV. The Predicted Peril

But 34 Jesus said, I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow this day, until
you deny three times that you know me. Providence again. Peter, let me tell
you what youre really going to do! You are going to fail spectacularly!
Youre going to deny me three times. Thats a little more than a blip. Thats
a disaster. Peters overconfidence will be his downfall. And the key is in
Jesus first statement: 31 Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have
you. Simon acting like his old self. Confident in his own ability. Sure of his
own commitment and certain of his own power. Its a recipe for disaster like
always when we trust in our own wisdom, preparation or cleverness. The old
hymn is right: The arm of flesh will fail you; you dare not trust your own.
But Peter didnt know that yet. Hes about to learn it the hard way.

Abe did too. A famine in Canaan drove him to Egypt. He told his wife, Sarai,
Gen 12: 11 . . . I know that you are a woman beautiful in appearance, 12 and
when the Egyptians see you, they will say, This is his wife. Then they will
kill me, but they will let you live. 13 Say you are my sister, that it may go well
with me because of you, and that my life may be spared for your sake. Abe
needs protection. So what does he do? Trust in God? Nope. This is the old
fleshly Abraham. Abe trusting Abe. So, how did that work out? Not so great.

Pharaoh, thinking Abe was Sarahs bro, paid a huge dowry to take her into his
harem. How manly do you suppose Abe was feeling about that time? It got
worse. Gen 12:17 But the LORD afflicted Pharaoh and his house with great
plagues because of Sarai, Abrams wife.18 So Pharaoh called Abram and said,
What is this you have done to me? Why did you not tell me that she was your
wife? 19 Why did you say, She is my sister, so that I took her for my wife?
Now then, here is your wife; take her, and go. Abes fleshly effort left him a
highly conflicted coward, exposed his wife to immorality, brought plagues
on his neighbors - a curse rather than the blessing he was meant to be. Listen,
God uses our preparation, education and talent. But only after we bring it to
Him, lay it on the altar, and kill it. You have to brutal with the flesh or it will
overtake you in a minute, just like Peter. Just like Abe. We cant go it alone!
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Dr. Bronson Ray is a brain surgeon who saw a boy on a scooter smash into a
tree. He got a bystander to call 911 and began to examine the boy. As he was
working, a young man pushed thru the crowd, tapped Dr. Ray on the shoulder
and said, Ill take over now, sir. Im a Boy Scout; I know first aid. Really!?
Thats like a second Lt. elbowing Ike aside on D-Day and saying, Ill take it
from here, sir. Thats like Peter telling Jesus, Dont you worry. Ill take
care of myself and you, too. Thats like me saying, Well, I spent 30 hours
on this sermon. Surely itll save some people or you saying, Man, Ill wow
those kids with this clever object lesson. Should we prepare as best we can?
God requires it. But Hell do the painting. In our own strength all we can do
is keep making Him start all over again. Were always colossal failures
operating on our own. The arm of flesh will fail you like it failed Peter.

V. The Preserving Pardon

Thankfully, thats not the end of the story. Theres a pardon and payoff in
Peters future. The first is found in v. 32b: And when you have turned
again. Turned again. Repentance! Turn back. Turn around. Peter will act
like old Simon, right thru a disastrous 3-fold denial of Christ. But he wont
stay there. Hell return from denial to disciple. Hell turn again. Hell repent.

But Peters not the only colossal failure. Theres another -- Judas. There are
10 very scared guys in this crowd, but 2 betrayers. One returns to the fold; the
other doesnt. One lives a life of infinite usefulness; the other kills himself.
Ones in heaven; the other isnt. The difference? Repentance. Judas regretted
his decision, soon as he saw the brutality of Jesus captors. But he never
repented. Peters heart was always repentant; Judas heart never was. It
wasnt their actions that made them different; it was their hearts. Peter got
forgiveness. Could Judas? Yes. But he never repented; only regretted.

Isnt it wonderful to know you can be forgiven the most brutal denial of Jesus?
Peters is John 21. After His resurrection, Jesus found Peter back fishing.
Hed had no luck that night, but someone on shore says, Try the other side!
They were overrun with fish Peters first clue this was the Lord. Jesus
cooked breakfast isnt that good? No stinging rebuke no, How could you
have done that, Peter? just a gracious meal for a hungry fisherman.

But then Jn 21:15, Simon (old Peter), do you love (agape the highest,
selfless love) me? You remember the story. Three times he asked Peter, Do
you love me? one for each denial. Jesus is seeking confession. And He gets
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it. The first two times Jesus asks, Do you me? And Peter answers,
Yes I love you brotherly love, affection. Hed never ceased to love
Jesus that way but he certainly did not selflessly love Him around that patio
fire. He confesses his guilt. And then beautifully, the third time, Jesus asks,
Simon, do you love me? ! Beautiful grace. Hes saying, I hear
your confession, Peter. Ill meet you where you are. You are at today,
and that is where Ill meet you. will come. Meantime go feed my
sheep. Forgiveness and restoration always there for repentant hearts.

Howard Cadle had a Xn mom but an alcoholic dad whom he emulated. By age
12 he was drinking out of control and soon his gambling put him in the grips
of a Midwest crime syndicate. But his mother persisted. She said, Always
remember Howard that at 8:00 every night Ill be kneeling beside your bed
asking God to protect and save you. For a long time the prayers seemed to
no avail. One night in a drunken rampage, Howard Cadle pulled a pistol on
another man and pulled the trigger. But the weapon failed to fire, and someone
knocked it away. Howards eye caught a nearby clock. 8:00!

It wasnt long after that his health broke. A doc gave him six months. He
returned home: Mother, Ive broken your heart. Id like to be saved, but Ive
sinned too much. Mom gave him Isa 1:18: Come now, let us reason
together, says the LORD: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as
white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like
wool. She told him, No sin is too bad to be covered by Jesus death. To
think so would deny His worth. But you must repent. And Howard did. He
soon recovered both spiritually and physically. He turned to honest pursuits
and soon was making money hand over fist. Became a major financier for
Gypsy Smith crusades and eventually one of the first radio evangelists himself
over WLW in Cincinnati. He once said, Until He calls me, I shall preach the
same gospel that caused my sainted mother to pray for me.

That gospel hasnt changed, Beloved. If youve never come to Christ, today is
the day. You can leave with your slate wiped clean. If you know Christ, but
youve denied Him by the way youve lived, forgiveness can be yours. Youve
not lost your salvation, but youve lost your way. So, Turn again.

VI. The Providential Payoff

This is so powerful. Listen carefully. God never wastes anything in our lives.
Nothing. Not even the sin. Hell use it all to make a masterpiece of any
repentant heart. This is shown in 2 ways here. First, v. 31 Jesus says, Simon,
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Simon. Thats about the same as saying, Danger. Warning! You can
almost hear the warning buzzer go off. Simon youre about to revert to your
old self. And its not going to be pretty. Be alert. BUT -- v. 34: I tell you,
Peter, the rooster will not crow this day, until you deny three times that you
know me. When Jesus actually predicts the ugly details of his coming failure,
He calls Him Peter. Its the only time in the Gospels that Jesus calls him
Peter. Peter. Rock. Whats He doing? Hes addressing him as the masterpiece
he will become, not the failure he is. I love that, dont you?

Jesus did the same with Gideon. You say, No way. Gideon was 1300 years
before Jesus was born. Right, but nevertheless, he met Jesus. Midian was
oppressing Israel and God responds: Judges 6:12, And the angel of the
LORD appeared to him [Gideon] and said to him, The LORD is with you, O
mighty man of valor. Whos the angel of the Lord? That is a title often used
of Jesus in OT appearances. So Jesus says to Gideon, The LORD is with you,
O mighty man of valor. Mighty man of valor? Not quite yet!

Gideon protests that he is the weakest son in the weakest family in the weakest
clan in the weakest tribe of Israel. He offered a sacrifice as God commanded
at night because he was afraid of his own family. It took not one but two
fleece experiments to convince him the Lord really wanted him. Mighty man
of valor? No way. So whyd Jesus call him that? Because listen because
Jesus sees what He is making of us not what He is starting with. Jesus sees
the masterpiece He is creating, not the mess we give Him to work with.
Youre going to fail miserably, Peter. Youre not ready. But Ive got your
back. I see you as the Rock you will become, not the Simon you are. Arent
you glad Jesus sees you for what you will be, not for what you are? Theres a
payoff coming for true believers. Jesus calling him Peter hints at that.

But there is a 2nd, crystal clear statement. V. 32b: And when you have turned
again, strengthen your brothers. So track with me. Jesus is saying Youre
going to fail. I know that. But youre going to repent. I know that; I know
your heart. And guess what? Im going to use your failure to enable your
ministry. Grasp that truth; it will change your life. God wastes nothing. He
will use your strengths and your weakness; your joys and your sorrows; your
successes and your failures to enable your mission. That is empowering. Hell
use your successes to encourage and inspire; Hell use your hardships to
speak comfort others in similar situations; and he will use your sin to
encourage others away from similar failure and to show His grace in the midst
of failure. No wasted parts; no throwaway experiences; no expendable events
when repentance is at the core of existence. God uses it all!
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God used the sin of adultery and murder in Davids life to ultimate good.
How? By showing us that however glamorous sin may look and however good
it may feel, the price later is very high. We need to know that. But he also
showed us that His grace is sufficient to cover any sin. Except for Davids
failure wed never have had the comfort of Psa 32 and 51 showing us that
thru Christ God can forgive anything. God used the sin of disagreement
between Paul and Barnabas to result in 2 missionary teams instead of one.
There is nothing in our life that God will not use if we live a humble,
repentant life. Take heart! You are not the first exception. You are in a long
line of failures that God is using for His glory. His providential payoff is still
in effect as He continues to create masterpieces of good works out of the trash
bins of failure.

Conc Eph 6:10: Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his
might. Peter tried to be strong in Simons might. It didnt work out so well.
But he learned, that God is ready to pick up the pieces as soon as we turn
again. A woman ordered a copy of her birth certificate. But when it came a
few weeks later, she stomped into the courthouse complaining, My birth
certificate arrived this morning, but it was filled out wrong! The clerk
asked, What do you mean? The woman angrily replied, Its in my maiden
name! I guess she didnt want to live with that original identity any longer,
and neither must we. Peter couldnt change the fact that he was born
Simon. But he didnt have to live there. As he turned again Jesus
created a masterpiece named Peter. And Hell create a masterpiece of us, too,
one that will act like who we are in Christ, not who we were. Lets pray.