Rom 8:31 (NIV) What, then, shall we say in response to this? IF God is for us, who can be against us? The problem with Peter was, he didn’t think God was for him anymore. He thought he had committed the unpardonable sin. Jesus had warned about that: Luke 12:10 (NIV) And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.

Do you remember the WANT and HATE of Romans 7:15? Peter doesn’t know it yet; but, he still has what God requires of a Christian. Jesus had already told Peter that he wasn’t going to be condemned and commit the unpardonable sin: Luke 22:31-32 (NIV) “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” Peter’s faith was really being challenged but Jesus prayed: that your faith may not fail.

It hurts when you fail Jesus. But, times like these are very important moments in your and Peter's lives. He, like you, had to learn that self-dependency isn't the answer to living the life of God. His attitude was good. His intentions were good. He thought he was telling Jesus the truth when he said he would be willing to die for Him. You think this. But, when you fail, because you have a sincere heart, you will weep bitterly.

Peter made Jesus a promise; he tried with everything he had, and failed Him. He was starting to realize he wasn't made out of the right stuff. Until you come to this place, you will always be incomplete in your training. This weeping that Peter was doing wasn’t with spiritual understanding. Peter was very disappointed in himself. He probably hated himself. Because he didn’t keep his promise, he decided that he was no longer worthy to be one of Jesus’ disciples.

This is a satanic attack coming against Peter. All the work Jesus had done in his life was being called into play during this moment in time. Did Peter respond to Jesus’ training with a true heart; or, was he just acting like he wanted Jesus and the things He had to offer? Few people understand just how important the time of training is. During the times of training, you may not see how important it is going to be once you have to use it.

When you are going through the life-classes, taking these courses, facing the smaller tests in life, and applying yourself to learning the subjects, you don't feel much urgency. You do feel a certain amount of apprehension when something bigger comes around. But even then you still don't see it all from a future perspective. Just like your education for your career, it isn't until you are faced with a job that requires all that training, that you see more clearly how important all your training was.

Let Jesus show you some of the life-classes He put Peter through trying to help him be ready for future challenges:

• Luke 5:4-6 (NIV) When He (Jesus) had finished speaking, He said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.” Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because You say so, I will let down the nets.” When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. Peter needed to use these principles when Jesus told him he was going to deny Him three times. He needed to know Jesus only speaks truth.


• Mat 17:24-27 (NIV) After Jesus and His disciples arrived in Capernaum, the collectors of the two-drachma tax came to Peter and asked, “Doesn’t your Teacher pay the temple tax?” “Yes, He does,” he replied. When Peter came into the house, Jesus was the first to speak. “What do you think, Simon?” He asked. “From whom do the kings of the earth collect duty and taxes--from their own sons or from others?” “From others,” Peter answered. “Then the sons are exempt,” Jesus said to him.
  
  This life-class of Peter’s was teaching him to not speak in Jesus’ behalf: “But so that we may not offend them, go to the lake and throw out your line. Take the first fish you catch; open its mouth and you will find a four-drachma coin. Take it and give it to them for My tax and yours.” When Peter made his promise, he directly refuted Jesus’ words. This life-class should have taught Peter to accept Jesus’ words. He should have learned to not put words in Jesus’ mouth and not take any out.


• When Peter was attempting to walk on water and started sinking, immediately Jesus reached out His hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” He said, “why did you doubt?” This should have taught Peter to never doubt Jesus.

John 14:15 (NIV) If you love Me, you will obey what I command. Part of Jesus’ training program was to help Peter not only WANT to obey, TRY to obey, DETERMINE to obey, and be TRAINED to obey, He wanted to teach him how to get the POWER to obey. At the point of Peter’s failure, he was still looking to himself and his own abilities. It was vital that he learn how to put his depency on Jesus. Christian want, try, determine, and be trained to obey is empowered through Jesus and not through human resources.

Since Peter got that opportunity to try out his own determination, stamina, self-control, human skills and through them fail, he was ready for Jesus to bring him back into the discipleship program. Since Peter was a lot more humble, Jesus was able to reinstate him and got him to listen to what He was saying to him. The big issue was, to bring Peter to the place where he would accept Jesus’ forgiveness for such a big failure. Peter did NOT believe he was worthy of any kind of forgiveness for such a huge failure. He was going to learn about grace.