This is How You Can Live a Meaningful Life Despite Your Failures

Pride always goes before any spiritual fall, and, unfortunately, it’s often the one who thinks he is the greatest that falls the furthest. As well, it seems pride causes us to stumble perpetually. Despite all the warnings of pride’s danger, humanity continues to be tripped by it over and over again. Pride itself convinces us that it can’t happen to us personally. Simon Peter is an excellent example of this sinking thinking.

We can see Peter’s pride in the Upper Room during Jesus’ last supper with his disciples. Jesus gathers his closest followers together, and He informs the group that one of them will betray Him. The gathering’s response is bewildering. But, almost immediately, they divulge into a conversation about who is the greatest among them.

Nothing much has changed among Jesus’ followers. There is still betrayal in our midst, yet we continue to argue about who deserves the most recognition, likes, views, or fame. It happens in churches, workplaces, and even in our families.

As I revisit Luke’s account of the events that were transpiring, I can’t help but wonder if Simon Peter was winning the debate that night because it seems that amidst the argument about greatness, Jesus singles Peter out as the one who would fall soon.

The FALL

Then after about an hour had passed, another confidently affirmed, saying, “Surely this fellow also was with Him, for he is a Galilean.” But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are saying!” Immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had said to him, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times. So Peter went out and wept bitterly.” -Luke 22:59-62 (NKJV)

Simon Peter proceeds to deny Jesus three times. Only when he hears the rooster crowing in the background that he fully understands what Jesus was trying to tell him. Can you relate to Simon Peter? Have you ever experienced what you were warned would happen because you ignored every warning?

If so, just like Simon Peter remembered what Jesus had told him when the rooster crowed, aren’t you glad you have a history with God? Thankfully, He helps us remember what He has spoken, and from his Word, the work of the Holy Spirit brings conviction into our life. The tears of repentance in failure give way to the joy of restoration.

But, something we can’t miss about Peter’s story is that he was only given the opportunity for restoration because he was not immediately incarcerated.

When those around Him saw what was going to happen, they said to Him, “Lord, shall we strike with the sword? And one of them (Peter) struck the high priest’s servant (Malchus) and cut off his right ear. And Jesus answered and said, Suffer ye thus far. And he touched his ear and healed him. -Luke 22:49-51 (NKJV)

When the army had come to arrest Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, Peter had already become his fall from Godly character when he arose in anger and cut the ear off of Malchus’ the High Priest’s servant. This sinful act was punishable by death. Yet, Peter was never arrested. Why? Because Jesus destroyed the evidence! This action is remarkable because in doing this, Jesus is saving Simon Peter’s life! Had this moment not happened, there may have been four crosses on Calvary, not just three. Despite what the servant may have accused, Jesus destroyed the evidence of the fall!

We have all been under attack. And many of us may have fallen. In fact, we have all fallen at one point or another. Scripture clearly says, “we have all sinned, and we all come up short of the glory of God.” And “Anyone who denies this is a liar.” But the incredible thing about our God is that He takes everything the enemy meant for evil and uses it for our good! God transforms us, just like He did Simon Peter on the other side of his fall!

Simon Peter went on to become an outstanding servant of Christ. He had to be sifted, churned, and shaken so that every particle that did not belong in him could be broken. But on the other side, he preached a 10-minute sermon that saved 3,000 lives, and he demonstrated great faith in adversity! He knew that Jesus would not fail him.

We should praise God for the sifting happening in our lives because the fall can’t prevail. God wants to bring you into a period of restoration! Jesus is faithful and just to forgive you if you confess your sins. He not only forgives, but He forgets. The blood of Jesus wipes away the fall.

1. You can have a meaningful life despite the attack.

2. You can have a meaningful life despite the fall.

3. You can have a meaningful life because of God’s power of restoration.

We have a God who is willing to destroy the evidence! Let Him in. He is ready to heal whatever you’ve torn up.

Simon Peter’s ups and downs serve as an inspiring example of the relationship we can have with God. DESPITE falling, the beauty of God’s true restoration can be manifest in each of our lives.

I invite you to view this message in its entirety at this link: https://youtu.be/6bd3yscBYWw

We want to connect with you and help you take your next steps!

1. Do you have a relationship with Jesus? This decision is the first step in receiving peace in your life. If you are ready to give your life to Jesus, we would love to celebrate with you at 3trees.com.

2. Do you need to rededicate your life to Jesus? If yes, please connect with us at 3trees.com.

3. Do you feel God prompting you to take your next steps? If yes, BEGIN is waiting for you! You can walk through our ONLINE BEGIN class at 3trees.com/begin

4. Would you like to make a difference in our community? Join our captivate team! Visit 3trees.com to find out how you can participate in community outreach opportunities.

5. Subscribe to EricGilbert.org using this link:https://www.ericgilbert.org/subscribe. You’ll be able to receive updates directly to your email inbox as we post additional blogs each Thursday and Friday morning.

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The Danger of Ignoring This One Thing that Scripture Warns Us About

Pearl Harbor was a horrific event in history. Taking place on American soil, December the 7th of 1941, it transpired as Japanese bombers flew over, dropping bombs on the naval base and destroying all types of ships and aircraft. But, if the military had heeded warnings, the entire event could have most likely been prevented.

Radar technology indicated that aircraft were moving towards the base, but military leaders took for granted it was American soldiers returning and not a foreign enemy. In addition, an American Destroyer was making practice rounds and perceived a Japanese submarine. They even fired shots at it, but nothing transpired. So they went on with life, as usual, having no idea the horrific events that were about to happen moments later.

Several warnings occurred before Pearl Harbor’s destruction, yet senior naval leadership and soldiers anticipating weekend furloughs overlooked them. Many historians believe the only reason the event took place is that no one within Pearl Harbor’s administration believed it could! How could they miss it so badly? How did they not see the warnings?

Yet as we read through Scriptures, we are repeatedly given warnings that we ignore and look over!

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life and have it to the full. -John 10:10

Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. - 1 Peter 5:8

Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. -1 Peter 5:8

The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. -2 Corinthians 10:4

Straightforwardly, Jesus tells us that we have an enemy. Likewise, over and over again, we are told in the New Testament that spiritual warfare is raging perpetually throughout time and space. Yet, we seem content to ignore the warning signs and the unseen battle.

You can't just ignore the enemy; you have to resist the enemy. He will attack!

Simon Peter's life is an excellent example of what happens when we ignore the warning and don’t formulate a resistance against the enemy’s attack.

The ATTACK

And the Lord said, “Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you that your faith should not fail, and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.” But he said to Him, “Lord, I am ready to go with You, both to prison and death.” Then He said, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster shall not crow this day before you will deny three times that you know Me.” -Luke 22:31-34 (NKJV)

Jesus tells Simon Peter there will be an attack but notice that Jesus does not say that He will prevent the attack. Instead, Jesus only states that He will pray for Peter in the middle of the challenge. This event is powerful, and we need to understand that just because we have accepted Jesus as our Savior – and He loves us – this truth does NOT mean we will never come under attack.

Jesus tells Simon Peter, the enemy will sift him, meaning he will be churned and shaken. But, even as Jesus is telling Peter the enemy will sift him, Peter continues to struggle with his pride, brushing Jesus off with overconfidence. But Jesus rebukes Peter by telling him he will deny Him.

It can be very unpleasant when the enemy comes into our lives, and we experience this shaking effect. So many of you are going through this experience right now. It feels like your life is being churned, stirred up, and shaken by the enemy. Sifted. (I would venture to say that the Church as a whole from 2020 forward has been in a period of sifting!)

If you’re not familiar with the term sifting, Bonappetit.com explains it as “an action done to promote consistency in recipes by removing the large particles that could potentially result in a baked good sinking in the middle.”

“Sinking.” An interesting word considering who we are referencing! (See Matthew 14.) But, just like God allowed the sifting to take place in Simon Peter's life, He allows it to happen in our lives too. The sifting removes parts within us that are not of Him. More specifically, it removes anything prone to sink!

You won’t break during the sifting; you will become spiritually stronger!

For many of us, because of the last two years, our relationship with God is presently more vital than it’s ever been. The pandemic itself has been nothing more than a sifting in your life. And, now we are entering a period in Church history when the hot are getting hotter, and the cold are getting colder. But, thankfully, there are people like you that continue to seek God with fervency! So, press onward and upward, allowing everything that can be shaken to be shaken so that which can not be shaken will be all that remains!

I invite you to view this message in its entirety at this link: https://youtu.be/6bd3yscBYWw

We want to connect with you and help you take your next steps!

1. Do you have a relationship with Jesus? This decision is the first step in receiving peace in your life. If you are ready to give your life to Jesus, we would love to celebrate with you at 3trees.com.

2. Do you need to rededicate your life to Jesus? If yes, please connect with us at 3trees.com.

3. Do you feel God prompting you to take your next steps? If yes, BEGIN is waiting for you! You can walk through our ONLINE BEGIN class at 3trees.com/begin

4. Would you like to make a difference in our community? Join our captivate team! Visit 3trees.com to find out how you can participate in community outreach opportunities.

5. Subscribe to EricGilbert.org using this link:https://www.ericgilbert.org/subscribe. You’ll be able to receive updates directly to your email inbox as we post additional blogs each Thursday and Friday morning.

WATCH IT | DISCUSSION GUIDE| MESSAGE NOTES

The Deliverance Dilemma

Has God ever brought you out of something, but not fully delivered you to the next thing? Many of us consider this the waiting period, but Caleb Southern, our youth coordinator, refers to it as the deliverance dilemma- a time when you're waiting for God to bring you into something new. We’ve all been there.

The Israelites know all about the deliverance dilemma.

As a nation of people enslaved by the Egyptians, they were treated horrifically as slave laborers for many years. Moses, following the commandment of God, comes to their rescue, setting them free from the Egyptians, and delivers them to The Promised Land, otherwise known as The Land of Milk and Honey. God brought them out of bondage and into something new and wonderful!

Caleb, however, points out that 40 years elapsed from the moment the Israelites leave Egypt and when they arrive at The Promised Land. For 40 years they were wandering around in the wilderness tired and starving. In this period of waiting they start to reminisce about what they used to have, even though they were slaves- they were still well fed. Comfort and familiarity can keep us enslaved, even when we know we're choosing the wrong path.

And the whole congregation of the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness, and the people of Israel said to them, “Would that we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt when we sat by the meat pots and ate bread to the full, for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.” - Exodus 16:2 (ESV)

The Israelites had been delivered out of Egypt but had not yet been delivered into The Promised Land. They were experiencing the deliverance dilemma.

They had followed God, but they were still experiencing issues. Can you relate? You gave your life to Jesus and you’re trying to be obedient, but you're still struggling in different areas of your life. Maybe with anger, temptation, depression, anxiety, and/or addiction? God is bringing you out of sin, but you're not fully delivered from it.

Here are four key takeaways from Caleb’s message, The Deliverance Dilemma, that I think will help you navigate your season of waiting.

1) Don’t choose to grumble over being grateful:

The Israelites only focused on what they did not have- meat and bread- and chose to grumble and complain. They should have been focused on the promises God had for them and all He had already done for them.

We must always focus on what we do have, choosing gratitude over grumbling and complaining.

2) Remember that God will provide:

Even though the Israelites chose to grumble and complain, God gave them grace and provided them food to eat. They didn’t deserve it, and they didn’t pray for it, but God gave it to them.

Then the LORD said to Moses, “Behold, I am about to rain bread from heaven for you, and the people shall go out and gather a day’s portion every day, that I may test them, whether they will walk in my law or not.

-Exodus 16:4 (ESV)

In the evening quail came up and covered the camp, and in the morning dew lay around the camp. - Exodus 16:13 (ESV)

God will provide all that we need too. His provision may not look exactly like you would think, but He will provide.

3) Keep coming back for what God has for you:

God only gave the Israelites enough bread for one day at a time. They were not to store it up, but they had to keep coming back for more. God only gave them exactly what they needed for that day. We have to keep coming back to God every day for His blessings. We have to keep showing up at church, keep giving our time, talents, and treasures, keep reading the Word and praying prayers and God will keep blessing us.

And Moses said to them, “Let no one leave any of it over till the morning.” Morning by morning they gathered it, each as much as he could eat; but when the sun grew hot, it melted. Morning by morning they gathered it, each as much as he could eat; but when the sun grew hot, it melted. -Exodus 16:19-21 ESV

4) What you do today matters to the generations that come after you:

The people of Israel ate the manna forty years, till they came to a habitable land. They ate the manna till they came to the border of the land of Canaan. -Exodus 16:35

Two generations of Israelites continued to feast on the blessings that God gave.

Have you decided to follow Christ? Have you decided to put God in the center of the generations that come after you? Will your kids and your grandchildren inherit a generational blessing or a generational curse? You get to decide if Jesus is the center of your life and your home, and that decision directly affects more than just you!

Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. - John 6:35

Just like the Israelites needed bread, we do too. Jesus is the bread of life. Step into a generational blessing.

I invite you to view this message in its entirety at this link:

We want to connect with you and help you take your next steps!

1. Do you have a relationship with Jesus? This decision is the first step in receiving peace in your life. If you are ready to give your life to Jesus, we would love to celebrate with you at 3trees.com.

2. Do you need to rededicate your life to Jesus? If yes, please connect with us at 3trees.com.

3. Do you feel God prompting you to take your next steps? If yes, BEGIN is waiting for you! You can walk through our ONLINE BEGIN class at 3trees.com/begin

4. Would you like to make a difference in our community? Join our captivate team! Visit 3trees.com to find out how you can participate in community outreach opportunities.

WATCH IT | DISCUSSION GUIDE| MESSAGE NOTES