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THE WORK OF RESTORATION

Text: John 21
3 April 2016

HARD LESSONS

The disciples of the Lord Jesus realised that the lessons Jesus sought easy lessons to learn.

1. It was hard to develop faith

2. And without faith they could be defeated in ministry

3. There were so many lessons that Jesus taught and they barely mastered any one well

FAILURES

These were failures experienced by the Disciples. They must have been really hard-hit as they faced up to the reality of the full-time ministry!

1. They had to learn how to be prayerful

2. They had to know the Scriptures well

3. They had to learn how to preach

4. They were expected to have great faith

Three years had passed and they had mastered none of the above! How could they ever succeed in ministry? They realised that sincerity was not enough for success!

THE LAST STRAW

Then came the day when Jesus was arrested and sentenced to death by crucifixion.

1. Peter had denied the Lord openly

2. All the disciples had fled

This looked like the last straw! Peter decided that he was going to return to his fishing job! His decision influenced his friends and they too thought it best to give up on following the Lord Jesus. They felt that they had committed the worst sin ever! How could there be forgiveness after denying and deserting the Lord Jesus Christ?

THE RESTORATION PROCESS

The Lord Jesus loved His disciples, and after His Resurrection He sought to restore them. This was His love and His commitment to His disciples!

1. He sought His disciples

a) He knew them

b) The disciples were not yet a homogenous group

c) He reached out to them individually

2. The group of fishermen

a) Jesus found them in their old fishing ground

b) He sought to restore them

c) He did restore all the disciples except Judas who had committed suicide

AN INVITATION TO BE RESTORED

We too may feel that we have failed the Lord. We have sinned against Him and walked in the way of the world. But we can return to the Lord. The Lord will restore fully if we are willing to return to Him!