Through Life’s Ups and Downs, Jesus Is There

Summit family. I hope this message finds you well wherever you're joining from Greg Bible turn to the book of Matthew is working to be today's the first book in the New Testament why you're already fidgeting around to get there. Go ahead and buckle your seatbelt but your tray tables in the upright and locked position and prepare for immediate takeoff is where to cover a lot of ground and Matthew in the next 20 minutes I will see the last few weekends we been in a series going through the book of first Peter is pastor JD just told you, but today were to pause that series will continue looking at the author himself, Peter asked did he said this during week one, but most people when they start reading the Bible actually develop a real affection for Peter because there's just something about him that we feel like we can relate to.

And the more I started looking at the early days of Peter's walk with Jesus. I just felt like him so anyways it perfectly encapsulated the emotional and spiritual range that I know so many of us are going through right now so not exactly sure who this message is for today but had to know that I need to hear it as much as anyone. In fact in a lot of ways this might feel like less of a sermon and hopefully more just and encouragement to you this week.

We tell you. Here's why I think this is gonna resonate with so many of you today when Peter was first called as a disciple.

Now he goes on to do incredible things for Jesus. Obviously so much of which is recorded in the book of acts.

He writes two books himself first and second Peter he tells Mark what's going on in the gospel of Mark rights but reading about his early walk with Jesus feels a bit like being on a roller coaster which is constant ups and downs and highs and low one second he's on a mountaintop went with Jesus and then quite literally seconds later he's in the deepest valleys. The emotional range that he experienced daily was just insane. This is a guy who had tremendously high highs and profoundly Lolos and often experience both of those things in the same hour.

We tell you were about to see is not Peter at his best and worst in the early days of his ministry.

This is Peter in his normal day-to-day which is what, in my opinion, makes his story so wonderfully human. I think it's why it makes him so relatable and relevant for us this weekend because I think this is exactly were so many of us are right now were up one minute and then we are down.

The next, in fact actually asked a question on Instagram this week. Russ said what are some of the emotions that you been feeling over the last few weeks, both good and bad, and the responses that so many of you gave just completely affirm this reality of constant ups and downs. Just listen to some of these answers. One person said I'm grateful for a slower life and I'm incredibly thankful for the extra time with my family… Also, I've experienced anger and times. I want to strangle some people in my family. Another person almost of the same thing they said time with family. Good too much time with family back yet young real trucking with this. Another person said. I felt so much anger during this time, but at the same time I felt so much gratitude and joy. Another person rode in and said experience anxiety and fear and exhaustion yet. I've also experienced victory and joy and excitement, confusion, and loneliness. One person said, coupled with gratitude another. This is one of the most telling to me said, I've never felt so lonely yet I've never felt so close to my brothers and sisters in Christ. Another set. I've never been filled with so much anxiety. I've also never been filled with so much peace see this frustrated lonely annoyed yet grateful reflective and full of peace and that's a whole lot of ups and downs right anybody resonate with this. I mean, if this is you, can you just testify let some your brothers and sisters know that they are not alone in this and even as a pastor I'm experiencing this as much as anybody at this very moment right now. Let me tell you I am as exhausted as I have been in a long time physically, emotionally, spiritually, my wife and I arty have three kids ages five and under and number four is due in like three weeks of my bath is not getting any lighter easier anytime soon. Yet even in that exhaustion.

Right this moment. I'm also incredibly energized because of the word that I believe God has for you through me and the work that he has for me in both my job and my family. I'm fully confident right now about the sermon because I know that God's word does not return void. But I'm also a little anxious about the sermon because what if this is the worst sermon I ever breach all in trying to say is this, but if you feel that tension if you feel this roller coaster of emotions right now. You are not alone.

You may be up one second and down the next, listen, here's the good news.

God is okay with both God is not intimidated by your ups and downs. God is on your mountaintop and God is in your Valley and I mean that both figuratively and literally. David even said where shall I go from your spirit. God, where shall I flee from your presence. If I ascend to the heavens you are there. If I make my bed and she oh you are there, and here's what we get rolling because the word of encouragement. I want to give you today from the Bible is that if you love God and are called according to his purpose. Then you can cling to this promise that even in all your ups and downs that Jesus is prayerfully Jesus is patiently Jesus is powerfully and passionately pursuing you and he will never let Satan destroy your faith and bring you to ruin their three words I want you to remember today. If you remember nothing else. Three words I want to remember Jesus is there. Jesus is there when you're full of peace. Jesus is there when you're wracked with anxiety. Jesus is there when you're full of joy and gratitude. Jesus is there when you're overwhelmed with confusion and loneliness in Christ Jesus.

Is there when you love your neighbor well during this quarantine. Jesus is there when you snap your spouse in the scorching Jesus is there some reason, give me a digital amen right now and say Jesus is there. Jesus is with you. Those you feel like you're in heaven right now enjoying this quarantine Jesus as their and those you feel like you're in Sheol right now Jesus is there no listen I know you didn't come to hear a spiritual Ted talk today you came to get fed by the word of God's let me show you. I believe this is true from Scripture. In fact, take a look at this real fast rep at this graph up. This is what were about to march through event by event. What you're seeing here. These are all the events of Peter's early life, defined as ups and downs but the one thing that you can see that remain constant for Peter was how Jesus was there for Peter when he was up and how Jesus was there for Peter when he was down, and how ultimately he promises the same thing for you. Jesus prayerfully patiently powerfully and passionately pursues you are at this point is about take off to find the book of Matthew ready what students Matthew chapter forward and begin in verse 18 is what it says it says while walking by the sea of Galilee, Jesus, all to brothers Simon who is called Peter and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea for their fishermen and Jesus said to them, follow me and I will make you fishers of men. So immediately they left their nets and followed him.

They see this. This is the ultimate spiritual high for Peter starting his his ministry with Jesus on a high, and as it should be him, and he's been chosen is called out given a purpose by Jesus himself is no wonder that later on. Peter would open his letter by saying Peter, I'm an apostle of Jesus Christ is been given a new identity right there on the spot.

Peter is called an Jesus is there salvation is the ultimate spiritual high listen his journey with Jesus is just beginning. So skip on over to Matthew chapter 14 is working to be next Matthew chapter 14.

This is a pretty famous story of the next year to be pretty famous that look at me give some context here Jesus just got done feeding the 5000. He wanted to have some alone time. So he sent the disciples into the boat and said, hey, I'll meet you on the other side of the lake.

Well, think about 4 miles offshore I huge storm comes up November love these guys are fishermen so they know how to navigate a storm, but they're scared enough they can't move Jesus like me to bail him out again. So he starts walking. He starts coming to them and all of a sudden one disciple start seeing something they say they look over another one they say hey to Jesus say how is common in humans, like man I really just that he meet his wife and he looked back he says well because he's coming and so they look out there realizes Jesus. And then this is the interaction that they have right here beginning in verse 28 and Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water. And Jesus said, come. Sapir got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus.

Now listen sometimes I think we gloss over miracles in the Bible way to quickly were to you soon.

Let's slow down for a minute here and state the obvious.

Humans don't walk on water. Regardless, this is shortly after Peter begins to follow Jesus or he just ride in the spiritual high. I mean, let's not yet sure he goes on to sink, but let's not forget the Peter was going on with enough faith to step out of the boat. He steps out.

He's gotten saved. Now he stepped out like him and he's right this time.

And Jesus is there, it's fantastic. You can imagine Peter's feelings when he's excited. He's faith filled. He's full of all, let's keep reading. The next verse, verse 30, but when Peter Saul, the wind, he was afraid and beginning to sink he cried out, Lord save me and Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him saying to him, oh you of little faith, why did you doubt when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.

Now listen, doubt creeps in fear begins to rear its head. Peter begins to sink.

There is a dip in his faith that comes one verse after he's writing the spiritual high one verse after he's on the mountaintop, but again you see it is the pattern to see over and over. Jesus was there and his up and now Jesus is there. In his down and not only is he there but Jesus is close enough to reach out his hand and take hold of him when he's down.

This can be a pattern in Peter's life. Let's keep reading Matthew chapter 16 I thought you had a lot of ground to cover. Matthew chapter 16 will begin in verse 13. This is what Jesus said he's gather with his with his disciples. He says this, Jesus came in the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, who do people say that the Son of Man is disciples apply the said some say John the Baptist others, Elijah others, Jeremiah 1 of the prophets. But he said to them, who do you say that I stop and say that's the most important question you will ever answer in your entire life. Who do you say that Jesus is look at verse 16 Simon Peter, always the first to speak up replied you are the Christ, the son of the living God and Jesus answered and blessed are you, Simon bar Jonah for flesh and blood is not revealed this to you, but my father was in heaven. And I tell you you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Peter's the first person to confess Jesus as the Christ of Jesus is like yes you're right your eyes are being open and in fact Peter, I'm to use you as a rock in the expansion of my church and not even hell is going to be able stop you peers back on his high he's the star student in the class. Here we go again.

A few verses later look down at verse 21 from that time Jesus began to shows disciples that he must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed and on the third day be raised. Peter verse 22 Peter took him aside and began to rebuke Jesus saying, far be it from you, Lord, that shall never happen to you. But Jesus turns and says the Peter get behind me Satan you are a hindrance to me, for you are not setting your mind things of God but on the things of man appears like you're the Savior is back up and Jesus is like you are Satan back down. I imagine some of the events in pretty crappy lows in your Christian life. But Jesus were to show up in her living room. I now call you Satan tell you that is rock bottom.

However, Jesus still hasn't given up. He still there because just six days later look at Matthew chapter 17 verse one. Six days later, Jesus takes Peter James and John, his brother and leads them up on a high mountain by themselves. And Jesus was transfigured before them. His face shone like son. His clothes became white as light.

And behold, there appeared to them, Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus and Peter said to Jesus, Lord, it is good that we are here random comment. He says if you wish. I will make three tense here one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah Sapir has this bold faith. These rhino highs. One of the three people to get taken up so is on the spiritual eyes like how you want to serve you, Jesus. I'm ready to go and look at verse five, Peter was still speaking, which is hysterical still speaking when behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them in a voice from the cloud said this is my beloved son, with whom I am well pleased.

Listen to him when the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces and were terrified.

Moments later, after this bold pages. How can I serve you. Peter is so scared that he falls on his face in terror. You see this is rhino high now is low.

He's up he's down.

Then later on in chapter 17. Actually, a man brings his demon possessed son to the disciples to cast out the demon because they been out casting out demons doing the work of Jesus he got. Imagine Peter's ride pretty high. He's feeling good about himself is on and up and up. Within this guy brings his son to me. They can't cast out the demon so Jesus has to do it for a look when you pick up in verse 19. After Jesus cast the demon out, the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, why can we not cast it up. And Jesus said to them, because of your little faith your little faith, she got mad and they think they're doing awesome things.

There are not. Jesus says you actually have very little faith. Now that's a low start to look like your life yet in my talking to anybody look over at Matthew chapter 26 were given to the end of our time here. This is where it gets pretty serious. Jesus is telling them. Hey, here's what happened to me after going to be killed. I'm gonna die that I'm gonna resurrected again and when that happens, when they come to rest me all of you are to be scattered, and Peter answers this look at 26 verse 33 Peter answered him, though they all fall away. Talk about the of the disciples because of you I will never fall away verse 35 Peter said to him, even if I must die with you, I will not deny you in all the disciples said the same.

This is a moment of great faith. Peter's back on the up and up. But now look back at verse 34 Jesus said to him, truly I tell you this very night Peter before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times just to kick in the face right to deny him after he's just declaring this bold faith for him. Now we fast-forward and in chapter 26 look down at verse 40 happening here is Jesus is going to the garden of Gethsemane was going to be arrested and he's asked the disciples to wait and pray so verse 40 Jesus came to the disciples and found them sleeping and he said to Peter, so could you not watch with me one hour a few things to note here. First, however you're watching with right now who is completely tuned out, maybe even fall asleep. I want you to nudge them real hard and give them the words of Jesus here in verse 30 could you not watch with me, even one hour, and second, never in my life I felt more vindicated than when I read about the disciples falling asleep when they're supposed to be praying. I'm not even sure this is a down for Peter. I just made it just made me feel better about myself, so I included a right to keep going. In chapter 26, so the guards have come to arrest Jesus there coming to get him and in verse 51 and behold, one of those who were with Jesus. We know that Peter stretched out his hand and drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his ear and some you might think that's down. I would say that Peter is ready to defend Jesus, who he believes is the Christ didn't want Jesus to die, he defends them in the task in a war strategy do you try to cut somebody's ear off. No, you try to cut his head off is ready to defend him, but then the very next verse look at this verse 52 Jesus said to him, put your sword back into its place for all who take the sword will perish by the sword. You think I can appeal my father and he will one semi-more than 12 legions of angels, Jesus, like Peter, I can handle my own side. That's not how we conduct business in my kingdom. So Jesus gets arrest arrested. Look at verse 56.

Then all the disciples left him and fled. Peter thinks he's riding high is defending Jesus he saying I'll never leave you, and then 21 verses later, after he has set all die before I deny you. He's fleeing verse 58.

Peter follows him at a distance so he doesn't want to be seen. I guess you can give a maybe a little bit of an uptick because he following Jesus, but it is immediate down the following meta-distance Jesus and what followers and try to follow him at a distance and this is the ultimate low. Look at verse 69. In chapter 26 now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard, and the servant girl came up to him and said, you also were with Jesus the galleon, but he denied it when it keeps going. He went out to the entrance and another servant girl saw him and she said him. This man was with Jesus of Nazareth and again he denied it.

After a little while bystanders came up to Peter and said, certainly, you two are one of them. Your accent betrays you and he began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, I do not know the man Jesus and immediately the rooster crowed and Peter remembered the saying of Jesus before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times and he went out and he wept bitterly. This is the ultimate low for Peter is ashamed and sad. He's angry at himself. He's weeping bitterly. But Jesus is still pursuing him. Jesus still has a plan for him. Jesus still desires to show him that even when you're down I'm there. I'm ready to pick you up. All you have to do is call out to me and that's exactly what he does in John chapter 21 so flip over a couple books Matthew Mark Luke John going to go to the end of the book of John, Jesus has died has been crucified and buried. He's resurrected and one of the things ought some unfinished business before he ascends into heaven if were to read John 21. He has this weird back-and-forth with with Peter recess. Peter do you love me Peter says of course I love you and he asked him again. You love me says of course I love you, and then he says again.

Peter do you love me says of course I love you see Peter denied Jesus three times and now Jesus is giving him three times to confess him the Savior is giving them three times to be restored to his Savior. It's this beautiful act of reconciliation. So Peter, after denying Jesus is in the ultimate low is in the ultimate pit of despair. Jesus doesn't leave him there. He still pursuing him.

Jesus was still there in that pit. And Jesus is there ready to restore him. It's the ultimate hi again.

Now if we were tempering to John 21 would see real fast. Jesus goes on to say right you're back in the full but actually here's are you going to die, to die by crucifixion upside down.

So I imagine that knocks him down a little tick of the ultimate again emotional ups and downs and then Peter goes on to compare himself with John not good ways. That's a little bit down but in acts chapter 2 for Reading, Peter preaches at Pentecost and 3000 people get saved and Pentecost is just the beginning of what God is going to do through Peter because Jesus reaffirms Peter as the rock would be instrumental in the spread of the early church, and particularly to those outside of the Jewish tradition. Tradition goes on to heal lame beggars. Peter goes on to preach boldly before government officials.

Peter goes on to indoor arrests and beatings and threats and none of those things could dampen Peter resolved to preach the gospel because he now knew that whatever he was going to go through no matter how high he was, no matter how low he was, no matter on mountaintops or valleys that Jesus was there with him.

If for nothing else. Peter now knew that his lows occurred to show him that Jesus would never leave him.

We track his life. You saw it, he's up, he's down. The only consistent element we see in Peter's life is that Jesus is consistently coming to him.

Jesus is consistently loving him consistently ready to accept him consistently by his side every crazy turn every hi every low, every up every down. Jesus is there and it's the same for you church or emotions may be all over the place.

During this time, but God is also all over the place in a good way. There's nowhere that you there's nowhere that your emotions are nowhere that your circumstances can run through that he had isn't already there and ready to sustain and uphold you like the old hymn says, ain't no Mountain high. No valley low in the river wide enough to keep Jesus from kitten to you, even when were foolish. God still shows himself faithful even when were up and down, God remains the same, even when life is unpredictable. The one thing you never have to wonder about is God's posture towards you, even when your feelings are all over the map.

You don't have to wonder where Jesus is. Jesus is there.

He's with you he's there when you're walking on water and he's there when you're sinking he's there when you're confessing his name, and he's also there when you're rebuking his name. He's there when you're betraying him in sin and he'll be right there when you are ready to confess that sin and hell be ready to restore you and you might say, will Jesus is with me than why did I go through these pits and valleys in the first place, the great question. Listen often Jesus doesn't remove the problem in our lives. He just promises to be with us in them and that's how as believers we can live and exist in this tension of ups and downs because we know that with Jesus. He's using everything all the ups and all the downs for his glory and for our good.

Which means that even when you're going up and down were always moving forward. Originally I was actually gonna call these things Peter setbacks but I realize setback is not indicative of what we actually experience when Jesus is with us see one with Jesus. Even when life takes a downward turn that turn is still on a forward trajectory because it's going to open our eyes more fully to our need for Jesus, which then Lord willing, makes you lean more holy on Jesus. And what greater joy can be found in life than to have your eyes open.

More to the beauty and majesty and the sufficiency of Jesus the Savior, who is sovereign is capable whose powerful and caring enough to walk through the ups and downs of life with you. If you don't know Jesus as Savior than the ups and downs in life. Well that's all there is for you. The ups are just temporary highs in the downs are devastating lows. It's just the cruel cycle of life. But with Jesus. There is meaning in times of glory and there's meanings in times of misery as you grow in your relationship with him. It's not that the lows disappear is just that your lows no longer define or defeat you.

Your lows may still be low, but they don't feel as low because you know you're not alone. Jesus is there with you in life's ups Jesus as they are giving you a glimpse of the joy to come in eternity.

In life's down Jesus as their opening your eyes more fully to your need for him.

This is what Peter came to understand church throughout his life that he has a hope that is beyond the ups and downs of this world. It's why he writes so much about hope it's what Peter was given the nickname later on in his life that he was the apostle of hope. Peter is instrumental in teaching us that hope isn't just wishful thinking. Biblical hope is the confidence that God's people have that God will fulfill his promises toward us for all of God's promises found in this book are yes and amen in Christ Jesus. Toward those who confess him as Savior.

The one who was always with us, the one who told the disciples when they were stuck in the storm, take heart. It is, I now if that can be translated, take heart. I am Jesus is pointing them back taxes, three in the clearing. I am who I am. I am God. I got this all under control. My purpose never fails. Whatever you need today.

I am it. So today, let me ask you we are hurting, be reminded that Jesus is with you, hope, and his promise to be your comfort you confused Jesus is with you, hope, and his promise to be your guide. You find yourself anxious Jesus is with you. Hope in his promise to be your peace. Feeling weak Jesus is with you. Hope in his promise to be your strength. You fearful saints, fresh courage take the cloud you so much dread are big with mercy and will break in blessings on your head. Peter's failures didn't define ours are knocking to define us, share their stumbles along the path of following Jesus, but we always stumble forward toward our Savior, who paid for all of our stumbles on the cross. See Peter story is not one of successes and failures. It's a story about Jesus who saves Jesus who restores Jesus who redeems Jesus who never leaves us nor forsake us appear story is not one about great faith or even great faults. It's about great grace found in Jesus Christ alone is my brother Mike George's often says he says the gospel shows us that we don't have to wonder what God's response is going to be when you admit failure and run to him for help because Jesus is always going to be there to meet our hurt. With hope.

We ask you, you have this eternal hope you have the surety that Jesus has with you today.

If you don't, you can use the same three words that Peter used when he was drowning.

Lord safely those you that may find yourself in the Valley right now and should be encouraged by the words of this poem.

I told the Lord my journeys long, he said. I chose the length.

I told him but I'm thinking week. He said I'll give you strength. No matter what my words God heard while listening patiently what is meant the most. Is this my father walks with me wherever you find yourself today up or down Jesus is there