Love Is Our Covering

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

Proverbs 13:15
Good understanding gains favor, but the way of the unfaithful is hard.

I recently went to the Lord and said “Lord I need you to refresh my spirit with your Word in regard to when someone sins.

I know how religion responds and how flesh responds but show me again in your Word.”

Ever wonder how Peter felt when the Lord said that to him?  You see God hates SIN because it separates us from Him.

It separates us from others also but ultimately it separates us from God.

We, as a society of Christians, will often overlook the sins of sports stars or movie stars or politicians but when it comes to those from our own church family we judge and separate.

Then we say things often like “Children are a product of their home” but that is only true in part.

Many in the Kingdom of God were saved despite terrible homes, yet others raised by godly parents rebel and sin.  So even the best of homes have children who rebel.

It tells me that every home is different in regards to testimony as every child is different.

So the pressure society puts on us must be put aside so we can get to the TRUTH of God’s Word in us and find out what God says.

Think about God’s first children, Adam/Eve, they were told “DON’T TOUCH” but they TOUCHED.

And they saw and felt what they never saw or felt before, the EFFECTS of SIN.  Make no mistake; there is a price to pay and scars to bear.

So God provided a covering for them.  Blood was shed to cover their SIN.

1 Peter 4:8
And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.

The word “COVERS” means when you deserved to be punished, you were covered instead.

And if someone sins and comes and asks for forgiveness, what should we do?

Matthew 18:21-23
21 Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?”
22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.
23 Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants.

The story of the prodigal son helps us to understand the heart of God and wayward children.

The son went into party central, but the Father never stopped looking and hoping.

When he saw him he did not bring up what he did, no, he welcomed him home, “my son was lost and is NOW found.”

The other brother was NOT impressed and unfortunately it’s how many in the church act.

So keep looking for your wayward child to come home and love them when they do.

A cover for sin is NOT a cover up.  There is a price to pay.  The wages of sin IS DEATH.  That’s why we preach against SIN because of the cost.

We don’t condone SIN, but we don’t condemn people who do.

There was a three-step process that led to Peter’s recovery.

1. Rebellion
Jesus told him “you will deny me and TURN AWAY"

2.  Repentance
Jesus said, “you will turn back, you will repent”

3.   Restoration
He would turn around and strengthen his brother

When Jesus restores Peter in John 21, He tells him to now go love others, and serves selflessly, then follow faithfully.

When Jesus caught people in SIN, He said things like “GO AND SIN NO MORE.”  “Neither do I condemn you”.  But the sinner’s part is to REPENT.

So we further learn from Peter that failure is NOT final.  You are not a failure because you have failed.  Jesus is our advocate with the Father.

You who have blown it can help others because you know what they are going through.

1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Matthew 6:14-15
14 “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
15 But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

The level of forgiveness you extend to others will affect the level of forgiveness you will receive from God.

Luke 17:3
Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him.

We rebuke those who sin and forgive them when they repent.

John 20:23
If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”

2 Chronicles 7:14
If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

And before we offer anything to God, we need to make sure we are right with others.

Matthew 5:23-24
23 Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you,
24 leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.

And finally, PUT ON LOVE

Colossians 3:13-14
13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.
14 But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.

So if you have fallen, get up, you may be down BUT you’re NOT OUT.

Stay filled with the Holy Ghost and go and sin no more.

Yours for revival,
Pastor Francis Armstrong