>>John Bradshaw:
This is It Is Written.
00:00:19.78\00:00:21.88
I'm John Bradshaw.
Thanks for joining me.
00:00:21.92\00:00:25.22
Success doesn't
always come easy,
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and frequently success
follows repeated failure.
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After working on a whaling ship,
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Rowland started a business
with his brother in California.
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The business failed.
00:00:39.27\00:00:41.20
So he headed east
and opened a store.
00:00:41.24\00:00:44.31
Then another, then
another, then another.
00:00:44.34\00:00:48.81
They all failed.
00:00:48.84\00:00:50.45
So then he went all
in, moving to New York City
00:00:50.48\00:00:54.55
and opening yet another store.
00:00:54.58\00:00:57.15
This time the
business didn't fail.
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In fact, it
became a big success.
00:01:00.16\00:01:02.96
After his death, that store
was moved to 34th and Broadway,
00:01:02.99\00:01:06.63
where Macy's became one of
the largest department stores
00:01:06.66\00:01:11.27
in the world.
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Henry Ford's success in the auto
industry is the stuff of legend.
00:01:12.70\00:01:16.67
But that success wasn't instant.
00:01:16.71\00:01:19.84
His first venture folded
without producing a single car.
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His second attempt was just
as unsuccessful as the first.
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He quit his next company, but
Ford eventually revolutionized
00:01:26.58\00:01:31.19
not only the vehicle
manufacturing industry
00:01:31.22\00:01:34.09
but industry himself.
00:01:34.12\00:01:36.26
He said, "Failure is simply
the opportunity to begin again,
00:01:36.29\00:01:40.56
this time more intelligently."
00:01:40.60\00:01:43.67
How many people fail at
faith before making a success
00:01:43.70\00:01:47.40
of their spiritual life?
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Well, the answer
is probably everyone.
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Today we're
continuing our series
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"Great Characters of the Bible,"
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and we're looking at someone
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who took a long
time to get it right.
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His experience has to be
an encouragement to anyone
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who knows the feeling of blowing
it as a follower of Jesus,
00:02:03.55\00:02:07.22
of falling short, of wondering
if you'll ever get the hang
00:02:07.26\00:02:10.43
of being a disciple of Christ.
00:02:10.46\00:02:13.23
So how bad was it for this man?
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Well, he was violent.
00:02:14.93\00:02:17.40
He was racist.
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He made promises he didn't keep,
00:02:18.93\00:02:21.27
and was even
referred to as "Satan"
00:02:21.30\00:02:24.04
by none other
than Jesus Himself.
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When we're introduced
to Peter in the Bible,
00:02:27.28\00:02:29.21
he's a fisherman.
00:02:29.24\00:02:30.68
His name is Simon Bar-Jonah,
Simon the son of Jonah.
00:02:30.71\00:02:35.42
And Jesus gave
him the surname Peter,
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which is why he's sometimes
referred to as Simon Peter.
00:02:39.15\00:02:42.72
When we read of his call
to follow Jesus in Matthew 4,
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we get the impression that
he'd been acquainted with Jesus
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for some time.
00:02:48.53\00:02:50.07
Jesus called to Peter
and Andrew his brother
00:02:50.10\00:02:52.37
and said, "'Follow me, and I
will make you fishers of men.'
00:02:52.40\00:02:56.10
And they straightway left
their nets, and followed Him."
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Now, it's significant that Jesus
called Peter, of all people.
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Peter wasn't a religious leader.
00:03:05.78\00:03:08.45
He hadn't graduated from
the best religious schools
00:03:08.48\00:03:11.29
in the land.
00:03:11.32\00:03:12.69
But it's not that
Peter hadn't been educated;
00:03:12.72\00:03:15.59
he hadn't been miseducated.
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The schools in that day were
riddled with pride and bigotry.
00:03:18.43\00:03:22.00
Jesus was looking for someone
genuine, teachable, humble,
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someone with moral worth who
had a desire to see God honored.
00:03:27.20\00:03:31.04
If you have that,
00:03:31.87\00:03:33.58
God can use you, no
matter what you do in life.
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And there's another
reason it's significant
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that Jesus called Peter,
and that's because Peter was...
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Peter was Peter. He
was far from perfect.
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He was rough around the edges,
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and it was going to
take a lot of sanding
00:03:49.99\00:03:51.96
before Jesus could
smooth those rough edges out.
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He once said to Jesus, "See, we
have left all and followed You.
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Therefore what shall we have?"
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In other words,
what's in it for us?
00:04:01.67\00:04:04.94
Peter would ask questions
that other people wouldn't ask,
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and he'd say the things
that others wouldn't say.
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When Jesus was going to
wash the disciples' feet,
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Peter said, "You
shall never wash my feet!"
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Before telling Jesus
to wash not only his feet,
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but his hands and his head also.
00:04:18.12\00:04:20.22
When he saw Jesus on the
shore of the lake one time,
00:04:20.26\00:04:22.52
he was so excited he
dived in and swam for shore.
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That was Peter:
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impetuous, in a
hurry, an action man,
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speak first, think second.
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"I will lay down my life
for [You]," he told Jesus.
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And of course we
know how that turned out.
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Peter had some growing to do.
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And that's who Jesus
calls to be His disciples:
00:04:43.68\00:04:46.72
people who have
some growing to do.
00:04:46.75\00:04:49.75
Because the fact
is that's everyone.
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No one is the finished product.
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If you feel God is
calling you, and He is,
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don't wait until you're
ready to accept that call.
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Don't wait to be
good enough for God.
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Peter accepted
Jesus' call, and he grew.
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Peter was
transparent. He was honest,
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honest about his feelings,
honest about his love for God,
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and honest about himself.
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So let's take a look at several
episodes from the life of Peter.
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We'll see what we can
learn, not only about Peter,
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but about
ourselves and how we can have
00:05:25.99\00:05:28.22
a successful relationship with
God in spite of our failings.
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One of the most memorable
Peter moments occurred on a lake
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late one night.
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Jesus had fed the thousands with
just five loaves and two fish.
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And then He sent the
disciples on ahead by boat
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to the other side of the lake.
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A storm came up.
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The Bible says, "The boat
was... tossed by the waves,
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for the wind was contrary."
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And based on what John writes,
it seems like the disciples
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were about 3/4 of the way across
the sea when Jesus appeared
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walking on the water.
00:06:02.29\00:06:06.13
The disciples
were initially afraid,
00:06:06.16\00:06:07.76
not certain of
what they were seeing.
00:06:07.83\00:06:09.26
But Jesus said,
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"Be of good cheer! It
is I; do not be afraid."
00:06:10.93\00:06:14.67
Peter was beside himself.
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He called to Jesus and said,
"'Lord, if it is You, command me
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"to come to You on the
water.' So He said, 'Come.'
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"And when Peter had
come down out of the boat,
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he walked on the
water to go to Jesus."
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Walk on water?
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Since when?
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But this is what God can do.
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Loudmouth Peter,
shoot-first, aim-second Peter,
00:06:36.76\00:06:41.13
and Jesus gave
Peter a unique experience.
00:06:41.16\00:06:44.57
No other disciple ever
did what Peter did that night.
00:06:44.60\00:06:49.37
But Peter was
about to learn something,
00:06:49.40\00:06:51.71
something he would forget when
he really needed to remember it.
00:06:51.74\00:06:56.18
He began to sink.
00:06:56.21\00:06:57.35
Evidently he took
his eyes off Jesus
00:06:57.38\00:06:59.45
and looked
instead at the stormy sea.
00:06:59.48\00:07:01.52
When you look at the storms
of life, that's what happens.
00:07:01.55\00:07:04.62
When you focus on the problems
more than on the solution,
00:07:04.65\00:07:07.56
when you forget
that God is able,
00:07:07.59\00:07:09.69
that's what happens.
00:07:09.72\00:07:10.79
Peter sank into a stormy
sea in the dead of night,
00:07:10.83\00:07:14.46
with no lifejacket.
00:07:14.46\00:07:16.40
But he had the presence of
mind to do the right thing,
00:07:16.43\00:07:18.63
and he called out to Jesus.
00:07:18.67\00:07:20.17
There was no time
for eloquence or oratory.
00:07:20.20\00:07:22.84
There was no time
for flowery language.
00:07:22.87\00:07:24.84
He cried out from the
heart just a three-word prayer:
00:07:24.87\00:07:28.11
"Lord, save me!"
00:07:28.14\00:07:30.88
And what did Jesus do?
00:07:30.91\00:07:32.08
He reached out to
Peter, took him by the hand,
00:07:32.11\00:07:35.35
and got him back in the boat.
00:07:35.38\00:07:36.69
Matthew 14:32,
00:07:36.72\00:07:38.05
"And when they got into
the boat, the wind ceased."
00:07:38.09\00:07:42.22
When you take
your eyes off Jesus,
00:07:42.26\00:07:44.06
that's when the trouble starts.
00:07:44.09\00:07:45.43
When you call out
to God in desperation,
00:07:45.46\00:07:47.60
He hears you, and
He answers your prayer.
00:07:47.66\00:07:50.03
It was Peter's own
fault that he was in a fix.
00:07:50.07\00:07:54.20
But that didn't matter to Jesus.
00:07:54.24\00:07:56.17
He came to Peter's aid.
00:07:56.20\00:07:58.54
And that's what He does for you.
00:07:58.57\00:08:00.78
In the storms of life,
don't take your eyes off Jesus.
00:08:00.81\00:08:05.55
In a moment, Peter
forgets the lesson he learned
00:08:05.58\00:08:08.78
that night on the lake.
00:08:08.82\00:08:10.59
I'll be right back.
00:08:10.62\00:08:11.59
¤[music swells and ends]¤
00:08:11.62\00:08:18.63
>>John: Deceptions
in the modern church--
00:08:20.80\00:08:22.73
more common that you think,
00:08:22.76\00:08:24.53
and you don't want to be led
away from faith in the Bible.
00:08:24.57\00:08:27.64
"Deceptions in the
Modern Church," a revealing book
00:08:27.67\00:08:30.57
exposing common teachings
undermining Christianity.
00:08:30.61\00:08:33.91
Get your free copy
00:08:33.94\00:08:35.21
of "Deceptions in
the Modern Church."
00:08:35.24\00:08:37.01
Call 800-253-3000,
00:08:37.05\00:08:39.41
800-253-3000.
00:08:39.45\00:08:41.88
You can write to the
address on your screen
00:08:41.92\00:08:43.52
or visit iiwoffer.com.
00:08:43.55\00:08:46.35
Get "Deceptions in
the Modern Church,"
00:08:46.39\00:08:48.39
800-253-3000.
00:08:48.42\00:08:50.43
>>John Bradshaw:
Thanks for joining me today
00:08:51.63\00:08:52.89
on It Is Written.
00:08:52.93\00:08:54.46
This is "Great
Characters of the Bible,"
00:08:54.46\00:08:57.60
and while we know how it
worked out in the end for Peter,
00:08:57.63\00:09:01.00
Peter wasn't an instant
success as a follower of Jesus.
00:09:01.04\00:09:05.04
When Jesus asked His
friends who people said He was,
00:09:05.07\00:09:07.88
"They said, 'Some say
John the Baptist, some Elijah,
00:09:07.91\00:09:11.21
"and others Jeremiah
or one of the prophets.'
00:09:11.25\00:09:14.22
"He said to them, 'But
who do you say that I am?'
00:09:14.25\00:09:17.19
"Simon Peter answered and
said, 'You are the Christ,
00:09:17.22\00:09:21.32
the Son of the living God.'"
00:09:21.36\00:09:23.56
But just down the
page in the same chapter,
00:09:23.59\00:09:27.36
as Jesus is explaining to
them that He is going to suffer
00:09:27.40\00:09:30.13
at the hands of
the religious leaders,
00:09:30.17\00:09:32.13
and that He'll be crucified,
and that He'll be raised
00:09:32.17\00:09:35.67
from the dead on the third
day, Peter speaks up again.
00:09:35.70\00:09:39.67
The Bible says Peter
"began to rebuke [Jesus],"
00:09:39.71\00:09:43.55
to admonish Him,
to censure Jesus.
00:09:43.58\00:09:47.48
He said, "Far be
it from You, Lord;
00:09:47.52\00:09:50.12
this shall not happen to You!"
00:09:50.15\00:09:52.99
Now, Peter wasn't
helping Jesus by saying that;
00:09:53.02\00:09:55.99
he was trying to discourage
Jesus from carrying out
00:09:56.02\00:09:59.36
His mission to save the world.
00:09:59.39\00:10:01.16
He was trying to prevent
the death of Jesus on the cross,
00:10:01.20\00:10:03.63
whether he realized that or not.
00:10:03.67\00:10:05.70
You know, you're not
always helping someone
00:10:05.73\00:10:07.84
when you show what
you think is concern.
00:10:07.87\00:10:10.07
A missionary is going
off to a faraway place;
00:10:10.11\00:10:12.37
you don't always help him
by telling him how dangerous
00:10:12.41\00:10:14.74
that place is going to be.
00:10:14.78\00:10:16.38
Someone's committed to
a great humanitarian work
00:10:16.41\00:10:19.01
or some great
community project of some kind;
00:10:19.05\00:10:21.85
you're not necessarily helping
them when you tell them to think
00:10:21.88\00:10:25.29
of the cost and what else they
could buy with all that money.
00:10:25.32\00:10:29.22
Peter expressed concern,
00:10:29.26\00:10:31.19
but not in a way that was
assisting Christ's mission.
00:10:31.23\00:10:34.86
Jesus responded by saying this:
00:10:34.93\00:10:37.40
"Get behind me, Satan!
You are an offense to me,
00:10:37.43\00:10:42.54
"for you are not
mindful of the things of God,
00:10:42.57\00:10:45.57
but the things of men."
00:10:45.61\00:10:46.81
[inhales sharply]
Ooh, that had to sting!
00:10:46.84\00:10:49.44
But Peter in his zeal didn't
realize what he was doing.
00:10:49.48\00:10:52.18
Satan was trying
to discourage Jesus,
00:10:52.21\00:10:55.08
and he was using Peter.
00:10:55.12\00:10:57.59
Peter was slow to
learn that Jesus' path
00:10:57.62\00:11:01.19
and the path of Jesus' followers
00:11:01.22\00:11:03.89
was a path of
difficulty and humility.
00:11:03.93\00:11:07.13
Peter shrank away from trials.
00:11:07.20\00:11:09.63
Jesus was direct with Peter
because Peter needed to grow.
00:11:09.66\00:11:12.97
He needed to see
the state of his heart,
00:11:13.00\00:11:15.44
and Jesus knew we'd
read these words one day,
00:11:15.47\00:11:18.64
and so He was
speaking for our benefit, too.
00:11:18.67\00:11:21.24
But Peter did learn eventually.
00:11:21.28\00:11:23.24
Here's what he wrote
later in 1 Peter chapter 4:
00:11:23.28\00:11:26.51
"Beloved, do
not think it strange
00:11:26.55\00:11:28.62
"concerning the fiery
trial which is to try you,
00:11:28.65\00:11:31.15
"as though some
strange thing happened to you,
00:11:31.19\00:11:34.09
"but rejoice to the
extent that you partake
00:11:34.12\00:11:36.56
"[in] Christ's sufferings,
that when His glory is revealed,
00:11:36.59\00:11:40.76
"you may also be
glad with exceeding joy.
00:11:40.80\00:11:43.53
"If you are reproached for the
name of Christ, blessed are you,
00:11:43.57\00:11:47.54
for the Spirit of glory
and of God rests upon you."
00:11:47.57\00:11:51.14
Here's the thing with Peter;
00:11:51.17\00:11:52.74
he learned; he grew.
00:11:52.77\00:11:55.38
God was patient with him,
which means God will be patient
00:11:55.41\00:11:58.81
with you as you
grow in your faith.
00:11:58.85\00:12:02.08
In fact, again in the
same chapter, when Peter said
00:12:02.12\00:12:04.95
to Jesus that Jesus was
the Son of the living God,
00:12:04.99\00:12:08.29
Jesus said this to Peter:
00:12:08.32\00:12:10.63
"And I also say to
you that you are Peter,
00:12:10.66\00:12:13.66
"and on this rock I
will build my church,
00:12:13.70\00:12:16.77
and the gates of Hades
shall not prevail against it."
00:12:16.80\00:12:20.30
Now, some want to believe
that Jesus was calling Peter
00:12:20.97\00:12:24.07
"this rock," or that
Peter was the first pope,
00:12:24.11\00:12:27.51
the first bishop of Rome.
00:12:27.54\00:12:29.24
Well, He wasn't.
00:12:29.28\00:12:31.48
There were no popes
in the first century A.D.
00:12:31.51\00:12:34.78
He wasn't a pope,
he wasn't a Catholic,
00:12:34.82\00:12:38.15
and he wasn't "the rock."
00:12:38.19\00:12:40.19
Now, you could see how somebody
might want to read it that way,
00:12:40.22\00:12:43.32
but the evidence of the
Bible just doesn't support that.
00:12:43.36\00:12:46.56
Look at it linguistically.
00:12:46.59\00:12:48.03
Remember, Jesus gave
Peter the name Peter.
00:12:48.06\00:12:52.10
It's from the Greek
"pétros," which means "a stone,"
00:12:52.13\00:12:55.94
a small slab of stone maybe.
00:12:55.97\00:12:58.71
Jesus said, "You
are [Pétros]," a stone,
00:12:58.74\00:13:02.14
"and upon this rock"--this
"pétra," a big rock, a boulder--
00:13:02.18\00:13:08.58
"I will build my
church, and the gates of hell"--
00:13:08.62\00:13:11.75
the Greek word there
is "Hades," the grave--
00:13:11.79\00:13:13.62
"the gates of hell
shall not prevail against it."
00:13:13.66\00:13:17.46
Peter himself was
certainly prevailed against.
00:13:17.49\00:13:20.73
Linguistically,
Peter isn't "the rock."
00:13:20.76\00:13:22.80
Experientially,
Peter isn't "the rock."
00:13:22.83\00:13:25.50
You don't want your
church built on Peter.
00:13:25.53\00:13:29.04
But the Bible refers to Jesus
as "the rock" again and again.
00:13:29.07\00:13:33.38
Second Samuel chapter 22:
00:13:33.41\00:13:34.88
"The Lord liveth;
and blessed be my rock;
00:13:34.91\00:13:38.25
and exalted be the God of
the rock of my salvation."
00:13:38.28\00:13:41.22
Psalm 89:
00:13:41.25\00:13:42.35
"He shall cry unto
me, 'Thou art my Father,
00:13:42.38\00:13:44.69
my God, and the
rock of my salvation.'"
00:13:44.72\00:13:48.62
This is divinity
being referred to.
00:13:48.66\00:13:51.86
Now, Peter made an
immense contribution
00:13:51.89\00:13:54.00
to not only the
early Christian church,
00:13:54.00\00:13:55.90
but to the growth and
development of Christianity.
00:13:55.93\00:13:58.77
And he still does.
00:13:58.80\00:14:00.57
But he wasn't "the
rock," and he wasn't a pope.
00:14:00.60\00:14:04.81
He was a faulty man used
by God to do great things.
00:14:04.84\00:14:10.38
And as far as we can
tell, only four people wrote
00:14:10.41\00:14:13.38
more books of the
Bible than Peter did.
00:14:13.42\00:14:17.29
But unfortunately, for a man who
wrote two books of the Bible,
00:14:17.32\00:14:20.66
he's probably best
remembered for his worst moment.
00:14:20.69\00:14:25.33
It was the night
before Jesus died.
00:14:25.36\00:14:27.40
They're in the upper room,
00:14:27.40\00:14:29.06
and Jesus had just
instituted the Lord's Supper.
00:14:29.10\00:14:31.83
"Then Jesus said to them, 'All
of you will be made to stumble
00:14:31.87\00:14:35.27
"'because of me this
night, for it is written:
00:14:35.30\00:14:38.21
"'"I will strike the Shepherd,
00:14:38.24\00:14:39.64
and the sheep of the
flock will be scattered."'"
00:14:39.67\00:14:42.61
Jesus quoted the
prophet Zechariah.
00:14:42.64\00:14:45.61
Then He said, "'But
after I have been raised,
00:14:45.65\00:14:48.98
"I will go
before you to Galilee.'
00:14:49.02\00:14:51.89
"Peter answered and said to Him,
'Even if all are made to stumble
00:14:51.92\00:14:55.92
"because of You, I will
never be made to stumble.'
00:14:55.96\00:15:00.46
"Jesus said to him, 'Assuredly,
I say to you that this night,
00:15:00.50\00:15:05.57
"before the rooster crows,
you will deny me three times.'
00:15:05.60\00:15:09.90
"Peter said to Him, 'Even
if I have to die with You,
00:15:09.94\00:15:12.74
I will not deny You!' And
so said all the disciples."
00:15:12.77\00:15:17.11
I'm sure you and I would
have said the same thing.
00:15:17.15\00:15:19.05
"Oh, no! I'd never
do that, no, not me."
00:15:19.08\00:15:22.95
And then it all unraveled.
00:15:22.98\00:15:25.15
But that's the thing with Peter;
00:15:25.19\00:15:27.09
someone who fell so
low was able to bounce back
00:15:27.12\00:15:31.36
and become a truly
outstanding follower of God.
00:15:31.39\00:15:35.80
How can that happen?
00:15:35.83\00:15:37.73
Well, we'll find
out in just a moment.
00:15:37.77\00:15:40.44
¤[music swells and ends]¤
00:15:40.47\00:15:47.48
>>John: Deceptions
in the modern church--
00:15:49.58\00:15:51.75
more common that you think,
00:15:51.78\00:15:53.42
and you don't want to be led
away from faith in the Bible.
00:15:53.45\00:15:56.55
"Deceptions in the
Modern Church," a revealing book
00:15:56.58\00:15:59.49
exposing common teachings
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00:15:59.52\00:16:02.89
Get your free copy
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of "Deceptions in
the Modern Church."
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Call 800-253-3000,
00:16:05.93\00:16:08.40
800-253-3000.
00:16:08.43\00:16:10.70
You can write to the
address on your screen
00:16:10.73\00:16:12.43
or visit iiwoffer.com.
00:16:12.47\00:16:15.24
Get "Deceptions in
the Modern Church,"
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800-253-3000.
00:16:17.34\00:16:19.37
>>John: More than 5 million
people in the United States
00:16:20.38\00:16:23.14
currently live with dementia,
00:16:23.18\00:16:25.05
¤[somber music]¤
00:16:25.08\00:16:25.98
almost 50 million
people around the world.
00:16:26.01\00:16:29.72
And numbers are rising.
00:16:29.75\00:16:32.45
Many people live in fear,
wondering if they'll be next.
00:16:32.49\00:16:36.12
¤[upbeat music]¤
00:16:36.16\00:16:37.09
If there were
something you could do to combat
00:16:37.13\00:16:39.13
cognitive decline,
you'd want to know.
00:16:39.16\00:16:42.53
Don't miss part 1 of
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that has seen many people turn
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00:17:01.12\00:17:04.59
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00:17:14.76\00:17:16.03
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00:17:16.06\00:17:19.10
>>John Bradshaw:
Peter was confident.
00:17:21.10\00:17:22.74
He was too confident, really.
00:17:22.77\00:17:24.67
Like when he walked on water
and took his eyes off Jesus,
00:17:24.71\00:17:27.84
down he went.
00:17:27.88\00:17:29.61
Well, he clearly took
his eyes off Jesus again,
00:17:29.64\00:17:32.71
because not long after
telling Jesus he would die
00:17:32.75\00:17:36.48
before he denied Him,
things aren't going well.
00:17:36.52\00:17:40.92
Jesus went to
Gethsemane to pray.
00:17:40.96\00:17:43.53
Peter, James, and John are told
to go with Him and pray for Him,
00:17:43.56\00:17:48.46
but they fall asleep.
00:17:48.50\00:17:50.50
Jesus even said to Peter
when He found Peter sleeping,
00:17:50.53\00:17:53.70
"Could you not
watch with me one hour?"
00:17:53.74\00:17:56.30
He was warning Peter:
00:17:56.34\00:17:57.91
Peter, for a man who said he
would rather die than deny me,
00:17:57.94\00:18:02.41
you're not off to a great start.
00:18:02.44\00:18:04.61
When Jesus is arrested, Peter
takes his sword and swings it,
00:18:04.65\00:18:09.75
cutting off the ear of
the high priest's servant.
00:18:09.78\00:18:13.12
Now, you don't think
Peter aimed for his ear, do you?
00:18:13.15\00:18:16.69
He was either the best
swordsman in all of Israel,
00:18:16.73\00:18:20.63
or what's more likely is that he
was aiming for the man's head.
00:18:20.66\00:18:24.50
The man must have
ducked at just the right time.
00:18:24.53\00:18:28.04
After Jesus is
arrested, Peter denied Him:
00:18:28.07\00:18:31.01
"I do not know
what you are saying."
00:18:31.04\00:18:33.27
That's Matthew 26, verse 70.
00:18:33.31\00:18:35.11
Then "he denied with an
oath, 'I do not know the Man!'"
00:18:35.14\00:18:39.31
That's two, if you're counting.
00:18:39.35\00:18:41.12
And someone says,
"[You're] one of them."
00:18:41.15\00:18:43.42
We can tell by "your
speech," your dialect.
00:18:43.45\00:18:46.62
"Then he began to
curse and swear, saying,
00:18:46.65\00:18:50.13
"'I do not know the Man!'
Immediately a rooster crowed.
00:18:50.16\00:18:54.66
"And Peter remembered the word
of Jesus who had said to him,
00:18:54.73\00:18:58.43
"'Before the rooster crows,
you will deny me three times.'
00:18:58.47\00:19:03.30
So he went out
and wept bitterly."
00:19:03.34\00:19:06.68
And that had to be bitter.
00:19:07.68\00:19:10.11
"I'll never deny
You. I'd rather die."
00:19:11.11\00:19:15.28
That has to be just
about as low as you can get.
00:19:15.32\00:19:18.09
Have you ever been that low?
00:19:18.12\00:19:20.42
Well, look at what happened.
00:19:20.46\00:19:22.32
When Jesus was
raised from the dead,
00:19:22.36\00:19:24.76
an angel told the
women who went to the tomb,
00:19:24.79\00:19:27.66
"Go, tell His
disciples-- and Peter--
00:19:27.66\00:19:32.53
that He is going
before you into Galilee."
00:19:32.57\00:19:35.24
You see? Jesus
hadn't forgotten Peter.
00:19:35.27\00:19:38.97
He hadn't cast him off.
00:19:39.01\00:19:40.74
In John 21, when
Peter miraculously catches
00:19:40.78\00:19:43.48
those 153 big fish, and they're
eating with Jesus on the shore,
00:19:43.51\00:19:49.12
Jesus says to him,
"'Simon, son of Jonah,
00:19:49.15\00:19:53.49
"do you love me
more than these?'
00:19:53.52\00:19:56.26
"He said to Him, 'Yes,
Lord; You know that I love You.'
00:19:56.29\00:20:00.86
He said to him,
'Feed my lambs.'"
00:20:00.90\00:20:03.40
No self-assurance now.
00:20:03.43\00:20:05.60
Jesus asked him a
second time, same reply.
00:20:05.63\00:20:08.70
"He said to him the third time,
00:20:08.74\00:20:10.31
"'Simon, son of
Jonah, do you love me?'
00:20:10.34\00:20:14.04
"Peter was grieved because
He said to him the third time,
00:20:14.08\00:20:16.58
"'Do you love me?'
And he said to Him,
00:20:16.61\00:20:19.58
"'Lord, You know all things;
You know that I love You.'
00:20:19.61\00:20:23.32
Jesus said to
him, 'Feed my sheep.'"
00:20:23.35\00:20:27.99
What's interesting is if you
look at the Greek words used--
00:20:28.02\00:20:31.66
Jesus asks him,
"Do you love me?"--
00:20:31.69\00:20:35.10
but He used the Greek
word "agapé" when He asked him
00:20:35.13\00:20:38.63
those first two times.
00:20:38.67\00:20:40.00
"Agapé," that's a
self-sacrificing love.
00:20:40.04\00:20:43.64
It's the highest form of love.
00:20:43.67\00:20:45.94
It's not
"phileó," brotherly love;
00:20:45.97\00:20:47.91
it's unconditional love.
00:20:47.94\00:20:50.75
"Peter, do you
love me with that?"
00:20:50.78\00:20:54.05
That's the kind of
love that motivates someone
00:20:54.08\00:20:56.58
to stand for Jesus
even if he has to die.
00:20:56.62\00:21:01.26
Peter answers, "You
know I [phileó] You."
00:21:01.29\00:21:04.96
I love You with brotherly love.
00:21:04.99\00:21:07.30
Jesus asked him a second
time, "Do you love me, Peter?"
00:21:07.30\00:21:09.90
Do you [agapé] me,
love me unconditionally?
00:21:09.93\00:21:14.30
Again, Peter says, "You know
I [phileó] You," brotherly love.
00:21:14.34\00:21:19.04
Now, that third time He said,
"Peter, do you [phileó] me?"
00:21:19.07\00:21:23.35
Do you love me
with brotherly love?
00:21:23.38\00:21:25.61
Peter said, "Lord, You know all
things," which is interesting.
00:21:25.65\00:21:30.99
You know I love You
with a brotherly love.
00:21:31.02\00:21:33.89
You also know that the last
time I made a big profession,
00:21:33.92\00:21:38.69
I fell flat on my face.
00:21:38.73\00:21:40.43
You know how weak I am.
00:21:40.46\00:21:43.77
And Jesus said to
him, twice actually,
00:21:43.80\00:21:46.80
"Feed my sheep."
00:21:46.84\00:21:48.90
Peter denied Jesus three times.
00:21:48.94\00:21:51.64
Jesus puts it
to him three times.
00:21:51.67\00:21:55.08
And three times
Peter came through.
00:21:55.11\00:21:59.01
Now, think about that.
00:21:59.05\00:22:00.45
Peter had failed dismally,
and yet Jesus commissioned him
00:22:00.48\00:22:05.42
to be a leader in the church.
00:22:05.45\00:22:07.72
He restored Peter.
00:22:07.76\00:22:10.09
He showed love for Peter.
00:22:10.13\00:22:15.13
And what Jesus did for Peter, He
can do for you...or anyone else.
00:22:15.16\00:22:21.80
So what happened to Peter?
00:22:22.80\00:22:24.37
At Pentecost he was
filled with the Holy Spirit
00:22:24.41\00:22:28.11
and preached powerfully.
00:22:28.14\00:22:30.25
Three thousand people
were baptized in that one day
00:22:30.28\00:22:34.02
when the floodgates opened, and
the church exploded with growth.
00:22:34.05\00:22:39.35
He and John were met by a
paralyzed man in Acts chapter 3,
00:22:39.39\00:22:42.99
a beggar hoping for coins.
00:22:43.02\00:22:45.39
"Peter said, 'Silver
and gold have I none;
00:22:45.43\00:22:48.56
"'but such as I
have give I thee:
00:22:48.60\00:22:51.13
In the name of Jesus Christ
of Nazareth rise up and walk.'"
00:22:51.17\00:22:56.27
The man went "walking, [and]
leaping, and praising God."
00:22:56.30\00:23:01.08
Peter was a miracle-worker now.
00:23:01.11\00:23:04.31
He delivered
some of the most bold,
00:23:04.35\00:23:06.75
some of the most stirring
lines in the book of Acts.
00:23:06.78\00:23:09.98
"Whether it is right in the
sight of God to listen to you
00:23:10.02\00:23:12.55
"more than to God, you
judge. For we cannot but speak
00:23:12.59\00:23:16.86
the things which we
have seen and heard."
00:23:16.89\00:23:19.13
In Acts chapter 5, he
was arrested for his faith.
00:23:19.16\00:23:21.60
He was put in prison,
liberated by a miracle of God,
00:23:21.63\00:23:25.10
and then went straight
back to the temple to preach,
00:23:25.13\00:23:28.24
saying, "We ought to
obey God rather than men."
00:23:28.27\00:23:32.87
Herod had Peter
arrested in Acts chapter 12.
00:23:32.91\00:23:35.68
James had been executed.
00:23:35.71\00:23:37.71
Peter was clearly next,
but when his life was hanging
00:23:37.75\00:23:41.95
by a thread, he was in
prison and slept so soundly
00:23:41.98\00:23:47.22
an angel had to
smite him to wake him up,
00:23:47.26\00:23:51.39
and he walked out of the prison
00:23:51.43\00:23:53.16
as the gates miraculously
opened up before him.
00:23:53.19\00:23:56.16
This was a new man.
00:23:56.20\00:23:58.20
God took that rough
stone and polished it,
00:23:58.23\00:24:02.57
and Peter was used
powerfully for God.
00:24:02.60\00:24:06.64
Now, he wasn't perfect.
00:24:06.68\00:24:08.21
Acts chapter 10 makes
clear he still had race issues.
00:24:08.24\00:24:11.91
Bigotry was sort of the
order of the day back then,
00:24:11.95\00:24:14.65
and Peter hated gentiles.
00:24:14.68\00:24:18.09
But he was given
the vision of the sheet
00:24:18.12\00:24:19.89
lowering the unclean animals.
00:24:19.92\00:24:22.06
This is where God said,
"Rise, Peter; kill and eat."
00:24:22.09\00:24:25.13
Peter protests,
00:24:25.16\00:24:26.39
"I have never eaten
anything common or unclean."
00:24:26.43\00:24:28.73
But then he
realizes God is telling him
00:24:28.76\00:24:31.87
not to call the
gentiles unclean.
00:24:31.90\00:24:35.84
This had
nothing to do with food;
00:24:35.87\00:24:37.67
it had to do with his racism.
00:24:37.71\00:24:39.44
The scales fell off his
eyes, and off his heart.
00:24:39.47\00:24:43.68
And Peter grew and changed...
and learned to love all people.
00:24:43.71\00:24:50.95
What a character!
00:24:50.99\00:24:53.69
Peter--impetuous, impulsive,
rash, reckless at times,
00:24:53.72\00:25:00.76
but Jesus hung
in there with him,
00:25:00.80\00:25:03.30
lovingly brought
him to repentance,
00:25:03.33\00:25:06.07
and loved him even
after he had really messed up.
00:25:06.10\00:25:10.54
There are lessons
there that we can learn
00:25:10.57\00:25:12.01
about how to treat others--
00:25:12.04\00:25:13.88
but also about
how God treats us.
00:25:13.91\00:25:17.78
If you can see
yourself in Peter,
00:25:17.81\00:25:19.98
then you can see
God's love for you
00:25:20.02\00:25:23.05
in Jesus' treatment of Peter.
00:25:23.08\00:25:26.05
God loves you.
00:25:26.09\00:25:27.89
There's a Peter in all of us--
00:25:27.92\00:25:30.33
and a new Peter
just waiting to come out.
00:25:30.36\00:25:34.20
Trust God with your
life today, with your faults,
00:25:34.23\00:25:37.97
with your failings,
with your brokenness,
00:25:38.00\00:25:40.24
with your inadequacy,
00:25:40.27\00:25:42.57
and know that God will
make you a whole new person,
00:25:42.60\00:25:46.07
just like He did Peter.
00:25:46.11\00:25:47.78
>>John: Thank you for
remembering that It Is Written
00:25:48.58\00:25:50.58
exists because of the kindness
of people just like you.
00:25:50.61\00:25:54.02
To support this international
life-changing ministry,
00:25:54.05\00:25:57.29
please call us
now at 800-253-3000.
00:25:57.32\00:26:01.49
You can send your
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00:26:01.52\00:26:03.06
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00:26:03.09\00:26:04.49
or you can visit us
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00:26:04.53\00:26:08.36
Thank you for your prayers
and for your financial support.
00:26:08.40\00:26:11.13
Our number
again is 800-253-3000,
00:26:11.17\00:26:15.34
or you can visit us
online at itiswritten.com.
00:26:15.37\00:26:18.37
>>John Bradshaw:
Let's pray together now.
00:26:19.51\00:26:21.48
Our Father in heaven, I
thank You that You demonstrate
00:26:21.51\00:26:23.91
in Peter's
experience that people can fail
00:26:23.95\00:26:27.65
and then find success,
00:26:27.68\00:26:29.52
that sinners really
can be turned around,
00:26:29.55\00:26:31.79
that those who make mistakes
can learn from them and grow
00:26:31.82\00:26:35.02
and become just
what You want them to be.
00:26:35.06\00:26:38.33
We thank You for Your patience.
00:26:38.36\00:26:39.49
As You were patient with Peter,
00:26:39.53\00:26:40.63
we know that
You're patient with us.
00:26:40.66\00:26:42.76
And, Father, I ask that
You would work in our lives
00:26:42.80\00:26:44.80
just as You worked in Peter.
00:26:44.83\00:26:46.53
Now, friend, would you
like to ask God right now
00:26:46.57\00:26:49.54
to work in your heart and
give you hope and a new life?
00:26:49.57\00:26:52.24
Maybe you've done that before,
00:26:52.27\00:26:53.41
so perhaps your prayer is
just a prayer of agreement.
00:26:53.44\00:26:56.81
Although maybe you're
that one who is saying,
00:26:56.85\00:26:59.65
"Oh, I'm far from
God. I'm the failure.
00:26:59.68\00:27:02.38
"I'm more likely to
take the sword and swing it
00:27:02.42\00:27:04.85
"or make a rash
promise that I can't keep
00:27:04.89\00:27:07.66
than I am to simply
be humble and faithful."
00:27:07.69\00:27:10.39
Friend, if you've failed,
God can restore you, wants to.
00:27:10.43\00:27:13.90
If you've blown it,
00:27:13.93\00:27:15.53
God can put the broken
pieces back together again.
00:27:15.56\00:27:18.73
In fact, God can
do better than that.
00:27:18.77\00:27:20.40
He can completely remake you.
00:27:20.44\00:27:22.07
Would you like that?
00:27:22.10\00:27:23.17
If you would, lift up
your heart to God right now.
00:27:23.20\00:27:25.24
You might even want to lift up
your hand right now, if you can.
00:27:25.27\00:27:28.74
Our Father and our God,
thank You for treating us
00:27:28.78\00:27:32.01
the way You treated Peter
00:27:32.05\00:27:34.55
and for giving us hope
that You can make a person new.
00:27:34.58\00:27:38.95
We thank You for that newness.
00:27:38.99\00:27:40.36
We claim it now through Jesus
Christ our Lord and Savior.
00:27:40.39\00:27:45.66
And it's in
Jesus' name that we pray.
00:27:45.69\00:27:48.73
Amen.
00:27:48.76\00:27:50.23
Thank you so
much for joining me.
00:27:50.27\00:27:52.37
Look forward to
seeing you again next time.
00:27:52.40\00:27:54.44
Until then, remember:
00:27:54.47\00:27:56.47
"It is written, 'Man
shall not live by bread alone,
00:27:56.50\00:28:00.61
but by every word that proceeds
from the mouth of God.'"
00:28:00.64\00:28:04.61
¤[dramatic theme music]¤
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