The Bible tells us
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Our study today is Feed My Sheep
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First and Second Peter
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Hello and we welcome you
to 3ABN Sabbath School Panel
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Hope you're having a wonderful
day and we're gonna have a
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wonderful time because we're
moving into a brand new quarter
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a brand new area of study and we
study the life of one of those
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very large figures in the
New Testament and that is the
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Apostle Peter so there is much
to say. And I do want to take
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a moment to say if you want
to get the study guide so that
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you can study along with us
and perhaps prepare for teaching
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yourself, you can
get the study guide at
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absg that's alpha,
boy, sam God.adventist.org
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and we'd like you to get that so
that you can study along with us
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To my left Molly Steenson. Molly
good to have you here. Thank you
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Vice President and
General Manager. And a new face
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with someone that we
certainly respect and love,
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Pr. Tom Ferguson. Pastor of the
Marion District. We could name
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all of the churches that you
pastor but it's only in our show
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So we'll just stay with the
Marion District which is what
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you do, superintend almost all
of the churches in S. Illinois
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Some of them, yes. And
good to have you with us all.
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Good to be here. Shelley Quinn.
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Program Development Manager and
so many many hats as we all wear
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Good to have you hear. Thank
you And Jill Morikone who is the
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Administrative Assistant to
Danny Shelton and a student of
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the Word and a speaker in her
own right. Good to have you all
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with us. As we mentioned, we're
talking about the Apostle Peter
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And when we think of Mr. Peter
Brother Peter, Apostle Peter
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the story of Peter is
really a study in redemption
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It is a study in the grace
of God and the growth of one
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who can even overcome,
Ellen White says we can overcome
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cultivated tendencies
and natural tendencies
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somethings you pick up along
the way, somethings your parents
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give you and you gotta fight
against those things. Sometimes
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that your parents give you and
those things that you pick up
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along the way, and so looking
at the life of Peter we see
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the life of someone who brought
a lot of baggage to the gospel
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to be kind, but who was able
to overcome that baggage and
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here's what we can take
hope ladies and gentleman
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even after he was converted,
he had some growing to do
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and there were times when
he fell, after his conversion
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and yet Christ stuck with
him pre-conversion and the Holy
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Spirit stuck with him post
conversion. And he became a
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pretty useful tool in the hand
of God for the salvation of the
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souls of men and women. So that
says to me, even me, I can be
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changed, I can grow and God
can use me if I surrender myself
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to Him and we see that in the
life of Peter. Wanna run through
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the memory verse in just a
moment. I'm gonna move from that
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because there's a lot to say and
my time is getting away from me
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And the memory text says, but
when he saw that the wind was
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boisterous he was afraid and
beginning to sink he cried out
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saying, Lord save me and
immediately Jesus stretched out
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His hand and caught him and said
to him, O you of little faith
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why did you doubt? When we think
of Peter and his companions
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most scholars say that
they were commercial fishermen,
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they weren't just pole in
the water type people. They were
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commercial fishermen. And so
when we talk about Peter, these
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were men, and Peter had this
kinda fisherman way of talking
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and fisherman way of addressing
life, kinda seafaring kinda guy
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and so he was a rough person but
God was able to smooth off those
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rough edges and make him a
powerful tool like I said before
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Now before I go into something
I really wanna talk about
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let's have a word of prayer and
so that we ask God to bless our
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study. Father God we do
praise You and we do thank You
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for You are a good God and a
gracious God and we can see in
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the life of Peter so many things
that are in our lives. But we
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also see the trials and triumphs
in the life of Peter and know
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that the same God that was with
him is with us. And the same
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wonderful miracle working power
can change lives is in God's
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hands and available to us today
and so bless us as we study
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and we thank you
in Jesus' name Amen.
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You know one of the things about
studying, I think we've said
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this before, we study more
for one day than we do sometimes
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for the whole lesson and we get
so much material we don't know
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where to digest it and boil
it down to. But there are couple
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things I do want to talk about
that I do want to move into
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Peter and his companions,
looking into our Sunday lesson
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had been fishing all night.
These were commercial fishermen
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they knew how to fish. This was
not something that was alien to
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them or new to them.
And they had caught nothing.
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Peter I see as an honest soul
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but one who, who quick to speak
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spoke much more
than the other disciples
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and spoke from his heart
but didn't always know what he's
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saying. Sometimes you make
some pretty bold statements.
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And you mean them when you
say them. But you forget that
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there's an adversary and
that adversary is very good at
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you know there are
three people that know you.
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The Lord knows you, the devil
knows you and you think you
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know you. Of the three you're
really the last on the list.
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The devil knows you
better than you know yourself.
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He studies humanity and the Lord
certainly knows you better than
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you know yourself. So when
you make these promises you're
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making them from your
heart because you think you know
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yourself and you think you're
gonna keep them. But the devil
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knows, you know when you
say I've decided to follow Jesus
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the devil says I've decided
you're not gonna follow Jesus
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and since he knows you a little
better than you know yourself
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he knows many, many ways and
to come at you and to attach you
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and of course the Lord knows
you best. And praise God, the
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Lord has more patience with
us than sometimes we have with
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others or with ourselves. I'm
so glad to use a metaphor from
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production that the Lord judges
us on the video and not the
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snapshot. Amen. Because if you
look at the snapshots of Peter's
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life, you'll say, you
know. You'll toss him away.
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But God looks at the
video, He looks at the direction
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the long-term and in the long
term consequences you can see
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a growth in Peter's life. But
if you look at him at any point
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in time you'll be saying where's
the growth? Where's the change?
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Because he has these times when
he would lapse back. You know,
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or when he would speak out
of turn. Or he would speak from
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the heart but not up from the
head or from the head and not
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from the heart. But there was
growth in his life and we can
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thank God for that growth.
So the pro-fishermen had caught
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nothing and Christ says
toss your net on the other side
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And they didn't want to do
that. But, you're the Lord...
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ok we'll do it. And then
we catch so many fish that the
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boats are almost ready to sink.
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And now Peter is in our mindset,
on the heels of that miracle,
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to give the Lord the
surrender that He demands.
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Now what is interesting and what
I wanna do before my time is up
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is this. Peter saw a miracle in
Jesus. And on the heels of that
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miracle, in the face of
that miracle he was ready to
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acknowledge Him as Lord.
He had contact with Him before
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and the lesson brings this out
but he wants to serve the Lord
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but he's also faced for the
first of many times with his
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own, what's the word I want
to use? He is humbled before
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this person that he knows now
is God and his natural response
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is depart from me. I'm in the
presence of someone who sees me
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as I am and who knows me
and when you got a lot of stuff
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in your life it makes you
wanna shrink away from God.
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But of course it is the stuff
in your life that demands that
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you go to God. Because there is
no way to rid yourself of your
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stuff without God. And so
we're looking at this and I saw
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something quickly,
I'm watching my time here
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Ellen White says, but
Peter was unmindful now of boats
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or lading that this miracle
above any other he had ever
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witnessed was to him a
manifestation of divine power
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In Jesus he saw one who
held all nature in His control
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the presence of divinity
revealed his own unholiness.
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Love for his master, shame of
his unbelief, gratitude for the
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condescension of Christ, above
all the sense of his uncleanness
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in the presence of infinite
purity overwhelmed him. While
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his companions were secure in
the contents of the net, Peter
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fell at the Savior's feet
declaring or exclaiming depart
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from me for I am sinful man.
That's one of the things that
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happen when you come into
a knowledge of who Christ is
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and who you are. Your first
inclination is to shrink back
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But Christs says, no fear not.
Come. You're coming where you
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need to be. With Christ you
see yourself as you really are.
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We can compare ourselves with
other individuals and if you
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compare yourself with other
individuals you'll always find
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something that makes you a
little better. So it's not an
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accurate judge. You can compare
yourself by what you see in the
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mirror. You can change what you
see in the mirror by changing
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the mirror, changing your
hair or changing your make-up or
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changing whatever. That's
cosmetology, not being converted
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To see yourself as you really
are you need to compare yourself
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with Jesus. Because then
you see yourself accurately.
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You want to shrink back
but aren't you so glad we serve
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a God who says, no come
on. Come. Come with your warts
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come with whatever problems
you have and together we will
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change that. And that's what
Christ did with Peter. There's a
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wonderful text you know in
2 Corinthians 10:12. It talks
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about we comparing ourselves
with ourselves and judging
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ourselves by ourselves, are not
wise. We tend to do that. Ok if
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I compare myself with Pastor
well ok, he's better looking,
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he's got more hair, I'm a better
singer...you know we can always
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find something to justify
ourselves. When I look at Jesus
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I see myself as I really
am. And it actually drives me to
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Jesus because if there's ever
gonna be a change in my life
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It's gotta come through Jesus
Christ. And Peter, bless his
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heart, began that walk that day
Was it a smooth walk? It was not
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Did it have some holes in it?
Yes it did. Did it have times
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where he fell? Yes it did. We're
talking a little before about
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that incident in Galatians where
Paul and Peter had to go through
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this little thing because Peter
was doing some stuff to please
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the brethren and not please God.
So even after he was converted
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he had some dips, skid marks
in his life. But praise God
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he became a powerful tool in the
hand of God for the salvation of
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souls of men. And the
encouraging thing about Peter's
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story is that Peter's story
can be your story. You can grow
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Usually it's not a straight line
from earth to heaven. Usually
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there's some detours, some
things that go on in our life
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But the good thing is that
the road, though narrow, though
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sometimes thorny, though some
times rocky, though sometimes
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it has turns and twists, it is
possible to navigate through the
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presence and power of Jesus
Christ and that's what we see
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in Peter's life. From that first
call to the time, uh he denied
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Christ, to the time that he
became a champion for Christ
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there was this growth. And
you can grow even as he grew.
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You will have trials in your
life but praise God you will
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always have triumph in Jesus
Christ. And that's the good
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lesson about this part. Molly.
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You know I'm thinking
about what you're saying. Now my
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portion of the lesson comes
from Matthew. So if you've got
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your Bible and I hope
you do, go ahead and turn to
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Matthew. But I'm thinking about
what CA is saying. Sometimes
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I look back. Let's say over
a year's period of time and I
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think, Oh I have not grown
this past year. But you know,
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as long as you continue
heading in the right direction,
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I haven't made great strides
but at least I'm headed in the
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right direction. If you're
headed in the right direction
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you're going to reach your
destination. Just don't turn
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around, don't give up and
don't be discouraged. Peter is a
00:14:04.61\00:14:08.24
beautiful example of that. Well
again I've got you in Matthew
00:14:08.28\00:14:11.45
Matthew the 16th chapter, we're
gonna look at several scriptures
00:14:11.51\00:14:15.68
maybe verses 1-23. So go ahead
and get those scriptures found
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but before I start into Matthew
16, let me kinda set this up
00:14:20.52\00:14:26.39
for you. In chapter 15, Jesus
had just healed the multitudes
00:14:26.43\00:14:32.37
then he fed thousands with how
many loaves and how many fishes?
00:14:32.40\00:14:37.54
7 loaves and just a few
fishes. So He had just done this
00:14:37.57\00:14:42.44
incredible miracle and so now
let's look at Matthew chapter 16
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Again, starting in verse 1. Then
the Pharisees and the Sadducees
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came, and testing Him, what were
they doing? They were testing
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Jesus. Asked that He would
show them a sign from heaven.
00:14:56.46\00:15:00.26
Now they evidently weren't there
because He had just done an
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incredible miracle. He answered
and said to them, when it is
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evening you say it will be
fair weather for the sky is red.
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In the morning it will be foul
weather today for the sky is red
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and threatening. Hypocrites, He
calls them hypocrites. You know
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how to discern the face of
the sky but you cannot discern
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the signs of the times? A
wicked and adulterous generation
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seek after a sign and no sign
shall be given to it except the
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sign of the prophet Jonah and
He He left them and departed.
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So He was not real impressed
with the Sadducees and Pharisees
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But now all this is happening
in front of who? In front of His
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disciples. In front of those He
was teaching. Now let's look at
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verse 5. Now when His disciples
had come to the other side
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they had forgotten to take bread
Then Jesus said to them, take
00:15:57.82\00:16:01.82
heed and beware of the leavening
of what? Of the Sadducees and
00:16:01.86\00:16:06.49
the Pharisees. So what's
on Jesus' mind? Is the fact
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that they forgot to take
food with him on His mind?
00:16:10.33\00:16:13.17
No. It's the Pharisees and
Sadducees and He's telling them
00:16:13.20\00:16:17.37
be aware, giving them a warning.
Verse 7, and they reasoned among
00:16:17.41\00:16:22.24
themselves saying, it is because
we have taken no bread. But
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Jesus being aware of it said
to them, O ye of little faith
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He uses that terminology
occasionally doesn't He CA?
00:16:30.29\00:16:33.52
O ye of little faith why
do you reason among yourselves
00:16:33.56\00:16:37.03
because you have brought no
bread? What had He just done?
00:16:37.06\00:16:40.10
He had just fed the multitudes.
Do you not yet understand
00:16:40.13\00:16:43.97
or remember the 5 loaves
and 5000 and how many baskets
00:16:44.00\00:16:49.17
you took up, nor the 7 loaves
of the 4000 and how many large
00:16:49.20\00:16:53.71
baskets you took up. He's
reminding them of the miracles
00:16:53.74\00:16:57.31
they've already seen and
here they're concerned about the
00:16:57.35\00:16:59.41
same thing. How is it you do not
understand that I did not speak
00:16:59.45\00:17:04.35
to you concerning bread but
to beware of the leaven of the
00:17:04.39\00:17:09.46
Pharisees and the Sadducees?
Finally, His disciples get it.
00:17:09.49\00:17:15.86
Jesus was warning them of
the negative influence of the
00:17:16.80\00:17:20.70
Pharisees and the Sadducees.
Don't we do that to our children
00:17:20.74\00:17:24.37
Warn them, don't run around with
people who do this. I had a lady
00:17:24.41\00:17:28.74
tell me one time that her mother
used to always warn she and her
00:17:28.78\00:17:32.55
brothers the type of people
for them not to run around with
00:17:32.58\00:17:36.05
and they finally came to the
realization she's describing us
00:17:36.08\00:17:40.72
We're running round with each
other. So anyway we do that and
00:17:41.42\00:17:44.63
Jesus is warning them not to,
of the influence of the Sadducee
00:17:44.69\00:17:52.50
and the Pharisees. And
with this background Jesus has a
00:17:52.53\00:17:57.07
conversation with Peter.
Our quarterly describes this
00:17:57.11\00:18:02.78
conversation as one of the
grand moments in the story of
00:18:02.81\00:18:07.32
Jesus. So let's look at it,
starting in Matthew 16 verses 13
00:18:07.35\00:18:11.45
through 17. When Jesus came into
the region of Caesarea Philippi
00:18:11.49\00:18:16.89
He asked His disciples saying,
who do men say that I the
00:18:16.93\00:18:22.83
Son of man am? So they
said, some say John the Baptist
00:18:22.86\00:18:29.74
some Elijah, others Jeremiah
or one of the prophets. He said
00:18:29.77\00:18:35.11
to them, but who
do you say that I am?
00:18:35.14\00:18:37.81
First he asked what do
you hear from those around us?
00:18:37.88\00:18:42.72
Who do people say that
I am? But then He said, ok
00:18:42.75\00:18:46.49
and they went through
this people in the Bible
00:18:47.42\00:18:53.63
the people were saying he was
like. But then, who do you say
00:18:55.00\00:18:58.37
that I am? And Simon Peter who
always is gonna be the one to
00:18:58.40\00:19:04.21
speak up. Simon Peter, he's
the spokesperson, quick to speak
00:19:04.24\00:19:10.28
any of you quick to speak and
wished you hadn't said what you
00:19:10.31\00:19:14.08
said. I tell people sometimes,
let's pray. We take advantage
00:19:14.12\00:19:19.92
of every opportunity to keep
our mouths shut, cause that'll
00:19:19.95\00:19:23.12
put you in good stead.
Simon Peter answered and said
00:19:23.16\00:19:26.46
now in this case he's answering
good. You are the Christ.
00:19:26.49\00:19:30.77
Now the name of my portion
today, Monday, is confessing
00:19:30.80\00:19:36.54
the Christ. Here's what Simon
Peter said - you are the Christ
00:19:36.57\00:19:40.94
the Son of the Living God.
Peter had got it. See this is
00:19:40.98\00:19:45.35
what Jesus wanted all along.
He just wanted people around Him
00:19:45.38\00:19:49.98
he was teaching, He wanted
them to get who He, Peter got it
00:19:50.02\00:19:54.39
You are the Christ, the Son of
the Living God. Jesus answered
00:19:54.42\00:19:58.63
and said to him, blessed are you
Simon Bar-Jona, for flesh and
00:19:58.66\00:20:03.20
blood has not revealed this
to you but My Father who is in
00:20:03.23\00:20:07.14
heaven. A turning point in
the ministry of Jesus. The true
00:20:07.17\00:20:11.37
identity of who and what
Christ is was recognized by His
00:20:11.41\00:20:16.75
followers. These were believers
who believed. He taught them
00:20:16.78\00:20:22.02
and they got it. They understand
who He was and you know this
00:20:22.08\00:20:26.19
Scripture which says, these
signs shall follow them that
00:20:26.22\00:20:30.29
believe. Do you know why it's
only the believers that have the
00:20:30.33\00:20:34.76
signs following? Because if you
don't believe nothing can happen
00:20:34.83\00:20:38.00
It's so vitally important that
we believe that He is the Christ
00:20:38.03\00:20:44.77
the Son of the Living God. When
you believe that there's a heart
00:20:44.84\00:20:49.04
change and a conversion
within you. These disciples were
00:20:49.08\00:20:54.18
with Him and learned of
His ways and confessed Him
00:20:54.22\00:20:58.02
as Christ the Messiah.
Now as soon as, I found this
00:20:58.05\00:21:02.96
interesting as soon as the
disciples recognized Jesus as
00:21:02.99\00:21:07.96
the Messiah He began teaching
them of His suffering and that
00:21:07.96\00:21:12.20
He must die Now let me ask you
this. The nation of Israel, how
00:21:13.67\00:21:18.74
did they expect the
Messiah to come the first time?
00:21:18.77\00:21:22.11
As a conquering hero. Conquering
hero. A warring deliverer
00:21:22.14\00:21:26.95
who would conquer the
conquesting nations that were
00:21:26.98\00:21:29.98
oppressing them and set Himself
up as the King of Kings and the
00:21:30.02\00:21:35.69
ruler over a small territory
in the Middle East. Now that's
00:21:35.72\00:21:40.00
how they thought that
Christ was supposed to come.
00:21:40.03\00:21:42.70
That their Messiah was going
to suffer and then die, that was
00:21:42.73\00:21:48.97
so contrary to what
they were anticipating.
00:21:49.00\00:21:53.24
So we see once again Peter
is quick to speak. Now this is
00:21:53.27\00:22:01.48
one of those times where
he should've taken advantage
00:22:01.52\00:22:04.92
of the opportunity to not speak
so fast. So let's look at this
00:22:04.95\00:22:09.16
From that time Jesus began
to show to His disciples that He
00:22:12.16\00:22:16.26
must go to Jerusalem and suffer
many things from the elders and
00:22:16.30\00:22:20.20
chief priests and scribes and be
killed and be raised the 3rd day
00:22:20.24\00:22:25.77
Then Peter, here Peter goes,
took Him aside and began to
00:22:25.81\00:22:30.61
rebuke Him. Now get
this, Peter is rebuking Jesus.
00:22:30.65\00:22:33.35
He just said you're Christ,
the Son of the Living God
00:22:33.38\00:22:36.15
and he takes it upon
himself to rebuke Him. He said,
00:22:36.18\00:22:40.22
Far be it from you Lord
that this should happen to you
00:22:40.26\00:22:43.96
but He turned and said to Peter
This is what Jesus said to Peter
00:22:43.99\00:22:47.93
Get behind me Satan for you are
an offense to me for you are not
00:22:47.96\00:22:51.93
mindful of the things of God
but the things of man. These are
00:22:51.97\00:22:56.37
some of the harshest words that
Jesus spoke to anybody in the
00:22:56.40\00:23:00.48
Bible, He spoke to Peter. But
why did He do it? Was He angry
00:23:00.51\00:23:04.48
with Peter? No, He did it for
his own good. The lesson that
00:23:04.51\00:23:08.95
we've got to learn is to be
able to say from our very hearts
00:23:09.02\00:23:13.42
Thou are the Christ, the Son
of the Living God. And I just
00:23:13.46\00:23:17.09
wanted to say this. Christ is
coming the second time the way
00:23:17.13\00:23:22.16
they anticipated Him coming the
first time but instead of being
00:23:22.20\00:23:26.10
King of Kings and Lord of Lords
over a little portion of land
00:23:26.13\00:23:30.64
in the Middle East, He's gonna
be the conquering King of Kings
00:23:30.67\00:23:34.31
and Lord of Lords of
the whole universe. Amen.
00:23:34.34\00:23:37.55
Pastor Ferguson.
00:23:37.58\00:23:39.01
Well as a segue to where I'm
going, I wanted to share that
00:23:39.71\00:23:42.82
it's interesting that Jesus
pointed out at the beginning
00:23:42.85\00:23:44.75
of chapter 16 to beware of
misguided, unconverted spiritual
00:23:44.79\00:23:49.49
leaders. If you have
to, even watch out for that.
00:23:49.52\00:23:53.63
That the Holy Spirit actually
is what we need to be listening
00:23:53.66\00:23:57.67
to, in verse 23. You're mindful
of the things of God, not of God
00:23:57.70\00:24:03.41
but of men. And I'd like us
to turn to Matthew 14 because
00:24:03.44\00:24:09.68
the evidence of that fact
is so clear in this next story.
00:24:09.71\00:24:13.38
I really believe that anything
that is not of God is confusing
00:24:13.42\00:24:18.65
or we call Babylon spiritually.
Because it's not something that
00:24:18.69\00:24:23.06
God has authored and we're
being inundated by all of that
00:24:23.09\00:24:28.13
confusing information. And
one thing I like about Peter is
00:24:28.16\00:24:32.50
that Peter, through his story
you get an inside look at our
00:24:32.53\00:24:36.24
journey and that is that we're
all influenced by, but he speaks
00:24:36.27\00:24:40.01
out with a pure heart and
Jesus is able to address that,
00:24:40.04\00:24:44.88
it's been recorded and we learn.
But back in Matthew 14, we find
00:24:44.91\00:24:49.22
that Jesus had actually just
fed the 5000, 5 loaves of bread
00:24:49.25\00:24:55.69
two fish, He had 12 baskets
left over. Immediately, verse 22
00:24:55.72\00:25:01.23
it says, He made His disciples
go in the boat before Him
00:25:01.26\00:25:07.74
to the other side while He sent
the multitude away. So right
00:25:07.77\00:25:10.87
after this happened, long before
dark, Jesus sent His disciples
00:25:10.91\00:25:16.28
away. It's interesting when you
read Desire of Ages you learn
00:25:16.31\00:25:19.61
that the disciples are actually
led by Judas. We find that
00:25:19.65\00:25:26.35
they're thinking, wait a
minute He's just done this great
00:25:26.39\00:25:28.99
miracle, He is who we thought
He was. He needs to be set up as
00:25:29.02\00:25:32.26
that king. Their
perception of what God should be
00:25:32.29\00:25:35.60
was dominating their thinking
and discussion. So instead of
00:25:35.63\00:25:39.87
embarking off the coast,
they waited by the seashore
00:25:39.90\00:25:43.91
while Jesus went off to pray.
And it's interesting they were
00:25:43.94\00:25:48.91
discussing how when Jesus
shows up they can convince Him
00:25:48.98\00:25:53.65
it's time. It's time
for Him to take that throne.
00:25:53.68\00:25:57.32
But meanwhile Jesus is up in the
mountain praying. And if you've
00:25:57.35\00:26:02.89
ever wondered what He's praying
about or what He's praying for
00:26:02.92\00:26:05.86
He's praying for His disciples
because He knew that the enemy
00:26:05.89\00:26:09.76
wanted to overcome them. And
he realized that they had been
00:26:09.80\00:26:13.97
listening to all these
other voices and they were being
00:26:14.00\00:26:17.14
misled and He wanted
their spiritual connection to be
00:26:17.17\00:26:21.31
strong. And so Jesus goes
up into the mountain. Now it's
00:26:21.34\00:26:26.48
actually, they finally cast off
around after dark. Now they're
00:26:26.51\00:26:30.92
experienced fishermen so this
is not something strange to them
00:26:30.95\00:26:33.99
but verse 25, it's the
fourth watch of the night
00:26:34.02\00:26:37.06
that's the Roman watch. Jews
had three watches, this is the
00:26:37.09\00:26:40.93
fourth watch between 3 and 6 am.
It should've taken them, if it
00:26:40.96\00:26:45.97
wasn't for the storm 2-3 hours
to cross over where they needed
00:26:46.00\00:26:49.20
to go. But here they are,
2-4 miles off shore going ahead
00:26:49.24\00:26:56.04
going into the wind, going
into the waves and struggling
00:26:56.08\00:26:59.75
and actually began getting
afraid, are they gonna make it
00:26:59.78\00:27:04.55
to the other side because of
the fierce storm they would not
00:27:04.59\00:27:08.46
have encountered if they had
departed when they were asked
00:27:08.49\00:27:11.03
by Jesus to do so. And it
was their analysis of Him that
00:27:11.06\00:27:16.60
and their delay that caused
the trial. Now often times we
00:27:16.63\00:27:21.27
analyze what God is asking
of us, we delay and then we find
00:27:21.30\00:27:25.61
ourselves in a trial that if we
had just done what He had asked
00:27:25.67\00:27:28.88
and listened to His voice and
not the others we would've been
00:27:28.94\00:27:32.65
a smoother sailing so to speak.
00:27:32.68\00:27:35.48
So it's a ghost is what
they're thinking in verse 26
00:27:35.52\00:27:39.49
some of the superstitions,
some of the thoughts out there
00:27:39.52\00:27:42.56
start dominating their thinking
Now it's interesting too because
00:27:42.62\00:27:47.93
if you look at some of the
other gospel writers with this
00:27:47.96\00:27:52.30
story, they don't talk about
Peter leaving the boat. But they
00:27:52.33\00:27:55.90
do mention, as a matter of fact,
Mark chapter 6, it says that
00:27:55.94\00:28:01.91
Jesus appeared as if
He would've passed by them
00:28:01.98\00:28:05.81
Now did you ever wonder why?
Jesus comes out to the water
00:28:06.51\00:28:10.19
they're needing their Savior and
now He shows up, what they're
00:28:10.22\00:28:16.22
hoping for and it looks as
if He's just gonna pass on by
00:28:16.26\00:28:19.73
anybody ever wonder why?
00:28:19.76\00:28:22.53
You know often times God will,
He will never force Himself
00:28:24.90\00:28:29.20
on us. Jesus was aware of the
situation they were in and why
00:28:29.27\00:28:33.31
they got there and as He was
coming to their rescue He wanted
00:28:33.34\00:28:39.28
them to call on Him instead
of Him forcing Himself on them
00:28:39.31\00:28:44.75
and that's the way He is with
us He wants us to call on Him
00:28:44.79\00:28:49.52
and often times it's not until
we're in a storm that sometimes
00:28:49.56\00:28:53.40
as a result of our own behavior
that He has to come and rescue
00:28:53.43\00:28:58.87
us from but He wants us to reach
out to Him. He wants us to call
00:28:58.90\00:29:02.70
to Him. So we find here that
Peter, in an expression of faith
00:29:02.74\00:29:09.94
he was afraid but he saw
Jesus and he said, if it is You
00:29:11.35\00:29:15.38
have me come out to the water.
Now was it a natural or super
00:29:15.45\00:29:19.99
natural thing for Peter to have
been able to walk on the water
00:29:20.02\00:29:23.26
Supernatural. Alright. Total
dependence on Christ for him to
00:29:23.29\00:29:28.40
have this victorious walk
on water. And it wasn't until
00:29:28.43\00:29:34.07
he started to get distracted, in
other words, God says He'll move
00:29:34.10\00:29:38.21
mountains if we let Him, through
us. He wants to do that but
00:29:38.24\00:29:42.68
often times that is not
the case instead, we sink.
00:29:42.71\00:29:46.78
So I was thinking about this
rough water that Peter was in
00:29:47.58\00:29:50.92
what caused him to begin to sink
and you know he took his eyes
00:29:50.95\00:29:57.49
off of Jesus, that's one
thing we see clearly. I remember
00:29:57.53\00:30:01.33
when I was growing up we used
to go out into Salem Harbor in
00:30:01.36\00:30:04.20
Massachusetts and sail. We'd go
in all kinds of weather. We'd go
00:30:04.23\00:30:07.70
for 2-3 days at a time during
the summer and I found that we
00:30:07.74\00:30:11.41
sometimes we'd come into a storm
and when we came into a storm
00:30:13.24\00:30:17.15
sometimes they were severe
and I remember seeing the swells
00:30:17.18\00:30:20.85
that were so tall. It made you
realize how small you really are
00:30:20.88\00:30:25.55
And I can just imagine Peter and
the other fishermen, they had
00:30:25.59\00:30:30.33
been debating whether Jesus
should hold off or go and do
00:30:30.36\00:30:34.03
what He was called to do, to be
their king. They had their idea
00:30:34.10\00:30:39.10
who He should be and now they
find themselves desperately in
00:30:39.13\00:30:42.70
need of His help. And Peter
actually took his eyes off of
00:30:42.74\00:30:48.11
Jesus for two things, for
two reasons. You know he had a
00:30:48.14\00:30:53.82
crisis of faith, he really did.
All of us have this crisis of
00:30:53.85\00:30:59.62
faith that God calls us to
continually throughout our lives
00:30:59.65\00:31:03.46
But unbelief and self-exaltation
as I was studying through this
00:31:03.49\00:31:12.60
and thinking about this, were
two main reasons that he began
00:31:12.63\00:31:18.54
to lose his ability to walk on
water. And he took his eyes off
00:31:18.57\00:31:23.41
of Jesus because of those
two reasons and I think in our
00:31:23.45\00:31:26.51
journey that often times
you know in a crisis of faith
00:31:26.55\00:31:30.25
is we really don't believe
God is who He says He is in that
00:31:30.29\00:31:34.36
area or this particular
point, we don't trust Him
00:31:34.39\00:31:38.89
and as a result we lose
the Holy Spirit's upholding
00:31:38.96\00:31:43.67
that He longs to give us.
Now it's very interesting, after
00:31:44.53\00:31:48.20
he's crying what does Jesus do?
00:31:49.54\00:31:52.21
He says Lord save me and
immediately, verse 31, Jesus
00:31:52.97\00:31:56.98
stretched out His hand
and caught him. He wasn't just
00:31:57.01\00:31:59.58
passing by as if He's leaving.
He reached out and when we call
00:31:59.61\00:32:04.29
on God He reaches out to
us. Very important point in this
00:32:04.32\00:32:08.92
story. And He said, O you of
little faith why did you doubt?
00:32:08.99\00:32:12.86
And when Jesus got into the
boat, verse 32, what happened?
00:32:12.89\00:32:17.53
the wind ceased. When Jesus
gets into the boat of your life
00:32:18.87\00:32:22.84
He'll calm the storm. Amen.
You know I've always found in my
00:32:23.97\00:32:27.68
own experience either He will
take the storms out of my life
00:32:27.71\00:32:31.01
or He'll go through that storm
with me. But eventually that
00:32:31.05\00:32:35.52
storm will end and He's with
me and things have changed and
00:32:35.55\00:32:39.72
improved my walk with Him as
a result. Verse 33, then those
00:32:39.75\00:32:43.99
who were in the boat, remember
the group that were in the boat?
00:32:44.03\00:32:46.80
and Judas is among them right?
They came and worshipped Him
00:32:46.83\00:32:52.43
You find that they're saying
truly You are the Son of God
00:32:54.00\00:32:59.87
It took this storm, as I was
reading through this even though
00:32:59.91\00:33:03.65
they had seen the miracles
of God, it took the storm
00:33:03.68\00:33:06.61
for them to trust Him, to rely
on Him in the way that Jesus
00:33:06.65\00:33:09.72
was beckoning them to do.
And too often the storms that we
00:33:09.75\00:33:15.99
don't want in our lives, it
requires the very same thing
00:33:16.06\00:33:19.26
in order for us to experience
the growth that God is longing
00:33:19.33\00:33:23.77
to produce in our lives as well.
00:33:23.80\00:33:25.73
Amen. Very good, thank you.
Let's turn to Luke chapter 22
00:33:25.77\00:33:31.37
I have Wednesday, this is
our first, this whole lesson is
00:33:33.11\00:33:38.31
about the person of Peter but
on Wednesday we're going to be
00:33:38.35\00:33:41.62
reading the story of how he
denied His Lord. Here you've got
00:33:41.65\00:33:45.55
Peter who's seen the miracles of
Jesus, he has walked with Jesus
00:33:45.59\00:33:50.86
for three and a half years
and he has seen Jesus, you know,
00:33:50.89\00:33:56.73
when he called on Him he's seen
Him rescue him from the storm
00:33:56.77\00:33:59.63
but what the lesson asks us is
to read two passages in Luke and
00:33:59.67\00:34:05.14
it says what lessons can we
learn from Peter's failures?
00:34:05.17\00:34:08.24
Now I've found 8 lessons that
kind of stand out to me in this
00:34:08.28\00:34:12.11
so let's just read through it.
00:34:12.15\00:34:15.98
And the Lord said, Simon, Simon
anytime you see that when the
00:34:16.02\00:34:22.22
Lord repeats the name it's
to add emphasis to what He's
00:34:22.26\00:34:25.36
about to say. He said,
indeed, Jesus is telling Peter
00:34:25.39\00:34:30.83
Satan has asked for you that He
may sift you as wheat. You know
00:34:30.87\00:34:38.44
sifting is a crushing process
where they separate the wheat
00:34:38.47\00:34:43.08
from the chaff and here's the
first lesson to me. The you here
00:34:43.11\00:34:48.85
is plural. Satan wants all
of Christ's disciples. He wants
00:34:48.88\00:34:55.99
to crush us all. You know John
10:10 says the thief comes only
00:34:56.02\00:35:00.83
to steal, kill and destroy. But
if he can't destroy you, he will
00:35:00.86\00:35:05.90
at least disgrace and discourage
you. So here Jesus is saying
00:35:05.93\00:35:11.81
to Simon, Satan has asked for
all of you that he may sift you
00:35:11.84\00:35:18.08
as wheat. But then in verse
32 now the you is going to be
00:35:18.11\00:35:23.05
singular. But I have prayed for
you that your faith should not
00:35:23.08\00:35:28.56
fail. So here's our second
lesson. The first being that
00:35:28.59\00:35:33.96
we've got to remember Satan
is the true enemy, you know I
00:35:34.00\00:35:37.63
don't know about you but I
can always recognize a spiritual
00:35:37.67\00:35:40.20
battle in somebody else's life
and sometimes I'll be struggling
00:35:40.24\00:35:43.94
through something and it's like
finally after days, hey this is
00:35:43.97\00:35:49.91
a real spiritual battle. So that
was our first lesson, but the
00:35:49.94\00:35:54.08
second lesson is when Jesus says
I have prayed for you, singular
00:35:54.12\00:35:58.35
that your faith should not fail
you. So Jesus takes a personal
00:35:58.39\00:36:02.02
interest in all of our lives.
Remember Hebrews 4:16, He's
00:36:02.06\00:36:07.13
at the right hand of the
throne of the Father interceding
00:36:07.20\00:36:10.17
for us right now. Then
we're going on down to verse 33
00:36:10.20\00:36:16.87
Oh, let me finish verse 32.
He says I've prayed for you that
00:36:18.57\00:36:22.38
your faith should not
fail, that when you return to me
00:36:22.41\00:36:25.68
strengthen your brothers. So
Jesus knew that this was gonna
00:36:25.75\00:36:29.98
be temporary. He knew it was
coming, it was going, Peter's
00:36:30.02\00:36:33.49
denial would be temporary but
that He would use Peter as an
00:36:33.52\00:36:37.29
encouragement of strength. Verse
33, see if you see the third
00:36:37.33\00:36:41.63
lesson in this. But he said
to him, this is Peter speaking
00:36:41.66\00:36:45.73
Lord I'm ready to go with
You to prison and to death.
00:36:45.77\00:36:49.84
What is the third lesson here?
He was being overly confident.
00:36:50.37\00:36:55.18
He was self-sufficient. It took
the ever brash Peter a little
00:36:55.21\00:37:01.62
a little while to learn these
things. His intentions were
00:37:01.65\00:37:04.95
good but he didn't know his
own heart. So verse 34, then He
00:37:04.99\00:37:08.22
said, I tell you Peter the
rooster shall now crow this day
00:37:08.26\00:37:11.36
before you deny me three times
that you know me. So now we
00:37:11.39\00:37:15.66
transition into the Garden
of Gethsemane when he should've
00:37:15.70\00:37:18.83
been praying what was
Peter doing? Sleeping.
00:37:18.87\00:37:21.50
So let's look at verse 54, Luke
22:54. Having arrested Him they
00:37:22.20\00:37:26.64
led Him and brought Him into
the High Priest's house. This is
00:37:26.68\00:37:29.44
they've arrested Jesus, but
Peter followed after a distance
00:37:29.48\00:37:33.05
both Peter and John circled back
they followed at a safe distance
00:37:33.11\00:37:38.09
verse 55, now when they had
kindled a fire in the midst of
00:37:38.12\00:37:41.56
the courtyard and sat down
together, Peter sat among them
00:37:41.59\00:37:44.13
and a certain servant girl
seeing him as he sat by the fire
00:37:44.16\00:37:47.20
looked intently at him and
said this man was also with him
00:37:47.23\00:37:50.70
but Peter denied Him, denied
Christ saying, Woman, I do not
00:37:50.73\00:37:56.81
know Him. And after a little
while another saw him and said
00:37:56.84\00:38:00.64
You are also one of them.
But Peter said, man I am not
00:38:00.68\00:38:05.45
Then after about an hour
had passed another confidently
00:38:05.48\00:38:08.48
affirmed saying, surely
this fellow also was with Him
00:38:08.52\00:38:11.32
for he's a Galilean.
He recognized the accent.
00:38:11.35\00:38:13.96
Peter said, man I do not
know what you are saying.
00:38:13.99\00:38:18.76
And some accounts say he was
cursing and swearing during this
00:38:18.79\00:38:23.03
And immediately
while he was still speaking
00:38:23.06\00:38:26.84
the rooster crowed. So here's
lesson 4. He spent three and
00:38:26.87\00:38:32.01
a half years with Jesus, at
His feet, listening to His word
00:38:32.04\00:38:36.01
But fear, in just a little over
an hour, fear eclipsed his faith
00:38:37.41\00:38:42.65
See he hadn't really been
baptized by the Holy Spirit
00:38:42.68\00:38:46.02
yet had they? And we've gotta
be careful, we can know the word
00:38:46.05\00:38:49.12
and have it all up here but if
it's not being led by the Spirit
00:38:49.19\00:38:52.56
with the Spirit's power, we
can fall into the same thing.
00:38:52.59\00:38:55.70
So verse 61 says, and the Lord
turned and looked at Peter, and
00:38:55.73\00:38:58.90
Peter remembered the word of
the Lord how He had said to him
00:38:58.97\00:39:01.40
before the rooster crows
you will deny me three times
00:39:01.44\00:39:04.54
so Peter went out and wept
bitterly. He failed to stand up
00:39:04.57\00:39:09.54
for his friend who he knew
was the Son of God. So shame and
00:39:09.61\00:39:13.98
regret seizes his heart
and I think this is lesson 5
00:39:14.02\00:39:17.82
we can't overestimate
our ability to stand.
00:39:17.85\00:39:22.89
Because we have a very real
enemy out there. But he says
00:39:22.92\00:39:27.60
You know I think this is
why Peter wrote in his epistle
00:39:27.66\00:39:30.70
that we should be sober and
vigilant and cautious at all
00:39:30.73\00:39:35.77
times cause the devil is running
around like a roaring lion
00:39:35.84\00:39:39.31
seeking whom he can devour.
Those were words of personal
00:39:39.34\00:39:42.41
experience. So lesson 6 is
that creeping compromise is a
00:39:42.48\00:39:49.35
malignant disease. We can start
off with a small sin. It is just
00:39:49.42\00:39:54.36
like a few little malignant
cells that if we don't nip it
00:39:54.39\00:39:57.79
in the bud it will soon
become a full blown cancer.
00:39:57.83\00:40:01.50
You know if Peter had seen that
he had denied Him the first time
00:40:01.53\00:40:04.40
and remembered, ah this is what
Jesus said he could've stopped
00:40:04.43\00:40:07.74
an stood up for his friend.
So we've got to remember that
00:40:07.77\00:40:11.51
even though we may compromise
in our natural relations to keep
00:40:11.54\00:40:15.64
peace we never compromise the
truth. So lesson 7 though from
00:40:15.68\00:40:21.28
Peter is that he repented. So
no matter how bad our situation
00:40:21.32\00:40:26.59
is when we recognize our failure
we should get on our knees and
00:40:26.65\00:40:30.79
repent in humility cause we've
all done things like Peter has.
00:40:30.83\00:40:35.96
So despite all our failures
we need to go forward in faith
00:40:36.03\00:40:40.80
And now I see the 8th lesson, is
that God's grace is greater than
00:40:40.84\00:40:45.57
our failures. When sin abounded
grace abounded even more.
00:40:45.61\00:40:50.55
So walking with Jesus wasn't
enough. He knew His teachings
00:40:50.58\00:40:56.55
but he didn't have the power
to overcome fear and in the evil
00:40:56.58\00:41:01.59
So Christ then sent the Holy
Spirit after His ascension to
00:41:01.62\00:41:08.10
heaven and what happens? We
see a different Peter, don't we?
00:41:08.13\00:41:12.10
He still had a few problems
but we see a different Peter.
00:41:12.13\00:41:16.27
I want to read a quote from the
Quarterly because I thought this
00:41:16.30\00:41:19.37
was really good, and it says
Yes Peter knew what it meant
00:41:19.44\00:41:24.58
to be forgiven. He knew
first hand just what the gospel
00:41:24.61\00:41:29.35
was all about because he had
experienced not just the reality
00:41:29.38\00:41:34.12
of his human sinfulness but the
greatness and the depth of God's
00:41:34.16\00:41:39.03
love and grace towards sinners.
Under the flawless inspiration
00:41:39.06\00:41:42.80
of the Holy Spirit he could
write what he did, not only from
00:41:42.83\00:41:47.20
theoretical knowledge but
from experience itself. He knew
00:41:47.24\00:41:52.21
not only the saving grace
of Christ but the transforming
00:41:52.24\00:41:57.05
grace and that's
what you can know as well.
00:41:57.08\00:41:59.38
Now here's a quote from
Testimonies to the Church, vol 5
00:41:59.45\00:42:04.35
Page 334-335. Beautiful
quote. And Ellen White writes
00:42:04.39\00:42:11.83
Before his, Peter's, great
fall he was always forward and
00:42:11.86\00:42:16.30
dictatorial speaking unadvisedly
from the impulse of the moment
00:42:16.33\00:42:20.54
He was always ready to correct
others and express his mind
00:42:20.57\00:42:23.87
before he had a clear
comprehension of himself of what
00:42:23.91\00:42:27.64
he had to say. But Peter
was converted and the converted
00:42:27.68\00:42:32.28
Peter was very different
from the rash, impetuous Peter
00:42:32.31\00:42:35.72
While he retained his former
fervor, the grace of Christ
00:42:35.75\00:42:40.42
regulated his zeal. And I want
to talk to all of you zealots
00:42:40.46\00:42:44.83
out there and say let the grace
of Christ regulate your zeal
00:42:44.86\00:42:48.70
because zealots can turn people
away from Christ more than they
00:42:48.73\00:42:52.77
can win them to Him. Instead of
being impetuous, self-confident
00:42:52.83\00:42:56.14
self-exalted he was calm,
self possessed and teachable.
00:42:56.20\00:43:00.18
He could then feed the lambs
as well as the sheep of Christ
00:43:00.21\00:43:05.25
Amen. What a blessing to hear
about the life of Peter, and
00:43:06.05\00:43:09.22
as I look at my own
life it gives me courage.
00:43:09.25\00:43:11.45
It gives me hope that
God can use any one of us.
00:43:11.49\00:43:15.96
God can use me, God can use you
at home. To me Peter is a study
00:43:15.99\00:43:20.23
in contrasts. I see Peter is a
man of faith, he stepped out of
00:43:20.26\00:43:24.63
the boat and started
walking on water Pr. Tom.
00:43:24.67\00:43:26.97
I see him casting the net
on the other side and choosing
00:43:27.00\00:43:31.04
to follow Jesus. I see
him as a man of fear, though.
00:43:31.07\00:43:34.78
A man who was afraid all of
a sudden when he took his eyes
00:43:34.81\00:43:38.01
off Jesus. A man who was
afraid when he denied Jesus.
00:43:38.05\00:43:42.82
He was afraid of what other
people thought. I see him as a
00:43:42.88\00:43:45.39
man who confessed Christ Molly.
You are the Christ. And then
00:43:45.42\00:43:50.63
he denied Christ, and
then he rebuked Christ.
00:43:50.66\00:43:55.50
I see him as a man who was quick
to speak but quick to repent
00:43:55.53\00:44:01.64
A man who had courage, cutting
off, maybe that was stupidity
00:44:02.74\00:44:07.81
but cutting off the high
priest's servant ear. I'm gonna
00:44:07.84\00:44:11.75
defend you and
then a man of compromise
00:44:11.78\00:44:16.08
But yet, in spite of all that,
God converted him. He repented.
00:44:16.12\00:44:21.32
I loved what you shared Shelley.
And then God wanted to work in
00:44:21.36\00:44:25.39
his life and poured out the Holy
Spirit and those qualities were
00:44:25.43\00:44:29.53
tempered. That rash,
impetuousness was tempered
00:44:29.56\00:44:35.44
You know in the office we work
with a woman, I won't mention
00:44:35.47\00:44:39.94
who she is, she's a woman
who is quick to speak. I'm sure
00:44:39.97\00:44:43.61
you can think of who I'm
referring to, besides me because
00:44:43.65\00:44:46.78
I can be quick to speak too
so I could be telling this about
00:44:46.82\00:44:49.12
myself. But I see the grace
of God working in her life and I
00:44:49.15\00:44:55.19
see where she use used to say,
Oh but, and then she'll pause
00:44:55.22\00:44:59.36
and take a moment before
responding. That is evidence of
00:44:59.39\00:45:03.16
the work of the Holy Spirit.
That's the Holy Spirit working
00:45:03.20\00:45:06.10
in her life. Sometimes you can't
see it in your own life but
00:45:06.13\00:45:09.37
I know I pray in the morning, Oh
God put a watch before my mouth
00:45:09.40\00:45:13.34
guard my lips, keep me
from speaking ill advisedly
00:45:13.38\00:45:17.65
We talk about Peter as
church leader. I want to turn to
00:45:17.68\00:45:21.72
1 Corinthians 6 and then we'll
look at his leadership in the
00:45:21.75\00:45:25.52
early church. 1 Corinthians
6 This is an encouraging verse
00:45:25.55\00:45:30.33
to me. 1 Corinthians 6:9 talks
about those who do not inherit
00:45:30.39\00:45:35.70
the kingdom of heaven. They are
idolaters and fornicators and
00:45:35.73\00:45:39.57
thieves and covetous and a
list of sins, sinful behavior.
00:45:39.60\00:45:44.17
And then verse 11. And such were
some of you, that's all of us
00:45:44.21\00:45:50.61
We all have a past. Such were
some of you. But you were washed
00:45:50.65\00:45:56.15
you were sanctified, you were
justified in the name of the
00:45:56.22\00:46:00.29
Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of
our God. I know Paul wrote this
00:46:00.36\00:46:04.93
but to me it applies equally
to Peter. Just as equally to me
00:46:04.96\00:46:10.10
sitting on the Panel here.
Just as equally to you at home.
00:46:10.13\00:46:13.94
We were washed. We all had
this past but we were washed
00:46:13.97\00:46:18.24
Apalluo in the Greek, it means
to wash off or to wash away
00:46:18.27\00:46:23.48
symbolic of baptism, being
buried with Christ into that
00:46:23.51\00:46:27.75
baptistery and being washed.
Being sanctified, made holy
00:46:27.78\00:46:33.86
set apart for a specific purpose
00:46:33.89\00:46:37.63
justified, to show righteous
declared righteous, made
00:46:37.66\00:46:41.23
righteous. And that's what
the Lord Jesus did with Peter
00:46:41.26\00:46:45.07
He repented, God came in fully
He had places where he wanted
00:46:45.10\00:46:50.71
to walk with God and he
did choose to walk with God but
00:46:50.74\00:46:53.61
he was still walking in
his flesh at the same time
00:46:53.68\00:46:56.34
but I think after that
point more fully he surrendered
00:46:56.38\00:47:00.28
and then Acts 1 we see the
infilling of the Holy Spirit
00:47:00.32\00:47:03.55
And Peter was always the leader,
we see that he was part of
00:47:03.59\00:47:06.79
Peter, James and John,
remember the inner circle
00:47:06.82\00:47:09.29
of disciples, he was always
the leader. Matthew chapter 10
00:47:09.32\00:47:12.66
when Matthew lists the disciples
the apostles when they were sent
00:47:12.69\00:47:16.20
forth what did he say? First,
Simon Peter. He mentions him
00:47:16.26\00:47:20.77
specifically first. But as
we look at his leadership after
00:47:20.80\00:47:24.67
the Holy Spirit's poured out in
Acts chapter 2 we see leadership
00:47:24.71\00:47:28.48
in the early church. He took the
initiative, he was the one in
00:47:28.51\00:47:32.48
Acts 1 who took the initiative,
we need an apostle to replace
00:47:32.51\00:47:36.79
Judas. And they cast lots
and Matthias it fell on him.
00:47:36.82\00:47:41.42
So he took that initiative
and he was the one who spoke up
00:47:42.76\00:47:45.36
and said we need 12 so we need
to replace someone. Acts 2, the
00:47:45.39\00:47:49.06
Holy Spirit is poured out and
then the apostles spoke and then
00:47:49.10\00:47:54.24
specifically Peter's sermon is
recorded. He took initiative and
00:47:54.27\00:47:58.11
at the end of that remember
what they said? Men and brethren
00:47:58.14\00:48:01.08
what shall we do?
He said Repent. Repent.
00:48:01.11\00:48:05.58
And you shall receive the
gift of the Holy Spirit and then
00:48:05.61\00:48:08.65
3000 were converted in that day.
You think he went from 120 to
00:48:08.68\00:48:13.79
3000, Peter had a powerful
influence in the early church.
00:48:13.86\00:48:17.56
Acts chapter 4. Peter and John
are arrested and who is the one
00:48:17.59\00:48:21.23
who speaks before the Sanhedrin?
It's Peter. Acts chapter 10
00:48:21.26\00:48:26.50
Peter receives a vision.
The Lord gave him the unclean
00:48:26.53\00:48:31.21
animals coming down, arise
Peter kill and eat. And he said,
00:48:31.24\00:48:34.34
I've never eaten anything
unclean. But Jesus wasn't
00:48:34.38\00:48:37.15
referring to what you eat
but that the gospel was to go
00:48:37.21\00:48:40.82
to the Gentiles and he went
to Cornelius and he shared the
00:48:40.85\00:48:45.99
gospel with him. And he was,
you could say, the first gentile
00:48:46.02\00:48:50.23
convert, came as a result of
the work and ministry of Peter.
00:48:50.29\00:48:53.26
We see in Acts 15, the
church had some discussion,
00:48:54.20\00:48:57.73
disagreement you could say.
The leadership gathered together
00:48:57.77\00:49:00.87
in Jerusalem to discuss whether
the gentiles needed to be
00:49:00.90\00:49:04.77
circumcised and Peter stood
up and he took a pivotal role
00:49:04.81\00:49:08.94
within that early church.
But not everything, Pr. C.A. you
00:49:08.98\00:49:13.78
talked about this at the
beginning. Even after Peter
00:49:13.82\00:49:17.75
was converted he was not perfect
and there's still times where he
00:49:17.79\00:49:23.02
walked in some of those faults,
maybe coming back and we see
00:49:23.09\00:49:26.96
that in Galatians chapter 2.
Let's turn there to Galatians 2
00:49:27.00\00:49:30.83
In Galatians 1 we see that
Peter was the apostle that Paul
00:49:34.27\00:49:38.17
went to. Galatians 1:18-19
after Paul met Jesus on the road
00:49:38.21\00:49:45.01
to Damascus and he spent the
three years studying and then he
00:49:45.05\00:49:49.45
came to Jerusalem and of course
the apostles and disciples
00:49:49.48\00:49:52.39
the early church is saying, this
man persecuted us and we don't
00:49:52.42\00:49:56.26
want anything to do with Paul.
How do you know that he is truly
00:49:56.29\00:49:59.49
converted? And in verse
18, after 3 years I went out to
00:49:59.53\00:50:03.57
Jerusalem to see Peter
and remained with him 15 days
00:50:03.60\00:50:08.44
So what happened? He went
to Peter as one of the leaders
00:50:08.47\00:50:12.34
of the early church. Then we see
chapter 2:9 when James, Cephas
00:50:12.37\00:50:18.35
and John who seemed to be
pillars. So Paul described them
00:50:18.38\00:50:21.72
as pillars within the early
church. Now Cephas and John
00:50:21.75\00:50:26.49
John 1:42, John refers to Cephas
as being Peter. Cephas just
00:50:26.55\00:50:31.56
means rock in Aramaic or we
say Petros in Greek for Peter
00:50:31.59\00:50:35.40
but it's the same, referring
to the same person. So, James
00:50:35.43\00:50:38.93
Peter and John were pillars
or leaders in the early church.
00:50:38.97\00:50:42.70
But then we see verse 11,
Now when Peter had come to
00:50:42.74\00:50:46.68
Antioch I withstood him to
his face. They had a little
00:50:46.74\00:50:51.75
disagreement. That's right,
this is Paul, thank you Shelley.
00:50:51.78\00:50:55.38
And he said, because he was
to be blamed, meaning Peter was
00:50:56.35\00:51:00.09
to be blamed. For before certain
men came from James he would
00:51:00.12\00:51:05.19
eat with the Gentiles but
when they came he withdrew and
00:51:05.23\00:51:08.80
separated himself fearing those
who were of the circumcision
00:51:08.83\00:51:13.90
and the rest of the Jews also
played the hypocrite with him
00:51:13.94\00:51:18.81
so that even Barnabas
was carried away with their
00:51:18.84\00:51:23.14
hypocrisy. You know Peter was
an early church leader and you
00:51:23.21\00:51:27.92
would think he's following
Jesus he's got it together, but
00:51:27.95\00:51:32.05
here he was at Antioch and
he was eating with the Gentile
00:51:32.09\00:51:36.59
Christians. Now in Jewish
culture this would be forbidden
00:51:36.62\00:51:39.76
right? You can't sit on their
couch, you can't enter their
00:51:39.79\00:51:43.20
home if you're a strict Jew.
You can't sit down and drink
00:51:43.23\00:51:46.90
and eat with them because you're
supposed to keep yourself clean
00:51:46.97\00:51:50.57
keep separate. But Peter
had already had the vision
00:51:50.64\00:51:54.41
he had already gone to
Cornelius, he had already
00:51:54.44\00:51:57.65
ministered. He knew the
gospel had to go to the Gentiles
00:51:57.68\00:52:00.05
and these are Gentile Christians
he's ministering with them, he's
00:52:00.12\00:52:03.59
eating with them. But then
all of a sudden James comes
00:52:03.62\00:52:07.12
from Jerusalem with some of
the other apostles or disciples
00:52:07.16\00:52:11.09
brethren. And Peter thinks, ooh
if I'm caught eating with Shelly
00:52:11.13\00:52:16.13
well you all know she's a
Gentile. I'm not sure that
00:52:16.16\00:52:20.37
that's gonna look too good
and so he separated himself
00:52:20.40\00:52:24.51
or Paul says, he would play the
hypocrite. He was a hypocrite
00:52:24.54\00:52:29.24
You know what that tells
me? Even in the midst of Peter's
00:52:30.28\00:52:35.58
leadership there were times
of error. Times when he would
00:52:35.62\00:52:40.09
have to come back to God
and repent. Times when maybe as
00:52:40.12\00:52:43.86
brethren they had to discuss
things. But what it tells me the
00:52:43.89\00:52:47.13
most is that Peter
is an ordinary man.
00:52:47.13\00:52:49.76
With ordinary abilities but
yet willing to be used by an
00:52:50.40\00:52:55.47
extraordinary God. And when
he fell, when he made a mistake
00:52:55.50\00:53:00.64
he's willing to say, I'm sorry.
Willing to get back up and
00:53:00.68\00:53:06.48
serve the Lord Jesus Christ
again. That gives me hope.
00:53:06.55\00:53:10.12
And I just want to encourage
you at home. Hope that that
00:53:10.15\00:53:13.02
gives you hope. God wants
to use you. We're all ordinary
00:53:13.05\00:53:16.26
people. Sons and daughters
of God that God wants to pour by
00:53:16.29\00:53:19.93
the power of His Spirit
into you at home and He wants to
00:53:19.96\00:53:23.77
use you in a powerful
way within the church. Amen
00:53:23.80\00:53:27.80
Amen. Well done all. Give
you each a chance to give me 30
00:53:27.84\00:53:32.21
second synopsis of what
you have gleaned or learned or
00:53:32.24\00:53:35.44
maybe something you didn't
get a chance to cover, just 30
00:53:35.48\00:53:37.71
seconds. Let's start
with you Molly and go back.
00:53:37.75\00:53:39.31
What I gleaned, what I gained
that I identify more with Peter
00:53:40.75\00:53:46.09
in the New Testament than
anybody else. Quick to speak
00:53:46.12\00:53:50.53
wished at times that I hadn't
spoken so quickly, so rashly
00:53:50.56\00:53:54.60
but it also shows me the grace
and mercy and the love of God
00:53:54.63\00:53:59.57
that God is long suffering with
us, He doesn't give up on us
00:53:59.60\00:54:03.44
and we can trust Him. Amen
00:54:03.47\00:54:05.94
Pastor Tom. I think in many
ways I can identify with Peter
00:54:05.97\00:54:09.64
I think a lot of folks can
identify with him. I really
00:54:09.68\00:54:13.52
believe the Lord had special
plans for him and as a result
00:54:13.55\00:54:17.69
you know Peter went through
very difficult times, but all
00:54:17.72\00:54:21.36
of that was a refining process.
When we get into the epistles
00:54:21.39\00:54:24.46
that we're doing now for this
quarter, you're seeing a man
00:54:24.49\00:54:27.50
that has victory in all
these areas that we're seeing in
00:54:27.50\00:54:30.83
all these weaknesses and it
shows that God is faithful and
00:54:30.87\00:54:34.77
He will indeed transform us
into His own likeness. Amen.
00:54:34.80\00:54:39.81
Shelley. In particular, what
just came to my mind was that
00:54:39.84\00:54:45.71
we have to be careful about
compromise. You know it was when
00:54:45.75\00:54:48.82
Peter denied his identity that
that was the beginning of him
00:54:48.85\00:54:54.56
going down the slope to
where he then denied the Lord.
00:54:54.59\00:54:57.93
And I think about you know
there's times when people come
00:54:57.96\00:55:00.83
up and might ask you, you may
not come right out and say, hey
00:55:00.86\00:55:05.27
I'm a Seventh-Day Adventist
Christian. You know I did this
00:55:05.30\00:55:08.90
once at an airport and a lady
we had the best conversation,
00:55:08.94\00:55:13.84
and she said what church do you
go to? I said I'm a Seventh-Day
00:55:13.88\00:55:16.61
Adventist Christian. She picked
up her Bible and she moved over
00:55:16.64\00:55:20.88
I thought, what's wrong.
So we need to be careful about
00:55:20.92\00:55:25.02
compromise of any
kind. Amen, and Jill.
00:55:25.05\00:55:29.56
Something that you said Pr. C.A.
actually spoke to me and I wrote
00:55:29.59\00:55:33.36
it down. Shrink back. How Peter
when he realized Jesus is Lord
00:55:33.40\00:55:40.07
and he realized he knew every
thing about Him that he shrunk
00:55:40.10\00:55:43.24
back from that and it just
reminded me of my husband Greg
00:55:43.27\00:55:47.14
and I. He knows me probably
more than anybody in this room
00:55:47.21\00:55:50.41
anybody in this world. He
knows me, he knows my faults.
00:55:50.48\00:55:53.35
And yet he never shrinks back.
He never says, Oh Jill your
00:55:53.38\00:55:56.92
messing up here. He always
reaches out in love and so
00:55:56.95\00:56:00.49
it just makes me think of Jesus
He never looks at us and says
00:56:00.56\00:56:04.96
Jill you messed up here. Instead
of shrinking back when I make
00:56:04.99\00:56:08.56
a mistake I want to turn full
face in repentance toward Him
00:56:08.60\00:56:12.23
You know when you're pulling
from yourself, your own strength
00:56:12.97\00:56:15.47
from your own resources, you are
very subject to circumstances
00:56:15.50\00:56:18.14
Yes, and we see that in Peter's
life. In one moment Thou are the
00:56:18.17\00:56:21.81
Christ, the Son of the
Living God, Holy Spirit inspired
00:56:21.84\00:56:23.78
statement. Next moment, it's
not gonna happen, I'm not gonna
00:56:23.81\00:56:26.41
let that happen, get thee behind
me Satan, you know. He steps out
00:56:26.45\00:56:29.05
of the boat a Christ thing
and a moment later his eyes off
00:56:29.08\00:56:32.62
Jesus you know he's subject to
circumstances. This last little
00:56:32.65\00:56:35.99
deal in Galatians 2, he's
trying to be politically correct
00:56:36.02\00:56:39.49
You know with the Gentiles,
I'm a homebody with the Gentiles
00:56:39.53\00:56:43.90
when the Jews come I
kinda ease over, you know.
00:56:43.97\00:56:46.10
Because he's pulling from
himself. But as he got converted
00:56:46.13\00:56:49.30
as he went through the
experience in Acts and Holy
00:56:49.34\00:56:51.64
Spirit came on his life, he
superseded his circumstances and
00:56:51.67\00:56:55.08
the only thing that can assist
us through the vicissitudes
00:56:55.11\00:57:02.42
through the hills and valleys
of life is the power of Christ
00:57:02.45\00:57:05.29
because if you're drawing from
your own resources you gonna
00:57:05.32\00:57:08.06
run out of gas, you just don't
have enough to stand with the
00:57:08.09\00:57:12.06
Lord. I was reading in
Desire, look at my time here
00:57:12.09\00:57:15.40
Ellen White says when he
was out of the boat the storm
00:57:15.43\00:57:18.80
actually got in the way,
got between him and Christ
00:57:18.83\00:57:21.84
you know and then he kinda
lost his focus. It occurs to me
00:57:21.87\00:57:26.01
that if you ever lose sight
of Jesus, look back to the last
00:57:26.04\00:57:30.15
place you saw Him because
sometimes things are gonna get
00:57:30.18\00:57:33.52
in your way. Pain, loss of
a loved one, death of a spouse
00:57:33.55\00:57:38.05
divorce. Things are gonna
get in your way but if you lose
00:57:38.09\00:57:41.49
sight of Him for a second,
remember the last time you saw
00:57:41.52\00:57:43.73
Him, look there and He'll
be there. It is the abiding in
00:57:43.76\00:57:48.40
Christ that give us victory,
it's the abiding in Christ
00:57:48.43\00:57:50.93
that gives us strength and Peter
later learned that you gotta
00:57:50.97\00:57:56.24
abide in Jesus. Run out of your
own resources, keep your hand
00:57:56.27\00:58:00.41
in the hand of the Master.
That's the message for you
00:58:00.44\00:58:02.48
today. Stay with Jesus
and Jesus will stay with you.
00:58:02.51\00:58:06.45