Fellowship Baptist Church – Dublin, OH

5.  His Courage

            Because of that one fatal night when he denied the Savior three times, there may be a tendency to think of Peter as a cowardly individual and timid man.  Quite the contrary.  In fact, several bold events stand out in the gospels which depict the courage of Peter in word and in deed.  Sometimes this show of boldness was noteworthy, while at other times it was awkward.  As we saw earlier, his bold assertion in Matthew 16 that “Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God” reverberates loudly through the ages as a wonderful testimony of our Lord.  At the foot washing of His disciples, after hearing Jesus say that if He did not wash them, then Peter would have no part with the Lord, Peter responds bluntly yet boldly: 

                         “Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head!” (John 13:9)

 Do it all Lord!  Do the whole body!  Don’t miss one part!  Can’t you just appreciate Peter’s zeal, even if it is a bit skewed and off-balance.  There seems to be so little zeal in many followers of the Lord today.  In many churches, grateful Christianity has been replaced by grapefruit Christianity!  Instead of sweetness pouring from the fruit, sourness reigns.  Instead of becoming complete in Christ, we’ve become complacent with Christ.  That’s why I find Peter’s zeal refreshing, even if it is a tad misdirected at times.  In Matthew 15, while the disciples are in a storm in the midst of the sea, Jesus walks on the water near their boat.  Seeing Jesus, Peter courageously blurts out:

                        “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” (Matthew 15:28)

Jesus does and Peter heads out the boat to walk on the water.  That was courageous Christianity. A short time earlier, Jesus had discoursed in the midst of the Sermon on the Mount about complete dependence on the Lord when He declared:

                        “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life!” (Matthew 6:25)

Peter certainly would not be accused of taking thought for his life.  He abandons it in order to follow the Lord, even if it involves a storm-tossed sea!  Yes, the sea’s intensity does shift Peter’s focus from the Creator to the circumstance and he begins to sink, but notice who Peter directs his S.O.S. cry to:

                        “Lord, save me!” (15:30)

And the Lord does!  On still another infamous occasion, Jesus discloses to His disciples that He must suffer many things and be killed.  Though Peter’s words are out of place and his understanding of the coming crucifixion cloudy, there is a hint of courage and concern in his sharp words to Jesus:

            “Then Peter took Jesus aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, ‘Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!’” (Matthew 16:22)

Open mouth, insert foot!  I’m sure you’ve never done that, right?  Then don’t be so quick to judge Peter.  The challenge with Peter is that this “Open mouth, insert foot” scene repeats itself several times in the gospels.  Nevertheless, we’ve all done it and then regretted what we had just said.  “That was dumb,” we scream inwardly at ourselves.  The wise person, however, begins to take note of such habitual displays and does something about them.  That wisdom is exactly what would later spring up in the life of Peter after a time of deep regret, deep reflection and deep refreshment.  On the night of Jesus’ betrayal and arrest in Gethsemane, do not forget that when the disciple Judas leads the Roman soldiers to Jesus, Peter doesn’t passively or pensively stand by.  When the soldiers seek to apprehend the Savior, John 18 records this scene:

            “Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, and cut off his right ear.” (18:10)

To the end, Peter is defending the Christ, the Son of the living God.  That’s the courage of Peter!

6.  His Confusion

            Yet as we know, Peter evidences confusion at a number of stops along the route.  As we turn to the Gospel of Luke, chapter 8, there is an event where Peter seemingly chides Jesus in the midst of a miracle.  We pick it up in Luke 8:43-44.  After an ill woman touches up against Jesus and immediately is healed, Jesus senses healing power has gone from Himself to someone in need.  Hence, His question in 8:45.  Peter chides Jesus for even asking the question in light of the great number of people.  How would anyone be able to know, let alone guess, who touched up against Jesus.  After all, it’s not like we’re omniscient or something.  Actually Peter, Someone is.  And He’s right in front of you.  In fact, the healed woman remains not in hiding, for all things are open and naked before God.  8:47 makes that revelation.  Despite Peter’s confusion, the Savior’s sight is clear.  Though we may sometimes get clouded in our understanding and lose perspective in the situation, our Lord as X-ray vision and sees everything – all at one time!  Peter’s confusion continues in a most remarkable event – the Transfiguration of Jesus.  In the next chapter of Luke, we are given a front row seat with several others as a miracle is about to unfold.  It begins in 9:28-31.  Peter, James and John are given the awesome privilege to witness the transfiguration of Jesus as well as the appearance of two Old Testament kingpins, Moses and Elijah.  At such at incredible display of God’s glory and a breathtaking encounter of His majesty, utter speechlessness would seem to be appropriate.  Not so for Peter, who never found himself to be at a loss for words.  8:32-33 enforce that reality.  The last words of this verse appropriately sum up Peter’s confusion – “not knowing what he said.”  He spoke but he knew not what he said.  Truly, he had answered a matter before he had gathered all the facts.  No response was even necessary, let alone appropriate.  A parallel account in the Gospel of Mark informs us that Peter spoke these words “not knowing what to say.”  God doesn’t allow Peter’s ignorance to remain unchecked and unaddressed as the next two verses (9:34-35) quickly usher themselves onto the scene.  Peter is overshadowed by a cloud and the Father’s rebuke to Peter is to be silent and listen to Jesus.  “Hear Him, Peter!”  We all have to be careful of being far too verbose and talkative.  It seems to me, if you’re fairly normal here today, that God gave you only one mouth but two ears.  Perhaps there is the need to listen twice as much as you talk.  Far too many have reversed that ratio and talk twice as much as they listen.  It’s a shame that listening seems to be a forgotten and lost art today!  When we’re seeking to make a wise decision, it is appropriate to seek out the insight of others.  Proverbs 11:14 rightly asserts:

            “in the multitude of counselors there is safety”

There is wisdom in seeking the advice of others.  However, there is also the danger of receiving too much advice and offering too much of your own two cents.  For one chapter earlier in Proverbs, this caution is voiced in 10:19,

            “In the multitude of words sin is not lacking, but he who restrains his lips is wise.”

Keep talking and you can be sure your lips will lead you to sin.  How so?  How can too much talking lead us toward sin?  Here’s a few thoughts:

1) Too much talk from man can obscure your real need for the Word of God.  After all, if humanity can tell you what you need to know, why open the Bible?

2) Too much talk from man can stifle your sensitivity to the Holy Spirit.  If the abundance of words from others is directing you, you will begin to be led by the flesh and not the Spirit of God.

3) Too much talk from man can numb your hearing to God’s still small voice.  If you surround yourself with the continual voices of man at the expense of quiet stillness and meditation before God, you can anesthetize your hearing of God’s voice.

4) Too much talk from man can display your own ultimate ignorance and lack.  Gradually and eventually, worldly, humanistic and secular wisdom will begin to enter the scene from the mouths of humanity and biblical insight will depart.

5) Too much talk from man can tighten your own false sense of security in man.  Looking to the words of man, you will begin to become man-dependent and not God-dependent.

But of all of Peter’s ill-timed and horrifying actions and responses, all fall distant short of his tri-fold denial of Jesus on the night of His betrayal.  Luke 22 describes this well-known scene to both Christian and non-Christian.  This dreadful act unfolds in 22:54-55.  Matthew, Mark and Luke each describe this scene the same way and end with Peter’s following at a distance and then setting down around a fire.  This following at a distance describes Peter’s quick deflation of courage.  Fear is seizing the heart of the Apostle Peter.  In contrast to the other three gospel accounts, the Book of John provides one more interesting detail that adds to the intrigue and, in fact, thrusts the hesitant, faltering Peter back to the forefront.  He’s not allowed to escape from the situation to follow.

            “And Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple.  Now that disciple was known to the high priest, and went with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest.  But Peter stood at the door outside.  Then the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to her who kept the door, and brought Peter in.” (John 18:15-16)

This other disciple, believed to be John, uses his credentials to get Peter a seat in the courtyard and within eyeshot of Jesus.  That front row ticket only increases the eventual intensity and agony for Peter in Luke 22:56-62.  This most shocking of responses occurs in a front row seat for all to see, including the Savior.  It doesn’t unfold in a back alley or off on the side.  This is not by accident!  The Lord will use this “front-and-center” three-fold denial to thoroughly break Peter and begin a process where the Potter sets to the task of remolding and remaking Peter into the Rockman.  For now, the broken Peter is in a dark, lonely, agonizing corner.  But he won’t be there for too long.  Thanks be to God who takes our failures and breaks our biased resolve, reshaping us into the image of His Son Jesus Christ!

A.  Got troubles?  Compare your troubles with this man’s troubles:

* At the age of 3, his brother died in infancy

* At 9, he was kicked in the head by a horse and thought to be dead

* Also at 9, his mother died of “milk sickness”

* He had less than one year of formal schooling in his life

* At 18, his married sister died while giving birth

* At 23, he was defeated in his bid for the Illinois General Assembly

* At 24, his village store failed, leaving him badly in debt

* At 26, his girlfriend died from a fever

* At 27, he had an episode of severe depression

* At 28, his proposal for marriage was turned down

* At 33, he married a woman who became a burden, not a help

* At 34, he was defeated in his nomination for the U.S. Congress

* At 35, he failed again in business as he dissolved his law partnership

* At 40, he left politics to practice law

* At 41, his three-year-old son died after a lengthy illness (Only 1 of his 4 sons lived past the age of 18)

* At 42, his father died

* At 46, he was not chosen by the Illinois legislature to be U.S. Senator

* At 47, he was defeated for Vice-President

* At 50, he was passed over again by the Illinois legislature to be U.S. Senator

Yet at the age of 52, this man was elected as the 16^th President of the United States of America.  The man with all those troubles was none other than Abraham Lincoln!  He never gave up, despite all those setbacks and defeats!  You’ve got to admire the perseverance of Abraham Lincoln!

B.  Yet to be sure, failures – let alone a series of failures – can sidetrack us and derail us from life’s tracks.  Many men and women today find themselves on the discard pile of life, ravaged and conquered by an onslaught of disappointments and failures.  That’s the place we found the Apostle Peter.  On that well-documented night when Jesus is betrayed, arrested and beaten, other than an inadvertent swing of his sword, Peter sits passively by without lifting a finger to rescue the Messiah.  On just that fateful night alone, servants and soldiers confront him three times as to whether he is one of Jesus’ followers.  And three times, Peter denies knowing Jesus.  Upon that fateful third denial, the rooster immediately crows – the fulfillment of prophecy.  Peter has landed on the discard pile of disappointment and failure.  The report cards were handed out and he didn’t pass!  So much potential, but something went wrong.  What started off well didn’t finish so right.  That’s a grievous place to be for the follower of Jesus Christ, especially for a fisherman-turned-apostle directly called by the Lord Himself.  Thankfully, the rooster’s crow doesn’t end this story.  Instead, there is the rest of the story, a story that will conclude with some surprising, inspiring brush strokes which complete Peter’s portrait.  As we see this fuller picture finally develop, what we shall discover is biblical insight for responding to the challenges of living upright in a fallen world, and more particularly, when we fall into the sticky entanglement of transgression, of:

OVERCOMING DEFEAT FROM SIN

 1.  His Repentance (John 21:1-14)

            Peter’s third denial sends him out of the courtyard and away from the fire to a place of darkness where he weeps bitterly.  Brokenness and remorsefulness is the first stage of true repentance.  Peter’s faith had slipped and weakened, but as we shall see, it remained a genuine faith.  How unlike another disciple, Judas, who though having remorse, had not a remorse leading to repentance.  Why?  Because Judas was a false follower but Peter was a true convert.  Judas was a professor, but not a possessor.  The Scriptures verify his lost condition.

In John 6:70-71, “Jesus answered them, ‘Did I not choose you, the twelve, and one of you is a devil?’  He spoke of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, for it was he who would betray Him, being one of the twelve.”  Apart from Satan, Judas is the only one to have this name, “the devil,” applied to him in Scripture!

In John 17:12, Jesus said: “While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Your name.  Those whom You gave Me I have kept; and none of them is lost except the son of perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled.”  The son of perdition was none other than Judas!

And in Acts 2:23, Judas is included in the grouping that took Jesus by lawless or wicked hands and was betrayed, crucified and put to death.

Unlike the unbelieving Judas, Peter’s remorse as a true convert cracks open the door of repentance.  Where Peter goes after his exit from the courtyard is anyone’s guess.  Perhaps he revisited the steps of the Savior in the Garden of Gethsemane as he reflects on the whirlwind events of the past several hours.  What we do know is that we hear nothing about Peter after his denial until days later on resurrection morning.  On that morning unlike any other, the women find the stone rolled away from the tomb and become recipients of a divine declaration.  Immediately, they report this to the disciples, whose response is less than inspiring:

            “And their words seemed to them like idle tales, and they did not believe them.” (Luke 24:11)

Preposterous, hard-to-believe, fairy tales.  We don’t believe you!  Not quite the response the women had hoped for, let alone what the Lord expected!  But Peter’s response is different than the other disciples.  Genuine repentance has rooted itself deep inside his heart.  The very next verse in Luke 24 further evidences Peter’s changed state.

            “But Peter arose and ran to the tomb; and stooping down, he saw the linen cloths lying by themselves; and he departed, marveling to himself at what had happened.” (24:12)

John informs us that Peter and John did not as yet “know the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead” (20:9).  Something is at work in Peter.  We call it repentance!  Peter is given much to reflect on as he contemplates the reality of the risen Savior.  In fact, Peter is given a front-row seat concerning the resurrected Savior, the Apostle Paul informs us.

            “Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve.” (1 Corinthians 15:3-5)

The two disciples on the road to Emmaus who find themselves walking with the risen Savior also report this same truth back to the eleven apostles:

                        “The Lord is risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon.” (Luke 24:34)

Apparently, Peter is the first man to see the resurrected Savior.  While it is true that Mary Magdalene and the other women are the very first ones to see the risen Jesus, Peter is the very first man – let alone disciple – to see the One who called Himself the “Resurrection and the Life!”  These resurrection appearances are healing the broken heart of Peter and deepening his repentance after his three-fold denial of the Savior!  This time of reflection is brought to full circle as we turn to the 21^st chapter of the Gospel of John.  Breakfast is on the schedule, but first there is a little fishing to be done.  In the opening words of John 21, the activities of several of the disciples is recorded.  Since we know that Peter owned his own boat, we can assume that this is the boat Peter and the other disciples enter for a night of fishing.  Fishing, as most fishermen will tell you, provides a great opportunity to ponder and reflect on your thoughts.  Peter has much to think about!  Though fishermen by trade, they catch nothing.  Bummer of a night – or so it would seem.  But the Lord has a way of turning our sorrow into joy, come the morning (Psalm 30:5).  That’s what unfolds here in John 21 as the resurrected Lord makes his appearance on the shore and offers His divine insight in 21:4-8.  Repentance has come full circle with Peter.  Upon John’s recognition of this man giving fishing instructions as the Lord, Peter responds – He plunges into the sea!  “Take no thought for your life,” Jesus had taught his followers some time earlier.  Now Peter was taking no thought for his life as he plunges into the sea and navigates toward Jesus while the other disciples do so but in a smaller boat.  This stands in stark contrast to his earlier sinking in the water as he walked toward Jesus.  And keep in mine that the boat Peter was leaving was likely his own boat, yet he thinks nothing of such a temporal possession in light of the eternal One before him!  The follower of Christ must be willing to leave all behind – including family and possessions – in order to pursue after Jesus!  Peter’s response delivers the necessary evidence that his repentance is genuine and his faith real!  Now a deluxe breakfast is about to be served to the disciples by the Lord Himself in 21:9-14. 

2.  His Restoration (John 21:15-17)

            Breakfast having been served up by the Lord, now a second stage in Peter’s overcoming of sin’s defeat emerges in John 21 as Jesus and Peter meet eye to eye.  At Peter’s earlier denial of knowing Jesus, their eyes met.  Now under different circumstances, their eyes meet again.  The outcome, however, will be different this time.  The legendary confrontation begins in 21:15.  Beside a fire in a courtyard some days earlier, Peter had denied Jesus.  Now beside a fire on the shore, Peter would have opportunity to reaffirm his love for the Savior.  This verse is filled with a number of interesting morsels of irony and instruction.

Î Jesus addresses Peter as Simon.  Though He had given him the name Peter, which means “rock,” now Jesus reverts to Peter’s name at birth.  Perhaps it is because Peter had not lived up to his “Rockman” title; hence, the name change and subtle rebuke.  Or perhaps, just as Jesus called Peter “Simon, son of Jonah” the first time they had met three years earlier, this marks a brand new start, a sort of first time meeting between a different Peter and the Lord Jesus

Ï The greatest action anyone can have for another is love.  The One above set that pattern: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son.”  So too here.  Nothing less than godly love by Peter will do!  It is not by mistake that of all the qualities for service to the Lord, love is placed front and center: “And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love” (1 Cor. 13:13).

Ð “More than these” could refer to Peter’s possessions that were within eyeshot of him, such as his boat, his fishing gear, and his occupation  Things  have a way of getting in the way of our love for God and can, in fact, become a god.  Hence, do you want to stay a fishermen and love those things or do you want to become a devoted, committed fisher of men and love Me?  More than likely, however, “more than these” refers to the other apostles and their love for the Lord.  Hence, Jesus is asking Peter: “Do you love Me more than these other apostles love Me?”  Some time earlier, he had answered that in the affirmative, only to deny his Savior three times.  Jesus’ question offers a slight rebuke to Peter for his confident assertion which he did not carry out.

Ñ Peter’s response, “You know that I love You,” does not go down the prior path of greater love for Jesus as compared to the other disciples’ love.  Peter is growing in wisdom and humility.  Instead, he appeals to the wisdom of Christ, the One who is a discerner of the thoughts of man, while also affirming his love for the Savior.

Ò Jesus’ divine directive to Peter, “Feed My sheep,” points Peter to the pastoral responsibility he would need to have if he were to lead God’s people.  “Feed” has the idea of a shepherd providing nourishment to the sheep and, spiritually speaking, for Peter to furnish the necessary spiritual food to feed the souls of His people.

This is the first of three questions Jesus directs toward Peter in the restoration process.  The second question surfaces in 21:16.  The only difference between the first and second question is that Jesus exhorts Peter to “tend My sheep” instead of “feed my lambs.”  Whereas feeding involves nourishment, tending involves care, protection and guidance.  Certainly this is a necessary requirement of a biblical leader to his people and that which Peter would need to exercise if he were to lead God’s people.  There is also a slight alteration in the group to which Peter is called to tend or feed.  In 21:15, it is the lambs and in 21:16, it is the sheep.  “Lambs” refers more to the tender and young among the group, with this group foreshadowing the coming church; whereas “sheep” refers to the church in general, without respect to age or gender.  The third and final question by Jesus to Peter emerges in 21:17.  Why three similar questions to Peter regarding his love for Jesus?  Most likely because Peter had denied Jesus three times several days earlier and now Jesus places this three-fold question alongside that three-fold denial in a masterful, teachable object lesson.  But could it be that our Lord takes denial of God quite seriously?

Matthew records these words from Jesus: “But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.” (10:33)

Mark records these words from Jesus: “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.  For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.” (8:34,38)

Paul issues this challenge in 2 Timothy: “If we deny Him, He also will deny us.” (2:12)

John pens this exhortation in 1 John: “Who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ?  He is antichrist who denies the Father and the Son. Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father either” (2:22-23)

So it would appear that in the face of Peter’s three denials, Jesus questions Peter’s love three times.  But there is something else that occurs three times in these three verses.  Jesus also commissions Peter three times: “Feed My lambs;” “Tend My sheep;” “Feed My sheep.”  Peter, having repented, now has been restored in triplet to service by the Lord!

3.  His Resolution

            When Saul the persecutor of the church was converted on the road to Damascus and became a proponent of the church, the Lord delivered this news to Paul via the lips of the prophet Ananias:

            “For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.” (Acts 9:16)

Peter will find himself in similar shoes, as John 21:18-19 describe.  It’s going to cost you something to follow Christ.  Christian, have you counted the cost to follow Jesus?  It’s not a bed of roses or a life of ease.  Instead, it’s difficult and hard.  So why do it?  Because it’s the way of truth and life!  Peter, restored and recommissioned, stands now on the precipice of a most remarkable beginning – the start of the church!  As we turn to Acts 1, immediately after Jesus’ ascension into heaven, the disciples gather in the upper room and note who is listed first in 1:13.  The very first recorded exhortation of any of the disciples then surfaces in 1:15 and notice who is the spokesperson.  Peter then guides the group into selecting a replacement for Judas and reestablishing the number of apostles at twelve, which they do as they select Matthias.  Then, on the day of Pentecost, when the church begins, the very first sermon of this new church cascades forth from the lips of one of the twelve.  Any guesses who that could be?  2:14 doesn’t leave us in the dark.  For the next 25 verses, Peter preaches Christ crucified.  Acts 2:41 then describes the crowd’s response to this first sermon.  What we see from Acts 1 and on is the resolution of Peter.  Gone is his confusion and chiding of the Savior.  That’s been replaced with a boldness and passion to make Christ known, whatever the cost!  Peter becomes the mouthpiece and centerpiece of the early church.  Since Jesus has ascended, the ministry has been turned over to the apostles and leadership has been thrust into the hands of these men with Peter at the forefront.  Peter doesn’t disappoint!  In Acts 3, the first recorded healing of the church is reported and notice who is at the helm.  We see it in 3:1-10.  The power to heal has been granted to the apostles by the Lord Himself.  And lest anyone think for even a moment that Peter takes any sort of credit for this miracle, notice to whom Peter points to in 3:12-16.  It is tempting to want to toot our own horn when attention and focus is turned our way.  After all, we deserve it since we’ve labored so hard and been so faithful and given so sacrificially of our resources!  Thanks be to God for the one who will quickly deflect that praise to the One above who alone is to be praised.  Let your Heavenly Father do the rewarding.  When He does, you can be sure that such reward will be far more lasting than the one you receive in this life!  Live in light of eternity and for the applause of heaven.  Don’t live for the temporal and the praise of men!  Due to this miraculous healing, Peter takes the opportunity to preach Christ, Christ crucified, to those gathered at the temple.  What a discerning move by Peter, one the Savior consistently made during His ministry.  After attracting a crowd via a miracle, He would teach the Scriptures to them.  So too here, as Peter avails himself of a teachable moment to speak forth the Word of God.  Rest assured, however, that when you do, you will suffer.  You are in Satan’s domain, reaching out to a people in darkness.  The darkness does not like, let alone tolerate, the light.  Consequently, in Acts 4, Peter and John are arrested and brought before the Sanhedrin.  Once again, Peter is given an opportunity to speak in order to explain his actions and why he is teaching such a foolish thing as the resurrection of Jesus.  Big mistake by the Sanhedrin! You don’t want to give Peter that golden of an opportunity.  But they do, so Peter steps to the microphone in 4:8-12.  Peter’s confusion has been replaced with clarity.  Gone is the “open mouth, insert foot” disease!  What has made the difference?  4:13 tell us.  Peter and John had been with Jesus.  What an amazing testimony that the unsaved world takes note of concerning Peter and John – they realized these two had been with Jesus!  That is always more than enough!  Friend, to be with Jesus, open the Bible and enter into His story.  Feast at His table.  Meditate on His Word.  Approach His throne room in prayer.  Delight yourself in worship to Him.  Then go out and shine your light into the darkness.  That will take a resolution on your part – to be with Jesus!  But rest assured, there is no better resolution, bar none, that you can make!  It’ll make a difference for all eternity – in your life and in the lives of those you make contact with!  Be with Jesus; then go out and share Jesus!  That’s a winning formula that fulfills the great commandment to “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind” and the great commission to “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them …, teaching them.”  That’ll make you great in God’s kingdom!

CONCLUSION

A.  Peter’s ministry is by no means finished in Acts 4.  During the next eight chapters of this book, he heals, he confronts, he rebukes, he defends, he reaches out, he baptizes and, yes, he is imprisoned several times and is beaten for his beliefs.  It should then come as no surprise that the two epistles Peter writes, 1 and 2 Peter, are filled with encouragement and instruction on living for Jesus while responding appropriately to the suffering that comes from this kind of all-out, sacrificial living.  Peter has experienced it firsthand; yet certainly nothing compared to the suffering the One who endured the cross experienced.

B.  Peter had learned more than a thing or two in his three-year relationship with Jesus.  Though possessing some rough edges, the Lord was pleased to refine and smooth those edges into a beautiful vessel in the hands of the Master.  There’s not a one of us that can’t in some way this morning identify with where Peter once was.  Consider where you fit in during the development of Peter in the gospel accounts.

Î Open mouth, insert foot – Ever been there?  Ever said something without gathering and knowing all the facts?  “Been there?  I am there,” you’re thinking!  That was Peter and his “act, then think” lifestyle.  Welcome to his world!

Ï Ever made a vow or commitment to the Lord one day, only to shortly thereafter break it?  You walked away from the morning service, resolved to make that change, to develop that spiritual discipline, to address that weakness, only to follow through with empty actions!  That was Peter and his mighty claims of allegiance to the Lord that soon fell by the wayside.  Welcome to his world!

Ð Ever find yourself in the throes of a habitual sin that you just can’t seem to break and you just keep repeating?  You try and try, but you just keep finding yourself back in that same sinful pit.  That was Peter and his once, twice, three-fold denial of the Savior.  Welcome to his world!

Ñ Ever find yourself displeased or arguing with God’s will and way for your life?  His way doesn’t appear to the best way.  You have a better plan that will get you what you need now, where you need to be now, and who you need now.  That was impetuous and impatient Peter, who on more than one occasion rebuked Jesus for His plan and on other occasions got ahead of the Lord’s plan.  Welcome to his world!

Ò Ever find yourself tired, exhausted, and overwhelmed from following the Savior?  The higher road is taking its toll on your body and health and you feel more than stressed by the demands of ministry.  That was “out of balance” Peter who more than once loss a bit of perspective in his pursuit of the Savior.  Welcome to his world!  Wherever in Peter’s world you find yourself this morning, take courage that, like Peter, there is hope!  Our Lord is in the business of taking us from the grips of worry, impatience, discontentment, falsehood, and unhealthy habits and the pit of brokenness, bewilderment, defeat, disappointment, disillusionment, exhaustion and rejection, and placing us on sure footing once again.  He did it for Peter and He certainly can do it for you!  I remind you of some precious promises:

“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Mt. 11:28)

“casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7)

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God” (Phil. 4:6)