Where Do I Find Help This Coming Year? – A Look At Simon Peter,
A Hard-Nosed, Solid As A Rock, Everyday, Salt Of The Earth (or Ocean), My Kind Of Guy - page 1
I hope you have enjoyed this series. I am aware of the difficulties of a long series. This is a long series, but they are tied together simply because they have qualities that help us do better in life. Today, I look at yet another character from the Bible, specifically the NT.
Simon Peter. That is a name most people recognize from their Bible. Simon meant = Hearing, while Peter meant = Rock or Stone. He was also known by his Aramaic name, Cephas (which also meant Stone).
Before I start, I want to ask some of you to help. What do you think of when I mention the name of Simon Peter? Name something he did. My answer would either be, he walked on water or denied the Lord on the day when he was crucified. Both of these had failure in them. Did you know that he healed many in Acts 5, and that they would line the streets hoping his shadow might touch the sick and they would be healed. Did you know he raised someone from the dead? Yes, in Acts 9:40, he prayed for Tabitha and she was brought back to life. Why are we not known for our successes as much as we are our failures?
Peter was one of the 12 disciples. In fact, he was the lead disciple. Not necessarily the boss, but definitely the leader and spokesman, especially early on. His brother Andrew introduced Peter to the Lord. He was a big fisherman. May have had a partnership along with his brother, with tow other big fishermen, the sons of Zebedee, James and John.
Peter is an example of the old saying, “It is not what you know, but who you know.” The reason I say this is he knew fishing. Probably made a good living at it. But his brother met a man named Jesus. Andrew was impressed by Jesus and wanted Simon to know him too. You see that was important for Simon. In fact it was Jesus who gave him another name we use more than his give name, Simon. Yes Jesus called him Peter or Cephas.
Peter was an unusual man. He could be as strong as could be, or he could waffle and run for cover (so to speak). He had successes and failures, just like us. I want to look at Peter today and use his life to help ours.
Impulsive eating
Impulsive shopping
Impulsive gambling, etc.
But he did volunteer to walk on water on an impulse
Did you ever volunteer on an impulse?
Did it turn out good?
I can say ALL impulses are not a disaster, but usually we are asking for trouble
Trade caution for the wind (quick solutions)
Trade action for wise counsel and prayer
Trade guesses for God’s leadership (Word and Holy Spirit’s guidance)
Trade safety for trouble
Did you know that Peter was so impulsive that when a Roman detachment of soldiers came for Jesus on the night before his crucifixion that he almost got in big time trouble?
I need a volunteer… use fake sword to remind them he cut of the servant’s ear.
Three instances:
Matthew 14:28 KJV 28And
Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the
water.
Matthew 17:4 KJV 4Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus,
Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three
tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.
John 21:7 KJV 7Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith
unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he
girt his fisher’s coat unto him, (for he was naked,) and did cast
himself into the sea.
Matthew 26:75 KJV 75And
Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow,
thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly.
John 13:9 KJV 9Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet
only, but also my hands and my head.
John 21:15-17 KJV 15So when they had dined, Jesus saith to
Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He
saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him,
Feed my lambs.
16He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas,
lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He
saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
17He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas,
lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time,
Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou
knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
Bringing to action the results of our affection
Quick to acknowledge our shortcomings
Passionate in our desire to help others
Seek greater spiritual insights in life
John 6:68 KJV Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.
We need to seek the answer
We need to know the answer
We need to use the answer
We need the answer
Helps our life
Helps us serve
Helps us example for others
Helps us share
Helps us understand and question less
Can anyone here relate to that?
Not always easy
Matthew
15:15-16 KJV 15Then answered Peter and said unto him, Declare unto us
this parable.
16And Jesus said, Are ye also yet without understanding?
Key is to be seeking greater understanding and accepting and using that truth
Courageously proclaim association with Jesus Christ
Matthew 16:16 KJV And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the
Christ, the Son of the living God.
John 6:69 KJV And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the
Son of the living God.
Good for us to claim Him – If we deny Him before others…
Matthew 10:33 But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.
Good for others to see our confidence
Yet in all that he did deny the Lord when He most needed support
Mark 14:67-71 KJV 67And when
she saw Peter warming himself, she looked upon him, and said, And thou also
wast with Jesus of Nazareth.
68But he denied, saying, I know not, neither understand I what thou
sayest. And he went out into the porch; and the cock crew.
69And a maid saw him again, and began to say to them that stood by,
This is one of them.
70And he denied it again. And a little after, they that stood by
said again to Peter, Surely thou art one of them: for thou art a
Galilaean, and thy speech agreeth thereto.
71But he began to curse and to swear, saying, I know not this
man of whom ye speak.
Be self-sacrificing
Matthew 19:27 KJV
27Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken
all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore?
Are you willing to sacrifice?
Yet inclined to be self-seeking or arrogant
Matthew 16:22 KJV Then Peter took him, and began to
rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee.
John 13:8 KJV Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus
answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.
John 18:10 KJV Then Simon Peter having a sword drew it, and smote the
high priest’s servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant’s name was
Malchus.
Acts
4:19-20 KJV 19But Peter and John answered and said unto them,
Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God,
judge ye.
20For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.
Acts 5:28-29 KJV 28Saying, Did not we straitly command you
that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem
with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.
29Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We
ought to obey God rather than men.
Acts 5:40-42 KJV 40And to him they agreed: and when they had
called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should
not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.
41And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that
they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.
42And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to
teach and preach Jesus Christ.
Saying: If you don’t stand for something you will fall for anything
Know Jesus
Know that you know Him
Don’t let others cause you doubt
Understand all will not agree – just stand with Him all the way
Know Christ for what He is and what He does – God’s only Son who died for our salvation
Matthew 16:15-19 KJV 15He saith
unto them, But whom say ye that I am?
16And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of
the living God.
17And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon
Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my
Father which is in heaven.
18And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I
will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
19And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and
whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever
thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
Not just know Him on Sunday
Not just know Him religiously (ceremony)
Guard, detain or hold down our impulsiveness
Continue to live our tenderheartedness and affection for others
Seek greater spiritual insights in life
Courageously proclaim our association with Jesus Christ
Be self-sacrificing
Know Christ for what He is and what He does
Gary Marcum – New Beginnings Church – 032909am
Some of the ideas came from “All The Men Of The Bible” by Lockyer.