Follow Me

He ripped down a rebound and put it right back up and put it in the hoop. Really look good. There was only one problem. It was the wrong end of the core. Made two points for the other team.

Coach came over to the kid and put his arm around him and said. It'll be okay Frank. I'm sure someday you will laugh about this.

Easy for you, laugh. I'm still waiting.

We we have those kind of things happen to us in life, don't we? Embarrassing things. Things. We'd like to forget. Somebody said, some harsh words to us, Something along that line.

Music teacher told me one time. Frank don't sing very loud. You don't have very good voice. But never forgotten. We remember those things. Bad thing is other people remember him to it was the Arnold lumb 9:40, I don't know, 10 years, I don't take you in very many on more like 10 years afterwards or something. Come out. Turn the hall on this guy. Hey, Frank. You remember when you was a high point man for the other team? Honest, that's what he said.

Lori somebody to remind us. A little slice. I have accomplished something. Not very many people have accomplished. Very few people have their name their number and their score recorded in both teams on the scorebook. So I'm coming through something. I'm handsome. Things to remember in a church service, one time as a missionary there, then to Mystic meetings we just packed the church is full. and, My cousin was sitting beside me. In this missionary was sharing, how much suffering, how you been tortured? I forget now, what was he named? The number of bones that have been broken in his body being tortured, I'm at Rosen Hyundai, we looked at each other. We turned and looked at each other and all and it's kind of animes much. What he said. Then we had that kind of look. We was amused not as him and not what he went through. But it each other expression, we was amused at that, we really wasn't laughing, but wheezing used to die and he jumped in the middle of us churches.

That wasn't the end of it because the faster when he was done, the pastor got up and he showed him how to really jump in the middle of somebody.

I was raised in a home where

we go to church, we don't debate it. My dad was a good dad. As long as your feet are under my table, we obey the rules of this hole. So I knew it was not a debate of whether I was going to go to church or not. But I made this vow to myself when my feet was not under my dad's table, I was not going back to church. I don't need church people. Budget Inn for a while.

What? We're getting ready to look at this morning. Last week we looked at the fact that Jesus called the apostles and said follow me and I want to try to do a quick overview of their life and their Walk With Jesus for those 3 years. That's what I want to try to look at this morning. Right quick to start with. Because they had some negative experiences also. What do we do with them?

So we're going to start with the Matthew chapter 10.

We're going to wind up, looking at Peter's denial.

I want to start with Matthew, I want us to try to get our or mind wrapped around a little bit about

were these guys are was that in their thinking and their understanding and Maybe even a little bit about their emotional. Matthew chapter 10 were to look at the first verse and when he called him, when he, and when he had called his 12 disciples to him, he gave them power over on, clean spirits to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of diseases to do ministry. He has equipped them to do ministry. Let's jump down the first five. These twelve Jesus sent out and commanded them saying, do not go to the into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter the city of the Samaritans. But go rather to the lost sheep of the House of Israel. And there's you go preach saying the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand so now they're there. There's a Hurst their assignment, don't go to the Gentiles. Stay away from the Samaritan. You go to the only and you preach. The kingdom is at hand. So now this is our mind thought that that's been developed in them, as they're walking with Jesus for 3 years. Headed for the cross. This is our assignment. Want to go to the gym. Tells us Americans to have to have a kingdom. You got to have a land, going to have people in the land. And you got to have a King. Jesus was a king. That's what Palm Sunday is all about. Jesus presenting himself as a king and so that's the message that they're supposed to do. And lick lick, I quit them to do it. She was sick cleanse the lepers, raise the dead think of that, they raised the Dead cast out demons freely. You have received freely give provide neither gold nor silver or copper in your money belt in or beg for your journey North to 2 next or sandals. North staff. For a worker is worthy of his food. Now whether whether city or town, you enter inquire who in is worthy and stay there till you go out and when you go out into the household, read it. And if the household is worthy, let your peace come up on it, but if it is not worthy, lost your peace return to you. And whoever will not receive you, nor hear your words when you depart from that house or city shake off the dust from your feet for sure. Assuredly, I say to you will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment. Then for that City, not turned to Matthew 26, chapter 26.

now, we've moved up to

When Jesus institute, the Lord's Supper, it's the last Passover meal in the first Lord's supper and it's at night and that part is over with. And when they had sung a scam, they went out to the Mount of Olives. Then Jesus said to them, listen to this, all All of you will be made to stumble because of me this night for it is written, I will strike the shepherd and the sheep and the sheep of the flock will be scattered, but after I have been raised raised, I will go before you to Galilee and listen to this response. Peter answered and said to him, even if all Jesus said, all is going to stumble Jesus Peter says even if all Or made to stumble because of you. I will never be. I will never be made to stumble. Very proud of very confident statement. Is it not Don't we look for that and people? You want people, it's confident sure of themselves and that's what we see her. And Peter, Jesus said to him, assuredly, I say to you that this night before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times. Listen to what Peter says. Peter said to him, even if I have to die with you, I will not deny you. And so, all said, all, this is Michael said you will die with you. Jesus. How much is a time? I think we get this this impression that these guys were a bunch of cowards. Yeah, they they lost their nerve and they broke and ran. I don't think these guys are really charged and one sense of the word, but one of the things I want you to get here, Peter feels above the rest of them.

these other guys might they might run, I won't You got to your Jesus. Okay. Now let's turn to loot chapter 22.

Luke 22:21.

But behold the hand of my betrayer is with me on the table and truly the son of man does goes as it is been up determined but woe to that man by whom he is betrayed. Listen to what these guys do. Now then they began to question among themselves which of them it was, who would do such a thing. So you got this group of guys, in Jesus said, let me try her share if there's a guy here, this going to betray me in there.

The next verse is going to show us that there's some tension in this group that the Rivalry in this group competition in this group for 24. Now there was also a dispute among them as to which of them should be considered the greatest. Peter's already shot his mouth off these guys. They might abandon you but I won't. Some of those parts and I'll bet it's so big mouth beer, what are you best? He'll be, he'll be the first one to go.

She was going on here. It's just the same thing that's going on in the world today we evaluate each other based on performance. Self-esteem self-worth, confidence. All those things that we Need to function in this world in this culture and I suppose what's going on Jesus interrupts this, they're trying to decide you know, who's the big boy, who's the hot shot. That's what you're trying to decide. Jesus, Interruption listen to what he says.

There's twenty-five and he said to them, the kings of the Gentiles exercised lordship over them and those who exercise authority over them are called benefactors, but only able to pay attention. But not so among you. What's up, man? You

This is what it says, on the contract, completely opposite completely don't different. He who is greatest among you, let him be as the younger and he who governs as he, who serves for who is greater. He who sits at the table, or he who served, is it? Not? He who sits at the table yet? Listen to. I am among you as one who serves these guys, he's been giving them knowledge but they're not ready to serve. They're not there.

So, that's where they're at right now. I'm here is one to serve and you guys are fighting over who should be served. It's a picture. This is on the Jesus's cross. What's going on?

But something's got to happen to them, too. Go to verse 31. And the Lord said Simon Simon indeed. Satan has asked for you that he may sift. You as wheat. I found one place where they said that was the Greek could render that 50 was asking to have all of them. The specified Jesus specifies, that he's talking to Peter. So he's address and Peter but they all got sifted, don't miss that. But I have prayed for you that your faith should not fail you and when you have returned to me, strengthen your brother and what did Jesus not put in that prayer.

how are you afraid if you knew that Satan was coming after Peter, God, put a hedge around him. I might have been God, protect him. The only thing Jesus prayed was that a space would not fail? E.

Peter needed, sifted. The only needed assistance.

I need sifted. You need sifted? We all need sifted.

We're not ready for service until we are.

Jesus didn't pray for him. Not to be sifted. He knew. He had to be sifted. She's Peter. And these guys are proud men. You're confident, men are sure of themselves.

That makes a person function in their own energy and unknown strength without Reliance on the Lord. They have to be sifted.

Trees, just read your self-confidence. It was all taken away from him, but listen where he's at yet. Right now at this time in this conversation, with the prisoner to death. I think you was I think I can prove that he was in the scriptures here. then he said, I tell you Peter, the rooster shall not Crow this day before, you will deny me three times that you know me that you'll deny three times for the you know me

Turn the loot sync 4:47.

Number in the garden.

This is work.

Jesus praying and keep trying to get those guys to pray within the cat fall asleep. But this is a try, this is after this Bruce 47. And while he was still speaking Behold a multitude and he who was don't miss the multitude, it was a large number. Then he who called Judas. One of the 12 went before them and Drew near to Jesus, to kiss him. And Jesus said to him Judas. Are you betraying the son of man with a don't miss this next verse that helps us understand where these guys are at.

49. When those around him saw, what was going to happen, they said to him, Lord, shall we strike with a sword? They were ready to fight. Every one of them, they were ready to fight.

So not since they're not cowards. What happens when these guys are good? They're ready to pull sword and Goten and there's a multitude in front of him there. I think they're outnumbered and they're ready to go out at.

What happens? This is what happened? 4, Peter went ahead vs. 50 and one of them struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his right ear that was Peter, pull the sword and he started fight and he didn't even wait for the commander body was ready to go. Look what Jesus did. This is what you got these guys.

But Jesus answered your permit, even this and you touch the ear and heal them. Jesus healed the enemy.

Put yourself there. You're ready to fight for something cuz it's just and right. You're ready to lay your life down.

Little bit like me, making two points for the enemy, right? Jesus heals the enemy. Just like you switch teams.

It took you just took and flown out of it.

I never gave this first of those guys to put on the screen, but I'll read it to you. Listen.

This is Jesus before before Pilate.

Pilot answered. And I am a Jew of your own nation and the chief priests have delivered. You to me what have you done? Jesus answered. My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would fight

Is the difference? They don't understand. The props out from under, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews but now my kingdom is not from here. My kingdoms, not Earthly yet. Now it's going to be. It's still in the future. There's going to be a Earthly Kingdom. That Jesus will reign over.

I took the props right out from under those guys, when he

Should they didn't understand.

Program complete mix Jesus had to legitimately offer himself to the nation of Israel that had to be a legitimate offer. It was legitimate offer. They rejected him checked in this. Jesus knew all these things and he knew what was going to happen in these guys didn't and he took the rug right out from under him. But it was okay.

Like the coach come over and put his arm around Frank someday, you'll laugh.

But you understand that then? I didn't think I'd ever laugh about that.

That's where these guys are at exactly. Where these guys are at

Bruce 54 having arrested him. They let him and brought him into the high priests house but Peter followed at a distance and now when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the courtyard and sit down together Peter set, among them, You don't need confused. You don't know what's going on. Probably in his mind you still thinking we might get this Kingdom set up yet. I might that's probably where he's at, you know? But

He's bewildered, he's confused. And a certain servant girl seeing him as he sat by the fire looked intently at him and said this man was also with him. Don't miss that intended. Like try to Picture This sitting around chilling there warming themselves around. The fire Peter's body. Trying to keep a low profile. Most on this girls staring at him. In the makes his claim in. What's Peter does? I choose first denial?

But he done I didn't say women. I do not know him. And after a little while another saw him and said you also are of them. But Peter said, man, I am not then, after an hour, had passed another confidently. A firm saying surely this fellow also was with him. So he's a Galilean. The beater said, man, I do not know what you are saying. Immediately while he was still speaking. The rooster crowed. Jesus prediction came true.

Peter has lost his courage.

We could just like, every time I read this passage, I got this kind of gets to me. I don't know why. I don't really know what to do with this. Look, And the Lord turn to look to feed her. I don't know if he's one of those I told you so much. I don't know what kind of look at. Don't picture it being that I told you. So look

Jesus love Peter is going to crossed delivering from the Sands and stuff. I don't know what that look was like. but it convicted Peter

Smack Peter. Right between the eyes and Peter remembered, the word of the Lord, how he had said before. The rooster crows, you will deny me three times. And Peter went out and wept bitterly.

Courage, self-esteem, all of that was gone. He was shifted.

Intercepted.

He was a Broken Man.

We all need to be broken. We all need to get to that point.

If we're, if God's going to use this, we have to be sifted.

No turn to John 21, chapter 21.

most of the commentaries of tell you that they felt like Peter Welch. We know there's two passages I can give to you shows. How Peter had been with Jesus before this encounter that we're looking at here? Most of them feel like that, at that time, Jesus fully confessed, his sin and got right with Jesus, as far as the denials and stuff, what this is about is Peter back in the saddle sores, be getting him back on the task.

Getting it back in service.

Peter's been sifted, he's ready to serve. His pride has been dealt with. We live in a culture that exalts Pride. The Bible does not. The Bible does not exist Pride.

Jesus is on the seashore. They're out fishing, they've been fishing all night, haven't been catching anything in Jesus says, cast your net over on the other side of the boat and they went up on 154 fish or something like that. That's full. Picture is there if we do ministry the way Jesus. Jesus is Calling the shots and we do ministry that way.

It'll be successful. We do things in our own strength. It's not successful G. Peter. Jumped out of the boat. Swim to shore. Torturing you Keith Sweat.

It's been a long night.

Jesus has a meal ready for the guys. I said on there. It's a picture. What that conversation is going on? Well, different things are probably going to talk about how unsuccessful the fishing trip was or whatever and then made it. Wow. Wow, the water catch up. Last catch was a banana. The empty bellies are full.

Peter's clothes are probably dried out for now. And then Jesus starts encountering Peter. 15. So, when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon, Peter Simon, son of Jonah, do you love me more than these? And he said yes. Lord, you know that I love you. He said to him, feed my Lambs.

Don't miss that word more.

Do you love me more than these? Do you love me? More than these other disciples love me? That's exactly what Peter was proclaiming before 1. They'll all leave you, but all be here. I won't leave you. Fears, not proclaiming that. Now if Peter knows he's not capable, Doing Ministry in his own strength. You can pull it off. He knows that he's not. There's no arrogance to hear. There's no his self-confidence and self-esteem all that stuff. It's gone. 416 and he said to him again the second time Simon son of Jonah, do you love me? You said to him? Yes. Lord you know that I love you and you said to him 10 live feed the baby shooting, I just be a Shepherd be at 10 to shoot, take care of the sheet meet their needs, protect them with those type of things. Then he said to him a third time. Simon son of Jonah? Do you love me? Peter was grieved because you said to him a third time, do you love me? And he said to him, Lord, you know, all things, you know that I love you, Jesus said feed my sheep. Now the signature sheet. Within the body of Christ, there's new Believers mature. Believers still need Fayetteville. Need washed or they'll need tinted and Peter. This is your assignment.

Chuck. Swindoll open that passage up to me one time when I was listening to him, he he said that there's three words. In the Greek. And we'll have one in the English love. Agrippa in the Greek is a God to love a sacrificial. Love is to love that took Jesus to the cross. And then there's phileo love and that's a brotherly love. And then there's I forget what the other one is sexual lust, that kind of different kinds of it, breaks it all down, first time. Jesus spoke to Peter says, do you like helping me?

Peter responded with Leo.

I don't have that love. You're talkin about Jesus. It's not in me. Second time, same thing.

3rd time. Jesus says, Peter. Do you fillet on me? Do you have a brother laid off for me?

I'll never forget for the little personal application. Little personal testimony to that. The way the Berean Fellowship works, when a faster the church Kohl's, the pastor the church chooses of Pastor, it's a Church's decision with the Brean Fellowship. You have to meet With the district pastors. So in my case, I had to meet with the district pastors down here in the Platte Valley at that time. It was all Delilah North Platte Brady. It wasn't Gothenburg, Jeff Cozad to Lexington, and Kearney was in the district had to go meet with those pastors.

Richmond Road. When it was New York's, glad they did.

Los nervous. I was scared.

Did you know what I thought they do?

I'll talk to you. Just bundle up and drill me.

Find out. Just how much of this Bible online new I didn't know very much about most of, you know, it better than I do.

I think it's best, you know, it's going to happen. I wanted to, I wanted to know why? Because I didn't want to come to Gandy. I'm scared. I want to somewhere in the process. Somebody say no. I thought this will happen. Any one of those guys to the took that Bible and blowed me Plumb out of the water that could have, you know what they did?

The first question, I'll never forget it.

Frank tell me about your marriage.

Source about you, why? Show us about a high in a low in your marriage relationship, these, These are the follow-up questions.

Let me question me a little bit about my relationship with my boys and my daughter. What was that? Same kind of thing. Noemi.

Inserting that kind of quiz me on those Frank. What are you reading? What are you doing for devotions? What you see what they're doing? What is your relationship with? What is your relationship to the joke? What is your relationship with Jesus? And the last thing they questioned me a little bit about.

my relationship for the Baptist Church in, or We started talking about that. I said I got some guys back in that Baptist church and I'm praying for me. I told him Trey for me. I have to go before before the Berean Sanhedrin. They laughed.

You see?

Love. Is a crucial part of ministry. It's not the whole, but it's a crucial. It don't matter how much you know, if you don't have some love and not know it.

I don't if I fall and I'll stumble, and I'm in the gutter, I fell down into the gutter and I'm down there and my face in the gutter. I don't need somebody up here. Telling me what I did wrong quoting scripture to me. I need somebody that's willing to get down in the gutter with me. And how low do you have to get your face? If you're going to get your shoulder under my arm, to help me get out, that's what Ministries all about right there. Not how much, you know, What are you doing with what you do know?

What are you doing with what you do know and I'm not putting down knowledge Bible knowledge, there's nothing wrong with that is crucial, we need to have it.

Need to be growing in Norwich all-time Paul, pray for that. In this passage I see to things that are crucial. It Jesus is putting his finger on with Peter.

The next thing Must Go On.

Verse 18, most assuredly I say to you when you are when you were younger you girded yourself up and walk where you wish But when you are older, you will stretch out your hands and another will gerd you and cure you were you doing always what you doing in the next versus and you spoke signifying. What death you would glorify God.

Peter was crucified. Upside down, he requested to be crucified upside down, because he did not feel worthy of being defied in the same position that Jesus was crucified. Changed, man. Big change in himrod.

Just connected with Jesus. The hard way, not just annoys way and are away when I went, you know, I want to try to help those Little Tikes memorize, some of those verses and stuff. I'm more interested. Well, do they understand? It isn't getting

From here to here. And how well, they can put those verses work for worth Do they need to know what absolutely is crucial?

We got to get it from here, to here, to here.

We have to be able to minister in love. I am member When I became a deacon.

I realized that I needed to. Serve these people.

I'm so glad you got to give me a love for me and he did it was miraculous.

My film of passion and love for those people in that on and Baptist Church is still there today. I care for that church. no, just kiss my son and his family go there a cure for that church.

We have to have love. And the capacity to love is not in us until we're sifted. And then we have the capacity to love. The way we need tomorrow. The other thing is required for Ministry, is he? Jesus said to him. Lucy spoke signifying by what that he should glorify God and when he had spoken this, he said to him, follow me.

We have to be shifted so we can love. We have to follow him.

right back in, where started, Peter, you fishermen follow me. I'll make you Fishers of Men.

Walk With Jesus for three and a half years, something like that. Learned a lot, seems a lot observed, a lot, but he had to be transformed inside. To be really able to serve the way God wanted him to Sir, Peter looks around. And there's John,

What about John? What about this guy?

Don't worry about that guy. You follow me. What is it? If I leave him here until I return. What is that to you? You follow me? You get your eyes on me. Don't coffee. Chap. Somebody else's Ministry.

Use of your ministry. What is turn around to your stood up and with boldness and confidence? Preach, the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and 3 thousandths. Converted one sette. We had to be sifted.

If you're sitting being sifted. Don't fight it. Will it do its work? It's necessary.

Don't live in those memories of the past. Those failures of the past there in the past. As you move on, don't let don't live in all those failures.

I never picked the basketball up. If I quit, when I made the two points for their own team.

Frank go to Gandy.

I don't know nothing.

Frank do it again D. I'm going to Gandy Frank, follow me to Gandy. Lorde. Too scared. Rodger Peterson, shared something with me, I'll just have having that conversation with him on the phone 10 years ago.

How's it going? I don't know what I'm going to do. I don't know nothing. Rodger said, I've seen a sign in North Platte

outside of church in North Platte and it had these words on, it said God does not call the equipt he equips the called

I never gave this verse to those guys. I just thought of it just now In Acts 4:13. Find these words.

I think it was two or three days after I was had that conversation was Rodger. I come across this first

Now, when they saw the boldness of Peter and John and perceived that they were on educated and entrees, man, that was Frank's God. Julius pranks, God.

And they marveled and they realized that they had been with Jesus. When I read that verse at morning on devotions. What's up? I can do that.

I can be with Jesus. That's enough. That's enough.

That was the first. I got used to get me here.

I could have still said no, but if I'd have said no, you know what, I missed out on the best 20 years of my life. The best 20 years of my life, not easy, don't take that personal, has nothing to do with you.

the last twenty years has been the best twenty years but don't be afraid to follow Jesus wherever he leads, you Don't give up. Get back up. Jesus.

Reason, I said it wasn't easy. In this country that used to be herds of buffalos moved across this country. Blacks photo. Wherever Jesus Lead you there will be a wolf pack. It's okay.

Acrostic German close to curb all the problems. We just got to believe that and understand that Jesus. Thank you.

Thank you for what you've done in these guys, lies years ago. I think he's that you haven't quit. You're still doing it for these folks. It's here today for the I don't know what you want to do in your life.

I just know, you'll undo something. I know you're working. I know you're sitting your lawn. Satan. Did you use Satan?

Use everything.

You got a plan for that.

Give him the face. Just to trust you.

I know that you will give them the love that they need to do the ministry to do the call, you've put up on their lives and wherever it takes him, whatever it is. But you will lead. And all I have to do is build a relationship with you. When you can use them. Given that Faith given that understanding in Jesus name, I pray. Amen.