The Path of Simon Peter, Part 4 - Dec. 8th, 2024

Well, good morning. It's great to see everyone here in our service. This morning and we'll sing page number 106. Weirdest thing just the the second verse, just the second verse, tell me the story of Jesus in its fasting alone in the desert will ask you to stand and we'll sing 106 just the second verse Sing out this morning. Tell me the story of Jesus by staying alone in a dark house for. Send me the song ride on my heart everywhere.

I was, please remain standing. Tell me the story of Jesus, the Christ who died on the cross for our sins was buried in the third day rose again. According to the scriptures, we're here today because he lives forever more. And he is, as we learned in Sunday school, the air of David, it was promised an eternal throne in the heavens. So glad to see you this morning. I'm glad to be able to have the strength to be here to open the word of God with you. And I look forward to doing that later in the service, a little slight change in adjustment. For this evening, I'll have Brother, Andy fill in for me tonight and bring the message for this evening sound of Christmas. And I appreciate your making adjustments for that. And thank you brother, Randy for filling in for me last week as well. And I am just still trying to get over the fact that I missed our holiday Fellowship. So I really wanted to be here. I was here in spirit and a brother and he did a great job great service last week on. I read that missed out on Christmas so don't miss out on Christmas Eve. And so thank God for our church and our church family. I'm so glad to see you here this morning. For those are watching on, zoom, we're glad to have you connected as well. So you're probably home because you're recovering and we've been praying for you and where our thoughts are with you. And so, we're glad to be able to have a place to come and assemble the worship. So let's open our service in a word of prayer. Would you pray with me gracious? Heavenly Father. We thank you so much for your blessings and your mercies are new every morning. You're so good to us despite despite us Lord. And we thank you for giving us this place where we can come aside from the cares of life and strengthen one, another and love one another as you've loved us, Lord, thank you for the season. As we see the festivities going on around us. Help us to remember that. You're the reason for all that we do and thank you for coming to die on the cross for our sins and to rise from the dead that third day. Father, I ask that you will guide our service and help us to set our affections on things above And help us to have forgiveness in our hearts Lord, as though we have learned that from you and you forgiven us may, we also forgive one another Lord. I pray that you would give us our bread that we need today from your word, to not only nourish us and guide us, but to help us grow as we seek your face today, be with our singing. Lord, me all the songs that we sing come from our heart and be lifted up unto you. And may those around us that hear us lift up the songs. May they be encouraged as we admonish one another and songs, and hymns, and spiritual songs and may we sing and make melody in her car done to you. And Lord, may you encourage I send these days in which we live, thank you for the gracious rain down upon us. And for your mercy, that is new Every Morning, bless the rest of this service and may the preaching of your word accomplish that which you will and that what you want to do and help us to be attentive and to be desirous of whatever change you would have to come into our lives, Lord, from the preaching, and teaching of your word with ran. Jesus name, amen. Amen. Thank you. Have a nice brother, Tim to come back and meet us at our next him at the cross. At the cross where I first saw the light. How about you 129 in your red songbook at the cross? Will allow you to be seated. Please be seated, 129 all four verses please.

Send it.

CG player, iPhone song, the line, and nobody, none of my heart, the way it was my side. Now, I am a grown up on my tree.

Where do I find the song line? And I am happy all the day. Well, Mike the sun rays and when Christ almighty creator of the cross at the cross, where I first saw my light and the burden of my heart was racing. My side now, I am happy all the time of grief so I can do at the cross at the cross or some the light. It was there by my side and I am happy. Now seeing 89 Angels, We Have Heard On High, we'll do it a little different. This morning will sing the first three verses without the chorus. Okay. So first, second third verse, and we get to the fourth verse will finish it off with a course that's page, 89.

Sweet ways.

Red Wing shoe strings from on some time with your headlights song. Come to me just saying come on.

Lorton, let's sing honest. And as we sing that last verse of Mary, Joseph,

And next time, I'll see snow in Mexico.

Right.

Christmas card list available at the back of the sanctuary. We have printouts of the family's and we have a Christmas card post office that we do around here. And so make sure that you get those and Avail yourself to that, to save a little postage in, will keep things in house, as much as possible, and those boxes should be available for you to put your Christmas cards and things in. We like doing that each year around here. If you have questions about how that works, you can ask my wife here. She'll help you figure that out or Mrs. Willie, she can also help you figure that out as well. Teen Christmas party, December 14th set 11th at 11 Give me the fasts of one with the lights this morning so but I want to say that when the Saturday this Saturday is a teen party at our house 11 but the larsens are also going to have a time for the juniors or fourth through sixth grade at her house 11 to 1 on Saturday and there will also be a gift exchange. So if you are children fall and either the teens or the Juniors, you can see me for the teens or see. Mrs. Larson for more details. Specifically, on the Christmas celebration is happening this Saturday? Thank you, Pastor. All right. So if your team your brother and he's if your Junior go to the larsons and then everybody come back here,

6:30. Alex, my son, Alex. Our oldest son is having his Freedom award, ceremony that night and so this is the highest award you can earn in trail life and everyone's invited. We would like to know you're coming. I don't know the channels to get that done. I think there's an RSVP but we're looking for a headcount because we're going to provide Refreshments that evening. So 6:30 December 14th to be back here for that Masters man. Brother Mike, did you want to cover anything for the 21st?

Siri is in the back way for hamburger Mikey's behind the sound booth back there. If you have questions about Masters men on December 21st. See him? Christmas Eve service this year's a little different, right? So we have our Tuesday night service, on the 24th, mark your calendar, go ahead and plan and prepare for it. Now, we'll have our candlelight service at 5 p.m. on Christmas Eve, and then we won't be back on Christmas day. We'll have our midweek service on that Tuesday night at 5 p.m. for our candlelight service. So come here for that Tuesday. Alright, let me get some help here. If I can do I have some fellows will indeed be an usher real quick if you had, if you are a church member in good standing in your old enough, to vote in those things in the church, if you have not received a deacon nomination, Then please flip your hand in the air and we'll get one to you. I want to make sure everyone has one. I've only had one get turned in so far and I need some more. Okay, so I guess I told you about this about a month ago, so now I'm calling them do, it's time to turn these in. So if you are a member of First Baptist Church, right? Someone down. Okay, I'm going to go through the list and do all the purging and that kind of stuff that we need to do. But I need this from the church family, so let's make sure that you fill in. You can nominate up to five men for consideration to be a deacon here at First Baptist Church of Westminster. And this is a huge part that the church family plays and please help me out with that. I do need your signature and your printed name so that I can verify that you're a member in good standing and eligible to make these nominations. So you did that back in November for our country. We do it for our church at. Give me some nominations. Alright, give me some nominations if you would and please turn those in before you leave today, if you can, that would be a great help. If you don't get them turned in today. Then there's always Grace, I suppose but there will be a late fee.

I'm just kidding. Going to charge a late fee. I'll get yours turned in. No, please do that. Is there anything else? Majorly important. Pray for our best. We students, we're wrapping up the semester and it's been a tremendous semester. If you are not able for whatever reason to take the classes, I offered this semester, I would I would definitely encourage you to try to work that in somewhere along the way to do that, even for personal edification because we had a tremendous class in marriage and family in Christ. And if you're part of a family that class is something you can learn something from it and then biblical evangelism this week, pray for the students and I'll leave as soon as we have here but those in Milford they'll be taking their finals this week on Wednesday and so do I keep them in your prayers as we wind the semester down and you can see some other things coming up for those that were at the loving and leading conference. There's a debrief is supposed to happen tomorrow night. Stay tuned for that. I plan on still being able to do that with you, but whether I can do it in person or not, is yet to be determined.

For last congregational, this morning, I like you to take your handbook and sing page. Number 100, my wife told me Timmy is Christmas, sing Christmas songs. And by the way, only my mother, and my wife can call me Timmy. So we're singing a couple of Christmas songs tonight. We'll lift our congregation up in Christmas song. So 100 O. Come All Ye Faithful ask you to stand once again as we sing. All three verses 100 Oaks, you Faithful Tommy summer camp.

Yay. Lord, we speak Flash.

Amen. Thank you. May be seated.

Luke chapter number 6. Continuing a message that I've been titled from calling to commission, from commission to confession, from calling to commission from commission to confession. We'll start here in Luke chapter number 6. If time allows me I'd like to study a little bit from chapter 9 as well but I'm Luke chapter number 6 you can follow along as we study together. Inverse number 13, the Bible says, and when it was day he called unto him that is Jesus, his disciples and of them, he chose 12 whom he whom also he named Apostles Simon who he also named Peter and this is who we been studying in great deal these past weeks that I've been walking through this with you and Andrew, his brother, James, and John, Philip and Bartholomew, Matthew, and Thomas James, the son of alphaeus and Simon called the floaties. And a Judas, the brother of James and Judas Iscariot, which also was the traitor, we look at the list of 12, I noticed the coordinating conjunctions between the pears. Simon and Andrew James, and John, Philip and Bartholomew with Matthew and Thomas James and Simon Judas and Judas, Lord, I pray that you will help us as we studied these twelve ordinary men that you had called and chosen for an extraordinary Mission. Give me strength. As I open the bread of life today and share the word of God with our church family, I'll thank you for what you accomplished in our lives as we think about your word and how it applies to where we live. Today, may we learn from you for your meek and lowly and father, I pray that the Holy Spirit would have freedom and that there will be an open door for the word of God to have free course in our hearts and lives. In Jesus name, amen. Amen. I'm under this idea of Peters commissioning as an apostle, seen in chapter 6 verse 13 to 16 that we read. This was a petition that was bathed in prayer. So I won't be unpacked that with you, but I remember verse 12 and 13 shows us. Jesus spent all night in prayer before he made this, most momentous decision to choose the 12 apostles. The 12 men, who would be sent ones to lead spiritually the nation of Israel. Out of the darkness that was providing in the day when Christ was ministering. This Not only was a petition in prayer. This was a planned appointment and these are 12 ordinary men as we've called them with one. Extraordinary Mission, a common man for an uncommon calling. A different people have talked about this different ways and so I stand on the shoulders of giants and there are some things that I'll share with you that I don't claim originality for but ice It's good to wrap their minds Around. Jesus, chose ordinary men like Peter. Just everyday fisherman. No, special education, no social status or wealth. Peter was not chosen because of his Perfection because of his education, but because of God's Sovereign Choice, Jesus raised these men up for special purpose. Others have rightly, I think emphasized that Jesus choice of these 12. Common men was a deliberate act that defied conventional wisdom of the religious Elite of his day. The Pharisees just did not understand what Jesus was doing in Jesus. He didn't select Scholars and scribes, he chose men who were ordinary

Fisherman, Tax Collectors. He did this partly to confound, the self-righteous leaders of Judaism in the day. This is both a judgment against the religious establishment, as well as a picture of God's ability to use those who are humble to further his Divine Purpose. it uses the humble ordinary men but yet they're the apostles These are the Apostles of Christ.

Ordinary men ordinary men. No high-status. He was Paul Chapel in his in his outlines on Luke. You said God does not call the qualified he qualifies the called that's a good statement. Worth riding down, God does not call the qualified He qualifies the called.

And these men were chosen because they were willing to be used by God. Jesus said, follow me and they didn't bat an eye. Matthew stood up from his receipt of custom left, everything apologies, Peter left, his Nets and left the fishing business with the Zebedee and James and John, and Andrew and Peter. They all follow Jesus. Without hesitation. Do Jesus here? It says that he he named Simon Peter when you name someone is term mods, 02 name when that's used for Peter has a has an idea of giving Authority, a defining someone's role,

Peter. So this is Simon, and I wouldn't split hairs too much over over this, but some have pointed out the difference in an Amy when you see it show up in the scriptures and I haven't tracked this down completely, but most of the time when you see, Jesus referring to Simon Peter, he'll refer to him as he calls him Peter or he'll call or he'll refer to him as Simon. Now, there's other times when the disciples or the gospel, writers refer to him as one or the other. And again, I wouldn't split hairs over there using this name. So, it must mean that Simon was in the flash. When he was doing this, Peter was in The Flash and they're using this name over here, so it must have been spiritual Peter, and I don't know if I would buy for Kate things today that degree, but just be observant at the times, you know, when you're reading read, observant and notice there may be an emphasis that that gospel writer is using as to why the selection if he's referred to, as Simon, In this passage where Jesus referred to in Peter, is this passage or both? Send these passages. It is an interesting study, none the less Simon whom he surnamed Peter. So here is here, is the name Peter, and it means Stone really. It means a rock, you know, I kind of want to use the word Stone because of, some of the connotations, the word Rock might have in pop culture today. Not only in the movie industry, but in in the Rock World, okay? So I'm going to use the word Stone, you, use whatever you want, but Peter means Stone. And that's important because Peter changed his name. Can you think of other people in the Bible who got a name change? Because God was going to do something great through them. Jacob to Israel Abraham Abram to Abraham. Yeah. Plenty of people in the Bible, got a name change and this is significant don't Breeze over this Jesus. Its Lucas is careful to point out whom he also named Stone. You are Simon, you're the fisherman, he's anything. But solid at this point in his life when we think of a stone, we think of something that is solid you know rock solid. We think of something that's a stone Peter. You're going to be a stone and I'm going to change you into who I want you to be. But right now Peters. Nowhere close. remember, Jesus has yet to tell Peter when thou art converted strengthen thy brethren,

And so, Peter is going to make a confession, that Jesus is the Christ and it's on that confession. That Jesus said he would build his church and Matthew 16 at understand the difference in the wording there, in the original language is so helpful because Jesus uses two different terms. He uses the term Petrus, which is Peter, a stone and uses the term petrol. Which is more like the Quarry from which the stone came Petra is, is Jesus Christ. Jesus, the anointed one, the Messiah, the truth that he is, the one that was sent by the father to do that. That's the foundation Quarry from which the stone is taken, Petra's, the stone is just a small Stone Pebble, sometimes is translated in so in light of it, in light of who Jesus is versus who Peter is, who's greater no question about it. There's no way that we can ever say that Peter is as is surpassing Christ in any way. So think about that because they're those, that teach things like Apostolic Authority, that Peter was upon whom Jesus Built the church, Jesus didn't build the church on Peter. Who built the church on the petrol, on the confession of who he is. But this name change is significant.

When Jesus saves us, he calls us. Amen. Thank God for that when he calls us, he gives us a new identity and gives us a new purpose to bring us in line with his plan. 2nd Corinthians, 5:17 221. I want to read those verses because this is part of the plan for you. And I today we may not have the office of an apostle like Peter did or James and John and ruined in the men that we read about here. We may not have that office because that was a selection for specific appointment that Jesus made during his Earthly Ministry. But in a, in a lesser sense of that office, we are still sent ones today because Jesus said as the father has sent me even so send I, you And so what capacity in what capacity do we go forth? For Jesus Christ? In 2nd Corinthians 5, Paul's talking about Believers being made a new creature in Christ and having a specific role, the role of an ambassador. Let's look at 2nd Corinthians 5 and verse number 17. Therefore, If any man you could really understand that as any person when you read The Masque in masculine translation here, it's a good translation. So we don't need to update the translation. What we need to do is just understand the sense. Here is any person if any person is in Christ, he is a new creature. You know, we just used to take that for granted when writing that it was okay to write in the masculine. You don't use masculine pronouns his, and those kind of things in writing that. Just used to kind of be understood. I remember it when I was growing up, we've gotten away from that with all the gender identity politics stuff. So, let's remember that there's a foundation here that we're working from. So if any person is in Christ, he is a new creature. Old things are passed away. He or she, we could say. That way are is a new creature. Old things are passed away, behold. All things are become new. We know that verse but don't stop reading. Because of that and because of the nudist we have in Christ, Paul reminds the the Corinthian Believers. All things are of God who has reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ. Hey, are you reconciled? This morning or you still lost in your sins? Hey, wake up I'm talking to you. If you die in your sins, you will face an eternity in. Hell, if you do not become reconciled to God through Jesus Christ. Paul says, thank God. We're reconciled and it's through the blood of Christ. We saying about, thank you, brother. Tim at the cross at the cross, where I first saw the light is through the blood. We reconciled unto God, by means of Jesus Christ. Now, watch and has given to us the ministry of reconciliation. If you're reconciled, you've been given a Ministry but you say no to pasteurize at work, you know, outside the church I doing everyday job and I'm fine doing that and you have a Ministry know Pastor, I don't work for the day. Not even a bottle interior, okay? I just want to do my job clock out of town today. Go home and call it good and and I'll keep coming to church and I'll keep growing and listen to the word. What if you're going to grow here, this you have a min Street to you have a Ministry to and your ministry in some ways is even greater than my Ministry. Even greater than my Ministry.

I don't know exactly how to say this without saying it wrong, I'm very good at putting my foot in my mouth. But there's a part of me that still kind of yearns for those days when I worked in the secular world. Now, don't misunderstand me. I either so much about that, that I remember that. I'm like, man, I'm glad I don't have to do that anymore, you know, thank God because God is taking care of me. He's provided for me to be able to serve him in this ministry, position of being a senior pastor. But, but I'm telling you, I don't get to rub shoulders with people in the world like I used to. I'm not as surrounded with non-believers as I once was in just my every day. Going. Hey, hear me church, I need your help. I can't reach everybody at your work place. I can't reach everybody at your school. I can't reach all your customers that you work with. I can't get the gospel to them. But you know what? I can equip you and you can go into that place and exercise your ministry of reconciliation. I can't reach everybody in your family.

But you have an opportunity. Because you're called, you've been reconciled to God. You've been given a Ministry of reconciliation look. He says, we are there for Ambassador for Christ. Ambassadors for Christ.

It's okay for you to look like an ambassador.

It really is okay. Nobody around here is going to call you a legalist. At least, if they do come, tell me. And I'll go yell at him. For wanting to look like an ambassador because we understand. Okay. We're not getting to Heaven by the clothes. We wear or the way we call more hair or what we do. But understand we are ambassadors. Why don't I wear flip-flops and shorts to preach in? Because I'm an ambassador. You know, I got to watch that movie Reagan and it's good. If you haven't seen it, if you like that kind of stuff, I'll go watch that. It it's worth watching and there's an instance in there, where Ronald Reagan, maybe you see the movie, you know, this part of it. There was a hippie that was camped out on his lawn when he was governor of California. And we just wanted 5 minutes with the governor will that guy wound up being in the white house as an aide to Ronald Reagan, and had to clear some things to get in and what he said, one of the staffers that was a working for Ronald Reagan. At the time, I looked at the guy cuz he wasn't wearing the right clothes and he says we wear suits around here and on the way out the door, the guy says, who do you go to Dexter when they can have before payday?

It's okay for you to look like an ambassador. Represent him. Well now when you work for somebody that has a uniform code, they give you uniform code, you have to wear that uniform. I've had to do that many times in my life. Because you're on their clock and you're representing them, you wear their badge. Never be ashamed of your identity in Christ, never be ashamed of dressing. Well, for the king of kings, and Lord of lords, because your citizenship is in another country and bassadors and it makes a difference. Trust me, if you will look like an ambassador and if we have besides things, like modesty and excellence, in all of those things, I'm not saying you have to go out and spend a bunch of money on a new wardrobe. Just do it well and do it right. The Lord will provide but if you will do that, you will stand out. You will stand out and people will wonder, you know what that does? That makes opportunities for them to ask questions about the hope that lieth in you. And you get to say softball. Let me tell you about the one who died for my sins and rose from the dead. Let me tell you about the greatest thing that ever happened in my life. Let me tell you about what, what gets me out of bed in the morning, but, you know, I'm not getting out of bed to punch the clock. Let me tell you about what gets me to move and do things in life. Let me tell you about Jesus and how he changed my life and maybe you can't remember what your life was, because you were so young. When you got saved, how has Jesus made your life better now. Since you've been saved, What can you promote him for your an ambassador for him. How can you represent him to others? and look, he says we have we are reconciled. He's given to us the ministry of reconciliation to wit that God was in Christ reconciling the world into himself, not imputing their trespasses under them and have committed unto us. The word of reconciliation. You have a Ministry of reconciliation and that's done through the word of reconciliation. Speak, the word be bold. You're going to be afraid to talk about, Jesus. Yeah, either you you're afraid to talk about him or you don't know how those are typically the reasons why we don't talk about Jesus more than we should. Write reader fearful and we let the fear overtake the boldness. Don't do that. Pray for boldness, as Paul said, pray for us, pray for me that I would speak boldly as I ought to speak, don't let it be squelched in you when someone is asking you because they see a difference in how you conduct yourself in your manner of Life, your conversation and it opens doors of opportunity for you to, to open your mouth with the word of reconciliation say, hey, if Jesus did that for me, he wants to do it for you. Is there anything keeping you from trusting Christ? There may be legitimate objections. You know, this is messed up world. This is a crazy place down here. There's a lot of people right around us here. They have a crazy idea about who Jesus is and they're not getting it from the Bible. It's not biblical. They don't know who he is, according to the Bible, they think they know they think they've figured him out but they really haven't figured them out yet. Then we are ambassadors for Christ birth. 20 as though, God did beseech You by us, we pray you in Christ stead we are here in place of him. If Christ were here he would be telling you the same thing. We're telling you be reconciled to God.

Hey, it's time for us to get right with God. Just get right with God, be reconciled. T'god. For, he has made him to be sin for us. Who knew no sin that for the purpose. We might be made the righteousness of God in him. It's not our own righteousness, it's God's righteousness, 12, ordinary men. What an extraordinary mission. I mean, this, the one, the world doesn't do things like this and this is totally out, out-of-the-box thinking Jesus spent all night in prayer and communion with God, deliberately chooses these twelve men that he names his scent, once he named them Apostles, did you catch that?

In verse 13. I pointed out when he named Peter, but did you catch the fact that he named these Apostles, he named them. So, they all got a new name in that sense. And all of these sent ones, he would specifically named Simon Peter. New identity, new purpose for the furtherance of the Gospel of God's Kingdom.

Jesus is the Chief Cornerstone. He is the Chief Cornerstone the right next to him. And that foundation of the church you have the other little stones and Peter is that little Stone. He's the corner and Peter, you're going to be right here being used of me and it's going to take humility, is going to take Peter's conversion, that will have to see down the road, and I have salvation mind you, but his conversion, and if you wanted to add on to this title, you know, from calling to commission, from commission to confession, I might continue it by saying from confession to catastrophe. Cuz that's where Peter's headed and you know it as well as I do brother Josh, when he was here those weeks ago back in October, where is the time go back in October, he pointed out Peters Peters downfall in his denial of Jesus Christ that Thrice denial, Peter is headed for catastrophe. But after this catastrophe, John 20, that the brother, Joshua preached on, John 20, is his conversion. Because Jesus said, told Peter, when you're converted, strengthen your brethren, how was Peter able to stand up on Pentecost? And be used of God the way he was because he was converted. So, I'm not talking about a Salvation. I believe he trusted Christ in early on easy, followed him. He was a disciple of Christ that I have to believe, Peter was saved in before John 20. I don't know. That's just me, baby. I'm wrong. I don't know. I'm not God, I don't know when people get saved. Exactly. I know what I got saved and I know when I cross the threshold from Darkness to light and was transferred from the kingdom of God, to the, to the, from the kingdom of Satan to the kingdom of God, do you know when you cross that threshold? Do, you know, when the time was that, you trusted Jesus Christ to be your savior. Do you know now that you're trusting him relying on him? Like the chair you're sitting in right now, relying on Jesus to do for you what you can't do for yourself. Peter is the stone.

He is the the Apostle of Christ. Want you to look at a fusions 220 and see what I'm trying to connect here for you. Jesus is the Chief Cornerstone. And Peter acknowledges that Peter acknowledges that he is the Chief Cornerstone. But look what Paul says about these men. That Jesus chose named Apostle Paul says, to the Ephesians Believers, he says, in verse 20 of chapter 2 and are built the church, here is done by the church are built. The doctrines of the church are built upon the foundation.

What would you expect to read there? The foundation of Jesus Christ. Is that what you expect? You would expect that verse to read perhaps you would and you're not wrong, you're not wrong. But look what Paul says he says very specifically, they are built upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets. New Testament, and Old Testament. John being the last prophet in that sense, but the apostles and Prophets, this is what the church is built on the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets. It's built on the word of God, the doctrine of the Apostles, Jesus Christ himself being what the Chief Cornerstone.

And Paul and Peter say the same thing by the way. Paul and Peter said, the same thing. 1st Peter chapter 2 verses, 6 & 7, the bible says we're for also it is contained in the spring. Sure in the scripture in the apostles in the prophet it is contained. In the scripture, Peter says, behold I lay in Zion go back to Sunday school, we know where Zion is Zion's, the city of David, Zion is Jerusalem, design is to place a promise. I intend to place where a God would dwell. Behold, I lay in Zion. Where was Jesus of Nazareth crucified?

In Zion.

I lay in Zion, where was Jesus of Nazareth laid to rest for 3 days. In Zion. Behold, I lay in Zion a Chief Cornerstone elect.

Well, there's that word choosing again. Don't become a calvinist. Tommy here. It's chosen for a specific purpose of God. Just like it's real was chosen for a specific purpose of God. Just like we just chose our nation's president for a specific purpose for our nation.

This is chosen for a specific purpose and Peter says it is precious. And so what is Jesus? Here he is. The Chief. Cornerstone does that sound like Paul and Peter? Both acknowledge that Jesus Christ himself. Is the Chief Cornerstone of this is God's doing, and it's precious. He that believeth on him shall not be confounded, are you believing on him? Are you trusting Jesus Christ? The Chief Cornerstone. Then you have nothing to fear, you have nothing to worry because you'll never be confounded. You'll never be put to confusion. No. Jesus Christ has bought you unto you therefore, which believe he is precious, but none of them which are which be disobedient the stone, which the builders disallowed

He came unto his own in his own received him, not those who shouted, crucify crucify, the stone, which the builders disallowed the same as made the head of the corner, the head of the corner. Now, I haven't seen it here in this place yet but maybe I was going to sometimes I'm buildings. They have those Cornerstone plaques that they they place. I don't know if we have one on the on the building here or not, bro. Tim said we do somewhere you. Maybe there's a there's a but they had there. Had to be a Cornerstone on this that all the other bricks were laid off of, right? And so Jesus is the one from which we are all patterned after Jesus is not Peter. Peter Jesus is the one that were all patterned after and Peter becomes a stone 1st Corinthians. I like to read a couple of verses here in chapter one. Because it shows us how God works. And really encapsulate. So I believe this night of prayer that Jesus spins, and then he gets up the next day and when it was day, he called under him as disciples. And then out of that called disciple group, he selects she chooses he elects 12u you, you're a you together, and I'm a pair of you together and we have six pairs of Two, and a them together, Simon and Andrew James and John and she chose them to do that. First Corinthians chapter 1, verse 27 and 28 says, what God has chosen. Well, there's that word. It keeps popping up here. Chosen, the foolish things of the world to confound the wise.

And God has chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are Mighty Peter said, if you'll trust in the Chief Cornerstone you'll never be confounded.

Not so for these. Because the weak things, will confound the things which are Mighty verse number 28, and the base things of the world, just ordinary, man. Ordinary men fisherman lawyers, you know, not lawyers, but they can't even get my head screwed on straight here. Tax collectors in a Matthew was a tax collector, fisherman. We don't know. A lot of the other occupations that the others might have been involved in a lot of that speculation. We know at least those, we know there was a zealot among their midst probably or into the Canaanite, Simon the Canaanite, we can get little glimpses into some of the background. But these were not, the Nicodemus has these were not the the Pharisees and the leaders. The base things of the world the things which are despised to despise means to a steam little. That's what God has chosen. Ye the things which are not. To bring to nought. Things that are. Those religious leaders rejected Jesus and he brought them to not. By raising up these men in their place to spiritually, lead his people out of blindness to help them. See that he's God's Messiah and because of their rejection, the kingdom of David was temporarily put on hold for Israel. Do you see what they did to their Nation? There is no king in Israel right now. There is no son of David ruling on the throne right now for Israel, and they're pretty much doing whatever they think is, right in their own eyes. I mean, I don't understand how they can get away from some of these verses in Leviticus that talk about how God God sinks in his mind into the mindset of the Lord towards things like homosexuality. And those things and yet there's so many in Israel today that that seems to be which direction they're going on. Somebody help me out. I know that they've explained that away somehow they've had to explain that away in the Bible because it's their Leviticus and they have all these festivals and pride kind of things they do over there in Israel. And I just don't understand that, you know what? There's it makes a lot of Muslims upset actually that they do that and then they're shaming the name of God when they do. Forgive me if I'm speaking out of turn here but I just read my Bible and I say if that's God's mind on it. What in the world are you doing getting wrapped up in this the governor of the state of Colorado for crying out loud? Isn't he supposed to be a Jewish man? How does he there? There has to be some explanation that he has as to how he can justify his lifestyle in light of the Book of Leviticus. If I know he's a Jewish person, maybe he doesn't want to claim this Tuesday or two dead on a different date and time by whatever are you may want to make. It doesn't make it right. It doesn't make it right.

The base things of the world to bring to not the things that are there. Still waiting there, still waiting and it all goes back to this night. To this hinge. When they blasphemed the holy spirit of God by rejecting the Messiah that God had given them and sent their Nation Into Darkness. Jesus said, okay, well that's waiting and that's on hold. I'm going to still continue my purposes and I'm not going to let the remnants suffer and I'm going to continue to reveal to the world who I am. And so enters the church into this time period of waiting that we're still waiting for Jesus to come again. Now, the church is in operation in full force and the church has been commissioned and raised up to do what Israel was supposed to do and neglected their duty to take the light of God to the Gentiles and to the ends of the Earth. That's exactly what we see happening. As we read the pages of the New Testament. This was a planned appointment, a planned appointment. It is a a purposeful diversity, a purposeful diversity, in a little brother Swanky, he pointed this out, well and is approaching through Luke. And so I just want to zero in on some things that he highlighted for us. Purposeful diversity and verses 15 and 16 Matthew, and Tommy James, the son of alphaeus and Simon is the Zillo T. Simon called solo T's, Simon the Zealot Judas the brother James and Judas Iscariot which was also the trader me. What a group of men. Wow. I don't understand why Jesus would pick some of these guys do you. Like especially the last one on the list and the reason why we called Judas the brother of James and he has another name that when he's called and some of the other lists as well. I don't want to pay the wrong one and confuse you look at your charts and they usually line that out as to which ones with, but he doesn't want to be associated with the other Judas, but he's got the same name. Dude, the brother of James and that's not to be confused with the writers of those books of the New Testament. By the way, these were different men that because James and Jude were the half-brother of Jesus. That's not the James and Jude here. These were very common names James coming from Jacob and Jude coming from Judah. Judas coming from Judah. Praise with a very common names. Very common man. Ordinary man. We have these men and a brother Swanky reminds us that the apostles, they have such a diverse background. I mean, just from Polar Opposites. Can you imagine this? I mean, just put yourself in the crowd that day, you're a disciple of Christ, and you're sitting at the feet of Jesus. They're waiting for your number to be called. You're in that group. Jesus, it's day time and he comes. And he says, Matthew. Come on over and Matthews. Like oh boy. Oh boy. This is going to be great and I'm ready to follow Jesus and then he says

Simon? No, not you Simon, no, not you sign, but no, not you. Sign a note, the other side enough, Simon the Canaanite. I want the Zillo tease cuz imma was a really popular to. There's two in the list here to Simon's. Not Simon the stone. I want Simon the Canaanite and now Simon the Zealot. He's the Zealot and the tax collector. Are you kidding me? You're going to put them in the same group. Where do we buy tickets? I got to see what's going to happen next. Where's the popcorn? This is going to be crazy. Totally diverse in their background and yet, they come together and all of their past doesn't matter a hill of beans.

Matthew Publican considered a traitor to his own country and here's someone who is the most zealous person for their country you'd ever meet and they're sitting in the same group. Sometimes maybe even paired up, you know, you have Matthew and Thomas, Thomas didymus, Tom Thomas the twin. Didymus means twin what we think they're Thomas. We call Downing Thomas but I don't ever see him doubting. I just see him and hard time. Believing like I refuse to believe and he's just that kind of guy. OK, Google back to that place where they're wanting to kill. You will go and die with you. Let's go. I'm ready. So he's in his mind is very made up. He's not doubting. Is that waiver uses? We got to go die. Okay, go. That's pretty solid decision to me. I will not believe unless I see proof that that doesn't, that doesn't say doubt to me, that says unbelief. I will not refuse to believe this. Should prove it. Prove it that's Thomas and he's paired up with with, with Matthew here. James, the son of alphaeus Simon called Zillow. Just the diversity in this group is amazing. You know, one thing about, I have just loved about church planting and a being in the ministry of the Lord is, how many diverse backgrounds, God brings together here. And just the walks of life, that each of us come from. Me. We have story after Story in this room, we could just take time. We could have a whole service where we just shared each other's stories and and the different ethnicity groups that are represented Even in our church, I want there to be more man. I want. I want, I want to hear more stories about where people come from. Isn't this, what we're supposed to do? Go and teach Make Disciples of all Nations. That word nation is ethnicity, it doesn't matter your ethnicity or cultural background. The ground is level at the cross. It doesn't matter whether you Republican or a zealot. It doesn't matter where you come from, we all come together and were unified in, Jesus Christ. And it's a beautiful thing because I've learned so much about other other ways, people do things around the world just by rubbing shoulders with God's best. The cream of the crop that God brings together that I get to say, wow that's really me, you know? Now, not all of it, we have to be careful with the culture, okay? Culture doesn't mean that it's because someone does something culturally, doesn't mean it's biblical. So don't let yourself become contaminated by culture but man, what a beautiful thing. Now, these men are both Jewish. They're of the same ethnicity that breaks down a certain point but just totaled totally diverse and how they approach life.