The Path of Simon Peter, Part 5 - Dec. 15th, 2024

Name. It's good to see everybody here in our service. This morning. At First Baptist Church, Westminster will ask you to take care of Red Hen book and will ask you to stand as we sing. The third verse to tell me the story of Jesus tell of the crown where they nailed him writhing in English. 106, just the third verse.

Lacrosse, why they call Holly Levin?

Tell me the story of the ride on my horse.

Thank you for that opening song. You may be seated. The choir is now going to sing Harold the news.

We're in the Christmas season, he's the reason for that season as we say, so often it becomes tried. But let the truth sink in that out of all the things that could have occurred and if there was no one else on this Earth, but me, Jesus would have left heaven to come rescue a sinner like me. He is a wonderful savior. We're glad to see you here at the First Baptist Church of Westminster. How are you doing this morning Seasons going well, so far. We did receive some Merry Christmas, thank you, Christmas season. You know, that up now that I've got us focused on that. I don't want to be unkind in any way or neglect the news that came yesterday. If you're connected to our text you you got the word of the homegoing of brother Les Campbell. And so I know brother Campbell were here. He would tell us, don't cry for me, don't weep for me. Because he's with his Lord and Savior and a weird dearly, we miss him. Dearly pray for sister Sandy, pray for others as well. We've been praying, it seems like they're been quite a few in the past month or so that we've been praying for good to see some of you here this morning and we've been lifting up and just prank support around and comfort, but aren't you thankful that Jesus? Left heaven to come to Earth, to be the god of consolation, for us, the God of all comfort and we can sorrow. But we sorrow not as others, who have no hope because we know Jesus is coming in again. And in our time away from one, another is only temporary only. Temporary will be reunited one day, and so, God is so good. And I'm so glad to be able to be here to assemble together. He's giving each of us Health to be here. There are some who were healthy enough to come today and I'm glad to be healthy enough to be here today. You prayed for me and I want to give The glory for that, praise him because he brought me through kind of a rough couple of weeks here, but I'm feeling much better and I want to give him the glory and also want to thank you for your prayers. For me, for those watching on, Zoom, we got a couple of people connected. They're welcome aboard and we're glad to have you work me with us, feel free. I hope that you'll sing the songs as we sing of where you are there, where you're watching and sometimes it's easy for me to like, get mismo. My brain does something, does your brain do that? Like, I think of this is zoom. So I'm going to virtual meeting so I don't have to do anything. I turn my screen off and I can just sit and watch. Don't do that, don't do that. I do that to myself. I like what I do that to myself and then the next song comes around, like, I'm singing this song, I don't care who hears me. You know, if it's just me and the neighbors are like, what's going on over there? Something's wrong with that guy. Hey, it's okay. It's just me. So, I hope that as you're watching your singing, the songs and follow along in the scripture and a great technology we have, but it can never replace us. Connecting and worshipping with God, our Father with a John Jesus Christ, Our Savior with the Holy Spirit, who empowers us and fills us. So that we can be unified banded together to come here and worship. And that's why you're here today. So, let's do that. What's up? Let's pick up this theme of heralding. The news of his majesty and less Proclaim together, Joy to the World, brother. Tim come and lead us. Some number 87, and your songbook, Joy to the World. Go ahead. If you would and let Stand Together As we sing Joy to the World.

Sing all four verses 87, Joy to the World. Please stand. Thank you.

Bounding.

Sing the last verse in the last world map.

And wonders.

Number 93 Hark, the Herald Angels Sing and you may be seated As we sing 93 Hark. The Herald Angels, Sing

Barclay Road, angel.

Is ragtime.

Fry's stock, highest price ever lasting?

Spring.

Old Angel, Stadium.

Amen. Hey I know there's some other folks out there that have instrumental capabilities. What are you doing sitting out there? Well, other than singing the congregational songs which is fantastic. What are you doing? Sitting out there, when you could be sitting over here in this awesome orchestration section, we have are doing a wonderful job. I know they don't want me to call attention to them so pretend they're not there but they're this is just stirring. My soul man, to be able to hear us, lifting up the songs together and supported with these instruments in the piano. I just all of it coming together it is marvelous Market, mark, your calendar so that you don't miss the date in the change services coming up in a couple of weeks are not that long way. We're going to have our Tuesday evening, candlelight service on Christmas Eve. So we won't be back on Wednesday night Christmas day, but will be here. Christmas Eve that'll be our midweek service that week, so make sure that you are marked that appropriately. You can come. Wednesday night, call me. I'll be glad to talk to you on the phone, pray with you. But unless you have a key probably won't be able to get in the building, but Tuesday night be here for sure. Tuesday night, be here and it starts a little earlier. We're starting at 5 cuz of all the festivities, different things that are going on and we'll have a, have a great time and are candlelight service and we'll go to remember to the save urine and his birth his Incarnation. What a great thing we can do. We have our scripture reading, coming up momentarily. I'm going to pray together. Andam and seek the Lord. And if I do, I'm just mindful of what Paul reminded us. You know, we sang this song just now and I sang it as a prayer, I really did and I'm reminded of what Paul said in the letter we're going to be reading from. He said in 1st Corinthians 15, that Christ is risen from the dead and since by Man Came Death Batman also came. Resurrection from the dead, second Adam from above, reinstate us. And I love And he is the last Adam. He is the second Adam. So we know that there's going to be a trumpet sound. One day, we're all going to be caught up in glory. This Mortal shall have put on immortality and that, which is corruptible shall be changed into in corruption. And it's in this hope that we have in Jesus Christ that really sets us apart from the rest of the world. And if you don't have that hope in Christ that we're seeking about this morning, you can find that today, if you'll simply trust him, who died for your sins and rose from the dead so that you could have eternal life. Would you pray with me as we lift our time up to the Lord Gracious. Heavenly Father, we thank you so much for your Grace & Mercy to us. We are here today to remember your wonderful Works to the children of men and that all that you promised, you have, you have fulfilled Lord. And there's yet more that we read about. But just as you fulfill the promises, the first time Jesus came, we have every confidence in our hope is in Jesus that you will also fulfill. All of those promises when Jesus comes again to receive us to himself and Lord As We Gather in a symbol, we look forward with that blessed. Hope that man's us together through the Holy Spirit. And God thank you for this place where we can come aside from the cares of this world. A world that denies you a world that seeks truth anywhere else, it can find but your word a world that too often times is hostile to you and the world that crucified, you Lord Jesus. When you came, it's in that world that we who lived In Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. And today, you're as your people living on Free Soil, we have a reprieve often times of that, but they're still ways that persecution manifests itself in our lives and our families in our homes and Lord. I pray that you would give us the liberty to be able to serve you. And as I were told in the scriptures, we do pray for all those in Authority. We pray for all men everywhere. That's every person. Lord, we know that you want everyone to be saved. That's your heartbeat. That's your desire. That's the desire of you, our heavenly father, the desire of you, the sun, our Saviour. Let's the desire of you, the Holy Spirit, a unified in your purpose, in your will. And your desire for us that you want everybody to be saved and Lord help us to be those Burning Lights. That we ought to be in this life here below. As We Gather today, we do so with mixed emotions Lord, we gather with sorrow and our hearts because of the homegoing of Lester Campbell and we pray for sister Sandy Lord. I don't know if she's watching or not but Lord what you just wrap your loving arms around her right now and and hold her in your loving care and in your tender arms, Lord, Lord Of Glory. I pray that you would bring her out of this grief and give her your strength in your time. Lord be with the family. I know Ross in the grandchildren lord, they're probably hurting and and I just pray that you would bless each one with your comfort in your peace and give them guidance through these days ahead and others. Lord, that we prayed for through these past months that have experienced grief as well, thank you, Lord, for your answer prayer, that you have been that short source of strength, and hope for us. Lord, in this world, we wouldn't know where to turn, if it weren't for you. I our last Adam to come and redeem us back from the curse that has Set us Lourdes. And that would take us to destruction. Thank you. That we do not have to fear the second death that the death for us as Believers is. But a doorway and a death is not a. It's only a semicolon into that new life that you've given us and Jesus Christ for all eternity and father, it's around that truth and hope of heaven today that we gather and we worship you, we commit our time to you. Lord. We lift up our prayers to you, as incense in the prayer. In the priesthood, the believer, maisie's rise and filled the air of this room made a go above that. Lord, may they come before your throne and met you as the God in heaven, in the holiest. Place of all, may you look down on a little place called Westminster Northwest Denver Colorado. See the prayers of your people is sending from this place and then be pleased Lord me that be a sweet smelling saver to you. And may you look down and and lorduy, we just asked and plead for your mercy upon us. Sinners saved by grace Lord. I pray that you would strengthen each one of us as we remain banded together here. Help us to Bear one another's burdens and fulfil the law of Christ. Thank you for health and strength Wellness to be able to be here for those, that are battling any kind of illness, Lord, or can't be here for that reason. We ask that you would help them recover quickly, heal them, Lord, and bring them back to our fellowship and will thank you for that or bless our scripture reading. Take your word and and burn it deep within our parts as we transition. Now, in our scripture reading Lord, You've guided us on this path path and we've come to do the book of Corinthians now, in Paul's Journeys. And Lord, we ask that you help us as we read these letters together as a congregation to observe what you gave to Courant and help us to learn from them to grow and be admonished. And to be to be edified by the scriptures that we read together as a congregation through these next weeks until we come back to the book of Acts. We pray that you bless the preaching of your Later to come in the service and Lord. If this would be the day that you would have someone to be saved. Someone that doesn't know you a savior Lord. I pray that today would be the day, they trust you before. It is eternally too late for them. Or we ask this in the name of Jesus Christ, Our Savior and all God's people said, amen. Amen, I'm going to ask Mike Robinson to come and lead us in our scripture reading. Got a really long one this morning. He was telling me about how long the scripture passage was. As we begin, Paul's letter to the Believers at Corinth, when you found your place. And if you're physically, able come on up for the mic. If you would, we invite you to stand out of reverence, for the reading of scripture 1st Corinthians chapter 13, verses 1 through 3.

Call called an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God in Sochi nice. Our brother unto the Church of God which is at Corinth Set sink to hide in Christ. Jesus called to be Saints with all that in every place called upon the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Our Lord, both theirs and ours, Grace be unto, you and peace from God, our Father and from the Lord, Jesus Christ blessing to the hearing and bring them to the word.

Thanks for the Mike. I'm going to ask you to remain standing as we sang. Our last a congregational song this morning and asked page. Number 100, O Come All Ye Faithful sing. All three verses page number 100.

Why?

Lord wigram.

Call Tom Joyner.

Thank you for your singing. Please be seated.

Now, I will read a verse in chapter 6 to begin, but I want you to turn over with me to Luke chapter number 9, so we can send you our studies in the life of Peter, the Apostle of Christ.

Luke chapter number 9, as you're finding your place there. Let me read our texts that we've been engaged with for the pasta past few. How long now? I don't remember. It's been awhile, but sub Luke chapter 6 verse number 12. Hold your place a 9. No, don't go anywhere. I'm going to read these, you stay at 9. I'm coming to chapter 9. I just want to read this, as the backdrop Luke 6:12, he says it came to pass in those days, that he mean, Jesus went into a mountain to pray and continue to all night and prayer to God. And when it was day, he called him his disciples and of them, he chose twelve whom. Also, he named apostles were some reports says Simon. Whom he also named Peter, your Luke chapter number 9

Look with me down at verse. 18 to 20. Luke chapter number 9 and number 18.

Scripture say and it came to pass as he was alone praying. His disciples were with him. and he asked them saying, whom say to people that I am, they answering said, John the Baptist but some say, Elias and others say that one of the old prophets has risen again. He said unto them. But who say that I am. Peter answering set. The Christ of God. Lord, I ask that you would stir our hearts today to learn at the feet of this man, Peter as we follow him, as he followed, you all to mately. Looking to you as our savior Lord of Glory. Lord of Heaven and Earth who came and was made to be a man. Humble yourselves. And took upon the form of a servant. Became obedient as Paul said, unto death, but not just any death, even the death of the cross, the death of the Roman crucifixion, cursed be everyone that hangs on a tree Lord. He bore our curse for us because as Peter noted here under divine revelation, you are indeed the Christ of God help us to have our hope in you when this world seems so hopeless. We pray in. Jesus name, amen. Amen, the apostles. We've noted that they were just two ordinary men. Various backgrounds different walks of life, but these were men who were willing to follow Christ, and that willingness to step out and follow him is what unified them together.

Regardless of where we come from. One of the great things that humbles me about our God is that no matter our past, no matter what we've done, Jesus can use any of us to fulfill his purposes. You're looking at living proof of that. There was a time in my life where I would tell you, I was uneducated. I didn't care for education. I got okay I'm going to like I want to be careful here because you don't make this about me but There was a time in my life when I was far away from God and if you know my testimony I got expelled not only from public school. That's bad enough. Never get expelled from school. Get some young ears in here. Do your score. Do what you're supposed to do, don't line up in detention, don't line up in the principal's office like me. I wound up, getting expelled for a zero-tolerance rule in my school, that was implemented because I was carrying a pocket knife and I shouldn't have been. It was an old-timer that my granddad gave me and I got kicked out of school for that. Well, that was the presenting cause they had the board really could have let me stay, but they knew my character and they knew what a wicked student I had been. And it caught up with me and that board made probably a good decision. It was, you know, the decision they made though, I disagreed with it at the time, that school board did not allow me to return to public school. That sent me on a journey to Alternative School. This was a new thing. They were trying where I was growing up, and if you got expelled from school, you can go into the school on what they called, The Challenge side, to put it lightly, I made it through the challenge side and come to like those teachers and love that school. So much that when I had the choice to choose to go back to public school or stay in the alternative school. I said I'm going to stay here. I stayed there. I was doing so well. but I still had a lot of vices in my life that I just couldn't let go of And I got expelled from that school. What's the hardest days of the principle is to bring me into his office and send me down and say, I can't let you stay because of the policies in the rules and you've done so well, but you have to go, you can't stay here, I have to expel you. I have no other choice. And I that sent me into a really, really dark time of my life and it's probably fresh on my mind because it's around this time of the year that 17 year old young man live in a dead-end life. Working a dead-end job, was nothing to look forward to having to work retail and miss all the family dinners and family, gatherings and coming over late. My grandparents, waiting up for me and I'm the only one there because everybody else is already gone and they love me and they prayed for me and they waited for me and it was late at night past their bedtime. They tell you I'm sure but they enjoyed visiting with me and I had a good time with them, hair down the middle of my back living for myself. Really depressed at the brink of wanting to throw in the towel and just say you what's it all worth anyway? My grandmother, I believe of the Lord was prompted to do this. She asked me. She said will if you ever consider going to a Christian School

Hello. Did you forget which grandchild you were talking to what Christian School in their right mind would ever let me within 100 ft of their campus. God's Providence allowed me to enroll in Victory, Christian Academy, long story short too late but it's there. I began to study the Bible for the first time in my life, really read and study the Bible and begin to change. What I thought I knew about God, I thought I had him figured out pretty well, I'd heard the gospel, I've been to church. I got saved when I was 14. Now, three years later here I am just in darkness and it was during Christmas time. That Christmas Eve that God began a transformation work in my life, through the power of His word, will start a journey. That now you take this uneducated kid. Help him get through high school and finish your diploma and go on to Bible College and study there and still not feel ready and have to pursue an MD live and wind up with a couple of Masters and three doctorates under my belt. What? I don't even like school and I did it for like 18 years of my life. I'm still in school. I'm just on the other side of the table I guess. God had a different plan. But I just am thrilled to see what God has done to give me an opportunity to take his word. Now, that was given to me and passed that baton of faith on to another generation and to be able to stand up and open the word of God each week. And I'm faithfully, exposito and expound the scriptures before you. It's humbling. Some of your pie likes, man. Jerry about the story that Pastor that you. I'm never going back there. That's alright, I guess. But If you go somewhere else, you'll find problems down the road there, too. So, welcome to the crowd. Welcome. We have conflicts. We have doubts. We talked about many of fear, many of doubt, the song writer said, all of that aside God is ready. He is willing. He is more than capable to use anyone who will allow him to do that and come to him willingly. Just like these, these disciples said we're going to follow Jesus. They had no idea what was in store for them to use these 11 Faithful Men and then Paul the Apostle later to literally turn the world upside down for Christ. That's what the Bible says, they that have turned the world upside down or come here also. And I hope that, you know, by us coming to Northwest Denver, and buy, you coming to Northwest Denver, as a follower of Christ, and us getting together in the same place and assembling Faithfully till Jesus comes. That somebody around here would have to eventually admit, that there's been some turning things upside down around here in this place. I would hope. If they're going to be honest and write any honest history, I would hope that our little church here as many things as we have going on, is making in just a profound difference for Christ part of his mission. No matter where you come from, no matter your background, maybe it's not a speckled as mine. Maybe you haven't much more, you know, prettier background than me, but Jesus Christ puts us all together. This is amazing thing. We've noted how Peter is gone from his calling to be a disciple to his commission, being being chosen to be a sent one, to be an apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ this morning, I hope to Endeavor to move from his commission into the confession that he makes about the Lord Jesus. Would you notice with me in these vs. We read and Luke chapter number 9, Luke's account of the confession of Peter noticed. First off as we study together, the place and purpose of Peter's confession, the place and purpose of Peter's confession, and verses 18 to 20, I read again, it came to pass in, those are good versus some of my favorite verses sometime during the past couple of weeks, I was just waiting for it to come to pass that it came to pass but this is our savior Notice Lux descriptors. It says he was alone. Is disciples were with him but he was alone ever felt like that. You've been with people but it's like you're the only one there at times. I can't tell you how many times I walked into the auditorium of the 1,000 of people. And I would sit down and I'm like, well, those folks look like they're having fun over there. And those folks look like they're having fun over there. And here I am. Well, I guess it's just me and the Lord. So I grabbed a hemorrhage start reading. Them tool in front of me, I'm such an introvert, don't be like me, I'm such an introvert, don't do that. I mean, it was good for me. I read the hems, I learned the words, I was able to like to immerse myself in that I was getting ready to worship God. And that's how I did it. My way you do it your way and and but don't be an introvert like me. Come on guys. You got to find something to laugh about here. I'm not terrible. You guys are hard crowd today. He was alone, but what was he doing? Calling your mind? What I read when we started back and Luke chapter 6 that night before he made that decision of who would be his scent once he spent all night in prayer, all night in prayer. And here he is again at the precipice of Peter's confession. And he's alone praying alone. Prank His disciples were with him and now Jesus comes and he asks them a question. A question that is a good question for you. And I today a question that all of our Eternal Destiny hinges on whom say the people that I am Hey, who is Jesus of Nazareth? I was speaking with a guy not too far from here, couple weeks ago, that doesn't really know who the Jesus of the New Testament is. He's a Muslim man and he gives a lot of respect to this man. Jesus, he, he thinks his Quran talks about Jesus, but I tried to help him understand that. The Jesus, the Quran is describing, his is not the same one that was prophesied to come of a virgin even admitted that there was someone else that was prophesied to be virgin born. But Jesus, the Jesus that he studied in the Koran wasn't that Jesus. This man, if he doesn't come to a belief and a trust in the resurrection of Jesus Christ, he will remain lost. And he will enter into it a Priceless. Eternity, separated forever from God. In his sense, because he has denied, the very thing that Paul said to us in 1st Corinthians, 15, all our faith in on. If it's worth for the resurrection, Our Hope would be in vain if, if the fact that he is not here for, He Is Risen as he said is not what drives us as Believers in and what our hope is centered on and we have nothing to Hope in. In fact, Paul described it this way. Did he not? He said, we are of all men, not just some miserable. We are. Most miserable of all. We've been the duped of the duped and we've we've had the wool pulled over our eyes, so bad that we're just blindly going into this thing, you know, with this happy-go-lucky, you know, Jesus is coming in, The resurrection has to be real for you and I aren't even here today. What are we doing here at all centers around that? Who is Jesus? Whom say the people that I am? Now, that's a little bit of our contacts today. You might talk to people that they might think you don't like me as a young man before I was saved. And even after I was saved, I thought I knew who God was. I thought I'd figured him out, my grandparents gave me a Bible. It wasn't a King James Bible, but they gave me a Bible when I was a kid and you know I'd read some of Genesis and yeah I read a little bit of this and I'd heard some Bible stories. He even had somebody tell me that I got saved when I was six because I went to Vacation Bible School at a Church of God in. And I said some magic words and because I said those magic words, I don't remember what they were. The guy said that I was saved and so but I didn't know any different of my, okay, I'm all. I remember about that day was eating goat milk to my cereal and how terrible the thing that is to do to a six-year-old was used to American diet. Why would you give him goat's milk. They wanted to invite my experience, but it was Unforgettable. I'm 45 years old, and still talking about goat's milk. When I was six.

Whom say the people that I am in this day and time. They were so mixed up about who Jesus was so confused. They were looking in all the wrong places. They had all the wrong ideas. You see is their mindset about who was to come, was not God's mindset as to, who needed to come. Those that were told about this man. Jesus of Nazareth, they were wondering some things in fact that we're giving a little insight into the list here. The first one is listed pieces, will John the Baptist. Some of them think that you're John the Baptist, creepy thing to think about, you know, even even hear it was afraid of this. He's like, oh man, I had a, I had him beheaded and he's back from the dead. You remember that? People were saying that Jesus was John the Baptist resurrected, The Voice crying in the wilderness. What a mistake. There's no one greater among women born than John the Baptist Jesus even attributed that to him himself. And John was not Jesus, John was not the Messiah. He said, I'm not even worthy to on the loose, his shoelaces to paraphrase and what a demeaning task for a Jewish person that day. They were forbidden. If they were ever a slave, they were forbidden to do that task. Because that was beneath them as the chosen people of God. And John says, I'm not even worthy to do the most demeaning thing of our people. I am so little and he is so infinite. I am so finite In light of him, in contrast to Jesus boy. Could you missed the mark anymore on who Jesus is, he's not the 4Runner. He is the king of kings, and Lord of lords. But they missed it and so many said they missed the mark So Many today. Brother, 80, they miss out on Christmas? Amen. Some say, Elias Elijah that prophet of old. The man of God, some think that we're about to see something like we saw back at Mount Carmel win. The, the rains were shut up from the heavens when Elijah and the prophets of Baal, just go back and recall. The ministry of this Prophet. Elijah Mighty works, and mighty Deeds. That Jesus did, he's healing people to blind or having their eyesight, give it to them the death for having their ears open and hearing you've probably seen those videos. Like I have, they go viral pretty easily when someone hear something for the very first time or someone sees something that maybe you know that they weren't able to see and you just the look on their faces says it all. They don't have to say a word do that. They communicated all because something that has been so long withheld from them. Little Paul says right now we see as through a glass Darkly But if you know your Bible, you know, the rest of that phrase, but one day Fanny Crosby nailed, it was many of those M. She wrote face to face, One day face to face and let's not take for granted the wonderful things that God has given us to be able to perceive his goodness to perceive his Mercy, have your eyes been opened. You may be here today and have physical eyesight but you may be a spiritually blind as anyone could ever be you maybe. Like John Newton that the preacher of old who gave us that wonderful hymn, Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound that saved a Wretch? Like Me, I once was lost but now I'm found was Blind. But now I see. What did he mean by being blind? He knew that he was in spiritual Darkness. Because he didn't know who Jesus really was and friend. If you're here today, or if you have family or friends or loved ones, that really struggle with this question, and they don't know who Jesus is, we need to pray for them because they to sit in spiritual darkness and we need God to to remove Satan's blinders from their eyes, to remove those scales. From their eyes is full set in 2nd Corinthians lest, they should see the light of the Glorious gospel list that should shine under them. And they should see the truth of who Jesus is. We need to pray, that the devil wouldn't have his way with our loved ones are friends. Those that we're trying to reach with a good news, that Christ died for our sins and rose from the dead. We want them to see the Glorious God for Jesus. Christ's the children that we minister to in our Ministries. The Truth Ministries, the all of the opportunities we have the John and Romans that were sitting around the world the missionary That we support through emissions programs, we have a lot to pray for. Can we remember at all? Maybe we should write more of a down and and try to remember as best as we can, who is Jesus, who is Jesus, will John? The Baptist missed it Elias, they missed it. Other say that one of the old prophets has risen again. Well, maybe this is Jeremiah coming back. Maybe another one of the old prophets,

When Zacharias gave his prophecies. We studied about for those that were in class with me in Sunday school, Zacharias was fulfilling That Old Testament office of prophet and John, the Baptist is a, it's kind of an interest in an interesting place because he stands in a bridge between the two, the Old Testament and New Testament. He is the last of the Old Testament prophets, but we get to read about him in the New Testament. Amazing, what God did to break the silence, that he would be the one the voice crying in the wilderness. Make straight his paths. Clear, the way the King has arrived. It's a one of the old prophets note, missed it, they missed it, they were so confused about who Jesus is? He said unto them. So that's who the people such confusion about Jesus. Among the people that Jesus was trying to reach, you was trying to minister to and send his disciples out to do. His work, had sent his Apostles out to do his work preaching, and teaching, healing and helping. And yet there's so much confusion I am amazed at how much confusion there is about Jesus Christ around us today, I talked to folks, you know, I was someone shared with me recently about this guy that has this crazy idea. He probably picked up from watching a movie somewhere or reading some kind of book that somebody wrote, that's not the Bible and he got these strange ideas about Jesus. How old is stuff is like a myth and, you know, somebody in the date. That is some essien group that, you know, was eating psychedelic mushrooms or something like, I mean, this is crazy stuff out there and if it doesn't come from the Bible friend is not a reputable Source because there's only one infallible source of Truth and it is the Bible and let me take that a little bit further just in case we're in good company here today but we need to help hold onto and preserve that the English that's given to us in the King James Bible. In the authorized version of scripture because what it it has the right translation philosophy and it comes from the right Source. Text it hits in both and if it ain't broke, don't fix it. You don't, you can probably learn a lot if you consult other. You know, translations way, people have worded it but there's only one and errant untainted source of Truth. And it's from this strange here. So let's maintain this. I'm not saying you shouldn't, you know, studying and in consult other thing. But as far as faith and Doctrine and practice goes everything that we believe everything, we do everything we teach or to stay centered around the authorized version of the Bible for the English-speaking world. This is the authority. This is the sole Authority. Not the final Authority, not Authority, out of other authorities, not to on par with any other authority. This is the sole Authority for everything. We believe for everything we do and our Eternal Destiny hinges on that. Truth of what we believe about the inspiration and preservation of God's. Holy word. Notice what's I said next, he says unto them whom say ye that I am I don't know about you but if Jesus had just asked you know what everybody else saying and then he asked me the question I'd almost be like is this a pop quiz should have studied for this? I don't know if I'm quite ready for this. I'm not. I would probably be in the in the in the shadows back. They're going how am I going to answer this question but before I could even get to the to the, to the answer. The Christ of God, without hesitation, without batting an eye. I just got to imagine Peter doing that. You're the other disciples are like, what's going on here, the teeth, the matter the deed, the teachers is is asking us this question. Now, you know, we were able to answer the other one together and we put our answers to get now he's asking us. That's a little unnerving to have zeroed in on you and Peter says, no, we got this one, guys. Come on. What are you don't know me on the fence about this? We know who he is now. Peter didn't make this up himself.

This was given to him. By divine revelation. when Peter makes his confession, It Is by divine revelation, the very man who told us how scripture would come Has experienced the moving of the Holy Spirit. Holy men of God spake. As they were moved by the holy spirit it's not of any private interpretation. This was not Peter's private interpretation, the very eye witness of Jesus ministry himself. The man. Who in this chapter got to see the Transfiguration of Jesus of Nazareth says you are the Christ of God. No questions asked about it. No wavering on the fence. He knew because it was revealed to him. Jesus said, if you compare Matthew 16 it was revealed to him of the Father in heaven. Who is Jesus, do you know who he is? Are you as confident as Peter was this day Brash? Yes. Maybe bold, of course opened his mouth one. None of the other disciples with, but we also get an inside because Peters listed first in every list of the Apostles, And in fact, Matthew tells us that he was the first that was called first first meeting, he will be the one out in front and was it not Peter who at Pentecost was at the front of all the disciples as they were all moved with the Holy Spirit. Peter was the one that preached and everyone else gave the message. As they were moved by the Holy Spirit, as it were flames of fire on their head. And every person that have traveled heard and in their own tongue, and they knew these people, these Were Strangers to one another, okay, the world was really small back then, and you can look at somebody, I know he didn't go to school to learn that language. Is he speaking my language over here from where I came from and he's not missing a b. He's got the dialect and everything. How did he do that? That's amazing. This was a Divine sign, a miraculous sign of the Fulfillment of the power of God that they knew. If they knew their Old Testament, they knew this was being prophesied enjoy. That now it's come to pass. And who is the one that is at the Forefront humanly speaking. It's the vessel Peter. Peter here in the front of all the disciples comes out without batting an eye. You are the Christ of God. He didn't say you are Jesus of Nazareth. We Know Who You Are. Now the demon said it that way. We know the who Thou Art Jesus of Nazareth. Art Thou. Come to torment us early. Peter said, you are the Christ. You are the Messiah. Of God, you are the anointed one. You shua hamashiach, maybe you see here are some of our Messianic friends described in that way. They're simply telling you Hebrew as an issue is Joshua. His name used to be OSHA, but Moses changed it to Joshua because it's Jehovah who saves and so Joshua. Got his name change and Jesus is the New Testament version of Joshua is the Greek version of that. And so to say, Jesus is to say, Joshua is to say you. Shua, do you it's okay for you to call him? Jesus, because we're English speakers and that's totally fine to do we know him as Jesus. Anda. Ha Messiah as the definite article Z and messiah messiah. He is the Messiah. So when you say Messiah of God. You're saying what Peter said? Christ of God, he is the anointed one. Messiah means the anointed one. And when you anoint, someone in the Old Testament, that has great significance, you would anoint prophets? You anoint priests you anoint Kings. Oh well, guess what? Jesus is all three in one. Prophet priest and King, he has anointed prophet of God to bring us the message of salvation. To say that says the Lord will fill all the prophecies that were given. He is the capital P Prophet that Moses prophesied about in Deuteronomy, that should come like Moses. He's the one Jesus of Nazareth is the one, he is the Christ. He is the anointed one of God. He is the Messiah. He is prophet, he is priest. He is a priest Forever. After the order of Melchizedek boy, wouldn't you love to hear some of what? The writer to Hebrews was going to tell us about Melchizedek. He had many things we going to say and you didn't get around to it. This message I can relay How many times do I not make it through? What? I intend to get through on you? No messages. I'm trying to preach or lessons. I'm trying to teach. And there's just too much to say, any can't say it all, and we try to do the best we can with the time, we've gotten the right of the Hebrew says, I can't tell you about these things over here and it's not a good reason by the way, For them, because they kept that they kept staying in this stage of milk, milk milk. They weren't growing to the point where they could receive the deeper truths of. God. This milk is, he's a priest after the order of Melchizedek and that's forever. What a beautiful thing that the king of righteousness, the king of Peace. Melek sadek the king of righteousness, the king of Peace. King of Jerusalem, king of Salem, Genesis 14.

Whom say ye that. I am. He is the Christ of God.

What's in a name? We mentioned it last time but I want to elaborate a little bit on it. Recall, what was mentioned in Luke chapter 6 before when we were studying about how naming someone I mentioned this last week. Naming someone holds a profound theological weight When Jesus is teaching, when Jesus is doing his work. Since his miracles, his selection of the 12, He over, he was overriding the religious beliefs of his day. He did not choose to reveal himself as the Christ of God, through the Pharisees, through the scribes through the religious leaders. He didn't choose to reveal himself to that through Herod though, Herod tried his best to eliminate price by having all those babies murdered. He didn't reveal himself through the, through the priest of the day. Well, sort of wish we could see Gabriel coming to Zacharias, the priest. There were some priests that were close enough to God to realize, what was going on, but by and large, the people were so confused about who Jesus was Noah. He chose these 12. Through whom he would emphasize, his Messianic Authority. Just go back to that scene where Jesus names, Simon, Peter, meaning, stone or rock. And I'll probably use those two terms interchangeably and I was thinking through my my selection of stone before and, you know, around here that can I have just as bad of not were so, you know, if not worse, connotation, you know, the words stone rocket to either way you go, you run into snags. But John chapter 1 verse number 42, Jesus meets Simon and he name's Simon, Peter meaning, the rock or the stone John 142. Says, then he brought him to Jesus, Andrew bought, brought Peter to Jesus. Andrew Bock, brought Peter to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, when Jesus beheld Simon, he said they'll art Simon the son of Jonah, son of Jonah. Now. Jonah in the Old Testament though the name has has a connotation of that. You know, I think of Jonah and I can't help but think of the story, The Great fish and and Jonah that, you know, when 180 degrees away from the will of God in his life, Jonah Simon's, you're the son of Jonah Your dad's name is. John Jonah, Jonas. You'll see it translated that way as well. Jonas. I all same person silent. This is who your father is? This is your heritage. This is your lineage. This is from where you descend from whence Dost thou hell we don't speak like that. Thank God any more. But this was his family tree. You're the son of Jonah. He says, from here forward, this is who you who you came into the world as but now things are going to be different from this point moving forward. Because I'm going to give you a new name. Val shalt be called cephas. Now, you're going. Okay, you got to throw another one in there. Okay, well, how many do I have to keep up with your? We've got Simon, we got Peter, we've got you said Stone. You've said Rock. Now, I got to put cephas in there. Are make sodas are make. So when you say cephas, you're saying stone rock when you say cephas, you're saying Peter. So you're saying the same thing. It's just different language is. So don't let that throw you off the safest and he's referred to as that. By Paul in 1st Corinthians. I almost cephas. That's what some of the Clicks in Corinth were saying I am of cephas. Okay, great. Well, I got you all boo'd up with Christ and we can get real clicky. Sometimes that's dangerous. The Rock The Stone you will be called cephas and I love the authorized version and the translation we have here because it gives us the interpretation right there so you can see what it means. You don't need to get out your dictionary to look it up because in the translation is says, in case, you're wondering cephas means Stone by interpretation a stone. and we have an expansion on this, if we go over to Matthew 16 and verse number 18, Jesus explicitly states to Peter, he says, in Matthew 16:18 and I say unto the That thou art, Peter. That's who you are now. You are Peter. And Upon This Rock. I will build my church. Peter, Petrus, rock quarry, stone, quarry. You are the stone Peter and upon this Quarry Bedrock Foundation from which the Stone comes. I will build my church. And the gates of hell. Some translated as Hades. Hell has a lot of bike to it. We all not to diminish the urgency in the reality of a real place called Hale. Hell in the Bible, the Gates of Hell shall not Prevail against it and plus it just has a better ring a man. I mean how eloquent is that? We couldn't find a crew No Matter How We heart it, how hard we tried? We would not be able to find a crew today to repeat the kind of eloquent and the poetic ring in the English language that this translation as I'm sorry, I've been a just think about it. It was it was translated and written to be read out loud publicly in public places. Okay. And it just it's just it's just Timeless. And I say also unto thee that thou art Peter, and Upon This Rock, I will build my church. The Gates of Hell shall not Prevail against it. Ron.