God Used Peter
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It was a beautiful card. The font was very elegant. As my wife and I read it we were informed of the couples love for one another, it showed where they would be married and even stated when, had a sweet picture of their hands, it gave us where they were registered… yet only a hint of WHO was sending this to us!
we had first names
an address we did not recognize
as we search out the WHO and later discovered it with some sleuthing we were able to appreciate and enjoy the letter/card a great deal more!
As you and I dig into the letters of first & second Peter I would like for us to identify and get to know the man a little better who wrote these letters. The author does not go into great detail as he introduces himself in the letter 1 Peter 1:1-2
Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who reside as aliens, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, who are chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood: May grace and peace be yours in the fullest measure.
Who is Peter?
Who is Peter?
A real person similar to you and me...
A husband, he has engaged in life with a wife, in-laws, and family situations
He was a Jewish man engaging in the craft of fishing, a blue collar job, earning a living for his family
It was his brother, a disciple of John the Baptist that informed Peter that they had found the Messiah! John 1:40-41
One of the two who heard John speak and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He found first his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which translated means Christ).
That CHOICE to FOLLOW JESUS would forever change Peter’s Life!!!
Scripture would record for us why Peter as he writes this letter would call himself an apostle…
What Do We Know of Peter?
What Do We Know of Peter?
APOSTLE = one specifically commissioned by Christ Himself, sent out and authorized by Christ for His purpose.
Some of the events in this apostles life help us get an idea of the man he was…
His name was Simon but Jesus changed his name to Peter meaning ROCK
Rocks sink in water but we see Peter walk on water… sure he sinks but none of the others even get out of the boat
We see in Matthew 14:28-31 his amazing faith and ability to know WHO to call upon in trouble
Peter said to Him, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” And He said, “Come!” And Peter got out of the boat, and walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But seeing the wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and took hold of him, and said to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?”
Peter was there at the transfiguration, seeing Jesus in His Glory!!!
We see Jesus commend Peter and scold him all in one setting… Mark 8:29-37
And He continued by questioning them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered and said to Him, “You are the Christ.” And He warned them to tell no one about Him. And He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. And He was stating the matter plainly. And Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him. But turning around and seeing His disciples, He rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind Me, Satan; for you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but man’s.” And He summoned the crowd with His disciples, and said to them, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. “For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it. “For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul? “For what will a man give in exchange for his soul?
This conversation would prove to be burned into the heart of Peter… would Peter be willing to give up his...
Life, his aspirations, his ideas, his plans… DIE TO SELF and LIVE FOR CHRIST
Jesus’ words would shape Peter’s life… but scripture so beautifully captures both Peter’s heart and shortcomings...
The Last Supper
The Last Supper
In this intimate time with His disciples Jesus would was their feet… Peter included (Peter rejected at first)
Imagine Peter that night, what passion and excitement to have the Messiah in your midst at Passover!!!
Yet, this night this Passover was different… Mark 14:22-31 records for us that evening
While they were eating, He took some bread, and after a blessing He broke it, and gave it to them, and said, “Take it; this is My body.” And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them, and they all drank from it. And He said to them, “This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many. “Truly I say to you, I will never again drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.” After singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. And Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away, because it is written, ‘I will strike down the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered.’ “But after I have been raised, I will go ahead of you to Galilee.” But Peter said to Him, “Even though all may fall away, yet I will not.” And Jesus said to him, “Truly I say to you, that this very night, before a rooster crows twice, you yourself will deny Me three times.” But Peter kept saying insistently, “Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!” And they all were saying the same thing also.
Jesus would take the bread but He spoke of it as Himself… broken for our sin
Jesus would take the cup… extending an invitation to all through His blood
Then Jesus states something that shocks them all ESPECIALLY PETER…
He was passionate, zealous, committed, yet he was weak
Peter denied Jesus once… twice… and then a third time… and he wept bitterly
Peter writes as one who knows…
Failure, weakness, regret, grief… as he watched Jesus beaten and die on the cross from a distance
Peter can relate with those who have felt the same things before God
Peter also writes as one who knows FORGIVENESS!!!
Peter Knew Forgiveness!!!
Peter Knew Forgiveness!!!
Jesus in a powerful way… PUBLICLY reinstates Peter and extends GRACE, FORGIVENESS to Peter! John 21:15-17
So when they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Tend My lambs.” He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Shepherd My sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Tend My sheep.
As we read and study this letter of Peter to the church we will see a heart passionate for Christ church, His sheep…
Jesus stated something right on the heals of this though… John 21:18-19
“Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were younger, you used to gird yourself and walk wherever you wished; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands and someone else will gird you, and bring you where you do not wish to go.” Now this He said, signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, “Follow Me!”
Follow me, take up your cross, die to self, live for me!!!!!
When you and I have settled the matter of DEATH, then you and I are truly FREE to LIVE, READY to LIVE… and LIVE to the fullest!
There is an urgency as we read Peter’s letter, he strives with us…
Church listen!!!
Church grow!!!
Church this is the truth!!!
Church stand fast… Life is difficult, BUT GOD!!!
As we go through this letter of 1 Peter we will see Peter feeding you and I the solid word of God, truth, and meat to chew on.
God used an ordinary man, who recieved extraordinary forgiveness… Peter came to terms with death, died to self, and lived for Christ through not his own power but the power of the Holy Spirit!!!!
I want to leave you with the same challenge Jesus posed to Peter…
Mark 8:29–37 (NASB95)
“If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. “For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it. “For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul? “For what will a man give in exchange for his soul?