Acts chapter number 14 chapter 14 the Bible reads and it came to pass in
Iconium that they went both together into the synagogue of the Jews and so
spake that a great multitude both the Jews and also the Greeks believed. But
the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and made their minds evil
affected against the brethren. Long time therefore both they speaking boldly in
the Lord which gave testimony unto the great word of his grace and granted
signs and wonders to be done by their hands. But the multitude of the city was
divided in part held with the Jews and part with the apostles. And when there
was an assault made both of the Gentiles and also the Jews with their rulers to
use them despitefully and to stone them, they were aware of it
and fled into Lystra and dirty cities of Lyconia and unto
the region that lieth round about. And there they preached the gospel and there
sat a certain man at Lystra impotent in his feet being a cripple from his
mother's womb who never had walked. The same heard Paul speak who
steadfastly beholding him and perceiving that he had faith to be healed said with
a loud voice stand upright on my feet and he bleeped and walked. When the
people saw what Paul had done they lifted up their voices saying in the
speech of Lyconia that the gods are come down unto us and the likeness of men
that had called Barnabas Jupiter and Paul Mercurius because he was the chief
speaker. When the priest of Jupiter which then the priest of Jupiter which was
before their city brought oxen and garlands under the gates and would have
done sacrifice with the people which when the apostles of Barnabas and Paul
heard of they rent their clothes and ran in among the people crying out and saying
Sirs why do you these things? We also are men of light passions with
you and preach unto you that you should turn from these vanities unto the living
God which made heaven and earth and the sea and all things that are therein. When
times past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways now that nevertheless
he left not himself without witness and that he did good and gave us rain from
heaven and fruitful seasons filling our hearts with food and gladness. With these
sayings scarce restrained they the people that they had not done sacrifice
unto them and there came through their certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium
who persuaded the people and having stone Paul drew him out of the city
supposing he had been dead. How be it as the disciples stood round about him he
rose up and came unto the city and the next day he departed with Barnabas
to Derby and when they had preached the gospel to that city and had
taught many they returned again to Lystra and Iconium and Antioch confirming
the souls of the disciples and exhorting them to continue in the faith and that
through that we through much tribulation must enter into the kingdom of God. When
they had ordained them elders at every church they and had prayed with fasting
that commended them unto the Lord on whom they had believed and after they
passed through Pisidia they came to Pamphylia and when they had preached the
word in Perga they went into Atalia and thence they sailed to Antioch from
whence they had been recommended to the grace of God for the work which they
had fulfilled and when they were come and when and when they were come and had
gathered the church together they rehearsed all that God had done with
them and now he had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles and there they
abode them a long time with the disciples. A quick word of prayer. Heavenly Father
again thank you for the opportunity to preach. Lord I pray that you would help
something that I say today would be a blessing to those that are here Lord
that you give us your ears to hear and hearts to understand Lord that you would
just be with me fill me with your Holy Spirit Lord that I would say and do
those things which are pleasing to you in Jesus name Amen. Now if you look I get
the title of the sermon this morning from down there in Acts 14 verse 15 if
you look at verse 15 and saying sirs why do you these things we also are like men
of like passions with you and that's the title of my sermon tonight is a man of
like passions and I like that that Paul makes a specific point of saying this in
the scripture when he's kind of refuting these people for about you know they're
about to sacrifice on nobody says no don't do it I'm a man of light passions
as you are what he's saying there's like hey there I'm not a god I'm nothing
like I'm nothing special I'm nothing different I'm just like you are and it's
great to be reminded that in the scriptures the we read about these great
men of God and we see the great things that they do but it's always good to be
reminded that they were just like us there's nothing special about them it
was the God that they served that made them so special that's why the title of
the sermon is a man of light passions so we could we could look at several
different and really this could be a whole series we could do on different
man it could be called it could be called a men of men of like passions and
we could do every week we could there's something from these great men and if we
were to examine their lives we could learn a lot of great truths from them
from them from their lives and apply them to our own lives but today I want
to just focus in on one man and only was Paul that said this that's not the man I
want to talk about because uh I think Peter is a man who is of like passions I
think Peter is a great example of our of our own selves in Scripture you know
Peter kind of gets a little bit of a bad rap sometimes he kind of you know does a
lot of things as we'll see but the thing is there's a lot that we could learn
from Peter I think what I know when I read the the the Gospels and I read
about Peter sometimes I really sympathize because I feel like man he
kind of represents that the human nature in us really stands out the things that
he does he can see the difference between you know Jesus God and Peter a
man you know and just how far that gap really is and of course Peter did a lot
of great things that we'll look at that too but I think there's several things
about Peter that we could look at his personality the things that he did that
if we could relate to Peter in a in a big way and that would probably be a
help and blessing just now you're there in Acts 14 but if you turn over to Luke
chapter 5 we'll begin in Luke chapter 5 so we're going to look at some of the
things about Peter that made him a man of like passions if you look at Luke
chapter 5 the first point I want to make is that Peter was pious he's a very
pious man and by pious I mean he was a devout man he was a god-fearing man he
was very reverent of God I believe that Peter loved the Lord with all of his
heart I believe he was very dedicated and devoted he was a righteous man so
Peter was a very pious man Luke chapter 5 verse 8 the Bible reads when Simon
Peter saw he fell down at Jesus's knees so there is he's falling down at Jesus's
knees saying depart from me for I am a sinful man O Lord for he was astonished
and all that were with him at the draught of the fishes which they had
taken and so also was James and John's son of Zebedee which were partners with
Simon and they said unto Simon fear not for henceforth thou shalt catch men and
when they had brought their ships to land they forsook all and followed him
so we see here that that Peter you know this is a demonstration of just how
pious he was one you know he fell down at Jesus's feet when he saw Jesus you
know told him to cast the net on the end and they drew in that great draught of
fishes so much that the ship began to sink and he had to call his partners
over to help bring the net over and he recognized the fact that this was God
that was doing a great miracle in his life and when he saw it the Bible says
that he fell down at Jesus's feet and then he said this depart from me for I
am a sinful man so Peter had a great perspective about who he was and this is
the very beginning of Peter's ministry this is where Jesus is calling him to
follow him so Peter starts out with this with this right perspective of
understanding that you know he is a sinful man and that God you know it is
holy so Peter was very pious in that Peter acknowledged Christ as God if you
look at verse 8 you know he says Oh Lord you know that's what he called him he
called him Lord now another example you know if you turn there would be Mark 16
15 he saith unto them but who see ye that I am you know Jesus is asking his
disciples you know who do men say that I am they say you know some say thou art
alive some say so and so and so and then he says well who say ye that I am so
he's asking his disciples a direct question if Peter pipes up and he says
he said then who say that I am and Simon Peter answered and said thou art the
Christ the Son of the Living God so Peter recognized very early on who Jesus
was you know from day one really he knew that this was the Christ he knew that
this was the Lord now that's important for us to understand in fact because you
know we also must be pious if we're gonna if we're gonna live for God and by
that I mean we need to acknowledge God as God meaning this that we need to be
saved that's like the foundation no we're never gonna accomplish anything
we got if we're not safe and you know I'm assuming everybody in this room here
you're 99% of the people in here are probably saved with the exception of
some of the little ones but we must be saved to be used of God the Bible says
in Matthew 7 21 not everyone that saith unto me Lord Lord shall enter into the
kingdom of heaven but he that doeth the will of my father which is heaven many
will say to me in that day Lord Lord have we not prophesied in thy name and
in thy name cast out devils and in thy name done wonderful many wonderful works
and then will I profess unto them I never knew you depart for me ye that
work in equity now isn't it interesting that when Peter first met Jesus and he
sees that great draw to fishes one of the words that come out of his mouth
depart from me for I am a sinful man so he's saying you know Lord I can't even
be in your presence then we have these people in Matthew you know Matthew 7
that are claiming to have done all these wonderful works and they're trying to
get into heaven you know they're trying to come to Jesus what does Jesus say to
them depart from me because they had a wrong perspective because they thought
it was their own good works whereas you know Peter understood it correctly that
he was a sinful man that he had no he didn't deserve to be in the presence of
Christ where these people are saying we deserve to be here because of our good
works what did Jesus say he said depart from me you see Peter saw nothing good
in himself when he was in God's presence but when Jesus said it he said depart
from me is what Jesus said to those who were professing their own goodness in
his presence now some people might object they'll say well wait a minute
you know the Bible says here you know he that doeth the will of my father meaning
you know that so obviously there are some kind of works that we have to do
right there's some kind of will that we have to perform but then we have to ask
ourselves what is the will of the Father if you would turn to John chapter 6 so
some people would say well yeah you know they were they were refuted you know
they said they did these men for wonderful works and they might have this
argument and this sounds ridiculous but it's out there people say well you know
there is still something you have to do you have to do God's will well John
chapter 6 verse 38 the Bible says for I came to Jesus speaking for I came down
from heaven not to do my own will but the will of him that sent me and this is
the Father's will which which he had sent me but of all which he had given me
I should lose nothing so that's a great verse on eternal security right there
that when Jesus receives us he should lose nothing meaning nobody's going to
be lost once he receives us well it should but should raise it up again the
last day and this is the will of him that sent me now remember who is it that
sent him the Father right so this is the Father's will and who is it that that is
going to go into heaven it's those that do the will of the Father this is the
will of him that sent me that everyone would see it the Sun and believeth on
him and have everlasting life and I will raise him up the last day so Jesus is
saying you know you have to see me and yet who so ever believeth on me that's
the will of God that you would see and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ my
people you know they'll say well you know by me believe by believing it's
just you know believe it may have you know you may have everlasting life
simply by believing so we see that having everlasting life is just by faith
well you know maybe they'll object and say well everyone would see it the Sun
and believe it you know this was to those people that were there because
they could see Jesus you know they didn't have to really prove anything to
Jesus maybe because we can't see him we have to do this these works and these
are these sound crazy but these are the kind of arguments that that I've heard
over the years and you know to rebuke this this this foolishness of well you
got to see Jesus and believe you know well Jesus is the word first of all you
know the word became flesh and dwelt among us in the beginning was the word
so can we see Jesus today we can when we see Jesus in the Word of God so we can
see Jesus in the Bible and Jesus even said in verse 35 of John 6 and Jesus
saying to them I am the bread of life he that cometh to me shall never hunger and
he that believeth on me shall never thirst and I say to you that you also
have seen me and believe not so he's rebuking these Pharisees for though
they did see him but what was the difference they didn't believe so it's
just believe he says that you also have seen me and believe not all of the
father giveth me shall come to me in and hit and him that cometh to me I will
have no eyes cast out in John 20 verse 29 because thou have seen me thou hast
believed this is what he's telling you know Thomas Thomas was doubting he said
except I see the holes in his hands and inside I shall not believe and Jesus
said well you because thou have seen me thou has believed then he says this blessed are
they that have not seen and yet have believed so again you know it's not that
we have to see and believe you know that see and believe you can just take see
and just put whatever verb you want in there you know you could say you know
chew with gum and believeth you know what whatever you want you know walketh
and believeth it doesn't matter the important part is the only thing we have
to do is just believe and the point I'm trying to make here is that you know
before when we look at the the life of Peter and the personality of Peter the
first thing we have to understand is that Peter was a pious man that he was a
saved man that Peter Peter acknowledged Christ as God which leads me on to my
next point which is this is that Peter was plain you know Peter was pious and
Peter Peter was also very plain Matthew chapter 4 verse 18 the Bible says and
Jesus walking by the Sea of Galilee saw two brethren Simon called Peter and
Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea for they were fishers and I love
the fact that Jesus called fishermen then he called just regular everyday Joe
to come serve him in the ministry I believe God specifically chose those
kind of people to show us that even though we're just everyday Joe kind of
guys we could still do great works for God because it's not in ourselves that
we're going to accomplish anything great for God it's all going to be through him
you know God uses plain people if you went to 1st Corinthians chapter 1
so God specifically chose Jesus chose these fishermen you know that was the if
you were going to say out of all the twelve disciples you know what was the
what was the majority that they had the same trade well most of the guys were
fishermen you know everybody else kind of had different trades some of them we
don't know what they did but the majority of the guys that we know about
they were all fishermen right so he's using hard-working men just plain
everyday guys just blue-collar workers that got that's who God wanted to use
when he went looking for somebody he didn't go down to the synagogue he didn't
go find you know the the educated the person who's you know understood the
most about the things of God you know in terms of the letter of the law things
like that he just choose these simple plain men that just would reverence him
and allow him to use them in the way that he saw fit if you're there in 1st
Corinthians chapter 1 look at verse 26 for you see her calling brethren how
that not many wise men after the flesh not many mighty not many noble are
called but God have chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise
and God have chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which
are mighty you see because Peter was playing God knew that he would be able
to be used to do a great work to the glory of God because Peter understood
that he was just a plain simple man God knew that he was gonna be able to use
him to accomplish great things through him you see on our calling we can relate
to our to Peter because our calling is as Peter's calling we also are playing
Bible says in verse 26 of 1st Corinthians 1 for ye see your calling so
this is the same calling that we had with Peter Peter's just a plain
fisherman you know he wasn't noble he wasn't mighty he wasn't you know the
wisest man you know and we'll see later he was foolish at times even you know
and the foolish according to the things in the world you know the world would
look at us and the things we believe and say well that's foolishness but God has
chosen the weak things he's chosen men like Peter he's chosen men like us to
confound the things which are mighty see Peter's calling is our calling and we
also just as Peter was we can be used to confound the mighty today the Bible says
in verse 28 and the base things and the things which are despised hath God
chosen ye and things which are not to bring to not things that are if God is
going to bring to not the things that are if God is going to confound the
mighty today he's going to use the base things of the world and that's evident
even within this movement you know if we were to look at it you know we don't
have these huge luxurious buildings we don't have tons of money just pouring in
where we could just buy these you know great you know edifices to man you're
not filling these stadiums in fact we don't even have a lot of people I mean
it seems like a lot I mean for an IFB movement for an IFB churches we are big
I mean faithful words running over 350 here's run about three to three hundred
fifty people on Sunday morning that's big for an independent fundamental
Baptist Church that's big for an independent fundamental Baptist Church
that's meeting in a strip mall that's big because and it's being filled up
with the hype of people they don't care where they're meeting they don't care
the fact that they're meeting in a strip mall which I think is great anyway the
building you know works for us gets like a job done right it's being filled with
people who aren't so hung up on think on the carnal things like that right and
because of that because got people that are just plain ordinary people who just
want to do a big work for God God is using faithful word and other like-minded
churches to just reach thousands of souls because that's the work that we're
here to do you know we're not here to try and impress man we're here to
confound the things that are mighty how are we going to do that by snatching
souls from the devil the devil is mighty today the world is mighty today and we
need to confound them and we need to perplex the people of this world you
know through through the God by what God working through us and working through
you know playing people in an ordinary church you see we also can be used that
confound the mighty because it's all done through Jesus it's not in of our
own selves the Bible says in verse 30 of 1st Corinthians 1 but him are but of him
are ye in Christ Jesus who of God is made unto us wisdom and righteousness
and sanctification and redemption see he is made unto us Jesus through God has
made unto us wisdom he's made unto us righteousness he is made unto a
sanctification and redemption so it's through God that we are going to
confound the mighty it's through God that we can bring glory to God 1st
Corinthians 1 31 that according as it is written he that gloria let him glory in
the Lord let him glory in the Lord at the end of the day that's the whole
reason that's one of the big reasons why God chooses chooses that you know the
base things the simple things the plain things of the world to confound the
mighty it's because when that happens God gets all the glory you know we look
at what this church is accomplishing around the world and in this city and
other churches and other cities that are like us that are doing you know so
many marathons going down to Mexico and winning all those people we've got
people over in Africa that are winning you know people the Lord people every
day are being saved in Phoenix Arizona and it's all to the glory of God it's
not that because you know we're so special because people playing people
are just going out with the Word of God and preaching his unadulterated gospel
and that's why God is able to do a great work through us that's right and that's
why God gets all the glory for everything that's done here you see
whatever we accomplish in our life will be done through Jesus Christ to the
glory of God Jesus told Peter I will make you fishers of men you see to be
used of God requires humility it requires that we be humble you know it's
not not that we're some great intellects or we're some you know we've got some
kind of corner on God that we only we can you know explain the deep things of
God and people know it's because God has revealed himself through his word and
we're just simply taking next people when we have to be humble enough to just
say you know what God will work through his word not through my own you know the
power of my own speech or anything like that it's just God working through his
word Jesus told Peter I will make you fishers of men you see the Bible says in
Proverbs 15 the fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom and before honor
is humility Peter said at first Peter humble yourselves under the mighty hand
of God and Peter you know he understood the importance of that he understood the
importance of the very first thing that you need to do if you're going to be
used of God is that you need to humble yourself you need to accept the fact
that we're just plain people that there's you know of course we're all
we're all special in sight of God God loves and cares for every one of us like
we're the only one I believe that that's the kind of God I'm not trying to
downplay us you know our value but I'm just saying that you know we should not
think more highly of ourselves than we ought to and that if we're gonna see
something done through God it's getting done for God it's going to be through
his power you see because as we as we move forward for God and we're going to
see this with Peter the possibility is that you know I've seen this some old my
own life I've seen in the lives of others this and as they begin to serve
God with their life as they begin to make progress in the Christian life is
that pride can become to start to set in now we can start to think you know that
that we're a little little more than we really are being get a little big for
our riches as the saying saying goes first Corinthians 8 1 the Bible says now
it's touching things offered unto idols we know that all that all have knowledge
then he says this knowledge puffeth up so you know he's saying here Paul saying
you know we understand the things that are offered idols that is nothing you
know unless it causes your brother to defend you know it's okay to eat you
know unless someone says to you these things are offered on the idols but the
Bible says you know just because you have an understanding of the Word of God
just because you know the things of God that knowledge that knowledge could
puff you up the knowledge puffeth up but charity I defy it and if any man
thinketh that he knoweth anything he knoweth nothing yes he ought to know the
things that we know and understand of God those are the things we just out of
know that's those are the things that anybody can know anybody who has the
Holy Spirit living and then they can pick up God's Word and and and faithfully
just take it as for what it says can understand the things of God that isn't
so that's available to everybody so we shouldn't get this pumped up attitude
that we have some kind of deep understanding that nobody else has in
the Word of God because the Word of God is open to every believer and all the
person has to do is just read it for themselves so as as we begin to progress
in our Christian life as we allow God to begin to use us the possibility is is
that pride can begin to set in on us and that's what happened to Peter if we were
to look at his life Peter to some degree became proud I believe if you look at
some of the things he said some of the things he did is that he became proud
if you would turn to Luke chapter 9 Luke chapter 9 turn to Luke chapter 9
we'll see that you know that Peter becoming proud was a was kind of a
progression over time as he followed and served Jesus Luke chapter 9 and verse 28
and it came to pass about eight days after these sayings he took Peter and
John and James and went into a mountain up into a mountain to pray and as he
prayed the fashion of his countenance was altered and its raiment was white
and glistering and behold there talked with him two men which were Moses and
Elias who appeared in glory and spake of his deceased which he should accomplish
at Jerusalem but what but Peter and they that were with him were heavy with sleep
and when they were awake they saw his glory the two men that stood with him
and it came to pass as they departed from him Peter said unto Jesus master it
is good for us to be here and let us make three tabernacles one for thee and
one for Moses and one for Elias not knowing what he said while he thus spake
there came a cloud and overshadowed them and they feared as they entered into
cloud there came a voice out of the cloud saying this is my beloved son hear
him you see here Peter kind of pipes up he's at this I mean not everybody got to
see this I think Jesus kind of took those that he kind of considered his
little bit of an inner circle up in the mountain and was reserved you know for
certain people to see this great sight and what a just amazing thing it must
have been to see Jesus in his glorified form standing there with with a lie on
Moses and Elias I mean that was really something and he got James and John
there you notice they didn't say anything now I think John was kind of a
humble guy and you know he's probably that's why so John probably got to see
a lot of things because he knew what to just kind of keep his mouth shut and let
God be God you know he wasn't looking to kind of try and pipe up or anything like
that that's why John later you know in book of Revelation the Bible says when
he saw Jesus again in his glorified form he says he fell his face is one dead
you know it still came as such a shock to John but Peter here you know he
didn't have I don't know why he said this I think that he was maybe just kind
of looking for his moment in the Sun you know he sees these great men of God he
sees Jesus glorified he's got his two other disciples he kind of says hey this
is my chance to kind of impress these guys you know show him how holy and show
how spiritual I am how you know how worthy I am to be here to behold this
and Peter looking for his moment son you know he says it is good for us to be
here it's kind of like when you think about it like well what's he saying you
know well is he guys so aren't we special right it's good for us to be
here I'm glad we got to be here right yeah but you know it's like well what
about the other nine guys the bottom of the mountain what about them you know
what makes you so much better than they are you know don't they would don't they
deserve to see something Bible says the first Corinthians 4 7 for who maketh thee
to differ from another and what hast thou that thou didst not received if thou
didst receive it why didst thou glorious thou did not receive it the
only reason that Peter was up on that mountain the only reason he got to
receive that that special vision was because Jesus brought him up there to
begin with he's gonna say hey Peter you stay here it wasn't I guess Peter was
anything special it's because God chose to show him that Bible says in
Philippians 2 let nothing be done through strife or vainglory but in
lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves Peter should have
you know if he's gonna say anything like man I wish the other guys could have
seen this it's good for us to be here right then he goes on and says let us
make three tabernacles and I just think this is just kind of Peter's pride
popping up and kind of this like hyper spirituality or you know trying to add
something to this glorious moment in God and we can see this in our own life
maybe not to this degree I think you know if most people saw Jesus on his
glorified form we're probably going to act like James and John did probably
gonna get pretty quiet pretty quick and be afraid to even look but you know
Peter here just pipes up and says let us make three tabernacles you know this
hyper spiritual like why would these guys want to dwell on earth with you
anyway you know like they're gonna make these three tents and they're gonna come
stay on earth it's like they already had their their rounds down here they're
they're up there in heaven you know in glory like they want to come hang out
with you Peter right but this is this unwarranted you know this can show up in
our own life I think it's like unwarranted advice you know we just feel
like well you know somebody's you know maybe venting to us a little bit or just
kind of talking to us about their life and we feel like well let me just dole
out my advice let me just show you all my wisdom that I have you know
supposedly they give you unwarranted advice it could come of the form of you
know just a criticism just like kind of critiquing people you know I see a lot
of this I think you know even with my own self soul winning you know going
soul winning when you're with your partner you're you're there not just to
win souls but to also judge your other person's your partner's performance you
know I don't think there's anything wrong with giving a soul winning advice
to somebody if they ask for it I think we should be real careful just before we
start handing out advice I'm thinking one is I can't remember all the
particulars but I know I went out with this guy once and there was something
that he was doing in his concern it wasn't anything wrong or radical you
know if we hear somebody preaching a false gospel or saying something that's
just completely contrary to the to how faithful word does their soul winning we
do need to spike up you know and politely and gently correct and say hey
and I've had that done to myself you know I had some hate you know what's you
meet somebody who's probably safe maybe you should smile you know maybe you
should shake their hand because now you know the goal isn't just to get people
say but it's gonna come to church oh yeah so you meet this person that say
maybe you should like be a little warmer maybe give them a good impression of the
church maybe they'll come visit but I know one time I was out you know that's
it and that's a good example of some good criticism that somebody could
receive out soul winning you know as long as it's coming from the right
person you know the person who kind of corrected me on that was the pastor you
know so I didn't really have to ask him for his you know kind of like he kind
of gets to give you the advice you know but sometimes that advice is unwarranted
it's unnecessary and people kind of get this attitude well like I'm just gonna
you know straighten this guy out in a soul winning he's doing this wrong and
doing it it's not that they're saying anything wrong or heretical even it's
just that they feel like they their way is better and they have to kind of
correct everybody and it kind of goes on you know in any area of life child
rearing you know people are going to always trying to like tell you how you
could be chip read you know just come let me give you some advice in your
child let me give you some advice in your marriage just this attitude of
unwarranted advice and criticism that can be kind of like you know just that
hyper spirituality that just you know kind of Peter let us make three
tavernacles let me tell you how to do this then it says they're not knowing
what he said after he said all this he kind of tells you like he just kind of
but he just kind of blather the stuff out not knowing what he said he just
felt like he had to say something you know when most people are giving that
that advice you know they're just giving you that unword advice when
they're just critiquing whatever aspect of your life that they want most of the
time they don't even realize they're doing it and that's why it's real
important to be very patient with people you know and even when someone's like
trying to correct us on something that they probably don't know a whole lot
about and maybe you've even noticed some things like well you could work on this
buddy but we just kind of keep our mouths shut smile and nod take it say
thank you right you know because most of the time they don't even realize what a
condescending jerk they're being you know they're good people they have the
best of intentions as Peter did but they're just not knowing what they say
or how it's coming across the Bible says for if a man think himself to be
something when he has nothing he deceive it himself he doesn't see anybody else
you know most people can see it when it's coming else the only only guy
you're fooling is you when you think yourself to be something and you're
nothing everybody else can see it you're the only one who doesn't realize you're
nothing you know so that's kind of what happened to Peter here I think he kind
of got lived up to it with pride and again you know I kind of mentioned it
already that we should just you know let it be it's not our duty and you know
certain people do have that authority to come to somebody and rebuke them you
know and correct them and straighten them out or at least when they do it it
would come that person would receive it better from them you know I know there's
people that have come to me and said hey you know you need to check this in your
life and it was normally from a pastor or somebody that I held in very high
regard and it wasn't just the guy next to me thought so winning the Bible says
that you know I think what happened here in the story after Peter just pipes up
and kind of bladders all the stuff up you know Jesus didn't turn around and
correct him no the guy believe God the Father came very close because it says
they entered into a cloud and I think it was just like such a thick cloud that
couldn't even see and remember back in the Old Testament whenever the God would
come down in the tabernacle it was a thick cloud and thick darkness was on
the mount when he came on Sinai so I believe that this was God the Father
coming so close to Peter just to remind him hey this is my beloved son here he
him you know saying you don't have anything to add to this Peter see what
people go out and kind of go out of their way to give us unwarranted advice
or critique us or something like that let's just leave it up to God to cloud
up on them you know that's what we need to do Bible says Proverbs 30 32 if thou
has done foolishly and lifting up thyself or if thou is thought evil lay
thy hand upon thy mouth so if we're in if we've ever been in a position like
that where you know we've kind of stepped up out of line a little bit with
somebody and I've done this I've come blather things out of my mouth you know
online and stuff like that and then have the man of God show up and like call me
on the carpet about it pretty much you know and we have to say whoa well I'm
just gonna lay my hand up on my mouth and then realize that we've done
foolishly we've lifted up ourselves we've been filled to pride and I think
everybody to some degree is subject to this I mean Peter was I mean Peter the
guy who walked with Jesus the guy who talked with Jesus on this earth and saw
great miracles even he was was susceptible to this now Peter's pride
became more evident near the end of Jesus's ministry if you were to turn to
Matthew chapter 16 so I believe this here on the mountain was just one
example of Peter's pride kind of popping up but I believe towards the end of
Jesus's ministry the longer Peter spent with Jesus as he saw and accomplished
more things and he kind of started to get lifted up a little bit that's when
Peter's pride started to show up a little Matthew 16 verse 21 the Bible
says from that 24th began Jesus to show down to his disciples how he must go
into Jerusalem and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes
and be killed and be raised again the third day then Peter took him and began
to rebuke him saying be it far from the Lord this shall not be unto thee but he
turned and said unto Peter get thee behind me Satan for thou art an offense
unto me thou savourest not the things that be of God with those that be of men
so Jesus in the same passage Matthew 16 if you recall just a few
verses early he's just finished blessing Peter you know he says blessed art thou
the sign of our Jonah for flesh and blood hath not revealed it to be but my
father which is in heaven you know and thou art Peter and upon this rock will I
build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it so Peter
kind of gets this you know this attaboy from Jesus right just a few verses but
then you know I think Peter maybe kind of was like hey all right you know they
kind of felt so at ease with that you know kind of came comfortable with the
fact that yeah Jesus you know he proves what I'm doing here that he became so
bold is that Peter took him and began to rebuke him when Jesus told them what hey
and he understood who this was it wasn't that Peter didn't understand that Jesus
was God we've already looked at that this is so far to Jesus ministry that
Jesus is already acknowledged thou art the Christ so he's so bold as to take
God aside and say look that's not what's gonna happen here you know that is
crazy right but that's what Peter did Jesus I just finished but the blessing
Peter and it kind of gave him a big head you know and kind of let it go to his
head a little bit and I can even relate to this in my own life you know I know
sometimes I have I have to really watch this with my work and maybe you do too
but whenever I start you know I try to do a good job and I do you know my boss
is usually pretty well pleased with me I make mistakes here and there and I'm
when I do I acknowledge it and I apologize and I correct it me do my best
to make sure doesn't happen again but a lot of times I'll do a lot of y'all do
things the boss will say hey good job today real proud of you hey good work
thanks for doing that and when we kind of get on that we're doing good you
know we could kind of get a little lax like well you know I'm good you know I'm
doing all right boss likes me you know you start showing up five minutes late
you know you know that's it's a tendency that when we're doing well we kind of
get lax we're not like on point you know when we first start that job we're like
man I want to do a good job and make sure this guy knows I'm serious about my
work and you're getting after it you're on time you're doing the work right
you're yes sir no sir you're all over the place but then they're like hey good
job yeah this guy's making it you've been there a few months and then it kind
of turns into like it could potentially turn into you get a little lax like
Peter did when you go so far as to kind of rebuke the boss a little bit take
inside look this is how it's going to be you know and this happens in the
workplace and they happen even here to Peter now in John 13 we'll look at
another example from John 13 and verse 3 John 13 and verse 3 of Peter's pride
becoming more evident near the end of Jesus ministry Jesus knowing that the
Father had given him all things and it was handed that he was come from God and
went to God he rises from supper and laid aside his garments and took a towel
and girded himself after he pours water into a basin began to watch the
disciples feet and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded then
cometh he to put Simon Peter and Peter said unto him Lord what dost thou wash
my feet Jesus answered and said unto him what I do thou knowest not but thou shalt
know hereafter Peter saith unto him thou shalt never wash my feet so this is
again just like more of Peter's hyper-spirituality coming through you
know he's trying to be different than everybody else you know show Jesus like
that I love Jesus so much more than these other guys and I'm not even gonna
let him wash his feet these guys let him wash his feet let him wash their feet
but Jesus isn't gonna wash my feet because I understand how unworthy I am
so it's just again this Peter showing this hype you know this hyper
spirituality you know this false humility so to speak and we ought to
beware of the person who's even like that self the appreciator I'm trying to
say it right this guy is just self-deprecating you know always it's
like oh you know how you do what better than I deserve you know just this like
always down on themselves always hard on themselves you know just I don't deserve
to be in here it's like we all know that you don't have to remind us all how what
a profound understanding you have of your own you know a basement before God
like that's kind of what Peters doing gosh I'll never wash my feet you know
and then what happens you know Jesus says if I wash thee not thou hast no
part with me Jesus saith unto the Lord not my feet only but my hands and my
head so he's like well if you're gonna do it then do everything so it's just
this hyper spirituality you got to look out for that Matthew 26 we'll get
another example of Peters pride kind of popping through a showing up and
becoming worse as the ministry went on but I was just in Matthew chapter 26
Matthew chapter 26 of verse 31 then say it Jesus unto them all ye shall be
offended me because of this night for it is written I will smite the shepherd and
then the sheep of the flock shall be scattered but after that after I am
risen again I will go before you into Galilee Peter answered and said to him
though all men shall be offended because of thee yet will I never be offended
Jesus said unto him verily I say to thee that this night before the crop grow
thou shalt deny me thrice so I think here in Matthew 26 when Jesus when
Peter says this though all men should offend be offended because of thee yet
will I never be offended I really think this is probably the height of Peter's
pride this is Peter at his most prideful moment in Jesus and Jesus's ministry the
Bible says in Proverbs 20 verse 6 most men will proclaim everyone his own
goodness but a faithful man who can find this applies to Peter here because he
is quick to proclaim his own goodness though all men should offend the yet I
will never but at the end of the night who could find a faithful man even Peter
everybody this the sheep were scattered everybody dispersed when Jesus was
arrested and this was the height from which Peter fell this was the the peak
of his of his pride Bible says in Proverbs 16 16 pride goeth before
destruction and a haughty spirit before fall so Jesus is having even warning and
book you're gonna deny me three times not even just once Peter you're gonna do
it three times before this night's over you're gonna die in three times and
Peter and you know and Jesus was absolutely correct because he saw
Peter's pride no he knew that Peter met well but it was in his pride that he
said these things now fortunately for Peter it was a height but it wasn't too
high it was a shortfall it was a very hard landing that he had the Bible says
in Matthew 26 verse 29 now Peter sat without the place and that damsel came
unto him saying God also was with Jesus of Galilee but he denied before them all
saying I know not without sayest when he was gone out of the porch another
maid saw him and said unto him unto them that were with him this fellow also was
with Jesus this fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth and again he denied
with a note I know not I do not know the man and after a while came unto him
that's they that stood by and said to Peter surely thou art one of them for
thy speech be ready then he began to curse and to swear saying I know not the
man and immediately the cock crew and Peter remembered the words of Jesus which
said unto him before the cock crow thou shalt deny me thrice and he went out and he
wept bitterly so this is Peter's you know his this is his fault this is him
denying the Lord and having that that hard fault that Jesus said you know when
you are gonna deny me now it was a hard lesson that Peter learned and he learned
it on our behalf I believe you know I believe that he went through this and we
see this example in Scripture that we could take heed to our own selves you
know the Bible says in Romans 12 for I say and for I say through the grace
given unto me to every man that is among you not to think of himself more highly
than he ought to think but to think soberly according as God had dealt
every man to measure of faith so Peter that was Peter's problem he thought a
little more highly of himself than he ought to now that's that's the thing
that we could learn from Peter's fall here now Peter's story doesn't end here
now you think well great sermon Corbin I like to see you talk to Peter when you
get to heaven he's gonna really thank you for bagging on him that's not even
any of the hope right but that's not the point I believe that God didn't use
Peter specifically chose Peter because he knew the type of man Peter was and
then he was a plain man like we are and then he was a he was a man that was
going to make the same mistakes that you and I could fall into he was he was a
man of light passions he was a man that we could fall into the same pitfalls and
snares now not only was Peter you know we saw that he was a you know he was a
he was a plain man and he was a pious man but Peter went on and he became a
very powerful prophet for God and I really don't have the time to develop
this point as much as it deserves and it warrants really a whole sermon in of
itself just the power that Peter had now we see Peter at his lowest moment but
this is a you know as they say you know it's darkest just before dawn Peter's
at his lowest moment here it was after this that Peter went on to do the
greatest works for God that he'd ever done you know that should be a great
encouragement to us if we ever do fall short if we ever do you know disappoint
God in some way that it's never over with God if we're still here on this
earth you know sucking air God's got a purpose for us you know if he hasn't
crowned us and took in us home to give us a crown as the saying goes you know
then then we still have crowns to win we can still work for God here and do great
works that's what Peter did he went on to become a very powerful prophet you
know see it was Peter that led that took the lead in acts 1 and stood up among
the disciples you know and said hey we need to find another guy to replace
Jesus it was Peter that preached and pricked the hearts of those that heard
him in acts 2 it was Peter who prayed who healed a layman in the name of Jesus
at the gate beautiful it was Peter who was filled the Holy Ghost that suffered
a beating for the name of Christ at rebuking the elders of Israel so when
they came to wrestling you know Peter was quick you know you know he he did
ended up denying Jesus but later on in his life you know he took a beating for
Jesus he wasn't afraid of their approach that would come it was Peter whose
shadow alone was sought that he might heal the sick if you recall an axe they
said that the Peter passing by it they would hope that even just a shadow would
fall upon the sick but they would be they would be healed it was Peter who
kneeled and prayed and raising Dorcas again to life presented her alive to the
Saints Peter raised somebody from the dead right that's amazing like if you
were one of you guys were to do that we went out soloing one day I believe me
I'd be I'd be impressed okay that's a special miracle don't let these
Pentecostals fool you again it was Peter who God sent an angel for to loose him
out of prison you know Peter you know Paul or God didn't just let Peter you
know rot in prison he said you know what I've still got plans for Peter I'm still
going to use Peter and send an angel to snatch him out of heaven after you know
he had a lot of himself to become you know a suffered reproach and even be
arrested for the cause of Christ and it was Peter who has two books of the New
Testament that bear his name so we could see that yeah Peter you know God looked
up with pride but Peter went on to become a very powerful prophet so the
question is how did Peter go from a fisherman you know to a man who would
lift God lived up with pride and fell to a prophet how did he go from a
fisherman to a prophet despite all these shortcomings yet what was it about Peter
what is it about this man what is it about a man of light passions such as
Peter that we can learn so that we can also you know though we were just plain
men with many of our own pitfalls that we can become mighty prophets that are
used of God as Peter was well that's my last point is that I believe Peter was
able to accomplish all these things that he was able to recover himself from that
fall and move on and do these great works because Peter was purposed Peter
was a powerful prophet because Peter was purposed you're there if you look at
Matthew chapter 14 I don't know where I had to go last but Matthew chapter 14
we're gonna see how Peter was a purposed person that's what made him go on to
become a powerful prophet is that Peter was purposed you see Peter had
accomplished great things before before you know he ended up denying Christ and
getting back to it on that you know when he walked and talked with Jesus on the
earth he accomplished many good works he did a lot of soul-winning you know
Jesus helped you help Jesus and feed the five thousand he did a lot of great
things that probably one of the more notable things that Peter did is there
in Matthew chapter 14 and verse 22 in straight way Jesus constrains his
disciples to get into a ship and go before him onto the other side while he
sent the multitudes away and we had sent the multitudes away he went up into a
mountain apart to pray when the evening was come he was there alone but the
ship was now in the midst of the sea tossed with waves for the wind was
contrary and in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went up to them walking on
the sea and when the disciples saw him walking on the sea they were troubled
saying it is a spirit and they cried out for fear but straightaway Jesus spake
unto them saying be of good cheer it is I be not afraid and Peter answered him
and said Lord if it be thou did thou me come unto thee in the water and he said
come and when Peter had was come down out of the ship he walked on the water
to go to Jesus but when he saw the wind boisterous he was afraid and beginning
to sink he cried saying Lord save me and immediately Jesus stretched forth his
hand and caught him and said to him O thou of little faith wherefore didst thou doubt
and when they saw they were coming to the ship the wind ceased you see there's
a lot of other people in that ship that night during that storm but it was only
Peter who stepped out right you know and stepped out in faith when nobody else
did I love the fact that you would kind of read over that story cuz it's so
familiar this but remember he said if it be thou and Peter wasn't even certain
that was Jesus out there they thought it was a spirit yeah he's a big good cheer
in his eye be not afraid and Peter says well well obviously it is Jesus so this
should be no problem right he says no if it be thou what if it hadn't been him
you ever think about that what if they had to be Jesus what if it had been a
spirit I was trying to see them in some way you know what would have happened
you know in a windy storm probably would have drowned right cuz he saw that he
when he doubted a moment later that he began to sink right so that really was a
huge act of faith it wasn't just that Peter saw Jesus knew for sure this is
Christ then he's got this covered there should be no problem that's probably why
nobody else stepped out because not everybody was sure that it was Jesus you
know they could obviously it was so windy and boisterous and dark they
couldn't make out who that was just saw this figure walking on the scene and it
was the figure that said hey it is I and it was Peter had a step out of faith
well it must be you know if it be thou didn't it come it was an act of little
faith from God's perspective right from God's perspective he is foul little
faith but from our humans who mainly speaking if we were in that boat Peter
what are you doing right crazy it was a it was a huge step of faith from man's
perspective now there was another time when the sea stood between Peter and
Jesus when there was up whether there was a gulf between them when there was
an ocean of water a sea a body of water that stood between them if you would
turn to John chapter 21 there was another time when the sea stood between
Peter and the Lord John 21 I'll begin reading in verse 1 after these things
Jesus showed himself again to the cycles at the Sea of Tiberius and on this why
I showed he himself they were there there were together Simon Peter and
Thomas called Artemis and Nathaniel of Canaan and Galilee the sons of Zebedee
and two of two other of his disciples Simon Peter saith unto them I go of fishing
they say unto them we also go with thee they went forth and entered into a ship
immediately and that night they caught nothing but when the morning was now
come Jesus stood on the shore the disciples knew not that it was Jesus
then Jesus saith unto them children have ye any meat they answered him no they
said unto them cast the net on the right side of the ship and ye shall find they
cast therefore and they were not able to draw it in for the multitude of fishes
therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved say excuse me saith unto Peter it is the
Lord now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord he gird on his fisher's
coat unto him for he was naked and he had cast himself into the sea and the
other disciples came in a little ship for they were not far from land but as
there were two hundred cubits dragging the net of fishes and as soon as they
were come to the land they saw a fire of coals there and fish laid thereon and
bred Jesus saith unto them bring of the fish which have now caught Simon Peter
went up and drew the net land of Simon Peter went up and drew the net up to
land full of great fishes and 150 and 3 there were and for and for all there
were so many that he the net was not broken Jesus saith unto them come and
dine and none of the disciples just asked him who art thou knowing it was the
Lord Jesus then cometh and break taketh bread and giveth them and like and fish
likewise this is now the third time that Jesus sowed himself to his disciples
after that he was risen from the dead so only a dying Jesus saith unto Simon
Peter Simon son of Jonas lovest thou me more than these he saith unto them yea Lord thou knowest that I
love thee he saith unto him feed my lambs he saith unto him again the second time
Simon son of Jonas lovest thou me he saith unto him yea Lord thou knowest that I
love thee he saith unto him feed my sheep he saith unto him the third time Simon
son of Jonas lovest thou me Peter was grieved because he said unto him that
third time lovest thou me and he said unto them Lord thou knowest all things
thou knowest that I love thee Jesus saith unto him feed my sheep verily verily I say
unto thee when thou was young thou girdest thyself and walkest whither thou
wouldest but when thou shalt be old thou shalt stretch forth thine hands and
another shall gird thee and carry thee whether thou wouldest not this fakie
signifying by the death you should glorify God and we have spoken this he
saith unto him follow me so we see here this kind of a longer passage to read
but we got to get the full context for this point and we see here that Peter's
backslidden at this point now I don't have the time to develop this but it you
know Peter was to remain in Jerusalem until the coming of the Holy Spirit and
he instead goes fishing you know he goes I think the Bible says it was a Sabbath
day's journey away to the Sea of Tiberius so he takes these other
disciples with him he was not obeying Christ's command he was he was going
a direct disobedience to what Christ had told them he was to remain Jerusalem
and then you know notice that God didn't just like you know not show up he
actually came looking for him I love the fact that even in his backslidden state
Jesus comes looking for Peter and his disciples and that's the sign of a good
Shepherd you know the Bible says in Matthew 18 12 how think he if a man
having a hundred sheep and one of them go astray did he not leave the 99 and go
into the mountains and seek it that which has gone astray and if so be that
you find it verily saying to you he rejoices more of that sheep than the 90
and the 90 that goeth not astray so it's interesting that Jesus comes looking for
him that's the sign of a good Shepherd you know and notice it says this when
Jesus came to find them this is when the morning was now come that's when Jesus
decided he didn't come in the dark of the night when they're out there fishing and
toiling all night it was at the in the morning when they caught nothing when
they were disappointed well when the morning was now come Jesus stood on the
shore Bible says the Lamentations 3 it is of the Lord's mercies that we are
not consumed because his compassion is failed night they are new every morning
so I think it's a picture of Jesus you know showing the the opportunity to get
right with God to come back to him to get back on fire for God to get back in
the will of God this morning you know it's a fresh start so to speak notice
how Peter came to Jesus when you compare it will you read in Matthew 14 see there
was no doubting who it was in John you know the count John that we just read
you know John said it unto Peter you know it is the Lord so they recognized
whereas before they said they thought it was a spirit and had to ask you know he
said you know be not afraid it is I there was no doubting who Jesus was you
know Peter asked in Matthew 14 if it be thou and become but in this one he was
told it was the Lord he said hey it's the Lord and therefore there was no
miracle needed in this instance in Matthew 14 Peter had to walk on the
water to get over to Jesus he had to step out in faith but here we he
recognizes that it's the Lord and what does it say Peter cast himself into the
sea and swam see all Peter wanted at this point in his life was just to get
right with God you just want to get back with Jesus get near to God that's the
attitude we ought to have when we find ourselves kind of drifting away from
shore so to speak when we're out there toiling all night and catching nothing
and we hear that voice of the Shepherd coming to us in the morning and saying
hey you know have you any meat kind of bringing us back to our senses you know
we shouldn't expect some miracle from God to bring us back and she just cast
ourselves in and and go full-bore we should just swim and make an effort to
get back to God all Peter wanted was to get right with God you see Jesus is
waiting for them ready to nourish them with fish and bread bibles is in James
4 do you think the scripture saith in vain the spirit that dwelleth in us lust
at the envy but he giveth more grace wherefore he saith God resisted the
proud that giveth grace unto the humble submit yourselves therefore to God resist
the devil he will free from me flee from you draw nigh to God and he will draw
night to you that chapter ends the next verse verse 10 humble yourselves in the
sight of Lord and he shall lift you up we're gonna get right with God it's
gonna take humility and we're gonna have to draw night in God just as Peter did
you know he says I'm not gonna ask Jesus to bid me come on the water I'm just
gonna cast myself in and I'm gonna humble myself and go take the review
because he got reviewed there again a general review but it was a reminder you
know and an encouragement to see Jesus had to clear the air before Peter could
go on to accomplish great things before you go out and do that great powerful
prophet that then he was verse 15 so they and when they had died Jesus saith
unto Simon Peter son and son of Jonas lovest thou me more than these he's not
referring to the fishes my opinion I don't believe he's saying you'll have us
theme out me more than these fish that I just helped you catch what he's saying
is love is themed me more than these men these other men because remember that
was Peter's big sin though all men for safety yet well not will I and he was
saying you know I love you more than the rest of these other men even though all
these other men are gonna fake forsake you not me that's why Jesus had to
clear the air with him he said love us thou me more than these men he said yeah
Lord you know Peter was done boasting and exalting himself at this point above
others Jesus tells Peter of his fate you know he tells them when you when you're
older they're gonna put forward your hands they're gonna carry you where they
wouldn't you know it's at this point that Peter after he's you know had that
fall and he's gotten right with God again but now he's ready to go out and
become a great prophet you see Peter was a pious man so we need to be saved
we're gonna accomplish anything for God that's how we are a man of let me know
where a man Peter's a man of light passions as we are because he also need
to be saved just as being if Peter was a plain man you know all the people that I
know are plain men they're just playing people that just want to love and serve
God you don't need to be anything special to be used of God and just have
to be willing by Peter was a was a was a proud man at some one point in his life
and that's a pitfall that we can all fall into along the way but despite that
Peter was a powerful prophet and the setbacks that he experienced you know
the same setbacks that we can but we could still accomplish great things for
God in spite of those setbacks why because Peter was purposed if we're
gonna get right with God and go on and serve God we have to be purposed the
Bible says at first Peter I think it's you know it's it's significant that
Peter penned these words humble yourselves therefore in the mighty hand
of God that he may exalt you in due time casting all your care upon him for
he cared for you see Peter had to learn a lesson in humility at the hand of God
in order to be used by him and later and you know the book of Acts and elsewhere
he was exalted you know in due time because he had humbled himself and how
and it was not before he had cast himself into the sea knowing that God
would care for him you know we cast ourselves you know cast our care upon
him and we come to God and knowing that he's going to care for us and restore us
to fellowship then we can go on a prophet that was used of Peter and and
that's a sermon this morning just a reminder that you know these men in the
Bible that we see these great men there are men of light passions there men
like these you and I and we can learn a lot of examples and hopefully we learn
one today from the life of Peter let's pray