PETER THE LESSON IN LEADERSHIP - Dorris Swanson

PEOPLE GOD USES- Portrait of a disciple

PETER THE LESSON IN LEADERSHIP

Matt. 10:

There are many Towns named after him. St. Petersburg, Russia; St. Peter Florida; St. Peter Mn.

The internet gives you 25 mill hits for Peter and 750,000 for St Petersburg

Many cathedrals bear his name. The most important one is in Rome. St. Peter’s

Who knows how many baby boys have been named after him.

The interesting issue to me is how many jokes there are about heaven.

There are 100's of stories and jokes about St. Peter and the Pearly gates.

It is interesting to me that I have never heard a story which connected any of the other 11 disciples as being at the pearly gates.

1. PASTORS AND LAWYERS IN HEAVEN

A couple in South California were planning to get married, but before they were able to get married, they were swallowed up by an earthquake. The next thing they knew, they were standing together in heaven. As soon as they were presented to Saint Peter for processing, they asked St. Peter if they could still get married. Peter hesitated for a moment and then answered, "Let me think about -- I'll get back to you on this."

A week passed, then a month, then six months, but still no word back from Saint Peter.

Then, after seven months of waiting, they were approached by Saint Peter with a pastor following closely behind.

"All right, you can get married now!" The couple thanked Peter for his granting of their request, but they now had a second request. Over the seven months of waiting, they felt that it would be wise to draw up a prenuptial agreement. Saint Peter was upset, and he told the couple so: "Listen IT TOOK ME SEVEN MONTHS TO FIND A PASTOR UP HERE; HOW LONG DO YOU THINK IT'S GOING TO TAKE ME TO FIND A LAWYER?" submitted by Keith H. Knauf, Pioneer Presbyterian Church, Winters, California"

2. There is the wonderful story of a group of loyal Churchwomen who were going to a religious pilgrimage by boat.

A great storm arose, capsizing the ship, and everyone on board was drowned. The group was greeted at the pearly gates by ST. PETER who said, "I'm sorry, ladies, but heaven is filled to capacity. You will have to wait below until our new wing is completed." There was a loud chorus of disappointment. Then, as the women began to murmur among themselves about the unfairness of it all, one of them said, "Let's be reasonable. Let us remember the Lord's Prayer we said so often together: 'THY WILL BE DONE!'

All our adult lives we've been trusting in God's Will. This may be the final test." So the women were ushered into hell.

Three weeks later, an angry Satan called ST. PETER and demanded that the women be taken up to Heaven.

"But we still have housing problems," Peter explained. Satan roared, "That's nothing compared to the problems they are creating down here. What with their rummage sales, bake sales and bazaars, they are only fifty dollars short of air-conditioning this place."

3. A new group of male applicants had just arrived in heaven, at the Pearly Gates. St. Peter looked them over and ordered, "All men who were HENPECKED on earth, please step to the left;

"All those who were BOSSES in their own homes, step to the right.."

The line quickly formed on the left. Only one man stepped to the right. St. Peter looked at the frail little man standing by himself and inquired, "What makes you think you belong on that side?" Without hesitation, the meek little man explained, "Because this is where my wife told me to stand."

4. A bus driver and a minister were standing in line at the Pearly gates waiting to get into heaven. The bus driver approached the gate and St. Peter said, "Welcome, I understand you were a bus driver. Since I'm in charge of housing, I believe I have found the perfect place for you. See that mansion over the hilltop? It's yours.

The minister heard all this and began to stand a little taller. He said to himself, "If a bus driver got a place like that, just think what I'll get."

The minister approached the gate and St. Peter said, "Welcome, I understand you were a minister. See that shack in the valley?"

St. Peter had hardly gotten the words out of his mouth when the irate minister said, "I was a minister, preached the gospel, I helped teach people about God. Why does that bus driver get a mansion, and I get a shack?"

Sadly St. Peter responded, "Well, it seems when YOU PREACHED, PEOPLE SLEPT.

WHEN THE BUS DRIVER DROVE, PEOPLE PRAYED."

5. A minister and a Congressman arrived at the pearly gates at the same time. St. Peter greeted both of them and assigned them to their quarters. "Pastor, here are the keys to one of our nicest efficiency units.

And for you, Mr. Congressman, the keys to our finest penthouse suite."

"Hey, what's the deal?" asked the minister. "This is unfair!"

"Listen," said Saint Peter, "ministers are a dime a dozen up here, but this is the first Congressman we've ever seen!"

6. A curious fellow died one day and found himself waiting in the long line of judgment at the pearly gates waiting for St. Peter. As he stood there he noticed that some souls were allowed to march right through the pearly gates into heaven. Others, though, were led over to Satan who threw them into the burning pit.

But every so often, instead of hurling a poor soul into the fire, Satan would toss a soul off to one side into a small pile. After watching Satan do this several times, the fellow's curiosity got the best of him.

So he strolled over and asked Satan, "Excuse me, Prince of Darkness," he said. "I'm waiting in line for judgment, but I couldn't help wondering, why are you tossing those people aside instead of flinging them into the fires of hell with the others?"

"Ah, those," Satan said with a groan. "They're all from Seattle, they're too wet to burn."

There are many of you this morning that remember back a few years ago and say, God has dramatically changed my life. You can say my friends would never believe a few years ago that I

would be involved in church and talking about Jesus Christ.

God changes people, and God uses the most unusual people.

If God could change and use the 12 disciples he can change you and use you.

This morning we are looking at the life of St. Peter.

I. PETER

1. OCCUPATION

Peter was a fisherman of Bethsaida, a name meaning "THE HOUSE OF FISH"= Peter the fisherman who lives in House of fish.

Then to make things even more interesting. His father was Jonah, He is called Simon BarJonah, meaning Simon Bar = Son of Jonah. (Not the Jonah swallowed by a whale, but named after him), and Andrew was his brother.

Both sons were fishermen on the Lake of Galilee and were in partnership with Zebedee and his two son’s James and John. Together they had a family fishing business. (Luke 5:9-10).

They took their fish to Jerusalem to the fish market where James and John had a house.

It was Peter’s brother Andrew who introduced him to Jesus. Peter became the most important of the apostles, although Andrew was the first to know Jesus and the first to be called by Jesus into service. Peter is the most mentioned apostle in the Bible.

He was a business man. The indication he ran the fishing business.

You can identify with him, running a business and trying to make a living.

I imagine that as a fisherman he could tell some real good fishing stories.

2. HE WAS NOT EDUCATED.

Simon- Peter, brother of Andrew, also studied under John the Baptist. Peter was a Jew and went to the synagogue school, (a school for boys only) where he learned Jewish law and the teachings of the prophets, Acts 3:13 tells us he was a common man. (uneducated).

Peter shared his home with his brother Andrew.

3. HE WAS THE WRITER of 2 books of the Bible. I & II Peter.

For the little education he had I Peter is considered by some Bible scholares as the finest book in the New Testament.

We know more about Peter than about any other of the twelve, and that may well be because of the very close connection between Peter and Mark. So close was the connection that when Peter wrote his own first letter, he could speak of "MARCUS MY SON" (I Pet. 5:13). Peter has the closest possible connection with Mark's gospel. Papias, who was Bishop of Hierapolis in the first half of the second century, was an eager student of how the gospels were written and compiled. He tells us how Mark's gospel came to be written:

4. PETER WAS A MARRIED MAN (I COR. 9:5).

We see a picture of Peter as a Married man and his relationship to his Mother-in-law.

Mark 1:30 gives us the clue that Peter (was married. The Bible does not giver her name but she too, loved Jesus.

J I call this to your attention because you that were raised RC most likely were never told that St. Peter the first Pope according to the RC Church was married.

She lived with him in Rome when he Pastored the church.

We have very little information concerning his wife. She was Mrs. Peter.

According to I Cor.9:5; His wife traveled with him, extensively. There is no mention of children.

Much of his later ministry was in Rome, were he founded the church.

According to one tradition His wife was crucified in Rome and Peter was forced to watch her die.

He encouraged her until he was crucified.

Mark 1:29 Tells us that Jesus and the 4 disciples left the synagogue and went to Peter's house for their Sabbath meal.

Peter's wife was home caring for her mother on Saturday. Which indicates that Peter's mother-in-law was living with them.

Not only did he have the responsibility of caring for his wife, but he also cared for his Mother-in-law.

Also his brother Andrew lived with him.

His mother-in-Law was sick and Peter brought Jesus home with him for after church dinner, of fried chicken and potatoes NO!, most likely it was fish and chips.

* There is a good example for us don't leave Jesus at the church.

Take Him home with you and let Him share your blessing and your burdens.

There is not a child or a guest in our house but will be impressed for good or evil by what we do and who we bring home.

ANDREW had taken PETER TO JESUS.

PETER BRINGS JESUS to his to meet his MOTHER-IN-LAW

After these two men were converted they did all they could to see that their relatives were converted. If you have any troubles at home or sickness at home tell Jesus.

If you have someone who is spiritually sick or unconverted in the house, you began to "tell him of her." "They tell him of her." That is a very simple type of prayer, is it not? You may have a father or mother or close relative that does not profess to Know Jesus, bring them to Jesus in prayer, He can touch the heart and raise them up.

After Peter met Jesus one of the first things he does is bring Him home to his wife and needy mother-in-law.

Tell Jesus Christ about your un-converted or sick relative or friend.

We see when Peter meets Jesus his concern for his family increases.

He is concerned about his wife.

He is concerned about his Mother-in-law.

The point Mark is making is when Jesus Called Peter to be his Disciple, he did not neglect his family shave his head and become a monk.

His relationship with Jesus made him more devoted to his family than ever before.

Peter invited Jesus to his home and his home became the headquarters when he was in Capernaum, (Mark 1:29-31; Luke 4:38-39; Matt. 8:14-15).

Let us look at Peter the man God has called.

We are so much like the disciples.

Each of us is different, in temperament, in looks, in giftedness, in talents.

Some of you may say there is no way God could ever use me, or I don't have the right gifts or abilities, I don't have any abilities that God could use.

**That is why I want you to look at each of the 12 because if our Lord could use these men he can use you.

They were all different.

As we will see the apostles were ordinary men. They had few talents. Some had little ability.

ANDREW, Peter's Brother, had but one talent, but he learned to play second fiddle to his older brother.

But he was good at bringing people to Jesus.

Judas Thaddaeus hardly opened his mouth. He just followed along.

James the less, is completely obscure, totally unknown.

But what they lacked, Peter had.

For every talent they possessed, Peter had ten. He was that kind of a man.

A. HOW DOES GOD BUILD A LEADER?

Peter is the key to understanding the answer to this question.

The Gospels are literally filled with his name.

In fact, Peter's name is mentioned in the Gospels more than any name but Jesus'.

Nobody SPEAKS as often as Peter, and nobody is SPOKEN to by the Lord as often as Peter.

Someone had to be a leader and Peter stepped into that roll.

He had always been a leader. He was born that way.

But he had a problem with his mouth.

He put his tongue in gear before he but his brain in gear. Peppermint shoes, he was always putting his foot into his mouth and speaking before thinking. Or not saying the right thing at the right time.

My guess is before he met Jesus as a tough fishermen he did a lot of cursing and swaring. Because later when he is upset and Jesus is being tried, Peter knows his life is in danger he gets upset and curses and swares that he does not know Jesus.

1. No disciple is so reproved by the Lord as Peter, and

2. No disciples reproves the Lord but Peter.

3. No disciple ever so boldly confessed and outspokenly acknowledged the Lordship of Christ as Peter.

4. No one denied it as boldly as Peter.

5. No one is so praised and so blessed as Peter, and

6. No one else is called BUT PETER.

The Lord had harder things to say to Peter than He ever said to anybody else, but that was part of making him the man He wanted him to be.

I. THE RIGHT RAW MATERIAL

The Lord recognized in Peter the right raw material for leadership. Peter was the leader before anybody ever acknowledged it. He just took over...that's the way he was. He had the raw material for leadership. What is the raw material looked for in leaders?

He didn't know what he was doing but he would do something and others would follow.

I have been told that on the desk of Mr. Ted Turner, the owner of the Atlanta Braves

Baseball team, there is this plaque with these words: "Lead--Follow--or Get out of the way."

He is the FIRST TO SPEAK , the FIRST TO ACT

1. First to JUMP INTO THE LAKE.

He is IMPULSIVE, IMPETUOUS, TEMPESTUOUS, TALENTED, ENTHUSIASTIC, EXTREME, and EXTROVERT

My guess he drove other people up the wall, because Peter didn't ask anyone's opinion he just took over and said follow me!

Jesus saved this man and used his abilities for the Glory of God and His kingdom.

A. INQUISITIVENESS

The first thing to look for in a leader is whether or not he asks questions.

People who don't ask questions don't wind up as leaders because they're not concerned about problems and solutions.

Non-leaders have all the answers, but don’t ask questions.

If you want to find a leader, look for someone who asks questions.

In the Gospel records, Peter asks more questions than all the other Apostles combined.

For example:

1. It was Peter who asked the meaning of a difficult sayings (Matt 15:15: Luke 12:41).

2. It was Peter who asked HOW OFTEN he had to FORGIVE (Matt 18:21).

3. It was Peter who asked about the REWARD of those who had left all to follow Jesus (Matt 19:27)

4. It was Peter who asked about the FIG TREE which had withered away (MK 11:21)

5. It was Peter who asked the MEANING of things which Jesus had said about the approaching end (Mk 13:3)

It was Peter who asked questions of the CHRIST (John 21:20-22).

Peter was always asking questions, but that's the raw material leadership is made of.

B. INITIATIVE

The second element of leadership is that it takes INITIATIVE

Peter not only asked all the questions, but he was always the one to ANSWER any questions posed by Christ. For example:

It was Peter who answered when Jesus asked

WHO HAD TOUCHED HIM in the crowd (Luke 8:45),

It was Peter who answered Jesus' question to the disciples, "

BUT WHO SAY YE THAT I AM? (Matt. 16:15-16),

Peter was always replying...always taking the iniative.

C. INVOLVEMENT

The third element comprising the raw material of leadership is involvement.

Leaders are always right in the middle of where the action is.

They go through life with a cloud of dust around them.

For example: Who out of all the disciples, jumped out of a boat and

WALKED ON WATER? Peter (Matt.14:29)

Now people always look at this incident and criticize Peter's lack of faith.

Well, Peter did sink because of his lack of faith, but the rest of the disciples never even got out of the boat!

They didn't make any effort to move off their boat seats. They did not step out of their comfort zone to meet Jesus.

Before you criticize Peter, remember where he was when he began to sink!

People look at Peter's life and say, "PETER DENIED THE LORD."

That's true; but he was confronted with that because he was the only one who had enough courage to follow Jesus all the way to the house of the High Priest...the other disciples had fled. Peter was always in the middle of the action, even when his life was in danger.

When the resurrection came, who were the first disciples at the tomb?

PETER AND JOHN.

When John arrived, slightly before Peter, because he was younger and could run faster he stooped down and looked in; but Peter just rushed right in and pushed John aside. He was always in the middle of everything.

Many times he got into trouble because of taking the initiative.

He most likely was the one who acted as the leader. He went deepest into the caves, swam farthest in the Sea of Galilee, and climbed the highest mountain first.

He had to catch the biggest or the most fish. My guess he could always tell the biggest fish story.

He is IMPULSIVE AND IMPESTIOUS, TEMPESTUOUS AND TALENTED, ENTHUSIASTIC, EXTREME, AND EXTROVERT.

So I think the Lord saw in Peter the right raw material for leadership; Inquisitiveness, initiative, and involvement.

How did the Lord take a guy with this kind of raw material and make him into a leader?

JESUS RECOGNIZED HIS RAW MATERIAL.

2nd. He brought into his life.

Despite all his gifts, Peter was a humble man. With all his brash bravado, he was sensitive, penetrative. He had a tender conscience. He knew his own heart!

This is what makes him great. He knew his inadequacy; he knew himself.

Peter and his crew had been fishing all night. They had caught nothing. They came in tired.

Jesus stood by the Sea of Galilee and said to Simon:

"PUT OUT INTO THE DEEP WATER AND LET DOWN YOUR NETS FOR A CATCH"

(Luke 5:4-10). Of course HE OBJECTED, Babe Wilkeman couldn't catch fish here!

"MASTER, WE WERE HARD AT WORK ALL NIGHT AND CAUGHT NOTHING AT ALL: [AND THEN HE SIGHED AND CHANGED HIS MIND] BUT IF YOU SAY SO, I WILL LET DOWN THE NETS."

How do you respond to the Lord's words to you. Do you first object? Then do you obey?

Out they went, after the night of failure, and what a catch! The fish filed the net so that it broke!

** Peter wanted to be head. Through fishing lessons he learns to make Jesus head of his business and head of his life and head of his church.

Now Andrew was not impenitent, and John was deeply sensitive. But Peter, seeing the miracle, comes off the boat running, falls on his knees at Jesus' feet, and cries out: "GO, LORD LEAVE ME, SINNER THAT I AM!"

He can't bear it. That impulsive, sudden penitence-that humility, that tender conscience marks Peter as the captain of the new fishing fleet, as the leader of the twelve:

DO NOT BE AFRAID...FROM NOW ON YOU WILL BE CATCHING MEN."

So it was all through his life-genuine humility. The Lord could reach Peter: He gives grace only to the humble. The difference between Peter and Judas is just that: both denied Jesus: but Peter has the humility that will save him from despair. Judas has no humility, which leads to his downfall.

II. THE RIGHT EXPERIENCES

We learn most effectively from or experiences, so the Lord allowed Peter to have some real life-changing experiences.

The story is told of a young man who asked an older business man what was the key to his success?

The Old man said: Right decisions!

How do you make Right decisions?

The Old man said: Wrong decisions!

A. HIS GREAT REVELATION

In John 6. Jesus had presented a tremendous message on Himself as the bread of life, and some people couldn't understand it all. So, according to verse 66,

'FROM THAT TIME MANY OF HIS DISCIPLES WENT BACK, AND WALKED NO MORE WITH HIM.'

Then verse 67 continues: 'THEN JESUS SAID TO THE 12, WILL YOU ALSO GO AWAY?

THEN SIMON PETER ANSWERED HIM, LORD TO WHOM SHALL WE GO?

YOU ALONE HAVE THE WORDS OF ETERNAL LIFE.

AND WE BELIEVE AND ARE SURE THAT YOU ARE THE CHRIST, THE SON OF THE LIVING GOD."

I think when Peter said that, he grabbed his mouth and said, "WHERE DID THAT COME FROM?"

That was some statement I just made.

In fact, I believe it was a revelation from God. I believe he stated to open his mouth and God talked right through him.

Peter had the same kind of revelatory experience again in Matt 16:15-16.

Jesus asked the disciples in verse 15, 'BUT WHO DO YOU SAY THAT I AM?

And immediately in verse 16 Peter answered, 'THOU ART THE CHRIST, THE SON OF THE LIVING GOD.

What a tremendous statement! In fact, Jesus confirmed that Peter's statement was a revelation from God in verse 17; "AND JESUS ANSWERED AND SAID UNTO HIM. BLESSED ART THOU SIMON BARJONA; FOR FLESH AND BLOOD HATH NOT REVEALED IT UNTO THEE, BUT MY FATHER, WHO IS IN HEAVEN."

Jesus was transforming Peter by letting him know that God wanted to use his mouth-that God could speak through him.

God gave him the experience of revelation because one day he was going to stand up on the day of Pentecost and preach the revelation of God.

And one day, he was going to take a pen and write the revelation of God, I & II PETER. Jesus prepared him with a revelatory experience, giving him the sense that God was moving and was there.

But notice in 5 verse, Our Lord has to teach him a lesson and rebuke him, because Satan is not using his mouth.

If you can learn this important lesson. You have to watch what you say & I have to watch what I say, because, at one minute I can speak as Peter the very words God wants me to speak, that reveal the truth of who Jesus Christ is.

But not 5 minutes later I can be used to speak the words of Satan that stop the work of God.

B. HIS GREAT REWARD

The Lord gave Peter a tremendous reward, or promise In Matt 16:18-19.

After Peter's confession of Christ in verse 16, Jesus said "

I SAY ALSO UNTO YOU THAT YOU ART PETER [GREEK PETROS= STONE] AND UPON THIS ROCK [GREEK. PETRA=BEDROCK' OR 'MASSIVE STONE;

THE ROCK OF HIS CONFESSION] I WILL BUILD MY CHURCH, AND THE GATES OF HADES SHALL NOT PREVAIL AGAINST IT. AND I WILL GIVE UNTO THEE THE KEYS OF THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN..."

There is humor here. Peter you are a little stone, a rolling stone, but I will make your confession the foundation of the church.

Jesus uses a play on words. It is interesting that the whole issue over the Primacy of the Pope is over the issue of a play on words.

You say, "In what way did Peter unlock the kingdom of heaven? "Well, who preached the first great apostolic sermon? Peter did on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:14-40)

To whom did he preach it? The Jews.

Which Apostle led the first Gentile to Christ? Peter led Cornelius to Christ in acts 10.

Peter unlocked the door to the kingdom of heaven to the Jews and to the Gentiles.

C. HIS GREAT REMISSION

We can identify with Peter because of his Great Remission.

In Matt. 16:21 Peter was really feeling his oats. In verse 16 he had been given a revelation, and in verse 19 he was given the keys to the kingdom of heaven. he was really feeling like a leader. Verse 21 says, 'FROM THAT TIME FORTH BEGAN JESUS TO SHOW UNTO HIS DISCIPLES HOW HE MUST GO UNTO JERUSALEM, AND SUFFER MANY THINGS FROM THE ELDERS AND CHIEF PRIESTS AND SCRIBES, AND BE KILLED, AND BE RAISED AGAIN THE THIRD DAY."

Jesus tells His disciples that He's going to suffer and die-but watch Peter's reaction in verse 22:

"THEN PETER TOOK HIM, AND BEGAN TO REBUKE HIM..."

Peter took the Lord, the Creator of the universe, and said, "COME WITH ME.

I'VE GOT TO STRAIGHTEN YOU OUT."

This guy was unbelievable! He got a little taste of power and he really started feeling his oats. The danger was, he didn't know where his limits were.

Well, he took the Lord and began rebuking him, saying, "BE IT FAR FROM THEE, LORD; THIS SHALL NOT BE UNTO THEE."

In other words, "As long as I'm in charge, nothing's going to happen to You. I'll promise You that." the Lord's reply to Peter is in verse 23 '

BUT HE TURNED AND SAID UNTO PETER, GET THEE BEHIND ME, SATAN. THOU ART AN OFFENSE UNTO ME; FOR THOU SAVOREST NOT THE THINGS THAT ARE OF GOD, BUT THOSE THAT ARE OF MEN."

In other words, "Peter, you don't know the plan of God you're only thinking from the human viewpoint."

In Verse 16. Peter's mouth had been used for good; but here in verse 22 it was used for Satan. He was doing exactly what Satan had done during Christ's temptation trying to derail Him from going to the cross.

Peter was just as available to the devil as he was to God; and this is a great lesson for a leader to learn. The greater potential a person has to be used by God, the greater potential he has to be used by Satan.

D. HIS GREAT REJECTION

In Matt 26: 31 The Lord gave a prophecy regarding the shepherd being smitten and the sheep scattered. This referred to His disciples leaving Him and running away. However, in verse 33, Peter speaks up and says, 'THOUGH ALL MEN SHALL BE OFFENDED BECAUSE OF THEE, YET WILL I NEVER BE OFFENDED."

In other words, "I"m not like all men. I'm a cut above the rest. They may all forsake You, but I'll never do that."

Verse 34-35 continues: "JESUS SAID UNTO HIM, VERILY I SAY UNTO THEE THAT THIS NIGHT, BEFORE THE CROCK CROWS, THOU SHALT DENY ME THEE TIMES.

PETER SAID UNTO HIM, THOUGH I SHOULD DIE WITH THEE, YET WILL I NOT DENY THEE. LIKEWISE ALSO SAID ALL THE DISCIPLES."

Peter had great confidence..but he rejected and denied Jesus.

Look at chapter 26:69-75

"NOW PETER SAT OUTSIDE IN THE COURT, AND A MAID CAME UNTO HIM, SAYING, THOU ALSO WAST WITH JESUS OF GALILEE. BUT HE DENIED IT BEFORE THEM ALL, SAYING I KNOW NOT WHAT THOU SAYEST. AND WHEN HE WAS GONE OUT INTO THE PORCH, ANOTHER MAID SAW HIM, AND SAID UNTO THEM THAT WERE THERE, THIS FELLOW WAS ALSO WITH JESUS OF NAZARETH. AND AGAIN HE DENIED WITH AN OATH, I DO NOT KNOW THE MAN. AND AFTER A WHILE CAME UNTO HIM THEY THAT STOOD BY, AND SAID TO PETER, SURELY THOU ALSO ART ONE OF THEM; FOR THEY SPEECH BETRAYED THEE. THEN BEGAN HE TO CURSE AND TO SWEAR, SAYING, I KNOW NOT THE MAN. AND IMMEDIATELY THE COCK CROWED. AND PETER REMEMBERED THE WORDS OF JESUS, WHO SAID UNTO HIM BEFORE THE CROCK CROWS, THOU SHOULD DENY ME THRICE. AND HE WENT OUT, AND WEPT BITTERLY."

That was quite a lesson!

E. HIS GREAT RECOMMISSIONG

Have you failed?

Have you had that experience of denying the Lord.

Or when the conversation came up you knew you should speak up but you didn't.

Take heart!

Peter's greatest fault was his three time denial of the Lord found in Luke 22:31-34

In John 21, Peter had gone fishing in disobedience to the Lord's call for him to preach..but the lord didn't let him catch any fish. When Peter came to shore, Jesus gave him an experience he would never forget-He confronted his lack of love:

"SO WHEN THEY HAD DINED, JESUS SAID TO SIMON PETER, SIMON SON OF JONAH, LOVEST THOU ME MORE THAN THESE? HE SAITH UNTO HIM, YEA, LORD; THOU KNOWEST THAT I LOVE THEE.

** JESUS SAID UNTO HIM, FEED MY LAMBS.

HE SAID TO HIM AGAIN THE SECOND TIME. SIMON, SON OF JONAH, LOVEST THOU ME?

PETER SAID UNTO HIM, YES, LORD; YOU KNOW THAT I LOVE YOU.

** JESUS SAID UNTO HIM, FEED MY SHEEP.

JESUS SAITH UNTO PETER THE THIRD TIME, SIMON SON OF JONAH, LOVEST THOU ME?

PETER SAID UNTO HIM, LORD, YOU KNOWALL THINGS; YOU KNOW THAT I LOVE THEE.

** JESUS SAITH UNTO HIM FEED MY SHEEP"

(VV15-17)

Then at the end of verse 19 Jesus said to Peter, 'FOLLOW ME."

This was Peter's recommissing.

F. HIS GREAT REALIZATION

Peter finally became the man God wanted him to be: and the experiences were part of making him

into that man.

It was Peter who:

1. Made the first move to choose another apostle to replace the traitor Judas (Acts 1:15).

2. Was the spokesman of the Church on the day of Pentecost and who preached the first Christian sermon (Acts 2: 14)

3. With John, healed the lame man at the Beautiful Gate of the Temple (Acts 3: 1-11).

4. It was Peter who defied the Sanhedrin, when he and John were arrested for preaching Christ (Acts 4:1-22, 5: 26-32).

5. It was Peter who went to Samaria when the gospel was first preached there, and who dealt with the deceit of Simon Magus (Acts 8:12-25).

6. It was Peter who dealt grimly with the duplicity of Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:1-11).

7. It was Peter who healed Aeneas and Dorcas (Acts 9:32-43).

8. The greatest step that Peter ever took was the reception of the gentile Cornelius into the fellowship of the Christian Church (Acts 10). The Jews were the chosen people, they despised the gentiles; they could not have dreamed that the offer of God was made to the gentiles.

9. It was Peter who realized the universal reach of the gospel of Jesus Christ and at the Council of Jerusalem it was Peter who was instrumental in opening the door of the Church to the gentiles (Acts 15:7-11). It was through Peter's action in the case of Cornelius that the Church experienced the great realization that "GOD ALSO TO THE GENTILES GRANTED REPENTANCE UNTO LIFE'S (ACTS 11: 18).

III. THE RIGHT LESSONS

What are the lessons a leader needs to learn?

A. SUBMISSION

Leaders tend to be confident, outgoing, overt, eager, and aggressive.

The first lesson a leader needs to learn is submission.

Peter learned his lesson. In I Peter 2:13-18 he wrote: "SUBMIT YOURSELVES TO

EVERY ORDINANCE OF MAN FOR THE LORD'S SAKE,...

B. RESTRAINT

We need to learn like Peter restraint.

The Lord had to put a bit in his mouth and teach him restraint because he was so unrestrained. In John 18 when the soldiers came to arrest Jesus. Peter grabbed a sword and decided that he would single-handedly defeat 500 soldiers. He struck the first person trying to the guy's head off but only cut off his ear. The Lord reached over and gave the man a new ear and told Peter to put the sword away.

C. HUMILITY

We need to learn like Peter Humility.

Peter told the Lord he would never forsake him or deny Him...but he did. He learned his lesson because he wrote these words in I Peter 5:5 "...

FOR GOD RESISTETH THE PROUD,

AND GIVETH GRACE TO THE HUMBLE."

D. SACRIFICE

We need to learn like Peter to sacrifice.

In John 21:18-19 Jesus told Peter he was going to die as a martyr and Peter said, But what about John? Does he get off the hook?'

The Lord said to Peter, "That none of your business. You follow Me!

Peter learned his lesson because he wrote: "IF YE BE REPROACHED FOR THE NAME OF CHRIST, HAPPY ARE YOU.

E. LOVE

We need to learn like Peter to love people rather than run people.

F. COURAGE

We need to learn like Peter to have courage.

After the death of Jesus Peter was in hiding with the rest of the men.

After Pentecost in Acts 4 Peter stand before the Sanhedrin who had ordered him "not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus v18

But He stands up and preaches.

IN the next chapter they are again told by the Court not to preach.

Again He ways "we ought to obey God rather than men." v 29

CONCLUSION

How is the Lord calling you?

1. Will You Like Peter Submit to Christ?

2. Will you like Peter humble yourself before Christ?

3. Will you like Peter SACRIFICE your job, your life if Christ asks?

4. Will you like Peter LOVE other people

5. Will you like Peter show COURAGE and speak up for Christ

PETER THE LESSON IN LEADERSHIP - John MacArthur

PEOPLE GOD USES

MATTHEW 10 & MARK 1:29-

I. SIMON PETER

1. OCCUPATION Bethsaida = THE HOUSE OF FISH father = Jonah

2. HE WAS NOT EDUCATED.

3. HE WAS THE WRITER

4. PETER WAS A MARRIED MAN (I COR. 9:5).

HOW DOES GOD BUILD A LEADER?

I. THE RIGHT RAW MATERIAL

A. INQUISITIVENESS

B. INITIATIVE

C. INVOLVEMENT

II. THE RIGHT EXPERIENCES

A. HIS GREAT REVELATION

B. HIS GREAT REWARD

C. HIS GREAT REMISSION

D. HIS GREAT REJECTION

E. HIS GREAT RECOMMISSIONING

F. HIS GREAT REALIZATION

III. THE RIGHT LESSONS

A. SUBMISSION

B. RESTRAINT

C. HUMILITY

D. SACRIFICE

E. LOVE

F. COURAGE

CONCLUSION

How is the Lord calling you?

1. Will You Like Peter Submit to Christ?

2. Will you like Peter humble yourself before Christ?

3. Will you like Peter SACRIFICE your job, your life if Christ asks?

4. Will you like Peter LOVE other people

5. Will you like Peter show COURAGE and speak up for Christ

PETER Powerpoint

VANITY For man),, many years the largest church building in the world was St. Peter's Cathedral in Rome. But a few years ago, the then-president of the Ivory Coast built a larger basilica. It seats

7,000 people although Sunday attendance is seldom more than 200 and often as few as 50. The reason that there are so few worshipers is the location of the building. He built it in his home town of Yamoussoukro miles away from anywhere. Many church buildings have on the cornerstone "Erected to the glory of God." One suspects that such a legend would hardly fit this church, obviously built for the glory of man. Pride is such a subtle sin, and such a pervasive sin. It was the

first sin and it remains one of the most dangerous. We must be constantly on guard against it. Preaching Vol. 12, No. 2+"

THE TWELVE MATT 10:40

The Man Who Became a Rock

Scanned from Barkley's book

IN EVERY LIST OF THE TWELVE IT IS PETER who is named first.

Peter is the name by which we know best this leader of the apostolic band, but in the New Testament he has three other names as well.

1. When he first appears on the scene he is called SIMON (Mark 1:16; John 1:40, 41).

That was, so to speak, his own name.

Matthew calls him Simon who was called Peter (Matt. 4: 18; 10:2). And Simon he remained to the end of the day. There are two kinds of occasions on which Peter is called Simon.

1. He is called Simon on what we might call domestic occasions. Mark and Luke speak of Simon's house and of Simon's wife's mother (Mark 1:29, 30; Luke 4:38). Luke speaks about Simon's fishing boat and Simon's partners in the fishing (Luke 5:3, 10). When Cornelius is directed to Peter it is Simon for whom he is told to inquire (Acts 10:5, 18; 11:13).

2. He is called Simon in the great and intimate moments of his relationship with Jesus. Jesus calls him Simon when he bids him to launch out into the deep (Luke 5:4); in his great commendation at Caesarea Philippi (Matt. 16:17); in his warning that his loyalty would not stand the test (Luke 22:31); in the Garden of Gethsemane when Peter was overpowered by sleep (Mark 14:37). Simon was the name which came most quickly to the lips of those who knew Peter best of all.

2. Twice in the New Testament he is called by the name Simeon. He is so called by James (Acts15:14), and at the beginning of the second letter which goes by his name (II Pet. 1:1). Simeon is the original HEBREW form of his name; and SIMON IS A GENTILE modification of Simeon. It was in the church at Jerusalem that Peter was called Simeon, and it was natural that in that church the original Hebrew form of his name should be used.

3. How then did Simon become Peter?

It was Jesus himself who gave Simon his new name (Mark 3: 16; Luke 6: 14).

It is in John that we have the fullest account of the renaming of Simon.

When Andrew brought his brother Simon to Jesus, Jesus said: "THOU ART SIMON THE SON OF JONA: THOU SHALT BE CALLED CEPHAS, WHICH IS BY INTERPRETATION, A STONE" (John 1:42).

CEPHAS are different forms of the same name. And there is a most interesting point here.

Jona means a dove, and CEPHAS mean a rock. So what Jesus is saying to Peter is: "UP UNTIL NOW YOU HAVE BEEN LIKE A FLUTTERING, TIMOROUS DOVE BUT IF YOU TAKE ME AS MASTER, AND IF YOU GIVE YOUR LIFE TO ME, I WILL MAKE YOU A ROCK."

In the new name he gave to him, Jesus put all his hopes and purposes for Peter's future. In speaking of Peter the gospel writers very frequently put his old and new names together and call him Simon Peter (Matt. 16:16; Luke 5:8). This is indeed the commonest way in which Peter is referred to in John (1:40; 6:68; 13:6, 24, 36; 18:10, 15, 25; 20:6; 21:2, 3, 7, 11, 15, 16, 17).

4. We have already said that Peter and Cephas are the same name.

Peter is the Hebrew name, CEPHAS is the ARAMAIC for a rock.

In the ancient world nearly everyone spoke Greek, as well as his own native language. The result was that most people had two names; one was the Greek name by which he was known in business and in the world, the other was the name by which he was known in private and to his own friends.

THOMAS is called DIDYMUS, and THOMAS is the ARAMAIC DIDYMUS for a twin.

TABITHA is called DORCAS, for TABITHA is the ARAMAIC DORCAS for a gazelle.

In the Highlands of Scotland to this day is the GAELIC HAMISH.

Whenever Paul speaks of Peter, he calls him Cephas (I Cor. 1:12; 3:22; 9:5; 15:5; Gal. 2:9).

Peter was particularly the apostle to the Jews, and Paul calls him naturally by his Jewish name (Gal. 2:9).

We know more about Peter than about any other of the twelve, and that may well be because of the very close connection between Peter and Mark. So close was the connection that when Peter wrote his own first letter, he could speak of "MARCUS MY SON" (I Pet. 5:13). Peter has the closest possible connection with Mark's gospel. Papias, who was Bishop of Hierapolis in the first half of the second century, was an eager student of how the gospels were written and compiled. He tells us how Mark's gospel came to be written:

Mark, having become the interpreter of Peter, wrote down accurately everything that he remembered, without however recording in order what was said or done by Christ. For neither did he hear the Lord speak, nor did he follow Him, but after wards, as I have said, he followed Peter, who adapted his instruction to the needs of his hearers, but had no design of giving a connected account of the Lord's oracles. So then Mark made no mistake while he thus wrote some things down as he remembered them, for he made it his one care not to omit anything that he had heard, or to set down any false statement therein.

From this information we can see that Mark's gospel is nothing other than the preaching material of Peter. It must always stand to the honor of Peter that he kept nothing back. He tells of his own mistakes, of the rebukes he sometimes received from his Master, of his own terrible disloyalty. Peter concealed nothing, for he wished to show the lengths to which the forgiving love and the recreating grace of Christ had gone for him.

I. HE WAS A HARD WORKING MAN.

He was a business man, and it was from the boats and the nets that Jesus called him (Mark 1:16-17). Most likely he was an employee and may have worked with James and John.

We don’t know if they were in competition or worked together. But all three were fisherman.

II. HE WAS A MARRIED MAN

(I Cor. 9:5). The first pope was married!

It is interesting how many people never think of the fact that Peter was married. They know the R.C. church claims that he was the first pope.

They know he brought Jesus into his home and Jesus heals his mother in Law.

Most likely Peter's house was Jesus' headquarters when he was in Capernaum, for it was there Jesus went when he came out of the synagogue. (Mark 1:29-31; Luke 4:38-39; Matt. 8:14-15).

We don’t know but most likely Peter’s wife and his Mother-in-law ministered to Jesus and the disciples when they were in the Area of Galilee. They did the cooking, and washing of the disciples clothes as they traveled around.

III. HE WAS FROM GALALEE

Peter was a Galilean, and a typical Galilean. Josephus was for a time governor of Galilee and he knew the Galileans well. He says of them: "They were ever fond of innovations, and by nature disposed to changes, and delighted in seditions.... They were ever ready to follow a leader and to begin an insurrection." He goes on to say that they were notoriously quick in temper and given to quarreling, but that withal they were the most chivalrous of men. "The Galilaean’s have never been destitute of courage" (Josephus, Life, 17; Wars of the Jews, 3,3,2).

The Talmud says of the Galileans: "They were ever more anxious for honour than for gain." Quick tempered, impulsive, emotional, easily roused by an appeal to adventure, loyal to the end Peter was a typical man of Galilee.

It was not long before Peter reached the leading place among the twelve. Matthew begins his list of the twelve with the words, "THE FIRST, SIMON" (Matt. 10:2). The word for first is protos. Protos means first, but it also means chief; and it may well be that Matthew is not merely setting Peter's name first in the list, but that he is saying that Peter was the leader of the apostolic band.

Within the twelve there emerged an inner circle of three who were specially close to Jesus Peter, James, and John. They were with Jesus at the raising of Jairus' daughter (Mark 5:37; Luke 8:51); on the Mount of Transfiguration (Matt. 17:1; Mark 9:2; Luke 9:28); in the Garden of Gethsemane (Matt. 26:40; Mark 14:37). It was Peter and John who were sent on ahead to prepare for the last Passover in Jerusalem (Luke 22:8).

In the gospel records Peter stands out as the spokesman of the twelve.

1. It was Peter who asked the meaning of a difficult saying (Matt.15: 15; Luke 12:41).

2. It was Peter who asked how often he must forgive (Matt. 18:21),

3. It was Peter who asked what was to be the reward of those who had left all to follow Jesus (Matt. 19:27).

4. It was Peter who asked about the fig tree which had withered away (Mark 11:21),

5. It was Peter who and about the meaning of the things which Jesus had said about the approaching end (Mark 13:3).

6. It was to Peter the Jews came to ask if Jesus paid his taxes (Matt. 17:24).

7. It was Peter who answered when Jesus asked who had touched him in the crowd (Luke 8:45).

8. It was Peter who asked questions of the risen Christ (John 21:20-22).

When we study the life of Peter from our New Testament sources we can pick out certain great things in it.

1. There is the great discovery. That discovery has left its mark both in the Synoptic Gospels and in the Fourth Gospel. The Fourth Gospel tells how, when Jesus had fed the five thousand, there was a strong movement there and then to make him king, and that he refused to have anything to do with it (John 6: 1-15). The result was that many in disappointment ceased to follow him. Jesus asked his chosen men if they too were going to desert him, and there upon Peter made his great declaration and his great discovery: "LORD, TO WHOM SHALL WE GO?

THOU HAST THE WORDS OF ETERNAL LIFE.

AND WE BELIEVE AND ART SURE THAT THOU ART THE CHRIST, THE SON OF THE LIVING GOD" (JOHN 6:66-69).

The incident in the Synoptic Gospels is even more vivid and dramatic. For Jesus the time was drawing to a close, and the forces of the opposition were closing in upon him. It was essential that he should know if there was anyone who even dimly realized who he was. He took his disciples away to the North to Caesarea Philippi for a time of rest and intimate fellowship and teaching. Then he put the question: "WHAT ARE MEN SAYING ABOUT ME?"

They told him that some said that he was

John the Baptist, some that he was Elijah, some that he was Jeremiah, some that he was one of the prophets. It may have been great, but it was not great enough. So Jesus put the direct question:

"WHO DO YOU SAY I AM?"

It was Peter who answered: "

THOU ART THE CHRIST, THE SON

OF THE LIVING GOD" (MATT. 16:13-16; Mark 8:27-29; Luke 9:18-20).

Even if there was nothing else to be said of Peter,

HE MUST ALWAYS REMAIN THE MAN WHO WAS THE FIRST TO

DECLARE WHO JESUS OF NAZARETH WAS.

2. There followed the great promise. It was then that Jesus said to Peter:

"THOU ART PETER, AND UPON THIS ROCK I WILL BUILD MY CHURCH" (MATT. 16:18).

Surely the meaning of that promise is quite simple. Because Peter was the first man to discover who Jesus was, because Peter was the first man to make the confession of faith, which has been the confession of every man who ever entered the Church, Peter was quite literally the first member of Christ's Church upon earth, and Peter was, therefore, the foundation stone of the Church. It must have been this very saying of which Peter was thinking when he described his fellow Christians as " LIVELY STONES. BUILT UP A SPIRITUAL HOUSE" (I PET. 2:5). Every Christian is a living stone in the edifice of the Church of Christ, and Peter was the first and foundation stone of all.

3. There followed the great rebuke. No sooner had Peter made his great confession than Jesus foretold his own coming and inevitable death (Matt. 16:21; Mark 8:31, Luke 9:22). Peter was shocked and horrified and protested that these things must never be; and Jesus' answer to Peter's protest was, "GET THEE BEHIND ME, SATAN" (Matt: 16:22-23; Mark 8:32-33).

A rebuke so shattering demands explanation. Let us try to understand it by looking at the matter, first, from Peter's, and, then, from Jesus' point of view.

Peter's horrified reaction to Jesus' foretelling of his imminent death came from two causes.

a. It came from love. Peter loved Jesus with all the devotion of his passionate heart. It was unbearable for him to think that Jesus was to end so soon upon a cross.

b. It came from the fact that this announcement of Jesus ran counter to everything that Peter had ever been taught, or knew, or believed. As Matthew has it, Jesus' question was: "Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?" (16:13). Nothing can be more certain than that Jesus habitually used the title Son of man of himself (cf. Luke 7:34; 9:58; 19:10; Mark 10:45). This title was not invented by Jesus. Between the Testaments one of the most influential and popular books was the Book of Enoch. In that book the Son of man is a preexistent, celestial, supramundane figure waiting in the heavenly places to be unleased to fulfill God's purposes in the world and among men.

This Son of man whom thou hast seen will arouse the kings and mighty ones from their couches and the strong from their thrones, and will loosen the reins of the strong and grind to powder the teeth of sinners. And he will put down the kings from their thrones and kingdoms because they do not extol and praise him, nor thankfully acknowledge whence the kingdom was bestowed upon them.

And he will put down the countenance of the strong and shame will cover them: darkness will be their dwelling place and worms their bed, and they will have no hope of rising from their beds because they do not extol the name of the Lord of Spirit. (46:2-5; cf. 48:2-10.)

All his life Peter had been brought up to think of the Son of man as a celestial figure, clad in power and glory, dealing out death and destruction to his enemies. Now Jesus was connecting the Son of man with a cross. Peter's mind was completely incapable of making such a connection.

Peter's reaction to Jesus' foretelling of his sufferings and death was so violent because his love made such a thought unbearable, and the whole background of his thought made it incredible.

Now let us turn to the violence of Jesus' reaction "GET THEE BEHIND ME, SATAN,"

Jesus said to Peter (Matt. 16:23). The reason for the steruness of Jesus' rebuke was that Peter was presenting him again with the very same temptations as those with which the devil had faced him in the wilderness at the beginning of his ministry (Matt. 4:1-11, Luke 4:1-13).

Give them bread that was the temptation to bid for men's loyalty by the offer of material blessings. Leap off the Temple pinnacle that was the temptation to dazzle men's eyes with sensations. Fall down and worship me that was the temptation to compromise with the world's ways. Jesus had been tempted to take the way of power and glory and had deliberately rejected it for the way of the Cross and in that moment at Caesarea Philippi Peter, out of love, was confronting him with the same temptation again.

4. An even blacker time was to come for Peter, for there was to come the night of the great denial. In the Upper Room Peter had affirmed unbreakable loyalty to Jesus (Matt. 26:31-35). In the garden Peter had drawn his sword and had prepared to sell his life dearly for his Master (John 18:10-11). But in the courtyard of the high priest's house Peter's Galilean accent betrayed him, and, when he was challenged with his association with Jesus, he denied that he had ever known him (Mark 14:66-72; Matt. 26:69-75 Luke 22:54-62; John 18:15-27). But certain things must be noted. It is easy to condemn Peter, but the fact is that Peter was in the courtyard of the high priest's house when the Other disciples had melted terror stricken into shadows and fled (Matt. 26:56; Mark 14:50). Peter's failure was the kind of failure that could have happened only to a BRAVE MAN.

He alone was in a position to fail; the others had fled long ago. Again, it must always be remembered that this tragic story of Peter's denial must go back to none other than Peter himself. If Mark consists of the preaching material of Peter, then ONE OF PETER'S FAVORITE SERMONS MUST HAVE BEEN ON HOW HE HAD FAILED AND HOW CHRIST HAD FORGIVEN.

5. The New Testament history of Peter does not end there; it goes on to the great commission. It is clear from the gospel story that Peter, after the death of Jesus, had rejoined the other disciples; and that in itself was an act of supreme moral courage, because they must have known well how he had denied their common Lord. It was Peter who was the first to enter the tomb and to find it empty (John 20:6). It was to Peter that Jesus sent a special message (Mark 16:7) and made a special appearance (I Cor. 15:5). No man will ever know what happened when Peter met his risen Lord, but Peter must have found "THE FORGIVENESS BEYOND REASON WHICH CAN MEET THE SIN BEYOND EXCUSE."

Then by the lakeside there came the day when Peter was given the commission to be the shepherd of the flock of Christ (John 21: 15-17).

6. Not even yet is the story of Peter ended. There was still to come the great realization. It is clear in the early chapters of Acts that PETER HAD BECOME THE LEADER OF THE CHURCH