Peter as Purifyer (Post 16)

As we continue walking through Peter's life and observing him, remember that we are still in those first, "heady" days of the church.  The apostles were preaching and healing ... people were believing and joining their numbers ... the electricity and energy must have been palpable.

Read Acts 4: 34 - 5:11

If you have been in Bible study for awhile, you may already be very familiar with this encounter.  Disturbing, isn't it?  There are a few things that I believe to be important for us, as believers in our day. 

First, the sin of Ananias and Sapphira was lying and deception.  Have you ever secretly in your inner self thought, "Really, God?"  We live in a culture and a time where honesty and integrity are rare.  Lying is just not considered that big a deal.  And we are foolish to think our culture does not permeate our own thinking.  All products are marketed with a "spin".  As a retired school teacher, I can tell you that cheating is as common as paper and pencils.  And the only thing that disturbs students is getting caught - not the act itself.  Of course not all students.  But so many ... 

The New Bible Dictionary defines lying as:  a statement of what is known to be false with the intent to deceive.  That is exactly what our couple in Acts 5 did - made a false statement with the intent to deceive.  Is it really that big a deal? 

Honesty is big deal to God. 

Leviticus 19:11 "You shall not steal; you shall not deal falsely; and you shall not lie to one another."

Proverbs 6: 16 - 17  "There are six things that the LORD hates, seven that are an abomination to him:  haughty eyes, a lying tongue ..."

Psalm 5:6  "You destroy those who speak lies; the LORD abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful."

Proverbs 20:23  "Differing weights are an abomination to the LORD, and false scales are not good."

Paul brings this principle of God into the New Testament when he instructed believers on how to behave.  He writes in Colossians 3:9 - 10:  "Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have stripped off the old self with its practices and have clothed yourselves with the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge according to the image of its creator."

It was indeed serious.  It was indeed sin.  And sin is death. 

So time for a self-check.  Are you honest?  In your speech?  In your dealings at work?  Are you a person of integrity?  Can your word be trusted?  Do you use deception and manipulation to get your way?  We must learn from Ananias and Sapphira.  It matters tremendously because it matters to God. 

Forgive us LORD, for the times we have been deceitful.  Through Your Spirit, ring a bell in our heads when we speak deceptively. 

My second observation has to do with motive.  We can't know for sure the motives that drove Ananias and Sapphira to this deception.  But we can surmise.  Perhaps they were hungry for praise from the others.  We are introduced to Barnabas in Acts 4:36.  The way he is mentioned allows us to imagine the respect and honor he received from the community of believers ... and from the apostles.  I think our couple wanted some of that!  It is a dangerous thing to desire praise from others.  That desire can lead one into some very foolish decisions.

Paul wrote about this desire in Romans 2:29

Rather, a person in a Jew who is one inwardly, and real circumcision is a matter of the heart - it is spiritual and not literal.  Such a person receives praise not from others but from God.

Our Father, we desire to be pleasing to you.  Guard our hearts and minds from the poison of being people-pleasers.  Help us desire no praise except from You. 

Lastly,  this passage does not indicate any shock or surprise from Peter.  He had grown up in a religious world that had long ago lost touch with the truth of God and His law.  It had been twisted to fit the desires of the leaders.  Jesus had pointedly and carefully led Peter to that understanding.  Perhaps Peter was not shocked because he understood his position as 'shepherd' to this newly birthed church.  And having walked and been shaped by Jesus, he also understood the absolute necessity of integrity and honesty before God.  Do we understand that?  I pray so ...

Lord, strengthen us to be people of integrity in our communities of faith.  Our hearts desire is to walk steadfast before You and as we interact with each other.  We cannot do it on our own.  But ... through Your Spirit ... we can! 



Peter, the Prosecutor (Post 15)

Allow me to quote Acts 4:13:  "When they (the Jewish religious leaders) saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus."

Next, the definition of "prosecutor":  a lawyer, a bar certified member of the legal profession recognized by the court system in which they intend to represent the state (or society) in criminal proceedings. Well educated ... very well schooled!

How can we put these two things together and end up with Peter?  The key is in 4:13.  "These men had been with Jesus."  We are observing the transformation of Peter.  And today we are reading yet another passage that highlights the incredible change that has occurred in this 'ordinary' man.

Read Acts 3: 11 - 26

The crowds are astonished by Peter's healing of the crippled beggar at the temple gate.  Word spread quickly ... people ran to see with their own eyes ... and Peter seized an opportunity.  Boldly.  Clearly.  Logically.  Like a prosecuting attorney he laid out the facts.  He placed responsibility where it justly belonged.  Peter is cool, calm, and clear.  This ordinary, unlearned man ... was brilliant!

Let's make some observations from this 'sermon' in chapter 3.

Observation #1:  What flows out of a person depends on what fills the person.  It's like a sponge. When you squeeze a sponge, whatever liquid fills it is what will spill out.  Profound, no?  Peter was full of the knowledge and the grace and the truth of Jesus.  He KNEW Him.  And Peter's knowledge of the person and the work of Jesus spilled out and splashed over all who heard that day.  It continues to pour out on us as we read ... as we hear.  What fills you?  When faced with questions about why you do what you do ... what is your answer?  When asked to explain how you do what you do ... what is your answer?

Observation #2:   Speaking the truth in love is always the right thing to do.  While Peter said hard things, laying the responsibility for the murder of Jesus at the feet of these hearers, he does so with a compassionate heart.  Look again at verse 17.  He addresses them as "brothers".  He acknowledges their ignorance in the whole matter.  Peter does not excuse their ignorant behavior ... but he offers hope ... he offers them a path out ... a path to freedom.

Later, the apostle Paul reiterates the same principle when he says in Ephesians 4: 14 - 15:

Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming.  Instead, speaking the truth in love we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is Christ.

Do you practice this principle?  Do you speak the truth?  Do you tend to excuse bad, ungodly behavior in those you love?  Do you speak truth in LOVE, not in judgement?  Do your words offer hope and promise?

Observation #3:  You speak what you know ... and leave the results in the hands of God.  We don't know the exact number of these hearers who believed Peter.  Were Peter and John encouraged or discouraged?  We don't know.  We can't chart their "conversion" numbers.  All we know for certain is from Acts 4:4 which says, "But many who heard the message believed ..."  People's hearts are known by God.  And conversion is a heart issue.  We can confidently leave the results of our teaching, our modeling, our training in the hands of a faithful and powerful God.

Lord, I want to know You.  I want to know You intimately.  I want You to so fill me that You are what overflows out of my life.  I trust myself and my mind in Your hands.  Help me, through Your Spirit, think clearly ... speak boldly ... and know the confidence that comes from closeness to You. Help me be like Peter as he was so transformed to be like You.

Peter, the Healer (Post 14)

We have watched as Peter stepped up and took on the leadership role that Jesus had prepared for him.  He boldly preached to the Jewish people gathered in Jerusalem about Jesus - who He was and what He had done.  In that preaching, Peter did not shy away from declaring what THEY had done to Jesus.  Of course, their personal hands had not driven the nails in ... but that's not the point, is it.  It was the human rebellion against God that necessitated that colossal sacrifice.  It was then ... still is!  The response was staggering.  People were coming to Christ.  People were being baptized by the hundreds.  

There was another way in which Peter was following his Rabbi ... stepping into those shoes through the Holy Spirit.

Read Acts 3: 1 - 10 and 5: 12 - 16

Peter became a "healer".  The Holy Spirit in him worked the miracle of healing for so many.  Physical ailments and trauma ... demonic activity ... the sick ... the tormented.  Did you notice that people brought their sick into the streets in the hopes that Peter's "shadow" would pass across them?  (5:15)  What incredible power!  This is our Peter, remember.  This is the same man who took a few steps on water and then began to sink.  The one who ran.  Our Peter ... transformed.  We are amazed at the transforming power of the Spirit of God on a life.  Don't ever miss the fact that the same Spirit desires to do transforming work in your life as well.  You most likely will not become a "healer" like Peter ... but you can become courageous. You can become faithful.  You can become strong.  You can walk wherever you need to walk ... because of the transforming power of the Spirit of God.

A few observations for us from Peter's healing of the crippled beggar in chapter 3:

First, this man was lame.  So are we if you are talking about walking as Jesus walked - crippled from birth. Born of the first Adam and prone to our relentless sin nature ... we, too, are lame.  We cannot walk as righteous.  We cannot walk into the presence of God.  We, too, require the Spirit of God to heal our lameness.

Second, this man was poor.  So are we if you are talking about anything of real, eternal value.  Our pitiful love affair with money and stuff will end at the end of our earthly lives.  "You can't take it with you" is actually very true.  So in reality, we are bankrupt.  We have nothing to hold up before the eternal God and say, "Hey, I'm important!  Pay attention to me. Treat me with deference."  We are  bankrupt.  We, too, require the Spirit of God to provide for us.

Third, this man was outside the Temple.  Remember the Temple represented the presence of God.  This bankrupt cripple couldn't get in.  Neither can we.  We cannot walk into the presence of God.  We are "outside".  We, too, need someone to carry us "in".

Never forget Paul's powerful explanation to the church in Ephesus in Ephesians 2: 1 - 6:

As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.  All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts.  Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath.  But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions - it is by grace you have been saved.  And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus ...

If you belong to Christ, you have been healed!  Any physical ailments you carry cannot be compared to the glorious wholeness you possess in Christ.

Did you see what Peter used to heal this cripple?  It's in verse 6 ... "In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth." There was power in the name of Jesus.  My friends, I believe with everything in me, there still is. Whatever your struggle right now ... call on the NAME of Jesus.  Whatever hardship ... call on the NAME of Jesus.  Whatever challenge ... call on the NAME of Jesus.  And when He reaches down and strengthens you, or delivers you, or heals you ... follow the example of our man in Acts 3.  Do as he did ...

He went into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God.

Let excitement and emotion and praise of God the Healer exude from you!  In the NAME of Jesus ...

Peter, the Preacher (Post 13)

That day by the Sea of Galilee, which we read of in John 21, changed everything.  Peter is still Peter ... but Peter is not the same Peter.  Peter had seen the risen Lord.  Peter had been assured of his Lord's love for him in spite of his own failures.  Peter had been challenged by his Lord to step up and tend to the followers of Jesus.  And Peter responds ...

The Feast of Pentecost had come.  This Feast was also called the Feast of Weeks or the Feast of Harvest in the Old Testament.  It marked the beginning of the harvest.  Beginnings ...

Read Acts 2

The drama that surrounded this day in history marked the very first sermon that we have recorded from Peter.  Remember that he had not been to seminary.  Well, perhaps that is a false statement.  He actually  had been in the most effective seminary available - the feet of Rabbi, Jesus!  Let's make some observations about this "first" sermon.

First, my how these men have changed!  Verse 14 tells us that Peter stood up with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd.  Let me remind us of what we know:

John 18: 25 - 27
"As Simon Peter stood warming himself, he was asked, 'You are not one of his disciples, are you?'  He denied it, saying, 'I am not.'"

John 20:19
"On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, 'Peace be with you!'"

What has happened?  The Spirit of God has happened!  These timid, fearful men have been invaded by the Holy Spirit.  They have become carriers of the Spirit and the voice of God.  And that changed everything. We are moved by their boldness.  We are impressed by how strong and logical and clear and confident Peter's words were.

So, my question for you and me ... If I have no boldness to speak on behalf of Jesus, perhaps I am not surrendered to the Spirit of God.  Perhaps the Holy Spirit does not have my heart and my mind.  Perhaps I am not convinced that Jesus actually lives through His Spirit in me.  Perhaps I am still cowering in a closed room out of fear.  It's time to open the doors.  It's time to speak up.  Jesus is who He said He was!

Second, Peter knew his audience.  He quoted Old Testament prophecy that would have been familiar to this Jewish audience.  These were devout Jews in Jerusalem.  They knew the scripture.  And Peter masterfully applies what they knew from scripture to the life of Jesus, whom they did not know.  It is still wise to know your audience.  It is still wise to speak in ways that can be understood.  It is wise to use the language of your 'hearers'.

So, my question for you and me ...  Do I know my "audience"?  Perhaps your primary audience is your children.  Can you talk about Jesus from what they know ... on their level?  Don't expect the church, or Sunday School teachers to handle that job.  It belongs to parents first.  Allow the church teachers to be the "support" system, not the primary delivery system.  Perhaps your"audience" is your friends.  Do you know how to connect with their familiar places?  Perhaps your "audience" is co-workers.  Any idea what they value?  Have you listened carefully enough to know how to engage them in the life of Jesus?

Peter knew his audience.  And he spoke directly into their knowledge base.  So we watch Peter ... and learn!

Third, Peter had a "main point".  And it is the main point of all of our speaking about Jesus.  Did you hear it?  Verse 36:  "Therefore let all Israel be assured of this:  God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ."

In our pluralistic culture and society, we must never forgot what we know about Jesus.

Lord - that means master, ruler, the one with the authority, the one to whom we listen and respond.

Jesus is Lord.

Christ - that means Messiah, one chosen and installed in a particular office, God's anointed one.  It is God, breaking into human history Himself.

Jesus is Christ.

Is this Jesus YOUR Lord and Christ?  If not, Peter would say to you, "repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.  And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off - for all whom the Lord our God will call."  (2: 38 - 39)

Listen for the call of God!  

Light Dawns - Part 2 (Post 12)

After breakfast beside the Sea of Galilee, Jesus engages our man Peter in a most interesting conversation.

John 21: 15 - 25

There are so many fascinating parallels in this chapter of John.  Jesus seemed to intentionally use circumstances and trains of thought to remind the apostles of previous encounters and miracles.  He needed to remind them - to remind Peter - of the things of "first importance".   Let's consider a few:

1.  The miraculous catch of fish.  Jesus had done that for Peter before Peter decided to follow Him.  Jesus does it again ... remember, Peter ... Jesus has all power and authority.

2.  Jesus feeds them breakfast ... verse 13 tells us that Jesus "took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish."  He had done that before - this miracle of feeding - to 5000+ earlier in his ministry. Jesus does it again here ... remember, Peter ... Jesus is the source of sustenance, of life.

3.  Jesus asks Peter 3 times if he loves Him.  Why three times?  Perhaps because Peter had failed to acknowledge his own love for Jesus three times the night of Jesus' trials.  Each question from the lips of Jesus countered one of the betrayals from Peter.  Remember, Peter ... don't forget again that you are a disciple of the Lord.  

4.  As Peter answers each of Jesus' questions about loving Him, Jesus reminds Peter of his call, his work, his commission.  Jesus reminds him, "Feed my lambs",  "Take care of my sheep", and "Feed my sheep."  It is as if Jesus is saying to Peter, "Don't go back to fishing.  I have called you out for a higher purpose.  I have work for you to do.  You are to be a rock in my coming 'church'.  Remember, Peter."

5.  Then after giving Peter a preview of his end, Jesus says, "Follow me!"  Interesting ... that was what Jesus had said to Peter when He first called him into discipleship.  Same words.  Same mission.  Remember, Peter!

Now, for you and I.  Have you veered off track?  Has a failure or two or three caused you to doubt your usefulness in God's kingdom?  Have you wandered back into a previous way of life out of habit?  Do you feel that God cannot use the likes of you.  You're not strong enough.  You're not smart enough.

If any of those things can be said of you right now, go back and read John 21 again.

Here is what we know about Peter.  He listened.  He heard.  And he never denies his relationship with the Lord again.

Have you forgotten who you are?  Listen to Paul as he reminds us in Ephesians 2: 11 - 22

Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.  In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord.  And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.

If you use navigation tools on your phone or in your car, occasionally you will hear the voice say, "Off course.  Correcting."  Are you "off course"?  If so, why not stop right now and spend some time in prayer asking God to correct your course and get you back on track.  Peter is a great example.  We can "follow" his example as he follows Jesus!

Light Dawns - Part 1 (Post 11)

The crucifixion of Jesus has been completed.  His body has been removed from the cross.  A disciple by the name of Joseph, along with Nicodemus, obtained permission to remove Jesus' body and bury it.  It had to be done quickly because it was nearly Sabbath.  This precious, broken body was laid in Joseph's personal tomb and the tomb was sealed.

Darkness seems to win sometimes.  Evil seems to have its day sometimes.  All seemed lost to this small band of apostles and disciples.  What had happened to their hope?  How could this be?  They had been so certain - so sure that Jesus was the Messiah of God - the Messiah for Israel.  And now he was dead.

Read John 20: 1 - 9

Did you watch Peter as you read?  When he heard the report of the empty tomb, he took off to see for himself.  That sounds like the man we have come to know!  We also see him step into the tomb without hesitation - while the other apostle, John, hung back.  Of course.  That's Peter.  Then John entered as well.  They saw.  But they did not fully understand.  And Jesus begins appearing to his disciples - reassuring them that he was indeed alive.  Death had no hold on him.  Death could not and would not win.

We learn in Matthew 28 that Jesus had told his disciples to return to Galilee and he would come to them there.  That is exactly what they do.  And we pick up our reading at that point.

Read John 21: 1 - 14

Some observations for us today:

1.  Peter went fishing.  Was it a one time event or was he "going back to fishing" as a vocation and livelihood?  We don't know.  Perhaps he was going back to the life he knew before he had encountered Jesus.  After all, those hopes and dreams had been dashed at the hand of the juggernaut known as the Roman Empire.  If that is true, how like us!  We return to what we know best when crisis hits.

2.  Jesus appears and repeats a miracle almost exactly like the one he performed early in his relationship with Peter.  Look back at Luke 5: 1 - 11.  Peter had fished all night ... nothing.  Then Jesus said for them to throw their nets one more time ... and ... a huge catch of fish!  It was then that Peter recognized Jesus as no ordinary man.  Did Jesus choose this similar miracle to remind Peter who He was?

Here is the question for you and I today:  Do you need a reminder about the identity of Jesus?  Is something in your life threatening to rob you of hope?  Are you tempted to return to the life or the lifestyle that was comfortable for you before you knew Jesus?  Watch Peter!

Peter jumped into the water to get to Jesus.  He has always been "all in" and this is no exception.  He wanted to get to his Lord.  Take the reminder ... Jesus is the only source of life ... He IS our hope ... He IS our life ... don't turn back.  Stay the course.  Stay with Jesus.

3.  In the Middle East, to eat a meal with someone who has wronged you is to forgive that person.  Did you notice that Jesus made breakfast for these bone weary men who had just fished all night?  Breakfast ... shared meal ... forgiveness.  The Lord ... offering up a meal for his disciples.

Next time you take communion with fellow believers, remember this scene.  A shared meal ... forgiveness offered ... provided by the Lord ... and He says, "Come".

Let's close our time together today with the words of the song, "Come Share the Lord"

We gather here in Jesus name,

His love is burning in our hearts like living flame.

For thru the loving Son the Father makes us one.

Come take the bread, come drink the wine, come share the Lord.

He joins us here, He breaks the bread.

The Lord who pours the cup is risen from the dead.

The One we love the most is now our gracious host.

Come take the bread, come drink the wine, come share the Lord.

We'll gather soon where angels sing.

We'll see the glory of our Lord and coming King.

Now we anticipate the feast for which we wait.

Come take the break, come drink the wine, come share the Lord.

Peter Breaks (Post 10)

Breaking points ... we all have them.  Accounts I have read of POWs and torture are horrific - breaking points.  Or a relationship between a man and a woman, both married to others, begins and goes on and on and is fed and is fed until a line is crossed than cannot be uncrossed - breaking points.  When hurricanes blow onto the Gulf coast, if you are in the target line, there is a moment in time when you need to evacuate.  If you wait ... just a little longer ... you may find yourself unable to leave - breaking points.

Peter hit one that night of Jesus' arrest.  He didn't expect it.  He thought he was immune to that sort of thing.  He believed himself to be stronger than that.

Read Luke 22: 54 - 62

Some observations as we consider this most sobering event in the life of our man, Peter.

1.  We have already addressed that Peter was so vulnerable because he had not taken Jesus' warnings to heart.  I don't think it was rebellion.  He just could not see the possibility.  So the warnings from Jesus fell on unresponsive ears.  

Application:  One of the questions we should take to every passage of scripture we read is, "Is there a warning here to heed?"  If you find one, wisdom would say "HEED IT - TAKE IT TO HEART!"  Never assume that you are beyond the reach of that warning - you're stronger than that - you're smarter than that, etc.  Heed the warning.  

2.  We also have already addressed the fact that Jesus told Peter to "watch and pray" to guard himself from temptation.  Again, Peter did not take the instruction to heart.  He was tired.  

Application:  Do not let a day go by without the prayer "lead me not into temptation, but deliver me from evil" crossing your mind and lips to the Father.  

3.  Peter was trying to blend into the crowd.  He wanted to be there - to see what was happening to his Lord - but he certainly did not want to stand out.  His first denial that night was denying who HE was.  

Application:  Are you a believer?  Do you try to look and sound and behave just like the world so that you won't stand out - or be ridiculed - or singled out?  Oh, I don't mean really evil, ugly stuff ... just a little worldly.  Be careful.  If you deny your own identity - it is not a stretch before you will deny Jesus himself.

4.  When we deliberately begin a sin - the fall into deeper levels of the same sin comes quickly.  Peter  began with just denying that he had any relationship with "the man" and ends up swearing and cursing that he had no part at all with any of them!  

Application:  Take sin seriously.  Can we shrug off what our culture, even our current religious culture, classifies as "small sins"?  Or had we best pay attention to even the small ways we violate the holiness of God?  Immediate repentance.  Keep very short accounts with God!

5.  When you do fall, because we all do and will, follow the  example of Peter.  Hear the "cock  crow"; experience the gaze of the love of your Lord as it penetrates your very soul.  Immediately,   Peter "remembered the word of the Lord."  Yes, he remembered the warning of the rooster crowing and the denial.  But do you think he also remembered that Jesus had said, "Simon, when you have repented and turned to me again, strengthen your brothers"?  

Application:  Repentance matters.  In fact, it is crucial.  It plays the primary role in the different destinies of Peter and Judas.  Yes, weep bitterly over your sin ... but never forget to remember the word of the Lord:

"If we confess our sins to Him, 

He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins 

and to cleanse us from all wickedness."  

(1 John 1:9  NLT)

Now is a good time ...