Changed Series

Sunday Morning, October 6, 2002 Bel Aire Baptist Church

Series: “Walking With Jesus” [#5]

SLIDE 27

CHANGED!

John 21:15-19

Introduction:

1. Isn’t it amazing how God changes us when we are saved? But, even after salvation, it is hard to live a life that pleases God.

2. Part of our growth as Christians is learning from our mistakes. So often we have to learn the hard way.

3. In our last sermon in the series “Walking With Jesus” I want us to notice how God used Peter in spite of Peter’s mistakes.

SLIDE 28

Struggling Servant

Disobedient To The Master

In Matthew 26:36-56 we find Jesus taking Peter, James, and John with Him into the Garden of Gethsemane to pray. In this scene we find Peter being disobedient to Jesus three times.

1. Jesus asked Peter to stay with Him, Keep watch, and pray. What did Peter do?

Matthew 26:40-46

2. Now as Jesus was being arrested, peter grabbed his sword and cut off the ear of the servant of the high priest. He was defending Jesus, but was that what Jesus wanted him to do? Is that what Jesus had taught him?

Matthew 26:52-55

3. Now that Jesus had been arrested, what did Peter do?

Matthew 26:56

Application: How often are we disobedient to Christ? God says pray, we sleep. God says, love one another, we fight. God says stay, we run away. Disobedience is a sin.

SLIDE 29

Denying The Master

Now, Jesus was to go through a court trial with all sorts of false testimony. Where were Peter and the other disciples? Hiding! We do find Peter sitting out in the courtyard. Once again Peter is going to mess up three times.

Matthew 26:69-75

1. A servant girl pointed Peter out as a disciple of Jesus, but he denied it.

2. Another girl pointed Peter out as a disciple of Jesus, but he denied it.

3. Then a group of people came to Peter and pointed out the fact that he was a disciple of Jesus, but Peter “began to call down curses on himself and he swore to them, “I don’t know the Man!”

Application: How often is Jesus put on trial at you workplace, school, etc… and when you should be standing up for Jesus you instead deny Him? By the way silence equals agreeing. Just as Peter had messed up, so do we; but we are not to quit. We are to keep growing.

Hebrews 12:1-6

SLIDE 30

Successful Servant

Committed To The Master

Although Peter made many mistakes, Jesus did not give up on Peter He just continued to grow Peter.

John 21:15-17

Jesus had appeared to His disciples three times after His resurrection. On this third appearance Jesus asked Peter this question, “Do you truly love me”? Jesus asked him this three times.

1. After the first time, Jesus told him “Feed my lambs”.

2. After the second time, Jesus told him “Take care of my sheep.”

3. After the third time, Jesus told, him “Feed my sheep”.

Application: God has something special planned for all of His children, but God opens those doors when He is ready and when He knows we can handle it. God cannot use you until you commit to Him 100%.

SLIDE 31

Claiming The Master

John 21:18-19

1. It is amazing to me that as inconsistent as Peter was God still used him. Peter denied Jesus three times and yet guess who got to preach the sermon at Pentecost where 3,000 were saved? Peter.

2. This doesn’t mean that Peter stopped sinning, but Peter became bold for Jesus Christ. In Acts 4 we find Peter boldly preaching before the Sanhedrin, (the same group that had Jesus killed.).

Acts 4:13-22

3. History tells us that Peter died by being crucified on a cross. History also tells us that Peter made them crucify him upside down because he was not worthy to die like Jesus did. What a change!

Application: When you begin to live your life like God tells you, doing things His way; you then will become bold for Jesus. You will stop caring about what others think and be concerned only about what God wants.

SLIDE 32

Conclusion:

This morning I need to ask you several questions:

1. Have you ever surrendered your life to Jesus Christ? If you cannot say I am saved, but God is telling you this morning, “Today is the day”, I want you to stand up. (Have Kevin, Johnny, etc…go to them and lead them to a place for prayer).

2. My next question is for Christians: Have you been disobedient to God and His will for your life and have refused to grow up: but today you want to rededicate your life to God and begin fresh today? If so, I want you to stand up. (Have everyone stand around them and have a prayer).