PETER’S PATH TO POWER
Luke 22:31-32, 60-61
INTRODUCTION
A. Peter’s Denials of Christ
1. We have been studying Peter on Wed. nights for 5 months.
a. I would hope we have learned a lot from this marvelous man Jesus named the rock
b. The rock that Jesus would build His church upon.
c. Peter would be one of its greatest preachers.
d. 3000 souls came to know Christ in one service that Peter preached at.
e. The Bible tells us many were added to the church daily.
f. It was Peter who walked on water…
g. It was Peter who said…You’ll not wash my feet Lord!
h. It was Peter who cut of Malchus’ ear in the garden.
i. It would be Peter who ran on into the tomb when John hesitated!
j. Peter…brash, outspoken…first to speak…last to listen.
2. But Peter was not always successful.
a. As powerful as Peter would become…
b. He experienced moments of weakness…
c. He fell powerless to the attack of Satan.
d. He callously denied that he even knew Jesus in the hours after his arrest.
e. He cursed and swore that he never knew him…or walked with him.
f. The one he had sworn an allegiance to the death to.
g. He shriveled up and lost all his nerve when faced with the punishment of the guard.
3. Isn’t that why we love Peter so much…because we can identify with him.
a. As brash as we would like to be for our Savior.
b. As brash as we should be.
c. Many of us can talk a good game…
d. But when Satan attacks…will we be like Peter before the resurrection, or after?
e. Will we walk on the water…or sink?
f. Will we be SSS (Secret Silent Saints), or will be vocal and proud of who we are?
4. Jesus knew that tough days were ahead for His disciples.
a. He had just revealed to them about His coming suffering.
b. He had just told them that one of them would betray them.
c. Then in our text this morning He tells Peter…Peter…hang on…there’s a storm coming…and his name is satan!!!
(Luke 22:31-32 KJV) And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: {32} But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.
(Luke 22:56-62 KJV) But a certain maid beheld him as he sat by the fire, and earnestly looked upon him, and said, This man was also with him. {57} And he denied him, saying, Woman, I know him not. {58} And after a little while another saw him, and said, Thou art also of them. And Peter said, Man, I am not. {59} And about the space of one hour after another confidently affirmed, saying, Of a truth this fellow also was with him: for he is a Galilaean. {60} And Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest. And immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew. {61} And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. {62} And Peter went out, and wept bitterly.
5. In these verses, we see the Apostle Peter at the lowest point in his life.
a. We know that Peter became a man of great faith…
b. This defeated and broken warrior would one day rise to lead Jesus’ church.
c. What power…changed him…and has the ability to change us…
d. From a Denying Disciple…into a Dynamic and Charismatic Preacher.
BODY
A. The Prayer Of Christ For Peter
1. Jesus was concerned about Peter…He knew something that Peter did not.
a. Satan had asked permission to sift Peter…to test his faith…and evidently…that permission had been given unto!!!
b. This is one the greatest mysteries to me in all of God’s word.
c. How, does evil personified have access to God?
d. How can satan have so much power, even to the sifting of those so close to God?
e. I do not know the answers to those questions, but I do acknowledge them as a biblical fact.
f. Satan does have access to the heavens…(although one day he won’t have)
g. He can and still does desire to sift us…
h. Especially those closest to God…
i. It ought to be a warning to all of us who call ourselves Christians.
j. He is real…he is powerful…he is to be feared…but hallelujah he has been defeated.
2. Peter came to know the power of satan personally.
a. Listen to these two powerful descriptions of satan.
(1 Pet 5:8 KJV) Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
(Eph 6:11-12 KJV) Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. {12} For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
3. But Peter had an ace up his sleeve when he battled satan.
a. Jesus said…I have prayed for you…
b. Jesus is still praying for those the devil is attempting to defeat.
c. You may be in the fight of your life…you must in faith…fight on.
d. There is a power praying for you that has direct access into the throne room of Almighty God…
e. He prayed for us in the Garden of Gethsemane…
(John 17:20-21 KJV) Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; {21} That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.
f. He prays for us now in the presence of the Father…
(Heb 7:25 KJV) Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.
g. Notice if you will what Jesus prayed for…
h. Not that this cup would pass from Peter…that’s what we all want Jesus to pray isn’t it?
i. But that Peter’s faith would not fail.
4. Sometimes we have to go through things that will eventually be for our own good.
a. We may not like them…
b. We may not understand them…
c. But go thru them we must…
d. But as we are…He is there…praying that our faith will sustain us.
5. Peter lost his battle with temptation, but his faith did sustain him!
a. Notice what Jesus tells Peter…when you come out of the fire…strengthen your brothers!
b. There are those who errantly teach that this passage of scripture teaches that one can lose their salvation and regain it again…that’s simply not the case.
c. Two Greek words…one denotes salvation…the other denotes to make it through and return to a former state.
1994. epistrepho, ep-ee-stref'-o; from G1909 and G4762; to revert (lit., fig. or mor.):--come (go) again, convert, (re-) turn (about, again).
4100. pisteuo, pist-yoo'-o; from G4102; to have faith (in, upon, or with respect to, a person or thing), i.e. credit; by impl. to entrust (espec. one's spiritual well-being to Christ):--believe (-r), commit (to trust), put in trust with. have, hold, keep, + lack, + go to law, lie, + must needs, + of necessity, + need, next, + recover, + reign, + rest, return, X sick, take for, + tremble, + uncircumcised, use. (John 3:16)
6. In essence Jesus is saying this…
a. Peter, when you have fought the devil, use your experiences for good.
b. Strengthen others who are going through the fire.
c. There is no one who can comfort like someone who has been there.
B. The Second Instrumental Occurrence In Peter’s Amazing Transformation Was The Exact Fulfillment of Prophecy
1. The time of the crowing had been prophesied by Christ in vs.34
a. What Jesus had said was fulfilled in the EXACT manner in which He said it would.
b. This is something to shout about folk.
c. Every jot, every tittle of God’s word, spoken or written, will occur.
d. No variation…no maybes…
e. Not only will it come true…but it will come true exactly HOW He says it will come true.
f. It will come true EXACTLY WHEN it will come true.
g. You can stake your life on it. IT WILL HAPPEN!
2. We can rest easy and assured of the fulfillment of God’s promises.
a. We KNOW He came to this earth.
b. We KNOW He lived a perfect and sinless life.
c. We KNOW He fulfilled every law and prophecy that was written…PERFECTLY.
d. We KNOW He died on the cross.
e. We KNOW He was placed in a borrowed tomb.
f. We KNOW that on the third day He arose.
g. We KNOW He defeated death, hell and the grave.
h. We KNOW He ascended back to the Father.
i. We KNOW He makes intercession for us today.
j. We KNOW He’s coming again to take us all home.
k. HOW DO WE KNOW>>>Because HE SAID SO!!!
l. And everything that He says…He Does!
3. Oh can you imagine the dagger that pierced Peter’s heart when he heard that ol rooster crow.
a. To anyone else it was just a normal sound.
b. To Peter it was proof positive that He had failed his Savior.
c. It amazes me how God uses the simple things in life to communicate with His children.
d. What means nothing to the unsaved…may mean the world to a child of God.
e. The symbol of the fish reminds us of His provision.
f. The symbol of the cross, the dual reminders of sin and grace.
g. For the unsaved…simple…religious jewelry.
h. For the Saved…these symbols mean everything is going to be alright in our world…and in the one to come.
4. There are some things that we as Christians should learn from the rooster!
a. He rises early and goes about doing his God-given task!
b. He does that work without praise.
c. He awakens those who are asleep.
d. He is a proclaimer of good news…The SUN has come…the Son has come.
e. He never gets bored with…or want to change his position.
f. We would do well to mimic the rooster.
g. Jesus used a rooster to bring Peter to repentance.
h. The crowing reminded Peter of his promise to Jesus.
i. But it also reminded Peter of Jesus’ promise to him.
C. Thirdly, The Lord’s Powerful Look Pierced The Heart Of Peter.
1. If the rooster’s crow dealt a blow to Peter’s heart, think of what Christ’s look did to him.
a. As that rooster crowed Jesus turned and looked at Peter.
b. Looked at the one who had walked beside Him for 3 ½ years.
c. Looked to the one who had walked on the water.
d. Looked at the one who had professed his allegiance such a short time ago.
e. An allegiance to the death Peter had boasted.
f. Now Jesus looks to him and sees a man who is ashamed, afraid and broken!
g. Peter the Rock had become Peter the Defeated.
2. What was that look?
a. We can speculate…was it pity…anger…reproach…grief???
b. NO NO NO NO!
c. There was no anger in that look…there was no pity.
d. There was only love…and forgiveness…in only the way Jesus can provide.
e. If there was grief it was Jesus who grieved over his heartbroken disciple!
3. Folks there is a very important principle we need to learn here.
a. There are times in our lives when we let Jesus down!
b. There may even be times that we say we don’t know him!
c. But it makes no matter how far you fall…
d. When you raise your eyes you will be looking right into the eyes of Jesus.
e. You will find a loving look.
f. You will find a forgiving look.
g. You will find a compassionate look.
4. Even on the day He died on the cross, Jesus remained compassionate.
a. Compassionate enough to utter…Father forgive them…
b. Compassionate enough to ensure His mother was well taken care of.
c. Compassionate enough to save one more wayward soul…Today thou shalt be with me in paradise.
5. How about you today…where do you stand with the Christ of Calvary???
a. There are only three conditions you can be in here today.
1. Lost, without hope…needing to be saved by the Christ of Calvary…today is the day…He’s looking at you now…
2. Saved, yet out of fellowship…like Peter…you’ve let the world get the best of you…it’s OK…He’s looking at you…saying turn around…its not too late!!!
3. Saved, and in fellowship with Christ...Oh He’s looking at you too…and giving thanks for each of you…soaking up you praises…blessing your life!!!
b. Our Jesus is unique in this…
c. Just like Peter…
d. Christ will meet each one of where we are at…and take us where we need to be!!!
e. Let me ask you something today…
f. Do you feel His gaze??? His heart is talking to you!
CONCLUSION
A. Peter Was Down That Day, But He Was Not Out.
1. He would soon rise above the circumstances of this dreadful day and live a victorious life for His Lord.
a. What about you?
b. Are there circumstances that keep you from living the victorious life.
c. There doesn’t have to be!
2. God longs to do the same thing for you that He did to Peter.
a. Make you into His child.
b. Love You.
c. Protect you.
d. Bless you.
e. Won’t you let him?
