THE CREDENTIALS OF THE APOSTLE PETER
(Part 2 – His Message)
II Peter 1:16-21
Recently a former top U.S. diplomat who once served as U.S ambassador was arrested and charged with being a foreign agent of Cuba. For over 40 years, Victor Manuel Rocha allegedly spied on behalf of Cuba’s intelligence agency. It is reported by prosecutors that Rocha has referred to the U.S. as "the enemy" and supported Cuba's clandestine intelligence-gathering mission. It is astonishing to think that a man could spend decades acting as a clandestine agent seeking to harm the interests of the USA, all while being employed by the State Department.
While that sort of treason is more common than it should be, there is another offense that is far worse, and unfortunately it is far more common. I am referring to those who pretend to be ambassadors for Christ and reap many earthly benefits of their association with His name, yet they are actually acting as double agents. There is an innumerable multitude of false prophets who profess to be concerned with the advancement of the Kingdom of God, but they are really doing the work of their father, the Devil. In the closing verses of 2 Peter chapter 1 and throughout the entirety of 2 Peter chapter 2, the Apostle confronts the actions of false prophets in his day.
We are currently examining the credentials of the Apostle Peter. Last week we considered Peter’s ministry, in our time together we saw that it was an appointed ministry. He was appointed to be an Apostle by the Lord Jesus Himself. There were several purposes for the ministry that he had been entrusted to accomplish. Peter was appointed evangelize the lost and to encourage and edify the saints. We also considered the fact that Peter’s ministry was authentic and amazing.
- As we continue to look at Peter’s resume and consider his credentials as an Apostle, I would like to examine the message that he shared. - I invite you to look with me to v19-21 as we examine:
THE MESSAGE OF THE APOSTLE PETER
If there was ever a man who was qualified to share the good news of Jesus it was Simon Peter. He was one who had first-hand experience concerning the earthly ministry of the Lord Jesus. The message that Peter shared stood in contrast to the false prophets that were infiltrating and harming the church when he wrote this letter. It is clear that Peter’s goal was not to promote himself.
It doesn’t take long to observe a ministry before you see where the real focus is. Some of the most famous “pastors” and most well-known ministries are built around the personality, charisma, and gifts of their leaders (figurehead would probably be a better term). Peter did not spend his days telling people about all of the things that he had accomplished. He did not travel the region peddling the Word of God for profit. He certainly had the credentials, and he had some amazing stories to tell, but it was his heart’s desire to tell people what Jesus had done in the past and what He could do for them in the present.
Peter was the only mortal man to have ever walked on water, yet he never mentioned it to anyone. But he did have an important message that he could not help but share. It was the most important message that they could ever hear, in fact it is the most important message that the world has ever heard. His message was the good news of salvation through Jesus Christ. Knowing that his life was nearing its end, Peter wanted lost men and women to know that Jesus was their only hope of salvation. Moreover, he wanted to remind the Saints of the many amazing benefits that they had received through Christ.
- Consider for a moment:
THE SOUNDNESS OF PETER’S MESSAGE
v19 And so we have the prophetic word confirmed
Though Peter had experienced these amazing things and had seen things that others were not privy to, he says we have something more certain than any experience of man, namely the Word of God Here, Peter ranks scripture over experience. You do not see this trait in the false prophets that are so prevalent in our day. They use very little scripture (if any), and when they do quote the Word of God it is usually out of context. But Peter says the scriptures are more reliable than even the first-hand experiences of the Apostles themselves.
Be very cautious when you hear someone say, "I feel lead to say such and such", or "the Lord is telling me to do this or that". If what someone is saying cannot be backed up by scriptures then the Lord isn't telling them a thing. Paul said in 2 Timothy 3:16 “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness…” In the context of that verse, Paul was telling Timothy about the false prophets in their day. In the previous verses he said that in the last days “evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived…”
The danger of false teaching is real, and the consequences are severe. Those who water down, twist and pervert the scriptures cause great harm to their listeners. They are actively leading people astray from the true Gospel of Jesus Christ. Though they have great influence and seem to be very successful, there is coming a day when they will experience the judgment and wrath of the very God that they have used to build their own “kingdom”. Peter was no false prophet; he was a true witness who delivered a sound message.
- His message was not only sound, it was significant. Notice:
THE SIGNIFICANCE OF PETER’S MESSAGE
v19 we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts;
The saints not only needed to hear Peter’s message; it was important for them to obey it as well. Because false teachers were a present reality, the Christians were called to pay close attention to the holy scriptures. Peter compares the scriptures to “a light shining in a dark place”.
Though this world is filled with darkness, God’s Word is light that shines brightly. (Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path). There are some things that we will never know this side of Heaven. But everything that we NEED to know can be found in the Bible. For this reason, we must constantly search the scriptures. Likewise, it is imperative that we obey what God’s Word says.
Phillip Brooks said, “The Bible is like a telescope. If a man looks through his telescope he sees worlds beyond; but if he looks at his telescope, he does not see anything but that. The Bible is a thing to be looked through to see that which is beyond; but most people only look at it, and so they see only a dead letter”.
If you will diligently study and apply the scriptures, it will dramatically change your life. There is much deception in our day and false prophets abound. The only way you will know the difference between the truth and a lie is to study the truth. It is vitally important for pastors, preachers, and teachers to ensure that the message that they share is firmly rooted in the holy scriptures. When Bible teachers methodically work their way through a passage of scripture or a certain Biblical doctrine, the message that they hare is not their own, rather it is the very Word of God.
- That was the case for Peter, and this leads us to:
THE SOURCE OF PETER’S MESSAGE
v20 knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, 21 for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.
Scripture is not of human origin, nor is it a product of mere human interpretation of historical events. The scriptures were penned by about 40 holy men of God over 1500 years. Those Biblical authors did not write on their own accord, they wrote as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. There were certain occasions when the prophets wrote about things that they were unable to fully understand. However they were faithful to write what God had revealed to them. Peter says that they were “moved by the Holy Spirit”. This means that the Holy Spirit of God guided their thoughts and writings. The Bible is not God's Word according to Moses, or Paul, or Peter, or John, the Bible is GOD’S WORD, period!
If you are a true child of God who is serious about your faith, it is vital for you to search the scriptures daily. Everyone who has been saved has been saved for a purpose. Every Believer is to be involved in the ministry. Though we are not Apostles in the sense that Peter was an Apostle, we have been called a commissioned to minister on behalf of our Savior. Like Peter, our ministry is one that is appointed, authentic and amazing.
Likewise, the message that Peter shared is the same message that we have been entrusted to share in the world around us. If we teach the Bible and share the true Gospel, then we can have confidence that the message that we share is SOUND. Our teaching is not based on myths fairytales or the opinions of man. Like Peter, we can also share this message with full assurance that it is SIGNIFIGANT. Our service to the Lord is not some hobby that we are involved in. We live in a world that is filled with darkness. False teachers, deception and heresy abound. However, we have been given a “prophetic word” that shines as a light in a dark place. It should be our desire to spread the truth everywhere we go.
Furthermore, we must never forget that eternity is at stake. People are perishing and we have been entrusted by our Savior to share the message that they desperately need to hear. It is a message that declares the hope of eternal life is found in the Lord Jesus Christ. Finally, we can minister with confidence in the same way that Peter did. For the message that we share is not our own. It is a SOUND message that carries with it the authority of God Almighty. He is the SOURCE of the message that we share, for it is His own word that He has breathed out and given to His people to share with others. I hope and pray that you will be faithful to the ministry that the LORD has chosen for you. Be diligent to serve Him and to share His message in the world around you.
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