PETER, PAUL, AND ANDREW
PH 3:17-21
17 Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern.
18 For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:
19 whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame--who set their mind on earthly things.
20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,
21 who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.
**EVERYONE NEEDS A HERO, ESPECIALLY LITTLE BOYS (MEN IN THIS CASE) AND OUT OF THE PAGES OF SCRIPTURE I WANT TO TALK TO YOU TODAY ABOUT NOT JUST ONE, BUT 3.
1. THE POWER OF GOD THAT PETER HAD ON HIS LIFE:
A. WALKED ON WATER- MATT 14:29
Matthew 14:29 (NKJV)
29 So He said, "Come." And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus.
B. PREACHED AND 3K WERE SAVED-ACTS 2 VS 36-41
Acts 2:36-41 (NKJV)
36 "Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ."
37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?"
38 Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
39 For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call."
40 And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, "Be saved from this perverse generation."
41 Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them.
C. MY FAVORITE PASSAGE- ACTS 5:15-16- HE HAD SO MUCH POWER OF GOD ON HIM THAT PEOPLE WOULD BRING SICK PEOPLE TO THE EDGE OF THE STREET SO THAT HIS SHADOW MAY FALL ON THEM AND THEY BE HEALED- THAT IS POWER OF GOD MY FRIENDS
Acts 5:15-16 (NKJV)
15 so that they brought the sick out into the streets and laid them on beds and couches, that at least the shadow of Peter passing by might fall on some of them.
16 Also a multitude gathered from the surrounding cities to Jerusalem, bringing sick people and those who were tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all healed.
2. THE PASSION OF PAUL- BECAUSE OF HIS LOVE FOR CHRIST, HE WAS WILLING TO BE “PUT IN HARMS WAY” MORE THAN ANYONE THAT I HAVE EVER READ ABOUT:
2 Corinthians 11:22-33 (NKJV)
22 Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? So am I.
23 Are they ministers of Christ?--I speak as a fool--I am more: in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often.
24 From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one.
25 Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep;
26 in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;
27 in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness--
28 besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches.
29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to stumble, and I do not burn with indignation?
30 If I must boast, I will boast in the things which concern my infirmity.
31 The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is blessed forever, knows that I am not lying.
32 In Damascus the governor, under Aretas the king, was guarding the city of the Damascenes with a garrison, desiring to arrest me;
33 but I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall, and escaped from his hands.
3. LIVING WITH PURPOSE AS ANDREW- MANY TIMES MY LIFE GETS HAYWIRE AND I LOSE FOCUS, ANDREW LIVED HIS LIFE WITH ONE PURPOSE- TO BRING PEOPLE TO JESUS:
A. HIS BROTHER- IF YOU AREN’T GENUINE AT HOME THEN YOU CAN NEVER WIN THOSE CLOSEST TO YOU:
John 1:40-41 (NKJV)
40 One of the two who heard John speak, and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother.
41 He first found his own brother Simon, and said to him, "We have found the Messiah" (which is translated, the Christ).
B. A CHILD- CHILDREN MOST OF THE TIME CAN SPOT A FAKE QUICKER THAN AN ADULT:
John 6:5-10 (NKJV)
5 Then Jesus lifted up His eyes, and seeing a great multitude coming toward Him, He said to Philip, "Where shall we buy bread, that these may eat?"
6 But this He said to test him, for He Himself knew what He would do.
7 Philip answered Him, "Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may have a little."
8 One of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, said to Him,
9 "There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two small fish, but what are they among so many?"
10 Then Jesus said, "Make the people sit down." Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand.
C. COMPLETE STRANGERS:
John 12:20-22 (NKJV)
20 Now there were certain Greeks among those who came up to worship at the feast.
21 Then they came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and asked him, saying, "Sir, we wish to see Jesus."
22 Philip came and told Andrew, and in turn Andrew and Philip told Jesus.
ARE YOU LOOKING FOR AN EXAMPLE?
