Introduction to First Peter (Part A)

One of the easiest people in all the Bible to be endeared to is this man Simon Peter nobody made into a somebody by the Lord himself. Christ singled Peter out for lesson after lesson that is good for everyone in every age through the ages men been studying this man Peter in the presence of Jesus Christ. This man filled with the Holy Spirit so that we could get a bit of it ourselves. This is cross reference radio with our pastor and teacher Rick Gaston. Rick is the pastor of Calvary Chapel Mechanicsville.

Pastor Rick is currently teaching through the book of first Peter, please stay with us after today's message to hear more information about cross reference radio, specifically how you can get a free copy of this teaching, but for now let's join Pastor Rick in the book of first Peter chapter 1 as he begins his introduction to first Peter morning we having concluded our believers basic series are now starting our study of the letters of Peter first and second Peter and I've entitled the study letters from a moderate to be because that is who Peter was at the time that he wrote these letters, the flagship verse for the study of first and second Peter is second Peter chapter 1 verse 14.

Don't don't turn there. I'm just going to read the verse because it sets the pace for everything. It's going to happen in these two letters are it it at least it's to strengthen strength in many ways behind the man, knowing that shortly.

I must put off this tent, just as our Lord Jesus Christ showed me he speaking about a prophecy that Jesus made concerning him, how he would die for Christ. With that if you have your Bibles would you open to first Peter chapter 1 were only going to take to verses this morning as we introduce first Peter Peter and apostle of Jesus Christ to the pilgrims of the dispersion in Pontus glacier Q, Asia, and Bithynia elect according to the foreknowledge of God the father and the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ. Grace to you and peace be multiplied.

The story surrounding the man is as thrilling as the letter that he writes and I want to take a little time for those of you who may not be too familiar with Peter to just go over some of the things about him that make him a very special character in the Scripture. Soon after becoming a Christian. I think everyone meets Peter right away. You just get how you study the life of Christ become knowledgeable of the life of Christ without meeting this this man is anything but boring. And he's right there for every major scene in the gospel he is inserted some way he is there and in looking at is life. You notice a bit of yourself. This this man who heads the list of every list in the Scripture that names the apostles of Jesus Christ.

Jesus is all Peter is always first the first name on the list and that's not by by mistake.

We have much to learn from the man, and as we go through his writings. We we should be greatly influenced because he was every bit the theologian that Paul was two different men from two different upbringings to different backgrounds, different influences on their lives. Yet both men filled with the Holy Spirit. Peter as you would know from reading the Gospels put his foot in his mouth.

Time and time again I do that I do it often. I don't try that's a good at it. I am and I know many of you the same way you say something you you wish you did not say which you had that moment back, but it's too late it's done. He thought at one point in his life that he knew better than Jesus and he tried to tell Jesus that he lost that exchange and so does everyone else. How many times do we say Lord if you had just let that happen or not let that happen there. We are saying we know better he thought that others would fail where he would not fail.

These guys might forsake you, not me. He felt if you've not been in that spot. Maybe you've not tried to do enough because as you begin to reach for ministry. You will start stepping out thinking that you will be able to succeed where others may have failed and it's a fine line between bravery and pride folly those things. We understand this at one point he was too afraid to say what he was supposed to say in the interests of his Lord is King Christ Jesus. He warmed his hands over the world's fire while his master was being mistreated and falsely accused, leading up to, of course, the crucifixion more than once Peter saw angels and never gave them 1/10 of the attention that he gave to Jesus Christ. How many lessons are built.

In fact, for those who think angels are to be adored and somehow they are elevated in ways that they would themselves refuse. He knew that as much as he loved Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ loved him more, no matter what. I mentioned that the prophecy concerning his life from Jesus to him was that Peter you going to be crucified didn't say like that will get to it as a eventually and into this morning's consideration, but it tells them that straight out the force behind Peter's bravery was the love of Jesus Christ. History tells us his wife was crucified right alongside of him. History also tells us that Peter was crucified upside down yes to be crucified upside because he did not feel he was worthy of the same crucifixion that Jesus was if that is true, it is quite powerful. It is not hard to believe that weather is true or not. We know that he was crucified. He this man Simon Peter will get to his name change as we move through the first two verses log all eventually get to those verses as prophesied.

He preached Christ Jesus. In spite of being arrested and beaten and threatened.

He preached him. Nonetheless, I want to see myself in that part. Also again. He went to his death serving the Lord.

I hope that if that ever comes my way.

I go out the same way.

One of the easiest people in all the Bible to be endeared to is this man Simon Peter, a nobody made into a somebody by the Lord himself. Christ singled Peter out for lesson after lesson that is good for everyone in every age through the ages. Men have been studying this man Peter in the presence of Jesus Christ. This man filled with the Holy Spirit so that we could get a bit of it ourselves. That's the purpose behind such a character study to find out what made the Holy Spirit. Following this man or were other characters were prohibited the flow of the Holy Spirit. In particular, Bible character, so the day came when Jesus asked men how they saw him pull men say that I that I am what are people saying about me. That's what he asked his disciples in your position of public ministry. People say all sorts of things about you, great. Much of it is not true. Even your family members can say things about you that are in accurate.

Someone get told that their God. This is where Christ was asking his disciples whether they say who am I to them without hesitation without batting an eye. Peter blurts out the answer. He unleashed it right there in front of all the disciples, none of the others would've spoken up even if they shared the view they did share the view would Peter knew it was right there just ready to be unleashed in the Lord push the button who Matthew chapter 16 Simon Peter answered and said you are the Christ, the son of the living God that does not mean that you are the Christ child of God, like us, although it does not mean that it means you are the one you come from God. You are equal with God.

Nobody has the status you have, that's what that statement meant.

Jesus answered and said to him, Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for flesh and blood is not revealed this to you, but my father who is in heaven. This is a spiritual moment. You are in touch with the throne of God. I look at Peter's life and all the things he did wrong and I save Peter can do it, then it's available for me to and I am strengthened by such a record because this first letter he's writing to Christians are being persecuted. You may be persecuted, not for your fate just for some, the Satan is just targeting you within this letter is it has for you information you would benefit from Peter was a man of unconscious influence and even though he was influencing those around him, but he was and as it was said of Abel, he being dead still speaks is life still speaks to us this unconscious influence in John's Gospel. In chapter 20.

The first day of the week Mary Magdalene went to the tomb. Jesus was taught there, but he meets her on the road as she runs back to the apostles to tell Peter soon as Peter hears it he gets up he bolts toward the tomb.

John then follows John did not go first got there first.

He was careful to point that out to everyone to they both come to the tomb. John first John looks in the tomb, Peter comes up to me goes in the tomb. Then he comes out. Then John goes into the tomb.

That's the man Peter was.

John saw him do it. John did the days after the crucifixion, Jesus stood on the seashore and he called out boys.

Have you caught anything. No throw your net on the other side and they hauled it all is better. John said this, the Lord, and the next thing everybody heard was splash Peter dived into the water. Put is how the government would dive into the water and swam to the shore. What a thrilling moment. That must've been for every body. John never forgot his writing almost 60 years later, he writes.

Peter jumped in the water like a fool, which I did. It doesn't say it but this is just a note of grill running through John because it was contagious coming from Peter. We should have some of this. That's why when we read the Gospels we might not even be conscious of it. How much the man Peter said it often, just think of all the things the questions that were answered by Jesus because of what Peter said Ben would say something goofy in the Lord were straight.

Now we have the answer now dynamic character flowing out of his life influence because of character.

Character is influence your article and influence people in a negative way or a positive way. It's up to you. All things considered. In fairness, because there are those people that no matter what good did you do to them. They will never receive it as grace.

They will trample grace is even warns us about that you can show grace to certain folks in the old will just throw you in it under whatever trains coming by first chance they get, what character.

Character is formed by what we are exposed to and how are you readers respond to it and it either piles up over the years, or it adds up over the years. The choice is ours.

We should want to be people of high caliber of character. Should we should we aim lower, should we aim for something else to me pick out some other target. Absolutely not, is why we love the Proverbs of Proverbs are about character.

If you want to get it right, says the Proverbs the consider these things and don't be the fool in the bunch fact that the very men compile these Proverbs even offered many of them became the wisest fool of them all is an absolute warning to everyone who would be righteous. So these lessons that come out of the Scripture. They abound do I with my life, offer anything to counteract what Satan is doing as I look at the life of Peter, and I see him influenced by the Holy Spirit.

And then I also see him influenced by Satan, but not energized Jesus to get behind me Satan he was talking to Peter and throw Peter to Satan, who was influencing him and we go out into the world and we find a society of people not only influenced by Satan, but energized by Satan and the question is what do I do with my life.

To counteract that. That's why we assemblage churches like this for preaching.

That's why God has ordained this because you won't get it shopping or staying at home or whatever chores or things that remain to be done. It is the house of God with the word of God is to be preached in the Holy Spirit is to move in the lives of those in the building that is his intention, you can say no to that or you can receive it. So the question is what do I do with my life. To counteract what Satan is doing in my the salt of the earth or not. So I know for fact that there are sitting here in this room right now. Those who are godly influences those who are doing things with the king who are part of the processes the war spiritual war of counteracting the enemies movements attacks and plans. Acts chapter 1 Jesus said this to the disciples.

Peter in that group. You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit is come upon you, and you shall be witnesses to me in Jerusalem and Judea, Samaria and out of parts of the world what he was saying to them as you are going to get what you need to preach me that's what it means not to show off Goldberg a holy I am to preach the gospel. That's what he is talking about and that is what they went off and did an Peter is continuing this in his letter to these Christians who are trying to do the same thing as they are hounded by the citizens of the Roman Empire because of their hatred of the Christians at the time this letter was written.

Once the assignment Peter was converted. Jesus always was real and foremost to him. Never did Jesus sink into some abstract theory will maybe he's not that never happened to Peter second Peter chapter 1 verse 16 we do not follow cunningly devised fables, when we made known to you the power and coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his Majesty.

We sought and you can't take that away from us, and I'm telling you I was there but you believe it or not that's on you. I know it's on me and that's how every Christian should respond to this life than anybody that disagrees with their personal born-again experience.

I met him I don't need you to sign off on it. I would like you to. I would like you to also have this experience, but I don't need it I want it. I want you to want so we have to become wises servants as harmless as doves in the ministry of this power of the Holy Spirit preach Christ. Many Christians today would never allow themselves to sit under the authority of assignment Peter because you had not enough formal education for them that pride froze the first person in the Bible show up with pride. Satan himself, I'll be like the most. I'll sit where he sits. I'll take that power and was cast to the earth.

He saw man. He hated him from the beginning and solely look at these things. We collect them. We hope that they shape us that the impact us. But as I said many Christians have too much pride to receive from people today like Simon Peter acts chapter 4 now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John and perceive that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled and they realized that they had been with Jesus and seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it, but when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred amongst themselves saying what we could do with these guys.

They do not get any authority from us. It comes from somewhere else. They had been with Jesus Christ.

Many today given the choice would go sit under Solomon before the set under manlike Peter because of his lack of formal education was one of the point of bringing this up now because you must remember that it is about anointing.

It is about what God puts into you, not what men call accredited or anything else. Men may say and it doesn't have to be lived out with a attitude of bitterness or contention, but it is a fact that every believer has direct access to the throne of God and we are not interested in having a caste system within our faith, yet yet there a lot of places that have it and will not depart from it. But don't let that be you. It is the truth that came out of this man, the wisdom, the anointing upon his life. Others may diminish that and justify why they do may not be us, and it epic moment in this man's life. With all this upset about came a day when he denied his Lord when he failed total collapse.

It was catastrophic.

But Jesus promised him another chance and within that promise a baked into that promise of victory. Peter would die an allegiance to Jesus Christ. Three years after meeting Jesus, the promise was given to him only three years into his walk. John's gospel chapter 21 verse 18, most assuredly, I say to you when you were younger you girded yourself. You walk where you wished when you are old you will stretch out your hands and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish this he spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God and when he had spoken this he said to him, follow me. This is the death that you're going to die in front of everybody.

God will receive the glory because you will not fail. The second time how encouraging 30 years later there about. It was fulfilled just like Jesus said it is not uncommon for us to fail and it is guaranteed will get another chance. If we want will receive it. That is the grace of God that is the guarantee God's grace and is all over this letter Peter emphasizes grace throughout these this first letter, especially his letters are written again from a moderate to be never lost sight of that what all of his ministry knowing how it was going to end for him. He did not know the timetable, but he knew how it was going to happen and so that flagship verse that I quoted. Knowing this shortly that I must put off my tent just as our Lord Jesus Christ showed me the tent is the body. It's just a tent just holes is with all the spirit and the soul resides really nothing cast away all receive a glorified body that day. We are looking for. So wherever Peter Peter went his death sentence went with him and everybody was a Christian.

They knew it be a witness, Peter for me but going to kill you for dinner said okay. Another lesson this first letter that we are considering in the second and actually what will get to the second image to the second one letter at a time written about 64, 65, A.D., after the birth of Christ, about 30 years after the crucifixion when it happened historically, will Nero.

He is the one on the throne.

He is the Caesar over the Roman Empire. Nero love to build as many of them did Gerard the great, which is great monster just many throughout history the that they love to build things lawyer Rod Nero. He wanted to develop Rome. Further, put his his his signature on the city but hadso it is believed that he concocted a plan to burn down portion of the city that would allow him to then go in and redevelop that area and when he did this, the fire burned for additional six days and seven nights out-of-control. Many of the houses in the shops and in that area where it started work were made of wood, not masonry materials and they just caught up until much of the city was destroyed. While the people blamed Nero from the beginning Nero realize he needed to come up with a scapegoat quickly and who else would be better to blame then those Christians they were disliking Christian we were this life for two reasons. One, because of our association with never second was because of the influence of the Christians had over people and paganism were being converted.

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