Peter-My Kind of Failure (Part B)

You and I will have failures. So many things in life we have such a man is Peter, thank you for days of courage that we brought from Scripture is my kind for I relate to him. I see myself saying, Lord asked me to come out I'll do it and then beginning to sink in. Yet the end. When it's all said and done on the Lord's wrong. 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 Genesis. Please stay with us after today's message more information about cross reference radio, specifically how you can get a free copy of this teaching today.

Pastor Rick will continue his message called Peter. I kind of failure will start today in Matthew chapter 16 Jesus headed towards Jerusalem and began to expound to his disciples that he was going to be crucified. Peter did not care for that message. The idea was something to be corrected and so we read in Matthew's Gospel chapter 16 verse 22 and 23 then Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him nice that's screaming at him, but is correcting the teacher saying, far be it from you, Lord. This shall not happen to you, but when he turned the Lord. That is what he turned and said to Peter, get behind me Satan you are an offense to me, for you are not mindful of the things of God but of the things men and you go from being the one that when everybody is wondering and quoting others that you step forward in and you say you are the Christ, the son of the living God and the Lord says flesh and blood cannot tell you that Simon Peter but my father in heaven. He is told you that and then shortly after you go to being called the devil. I mean, it's not right, but this is how it is Lord corrected him. He received the correction.

Not only does Matthew write about it, but Mark writes about it, which is significant because we believe with all the evidence forensic literary evidence to say that Mark's gospel is Peter's account Peter telling Mark Mark putting it into print.

Peter tells Mark. The very story the stories I should say that he lived so yes, one of the deep failures was this rebuke in Caesarea Philippi and then there was the great denial in Jerusalem.

I want to again make it very clear that my understanding of the Scripture concerning Peter's denial is that he did not deny as a coward, but he denied as a confused man. What would you have done. Would you have even continue to follow. They all did not follow John follow because he knew people within the court Peter.

He was stranger Matthew chapter 26 verse 33 Peter answered and said to him, even if all are made to stumble because of you I will never be made to stumble, what would happen if that was never recorded for us would not we be the ones I'll never fail the Lord.

But whenever say that were not for Peter we would rush and make the same claim, but because of Peter. We received lesson.

He denied as a confused zealot. He wasn't sure of his role was not to save his own skin. He already demonstrated this. Remember Malka's nuggets would not forget Peter but rest of his life.

I believe that that event there in Gethsemane of the disciple Peter swinging assorted Malka's head missing and getting only his ear is recorded to note the bravery of the man and the love from which that bravery was born. He loved Jesus. We read in Matthew 2658 but Peter followed him at a distance to the high priest's courtyard and went in and sat with the servants to see the end he could not just flee. He did flee in the beginning but he turned back was not that kind of man after the betrayal he had to see what was going to happen if he could be of any use if in that courtyard. He saw the Lord rushed by Roman soldiers. Peter, I have no doubt would've jumped into the mix was out of his element. These were not weapons of carnal war resistance.

He did not know how to spiritually engage the situation he was in over his head and he was learning he would never forget it. We have to learn it to we come to Christ again.

We think that there's some benefit to the kingdom with us now in it. God has to show us that this never the case when Peter was warming himself by the enemy's fire. Luke writes in 22nd chapter of Luke verse 60 Peter said, man. I do not know what you are saying he's denying the Lord immediately while he was still speaking, the rooster crow just as Jesus said it would. And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times. So Peter went out and wept bitterly is devastated. The look of Jesus broke the heart of Peter as it does to all of us who see Jesus as sinners. This is much deeper than just the denial. This is spiritual. The depth of that look cannot be captured in ink. Peter didn't elaborate on what is telling the story to others. What could he say, except you had to be there. I think that look of Jesus held more grace and love and kindness for all that Peter did not deserve in one instant more than he could measure so far beyond the simple denial. I'm in the not denial something you'd shoot for, but this was much greater and only Peter could understand that, and those to whom the Holy Spirit would pointed out after and that's it. No one else, no one else can enter behind this kind of veil without the Holy Spirit as it is with every other kind of veil that separates sinners from holy God.

And then years later after all these things when Peter had become the great apostle who was restored still the leader separating himself from Jerusalem. And what if he could, because of the legalism in the dedication to an obsolete faith that Jesus had delivered them from as he moved away from those things.

He finds himself in Antioch or Paul is doing a great work with others, but Paul is the leader there.

Of course we read about this in the Galatian letter Paul has recorded it.

The Holy Spirit has endorsed it, which means it is for our edification.

What was happening here as Paul had been dismantling this division between Jew and Gentile lights come to the Gentile. It's come through the Jewish Messiah is no longer distinction. All those things are done.

The only thing that matters is the blood of Jesus Christ, the righteousness of God upon us. Those Jews had a hard time learning it. Not all of them from the majority of them and so Peter comes up to where Paul is in Antioch sees all of these Gentiles getting saved Antioch as in Syria and he's right there with them. Amen. Laughing it up in their houses eating it already been to the house of Cornelius. He knew the drill. But then those from Jerusalem from James had come up to Antioch to check it out to put their seal of approval on again. They were trapped in this guilt centered religious legalistic approach to freedom from sin and they could not appreciate was going on what was going on. They only brought division and Peter reacted to that we are all susceptible to such things. Well anyway in Galatians chapter 2 we read the Paul's County says now when Peter had come to Antioch I was stood him to his face because he was to be blamed again if you want to turn, there's Galatians 2 verse 11. He continues for before certain men came from James.

He would eat with the Gentiles, but when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision had to wash the smell of bacon out of his robes and the rest of the Jews also played the hypocrite with him so that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy. But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel said to Peter before all of if you being a Jew live in the manner of the Gentiles, and not as the Jews, why do you compel Gentiles to live as Jews. Why partly we who are Jews by nature and not sinners of the Gentiles, knowing that a man is not justified by deeds of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by trust in Christ. What is done and not by the deeds of the law. For by the law by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified. But if while we seek to be justified by Christ we ourselves also are found sinners, is Christ. Therefore, minister of sin, certainly not.

While this goes on is just as powerful and easy Wally. I'm we need to read this part with her thesis for I through the law died to the law that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the son of God who loved me and gave himself for me.

I do not set aside the grace of God for righteousness comes through the law, Christ died for nothing powerful. I don't know how much of that he got to tell Peter but Peter knew it out anyway. You knew it all is not intellectually deficient when it came to his theological position he just allowed himself to be swayed by others. I can relate to that I can identify with that.

Anytime you feel like you don't want to say the gospel to preach the gospel because you fear what someone else might say, you too can relate the same thing.

Or maybe, maybe there's been a Christian leader in your life that has failed to and you've not been very merciful towards them.

Maybe they've gotten the doctrinal little twisted or they goofed up a little bit on the position that was Peter. Would you have said that said, I'm never going to listen to another word, Peter says that's what we do with what I do.

That's what I've done, I can think of a Bible teacher who endorsed a book that I think he should not endorsed at all, but he did is almost twice my age and that actually saw him in Jerusalem. And when I saw him. All I could see was to love Christ, I've been pretty disappointed with his endorsement. But see, that's that's what was happening or what happens to us, we see a righteous man filled with the spirit used by God no worse than us, and because they may go to the left or right sometime a bit too much reach into a pocket for the stones that we keep with us and were ready to throw in the lesson here in Galatians. Don't do that. Don't be so quick to judge you, not Simon Peter, you're not the apostle Paul, which can be like them. If you just let the grace of God guide your life and not the guilt of sin.

Sign me up. Lord, that's the side I want to be on because if you were to take Peter, John and Paul which one of those three would you most relate to.

Would you most identify with. I I think that Paul is so of course one of the great men of all Scripture. But I don't relate to him as I do to John but then when I think of John. I don't relate to him as a due to Peter when I really am honest with myself theologically. I relate most to Paul, but in reality, when I look at me. My heart who I am. I relate to Peter and am not ashamed of it. This man Peter stepped into the too deep of a C on a stormy night. I wish I had that sort of faith and courage in Jesus Christ. This man Peter stepped forward in era after getting it right. I know that I've done that I mailed heart versus only to mess up on a little one because of my own pride. I've said you are the Christ, and in the next breath. Lord, let me correct you on this. I know what it's like to pledge allegiance to the Lord and step backwards in confusion, retreating just the way I said that I wouldn't do.

I can identify with Peter. I know what it's like to step on the feet of other people and weakness when I knew better. I know what it's like to be a little bit of a bully when I shouldn't be learned sing to a do this every day and not even saying I've done it recently, but I have done and that's why relate to Peter so so much.

I do think he is one of the great men of all the Bible but is not given to us. That way when you think about it. Is there inescapable within each failure.

This man committed there was a heart of success within each failure, Satan, Satan and hell were rattled because there was there was a port that was still open that they could not shut that cause them great concern in Caesarea when he opened that gate and said you are the Christ. Just because he messed up later. Didn't mean the Satan was comfortable. Now what he said was this man has the potential to see into the spiritual realm faster than those around him and do something with on the Mount of Transfiguration when he said home and this is powerful. Let's build three houses appear three monuments to Moses and Elijah. The law and the prophets, and to you Lord Jesus and the father says Peter is a Peter but that's a Peter took it. This is Microsoft my son this is the one not them. This is the one hell looked at and said wait a minute, yet he got reviewed he stepped forward he recognize that this was a powerful something going on and he could not shut his mouth, he did something with it. What if he does it when he gets it right or love that I love that very much. Hell was rattled by this man went on to Galilee. He alone asked to step out and then the next time he dives into the water.

The cold water in the mist of spring and swims a short just to stand there in the presence of Jesus have anything to say. What did he say swim up to the beach, but it is what could he say it is so happy to be there. I will going to be in heaven in Gethsemane.

We pull that sword he swung at Potter.

Satan must've said oh yeah we got them in the flesh, but another part of them settle know we got a man that loves this Jesus would do anything for him and in Jerusalem there is like a lost puppy still following tagging along God's un-lettered dynamo needed no seminary except the seminary of Jesus Christ.

We all have to be educated. We all have to be taught. Anybody that says God is not for education is ignorant God is very much for educating his people. How he does it has to conform with how he has declared it in Scripture is why he was a success. John's gospel chapter 1 verse 42 Andrew it speaks of bringing him to Jesus and he brought to him and he brought him to Jesus that when Jesus looked at him.

He said you are Simon the son of Jonah. You shall be called Cephas, which is translated stone.

Cephas is the Aramaic word Petrus is the Greek word for the Aramaic word so it's a movable stone as opposed to an immovable stone Petrus. In fact, the root word for petrified comes from this Greek word for the Latin gets hold of it becomes Petrus and then we angle denies it becomes Peter movable stone. I know you say well he's a movable stone but Jesus is the immovable stone yes but in the hands of Jesus.

Movable stone is a powerful thing you ask Goliath about moving stones what they can do to the causes of the enemy and so an apparent mismatch in the beginning Peter Stone is sure about that Lord any kind of stone you sure that that's the name you want to give this man Jesus of course. Of said absoluteness ever said I meant what I said I don't apologize for it was a challenge and an invitation the same time for Peter to develop stability maturity in Christ.

To have that name given to you to say this is your name. Now match it live up to it have that in your nature. What if God called you the righteous night of Christ on that I can live up to it. Could you call me once in a while I mean autonomy.

Call me up every now and then.

I mean, call me. Hey, he is once in a while is fickle. Sometimes he gets it. Sometimes he doesn't how much you call me that. Lord, that would be appealing to our week nature. It is something that the church is doing more and more churches are appealing to the fallen and weak nature of their congregants and as such the inner men do not get built up, but the church becomes more and more like the world with a side dish of Jesus because they are reaching down and leaving them down. But when you have a church that holds the standard high to pull the people up the car and want to rebel against that they want to say so they want their flesh to be asserted that they want power. Scripture says you gotta die when you die, you have no more power dead men are powerless unless they are empowered by the Holy Spirit. This was the case. The church at Philadelphia you have a little strength.

That is another way of saying you are a weakling. If I were to take my five-year-old and say push against my hand and say you have a little strength compared to me she would be a weakling. That's what Christ says to us. However, unlike me with my child. God with his children empowers them so that their little strength subdues the flesh becomes powerful and mighty in spirit and that's why he wasn't unlettered dynamo. That's why if we read beyond the Gospels and acts and onto his letters, we find that while he was a Fisher of fishermen to take fish to the market. He became a Fisher of men to take men to their maker. That's what I want I want the same thing that Peter got. I want would Peter wants because I have the same God that Peter has in fact this man. If you read the letter of Jude you find the impact that he made on the man Jude who was the brother of the Lord Jesus Christ, according to the flesh. Is there anything else said of this man that I should know not to take anything away from the great apostle Paul. Paul takes nothing away from the great apostle Peter must see him that way to benefit from what the Scripture has preserved about him takes nothing from Paul know we we have the saying of a candle does loses none of its own light when it lights another candle that's Peter and Paul, powerful men worth time. But Paul without Jesus or Peter without Jesus, they would've just been a scholar and a fishermen and died that way without ever coming in touch with each other but because of Jesus, their lives change and so to so many because of them. In fact, as I mentioned earlier, Hell was rattled by the potential in Jesus of Jesus in Peter and that's why Jesus said in Luke chapter 22 verse 31 the Lord said to Simon, Simon, Simon, indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. That's the case with every one of us. That's why he is so relevant to us not going to skip over all the verses in acts when Peter is raising the dead when he is going into the temple and the silver and gold of a none such as I have give you he looks at Simon Magnus and sees that he is a counterfeit is is you poison the bitterness bound in iniquity and are not right with God, she says to him, that's our message through to those who are not right with God when he said to Safar and Ananias, you lied to God, Satan filled your heart and they drop dead and everybody was afraid of the church.

It was this Peter blazing the trail close with the start if there were addresses in heaven by the apostles.

If when we died we went to heaven and the apostles were allowed to speak about their experiences. Peter would draw the most listeners to help in my mind. Peter would draw the most. Paul, of course, control many and it would be powerful, you would have a quality and death that she just would never find in Peter John would have much to say many people to be blessed by what he has to say. But Peter would draw the multitudes they would be right and so you and I who are failures at so many things in life we have such a man is Peter to thank for days of courage that we drawer up from the Scripture is my kind I relate I see myself saying, Lord asked me to come out while doing and then beginning to sing yet the end. When it's all said and done I'm moving you've been listening to cross reference radio daily radio ministry of Pastor Rick Gaston of Calvary Chapel in Mechanicsville, Virginia. Pastor Rick is teaching from God's Word each time you tune as we mentioned at the beginning of today's broadcast.

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