June 12, 2016

Matthew 26:69-75

Controversial question

Would you deny Christ?

Toys. Weebles wobble. We Christians are like them because the shape in which He presses us, we won't fall. Unless you rely on the one who make you stand and do, you will not be able to stand or do.

*We all fall short of Gods expectations.

Peter was the best disciple. Matt.26:35. The most zealous and in the



end he still fell short. All our righteousness is like filthy rags. We all have sin and fall short and he loves us none the less.

He loves you

2. Your finality does not define His destiny for you.

*We will never achieve Gods greatness if we remain as we are.

Peter died under Niro. 33 years after Jesus died and a lot had changed. First to preach to the Gentiles. Old Peter had to die and be replaced by a new Peter who was filled with the Holy Spirit.

*The spiritual man overcomes where the fleshly man fails.

Peter was a man controlled by the zealous fire and became a man who was controlled by the Holy Spirit. Having a lot of fire but no control does more damage than good. Huge difference between having the Holy Spirit and being controlled by the Holy Spirit. Involved in the process versus it being done for you. Spirit Controlled, Spirit filed, Spirit empowered, and Spirit directed.

*Recognize boasting as a mark of our flesh. I is a central word in failure and in pride.

They are boastful because they rely on self. Is your zeal and strength enough for the righteousness and works of God? No! We want a man made religion where God looks down and says I am impressed by you.

Boasting 32 times in Corinthians alone. We abandon faith in ourselves.

"He saved you and is still in the process of saving you."

*If you fail Christ there is always a way back.

Can a committed Christian ever deny Christ. Luke 23:39 It is one thing to say from here where it is nice and safe. Never ok to do anything against Christ. In the end you will stand up for Christ because He is able to make you stand. If you will not stand up for the name (not once ongoing and active) I will acknowledge you before my father in heaven because you are saved.

*If you're truly Christ's,in the you will stand.

How many times do they encourage them to stand strong and be bold in faith. When you live in fear it is easy to pull back and be a quiet Christian. We are so busy trying to hold on to our life and possessions we lose hold of the most important thing, the connection to Christ.

You see sister or brother in a situation where they deny we assume they aren't saved.

Just because they are weak now, doesn't mean they will stay weak. You need to have the patience for God to finish what he has started. If you are truly His there is something that will to allow you to sit. Let the Holy Spirit have you.

Ducks are hard to baptize they keep popping back up.

May 29, 2016

Where No Man Has a Gone Before

Matthew 14:22-23

Out of 100 Christians 1 will share their faith in their lifetime. For the vast amount of Christians Jesus is there to help us in our lives. Jesus things are the things you can't do by yourself. You can't make an unbeliever accept the gospel.

Peter's walk on the water.

We don't know the distance. He's out there he's on the water. The disciples are watching Jesus walking on the water then Peter walking out on the water. Who else did what Peter did. If your wait to do it perfectly before you do the thing God is giving you the opportunity to do, you will never do anything for the Lord. Not everything people do in the name in Jesus, are claimed in the name of Jesus. Gods will for us and our families is not always the scientifically rational thing to do.

Peter wanted to do what Jesus did.

Every rendition of Jesus walking on the water is preceded by the feeding of the 5,000. (5,000 men... Not including the women and children.) the disciples were used to sharing I. The works of what Jesus did. Being a Christian is being who Jesus is, doing what Jesus did and saying what Jesus said. Christian means little Christ. Jesus didn't only call us to be ambassadors but to be disciples, imitations. Soft serve Christianity wants the blessings of Christ without the commitment to Christ.

Peter followed Jesus where he understood the risk.

The Sea of Galilee was not as big as imagined. It was a big part of their lives. In your workplace, in your marriage, in your heart of hearts; That environment can be the very place where God steps in.

The greatest areas of faith that you are looking to make in you life, the greatest areas of ministry, the greatest areas of faith will be in your everyday. Sometimes we avoid areas, it is in these places God wants to reveal His glory.

God continually refined Peter's zeal.

Peter did what came to him on impulse. Jesus is tweaking and tuning Peter's zeal. Man of action. When we have impulse and zeal they can get you in trouble, other times sitting and waiting too long will make you miss the opportunity. It is not about His glory but our reputation. He makes it purposely uncomfortable to grow in His grace. Godly zeal is an admirable thing. Adjust the nature of your life to be less about yourself.

Jesus didn't let Peter fail completely.

Peters failure was caused by distraction. Peter didn't take a step and sink. He went far enough out I the middle of no where. He didn't sink all at once. "He started to sink" ... it was a gradual thing. Jesus is right there to catch him. It wasn't showing off. He did what was necessary in Christ. Gods will is not that we continue to do childish things indefinitely. Every now and then God uses failure to teach us what we need to learn. He is there to catch you if you fall.

Peter learned the winds are temporary.

How much does Satan need to do in your everyday life to distract you from the Lord. That thing that keeps you up at night is temporary. God will get us through.



​ May 15, 2016

The Calls Of Peter

Matthew 4:18-22, Mark 1:16-20, Luke 5:1-11, John 1:35-42

When your kids reach a certain age they leave. One mother hadn't heard from her daughter in a while. Hairdresser said send a card saying here's $50 but without the money.

Took Peters life and sum it to one calling but there are three callings. Layers of Peters heart.

Peters first calling was to know Jesus (John 1:35-42)

Johns writing is odd in arrangement. Each gospel is used for a different purpose. They rearranged them to make a point.

Many of Jesus' disciples were the disciples of John the Baptist. Jesus passes John and his deciphers and John proclaims Him the lamb of God. John doesn't put his name out there and he omits his name to show he is not worthy.

Jesus wanted them to experience Him and get to know Him.

You can get wrapped up in a lot of things about Jesus that aren't Jesus. It is the person and the work of Jesus Christ Himself. To trust someone you need to know who they are. You have to get to know Him. If you know who Jesus is and don't trust Him there is something really wrong with you.

I will not trust in myself.. In what I can do or what I have. I will trust in Him. The first step to walking with Christ is to walk with Christ.

Peters second calling was to know Jesus' power.

Following Jewish rabbis was very common. They traveled from place to place and lived off of the generosity of others. They would go and learn from the rabbis. They would even dress like them and would bring the children to them and would follow them. Thati (disciple)-copy. As you make copies they get less and less like the original. Just because you are a copy of Christ doesn't mean you are a good one. We do fellowship, prayer, reading Bible to ensure we are an accurate copy. If we are going to copy Christ we need to copy Him accurately. For Peter following Jesus was following a man who taught (Luke 5). Like a rock concert. They kept pressing closer and closer. He got in the boat to preach. If someone did something kind for you do you thank them? So Jesus says to Peter row out a little bit and put out net. Jesus is supernaturally overwhelming. Peter falls in reverence and awe.

You follow Him because He is able and He is worthy. Believe that He is able, trust that He is able. Some people God delivers. Some people God delivers the grace to get through it.

Peters third calling was to follow Jesus.

When Jesus called these men it was for life and for death. Called them to go and make a kingdom difference. (Matthew 4:18-22)

They left their nets and boats behind. They walk away from it all and they don't go back. Peter went back to fishing when Jesus died. Sometimes it sounds like it is more about the faith in the men than about the one they were following. It wass t about my faith, it was God in His power flowing through me.

What does Christ calling look like for you?