Old Llantrisant Hill
Introduction
- Are you a disciple of Jesus Christ?
- We have started looking at the life of Simon Peter
- We have seen how he began as a disciple
- We have seen his encounter with the grace of Jesus
- We have seen his encounter with holiness of Jesus
- This is how all disciples begin - an encounter with the grace and holiness of Jesus
- Have you had this encounter?
- Have you recognised your sinfulness?
- Have you seen that there is someone to forgive you and establish you?
- Looking at part 2 of being a disciple
- Peter had a lot to learn - his life was full of ups and downs - examples
- As Christians - we have a lot to learn, we have highs and lows
- Last week:
- His special life calling: to be a fisher of men/evangelist (fulfilled in Acts 1-12)
- He was called as an apostle
- He had an intimacy with Jesus - examples
- This morning:
- Discovering your own heart
- Discovering the secrets of walking with Jesus
- To look a number of passages in Matthew
- 2 Pet 3:18 - growing in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ
- Every Christian needs to grow
Discovering your own heart
- Simon Peter first discovered his own sinfulness - in the presence of glory and majesty
- Like Isaiah
- When we spend time with God - we discover our sinfulness
- He would never forget this episode of walking on water
- The Lord Jesus comes walking on the water
- Jesus speaks wonderful words - "Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid." (v27)
- Simon Peter is still afraid
- What does he do? - he wants to go to a place of safety
- He knows the command of Jesus Christ is powerful - example
- A miracle takes place - he begins to walk on water, but then begins to sink
- "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?" - Jesus is calling him to faith
- Lesson: do not be dictated by your fears and doubts
- The Lord Jesus understands this
- We are not to just concentrate on circumstances around us
- Don't let your fears and emotions control you
- What was he learning about his own heart?
- He was not as strong as he thought
- Matt 16:13-23
- A divine revelation that Jesus is the Son of God
- He was given the keys to the kingdom
- He did unlock the faith to many people - e.g. Pentecost, Cornelius
- But shortly after - Simon Peter rebukes Jesus over his death and resurrection
- Jesus' response - "Get behind Me, satan!"
- Simon was to be a mouthpiece for God, but he could also be a mouthpiece of satan
- Peter was learning about his heart
- Human pride - to take Jesus aside and rebuke Him
- Our 'noble' thoughts and intentions - may be of the devil
- Can we sometimes be guilty of speaking the words of the devil instead of the words of God
- Christ came to unify, the devil to divide
- None of his failings are moral or of deliberate attempt to harm
- Yet even our good intentions might not be the will of God
- Matt 26:31-34
- Peter did not understand his own weakness
- He was willing to die for Jesus - example
- Yet he did not realise his own weakness
- He was unable to watch and pray
- He was not listening when it was prophesied that all would fall away
- He was undone by a servant girl
- Yet Peter was transformed - boldness, humble, dependent
- He had a lot to learn about his heart
- Do not be discourage in learning about your own heart
Discovering the secrets of walking with Jesus
- A new heart - Jesus told a parable about the things that came from the heart
- Matt 18:21-22 - forgiving others
- Ours sins are forgiven
- We should continuously forgive others with no limit
- The position of our heart - should always be to liberate forgiveness
- Do we hold grudges or are we generous and kind like God?
- Matt 17:24-27 - submitting to the will of God
- Peter had seen Jesus pay the temple tax but questioned the need due to corruption and the fact that Jesus was King
- Peter was free not to pay the tax, but Jesus said it should be paid to avoid offence
- Jesus is teaching the principle of submission
- Matt 19:23-30 - live for eternity
- God is able to change the heart to make it generous and kind
- We need to store up riches in heaven
- We are not to live for this world/material gain but to live for Christ and use the things we have for Him
- We may need to give up things in this world for Jesus
Closing Remarks
- Without Jesus - he could do nothing
- More than anything - we need Jesus
- Without Jesus - there is a lost eternity
- With Jesus - we go to heaven
- As we learn about our heart and the secrets of kingdom life - depend on Jesus