Sunday December 14, 2008 Phone: 570.829.5216
Pastor David Miklas e-mail
Message #4 Twelve Chosen Men Text: Matthew 10:1-8
"Peter, a Rock for Christ- Part 1"
Mark 16:6-7
Introduction: As we have previously noted there are four lists of the DISCIPLES who became the APOSTLES. The lists are given in Matthew 10, Mark 3, Luke 6, and Acts 1. Together let’s read the list found in Matthew 10:1-4, “And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease. (2) Now the names of the twelve apostles are these; The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; (3) Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus; (4) Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.” All four lists contain some marvelous similarities:
First: In each of these four passages PETER is always mentioned first and JUDAS always last.
Second: In each list there appears to be three groups containing four members each:
Group one: Peter, Andrew, James and John
Group two: Philip, Bartholomew (Nathaniel) Thomas, Matthew
Group three: James the son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus (Lebbaeus) Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot.
Let’s turn our attention to each of the TWELVE disciples that were chosen SOVEREIGNLY and PRAYERFULLY by our Lord. These became the “Master’s Men” who would change the World with the Gospel.”
The first Disciple who walks out of the pages of the Word of God and appears upon the stage of human history is the Apostle Peter. Approximately 150 verses narrate the account of the salvation, call, ministry, personal life, failures and victories of this man, who was not just one of the TWELVE Disciples but the spokesman for the twelve, whether they liked it or not. Remember his name always heads the list of the twelve, though he was not the first disciple chosen. Once he decided to follow Christ, there was no turning back. As time passed, he became all the more committed to the Master, a devoted and stubborn-minded disciple whose loyalty knew no bounds. Let’s focus our attention on FIVE truths about Peter.
First: We discover that the Gospels and the first part of the book of Acts are literally filled with the mention of Peter.
Strangely enough, Peter and Paul are mentioned almost an equal number of times in the New Testament.
His name is mentioned in the Gospels more that any name other than Jesus'.
Nobody speaks as often as Peter, and nobody is spoken to by the Lord as often as Peter.
No disciple is so reproved by the Lord as Peter, and no disciple reproves the Lord but Peter.
No disciple ever so boldly confessed and outspokenly acknowledged the Lordship of Christ as Peter, and no one denied it as boldly as Peter.
No one is so praised and so blessed as Peter, and no one else is called Satan but Peter.
The Lord had more harsh things to say to Peter than He ever said to anybody else, but that was part of making him the man He wanted him to be.
Second: We observe that Peter's leadership is seen throughout Acts chapters 1-12.
He made the move to replace Judas with Matthias in Act 1:15.
He was the spokesman on the day of Pentecost in Act 2:14-40.
He, along with John, healed a lame man in Act 3:1-11.
He, along with John, defied the Sanhedrin in Act 4:1-22.
He dealt with the hypocrisy of Ananias and Sapphira in Act 5:1.
He dealt with the problem of Simon the magician in Act 8:9-25.
He raised Dorcas from the dead in Act 9:32-43.
He took the gospel to the Gentiles in Act 10:1--11:18.
He wrote two epistles, I & II Peter in which he repeated all the lessons Jesus had taught him.
Third: We observe that Jesus changed Simon’s name to Peter. As a matter of some background: Simon was a very, very common name. This Simon was a fisherman by trade, and lived with his brother Andrew, also a fisherman. Originally, he was from the village of Bethsadia, but later moved to Capernaum. We know that Simon was married because the Lord healed his mother-in-law, Luke 4:38, and because Paul mentions that Cephas (Peter) took his wife along in his ministry, I Corinthians 9:5.
So, the fisherman named Simon had a common name, a common trade, and a common martial status; but the Lord made something of him for the glory of God.
Peter was won to Christ by his brother Andrew. When Andrew heard John the Baptist say, in John 1:36, "Behold the Lamb of God!'" he went immediately to Peter to tell him that he had found the "Messias." And when Andrew brought Peter to Jesus, Jesus looked at him and said in John 1:42, "Thou art Simon the son of Jona; thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone."
Peter's natural name "Simon" means “instability or vacillation.” Jesus knew then that Peter would FAIL Him in the crucial hours of His trail and crucifixion, but He said, "Thou shalt be called Cephas" meaning “a stone." The word for stone used here means “a little pebble.” Cephas is Peter’s Aramaic name and Peter is his Greek name which both mean “a stone.” Even after his name was changed, the name Simon was used in two situations:
First it was used to designate him in a secular way. For example: “The house of Simon,” Mark 1:29.
Second, the name Simon was used when he was being reprimanded for returning to his old job of fishing in John 21:15-17 where He asked “Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou Me more than these?”
Simon Peter is known as Simon in his secular identification; and as Peter in his spiritual identification. It’s interesting to note that in the Gospel of John, Peter is called “Simon Peter” 17 times. I think this is because John knew him so well. He knew him as always being in a flux somewhere between secular Simon and spiritual Peter. In fact, the whole life of Peter can be outlined by his names: Simon...Simon Peter...Peter; thus showing his transition from being secular minded to being spiritual minded because Jesus promised to change his life from instability to stability.
Do you realize that when you trusted Jesus as your personal Saviour you received a special name? In Acts 11:26 we read, "And the Disciples were called Christians first in Antioch." Today the word Christian is a very loosely used word. Many people who have never been born again consider themselves "Christians" simply because they may belong to a church, attend services somewhat regularly, and even occasionally give to the work of the church! But it takes more than that for a sinner to become a child of God. It takes repentance from sin and faith in Jesus Christ. Actually the word is mentioned only three times in the entire Bible. Here in Acts 11:26 and in:
Acts 26:28 "Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian."
I Peter 4:16 "… if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed…”
I would say it's a wonderful blessing to be called a Christian, meaning one who is "Christ-like." I would say it is a wonderful blessing to be a part of the Family of God,
to know that God is our Heavenly Father,
to know that Christ is our Redeemer,
to know that the Holy Spirit lives inside us to comfort and guide us.
It's a wonderful blessing to be called a Christian, AMEN! You and I ought to be PROUD of that NAME. We shouldn't do anything to HURT or DISGRACE that name. Let it mean something to be called a Christian.
I'm a Miklas. That might not mean much to you, but it does to me. I thank God for my parents and for the Biblical and Spiritual heritage they gave to me. I don't ever want to do anything that will bring a disgrace upon the name of Miklas. In the same way, since June 30, 1950 when I made the decision to trust Christ as my Saviour,
I am so glad that I am a part of the family of God.
I am so glad that I can be called a Christian.
I believe the Holy Spirit of God teaches us to be careful not to hurt the Lord's name.
Recently I heard a story of a little boy who in his boyish way asked his daddy how tall Jesus was. The dad said, "Son I don't know, the Bible doesn't tell us, but I would guess he was 6 feet tall." The little fellow said, "Daddy then how tall am I." The Daddy said, "Son you are 4 feet tall." The little fellow thought for a moment and said, "Daddy does Jesus live in me?"
"Son he sure does live in you, since you asked Jesus to be your Saviour."
"Then Daddy, If I am 4 feet tall and Jesus is 6 feet tall that means Jesus is sticking out of me."
My Friend, that's what the Christian life is all about. It's getting saved, getting the Word of God in your heart and then we just let Jesus stick out of us! I challenge you as Christians to let Jesus stick out, Amen!
Fourth: We notice that Peter’s confession of Christ is given in Matthew 16. In Matthew 16:13-15 we read, “When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? (14) And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. (15) He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?” Then in verse 16 we have Peter’s great confession, “And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” In verse 17 Jesus answered, “And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.” Now we come to verse 18-19 where Jesus made this great promise to Peter, “And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. (19) And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” Amazing! So in what ways did Peter unlock the kingdom of heaven? Remember?
It was Peter on the day of Pentecost in Acts 2: 15-39 who preached the first great apostolic sermon to the JEWS.
It was the Apostle Peter who led the first GENTILE, Cornelius, to Christ in Acts 10.
So, Peter was given the great privilege to unlock the doors to the kingdom of heaven to the Jews and also to the Gentiles.
Retuning to Matthew 16 we find Peter feeling his oats. In verse 16 he had been given a revelation, and in verse 19 he was given the keys of the kingdom of heaven. Now in Matthew 16:21 we read, "From that time forth began Jesus to show unto His disciples, how He must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day." Jesus tells His disciples that He's going to suffer and die, but notice Peter's reaction in verse 22: "Then Peter took Him, and began to rebuke Him…" Peter took the Lord, the Creator of the universe, and said, "Come with me. I've got to straighten you out." This guy was unbelievable! Well, he took the Lord and began rebuking Him, saying, "Be it far from Thee, Lord; this shall not be unto Thee." In other words, "As long as I'm in charge, nothing's going to happen to You. I'll promise You that." Notice the Lord's reply to Peter is in verse 23: "But He turned and said unto Peter, Get thee behind Me, Satan. Thou art an offense unto Me; for thou savorest not the things that are of God, but those that are of men." In other words, "Peter, you don't know the plan of God, you're only thinking from the human viewpoint."
In verse 16, Peter's mouth had been used for God; but here in verse 22 it was used for Satan. He was doing exactly what Satan had done during Christ's temptation, trying to derail Him from the cross.
Peter was just as available to the devil as he was to God.
Remember this, “The greater potential a person has to be used by God, the greater potential he has to be used by Satan.” Unless we are constantly on our guard against the “Wiles of the Devil,” the best Christian today could tomorrow be used of Satan to commit a terrible outlandish sin.”
Peter would finally learn his lesson, for in I Peter 5:8-10 we read, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: (9) Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. (10) But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.”
Fifth: We have Peter’s Great Rejection of the Lord. In Matthew 26:31 the Lord gave a prophecy regarding the shepherd being smitten and the sheep scattered. This referred to His disciples leaving Him and running away.
However, in verse 33, Peter speaks up and says, "Though all men shall be offended because of Thee, yet will I never be offended." In other words, "I'm not like all men. I'm a cut above the rest. They may all forsake You, but I'll never do that."
Jesus said unto him in verse 34, “Verily I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny Me thrice.
Peter said unto Jesus in verse 35, “Though I should die with Thee, yet will I not deny Thee."
Wrong! That very night, Jesus' words turned to reality.
The loyal, strong-hearted, courageous Peter failed his Lord.
Deliberately and openly he denied that he was one of the Twelve.