AUGUST 09, 2009
Text:
Matthew 10:2
12
disciples/ apostles:
-
Foundation
of the church
Ephesians 2:20
English
Standard Version (ESV)
20 built on the foundation of
the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the
cornerstone,
1.
received divine revelation
·
responsible
for writing most of the New Testament
-
taught
it- codified it, fraud it into truth and theology- became the substance which
the church taught- and from it which it learned
·
given
the mysteries of the new covenant
·
promised
of the Holy Spirit
·
wrote
Apostles doctrine (ACTS 2)
-
source
of revelation
·
framers
of theology
·
given
to build the body/ church
Ephesians
4:12
English
Standard Version (ESV)
12 to equip the saints for the work of
ministry, for building up the body of Christ,
2.
first set of examples
-
of
patterns for people to look, to virutre
-
called
HOLY APOSTLES
3.
set the pattern of godly/
holy/ virtues life
-
authority
was confirmed by miracle gifts (2 COR 12)
4.
primary task: TO PREACH
-
while
preaching they were healing and casting out demons as affirmation that they
indeed presentations of God
I. IDENTITY
Matthew
10:2-4
English
Standard Version (ESV)
2 The names of the twelve apostles
are these: 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 tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus;[a] 4Simon the Zealot,[b] and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed
him.
Mark
3:16-19
English
Standard Version (ESV)
16 He appointed the twelve: Simon
(to whom he gave the name Peter); 17 James the son of Zebedee and John
the brother of James (to whom he gave the name Boanerges, that is, Sons of
Thunder); 18 Andrew, and Philip, and
Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and
Thaddaeus, and Simon the Zealot,[a] 19 and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed
him.
Luke
6:14-16
English
Standard Version (ESV)
14 Simon, whom he named Peter,
and Andrew his brother, and James and John, and Philip, and
Bartholomew, 15 and Matthew, and Thomas, and
James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon who was called the Zealot, 16 and Judas the son of James,
and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.
Acts
1:13
English
Standard Version (ESV)
13 And when they had entered, they
went up to the upper room, where they were staying,Peter and John and
James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of
Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot and Judas the son of James.
Insights:
1.
Peter
was always first on the list
PETER - protos -
foremost -chief (2TIM1:15) -LEADER
2.
3
groups – always 4 guys in each group
Group
1: Peter, Andrew, James and John
Group
2: Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas
and Matthew
Group
3: James the son of Alpaheus,
Lebbaaues called Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot
3.
Group
1: first ones called- most intimate
Group
2: next ones called
Group
3: last ones called
Point
to Ponder: YOU CAN’T BE INTIMATE WITH EVERYBODY
Jesus,
even out of 4, draw to Him 3 and out of the 3 He spent most of His time with
PETER.
4.
Leaders
of the group
Group
1: Peter
Group
2: Philip
Group
3: James
Group
1: 4 of 2: Peter (man of action)
and John (always meditating)
Group
2: Nathanael
(believed everything) and Thomas (skeptical)
Matthew
(government exhorting taxes) and Simon (revolutionary)
·
Each
has POLITICAL DIFFERENCES- Spiritual- Emotional differences
BUT-
THEY DIDN’T FAIL!
II. WHO IS SIMON?
-
son
of Jona/ Jonah/ John
-
fisherman
by trade
-
lived
with his brother Andrew in a village called Bethsaida, later moved to Capernaum
-
married
(1 COR 9:5)
SIMON:
-
earthly/
secular name
Mark 1:29
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus
Heals Many
29 And immediately he[a] left the synagogue and entered the house
of Simon and Andrew, with James and John.
Luke 4:38
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus
Heals Many
38 And he arose and left the synagogue and
entered Simon's house. Now Simon's
mother-in-law was ill with a high fever, and they appealed to him on her
behalf.
Luke
5:3
English
Standard Version (ESV)
3 Getting into one of the boats,
which was Simon's, he asked him to put out a little from the land. And he
sat down and taught the people from the boat.
Luke
5:10
English
Standard Version (ESV)
10 and so also were James and John,
sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to
Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.”[a]
-
secular
Simon and sinful Simon
Luke 5:1-8
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus
Calls the First Disciples
1 On one occasion, while the crowd was
pressing in on him to hear the word of God, he was standing by the lake of Gennesaret, 2 and he saw two boats by the lake, but the
fishermen had gone out of them and were washing
their nets. 3 Getting into one of the boats, which was
Simon's, he asked him to put out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the people from
the boat. 4 And when he had finished speaking, he
said to Simon, “Put out into the
deep and let down your nets for a catch.” 5 And Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing!
But at your word I will let down the nets.” 6 And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish,
and their nets were breaking. 7 They signaled to their partners in the
other boat to come and help them. And
they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. 8 But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down
at Jesus' knees, saying, “Depart
from me, for I am a sinful man, O
Lord.”
John 21:15-17
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus
and Peter
15 When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to
Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know
that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” 16 He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know
that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” 17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to
him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know
everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.
Mark
14:37
English
Standard Version (ESV)
37 And he came and found them
sleeping, and he said to Peter, “Simon, are you asleep? Could you not
watch one hour?
III. LEADER
PETER: KEY
: 1ST 12 chapters of ACTS
revolve around him
: preached the sermon at Pentecost
: does first great miracle at the
temple
: faces the Sanhedrin
: 4 Gospels literally filled with
Peter
: everyplace
: speaks often, spoken by the Lord
often
: reproved by the Lord, he reproves
the Lord
: boldly confess and so outspoken
: boldly acknowledge and denies the
Lordship of Christ
: constant conundrum
: called Satan
3
Other Elements of Making a Leader
1)
right
raw material (raw stuff of leadership)
a)
Inquisitiveness: Curiosity is an important
element of leadership. Leaders are hungry for answers. According to the gospel,
Peter asked more questions than the other eleven combined.
Matthew 15:15
English
Standard Version (ESV)
15 But Peter said to
him, “Explain the parable to us.”
Matthew
19:27
English
Standard Version (ESV)
27 Then Peter said in reply, “See, we
have left everything and followed you. What then will we have?”
Mark
11:21
English
Standard Version (ESV)
21 And Peter remembered and said to
him, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree that you cursed has withered.”
Mark
13:4
English
Standard Version (ESV)
4 “Tell us, when will these
things be, and what will be the sign when all these things are about to be accomplished?”
John
21:21
English
Standard Version (ESV)
21 When Peter saw him, he said to
Jesus, “Lord, what about this man?”
b) Initiative: Drive, ambition, and
energy are important components of effective leadership. Leaders make things
happen. We often hear Peter speak boldly, as seen in Matthew 16:13–16. When
Jesus asks, “Who do men say I, the Son of Man, am?” Several ideas are expressed.
Then Jesus asks, “But who do you say I am?” Peter boldly and decisively
asserts, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Peter was always
ready to take hold of every opportunity a characteristic of a natural leader.
Mark
5:31
English
Standard Version (ESV)
31 And his disciples said to him, “You
see the crowd pressing around you, and yet you say,‘Who touched me?’”
c)
Involvement: Leaders are most
comfortable in the middle of the action piloting others in the right direction.
In the story of Peter and the boat (Matthew 14:26–28), while the others
wondered if they were seeing a ghost, Peter said, “Lord, if it is You, command
me to come to You on the water.” Jesus said, “Come.” And out Peter went. While
Peter’s lack of faith is often criticized, the fact is, he got out of the boat!
He had to be with Jesus in the center of the action.
John 20:3-6
English
Standard Version (ESV)
3 So Peter went out with the other
disciple, and they were going toward the tomb. 4 Both of them were running together,
but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first.5 And stooping to look in, he
saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter came, following
him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there,
2)
right experiences
-
learn most of all from experiences
a)
great revelation
John 6:66
English Standard Version (ESV)
66 After this many of his disciples turned back and no
longer walked with him.
Matthew
16:15-16
English
Standard Version (ESV)
15 He said to them, “But who do
you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter replied, “You
are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
-
transformed
by letting Him know that God wanted to use his mouth, that God could speak
through him… BECAUSE
-
one
day, he was going to stand up on the day of Pentecost and he was going to
preach the revelation of God
-
one
day he was going to take a pen and was going to write the revelation of God.
-
JESUS
PREPARED HIM WITH A REVELATORY EXPERIENCE.
b)
great reward
Matthew
16:17-19
English
Standard Version (ESV)
17 And Jesus answered
him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has
not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. 18 And I tell you, you are Peter,
andon this rock[a] I will build my church,
and the gates of hell[b] shall not prevail against it. 19 I will give you the keys of
the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in
heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed[c] in heaven.”
-
unlock the Kingdom
-
preached the 1st great apostolic sermon (day of
Pentecost) to the Jews
-
led the first Gentile (Cornelius- Acts 10) to Christ
-
unlocked the Jews, as it were, the Kingdom to the Gentiles- he was
opening the door.
c)
great remission
Matthew 16:21-23
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus
Foretells His Death and Resurrection
21 From that time Jesus began to show his
disciples that he must go to
Jerusalem andsuffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes,
and be killed, and on the third
day be raised. 22 And Peter took him aside and began to
rebuke him, saying, “Far be it from you, Lord![a] This shall never happen to you.” 23 But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance[b] to me. For you are not setting your mind on the
things of God, but on the things of man.”
- his mouth has just been
used for God and now his mouth was used for Satan
- the greater the potential
to be used by God, the greater the potential to be used by Satan
d)
great rejection
Matthew
26:31-35
English
Standard Version (ESV)
31 Then Jesus said to them, “You
will all fall away because of me this night. For it is written, ‘I
will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be
scattered.’ 32 But after I am raised up, I
will go before you to Galilee.” 33 Peter answered him, “Though they
all fall away because of you, I will never fall away.” 34 Jesus said to him, “Truly, I
tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny me
three times.” 35 Peter said to him, “Even if I must
die with you, I will not deny you!” And all the disciples said the same.
Matthew 26:69-75
English Standard Version (ESV)
Peter
Denies Jesus
69 Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. And a servant girl
came up to him and said, “You also were with Jesus the Galilean.” 70 But he denied it before them all, saying,
“I do not know what you mean.” 71 And when he went out to the entrance,
another servant girl saw him, and she said to the bystanders, “This man was
with Jesus of Nazareth.” 72 And again he denied it with an oath: “I
do not know the man.” 73 After a little while the bystanders came
up and said to Peter, “Certainly you too are one of them, for your accent betrays you.” 74 Then he began to invoke a curse on
himself and to swear, “I do not know the man.” And immediately the rooster
crowed. 75 And Peter remembered the saying of Jesus, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny
me three times.” And he went out
and wept bitterly.
-
so much confidence
e)
great commissioning
John 21:15-19
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus
and Peter
15 When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to
Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know
that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” 16 He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know
that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” 17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to
him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord,you know
everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. 18Truly,
truly, I say to you, when you were young, you
used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you
will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you
do not want to go.” 19 (This he said to show by what kind of death he was to
glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, “Follow me.”
f)
great realization
-
became the MAN GOD WANTED HIM TO BE
AUGUST 15, 2009
3) right lessons
-
taught certain principles:
a) submission
A true leader is an example to his or her followers~including
an example of submission. A true spiritual leader provides an
example by submitting to the Lord and to those in authority, as instructed in
Scripture. The raw material within Peter motivated him to dominate every
situation. Jesus taught him submission (Matthew 1).
Matthew 17:24-27
English Standard Version (ESV)
The Temple Tax
24 When they came to Capernaum, the
collectors of the two-drachma tax
went up to Peter and said, “Does your teacher not pay the tax?” 25 He said, “Yes.” And when he came into the
house, Jesus spoke to him first, saying, “What
do you think, Simon? From whom do kings of the earth take toll or tax? From their sons or from others?” 26 And when he said, “From others,” Jesus
said to him, “Then the sons are
free. 27 However, not to give offense to them, go
to the sea and cast a hook and take the first fish that comes up, and when you
open its mouth you will find a shekel.[a] Take that and give it to them for me and
for yourself.”
1 Peter 2:13-25
English Standard Version (ESV)
Submission to Authority
13 Be subject for the Lord's sake to every
human institution,[a] whether it be to the emperor[b] as supreme, 14 or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. 15 For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to
silence the ignorance of foolish people. 16 Live as people who are free, not using
your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living
as servants[c] of God. 17 Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.
18 Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect,
not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust. 19 For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows
while suffering unjustly. 20 For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten
for it, you endure? But if when
you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight
of God. 21 For to
this you have been called, because
Christ also suffered for you, leaving
you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. 22 He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his
mouth. 23 When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when
he suffered, he did not threaten, but
continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. 24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that
we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. 25 For you
were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your
souls.
-
He learned that there were institutions of God that you have to
submit. there are limits
b)
restraint
Self-control,
discipline, moderation, and reserve are key leadership characteristics.
Restraint was sometimes a humiliating and painful thing for Peter to internalize. The
Lord worked on him constantly in this regard. In
the garden, Jesus even rebuked Peter in front of the enemy! But Peter learned
a powerful lesson that allowed him to later write, “Christ also suffered
for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps. Who
committed no sin, nor was deceit found in His mouth; Who, when He was reviled, did
not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges
righteously” (1 Peter 2:21–23).
John 18:1-11
English Standard Version (ESV)
John 18
Betrayal and Arrest of Jesus
1 When Jesus had spoken these words, he went out with his disciples across the brook Kidron, where there was a
garden, which he and his disciples entered. 2 Now Judas, who betrayed him, also knew the place, for Jesus often met there with his
disciples. 3 So Judas, having procured a band of
soldiers and some officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, went there
with lanterns and torches and weapons. 4 Then Jesus, knowing all that would happen to him,
came forward and said to them, “Whom
do you seek?” 5 They answered him, “Jesus of Nazareth.”
Jesus said to them, “I am he.”[a] Judas, who betrayed him, was standing
with them. 6 When Jesus[b] said to them, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground. 7 So he asked them again, “Whom do you seek?” And they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.” 8 Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. So, if you
seek me, let these men go.” 9 This was to fulfill the word that he had
spoken: “Of those whom you gave
me I have lost not one.” 10 Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the
high priest's servant[c] and cut off his right ear. (The servant's
name was Malchus.) 11 So Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into its sheath; shall I not drink the cup that the
Father has given me?”
1 Peter 2:21-23
English Standard Version (ESV)
21 For to this you have been
called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example,
so that you might follow in his steps. 22 He committed no sin, neither was
deceit found in his mouth. 23 When he was reviled, he did not
revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued
entrusting himself to him who judges justly.
-
he restrained himself and left his life in the care of God
c)
humility
Leaders
are often lured into the sin of pride. When those they lead constantly praise and admire them, it is all too easy to
begin to think
more of themselves than they should. And so it was with Peter (Matthew 26).
Peter responded to Jesus with words of total grandiosity;
he would NEVER be made to stumble this night. Yet, not once, but three
times he stumbled and had to face his own failure
and shame~ a painful lesson!
Matthew 26:33
English Standard Version (ESV)
33 Peter answered him, “Though they
all fall away because of you, I will never fall away.”
1 Peter 5:6
English Standard Version (ESV)
6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of
God so that at the proper time he may exalt you,
d)
sacrifice
John 21:19
English Standard Version (ESV)
19 (This he said to show by what
kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to
him, “Follow me.”
1 Peter 4:16
English Standard Version (ESV)
16 Yet if anyone suffers as
a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that
name.
e)
love
True
spiritual leaders lovingly serve others rather than selfishly demand others to serve
them. In the Upper Room, Jesus supplied a
profound example of His words, “If anyone desires to be first, he shall
be last of all and servant to all” (Mark 9:35). On that night, Jesus
took the role of a servant and washed the disciples’ feet~a task
reserved for only the lowliest of servants. To the disciples, who
had previously spent time arguing about who was the greatest,
He provided a lesson of humility and genuine love
John 21:15-17
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus and Peter
15 When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to
Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know
that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” 16 He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know
that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” 17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to
him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord,you know
everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.
John 13:6-8
English Standard Version (ESV)
6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to
him, “Lord, do you wash my feet?” 7 Jesus answered him, “What I am
doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.” 8Peter said to him, “You shall never wash
my feet.” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no share
with me.
1 Peter 4:8
English Standard Version (ESV)
8 Above all, keep loving one another
earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.
f)
courage
A
true spiritual leader does not have the wild “jump in without thinking” type of
courage that fueled Peter to slice off the ear of Malchus. A true leader’s courage is “a mature, settled,
intrepid
willingness
to suffer for Christ’s sake.” Simon’s courage was weak and
unstable, but once filled with the Holy Spirit, Peter stood tall. He
had witnessed Christ’s resurrection and had acquired the necessary
rock-solid courage to persevere. He was absolutely secure in
Christ.
John 21:18
English Standard Version (ESV)
18 Truly, truly, I say to you, when
you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted,
but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress
you and carry you where you do not want to go.”
Acts 4
English Standard Version (ESV)
Acts 4
Peter and John Before the Council
1 And as they were speaking to the people,
the priests and the captain of
the temple andthe Sadducees came upon them, 2 greatly annoyed because they were
teaching the people and proclaiming in
Jesus the resurrection from the dead. 3 And they arrested them and put them in custody until the next
day, for it was already evening. 4 But many of those who had heard the word
believed, and the number of the
men came to about five thousand.
5 On the next day their rulers and elders and scribes
gathered together in Jerusalem, 6 withAnnas the high priest and Caiaphas and John and Alexander, and
all who were of the high-priestly family. 7 And when they had set them in the midst, they inquired, “By what power or by what name did you do this?” 8 Then Peter, filled
with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders, 9 if we are being examined today concerning a good deed done to a
crippled man, by what means this man has been healed, 10 let it be known to all of you and to all the people of
Israel that by the name of Jesus
Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom
God raised from the dead—by him this man is standing before you well.11 This Jesus[a] is the stone that was rejected
by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone.[b] 12 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men[c] by which we must be saved.”
13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived
that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they
recognized that they had been with Jesus. 14 But seeing the man who was healed standing beside them, they had nothing to say in opposition. 15 But when they had commanded them to leave the council,
they conferred with one another, 16 saying, “What
shall we do with these men? For that a
notable sign has been performed through them is evident to all the inhabitants
of Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. 17 But in order that it may spread no further among the
people, let us warn them to speak
no more to anyone in this name.” 18 So they called them and charged them not to speak or
teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of
God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, 20 for we
cannot but speak of what we have
seen and heard.” 21 And when they had further threatened them, they let
them go, finding no way to punish them, because
of the people, for all were praising God for
what had happened. 22 For the man on whom this sign of healing was performed
was more than forty years old.
The Believers Pray for Boldness
23 When they were released, they went to
their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to
them. 24 And when they heard it, they lifted their
voices together to God and said,
“Sovereign Lord, who made the
heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them, 25 who through the mouth of our father David,
your servant,[d] said by the Holy Spirit,
“‘Why
did the Gentiles rage,
and the peoples plot in vain?
26 The kings of the earth set themselves,
and the rulers were gathered together,
against the Lord and against his Anointed’[e]—
and the peoples plot in vain?
26 The kings of the earth set themselves,
and the rulers were gathered together,
against the Lord and against his Anointed’[e]—
27 for truly in this city there were gathered together
against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, 28 to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take
place. 29 And now, Lord, look
upon their threats and grant to your servants[f] to continue to speak your word with all boldness, 30 while you
stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” 31 And when they had prayed,the place in which they were
gathered together was shaken, and they
were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued
to speak the word of God with boldness.
They Had Everything in Common
32 Now the full number of those who believed
were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the
things that belonged to him was his own, but they
had everything in common. 33 And with great power the apostles were giving their
testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. 34 There was not a needy person among them,
for as many as were owners of
lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold 35 and laid
it at the apostles' feet, and it
was distributed to each as any had need. 36 Thus Joseph, who was also called by the
apostles Barnabas (which means son
of encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyprus, 37 sold a field that belonged to him and
brought the money and laid it at
the apostles' feet.
·
1st 12
chapter of Acts, he is the leader of the church:
§
makes the move to replace Judas with Mattias
§
becomes the spokesman of the church on Pentecost
§
healed the lame na with John
§
defiled the Sanhendrin
§
dealt with the hypocrisy of Ananias and Sapphira
§
dealt with the problem of Simon the magician in Samaria
§
healed Aeneas and raised Dorcas from the dead
§
took the gospel to the Gentiles
·
wrote 2 marvelous and
glorious epistles in which he repeated all the lessonbes that Jesus has taught
him and passed them to us.
2
Peter 3:18
English
Standard Version (ESV)
18 But grow in the grace and
knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both
now and to the day of eternity. Amen.
Father, thank You for our time this morning, for
Your word to us we are grateful again for how it touches our hearts and speaks
to us. Thank You for the example of Peter. Thank You for what we learn from
him. We ask, Lord, that You would continue to teach us as the Spirit of God
applies these truths to our hearts. Raise up leaders here. Leaders who would be
the ones of Your own choosing. Shape and refine them. Make them into what You'd
have them to be for Your own cause and for Your glory. May we grow in grace and
in the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Father, now bring those to the prayer room that
You would have to come. Do Your work in every heart. Bless even the baptism
class that follows in Christ's name. Amen.
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