Temple Baptist Church - 1-29-2025
John 21:1-3
Introduction:
A. I want to reintroduce to you tonight with a man named Simon Peter.
1. Peter was one of the greatest of the Apostles. Peter is mentioned 162 times in the Bible!
2. Called by Hollywood “The Big Fisherman,” we know nothing of his size, but we do know that he was one more great man for the Lord. When one of the disciples spoke, most of the time it was Peter who did so.
3. Who was this man named Peter.
a. Peter was just a common fisherman. God chooses, for the most part, to use common people, not the socially elite. Matthew 4:18 And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.
b. Peter was an uneducated man. God chooses, for the most part, the uneducated. Acts 4:13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.
B. Peter was a man that we can all relate to.
1. Peter walked with God, often got ahead of God, sometimes got behind God, he even rebuked God, was rebuked by God, but was greatly used of God. I want to use this story about Peters rise and fall and restoration and continuance.
2. God chooses to use FLAWED and FALLIBLE people!
C. Simon Peter Was Great Because His Faith Was Great. The only human who walked on water!
Matthew 14:26-29 And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear. (27) But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid. (28) And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. (29) And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.
D. Peter was also great Because of His Failures. He never let them keep him down. One mark of greatness is not to let failures destroy your service.
1. Peter Rebuked The Lord - Matthew 16:21-23 From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day. (22) Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee. (23) But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.
John 13:6-9 Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet? Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter. Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me. Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head. (Peter at least tried to make this one right.)
2. Peter often spoke when he should have remained quiet - Mark 9:5-7 And Peter answered and said to Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias. (6) For he wist not what to say; for they were sore afraid. (7) And there was a cloud that overshadowed them: and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him.
3. Peter Denied The Lord Thrice - Luke 22:54-61 Then took they him, and led him, and brought him into the high priest's house. And Peter followed afar off. (55) And when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the hall, and were set down together, Peter sat down among them. (56) But a certain maid beheld him as he sat by the fire, and earnestly looked upon him, and said, This man was also with him. (57) And he denied him, saying, Woman, I know him not. (58) And after a little while another saw him, and said, Thou art also of them. And Peter said, Man, I am not. (59) And about the space of one hour after another confidently affirmed, saying, Of a truth this fellow also was with him: for he is a Galilaean. (60) And Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest. And immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew. (61) And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.
4. In out text, Peter Went Fishing Instead Of Preaching - John 21:3 Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing. (This was not a casual fishing trip for relaxation, it was a return to the old life of fishing for a living.)
5. Peter Gave In to Peer Pressure - Galatians 2:11-13 But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed. For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision. And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation. (But he got it right when rebuked by Paul)
E. Now, let’s set the backdrop to our text. In John 21, several things have transpired in recent days. The Lord was betrayed and crucified. The third day, He gloriously and bodily arose from the grave. The Lord appeared to Mary Magdalene and now twice has appeared on the Lord’s day to His disciples. Old “Doubting Thomas” has made is confession “My Lord and my God!” Peter was with the disciples on these two occasions and his faith should have been strengthened but it wasn’t. Peter went back to his old life of fishing despite all of this!
F. You see, you can be faithful to church and still be out of the Lord’s will. I often tell people that going to church will not make you a Christian anymore than sleeping in a garage will make you an automobile. You can come to church and still not be right with God.
Proverbs 5:12-14 And say, How have I hated instruction, and my heart despised reproof; (13) And have not obeyed the voice of my teachers, nor inclined mine ear to them that instructed me! (14) I was almost in all evil in the midst of the congregation and assembly.
G. Why did Simon Peter go fishing? Of all his failures, there was one that Peter had not yet gotten right. He denied the Lord thrice.
1. When the Lord looked at Peter after his denial, he went out and wept bitterly. But he did not get right with God! You see, weeping will not clear the conscience nor restore the sinful.
2. Peter was missing when they crucified the Lord. He should have been at the foot of the cross with John asking forgiveness from the One he had thrice denied. But he was conspicuously absent.
3. Peter was there both times when the Lord came into their presence. The disciples were ALL glad when they saw the Lord, which included Peter, but Peter had not yet got things right with his Lord! I am sure that both Peter and the Lord knew that too!
John 20:20-21 And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord. (21) Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.
4. Peter decided to go fishing! This does not speak of recreational fishing. sPeter went back to his old life of being a fisherman! When he went, as he was a leader among the disciples, others went with him.
H. I believe that the reason Peter had not gotten right, though he had several opportunities, was because of the great shame that he carried.
1. Shame that separates us from the will of God is as old as time itself.
Genesis 3:6-8 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. (7) And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons. (8) And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.
2. Thus, Peter “hid” from the Lord by going back out to sea where he thought he could not be seen.
Conclusion: There have been and will be times when you and I fail the Lord miserably and will look in the mirror and be ashamed.
1. Have you ever been ashamed?
a. I have never been ashamed of my Lord Jesus Christ.
b. I have never been ashamed of being saved.
c. I have never been ashamed of my brothers or sisters in Christ or my church.
d. But I have been ashamed of my personal failures!
2. Do not try to hide from God but immediately go to Him in repentance, experience His forgiveness, and move on!
3. Never allow your failures to outweigh your love for your Saviour!!!
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