Peter Walked with God in Love

 Temple Baptist Church - 9-3-2023

Luke 22:54-62; John 21:15-19

 

Introduction:   I have often said that I would love to be a “Paul” but am more like “Peter.”  I believe that Paul was possibly the greatest example of Christian than any other man in the New Testament.  But Peter was so special in his own right.

A.  How can we study walking with God and leave out Peter?  I want to take a short look at an amazing man named Peter.  Peter was one of the greatest men in the Bible.  So many things stand out about the amazing example of biblical Christianity but I want to take a short look at what motivated this man to live and die for Christ. 

 

1.  Peter was a Bold Man – The only man who ever walked on water other than our Lord.

 

2.  Peter was a Brave Man – When the huge crowd came to the Garden of Gethsemane to take his Lord, he attacked with a sword.

 

B.  Peter is one of the most noted of the apostles and, along with James and John, comprised what is often referred to as the “inner three.”  He is one of the greatest men of the New Testament but is most remembered for his denial of the Lord and his restoration in John, chapter 21.  He has been given a bad name by some for his denial of the Lord.

 

1.  Peter was just a common man, a simple fisherman.  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.

 

2.  Peter was an uneducated man, just a hardworking man.  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.

 

3.  Peter was a habitual failure!  This was what made Peter such an example to us.  You and I can identify with him.  He was a man of many failures.  He got ahead of God; he got behind God; he rebuked God; and he was greatly used of God.

 

a)  There were numerous times that Peter “stuck his foot in his mouth” and received a rebuke from the Lord and once from the Apostle Paul.  Each time he failed, he received that correction and continued to follow the Lord.

 

b)  “Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it; prone to leave the God I love.”  Notice the song said, “The God I love.”  Despite fault and failure, Peter loved the Lord.  In John 21:15-16, Peter twice used the word “yea:” a strong affirmation.

 

C.  In John, chapter 21, we find the restoration of a fallen man who loved the Lord.  So often, you and I get our priorities wrong or simply get “cross ways” with the Lord.  It is not that we do not love Him for how can we not?  It is because we are human!

 

D.  It was neither necessity nor constraint that caused Peter to be great in the Lord, it was his great love for his Saviour, Jesus Christ. 

 

John 21:15-17  So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.  (16)  He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.  (17)  He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

 

1 Peter 4:8  And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.

 

E.  Peter failed in many aspects but his love for God was so real that it covered a “multitude of sins!”

 

“Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee … Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee.”

 

1.  Peter walked with God in love through conversion.  John 1:40-44  One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother.  He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ.  And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone. 

 

a.  The Bible does not say when these disciples were converted but most likely in Old Testament faith in the coming of the Messiah.  When Andrew came to Peter and said that he had found the Messias, Peter immediately came to Christ.

 

b.  Peters love for God began with his salvation.  Peter never got over the great love of God that bought his salvation. 

 

c.  Peter never forgot where he came from.

 

2.   Peter walked with God in love in commitment.  Mark 1:16-17  Now as he walked by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.  (17)  And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men.

 

a.  Peter was a hard-working fisherman in the family business.  When our Lord said, “Come after me,” Peter immediately left all.  That takes love.

 

b.  God does not require everyone to leave father, mother, brothers and sisters, houses and land but walking with God in love may require it!

 

3.  Peter walked with God in love in conflict.  John 6:67-69  Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?  (68)  Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.  (69)  And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.

 

a.  As many turned their backs on Christ, Peter—along with others—continued to walk with God in love.

 

b.  There may come times of difficulty in our lives that will require a decision to be made concerning our love and walk with God.  I believe that Paul said it all in 2 Corinthians 5:14:  “For the love of Christ constraineth us!”  To constrain means to compel.

 

4.  Peter walked with God in chastisement.  John 21:15-17  So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.  (16)  He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.  (17)  He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

 

a.  Peter had denied Christ thrice and was brokenhearted.  His sense of unworthiness brought him back to the life of a fisherman.

 

b.  Peter pronounced his love for Christ thrice and was restored.  When he saw the Lord, he dove into the water and swam to Him.  He knew that his Lord and Saviour loved him enough to come and restore him.

 

Mark 16:7  But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you.

 

5.  Peter walked with God in love in continuation.  John 21:18-19  Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not.  (19)  This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me.

 

a.  When the Lord prophesied Peter’s martyrdom, he never flinched.  Peter was willing to walk with Christ in life and death. 

 

Luke 22:33  And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death.

 

b.  Walking with God in love has no end.  It is to live for Christ until our last breath is taken and, then, walking with Him in love for all of eternity.