John Bradshaw - Great Characters Of The Bible: Peter

February 16, 2025 | S25:E7

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It Is Written with John Bradshaw | John Bradshaw - Great Characters Of The Bible: Peter | February 16, 2025

♪[dramatic theme music]♪
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>>john bradshaw: this is it is written.
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I'm john bradshaw. thanks for joining me.
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Success doesn't always come easy,
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And frequently success follows repeated failure.
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After working on a whaling ship,
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Rowland started a business with his brother in california.
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The business failed.
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So he headed east and opened a store.
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Then another, then another, then another.
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They all failed.
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So then he went all in, moving to new york city
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And opening yet another store.
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This time the business didn't fail.
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In fact, it became a big success.
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After his death, that store was moved to 34th and broadway,
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Where macy's became one of the largest department stores
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In the world.
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Henry ford's success in the auto industry is the stuff of legend.
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But that success wasn't instant.
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His first venture folded without producing a single car.
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His second attempt was just as unsuccessful as the first.
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He quit his next company, but ford eventually revolutionized
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Not only the vehicle manufacturing industry
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But industry himself.
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He said, "failure is simply the opportunity to begin again,
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This time more intelligently."
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How many people fail at faith before making a success
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Of their spiritual life?
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Well, the answer is probably everyone.
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Today we're continuing our series
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"great characters of the bible,"
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And we're looking at someone
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Who took a long time to get it right.
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His experience has to be an encouragement to anyone
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Who knows the feeling of blowing it as a follower of jesus,
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Of falling short, of wondering if you'll ever get the hang
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Of being a disciple of christ.
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So how bad was it for this man?
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Well, he was violent.
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He was racist.
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He made promises he didn't keep,
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And was even referred to as "satan"
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By none other than jesus himself.
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When we're introduced to peter in the bible,
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He's a fisherman.
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His name is simon bar-jonah, simon the son of jonah.
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And jesus gave him the surname peter,
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Which is why he's sometimes referred to as simon peter.
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When we read of his call to follow jesus in matthew 4,
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We get the impression that he'd been acquainted with jesus
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For some time.
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Jesus called to peter and andrew his brother
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And said, "'follow me, and i will make you fishers of men.'
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And they straightway left their nets, and followed him."
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Now, it's significant that jesus called peter, of all people.
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Peter wasn't a religious leader.
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He hadn't graduated from the best religious schools
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In the land.
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But it's not that peter hadn't been educated;
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He hadn't been miseducated.
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The schools in that day were riddled with pride and bigotry.
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Jesus was looking for someone genuine, teachable, humble,
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Someone with moral worth who had a desire to see god honored.
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If you have that,
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God can use you, no matter what you do in life.
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And there's another reason it's significant
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That jesus called peter, and that's because peter was...
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Peter was peter. he was far from perfect.
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He was rough around the edges,
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And it was going to take a lot of sanding
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Before jesus could smooth those rough edges out.
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He once said to jesus, "see, we have left all and followed you.
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Therefore what shall we have?"
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In other words, what's in it for us?
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Peter would ask questions that other people wouldn't ask,
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And he'd say the things that others wouldn't say.
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When jesus was going to wash the disciples' feet,
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Peter said, "you shall never wash my feet!"
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Before telling jesus to wash not only his feet,
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But his hands and his head also.
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When he saw jesus on the shore of the lake one time,
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He was so excited he dived in and swam for shore.
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That was peter:
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Impetuous, in a hurry, an action man,
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Speak first, think second.
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"i will lay down my life for [you]," he told jesus.
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And of course we know how that turned out.
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Peter had some growing to do.
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And that's who jesus calls to be his disciples:
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People who have some growing to do.
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Because the fact is that's everyone.
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No one is the finished product.
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If you feel god is calling you, and he is,
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Don't wait until you're ready to accept that call.
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Don't wait to be good enough for god.
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Peter accepted jesus' call, and he grew.
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Peter was transparent. he was honest,
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Honest about his feelings, honest about his love for god,
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And honest about himself.
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So let's take a look at several episodes from the life of peter.
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We'll see what we can learn, not only about peter,
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But about ourselves and how we can have
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A successful relationship with god in spite of our failings.
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One of the most memorable peter moments occurred on a lake
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Late one night.
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Jesus had fed the thousands with just five loaves and two fish.
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And then he sent the disciples on ahead by boat
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To the other side of the lake.
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A storm came up.
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The bible says, "the boat was... tossed by the waves,
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For the wind was contrary."
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And based on what john writes, it seems like the disciples
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Were about 3/4 of the way across the sea when jesus appeared
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Walking on the water.
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The disciples were initially afraid,
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Not certain of what they were seeing.
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But jesus said,
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"be of good cheer! it is i; do not be afraid."
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Peter was beside himself.
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He called to jesus and said, "'lord, if it is you, command me
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"to come to you on the water.' so he said, 'come.'
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"and when peter had come down out of the boat,
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He walked on the water to go to jesus."
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Walk on water?
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Since when?
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But this is what god can do.
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Loudmouth peter, shoot-first, aim-second peter,
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And jesus gave peter a unique experience.
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No other disciple ever did what peter did that night.
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But peter was about to learn something,
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Something he would forget when he really needed to remember it.
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He began to sink.
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Evidently he took his eyes off jesus
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And looked instead at the stormy sea.
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When you look at the storms of life, that's what happens.
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When you focus on the problems more than on the solution,
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When you forget that god is able,
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That's what happens.
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Peter sank into a stormy sea in the dead of night,
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With no lifejacket.
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But he had the presence of mind to do the right thing,
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And he called out to jesus.
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There was no time for eloquence or oratory.
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There was no time for flowery language.
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He cried out from the heart just a three-word prayer:
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"lord, save me!"
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And what did jesus do?
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He reached out to peter, took him by the hand,
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And got him back in the boat.
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Matthew 14:32,
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"and when they got into the boat, the wind ceased."
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When you take your eyes off jesus,
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That's when the trouble starts.
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When you call out to god in desperation,
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He hears you, and he answers your prayer.
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It was peter's own fault that he was in a fix.
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But that didn't matter to jesus.
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He came to peter's aid.
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And that's what he does for you.
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In the storms of life, don't take your eyes off jesus.
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In a moment, peter forgets the lesson he learned
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That night on the lake.
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I'll be right back.
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♪[music swells and ends]♪
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>>john: deceptions in the modern church--
00:08:20.323 --> 00:08:22.325
More common that you think,
00:08:22.325 --> 00:08:24.126
And you don't want to be led away from faith in the bible.
00:08:24.126 --> 00:08:27.229
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Exposing common teachings undermining christianity.
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Call 800-253-3000,
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00:08:39.008 --> 00:08:41.477
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Or visit iiwoffer.com.
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Get "deceptions in the modern church,"
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800-253-3000.
00:08:47.984 --> 00:08:50.019
>>john bradshaw: thanks for joining me today
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On it is written.
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This is "great characters of the bible,"
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And while we know how it worked out in the end for peter,
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Peter wasn't an instant success as a follower of jesus.
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When jesus asked his friends who people said he was,
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"they said, 'some say john the baptist, some elijah,
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"and others jeremiah or one of the prophets.'
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"he said to them, 'but who do you say that i am?'
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"simon peter answered and said, 'you are the christ,
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The son of the living god.'"
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But just down the page in the same chapter,
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As jesus is explaining to them that he is going to suffer
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At the hands of the religious leaders,
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And that he'll be crucified, and that he'll be raised
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From the dead on the third day, peter speaks up again.
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The bible says peter "began to rebuke [jesus],"
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To admonish him, to censure jesus.
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He said, "far be it from you, lord;
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This shall not happen to you!"
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Now, peter wasn't helping jesus by saying that;
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He was trying to discourage jesus from carrying out
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His mission to save the world.
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He was trying to prevent the death of jesus on the cross,
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Whether he realized that or not.
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You know, you're not always helping someone
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When you show what you think is concern.
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A missionary is going off to a faraway place;
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You don't always help him by telling him how dangerous
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That place is going to be.
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Someone's committed to a great humanitarian work
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Or some great community project of some kind;
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You're not necessarily helping them when you tell them to think
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Of the cost and what else they could buy with all that money.
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Peter expressed concern,
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But not in a way that was assisting christ's mission.
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Jesus responded by saying this:
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"get behind me, satan! you are an offense to me,
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"for you are not mindful of the things of god,
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But the things of men."
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[inhales sharply] ooh, that had to sting!
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But peter in his zeal didn't realize what he was doing.
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Satan was trying to discourage jesus,
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And he was using peter.
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Peter was slow to learn that jesus' path
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And the path of jesus' followers
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Was a path of difficulty and humility.
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Peter shrank away from trials.
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Jesus was direct with peter because peter needed to grow.
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He needed to see the state of his heart,
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And jesus knew we'd read these words one day,
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And so he was speaking for our benefit, too.
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But peter did learn eventually.
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Here's what he wrote later in 1 peter chapter 4:
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"beloved, do not think it strange
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"concerning the fiery trial which is to try you,
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"as though some strange thing happened to you,
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"but rejoice to the extent that you partake
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"[in] christ's sufferings, that when his glory is revealed,
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"you may also be glad with exceeding joy.
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"if you are reproached for the name of christ, blessed are you,
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For the spirit of glory and of god rests upon you."
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Here's the thing with peter;
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He learned; he grew.
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God was patient with him, which means god will be patient
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With you as you grow in your faith.
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In fact, again in the same chapter, when peter said
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To jesus that jesus was the son of the living god,
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Jesus said this to peter:
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"and i also say to you that you are peter,
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"and on this rock i will build my church,
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And the gates of hades shall not prevail against it."
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Now, some want to believe that jesus was calling peter
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"this rock," or that peter was the first pope,
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The first bishop of rome.
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Well, he wasn't.
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There were no popes in the first century a.d.
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He wasn't a pope, he wasn't a catholic,
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And he wasn't "the rock."
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Now, you could see how somebody might want to read it that way,
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But the evidence of the bible just doesn't support that.
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Look at it linguistically.
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Remember, jesus gave peter the name peter.
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It's from the greek "pétros," which means "a stone,"
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A small slab of stone maybe.
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Jesus said, "you are [pétros]," a stone,
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"and upon this rock"--this "pétra," a big rock, a boulder--
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"i will build my church, and the gates of hell"--
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The greek word there is "hades," the grave--
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"the gates of hell shall not prevail against it."
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Peter himself was certainly prevailed against.
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Linguistically, peter isn't "the rock."
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Experientially, peter isn't "the rock."
00:13:22.157 --> 00:13:24.860
You don't want your church built on peter.
00:13:24.860 --> 00:13:28.397
But the bible refers to jesus as "the rock" again and again.
00:13:28.397 --> 00:13:32.668
Second samuel chapter 22:
00:13:32.668 --> 00:13:34.169
"the lord liveth; and blessed be my rock;
00:13:34.169 --> 00:13:37.539
And exalted be the god of the rock of my salvation."
00:13:37.539 --> 00:13:40.509
Psalm 89:
00:13:40.509 --> 00:13:41.644
"he shall cry unto me, 'thou art my father,
00:13:41.644 --> 00:13:43.979
My god, and the rock of my salvation.'"
00:13:43.979 --> 00:13:47.917
This is divinity being referred to.
00:13:47.917 --> 00:13:51.153
Now, peter made an immense contribution
00:13:51.153 --> 00:13:53.289
To not only the early christian church,
00:13:53.289 --> 00:13:55.224
But to the growth and development of christianity.
00:13:55.224 --> 00:13:58.093
And he still does.
00:13:58.093 --> 00:13:59.828
But he wasn't "the rock," and he wasn't a pope.
00:13:59.828 --> 00:14:04.066
He was a faulty man used by god to do great things.
00:14:04.066 --> 00:14:09.638
And as far as we can tell, only four people wrote
00:14:09.638 --> 00:14:12.641
More books of the bible than peter did.
00:14:12.641 --> 00:14:16.545
But unfortunately, for a man who wrote two books of the bible,
00:14:16.545 --> 00:14:19.915
He's probably best remembered for his worst moment.
00:14:19.915 --> 00:14:24.586
It was the night before jesus died.
00:14:24.586 --> 00:14:26.655
They're in the upper room,
00:14:26.655 --> 00:14:28.357
And jesus had just instituted the lord's supper.
00:14:28.357 --> 00:14:31.060
"then jesus said to them, 'all of you will be made to stumble
00:14:31.060 --> 00:14:34.496
"'because of me this night, for it is written:
00:14:34.496 --> 00:14:37.433
"'"i will strike the shepherd,
00:14:37.433 --> 00:14:38.867
And the sheep of the flock will be scattered."'"
00:14:38.867 --> 00:14:41.837
Jesus quoted the prophet zechariah.
00:14:41.837 --> 00:14:44.840
Then he said, "'but after i have been raised,
00:14:44.840 --> 00:14:48.210
"i will go before you to galilee.'
00:14:48.210 --> 00:14:51.113
"peter answered and said to him, 'even if all are made to stumble
00:14:51.113 --> 00:14:55.150
"because of you, i will never be made to stumble.'
00:14:55.150 --> 00:14:59.621
"jesus said to him, 'assuredly, i say to you that this night,
00:14:59.621 --> 00:15:04.760
"before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.'
00:15:04.760 --> 00:15:09.098
"peter said to him, 'even if i have to die with you,
00:15:09.098 --> 00:15:11.934
I will not deny you!' and so said all the disciples."
00:15:11.934 --> 00:15:16.305
I'm sure you and i would have said the same thing.
00:15:16.305 --> 00:15:18.240
"oh, no! i'd never do that, no, not me."
00:15:18.240 --> 00:15:22.144
And then it all unraveled.
00:15:22.144 --> 00:15:24.346
But that's the thing with peter;
00:15:24.346 --> 00:15:26.281
Someone who fell so low was able to bounce back
00:15:26.281 --> 00:15:30.486
And become a truly outstanding follower of god.
00:15:30.486 --> 00:15:34.957
How can that happen?
00:15:34.957 --> 00:15:36.892
Well, we'll find out in just a moment.
00:15:36.892 --> 00:15:39.595
♪[music swells and ends]♪
00:15:39.595 --> 00:15:46.635
>>john: deceptions in the modern church--
00:15:48.704 --> 00:15:50.906
More common that you think,
00:15:50.906 --> 00:15:52.574
And you don't want to be led away from faith in the bible.
00:15:52.574 --> 00:15:55.711
"deceptions in the modern church," a revealing book
00:15:55.711 --> 00:15:58.647
Exposing common teachings undermining christianity.
00:15:58.647 --> 00:16:01.984
Get your free copy
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Of "deceptions in the modern church."
00:16:03.318 --> 00:16:04.987
Call 800-253-3000,
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800-253-3000.
00:16:07.523 --> 00:16:09.825
You can write to the address on your screen
00:16:09.825 --> 00:16:11.560
Or visit iiwoffer.com.
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Get "deceptions in the modern church,"
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800-253-3000.
00:16:16.432 --> 00:16:18.500
>>john bradshaw: peter was confident.
00:16:20.502 --> 00:16:22.171
He was too confident, really.
00:16:22.171 --> 00:16:24.106
Like when he walked on water and took his eyes off jesus,
00:16:24.106 --> 00:16:27.276
Down he went.
00:16:27.276 --> 00:16:29.044
Well, he clearly took his eyes off jesus again,
00:16:29.044 --> 00:16:32.081
Because not long after telling jesus he would die
00:16:32.081 --> 00:16:35.851
Before he denied him, things aren't going well.
00:16:35.851 --> 00:16:40.289
Jesus went to gethsemane to pray.
00:16:40.289 --> 00:16:42.891
Peter, james, and john are told to go with him and pray for him,
00:16:42.891 --> 00:16:47.863
But they fall asleep.
00:16:47.863 --> 00:16:49.898
Jesus even said to peter when he found peter sleeping,
00:16:49.898 --> 00:16:53.102
"could you not watch with me one hour?"
00:16:53.102 --> 00:16:55.704
He was warning peter:
00:16:55.704 --> 00:16:57.306
Peter, for a man who said he would rather die than deny me,
00:16:57.306 --> 00:17:01.743
You're not off to a great start.
00:17:01.743 --> 00:17:03.946
When jesus is arrested, peter takes his sword and swings it,
00:17:03.946 --> 00:17:09.084
Cutting off the ear of the high priest's servant.
00:17:09.084 --> 00:17:12.454
Now, you don't think peter aimed for his ear, do you?
00:17:12.454 --> 00:17:16.024
He was either the best swordsman in all of israel,
00:17:16.024 --> 00:17:19.962
Or what's more likely is that he was aiming for the man's head.
00:17:19.962 --> 00:17:23.866
The man must have ducked at just the right time.
00:17:23.866 --> 00:17:27.402
After jesus is arrested, peter denied him:
00:17:27.402 --> 00:17:30.305
"i do not know what you are saying."
00:17:30.305 --> 00:17:32.574
That's matthew 26, verse 70.
00:17:32.574 --> 00:17:34.409
Then "he denied with an oath, 'i do not know the man!'"
00:17:34.409 --> 00:17:38.614
That's two, if you're counting.
00:17:38.614 --> 00:17:40.415
And someone says, "[you're] one of them."
00:17:40.415 --> 00:17:42.718
We can tell by "your speech," your dialect.
00:17:42.718 --> 00:17:45.921
"then he began to curse and swear, saying,
00:17:45.921 --> 00:17:49.424
"'i do not know the man!' immediately a rooster crowed.
00:17:49.424 --> 00:17:53.996
"and peter remembered the word of jesus who had said to him,
00:17:53.996 --> 00:17:57.766
"'before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.'
00:17:57.766 --> 00:18:02.571
So he went out and wept bitterly."
00:18:02.571 --> 00:18:05.941
And that had to be bitter.
00:18:06.909 --> 00:18:09.378
"i'll never deny you. i'd rather die."
00:18:10.345 --> 00:18:14.550
That has to be just about as low as you can get.
00:18:14.550 --> 00:18:17.352
Have you ever been that low?
00:18:17.352 --> 00:18:19.688
Well, look at what happened.
00:18:19.688 --> 00:18:21.590
When jesus was raised from the dead,
00:18:21.590 --> 00:18:24.026
An angel told the women who went to the tomb,
00:18:24.026 --> 00:18:26.929
"go, tell his disciples-- and peter--
00:18:26.929 --> 00:18:31.833
That he is going before you into galilee."
00:18:31.833 --> 00:18:34.536
You see? jesus hadn't forgotten peter.
00:18:34.536 --> 00:18:38.273
He hadn't cast him off.
00:18:38.273 --> 00:18:40.042
In john 21, when peter miraculously catches
00:18:40.042 --> 00:18:42.778
Those 153 big fish, and they're eating with jesus on the shore,
00:18:42.778 --> 00:18:48.417
Jesus says to him, "'simon, son of jonah,
00:18:48.417 --> 00:18:52.788
"do you love me more than these?'
00:18:52.788 --> 00:18:55.557
"he said to him, 'yes, lord; you know that i love you.'
00:18:55.557 --> 00:19:00.162
He said to him, 'feed my lambs.'"
00:19:00.162 --> 00:19:02.731
No self-assurance now.
00:19:02.731 --> 00:19:04.933
Jesus asked him a second time, same reply.
00:19:04.933 --> 00:19:08.036
"he said to him the third time,
00:19:08.036 --> 00:19:09.638
"'simon, son of jonah, do you love me?'
00:19:09.638 --> 00:19:13.375
"peter was grieved because he said to him the third time,
00:19:13.375 --> 00:19:15.911
"'do you love me?' and he said to him,
00:19:15.911 --> 00:19:18.914
"'lord, you know all things; you know that i love you.'
00:19:18.914 --> 00:19:22.651
Jesus said to him, 'feed my sheep.'"
00:19:22.651 --> 00:19:27.322
What's interesting is if you look at the greek words used--
00:19:27.322 --> 00:19:30.926
Jesus asks him, "do you love me?"--
00:19:30.926 --> 00:19:34.396
But he used the greek word "agapé" when he asked him
00:19:34.396 --> 00:19:37.933
Those first two times.
00:19:37.933 --> 00:19:39.301
"agapé," that's a self-sacrificing love.
00:19:39.301 --> 00:19:42.938
It's the highest form of love.
00:19:42.938 --> 00:19:45.240
It's not "phileó," brotherly love;
00:19:45.240 --> 00:19:47.209
It's unconditional love.
00:19:47.209 --> 00:19:50.045
"peter, do you love me with that?"
00:19:50.045 --> 00:19:53.348
That's the kind of love that motivates someone
00:19:53.348 --> 00:19:55.884
To stand for jesus even if he has to die.
00:19:55.884 --> 00:20:00.489
Peter answers, "you know i [phileó] you."
00:20:00.489 --> 00:20:04.192
I love you with brotherly love.
00:20:04.192 --> 00:20:06.528
Jesus asked him a second time, "do you love me, peter?"
00:20:06.528 --> 00:20:09.164
Do you [agapé] me, love me unconditionally?
00:20:09.164 --> 00:20:13.568
Again, peter says, "you know i [phileó] you," brotherly love.
00:20:13.568 --> 00:20:18.307
Now, that third time he said, "peter, do you [phileó] me?"
00:20:18.307 --> 00:20:22.611
Do you love me with brotherly love?
00:20:22.611 --> 00:20:24.880
Peter said, "lord, you know all things," which is interesting.
00:20:24.880 --> 00:20:30.185
You know i love you with a brotherly love.
00:20:30.185 --> 00:20:33.088
You also know that the last time i made a big profession,
00:20:33.088 --> 00:20:37.893
I fell flat on my face.
00:20:37.893 --> 00:20:39.628
You know how weak i am.
00:20:39.628 --> 00:20:42.998
And jesus said to him, twice actually,
00:20:42.998 --> 00:20:46.034
"feed my sheep."
00:20:46.034 --> 00:20:48.136
Peter denied jesus three times.
00:20:48.136 --> 00:20:50.872
Jesus puts it to him three times.
00:20:50.872 --> 00:20:54.309
And three times peter came through.
00:20:54.309 --> 00:20:58.246
Now, think about that.
00:20:58.246 --> 00:20:59.614
Peter had failed dismally, and yet jesus commissioned him
00:20:59.614 --> 00:21:04.586
To be a leader in the church.
00:21:04.586 --> 00:21:06.888
He restored peter.
00:21:06.888 --> 00:21:09.257
He showed love for peter.
00:21:09.257 --> 00:21:14.329
And what jesus did for peter, he can do for you...or anyone else.
00:21:14.329 --> 00:21:21.002
So what happened to peter?
00:21:21.970 --> 00:21:23.572
At pentecost he was filled with the holy spirit
00:21:23.572 --> 00:21:27.309
And preached powerfully.
00:21:27.309 --> 00:21:29.444
Three thousand people were baptized in that one day
00:21:29.444 --> 00:21:33.148
When the floodgates opened, and the church exploded with growth.
00:21:33.148 --> 00:21:38.487
He and john were met by a paralyzed man in acts chapter 3,
00:21:38.487 --> 00:21:42.124
A beggar hoping for coins.
00:21:42.124 --> 00:21:44.526
"peter said, 'silver and gold have i none;
00:21:44.526 --> 00:21:47.729
"'but such as i have give i thee:
00:21:47.729 --> 00:21:50.298
In the name of jesus christ of nazareth rise up and walk.'"
00:21:50.298 --> 00:21:55.437
The man went "walking, [and] leaping, and praising god."
00:21:55.437 --> 00:22:00.175
Peter was a miracle-worker now.
00:22:00.175 --> 00:22:03.412
He delivered some of the most bold,
00:22:03.412 --> 00:22:05.847
Some of the most stirring lines in the book of acts.
00:22:05.847 --> 00:22:09.084
"whether it is right in the sight of god to listen to you
00:22:09.084 --> 00:22:11.653
"more than to god, you judge. for we cannot but speak
00:22:11.653 --> 00:22:15.957
The things which we have seen and heard."
00:22:15.957 --> 00:22:18.226
In acts chapter 5, he was arrested for his faith.
00:22:18.226 --> 00:22:20.729
He was put in prison, liberated by a miracle of god,
00:22:20.729 --> 00:22:24.232
And then went straight back to the temple to preach,
00:22:24.232 --> 00:22:27.369
Saying, "we ought to obey god rather than men."
00:22:27.369 --> 00:22:31.940
Herod had peter arrested in acts chapter 12.
00:22:31.940 --> 00:22:34.743
James had been executed.
00:22:34.743 --> 00:22:36.778
Peter was clearly next, but when his life was hanging
00:22:36.778 --> 00:22:41.016
By a thread, he was in prison and slept so soundly
00:22:41.016 --> 00:22:46.288
An angel had to smite him to wake him up,
00:22:46.288 --> 00:22:50.459
And he walked out of the prison
00:22:50.459 --> 00:22:52.227
As the gates miraculously opened up before him.
00:22:52.227 --> 00:22:55.263
This was a new man.
00:22:55.263 --> 00:22:57.299
God took that rough stone and polished it,
00:22:57.299 --> 00:23:01.603
And peter was used powerfully for god.
00:23:01.603 --> 00:23:05.674
Now, he wasn't perfect.
00:23:05.674 --> 00:23:07.242
Acts chapter 10 makes clear he still had race issues.
00:23:07.242 --> 00:23:10.946
Bigotry was sort of the order of the day back then,
00:23:10.946 --> 00:23:13.682
And peter hated gentiles.
00:23:13.682 --> 00:23:17.118
But he was given the vision of the sheet
00:23:17.118 --> 00:23:18.920
Lowering the unclean animals.
00:23:18.920 --> 00:23:21.089
This is where god said, "rise, peter; kill and eat."
00:23:21.089 --> 00:23:24.159
Peter protests,
00:23:24.159 --> 00:23:25.427
"i have never eaten anything common or unclean."
00:23:25.427 --> 00:23:27.796
But then he realizes god is telling him
00:23:27.796 --> 00:23:30.866
Not to call the gentiles unclean.
00:23:30.866 --> 00:23:34.836
This had nothing to do with food;
00:23:34.836 --> 00:23:36.671
It had to do with his racism.
00:23:36.671 --> 00:23:38.440
The scales fell off his eyes, and off his heart.
00:23:38.440 --> 00:23:42.677
And peter grew and changed... and learned to love all people.
00:23:42.677 --> 00:23:49.951
What a character!
00:23:49.951 --> 00:23:52.687
Peter--impetuous, impulsive, rash, reckless at times,
00:23:52.687 --> 00:23:59.694
But jesus hung in there with him,
00:23:59.694 --> 00:24:02.264
Lovingly brought him to repentance,
00:24:02.264 --> 00:24:05.033
And loved him even after he had really messed up.
00:24:05.033 --> 00:24:09.504
There are lessons there that we can learn
00:24:09.504 --> 00:24:10.972
About how to treat others--
00:24:10.972 --> 00:24:12.841
But also about how god treats us.
00:24:12.841 --> 00:24:16.745
If you can see yourself in peter,
00:24:16.745 --> 00:24:18.947
Then you can see god's love for you
00:24:18.947 --> 00:24:22.017
In jesus' treatment of peter.
00:24:22.017 --> 00:24:25.020
God loves you.
00:24:25.020 --> 00:24:26.855
There's a peter in all of us--
00:24:26.855 --> 00:24:29.291
And a new peter just waiting to come out.
00:24:29.291 --> 00:24:33.128
Trust god with your life today, with your faults,
00:24:33.128 --> 00:24:36.898
With your failings, with your brokenness,
00:24:36.898 --> 00:24:39.167
With your inadequacy,
00:24:39.167 --> 00:24:41.503
And know that god will make you a whole new person,
00:24:41.503 --> 00:24:45.006
Just like he did peter.
00:24:45.006 --> 00:24:47.409
>>john: thank you for remembering that it is written
00:24:47.475 --> 00:24:49.511
Exists because of the kindness of people just like you.
00:24:49.511 --> 00:24:52.948
To support this international life-changing ministry,
00:24:52.948 --> 00:24:56.217
Please call us now at 800-253-3000.
00:24:56.217 --> 00:25:00.355
You can send your tax-deductible gift
00:25:00.355 --> 00:25:01.923
To the address on your screen,
00:25:01.923 --> 00:25:03.358
Or you can visit us online at itiswritten.com.
00:25:03.358 --> 00:25:07.262
Thank you for your prayers and for your financial support.
00:25:07.262 --> 00:25:10.031
Our number again is 800-253-3000,
00:25:10.031 --> 00:25:14.235
Or you can visit us online at itiswritten.com.
00:25:14.235 --> 00:25:17.272
>>john bradshaw: let's pray together now.
00:25:18.373 --> 00:25:20.375
Our father in heaven, i thank you that you demonstrate
00:25:20.375 --> 00:25:22.811
In peter's experience that people can fail
00:25:22.811 --> 00:25:26.548
And then find success,
00:25:26.548 --> 00:25:28.416
That sinners really can be turned around,
00:25:28.416 --> 00:25:30.619
That those who make mistakes can learn from them and grow
00:25:30.619 --> 00:25:33.855
And become just what you want them to be.
00:25:33.855 --> 00:25:37.158
We thank you for your patience.
00:25:37.158 --> 00:25:38.326
As you were patient with peter,
00:25:38.326 --> 00:25:39.461
We know that you're patient with us.
00:25:39.461 --> 00:25:41.630
And, father, i ask that you would work in our lives
00:25:41.630 --> 00:25:43.665
Just as you worked in peter.
00:25:43.665 --> 00:25:45.400
Now, friend, would you like to ask god right now
00:25:45.400 --> 00:25:48.403
To work in your heart and give you hope and a new life?
00:25:48.403 --> 00:25:51.106
Maybe you've done that before,
00:25:51.106 --> 00:25:52.340
So perhaps your prayer is just a prayer of agreement.
00:25:52.340 --> 00:25:55.677
Although maybe you're that one who is saying,
00:25:55.677 --> 00:25:58.513
"oh, i'm far from god. i'm the failure.
00:25:58.513 --> 00:26:01.182
"i'm more likely to take the sword and swing it
00:26:01.182 --> 00:26:03.652
"or make a rash promise that i can't keep
00:26:03.652 --> 00:26:06.454
Than i am to simply be humble and faithful."
00:26:06.454 --> 00:26:09.190
Friend, if you've failed, god can restore you, wants to.
00:26:09.190 --> 00:26:12.694
If you've blown it,
00:26:12.694 --> 00:26:14.362
God can put the broken pieces back together again.
00:26:14.362 --> 00:26:17.565
In fact, god can do better than that.
00:26:17.565 --> 00:26:19.234
He can completely remake you.
00:26:19.234 --> 00:26:20.902
Would you like that?
00:26:20.902 --> 00:26:22.003
If you would, lift up your heart to god right now.
00:26:22.003 --> 00:26:24.072
You might even want to lift up your hand right now, if you can.
00:26:24.072 --> 00:26:27.575
Our father and our god, thank you for treating us
00:26:27.575 --> 00:26:30.779
The way you treated peter
00:26:30.779 --> 00:26:33.314
And for giving us hope that you can make a person new.
00:26:33.314 --> 00:26:37.719
We thank you for that newness.
00:26:37.719 --> 00:26:39.120
We claim it now through jesus christ our lord and savior.
00:26:39.120 --> 00:26:44.426
And it's in jesus' name that we pray.
00:26:44.426 --> 00:26:47.529
Amen.
00:26:47.529 --> 00:26:49.030
Thank you so much for joining me.
00:26:49.030 --> 00:26:51.166
Look forward to seeing you again next time.
00:26:51.166 --> 00:26:53.234
Until then, remember:
00:26:53.234 --> 00:26:55.270
"it is written, 'man shall not live by bread alone,
00:26:55.270 --> 00:26:59.340
But by every word that proceeds from the mouth of god.'"
00:26:59.340 --> 00:27:03.344
♪[dramatic theme music]♪
00:27:03.344 --> 00:27:03.344

John Bradshaw - Great Characters Of The Bible: Peter

February 16, 2025 | S25:E7

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