Peter's Failures and Successes

  1. INTRODUCTION

    1. The apostle Peter was a man who failed many times, but he also had great successes.  For this reason, he is someone that relates to all of us, for we all suffer failures and garner successes.

    2. Let us learn from some of his failures and successes in the present study.  These are by no means all of his failures and successes, but these are some that hold valuable lessons for us.

       

  2. PETER'S FAILURES

    1. Peter failed when he sank in the sea (Matt. 14:22-33).

      1. Peter and the other disciples of Jesus saw the Lord walking on the Sea of Galilee.

        1. They were in a boat far from the shore.  The waves were rough, and the wind was contrary.  It was between 3AM and 6AM.

        2. Jesus came to the disciples walking on the sea.  At first, they thought He was a ghost.

      2. Peter began to walk on the water to Jesus, but he sank into the sea.

        1. When Jesus identified Himself to the disciples, Peter said, "Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water."  Jesus said, "Come!"

        2. Peter started well, but he sank when he saw the effects of the wind and became afraid.

      3. Why did Peter fail?

        1. Jesus explained Peter's failure when He said, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?"

        2. Peter did not trust the word of Jesus, who told Him to come.  Instead, he became fearful of the wind and took his eyes off the Lord.

      4. Do we fail to trust the word of Christ like Peter?

    2. Peter failed when he rebuked Jesus (Matt. 16:21-23).

      1. Jesus taught His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, be killed, and be raised up on the third day.

      2. Rather than believing Jesus, Peter rebuked Him, saying, "God forbid it, Lord!  This shall never happen to You."

      3. Why did Peter fail?

        1. Jesus explained Peter's failure when He said, "Get behind Me, Satan!  You are a stumbling block to Me; for you are not setting your mind on God's interests, but man's."

        2. Peter rejected Christ's word because he was offended by the message.  He was not concerned about God's will, but rather he sought for his own will to be done.

      4. Do we fail like Peter by seeking our own will when it conflicts with God's will?

    3. Peter failed when he denied Christ (Matt. 26:30-35, 69-75).

      1. Jesus predicted Peter's denials only hours before they happened.

        1. Just before Jesus was betrayed and arrested, He told His disciples, "You will all fall away because of Me this night, for it is written, 'I will strike down the Shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered.'"

        2. When Peter insisted that he would be the exception, Jesus said to him, "Truly I say to you that this very night, before a rooster crows, you will deny Me three times."

        3. Peter was adamant, saying, "Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You."

      2. Later that night, as Jesus was being tried before the high priest, Peter denied Him three times.

        1. Outside the high priest's courtyard, Peter was identified as a follower of Jesus three times. Each time, he denied knowing Jesus with increasing vehemence.

        2. After the third denial, Peter heard a cock crow, and he went out and wept bitterly.

      3. Why did Peter fail?

        1. Peter was prepared to die with a sword in his hand fighting for Jesus, but the Lord prevented him. Notice the Lord's words in Matthew 26:52-54:

          52Then Jesus said to him, "Put your sword back into its place; for all those who take up the sword shall perish by the sword.  53Or do you think that I cannot appeal to My Father, and He will at once put at My disposal more than twelve legions of angels? 54How then will the Scriptures be fulfilled, which say that it must happen this way?"

        2. Peter had been certain of himself, but this situation was not what he anticipated.  Everything happened as Jesus had said, but Peter had his own mistaken concepts.

      4. Do we fail like Peter by believing in our own concepts rather than the word of God?

         

  3. PETER'S SUCCESSES

    1. Peter succeeded when he confessed Christ (Matt. 16:13-19).

      1. When Jesus asked His disciples who people were saying that He was, they listed John the baptist, Elijah, Jeremiah, and the prophets.

      2. When Jesus asked them who they thought He was, Peter gave the great confession: "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God."

      3. Why did Peter succeed?

        1. Peter's success is explained by Jesus, who said, "Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven."

        2. God revealed Christ's identity to Peter by His signs and His words.  Men drew the wrong conclusions about Jesus, but Peter believed the truth of God's revelation.

      4. Do we succeed like Peter by believing the revelation given by the Father in His word?

    2. Peter succeeded when he preached the gospel (Acts 2:14-41).

      1. Peter received a special commission from Jesus.

        1. When Jesus was predicting Peter's denials, He said to Peter, "...when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers" (Luke 22:32).

        2. After Christ's resurrection, Jesus asked him three times whether he loved Him.  When Peter answered, Jesus said, "Tend My lambs," "Shepherd My sheep," and "Tend My sheep" (John 21:15-17).

      2. After Christ ascended to heaven, Peter boldly preached the gospel of Christ.

        1. All of the apostles preached, but it was Peter who was at the forefront in the early days and whose words are recorded in Acts chapters 2-5 and 10-11.

        2. Peter continued to preach the gospel throughout his life, which is evidenced by 2Peter, a letter written late in his life (see 2Pet. 1:12-14).

      3. Why did Peter succeed?

        1. Peter carried out the Lord's will according to the Lord's words.  Jesus had told him when he confessed Jesus, "I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven" (Matt. 16:19).

        2. Peter relied on the guidance of heaven via the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:4, 14-21) and preached the name of Jesus (Acts 3:16; 4:10, 12).  It was this power that gave him success.

      4. Do we succeed like Peter by relying on the guidance of heaven through the name of Christ?

    3. Peter succeeded when he patiently suffered as a Christian (Acts 5:40; 12:1-5).

      1. Before Jesus ascended to heaven, He foretold Peter's suffering and death.  Notice John 21:18:

        "Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were younger, you used to gird yourself and walk wherever you wished; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands and someone else will gird you, and bring you where you do not wish to go."

      2. Peter suffered much in the service of Christ.

        1. Peter, who had abandoned Jesus while He was on trial before the Sanhedrin, stood himself before the Sanhedrin and defied them for Christ's name (Acts 4:1-22; 5:17-42).

        2. He was beaten with the other apostles, and rejoiced to be counted worthy to suffer shame for Christ's name (Acts 5:40-41).

        3. He was imprisoned by Herod for preaching the gospel (Acts 12:1-5).

        4. The Bible does not record Peter's death, but we can be certain (and tradition holds) that Peter suffered death for his service to Christ, just as Jesus foretold.

      3. Why did Peter succeed?

        1. Peter's success can be described by his own inspired words from 1Peter 3:14-16:

          14But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. and do not fear their intimidation, and do not be troubled, 15but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence; 16and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame.

        2. Peter's commitment to Christ as Lord empowered him to withstand his trials.

      4. Do we succeed like Peter by sanctifying Christ as Lord when we suffer as Christians?




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