SIMON PETER-THE BIG FISHERMAN.

SERIES: CLOSE ENCOUNTERS WITH GOD

TEXT: LUKE 6:13-14.

No matter who you are, no matter what you have done, no matter where you have been, you can have close encounters with God. This morning let us consider the man Simon Peter. In the early church due to persecution, the Christians used “Code names.” For Simon Peter they decided the code name “The Big Fisherman.” In 1953 in a movie, the code name for Peter was the “Robe.”

God takes the raw material of a man or woman to make them what they can and should be by His grace and Almighty power Peter’s name is mentioned in the gospels more than any other except the name of Jesus Christ.

No one speaks as often as Peter and no one is spoken to by the Lord Jesus Christ as often as Peter.

No disciple was rebuked so often by the Lord than Peter.

No one confessed Jesus Christ so boldly, so explicitly like Peter.

No other disciple ever verbally denied Christ as forcefully as Peter did.

No one is praised and blessed by Christ the way Peter was.

No other disciple did Jesus Christ ever address as Satan!!

Apostle Paul rebuked Peter in Galatians 2 for practicing double standards when it came to treatment towards Gentile Christians.

This reminds us that no matter how old you are, how spiritual you are, how much you are used of God, you are still susceptible to making mistakes!!

But with all his failures, Peter-

• Walked on water.
• Preached to more than 10,000 people with 3,000-5,000 getting saved and baptized instantly.
• It is said in church history that just by walking by Peter’s shadow healing and miracles would happen.

Let us break Peter’s life into 5 parts.

• Peter’s conversions.
• Peter’s courage.
• Peter’s confession.
• Peter’s crash.
• Peter’s come back.

PETER’S CONVERSION-John 1:40-42.

• It was Andrew Peter’s brother that brought Peter to Christ.
• Andrew had met Jesus Christ and He went and told his brother Simon, that is how Peter got saved.
• If Andrew did not care about his brother Peter, Peter would have died in sin.
• We need to be mindful about our own brothers and sisters.
• Andrew told Peter “I have found the Messiah.”
• Jesus Christ looked at Simon and said, “Thou art Simon the son of Jonah, thou shall be called Cephas (Peter)-Petra=A stone-John 1:42. Simon=Hearing, Jonah=spirit.
• Hearing the spirit.
• Jesus looks at Peter and says, I know-
• You have got faults.
• You are a handful.
• You will be high maintenance.

But I will call you what you are going to be-“Thou shalt be”- “a stone.”

• Despite Peter’s struggles and miracles, one day you will be “a stone.”
• You are a prostitute, but you will be a bride.
• You are a sinner but you will be a saint.
• You are a loser but you will be a winner.
• You are broke but you will be blessed and highly favored of God and man.

PETER’S COURAGE.

• Peter was a man of courage-He was not afraid of anything.

This man is the only mortal to ever walk on water-Matt. 14.

• • Finally Peter sank, but no one else tried the other disciples were safe in the boat.
  • Peter teaches us-that it is the time for us to step out of the boats of comfort.
  • It is time to dream again.

Cutting off an ear of a Roman soldier!!

• Peter was aiming at the head of the Roman soldier but missed.
• Jesus healed the Roman soldier-It was a crime punishable by death.
• Every ministry needs an “Ear cutter.”

The vision of the Gentiles-Acts 9:9-48.

• We must care where God sends us.
• It does not matter their color, language or gender.
• We must take the gospel to all people-red, yellow, black and white.
• The work of God needs vision and courage-Joshua 1:9.
• God is telling someone here-
• Don’t be afraid to couch out.
• Don’t be afraid to get out of the boat.
• Don’t be afraid to start that business.
• Don’t be afraid to share your faith.
• We need vision and courage.

PETER’S CONFESSION-Matt. 16:13-19.

• Take from me, the gates of hell shall not prevail against the church.
• The “gates of hell” are all councils, conferences, summits, conventions organized by hell cannot prevail.
• The “gates of hell” are assemblies, parliaments, congresses, covens that may seat to plan how to destroy the real church of Jesus Christ.
• Jesus Christ never said I will build my-
• Youth ministry.
• Prison ministry.
• Women and men ministries.
• Music ministry.
• Jesus said I will build my church. If you build the church, you will have youth, prison, Tv and music ministry.
• Some people don’t like the church, but the church is the bride of Christ and He loves His bride.
• Peter’s confession was “HE IS THE CHRIST” and on that confession, Christ will build His church.
• Peter had another confession in John 6:67-68, “Thou said Jesus unto the twelve, will ye also go away? Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life.”
• The early Christians were called “the confessors.” They confessed Jesus Christ wherever they went.”
• Do you confess Him as your Lord and Savior everywhere you go?

PETER’S CRASH-Luke 22:31-34.

• Jesus said to Peter that “Satan desires to have you.”
• Today, “Satan desires to have every one of you!!” not just Peter.
• That is why-
• There has been a struggle.
• Things have been tough for you.
• That is why there has been conflict.
• Satan desires to have you, he is the adversary.
• God desires to deliver you, but satan desires to damn us.
• Satan wants the talented musicians to use them, the young girls to get pregnant, the preacher, the elder, the deacon to fail morally, to smite the shepherd and to scatter the sheep.
• Satan wants the young man to become a drug pusher, the christian to get offended over small things in the church-You are the target of satan.
• Satan never wants you to get the victory to stay in the church, to read the Bible, to win souls, to worship and raise up your hands-“SATAN WANTS TO SIFT YOU”-Like wheat. (Sift=Greek-Siniazo), Swahili = “Kupepeta.”
• Satan wants to sift you, to tear your life to pieces.
• Later Peter wrote in 1^st Peter 5:8, “Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary the devil as a roaring lion, walketh about seeking whom he may devour.”
• Satan works through the permissive will of God “He has desired” but let us not aid satan, let us be vigilant and sober.
• Peter did three things to crash:-

1. He walked a far off-Luke 22:54.
2. He warmed by the world’s fire-Luke 22:55.
3. He went with the wrong people-Matt. 26:74.

PETER’S COME BACK-John 21:9.

• 3 times Jesus asked Peter “Do you love me more than these?”
• Peter answered “Lord you know I do” and Jesus said “feed my sheep.”
• We need to love Jesus Christ “More than these.”
• We need to love Jesus actively “Feed my sheep.”
• We need to love Jesus openly, “Repeated love.”
• You may have told your wife 1,000 times “I love you.”
• Peter went on, preached on the day of Pentecost, defied Rome, wrote two books of the Bible, opened the door to the gentiles, had close encounters “it was a comeback.

CONCLUSION

• This morning some of you are on target of satan.
• This morning some are following afar off.
• This morning some have failed and denied Christ.
• But Jesus Christ has prayed for you that you don’t fail-encourage your brethren.
• God loves you and there is a look from heaven.
• God loves you and there is a look from heaven towards you this day. Conversion, courage, confession, crash, comeback.