Sunday
Morning Bible Study
March 17, 2002
As you follow the life of Peter, you see a man who goes from being a person
who is “watching” Jesus do things to a person who begins to “walk” in the power
of the Holy Spirit, doing some of the same things Jesus did.
(Mat 4:18-20 KJV) 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. {19} And he saith unto them, Follow me,
and I will make you fishers of men. {20} And they straightway left their nets,
and followed him.
When Peter started following Jesus, he was just a simple fisherman.
We are told that Jesus gave His disciples authority to heal the sick and
cast out demons (Mat. 10:8), but I find it interesting that we do not have any
record of anyone but Jesus performing these miracles during Jesus’ lifetime.
(Luke 8:49-55 KJV) While he yet spake, there cometh one from
the ruler of the synagogue's house, saying to him, Thy daughter is dead;
trouble not the Master. {50} But when Jesus heard it, he answered him, saying,
Fear not: believe only, and she shall be made whole. {51} And when he came into
the house, he suffered no man to go in, save Peter, and James, and John, and
the father and the mother of the maiden. {52} And all wept, and bewailed her:
but he said, Weep not; she is not dead, but sleepeth. {53} And they laughed him
to scorn, knowing that she was dead. {54} And he put them all out, and took her
by the hand, and called, saying, Maid, arise. {55} And her spirit came again,
and she arose straightway: and he commanded to give her meat.
Jesus raised a little girl from the dead.
Peter was there, watching.
(Mat 16:13-23 KJV) When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea
Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man
am? {14} And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias;
and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. {15} He saith unto them, But whom
say ye that I am? {16} And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ,
the Son of the living God. {17} And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed
art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee,
but my Father which is in heaven. {18} And I say also unto thee, That thou art
Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall
not prevail against it. {19} And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom
of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven:
and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
This certainly seems to have been a high point for Peter. He was “the man”. He was the one who made the wonderful confession that Jesus was
the Christ, the Messiah. He had learned
it from the Father.
{20} Then charged he his
disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ. {21} From
that time forth began Jesus to show 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.
Right after having said this most wonderful of things about Jesus, the next
thing out of Peter’s mouth is something from Satan.
(Mat 26:31-35 KJV) Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be
offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the
shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad. {32} But after
I am risen again, I will go before you into Galilee. {33} Peter answered and
said unto him, Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I
never be offended. {34} Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this
night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. {35} Peter said unto
him, Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. Likewise also
said all the disciples.
Peter could never have imagined that he would have denied knowing Jesus.
Yet Peter does deny Jesus.
(Mat 26:69-75 KJV) Now Peter sat without in the palace: and a
damsel came unto him, saying, Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee. {70} But he
denied before them all, saying, I know not what thou sayest. {71} And when he
was gone out into the porch, another maid saw him, and said unto them that were
there, This fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth. {72} And again he denied
with an oath, I do not know the man. {73} And after a while came unto him they
that stood by, and said to Peter, Surely thou also art one of them; for thy
speech bewrayeth thee. {74} Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know
not the man. And immediately the cock crew. {75} And Peter remembered the word
of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.
And he went out, and wept bitterly.
Jesus would be put on trial and then led to a cross where He would
die. After three days, Jesus rose again
from the dead and over a period of forty days, Jesus made a several appearances
to His disciples. Jesus then ascended
into heaven and ten days later something happened that would change Peter and
the other disciples.
(Acts 2:1-4 KJV) And when the day of Pentecost was fully
come, they were all with one accord in one place. {2} And suddenly there came a
sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house
where they were sitting. {3} And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like
as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. {4} And they were all filled with the
Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them
utterance.
They would no longer be “watchers”, but “walkers”. They would no longer just be bystanders, but
they would be the ones speaking boldly and performing miracles.
(Acts 2:14-16 KJV) But Peter, standing up with the eleven,
lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that
dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words: {15} For
these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the
day. {16} But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;
It’s been fifty days since Peter had denied Jesus. He and the other disciples have been hiding
in Jerusalem. And yet now Peter is able
to stand before a huge crowd and talk to them about Jesus.
(Acts 2:37-41 KJV) Now when they heard this, they were pricked
in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and
brethren, what shall we do? {38} Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be
baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins,
and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. {39} For the promise is unto
you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the
Lord our God shall call. {40} And with many other words did he testify and
exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. {41} Then they
that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added
unto them about three thousand souls.
Three thousand people get saved because of Peter’s message. Three thousand people become followers of
Jesus.
(Acts 3:1-9 KJV) Now Peter and John went up together into the
temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour. {2} And a certain man lame
from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the
temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the
temple; {3} Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an
alms. {4} And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us.
{5} And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them. {6}
Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee:
In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk. {7} And he took him
by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones
received strength. {8} And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with
them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God. {9} And all the
people saw him walking and praising God:
Instead of being the guy watching Jesus perform the miracles, Peter is now
performing miracles. When Peter and
John are arrested for the horrible crime of healing this lame man and talking
about Jesus …
(Acts 4:7-10 KJV) And when they had set them in the midst,
they asked, By what power, or by what name, have ye done this? {8} Then Peter,
filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders
of Israel, {9} If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent
man, by what means he is made whole; {10} Be it known unto you all, and to all
the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye
crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here
before you whole.
Peter has incredible boldness to say these things to the very men who had
earlier put Jesus to death. How could
he do this? Over the next couple of
chapters of Acts we see incredible miracles being done through Peter and the
other apostles.
(Acts 9:36-42 KJV) Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple
named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of
good works and almsdeeds which she did. {37} And it came to pass in those days,
that she was sick, and died: whom when they had washed, they laid her in an
upper chamber. {38} And forasmuch as Lydda was nigh to Joppa, and the disciples
had heard that Peter was there, they sent unto him two men, desiring him that
he would not delay to come to them. {39} Then Peter arose and went with them.
When he was come, they brought him into the upper chamber: and all the widows
stood by him weeping, and showing the coats and garments which Dorcas made,
while she was with them. {40} But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down,
and prayed; and turning him to the body said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened
her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat up. {41} And he gave her his hand,
and lifted her up, and when he had called the saints and widows, presented her
alive. {42} And it was known throughout all Joppa; and many believed in the
Lord.
Peter is no longer a bystander. He
is raising the dead.
Illustration
Maewyn Succat was born in AD 389 in Southern Britain. He grew up as a slave, a shepherd tending
his master’s flocks. He ran away from
his master and fled to France where he became a Christian and began to grow in
the Lord. He took a new name,
Patrick. He risked his life as a
run-away slave and returned home to preach to his people. When he came to the city of Dublin, the king
had just lost his only two children.
The people announced the arrival of “St.Patrick, the potent reviver of
many dead persons”. The king said that
if God restored his children to life, that he and all the citizens would become
Christians. St. Patrick prayed. He wasn’t a “bystander”. The dead were raised and Ireland came to the
Lord.
It is my desire that we are not a church of just bystanders.
In, with, and upon.
There are three “prepositions” that are used to describe our relationship
to the Holy Spirit, the words “in”, “with”, and “upon” (the Greek words are en,
para, and epi). Jesus uses
two of the words in:
(John 14:16-17 KJV) And I will pray the Father, and he shall
give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; {17}
Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him
not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and
shall be in you.
Before becoming a Christian, the Holy Spirit was “with us”. He was alongside of us drawing us to Jesus,
telling us about Jesus. When we opened
our heart to Jesus, the Holy Spirit came to live inside of us. Every person who has been born again has the
Holy Spirit living inside of them.
But Jesus used one more word to describe something else, when the Holy
Spirit would come “upon” us.
(Acts 1:7-8 KJV) And he said unto them, It is not for you to
know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. {8}
But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye
shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria,
and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
This experience was what happened at Pentecost. If you track the events carefully through the book of Acts, you
will find that this experience is referred to in many ways: “being filled”, “the promise of the Father”,
“the baptism of the Holy Spirit”, the “gift of the Holy Ghost”, the Holy Spirit
“falling upon”, “coming upon”, and “poured out upon”.
In Acts 1:8, Jesus said that the main “sign” of this event would be the
power to be witnesses for Jesus.
We sometimes hear things backward and are told that the
“sign” is speaking in tongues, but Jesus said it would be power to be
witnesses.
power – dunamis – strength, power, ability. This can be the power to perform miracles,
but it can also simply be the power to follow Jesus and live like a Christian.
One of the aspects of the Holy Spirit’s power is to help us with our sin
nature.
(Gal 5:16 NKJV) I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you
shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.
In other words, if I learn to live my life day by day having the Holy
Spirit be at work in me, then instead of letting my sin nature be in charge,
God will be in charge.
Walking – taking one step after another.
Each time you are filled with the Spirit, you are taking a step. Each time you choose to move your life in a
direction that the Spirit is leading in, you take a step. To “walk” in the
Spirit is learning to live a life of being filled over and over. It’s learning to yield over and over to God.
Sometimes we can get the idea that we are “filled” with the Holy Spirit
when we come to church. That’s a start,
but what is more important with God is whether or not you will be filled with
the Spirit an hour after you leave church.
The amazing things we see the apostles doing in the book of Acts didn’t all
happen at church. Many of the things
happened outside of church, in peoples’ homes.
You will not become perfect when you learn to be filled with the Holy
Spirit. In Galatians 2:11-14, Paul
talks about how he had to rebuke Peter for doing some stupid things. Peter wasn’t perfect. But he was walking.
“It’s not how high you jump when it happens, but how straight you walk
when you hit the ground.”
John 7:37-39
:37 In the last day, that great day
of the feast ...
This is the time of the Feast of Tabernacles. The Feast of Tabernacles was
a time to celebrate two things:
1. It was a time to celebrate the
harvest being fully brought in, and was alternately called the “Feast of
Ingathering”.
2. It was a time to reflect on how
God had taken care of them while they wandered for 40 years, living in tents
(“tabernacles”) in the wilderness. It
was a time when God had “tabernacled” with His people, when God had lived with
the people.
There were certain rituals that accompanied this great Feast. (Lev. 23:36)
a. Booths
The people built little “tabernacles”, booths, like living in the backyard
in a tent to remember what life was like back in the wilderness. This wasn’t looked at as though the people
were deprived to live in tents, it was looked at as God having been a shelter
and protection for the people.
b. Sacrifices
The feast lasted for eight days, and there were a huge number of sacrifices
made during the week. The “great day”
was the last day of the feast. Lots of
people would be around to hear Jesus.
c. Pouring Out Water - a time
for joy
Every day of the feast, the priests would go just outside the city wall to
the spring of Gihon, and draw out water with a golden pitcher.
Then they would form a procession and walk back into the city through the “Water
Gate”, and then the 1/3 mile through the city to the temple, while a choir
would sing a text from Isaiah,
Isaiah 12:3 Therefore with
joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.
When the priests got to the temple, they would pour out the water on the
altar, as a way of remembering how God had provided water for them in the
wilderness from a Rock (Num.20:8-11) that gushed forth with water.
For the Jews, the idea of God providing water in the middle of the desert
was a HUGELY joyful time, and so there was lots of dancing, music, and
rejoicing.
d. Praying for rain (let it
rain)
It was on this day that they prayed for the rains for the coming year. They
lived in a land where their whole life depended on the rains coming to water
the fields.
It’s at this crucial point, with this as background, that Jesus stands up
and cries out.
:38 as the scripture hath said
Isaiah 44:3 For I will pour water upon him that is
thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit upon thy seed,
and my blessing upon thine offspring:
:38 out of his belly
belly - koilia - the whole belly; the innermost part of a
man, the soul, heart
:38 rivers of living water
rivers - potamos - a stream, a river; a torrent; floods
There were two kinds of water you could get from the ground in those days.
There was water from cisterns.
They were large reservoirs carved into the rock, and when it rained, the
water would be stored in the cisterns.
There were underground springs.
Where the water came bubbling out of the ground, like Gihon.
Instead of having to travel to the well at Gihon, you have your own
“Gihon”.
It was fresh running water, not the stale stuff found in cisterns.
It was called “living water”.
Jesus is saying that if a person believes like this in Him, that rather
than being a dry, thirsty desert, they become a full pressure fire hydrant!
And a fire hydrant of Arrowhead Spring water! The stuff that tastes good!
Not only is your own thirst taken care of, but you start soaking others
around you.
:39 this spake he of the Spirit ...
Jesus is talking about the experience that was fulfilled on the day of
Pentecost.
:39 Jesus was not yet glorified
Before the Holy Spirit would come upon the believers, Jesus would first
have to pay for their sins by dying on the cross and rising from the dead.
Once He would ascend into heaven, proving once and for all that He had won
the victory over sin, then the Holy Spirit could be given freely to all who
trust in Jesus for their salvation.
How to be filled with the Holy Spirit
This is what it means to take a “step”.
This is what leads to “walking”.
1. Thirst
dipsao - suffer from thirst; those who painfully feel their want of,
and eagerly long for
This is the condition (subjunctive).
If you are not thirsty, it won’t happen.
I think this may be why sometimes it takes hard times for people to finally
come to Jesus. It’s in the hard times that we realize just how badly we need
Jesus.
There must be a strong sense of need in our life. You must be desperate.
2. Come
John the Baptist said,
Matthew 3:11 I indeed baptize you with water unto
repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am
not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:
You have to realize that to be filled with the Holy Spirit, you’re going to
have to come to Jesus. You don’t have
to come to a special person to pray for you.
You have to ask Jesus.
Only He has paid the price for your sins, enabling you to come into a
personal relationship with God.
This is the first of two commands.
This is something you must do.
You MUST come to Jesus.
3. Drink
To drink a glass of water, you first have to open up your mouth.
Imagine drinking a glass of water with your mouth closed. You would certainly
have a “drinking problem”!
To receive the Holy Spirit, you have to open up your heart.
The is the second of two commands.
You must not only come to Jesus, but you MUST drink. You must yield. You must open yourself up to the Holy Spirit.
4. Believe
Jesus didn’t say, “He who feels this tingle down his back will have rivers
of living water ...”.
He said, “He that believeth ...”
Being filled with the Holy Spirit is based on trust, on faith, not on
feelings.
This is not a command (it’s a present participle). It would seem that this is what is assumed
that you are already doing. If you are
already believing in Jesus, then “Come” and “Drink”.
I’m not asking you to take a “leap” of faith. I’m asking you to take a step.
Take a step this morning. Take
another one this afternoon. When you
put together all the steps, you will find yourself not “watching” but
“walking”.