I continue to preach on Sundays from the Book of John. 

Peter is Used of God
Text:  John 18


    When we see Peter in this chapter, we see a disturbed man.  At first we see his impatience and fleshly response to the betrayal by Judas.   Instead of responding as did Jesus, he cut the right ear of one of the guards.  This reminds me of his reaction to the Lord’s statement about going to the cross (Mt.16).  Peter thought it better that Jesus would not go to the cross.  In these cases, Peter didn’t want to be absent from the Lord’s presence, but it also showed immaturity and selfishness on his part.  He saw things only through his own eyes.   Jesus summed up Peter's case, "thou savorest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men." (Mt.16:23).  
   
    Then after Jesus was betrayed and taken away, Peter followed to the palace of the high priest but was not allowed further into the building at first.  He was later allowed in the gate.  It was cold that night and in that courtyard he mingled with the people by the fire.  His speech gave him away that he wasn’t from Jerusalem but from Galilee.  He was questioned if he was not one of the disciples.  Then we know the story of how he cursed that he knew the Lord and also denied Jesus three times before the rooster crowed.  Peter was standing with the wrong crowd and he lost his testimony.  It would have been better if he had not been in a compromising position, or to have not been ashamed and say, "yes, I know him."  We must ask ourselves about the company we keep, and what we surround ourselves with: media, society and entertainment?  What influences us and  how do we respond to those influences?  We see how Peter repented of his shame with weeping.  This was a full grown and rugged man, a fisherman by trade who is now weeping in remorse of his sin.  Denying the Lord Jesus is a sin.  When is the last time we shed a tear because of our sins?  We are not to sweep them under the rug, but confess them to the Lord.
   
    In these situations we see that Peter was a man of strong determinate will and emotion.  Remember how he went out of the boat to meet the Lord on the water.  He walks on the water for a short time.  How awesome that must have been.  None of the disciples ventured like that.  Another evidence of a strong or bold will was at the mount of transfiguration he wanted to honor God by building an altar there.  We already looked at the boldness to cut off the ear of the man who came at Jesus's betrayal.   Peter was also first to arrive at the empty tomb when he learned of the resurrection.   These events show us a man of a strong will who was devoted to God.
   
    He was also strong emotionally in the sense that he expressed what he thought.   He had an idea of what was best in his mind to serve God.  He testified that Jesus was the Son of God, but didn’t want to see his Lord die on the cross.  That showed his lack of scriptural knowledge, but he expressed his heart desire for the Lord's presence.  Peter wanted to honor the Lord as best as he thought possible.  He was a man that wanted to express himself.  He had a desire to make an altar to worship at the mount of transfiguration, but although he was rebuked for his decision, he continued following Jesus.  How humiliating that must have been, but God knew what it would take to change.                                                                               
   
    Although we see his failures and errors at those times, we also see a man devoted to serving his Lord.  Study his life and you will see a man that was hard to stop.  I think we also see his emotional strength in the fact that he couldn't hold back the tears when he sinned.  He knew that he had to confess to God which takes emotional strength.  A coldness to sin would be the opposite reaction.  God took those characteristics of Peter and molded him into an apostle of grace and understanding, with a teachable spirit.  In the book of Acts we see that he still needed to be taught about those who would receive the gospel.  Over time spiritual maturity tempered his conduct.  I believe that after a given amount of time and exposure to the ministry, with correction and instruction, Peter realized how his flesh would get him into trouble.  This caused him to grow to depend more upon the leading of the Lord in his life.   It may have seemed that Peter would never be used mightily of God, but God had something planned down the road.  Peter had to learn to follow God's word.
   
    Another lesson we learn from the life of Peter, and that is the mercy of God in his life.  Peter was used of God in a mighty way.  No other disciple besides Paul is in the eye of the gospel ministry as much as is Peter.   The greatest single sermon as recorded in the book of Acts was preached by Peter.  Besides his failures, his faith and devotion to the Lord was always evident.  We learn that there is no one outside the sphere of God’s mercy.  We may stumble and fall, but God says we can get back up.  He upheld Peter and will do the same for us.  When we fail, we need to repent and cast our cares upon Him.  Our selfish pride will keep us from following God, looking only on the things that make sense to us in this temporary world; but when we are down on our backs, the only place we can look is up.  The Bible tells us not to look upon the things of this world but on things above.  We are to give up our selfish ways to God.  Not giving up is denying God’s mercy and grace.  We are to give up our ways for God’s ways.  Peter had to learn the lesson of God’s grace (II Peter 3:18) .  I think this verse is in reference to his teachable spirit.
   
    Peter is an example to every believer that God is a God of the second chance, even the third and fourth chance.  When you fall off a bicycle or horse, the best thing to do is to get back on.  The same is true for our faith in God: when you fail, turn from the lack of faith and take God at His word.  Learn to trust Him again, and again.  Our course to heaven is forward.  Take it slowly at the start and allow Him to lead.  Follow, believe His word, rest or have confidence in Him, and take a stand for His name.  These are things that Peter did and also failed at as well.  He knew as we do, that there needs to be dependence upon the Lord for all things (I Peter 5:7).  We have a God whom we must depend upon.  The scripture tells us that He is faithful and true.  Peter got back up, will you?”