Which Peter Are You？ — Aaron Hurst

Well good morning to you all and greetings in the name of Jesus. He's alive. Glory. He's not on the cross, and he's not in the tomb. He's alive. Thank you, Jesus. As I was reflecting my heart Went back to two years ago this month when I Had the privilege of passing the baton as it were of The role of lead elder here at charity to brother Tim Ashbach.

Can you believe it Tim two years? I just want to say that I want to affirm and bless our brother Tim. The mantle has fallen upon him. I'm sure you've noticed it. I want to commend you brother Tim for The address to the church on Wednesday evening.

I want to exhort the congregation here. Give double honor to your elder by showing a heart That is in love with Jesus and in delight and desire to follow the example of your elder. You Know I can say that now because I'm not talking about myself be a little hard for Tim to say that the scripture charges elders and the scripture charges Us as a flock to example follow the example of Your elders.

Submit yourselves to them. They watch for your souls. They watch for your souls as those that must give in to count. God bless you brothers and sisters the charity Christian fellowship. With the joy of the Lord and with the fullness of the Holy Ghost.

Well You know Tim's family loves him. He rules well his house and his family delights in their daddy. And one of them told me hey now now Aaron you do with it what you want. But I just want to put a little bug in your ear.

It's dad's birthday today. Oh Yes, I love it. Could we could we sing happy birthday. Happy birthday. Oh Thank you Lord, thank you Lord. Oh Yes, there's joy in the house of the Lord and in these people.

Our God has done great things for us, and we are so grateful. Also as I was just reflecting to share a brief testimony here before we get into the message. For Janice and I these last two years have been a new chapter for us it's been Challenging in some ways in some ways a bit Stretching and Surprising you know when you served in a particular role for 20 years and then you Realize God is calling you to lay that down and Pass the baton to a younger man, and and it's affirmed by the church.

And you know the Lord is definitely in it, and this is God's moving and direction and You take that step. I guess I wasn't really prepared for the the sense of What is my role now? Where do I fit where do I belong and even some even some maybe slight depression.

I Remember sitting on the chair Say Lord. Why am I feeling like this? Just realizing yeah, it's changed and Changes it always easy and Letting go and releasing and then an embracing Of what God has for me Janice and I and then kovat you know and God uses all these things To shape us to mold us difficult things.

Tim knows what that is wrestlings Feelings of our inadequacy in our utter inability the task is way too great and we cast ourselves on the Lord and God our Heavenly Father. He speaks to us in the stillness of the night ministers grace and comfort to our hearts.

Thought I would share just very briefly yet this one thing the next chapter for Janice and us I Just want to glory in the Lord. I have nothing to boast of I just want to glory in the Lord for God's goodness and faithfulness and the sense of his leading and direction and that we are at peace and at rest and Fulfillment in the center of God's will we believe that's where we are today, and I do know that My request to you brothers for the release to do some travel and so forth.

Some of you were stretched and I probably didn't do it, right. When I took on the request to spend time at joy fellowship for a season I I Gave the request to our ministry team and And received a release from them to pursue that to To go over to joy and brother Emmanuel and I to To seek to bring some blessing and help to joy fellowship in some of their difficulties and so I felt that release from my fellow ministers to accept that call and to engage there and Attend regularly at joy and not be here every Sunday.

But I did not ask for a release From you brothers and sisters Before I accepted that and I know that for some of you That caused a Struggle and I apologize for that here this morning. I'm sorry for that.

I do see that I Failed there. I failed you in moving ahead without Considering the church family here and asking for a release in blessing. So, can you please forgive me for that? Can you please forgive me for that?

My dear brothers and sisters As I was thinking of sharing the word here I Tim had asked me a couple times Aaron when you're going to preach for us and I had consented earlier and then I Didn't feel clear and I was wrestling with the Lord.

Well, what is it? Why why don't I feel clear? And and I believe that was part of it what I just shared that I I Heard or offended Unnecessarily by by my lack of Of carefulness in in that so I pray that we can hear the Lord today That that I wouldn't be standing in the way in any way from from God speaking to us and Thank you for your forgiveness.

Let's stand together one more time. Father we do come in Jesus name. Father we acknowledge our utter dependency upon you in our need of you continually Lord Scriptures say that in many things we offend.

But Lord our heart is not to offend. Father I ask in Jesus name you would speak deeply to my heart to the heart of my brothers and sisters and That there would just be a beautiful sense of your presence here today ministering life and truth to our hearts and blessing Lord.

Father I have nothing to bring Except you send the fire except you anoint the word of the Lord. All is vain, but father we are looking to you our faithful God. Oh Lord anoint your word to our hearts Grant us grace to receive it with meekness and Truth in Jesus name.

Peter’s Warning at the Last Supper

Amen. You may be seated. Luke chapter 22. Luke chapter 22 verse 31 the Lord Jesus said Simon Simon Behold Satan has desired to have you That he may sift you as wheat but I have prayed for thee that thy faith fail not and With our converted strengthen thy brethren and he said unto him Lord.

I am ready to go with thee both into prison and to death and He said I tell thee Peter The cock shall not crow this day Before thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me give a title to this message today.

Which Peter are you? Which Peter are? You self-confident Believing that I have it in myself Self-assured I can do this confidence in my flesh. I Am ready to go with you Jesus both into prison and to death Mark 14 26 and I don't know if you want to turn to all of these for sake of time.

We're following The life of Peter at the Last Supper and following Mark 14 26 when they had sung on him. They went out into the Mount of Olives and Jesus said unto them all of you shall be offended of me this night.

For it is written. I will smite the shepherd and the sheep shall be scattered. But after I am risen, I will go before you into Galilee. But Peter said unto him Although all shall be offended. Yet will not I Self-confident Believing he has it in himself He's strong enough.

I won't be offended. Lord Jesus said unto him verily I say unto thee This day even this night before the cock crow twice thou shalt deny me thrice and Peter. Oh Peter he spake the war vehemently. Imagine he's talking to the Lord Jesus Christ the more vehemently.

If I should die with thee I Will not deny thee working it out in my own flesh by my own strength and Arguing back to the Lord Jesus. Basically, what he's saying is Jesus. You don't know what you're talking about.

The Sleeping Disciple and the Weakness of the Flesh

You keep telling me I'm going to deny you but I know in my heart and in my own strength I will not deny you. I'm ready to die with you. Which Peter are you? Mark 14 32 they came to the place called Gethsemane and Jesus said to the disciples sit here while I go yonder to pray and he takes with him Peter and John.

And he began to be sore Amazed and to be very heavy. The burden of the cross and the weight and The sin of the whole world was upon Jesus our Savior. And he was very heavy and he said unto them. My soul is exceeding sorrowful unto death.

Tarry ye here and watch. And he went farther a Little farther and he fell on the ground and had prayed that if it were possible this hour might pass from him and he said Abba Father All things are possible with thee.

Take away this cup from me nevertheless not as I will but as thou wilt and he cometh and Findeth then sleeping. Then saith he unto Peter Simon Sleepest thou? Couldest not thou watch with me one hour? Simon Peter watch.

Watch ye Peter you watch and pray lest you enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready but Peter. That flesh you're relying in is weak. Peter. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak. Mark chapter 14 verse 38.

Which Peter are you are you the sleepy? Peter Self-reliant. I can do this. I Got this. But you're falling asleep. Are you sleepy Peter? Would the Lord say to you this morning awake. Awake out of sleep.

It is high time to awake out of sleep. Your fall Into sin is closer than you imagine. Watch and pray. Sleepy Peter awake. John 18 1 when Jesus had spoken these words he went forth with the disciples over the brook Cedron where was a garden Into the which he entered and his disciples and Judas also which betrayed him knew the place.

For Jesus oft times resorted feather with his disciples. Judas then having received a band of men and officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees Cometh feather with lanterns and torches and weapons.

Jesus therefore knowing all things that should come upon him went forth and said unto them Whom seek ye? They answered him Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus said unto them I Am he. Judas also which betrayed him stood with them and as soon as he said I Am he they went backward and fell to the ground and he asked them again Whom seek you.

And they said Jesus of Nathrez. And Jesus answered and said I have told you that I am he if Therefore you seek me. Let these go their way. Let the disciples Go their way. This he said that the saying might be fulfilled of which he spake of them which thou gavest me.

Have I lost none? It wasn't Peter's time to die that night or any of the disciples. They would give their life later. Verse 10. John 18. Then Simon Peter having a sword drew it and He smote the high priest servant and cut off his right ear the servants name with Marcus.

Then Jesus said unto Peter put up thy sword into the sheath. The cup which my father hath given me. Shall I not drink it. Which Peter are you. Are you the confidence in the flesh Peter? Taking matters into your own hands.

Self-Reliance, Spiritual Warfare, and the Flesh

Pull yourself up by your own bootstraps. Pulling out the sword warring in the flesh with carnal weapons. Earthly methods. Earthly Psychologies and approaches. Ten steps to a new you. Meditation to make you feel at peace and at ease armed in the flesh.

Self-reliant. Confident in the flesh, you know the older I get and the more that I've seen The more I realized my utter. Dependency upon Jesus and how I can do nothing without him. I am totally dependent.

I dare not trust past Successes. I dare not be defeated by past failures. I dare not lean like the hymn writer says on the sweetest frame of past blessings past successes. Oh. But to wholly lean on Jesus name and on Christ the solid rock I stand.

All other ground is indeed sinking sand. Which Peter are you? Are you trying to work? Righteousness and spiritual life by the arm of the flesh. Are you trying to overcome by your own? Grit, it's pretty amazing.

What people can do who are not even Christians by their own grit and strength. They can quit smoking. They can quit drugs. They can quit alcohol through alcoholics anonymous help and whatever. And They can better themselves.

But that is not salvation. Salvation Is only through the redemptive work that Jesus Christ did on the cross to save us from our sins. Peter Put up thy sword into its sheath. Another one of the Gospels Proclaims it this way that all those that take the sword are going to perish with the sword.

You cannot fight spiritual battles with carnal weapons. It does not work. It may look like it's working. You may force compliance but spiritual life Comes by the Holy Spirit of God. Through fighting those battles with the mighty weapons that are spiritual weapons and They pull down the strongholds.

Hallelujah, we had victory in Jesus and he supplied us with mighty weapons to fight and wrestle and Overcome. Which Peter are you? Would your wife say you draw out that sword. There's a fighting spirit within you.

Peter’s Denial and Compromise

Are you a fighting Peter? Are you an angry Peter? Are you a take matters into my own hands tight? Peter which Peter are you? Luke 22 54. Then took they Jesus and led him and brought him into the high priest house and Peter Followed afar off.

Peter is starting to be shown up for the weakness of his flesh and who he really is. You know God and his mercy will do that with us. God and his love will allow us to fail if we are relying on the flesh.

And when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the hall and They were sat down there together. Peter sat down among them. Another one of the gospel says he also warmed himself by the fire. They stood around and warmed themselves by the fire.

It was cold. Peter sat down among them. Which Peter are you. Are you following Jesus afar off? Which Peter are you? Compromising. Sitting down by the enemy's fire. Sitting with them the enemies of the Lord Jesus and Warming yourself at their fire.

Which Peter are you. A certain maid beheld him as he sat by the fire and earnestly looked upon him and said this man was also with them and Peter denied him. Peter denied Jesus saying woman. I know him not.

Luke 22 58. After a little while another saw him and said thou art also of them and Peter said Man, I am not in Matthew's gospel. He says he denied with an oath. Matthew 26 72. And about the space of one hour Another confidently affirmed.

Saying of a truth this fellow also was with him for he's a Galilean. Another one of the gospel Stacy did I not see thee in the garden with him. And in Matthew it says she said thy speech betrayeth thee.

You have a accent. And in Matthew's gospel It gives us further revelation of Peter's denial. Verse 60 of Luke says Peter said man I know not what thou sayest in Matthew's gospel. It says then Peter began to curse and to swear and to say I know not the man.

I hope there's no one here this morning. That would deny the Lord Jesus by word or deed. You see Jesus said they they they say the right words. But by their deeds by their actions they deny. They deny me by their deeds.

Which Peter are you? Self-reliant. Self-assertive. Confident. I can do this. And how many times as your wife said Oh Daddy. Your approach is not working. Or a daddy to a mama or a pastor. To a brother or sister.

Put away your sword. Put away your self-effort. Humble myself. Get down off your high horse of arrogancy and pride. Which Peter are you? Luke 22 verse 60. Peter said man, I know not what thou sayest.

Repentance, Brokenness, and Restoration

And Immediately while he yet spake the cock crew and the Lord turned and looked upon Peter. Wow, and I believe according to Scripture. Their eyes met all at once it came flooding back. Everything Jesus was saying Peter.

Peter. If only I could get the message across to you Peter. You've been listening to the enemy's voice. Remember what Jesus said Peter? He said it to Peter get behind me Satan. They'll savor us not the things that be of God.

But the things that be of men because Peter said no Lord, you're not you're not going to die. Peter was carnally minded. He was earthly minded yet. He was trying to mix the gospel in and the truth of Christ and he was trying to walk in both camps and as their eyes met.

As he heard the crow of the rooster that morning that early morning hour. And Jesus looked upon Peter and their eyes met it all came rushing back Scriptures days and Peter remembered the word of the Lord.

Can you just feel it like a ton of bricks which we say just hitting him in the chest. And it hit him before the cock crow thou shalt deny me thrice. And it hit him the full weight the guilt the shame the anguish.

I Can't believe I did it. I Denied the Lord. He went on and he wept. Oh, he wept bitterly. Oh Peter Jesus said I have prayed for thee. I have prayed for thee Peter. That thy faith fail not Peter. When you're converted when the light opens upon your heart of who you really are and How much you need saved and conversion when that happens Peter?

Oh Go strengthen the brothers Peter. Peter there's hope Peter. There's hope for you Peter. I have prayed for you That your faith fail not though you will fail me. I Have prayed for you Peter that your faith fail not so this morning.

Maybe as hard as the first part of this message is it's full of hope for the Peters here today the sleeping Peters the self-reliant Peters the Self-confident Peters the self-made man Macho there's hope For you today.

There's hope for the Peter Who comes to Christ Jesus and falls on the rock and is broken? Ah Peter. He went out. He went bitterly in repentance and brokenness all that self-confidence and all that self-reliance and all those good ideas and all those Answers that he had all his quick outspokenness Was gone all Peter's self-righteousness Was gone.

Peter was at ground zero. Zero, oh my dear brother sister today, which Peter are you? Today you can be the broken Peter and today. You can be the forgiven Peter. You can be the restored Peter. You can be the converted Peter.

Yes you you for many years Have fought and wrestled and tried and failed. You can be the restored Peter. You can be the Repentant Peter. You can be the converted Peter. Yes, you. You are miserably failed.

You are Hopeless and discouraged wondering is that ever possible? Yes, you you can reach out to Jesus today and you can touch the hem of his garment as it were and be made every wit whole the only requirement is Repentance Humility brokenness.

I'm done Lord. I've been fighting this battle against porn for years and I can't overcome it. Come to Jesus today with the same Absolute Desperation of Peter. Weeping over your sin and crying out to the Savior.

He'll deliver you. He'll save you. He'll set you free from any demonic force oppression and bondage. He's the deliverer. But you know as long as Peter was willing to keep fighting himself, okay, Peter.

Have at it just a little longer. I think brother Emanuel preached a message where he said, okay just another night Pharaoh with the frogs just another night. Just keep on going, you know, just just we got this thing.

How long will you fight on your own strength. Your own wisdom. Your wife can't tell you anything. The pastor can't tell you anything. Your boss at work can't tell you anything. You're smarter than them all you got this and If it gets too tough you pull out the sword and cut off somebody's ear.

I don't care what he. Let the chips fall where they may. Yeah, it's really sad when that happens in homes and you see homes wrecked and destroyed and all blown apart. Which Peter are you? Praise God. Hallelujah.

He's alive. Jesus is alive and he showed himself to the disciples. And we'll have time to go into all so we're just going to sort of fast-forward real quick into John's gospel chapter 21. Showed himself alive to his disciples many times.

Now here he shows up in John's gospel 21 verse 15 when they had dined Jesus said To Simon Peter Simon son of Jonas love us now me more than these. And he say of the a Lord thou knowest that I love thee.

Now I should rely on on our brother for this Greek scholarly exegesis of this but I did a little bit of connection from my strong concordance and it says here that Jesus would have asked Simon Love us now me more than these who love us was the Greek number zero zero two five a Gopo, am I am I correct for the Paul?

I think that's a gopo there and it means to have a a loyal Sacrificial deep love. Is that how you love me Peter and Peter answered back and said, you know that I love you and Peter used Greek number five three six eight phileo.

You know, I love you. I Am fond of you Lord Jesus. I have feelings toward you. I I love our friendship. You're a good buddy. And then Jesus says unto him feed my lambs. And then the second time he's after him again Simon son of Jonas love us now me and Jesus again used Greek number zero zero two five a gopo and.

And Peter responds and says the a Lord thou knowest that I love thee and Simon is using phileo. Yeah, I love you. You're a good friend. I have fun feelings. You're you're you're Have affection toward you and Jesus says unto him feed my sheep and then he says a third time Simon son of Jonas love us now me and then as you look those words up in in the Greek there from strong Syncordance, it says here Jesus went and turned the word and he said, okay Simon son of Jonas Love us.

Tell me do you phileo me? You're fond of me. I'm a good friend. You have feelings toward me and Peter was greed because he said unto him the third time love us down me. Do you phileo me and now Jesus used that?

Simon son of Jonas do you phileo me? So you love me with that kind of love Peter? And he said unto him Lord thou knowest all things. I'll know us that I love thee. I phileo thee. Jesus said unto him feed my sheep.

Here we see Peter Restored to his Lord. We see him restored and entrusted to feed the lambs. To feed the flock of God Peter not only. Are you forgiven? Peter. You're restored into fellowship Peter. You're going to feed the flock.

You're going to feed my lambs Peter. You're a chosen vessel unto me Peter today. That's God's will for you. To be not only a forgiven Humble broken Peter, but a restored into fellowship Peter and not only that Acts 4 After the Lord worked through Peter John sitting there the man sitting at the gate beautiful being healed and then they were brought before the council and In acts 4 7 when they had set them in the midst they asked by what power by what name have you done this and.

Then Peter, oh, yes Peter then Peter filled with the Holy Ghost said unto them and You know the rest of the story Peter filled with the strength of God. No longer the old Peter. It's now the converted Peter.

It's the new man in Christ Jesus filled with the Holy Ghost. Ah. That's what you need my brother my sister. You need the anointing and the infilling and the indomitable power of the Holy Ghost. To live the victorious Christian life.

Oh Thank you Jesus. Yeah, if you would examine us by what means this man stands here whole hey. It's not by our greatness or what we've done, but it's by the power of Jesus Christ. It's by the power of the Holy Ghost.

That this man stands here whole. It's in the name of Jesus that this man stands here whole and by the way look at the boldness of Peter whom ye crucified and You denied the just and the Holy One and he demanded that robber the thief Barabbas to be given.

You guys are guilty whoa Peter. Wow it says in verse 13 when they saw the boldness of Peter and John. They took knowledge of them that they had been with Jesus. Hallelujah may our lives be so empty and broken of our selfish ambitions and abilities to that Christ Jesus Flows out of us and People around us take knowledge.

It's not Aaron. It's not Jonathan. It's not Luke. It's not Tim. It's not Emmanuel. It's not Elmer. It's the Jesus. They're spending time with. It's the Jesus Christ that has anointed them and we could go many more places.

The Holy Spirit’s Power and the Hope of a Transformed Peter

Which Peter are you? Which Peter would you like to be. Is there something yet awake in your spirit and heart? That says oh if only If only I could have What Peter had. There's hope for you today great hope.

Where there's a longing desire in your heart and a holy dissatisfaction with my powerless my sleepiness my Luke warmness. Where there is a holy Dissatisfaction and a longing for God. Oh Yes. Blessed are those that hunger that's are those that thirst for they shall be filled.

Yes Peter anointed Peter Filled with unction of the Holy Ghost that when he preached the hearts of men and women were pricked. That's the Holy Ghost. That's the Spirit of the Living God. Working in our hearts to show us our need and his abundant supply.

Oh Come to the waters. There's a bountiful supply. Remember the words we began with where Jesus said all Simon Simon Satan has desired to have you. But I have prayed for you today. The Word of God tells us in Hebrews 7 is at 25 that Jesus ever Lives to make intercession for us.

I just want to oh by all that is within me stir you. To reach out to Jesus because he's reaching out to you humble yourself. God resists the proud. Oh, but he gives grace to the humble humble yourself.

Jesus is inviting you today. Come to me. Weary heavy-laden. You who are fighting in your own strength and wrestling and failing and failing there's hope for the failures today. Hallelujah. Jesus gave his life for failures like me so I could be transformed and converted and Be changed and filled with his Holy Spirit.

Just like Jesus Spoke with authority so Peter now spoke with authority and hearts were pricked. Which Peter are you? You can switch camps today. I Welcome you to switch camps today from the self-reliant self-confident Peter into the broken shattered Peter and the anointed Holy Ghost filled Peter.