In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the simplicity and power of Jesus' preaching. Jesus had a two-point sermon: repent and change your mind, and the kingdom of heaven is at hand. The preacher also highlights the story of Peter and Andrew, who were called by Jesus to follow him. Despite Peter's initial arrogance and later denial of Jesus, Jesus still called him to be a fisher of men. The preacher encourages the audience to trust in Jesus' authority and to step out in faith, even when things seem impossible.

And don't ever forget that Peter the evangelist, Peter the pastor, Peter the leader, Peter the church builder was first the Peter that denied his Lord three times and quit and said there will be nothing in service for me. And you have to keep in mind always in reading his letters that he wrote shortly before he died, the entire early episodes of his meeting Christ of something of the impetuousness and the drive behind the man. If you keep that in mind, you won't get bogged down in his comments about predestination or of the will of God for a life. Too often people open the New Testament, go straight into the epistle of Peter, read that he's speaking to the elect, digress there into a whole theological discourse on election without ever understanding what was in the heart of the man that used the word elect. Because if anybody knows what it is to be picked up from the rubbish heap where you should have been stumped to death and thrown in a trash can, it's Peter. So if you'll turn to John 21, it's about the best place to start to investigate the man. John 21. After these things, Jesus showed himself again. In fact, this is about the third time that the risen Christ after his death on the cross is revealing himself to his disciples. He showed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias. That's the sea of Galilee. And on this Y showed he himself. There were together Simon, Peter and Thomas called Didymus and Nathanael of Cana and Galilee and the sons of Zebedee and two other of his disciples. And Simon Peter said unto them, I'm going back to being a fisherman. He'd quit. And they said unto him, we also go with thee. Even a leader that quits will have a following that will also quit. If you have leadership qualities and you quit, they quit. Never forget that. Because if the man that you felt was to be his greatest sees no hope and has no mercy and no compassion due him from God, then there is nothing ever going to be obtained by anybody else that feels that they are inferior to a person like Peter. We also go with you. So they went forth and entered into a ship immediately. And that night they caught nothing. They couldn't even do that very well. But when the morning was now come, the risen Christ stood on the shore. But the disciples didn't know that it was Jesus. Then Jesus said unto them, children, indicating a relationship that is in existence. He didn't say friends. He didn't say people. He didn't say fishermen because he knows what he prayed in his own personal prayer to his father in John 17. In verse six, I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gave me out of the world. Thine they were. You gave them me and they have kept thy word. Now they have known that all things whatsoever thou hast have given me are of thee. For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me and they have received them and have known surely that I came out from me and they did believe that thou did sent me. I pray for them. I pray not for the world, but for them which you have given me, for they are thine and all that mine are thine and thine are mine and I am glorified in them. And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world. And I come to thee, holy father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one as we are. While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name. Those that thou gavest me, I have kept and not one of them is lost except the son of perdition that the scripture might be fulfilled. And now come I to thee in these things. I speak in the world that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves. I have given them my word and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, even as I am not to the world. I pray not that you should take them out of the world, but that you should keep them from the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not to the world. Sanctify them through thy truth. Thy word is truth. And as you've sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. They're mine, they're thine. They will always be in that relationship. And so he could stand on a seashore and look out at a bunch of men that had quit, a bunch of people whose leader had quit because he was convinced that after what I have done and the kind of things I have done in my life as a person that had met God intimately and known God walking in the earth for three years. I've walked with him, I've slept with him, I've talked with him, I've done everything in these three years with this Jesus, God on the earth. And I failed him, denied him, let him down, quit. And he shouts to a bunch of quitters, children, you're still mine. We're still relating. He's still your father. Have you any meat? And they answered him, no, we couldn't feed anybody, not even ourselves. And he said unto him, cast the net on the right side of the ship and you'll find. Why don't you try that? Because my theology never changes. And I have the same answer for you this morning as I had for you long time ago at the very same scene when you weren't doing too well in your fishing. And in Luke and chapter five, it came to pass that as they pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Gennesaret and he saw two ships standing by the lake, two vessels created by men for the art of fishing. But where were they? Out fishing, out in the storms, out in the water, out where it's wet, out in the deep. No, they were tied up in the security and safety of the little harbor. They weren't functioning for the function for which they were created. But the fishermen were gone out of them. And what were they occupied doing? Washing the nets, busy always to get ready for the job, but never doing the job, always getting yourself ready. And he entered into one of the ships, which was Peter's. And he prayed him, I know you're not ready. I know you keep looking at your equipment and thinking you don't have enough. But the very first time I ever saw you, I said, I'm going to meet you a fisher of men, the very art that you used to catch fish. I'm going to use in your life to catch men. But I'll tell you this, the success of it is not going to be dependent on your expertise as a fisherman, but on the God that is within you. And just as I'm entering into your ship, I'm going to enter into your life, Peter. And the only measure of success you'll ever have as a fisherman or as an evangelist will be on the measure in which I am going to be the key factor in all that you do. But if you're going to be over-occupied in the security of your little harbor of protection, while you're getting yourself ready and good enough to do the job, you'll never get out there and you'll never do the job. And he prayed him. No wonder he said, pray you, the Lord of the harvest, they'll send forth these reapers into the harvest for the field is just right. But it's the people to do the job that were stuck trying to find because they're just not ready yet because they never will be ready because they're always feeling they've got to be ready. It's not a matter of God a heap of rubbish. Go ahead and get the job done. So a few barnacles on the side of the boat, let's get out and catch the fish. And he prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land. Go on, cut the rope, cut the rope that ties you to the security of, of, of just a little harbor where you want to stay nice and calm and cool and no problems, no pressures, no difficulties. And he sat down. Yes, I'm not going to move. I'm going to sit down and you'll do the job. I'm not going to do it for you. You'll be the instrumentation that I'm going to be sitting. Even at the wedding in Cana of Galilee, the first miracle he ever wrought, they came and said to me, they have no wine. Everybody was happy until they'd run out of wine and the wine they were drinking was the wine they'd brought. It was a wine supplied by men and by self. And he turned around and said, what have you got? And he said, nothing, nothing but empty jars. And he said, well, go fill them up to the brim because it's just as amazing what I can do if I get empty jars. There's one thing you can do with something that's empty. Fill it. Now go fill them with water up to the brim. What for? Just do as you're told. Be filled. And they filled them up to the brim and he said, now you go and take it and dish it out to the people. And Christ never moved. He didn't get up from the table and say, ah, if you never do anything yourself, you'll never get it done. No, he never moved. He sat still and told them and they went around dipping the ladle in. And as they dipped their ladle in the water and there's the governor looking for wine, they looked in the ladle and it was still water. So they put it back in the bowl. That must be some mistake. You want me to give them this? Just give it out. But it's water. Just give it out. But what I've got to give is, it looks so impossible that it would meet the need. It's just like water. I thought I was going to throw out stuff that was spirit. I thought I was going to throw out stuff that was wine. But all you're asking me to do is splash this water around in the empty glasses. They'll kill me. And what I've got to contribute, what I've got to give sounds so poor. My sermons are rotten. My messages are weak. My life is rubbish. And it's just asking me to dish out water to thirsty people. Dish it out. But I've just had a ladle full out and it still looks like water. Just dish it out. But then if I do and it doesn't work, I get the kicking. Why don't you get up off your seat, Lord, and come and do it so you could get the kicking. Just pour it out. And as they poised the ladle over a wine glass and looked in, it was still water. And as they poured it, it was still water. But as it hit the glass, it changed to wine. It's wine. Just keep pouring because it's not just wine. And as they kept pouring, every time they looked in, it was water. Every time they looked in the ladle, it was water. Every time they sort of leave the ladle, it was water. But every time they hit a glass, it was wine. And so suddenly the governor said, hey, Peter, yeah, where do you get it? Why? Because most people at a wedding, the first glass is the best. And then when you can no longer recognize what you're drinking, they give you dishwater towards the end. And you're so drunk, you don't know. So they keep the rubbish to the last. But you have kept the best. Even after we've drunk everything that the earth could supply, we've discovered the quality of what you're dishing out is such that it is better than any kind of wine any kind of man could ever make. Where did you get it? Then was his opportunity to refer them to the one still sitting that had done nothing. Yes, I'm in the ship. And just as I sat still at the wedding and said, you go, you fill, you dish it out, and I'll take care of the miracle. You cut out from this harbour, you cut the ropes, you loose, you sail, you start functioning as a fisherman, and I'll take care of the rest. And he taught the people out of the ship, just as I'm going to teach people out and through your little old cummy boat, your old vessel with all your barnacles and your leaky seams, your tattered sail, your humanity and your weakness. Just you've got me in the vessel. Let me teach people through it in spite of its weakness. And when he had left speaking, he said to Simon, because I've done it, I've done the speaking through you, out of your vessel, launch out in the deep. Go on, get out through the harbour wall, man, and get right into the middle of the lake and let down your net. Let down your nets for a draft. Nets. There's going to be a big catch. And Simon answering said to him, master, we're fishermen, you're a carpenter, what would you know? We've plied this lake all our life. We know what life's all about. We know what's going on here. You don't. You're just some visitor to the scene of fishing. Master, we've toiled all night. The best time for fishing is night, night in the dark. And we've taken nothing. Nevertheless, you're the boss. At thy word, I will let down the net. Why waste two? We've nearly finished washing those. Why dirty two? Let's just risk one and pretend it's faith. And when they had this done, they enclosed a great multitude of fish and the net broke. When I guarantee blessing, it's big. Sorry that you didn't believe me. And they beckoned on to their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. The blessing that was to be theirs, they had to share because they just didn't believe them. And they filled both the ships so they began to sink. Can you imagine a ship sinking with the weight of fish? And when Simon Peter saw the miracle that he is a man that knows nothing about fishing, but boy, he has to be God. To tell us where to let down nets where we thought there wasn't a chance in a thousand years of catching a fish. He fell down at Jesus' knees. And said, depart from me for I'm a sinful man, Lord. He's getting home. It's coming through. It's coming through. And here's Jesus as a risen Christ having to remind them of lessons he already gave them that were so quick to forget. And he said, I'm casting it on the right side of the ship. I haven't forgotten now that I'm risen from the dead where fish are that need to be caught. And I'm training you, Peter, to be a fisher of men and an evangelist. Would you just trust me the way you had to trust me on that previous occasion when I told you to fish in the worst possible spot and you'd catch them? Well, I'm telling you right now, just dump your net over the right side of the ship, close into the shore, the last place you'd think of looking. And you'll find they cast therefore and now they were not able to draw in the net for the multitude of the fishies. Therefore, that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, it's the Lord. Who else could do that? Remember? Now, when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher's coat to him because he was in the water naked and he threw himself into the sea. And the other disciples came. I'm going to him. They said, we're coming too. Yes, if he quits, they quit. If he turns, they turn. For they were not far from the land, but as it were 200 cubits dragging the net with fishies. And as soon as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there and fish laid there on and bread. He'd even prepared them a meal. Have you anything to eat? No, I've already got it already. And Jesus said to them, bring in the fish, which you have now caught. And Simon Peter went up and drew the net to land full of great fishies, a hundred and fifty and three for all there were so many yet was not the net broken. I'm even capable of making sure Peter, that when you lead your first 3000 to Christ in your first casting of a net in the day of Pentecost, that you'll be able to contain it. You'll be able to take it. You'll be able to stand the blessing. The net won't break. And Jesus said to them, come and dine. And none of the disciples dared ask him, who are you? They knew perfectly well it was the Lord. Jesus then cometh and takes bread and gives them and fish. Likewise, this is now the third time that Jesus showed himself to his disciples after he was risen from the dead. So when they had dined, Jesus said to the big flop, Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, do you love me more than these? And he said to him, yes, Lord. You know that I'm fond of you. He said, feed my lambs. And he said to him again, the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, you really love me. And he said, Lord, you know that I'm fond of you. He said to him, feed my sheep. So he said to him the third time, Simon, you really fond of me? Peter was grieved because he had said unto him the third time, are you really fond of me? When I asked you the first two times if you love me, I was using a word that means real love. But you always responded with another word that says I'm fond of you. Well, now I'll use your word if that's the quality of your love for me. It's just fondness. May I ask you another question? Are you really fond of me? He says, Lord, you know that I love you. He said, feed my sheep. He said, you know everything. You know that I'm fond of you. He said, feed my sheep. Why was Peter grieved? Do you love me more than these? What are these? These are the evidences that surround you at this particular spot. Because when I rose from the dead, I said to Mary in the garden, go tell my disciples and Peter that I'll see you in Galilee because I'm going to take your life right there and then at the edge of the lake and I'm going to have to pick up the bits of the broken disaster of a wasted life and I'm going to make you into something you've never imagined you could ever be in your life, an evangelist. And you'll serve me the rest of your life as an evangelist. But Peter, here we are at the edge of the sea of Galilee at this appointed time and I want to know if you love me more than all the evidences surrounding you at this present moment of three years of doing your absolute, utmost best for me to impress me of how good you are that I've come to nothing. Do you love me more than all your failure and the evidences of persistent failure? Because it so happens that what's grieving Peter is that he's asking him in the worst place he could have asked him. If he'd taken him anywhere else in Galilee it wouldn't have been so bad but you see he's asking him looking straight in the eye. You know what it's like if you have a question you don't want to answer? You look over their shoulder. I mean I've got the most fascinating earlobe. I often talk to people and it's my ear they look at and if I move over a bit they move over as well because they don't want to look into your eyes and uh because Jesus looked straight into his eyes and said do you love me? If Peter diverted his gaze to say well you know I'm fond of you and looked at the sea of Galilee the sea of Galilee he was saying remember me? First place you ever met him was the same place sea of Galilee yeah big flop. He takes his eyes off that and loves it. Do you love me? He looks and he sees nets, fish, bread. Oh do you remember that time he said feed the crowd and I come out with the best answer evangelically send them away get rid of them. He says what have you got? He said well there's a wee boy here with a few loaves and a few fish and he fed a crowd and there was 12 baskets left over and the bread and the fish are lying there are saintly Peter. Hi remember us? You big flop. If he turned his eyes and looked the other way there's a fishing boat the very thing he walked out of and said to his dad goodbye dad I'm gonna follow Jesus and the boat's saying hi remember me? You big flop. And you know if he dared to even shut his eyes to just breathe in the air to answer you know that I love you the smoke from the fire went up his nostril right inside his head and screamed remember me? You warmed your hands another coal of fires just a matter of days ago and a little girl came in and said you're one of them aren't you? And you cussed and you swore and you said I never knew the man. And the smoke right up inside swirling around is saying remember remember remember remember? You big flop. So whether his eyes were open and whether his eyes were shut were of no consequence the guy had to understand with all his heart that God never expected anything more or less than failure and wanted him to get to the place to admit that he deserved nothing but he was going to make him something. Do you fancy you're really committed by now here in the Bible school? Do you fancy you've heard enough in one half term to get yourself sided away and man you've really putting the issues on the line and getting your heart right with your God ready for anything? Just ask yourself are you as committed this morning as Peter was committed then? And keep in mind as we look at the quality of Peter's commitment that Peter was guaranteed to fail because he didn't have Christ living in him but just ask yourself this morning am I as a person that claims to be indwelt by Christ permanently through the Holy Spirit as committed as he was and failed? In Matthew chapter 4 verse 17 from that time Jesus began to preach and to say in his sermon which only had two points I don't know why we preach as persistently. Christ preaching mostly had two points and it was so pointed he never even needed the in-between time. Repent point one change your mind point two for the kingdom of heaven is at hand I've got everything to offer you and Jesus walking by the sea of Galilee saw two brothers Simon called Peter and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea for there were fishers and Jesus said to them simple message two points point one follow me that's all I'm asking you to do haven't asked you to do anything else have I? Just simply follow me point two and I will make you fishers of men if you read it in Mark's gospel or the other gospels you'll find it says for I will make you to become I am going to unite you in a process the end of which is successful evangelism I will make you to become a fisher of men the very art you've practiced in catching fish you will practice in catching men and Peter said to him excuse me but who are you which school do you come from you got a denomination and what do you think about baptism how do you take communion can your women preach in church do you have to wear a hat in your group no he didn't what I want you to notice is that on the very first occasion Jesus comes across this man he gives them a message straight to his heart personally to follow me and I'll make you to become fisher of men and he responded immediately with a 100 percent total commitment right off the feather one in his cap and he said follow me and I'll make you to become fishers of men and immediately they left their nets and followed him a 100 total percent commitment to Christ for whatever giving up the family business and following hey he did that without Christ living in him have you ever done that with Christ living in you well if you have don't get overexcited because you can discover three years later at the edge of a beach that you've quit you can make a total commitment and discover a few years later you've quit but Peter thought he was really giving the Lord something because his problem was he thought he was somebody in Matthew 14 and verse 23 when he had sent the multitudes away went up into a mountain apart to pray and when the evening was come he was there alone but the ship was now in the middle of the sea tossed with the waves and the wind was against it life is rough life is difficult out there in the water and in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them walking on the sea because I don't care how rough it is I am master of the biggest storm in life and when the disciples saw him walking in the sea they were scared saying it's a ghost and they cried out for fear believe anything other than what they're really seeing but immediately Jesus spoke to him saying cheer up it's me stop being afraid and you'll never guess out of the 12 who was the first to open his great big mouth and say something good old Pete because the great thing about this guy is he has another opportunity to get in first before these other guys and prove to him that he's getting something when he gets me boy heaven's going to be really thankful to have a person like me on the side have already made a 100% total commitment and before these guys open their mouth I better get my tuppence worth in here and convince them hey you get somebody when you get me and Peter answered them and said lord if it be thou let me come to thee in the water fancy fancy that fellas eh I'll try anything to please him I'll even try the impossible to please him and Christ said come and he puts his feet over the edge of the boat puts his feet in the dangling cold splashy water all the others leading the other way in case he tips the thing over got his hands on the edge takes them off I'm not sinking and he stands up and he begins to walk in the water I wonder if each step he took the evangelical nose got higher and he turned and bowed to the others in the boat fancy that see what I'm able to do for Jesus I'm able to even attempt to do the impossible for Jesus I mean I great and just as he put his nose up a wave slapped him in the face the water went down his nostrils and nearly drowned him and he panicked he panicked because he took his eyes off Christ and began to attribute the miracle of walking in water to himself but when he saw the wind boisterous he was afraid when he started to relate what he was doing to the circumstances around him to the storm that was inflicting his soul to everything that was bashing the door down to tell him he was no good as a Christian Jesus puts his hand out when he was beginning to sink and just stretched forth his hand caught him and said oh thou of little faith why are you doubting but I regret to announce to you Peter that although you've made a 100% commitment to me you'll find out in the same seashore in three years time that didn't do you any good and I regret to announce to you now Peter although you think you've got another feather to your cap and your exuberance and your zealousness to convince me you're the best disciple I'm ever going to have that even here you nearly drowned if I hadn't picked you up again and you'll remember at that shore when I say do you love me that you tried to do the impossible but you failed it didn't do you any good but I wonder this morning have you ever tried to do the impossible for God to impress him Peter did but it was a waste of time and and in Matthew 15 verse 10 he called the multitude and said unto him hear and understand don't just listen but try and understand it apply your intelligence not that which goes into the mouth defiles a man but that that comes out of the mouth defiles a man then came his disciples and said to him do you know that the pharisees were really upset when they heard this and he answered and said every plant that my heavenly father has not planted shall be rooted up let them alone let the blind be leaders of the blind and if both are blind they'll fall into the ditch and you'll never guess who was the first to open the great evangelical gob and say something and Peter oh I love his consistency he was always in a mess then answered Peter and said unto him declare unto us the parable and he says are you yet also without understanding you mean to tell me that after making a total commitment to me and after attempting to do the impossible to even walk on water that a person with the great experiences you've had thus far in your relationship to me that I am teaching and you don't even have an understanding of what I'm saying thank you Peter for putting another feather in your cap and saying Lord I'm wide open to be instructed but in the very art of saying that you're telling me you just haven't a clue what I'm saying so far and you can be so wide open to all the learning all the tuition that's why you're in Bible school God bless you for being here I enjoy it it's better than speaking in an empty auditorium but I'll tell you this much if you think by just hearing you're going to get there you're not you can finish after three years with a diploma behind glass and find that God never uses you because you thought you were equipped on the basis of being willing to learn and find out three years learning on the shore laughs in your face and said even with all the private lessons you got from him you still cussed and swore and denied you ever knew him and in Matthew 16 in verse 13 when Jesus came into the coast of Caesarea Philippi he asked his disciples saying who do men say that I the son of man am and they said well that's the problem there are so very many variations of interpretation of doctrinal truth today some say you're John the Baptist some Elijah others Jeremiah and then there's a whole conglomeration of authors of different prophets that they think you are but he said unto them I'm going to narrow it down who do you say that I am I want to know personally who you say I am and you'll never guess who was the first to run up the front of the line and open his great big mouth good old Pete and Simon Peter answer you that off the Christ the son of the living God put that in your pipe fellas I've said it nobody else has I'm the first man ever to utter a thought in my heart about who I really think he is I've made a total commitment I've come a long way James I've come a long way John I've come a long way Andrew I've already made a total commitment to serve him gave up daddy's business yeah he was an old boat anyway but I gave it up and I've even walked on water attempted the impossible to please him even showed him I'm quite open in mind to be taught and here's another big opportunity for me to take a step forward and show Jesus when he's got me he's got something I believe that the Christ the son of the living God and Jesus said you're happy Simon but I'll tell you this is flesh and blood that they haven't revealed that to you but my father that's in heaven he's communicated to you and I say unto thee that you are Peter you're like a rock you hear well but I tell you this you're Peter you're hard underneath you might be getting a communication but you are hard you're like a rock and you're like the rocky soil when the seed falls on it you receive it gladly and then after a while because you've no real depths of root the minute this scorching sun comes out you're going to just wither but he thought it was a personal pet name in verse 22 after telling them how he was going to die Peter took him and began to rebuke him saying be it far from me Lord this shall not happen to thee and he turned and said to Peter get behind me Satan there was somebody right there beside you Peter even in spite of your total commitment your ability to walk on water your determination to learn and your willingness to testify of me there's somebody right there at your side who doesn't savour the things that be of God but the things that be of men and I'm sorry but at the moment you're not under my control you're under his get behind me Satan and just showed him you can make all of that and still find out three years later in a beat sheet that you were an absolute waste and in verse 24 of chapter well in verse 1 of chapter 17 and after six days Jesus took Peter James and Johnny's brother and brought them up into a high mountain apart and he was transfigured before them and his face did shine as the sun and his raiment was white as the light and behold there appeared unto them Moses and Elijah talking with Jesus and guess who was there and boy he's really getting chewed up what a cheek here's me climbing up here with James and John I can understand not bothering about them because they aren't as committed as I am you see I've already made a 100% commitment to follow him I've already shown him that I'm prepared to do the impossible even if I'm not all that successful and I already showed him that I'm open in mind to be taught I've already showed him that I'm prepared to speak and testify of the very things in my heart that I believe that he is the Christ the son of the living God and here we are up on top of this mountain he's talking to Moses and Elijah and he hasn't even introduced me I'm being ignored I'm being forgotten so what do you do when you feel left out the best thing is to open your mouth and get into the conversation then answer Peter he hadn't even asked anything and he said unto Jesus Lord excuse me for interrupting how do you do Moses I'm Peter how do you do Elijah I'll be let you have him in a minute I just want a little word with him you know he and I know each other very well you know I'm totally committed I've attempted to do the impossible for him you know quite willing to learn even testify for him and I just wanted a minute now that I'm up here sorry about you two but Lord it is good for us to be here if you will let us make here three tepernicles that's quite cute he knew Moses built one I'll show Jesus what kind of hard worker I am he built one tent I'll build three let us make here three tabernacles one for you one for Moses one for Elijah another gospel tells us he said that because he just didn't know what to say so he kept his mouth shut but here was an opportunity to show Moses and Elijah and Jesus that hey I'm a worker I'm a worker I'm a hard worker I'll do anything for you and guess who spoke next God did and while he yet spoke behold a bright cloud overshadowed them and a voice out of the cloud that said this is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased hear ye him Peter would you just hush your mouth would you just shut that mouth of yours this is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased I'm not well pleased with anybody else there's only one I'm pleased with and that's my son and it's only the measure in which that son will be in control at any life that there will be any success in that life because it's my son I'm pleased with not anybody else and then verse 24 and when they were come to Capernaum they that received the tribute money came to Peter and said does your master pay tax and he said yes the big liar he never even knew hadn't even asked him but he knew whose side he was going to be on I'm on Jesus' side Jesus needs people to defend him Jesus needs friends and when he was coming to the house Jesus stopped him and said Simon what are you thinking of whom do the kings of the earth take customer tax of their own children or of strangers Peter said unto him of strangers then said Jesus then the children are free notwithstanding lest we should be offended go thou to the sea cast a hook take up the fish that first comes up and when you open its mouth you'll find a piece of money in it take that and give it to them for me and you ah what a put down thank you Peter for showing me that you'll even defend me and be on my side to even telling a lie for me but I don't need anybody to tell a lie for me I'm quite capable of looking after my own affairs thanks for your enthusiasm but in a month or two's time in a beach and gallery you'll discover that all your attempts to defend me were absolutely nothing because you're nothing and in Matthew 26 in verse 13 when they sung a hymn they went out into the mount of olives then said 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 will be scattered abroad but after I'm risen I'll go before you into gallery because I know who I'm going to have to pick up as a quitter and rebuild and you'll never guess who was the first on that occasion he opened a big mouth Peter answered and said unto him what though all men all of that bunch there will be offended because of you but I'll never be offended how could you lump me with that lot how could you associate me with them don't you realize how far I've gone in my commitment for you in three years forsaken the family business prepared to do the impossible prepared to testify prepared to be taught prepared to work prepared to defend you and now you have the cheek to lump me with that lot though all men shall be offended yet will I never be offended Jesus said oh Peter I'm going to tell you something that tonight before the cock crows you'll deny me three times and Peter said unto them all though I should die with you yet will I not deny you how dare you I'll die for you yes he will yes he will but not the way he anticipated no wonder he had to meet him on a beach no wonder he had to tell him ah yes and he had to take Peter aside and said to him Peter Satan has desired to have you and to sift you as wheat and in Luke 22 31 and the Lord said Simon Simon Satan has desired to have you and sift you as wheat but I have prayed for you that your faith fail not and when you're converted strengthen your brethren and in John 13 and verse 27 Peter said to him Lord why can't I follow you now I'll lay down my life for your sake Jesus said to him will you lay down your life for my sake truly I say to you the cock shall not crow till you've denied me three times Peter you're the biggest washout the biggest flop the biggest failure the biggest piece of rubbish that I've ever had committed to my task to turn into an evangelist and I'll tell you have more control over the throat of a cockerel than I'll have over you John 14 one but let not your heart be troubled I've announced that you're an absolute flop you'll deny me let me down you'll curse and swear you'll quit but don't let your heart be troubled because I understand why you'll do what you're doing you believe in God believe also in me I'm going to send you a comforter I'm going to send you the Holy Spirit I'm going to come into your life permanently I'm going to change the whole thing but you will know from that day to the day you get crucified upside down to come in my presence that every measure of success of catching men for God and being an evangelist and being a successful apostle had nothing whatsoever to do with you you were just a suit of clothes a human being that I used to do it but you yourself will always know the rest of your life you're nothing absolutely nothing and never will be anything apart from what I'm going to be in you and through you so can I ask you one last question Peter are you really fond of me he says you know everything I'm confused I've done everything I can to be the best Christian I could be and I'm absolutely confused you know everything I better leave it to you I said go feed my sheep go feed my lambs me the quitter yeah go on feed them feed them feed them but it'll be me in and through you hey you're gonna have to keep that in the back of your entire mind as we look at these epistles you're having two love letters from a guy that was a failure let's pray father just crush instantaneously by your spirit any fanciful ideas in our hearts and mind that Peter was picked because he was so wonderful he was the elect of God because he was the best available oh God used a mess this man got himself into as a means of showing these young people here heaven elects rubbish that's forgiven to use for its glory and for thy name's sake amen