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Details about FAN THE FLAME! :
Peter was an interesting man; one that is easy to relate to. Like many, he
worked hard. He was a fisherman. Day in, day out, he went to the sea to obtain
through hard work his living. He was a man of faith also. But, like many, he had
his ups and downs - his doubts, questions, and at times confusion with God.
We find in Luke 22:34 a discussion between Jesus and Peter. Peter was told that
3 times he would deny knowing Christ. Peter denied such a happening would
happen. And when it did as Jesus was taken into government custody, Peter was
crushed. He had failed his Jesus. The pain and torment must have been terrible
as the words fell from his mouth. Peter must have said to himself, “How could I
have possibly denied Jesus, my Lord?” (Luke 22:26-34 Amplified)
Interesting to note that the women who went to tomb of Jesus after His death,
was told by an angel they met, “Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth,
which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they
laid him. But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you
into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you.” (Mark 16:6-7) The
angel specified Peter by his name. Jesus was going to see Peter.
He understood Peter hurt at his failing - his denial of Him. But He also saw
more. There was more work to be done in Peter. The issue could not be dismissed
without Peter facing it. Sometimes God wants to do things through us, but cannot
until we face issues in our lives and work them through with the help of Jesus.
Let’s back up the story of Peter a bit.
The disciples had dined with Jesus before His death. They broke bread, drank the
wine, “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. But after I am risen again, I will go before you into
Galilee. Peter answered and said unto him, Though all men shall be offended
because of thee, yet will I never be offended. Jesus said unto him, Verily I say
unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.
Peter said unto him, Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee.
Likewise also said all the disciples. (Matthew 26:31-35)
In John 20, after the death and burial of Jesus, we find the account of Mary
Magdalene running to the tomb of Jesus to find it empty. She runs to tell Simeon
Peter. He and another disciple run together to the tomb. The other disciple went
in first, then Peter. He found the napkin (or cloth) that had been around the
head of Jesus. It was not with the linen clothes Jesus was buried in, but
rather, was neatly folded by itself. The ancient custom of a folded napkin
indicated that the meal the host given to the guest had been well received and
the guest would return. Did Peter understand at that point Jesus was really
going to return? All that Jesus had said was true! They understood the meaning
of the folded napkin - the other disciple with Peter “believed”. But now
questions began to silently fill Peter. They did not know the scripture that
Jesus must rise again from the dead. Then the two men went their separate ways
to their own homes.
In Chapter 21 of John, we see Jesus once again appears to the disciples. There
they are together: Simon Peter, Thomas, Nathanael, the sons of Zebedee, and two
other disciples, fishing - catching nothing that night. Perhaps Peter did not
care whether or not he caught anything. He was tired and confused. It probably
just felt good to work with his hands in a familiar way. Perhaps then he could
sort through all the confusion in his head and heart over Jesus.
In the morning Jesus met the fishermen on the shore. They were unaware of Who He
was. He was just another man in their eyes -asking, “Children, have ye any
meat?” They answered him, “No.” And He said unto them, Cast the net on the right
side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not
able to draw it for the multitude of fishes. (John 21:6)
And now Jesus approaches Peter directly. “Therefore that disciple whom Jesus
loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was
the Lord, he girt his fisher's coat unto him, (for he was naked,) and did cast
himself into the sea.” (John 21:7)
Peter immediately responds by covering his nakedness with his fisher’s coat.
Like Adam and Eve attempting to cover themselves with the fig leaves after
sinning.
Jesus back with the other disciples - (Peter included):
“And the other disciples came in a little ship; (for they were not far from
land, but as it were two hundred cubits,) dragging the net with fishes. As soon
then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid
thereon, and bread. Jesus saith unto them, Bring of the fish which ye have now
caught. Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great fishes, an
hundred and fifty and three: and for all there were so many, yet was not the net
broken. Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine. And none of the disciples durst
ask him, Who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord. Jesus then cometh, and
taketh bread, and giveth them, and fish likewise. (John 21:8-12) (Interesting
that Jesus gave them a catch of 153 fish.
One-hundred-fifty-three symbolizes the number of the elect. It has to do with
harvest.)
“This is now the third time that Jesus shewed himself to his disciples, after
that he was risen from the dead.” (John 21:14) (Three is a number indicating the
Godhead, Divinity.) Now Jesus approaches Peter once again, engaging in
conversation:
“Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than
these?”
Peter responds,
“He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee.”
Jesus responds,
“He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.” (John 21:15)
Lambs, little ones. Innocent ones. Those who need guidance to keep them safe.
The conversation continues as Jesus asks Peter,
“He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me?”
Peter responds again,
“He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee.” (John 21:16)
Jesus instructs Peter,
“He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.”
Sheep. Not just little innocent lambs, but older ones who stray into trouble
without guidance.
He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? (John
21:17)
Peter responds the third time to Jesus’ question.
“Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And
he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee.”
“Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.” (John 21:17)
Jesus continued, “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou
girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest:
but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another
shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not.
This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God.”
(John 21:18-19)
“And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me.”
What grieved Peter? Was it the unspoken issue burning in Peter which had not
been settled? Was it the sin of denying Jesus - the One he loved so very much
and had claimed he would experience death for him? Jesus was requiring that
Peter look at his guilt for having denied him earlier - to finish this business
and move on. Guilt or inability to forgive ourselves, when unresolved, leaves us
a prisoner to mental torture sometimes binding us from accomplishing that which
we are both called and wanting to accomplish. Sin leaves us separated from God.
Peter’s response: (Amplified version)
“But Peter, had turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved, following, who
also leaned back on His breast at the supper, and had said, Lord, who is it that
is going to betray You? When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, Lord, what about
this man?”
(John 21:20-21 Amplified)
Jesus indicates His concern with Peter’s avoidance and guides Peter to focus on
the issue in his life. “Jesus said to him, If I have him to stay (survive, live)
till I come, what is that to you? - What concern is it of yours? You follow me!
(John 21:22 Amplified - Boldness and underscore added for emphasis).
Sometimes we avoid the issue at hand that we must deal with, and/or the
instructions given by God. Jesus was helping Peter to focus on an issue in his
life, that so He could further use Peter. He was trying to show Peter that one
cannot stay in the past of regret of sin and guilt. Once forgiven, we must move
on with the present, looking forward to the future. Peter had to make a
decision.
Peter remembers well during the Passover Dinner, the disciples and Jesus broke
break and drank the wine together. Then Jesus began to share with them upcoming
events that would take place. He spoke of the importance of being a servant to
others.
“For which is the greater, he who reclines at table (the master), or he who
serves? Is it not he who reclines at the table? But I am in your midst as one
who serves. And you are those who have remained (throughout) and persevered with
Me in My trials; And as My Father has appointed a kingdom and conferred it on
Me, so do I confer on you [the privilege and decree] That you may eat and drink
at My table in My kingdom, and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribe of
Israel. Simon, Simon (Peter), listen! Satan has asked excessively that (all of)
you be given up to him - out of the power and keeping of God - that he might
sift (all of) you like grain, But I have prayed especially for you [Peter] that
your [own] faith may not fail; and when you yourself have turned again,
strengthen and establish your brethren. And [Simon Peter] said to Him, Lord, I
am ready to go with You both to prison and to death. But Jesus said, I tell you,
Peter, before a [single] cock shall crow this day, you will three times
[utterly] deny that you know Me. ”
(Luke 22: 27-34 Amplified - Boldness and underscore added for emphasis)
Sometimes we are sifted as Peter was. And now on that shore, Peter was faced
with what he was guilty of and what he was going to do.
Was he going to believe all that Jesus had shared with him? Was he going to take
the up the mantle that Jesus had given him: to follow Him; to feed His lambs,
and sheep?
After Jesus died, Peter went to the tomb to find it empty and that folded
napkin. His first response was to return home and to the sea to fish. It was
familiar. It was comfortable… Christ came to the world “to send fire upon the
earth” (Luke 12:49). He came to divide us from the religious of the day - a fire
of change! A change that would bring salvation to man, bringing man and God in
holy communion once and for all! Peter had experienced that fire of change.
That same day when Peter left the tomb of Jesus, two of the disciples were on
their way to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. Jesus
(unrecognized by them) joined them and shared with Him all that gone on that
day. They invited Jesus to stay with them that evening. It was only at dinner as
they began to break bread, the disciples realized, when their eyes were opened,
they had been with Jesus. At that very hour, they went back to Jerusalem where
they found the eleven apostles to tell them that Jesus had appeared to Peter.
Immediately they went to tell the news that they had been with Jesus once more!
While speaking, Jesus appeared to them, saying, “Peace [that is, freedom from
all the distresses that are experienced as the result of sin] be to you!” (Luke
24:36 Amplified) “And behold, I will send forth upon you what My Father has
promised; but remain in the city [Jerusalem] until you are clothed with power on
high.” (Luke 24:49 Amplified) Their response - “And they were continually in the
temple celebrating with praises and blessing and extolling God.” (Lu 24:53
Amplified Boldness for emphasis)
They were instructed by Jesus to wait - to remain in Jerusalem for an upcoming
blessing, a delayed blessing - spiritual power. Uncertain of what to expect, the
apostles did as they were told. They remained in Jerusalem and was continually
in the temple praising and blessing God!
When obedience takes place, blessings follow. And so we now find ourselves in
the book of Acts, the beginning of the Church activities recorded. Don’t you
know that the people were so excited! And what was this spiritual power Jesus
spoke of that comes from the Father?
Acts 1:2-5 begins, “Until the day when He ascended, after He through the Holy
Spirit had instructed, and commanded the apostles (special messengers) whom He
had chosen. To them also He showed Himself alive after His passion (His
suffering in the garden and on the cross), by [a series of] many convincing
demonstrations - unquestionable evidence and infallible proofs - appearing to
them during forty days, and talking [to them] about the things of the kingdom of
God. And while being in their company and eating at the table with them He
commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for what , He the Father had
promised, Of which, He said, you have heard Me speak. For John baptized with
water, but not many days from now you shall be baptized with - placed in,
introduced into - the Holy Spirit.” Verse 8, “But you shall receive power -
ability, efficiency and might - when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you
shall be My witnesses in Jerusalem and all Judea and Samaria and to the ends -
the very bounds - of the earth.”
(Amplified - boldness and underscore added for emphasis)
The Holy Spirit - the Holy Ghost - is the spiritual power the apostles were to
wait for as Jesus had instructed! They were to receive the Holy Spirit! The Holy
Spirit would enable them (by giving them the ability, efficiency, and might) to
be the witnesses Jesus had told them to be to all the earth, and to spread the
Good News until Jesus re-establishes the kingdom and restore peace to Israel!
(Acts 1:6-7)
The Holy Spirit - the might and power of God - gives us the ability to do all
that God instructs us.
Peter along with the other apostles met on the day of Pentecost - a time of
prayer - “And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one
accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing
mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there
appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other
tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. (Acts 2:1-4)
The Holy Ghost enables us to speak with God given authority (Acts 4:3-4), to
work special miracles, healings, cast out evil spirits (Acts 19:11-12), to speak
works of wisdom (I Corinthians 2:4), to strengthen (Ephhesians 3:16), to give
out the Gospel (I Thesalonians 1:5), to be a testimony of the Lord without shame
(II Timothy 1:6-7).
“Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is
in thee by the putting on of my hands. For God hath not given us the spirit of
fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. Be not thou therefore
ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou
partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God; Who
hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works,
but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus
before the world began, But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour
Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to
light through the gospel: Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle,
and a teacher of the Gentiles. (II Timothy 2:6-11)
Church Family, Peter did not go out to tend sheep until he received the Holy
Ghost - the power of the Holy Spirit. He was then equipped to accomplish the
task at hand of spreading the Gospel and being used in various ways by God to
set people free of the bondages and sins that held them captive.
Peter had to rekindle the faith within him that Christ had ignited within him.
After he had made the lifelong decision to move from the past to the present and
look forward to the future that Jesus had died to give him, he was then in
position to receive the power that would sustain and give him the ability to
pick up the mantle Jesus had give him to accomplish God’s purpose in and through
him. It was a process. We, too, must work through whatever unfinished business
we have with God, with ourselves, or with others. All the issues that we hold
deep within us that blocks us from going forth with God’s purpose in our lives
must be faced head on and dealt with. We must have freedom from the bondages of
unresolved issues so we are in position to be filled with the Holy Ghost! We
need the Holy Spirit!
Church we need to pray for the Holy Ghost! We need to pray for the Holy Ghost!
Some of us need to be renewed in the Holy Spirit - get another touch so we can
move on. It’s time to stir up what God has placed within us! Church, we need to
fan the flames that burn deep within us that has been like ambers for years and
rekindle the faith we have been given inside to do what God has for us to do!!!
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