PETER STRUGGLED

Sunday Morning:  January 26, 2003

Text: Galatians 1:16-21  "To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood: 17. Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus. 18. Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days. 19. But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord's brother. 20. Now the things which I write unto you, behold, before God, I lie not. 21. Afterwards I came into the regions of Syria and Cilicia;"

Galatians 2:1-3  "Then fourteen years after I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and took Titus with me also. 2. And I went up by revelation, and communicated unto them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to them which were of reputation, lest by any means I should run, or had run, in vain. 3. But neither Titus, who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised:"

PAUL ACCOSTED AT DAMASCUS 33 AD

Galatians 1:17  "Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus."

BEFORE ARABIA

Acts 9:22-25  "But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ. 23. And after that many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel to kill him: 24. But their laying await was known of Saul. And they watched the gates day and night to kill him. 25. Then the disciples took him by night, and let him down by the wall in a basket."

AFTER THREE YEARS – 36 AD

Galatians 1:18  "Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days."

FIFTEEN DAYS IN JERUSALEM

Acts 9:26  "And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple."

FOURTEEN YEARS LATER – 50 AD

Galatians 2:1-2  "Then fourteen years after I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and took Titus with me also. 2. And I went up by revelation, and communicated unto them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to them which were of reputation (Peter), lest by any means I should run, or had run, in vain."

BARNABAS BROUGHT PAUL

Acts 9:27-29  "But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus. 28. And he was with them coming in and going out at Jerusalem. 29. And he spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, and disputed against the Grecians: but they went about to slay him."

PETER WAS SILENT

Galatians 2:7-8  "But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter; 8. (For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles:)

PETER NO LONGER SILENT

Acts 11:2-3  "And when Peter was come up to Jerusalem, they that were of the circumcision contended with him, 3. Saying, Thou wentest in to men uncircumcised, and didst eat with them."

PETER AND OTHERS IN ACTS 10

Acts 10:45  "And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost."

IT TOOK TIME

Acts 11:15-18  "And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning. 16. Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost. 17. Forasmuch then as God gave them (Gentiles) the like gift (heavenly inheritance) as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God? 18. When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life (in the kingdom of the heavens)."

PETER STILL STRUGGLED

Galatians 2:11-13  "But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed. 12. For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision. 13. And the other Jews dissembled [hypocrisy] likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation [hypocrisy]."

PETER STILL HAD QUESTIONS

2 Peter 3:15-16  ". .  our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; 16. As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction."

OTHERS ALSO STRUGGLE

2 Timothy 2:24-26  "And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, 25. In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging [epignosis, exact knowledge] of the truth; 26. And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him (through fear) at his will."

MILK ANY TIME

Hebrews 5:13-14  "For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness (the meat of the word): for he is a babe. 14. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil."

MILK FOR THE CARNAL

1 Corinthians 3:1-3  "And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. 2. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. 3. For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?"

MATURE! GROW UP

Hebrews 6:1  "Therefore leaving the (beginning) principles of the doctrine of Christ (word of righteousness), let us go on unto perfection (become skilful in the word of righteousness); not laying [present tense] again (over and over) the foundation of repentance from dead works (carnality), and of faith toward God (departing from the faith over and over),"

FEED THE CHURCH

Acts 20:28  "Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed (yourselves as well as) the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood."