We find in Luke 22:31-34 an argument between Peter and Jesus.
Peter was the most faithful of Jesus' Disciples.
He was Jesus favorite and he was the leader of the other disciples.
However he was a little rough around the edges.
A reputation for being pushy, overbearing, opinionated and prideful.
Yet he was still Jesus' favorite.
Though Peter was special to Jesus -- there is a series of events that were getting ready to happen to Peter that breaks his heart and his spirit.
It brought him to a place where only one thing would fix it.
It brought him to a place where all he needed was "Just A Little Touch From Jesus".
"And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.
" Luke 22:31-32 Jesus said, Satan wanted to crush you like a grain of wheat, but I've prayed for you, and your faith will falter but it won't be destroyed.
And I'll renew you, and the trial will strengthen you, and then I want you to strengthen the brethren.
(After you've been broken I will call you to preach).
"And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death.
" Luke 22:33 Here Peter in his pride and arrogance argued with Jesus, I'll do anything for you he says.
Even die or go to prison.
Jesus had just told him not to get too sure of himself, that the devil was getting ready to beat him up.
"And he said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me.
" Luke 22:34 (Between now and tomorrow morning you're gonna deny me three times) WHEN DID PETERS PROBLEMS START? First, he didn't listen to Jesus.
- Almost all of our problems start when we don't listen to Jesus through His Word.
Secondly, he thought he was too spiritual to falter.
(Pride) PETER CHICKENS OUT "Then took they him, and led him, and brought him into the high priest's house.
And Peter followed afar off (Peter chickened out) And when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the hall, and were set down together, Peter sat down among them.
" Luke 22: 54-55 Peter Made Three More Mistakes - First he followed Jesus from a distance.
Then he warmed himself by the enemies fire (The same mistakes we often make).
And finally in verse 60 Peter is denying Jesus for the third time.
"And Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest (The Gospel of Matthew tells us the third time he even cursed as he denied him.
) And immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew.
And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter.
And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.
And Peter went out, and wept bitterly.
" Luke 22:60-62.
I can only imagine the pain Peter must have felt when his eyes met the eyes of Jesus in this moment of betrayal.
His spirit had been tragically broken.
And just a few hours before he had been so sure of himself.
What he needed most at that moment was "Just A Little Touch From Jesus" JESUS SENDS PETER A MESSAGE - "After Jesus was crucified, buried and risen from the grave, we find Him sending Peter a special message.
" 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 16:7 Notice Jesus singled Peter out from the other disciples.
(Be Sure and Tell Peter to go to Galilee - I'll see him there -- I'm coming to him).
Jesus was hurting too and was anxious to restore Peter.
PETER GETS "A LITTLE TOUCH FROM JESUS" In John 21 - Peter was fishing in his boat when Jesus arrived at the shores of Galilee.
(Peter was in a stupor - his spirit was broken).
When he heard Jesus calling from the shore, he jumped in the water and ran to him.
And when he got there, Peter found breakfast waiting for him and the other disciples - Jesus himself tending to their needs.
While they were gathered around the campfire, Jesus took Peter aside and began to restore him.
Three times in John 21:15-17 Jesus asked Peter if he loved Him, giving him a chance to reconfirm his love for each of the three times he had denied it.
And with the words "Tend My Lambs...
Shepard My Sheep...
Tend My Sheep," Jesus reestablished Peters role of leadership in His kingdom and then sealed it with the command to follow Him.
(He appointed him to his ministry - His call to preach).
Peter went on to become a great leader - and he wrote the two letters we know as 1 & 2 Peter And a few weeks later he preached a sermon at the day of Pentecost where 3000 People were saved.
HE JUST NEEDED A LITTLE TOUCH FROM JESUS WE CAN'T PHYSICALLY TOUCH JESUS -BUT WE ARE HIS BODY - WE'RE ALSO HIS HEART Though I look for a "Touch From Jesus" in my prayers, and in my Bible.
Very often Jesus touches me through you.
Jesus works through us when we take on His character.
(That's what our trials are for - to teach us to have His character) WE GET A LITTLE TOUCH FROM JESUS WHEN: 1.
We have a broken spirit and your hugs renew us.
2.
Singing praises to our Father in the music service 3.
We're hungry and a brother brings us a bag of groceries.
4.
A love offering is taken for a brother or sister in trouble 5.
Someone is visited in the hospital or visits a shut-in.
6.
Someone prays for me.
7.
We hear a special testimony.
8.
We hear life changing tears on the altar.
9.
Christians outside the church encourage us.
10.
We hear His music in our home.
(50 Touches A Day) 11.
When someone gets saved.
If you are a Christian today, you can always get a touch from Jesus, sometimes by positioning yourself in the right place.
And you can also through Him give someone else a special touch.
Mark 16:15 "And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
" Witnessing is difficult for many Christians.
However, God commands it.
Thousands are starting to bring others to Christ through "Bridge Ministries".
We often don't realize that some of the best gifts that God has given us are the things we love to do the most.
We often think of those gifts as something God has blessed us with, to bring us joy and pleasure to our lives.
While this is true, those gifts were also given to us to serve as a bridge to bring others into the church, and to Him.
Bringing others to Christ doesn't have to be a struggle.
It can be as simple as sharing "What you love to do" with others.
Peter was the most faithful of Jesus' Disciples.
He was Jesus favorite and he was the leader of the other disciples.
However he was a little rough around the edges.
A reputation for being pushy, overbearing, opinionated and prideful.
Yet he was still Jesus' favorite.
Though Peter was special to Jesus -- there is a series of events that were getting ready to happen to Peter that breaks his heart and his spirit.
It brought him to a place where only one thing would fix it.
It brought him to a place where all he needed was "Just A Little Touch From Jesus".
"And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.
" Luke 22:31-32 Jesus said, Satan wanted to crush you like a grain of wheat, but I've prayed for you, and your faith will falter but it won't be destroyed.
And I'll renew you, and the trial will strengthen you, and then I want you to strengthen the brethren.
(After you've been broken I will call you to preach).
"And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death.
" Luke 22:33 Here Peter in his pride and arrogance argued with Jesus, I'll do anything for you he says.
Even die or go to prison.
Jesus had just told him not to get too sure of himself, that the devil was getting ready to beat him up.
"And he said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me.
" Luke 22:34 (Between now and tomorrow morning you're gonna deny me three times) WHEN DID PETERS PROBLEMS START? First, he didn't listen to Jesus.
- Almost all of our problems start when we don't listen to Jesus through His Word.
Secondly, he thought he was too spiritual to falter.
(Pride) PETER CHICKENS OUT "Then took they him, and led him, and brought him into the high priest's house.
And Peter followed afar off (Peter chickened out) And when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the hall, and were set down together, Peter sat down among them.
" Luke 22: 54-55 Peter Made Three More Mistakes - First he followed Jesus from a distance.
Then he warmed himself by the enemies fire (The same mistakes we often make).
And finally in verse 60 Peter is denying Jesus for the third time.
"And Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest (The Gospel of Matthew tells us the third time he even cursed as he denied him.
) And immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew.
And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter.
And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.
And Peter went out, and wept bitterly.
" Luke 22:60-62.
I can only imagine the pain Peter must have felt when his eyes met the eyes of Jesus in this moment of betrayal.
His spirit had been tragically broken.
And just a few hours before he had been so sure of himself.
What he needed most at that moment was "Just A Little Touch From Jesus" JESUS SENDS PETER A MESSAGE - "After Jesus was crucified, buried and risen from the grave, we find Him sending Peter a special message.
" 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 16:7 Notice Jesus singled Peter out from the other disciples.
(Be Sure and Tell Peter to go to Galilee - I'll see him there -- I'm coming to him).
Jesus was hurting too and was anxious to restore Peter.
PETER GETS "A LITTLE TOUCH FROM JESUS" In John 21 - Peter was fishing in his boat when Jesus arrived at the shores of Galilee.
(Peter was in a stupor - his spirit was broken).
When he heard Jesus calling from the shore, he jumped in the water and ran to him.
And when he got there, Peter found breakfast waiting for him and the other disciples - Jesus himself tending to their needs.
While they were gathered around the campfire, Jesus took Peter aside and began to restore him.
Three times in John 21:15-17 Jesus asked Peter if he loved Him, giving him a chance to reconfirm his love for each of the three times he had denied it.
And with the words "Tend My Lambs...
Shepard My Sheep...
Tend My Sheep," Jesus reestablished Peters role of leadership in His kingdom and then sealed it with the command to follow Him.
(He appointed him to his ministry - His call to preach).
Peter went on to become a great leader - and he wrote the two letters we know as 1 & 2 Peter And a few weeks later he preached a sermon at the day of Pentecost where 3000 People were saved.
HE JUST NEEDED A LITTLE TOUCH FROM JESUS WE CAN'T PHYSICALLY TOUCH JESUS -BUT WE ARE HIS BODY - WE'RE ALSO HIS HEART Though I look for a "Touch From Jesus" in my prayers, and in my Bible.
Very often Jesus touches me through you.
Jesus works through us when we take on His character.
(That's what our trials are for - to teach us to have His character) WE GET A LITTLE TOUCH FROM JESUS WHEN: 1.
We have a broken spirit and your hugs renew us.
2.
Singing praises to our Father in the music service 3.
We're hungry and a brother brings us a bag of groceries.
4.
A love offering is taken for a brother or sister in trouble 5.
Someone is visited in the hospital or visits a shut-in.
6.
Someone prays for me.
7.
We hear a special testimony.
8.
We hear life changing tears on the altar.
9.
Christians outside the church encourage us.
10.
We hear His music in our home.
(50 Touches A Day) 11.
When someone gets saved.
If you are a Christian today, you can always get a touch from Jesus, sometimes by positioning yourself in the right place.
And you can also through Him give someone else a special touch.
Mark 16:15 "And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
" Witnessing is difficult for many Christians.
However, God commands it.
Thousands are starting to bring others to Christ through "Bridge Ministries".
We often don't realize that some of the best gifts that God has given us are the things we love to do the most.
We often think of those gifts as something God has blessed us with, to bring us joy and pleasure to our lives.
While this is true, those gifts were also given to us to serve as a bridge to bring others into the church, and to Him.
Bringing others to Christ doesn't have to be a struggle.
It can be as simple as sharing "What you love to do" with others.
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