Christian Living

Spirit of the Shepherd

by Thomas Kirkpatrick
01/27/21
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“I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.” (Matthew 16:18)

The Church today is far from perfect or near what it was meant to be. But in verse we are looking at, we can take the good counsel that it is not the fault of God, as He promised that the gates of Hades will not overpower His Church, but men have forsaken God and His Church. By the Churches complacency, we have allowed our religious belief to be taken out of our society by legislation and political correctness. We will discuss this soon, but that is not in the scope of our conversation today. God surely will discipline the body of the Church as Jesus cherishes His bride.

Today we are looking at the leader of the early Church chosen by the Lord Himself. Even as Peter was the spark of fire after the resurrection, he, like all of us, was not perfect and required spiritual growth. Peter was in the inner circle with James and John, and Jesus concentrated much time in his training. Yet in Jesus’ darkest hour, Peter, who swore to defend his Messiah, denied Him three times. Because the world loves dirty laundry, perhaps this is the act that people today most remember about Peter.

After Jesus was taken away by the Temple guards, most of the disciples scattered except Peter and John. They both followed at a distance to see what was about to happen to their Lord. John, who knew someone in the High Priest’s court, gained entrance, but Peter remained in the courtyard. It was a cold evening, and the people there had built a fire to warm themselves. Peter, being cold, joined the enemies of Jesus and went to warm himself by the fire. Peter was recognized three times, and although he said to Jesus, he would not, Peter denied his Lord each time. What is interesting is where he was standing when he denied his association with Jesus. “After they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter was sitting among them. And a servant-girl, seeing him as he sat in the firelight and looking intently at him, said, “This man was with Him too.” But he denied it, saying, “Woman, I do not know Him.” (Luke 22:55-57)

Peter, with the rest, was warming himself by the fire. Fire in Scripture is a symbol of the Holy Spirit. As he had been for the past three years with Jesus, Peter was near the Spirit, but the Spirit was not in him. As a man, Peter did not have the power to overcome the evil one’s temptations and did not stand upon the Rock but denied his Savior. I cannot help but know that many Christians are near the Spirit’s fire and do not appreciate the importance of having the Spirit dwelling within. Many reformed Churches today do not speak of the power of the Spirit living within. Our Heavenly Father will gladly give the Spirit if we would but ask. “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?” (Luke 11:13)

Not long after the resurrection of Jesus, He met His disciple along the sea and prepared breakfast for them. During that time, Jesus had a conversation with Peter, who was supposed to be the group leader. “So when they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Tend My lambs.” He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Shepherd My sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Tend My sheep.” (John 21:15-17)

Jesus asked Peter three times if he loved Him, and three times Peter answered, “Lord you know I love you.” Commentators say that the Lord asked three times because Peter denied Him three times. Each time Jesus made a reply about His sheep. Once to tend His lambs, the second time to shepherd His sheep, and the final time to tend His sheep. Peter was recommissioned to serve his Lord in the ministry of the gospel and the leading of His Church. Peter and the other disciples were told to return to Jerusalem and wait for the Holy Spirit’s power to fall upon them. “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)

On the Day of Pentecost, the disciples and 120 others were in the room praying and waiting as they were told. Suddenly with a rush of wind, they were shaken with the power of the Holy Spirit. “And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance.” (Acts 2:2-4) They went out to the streets of Jerusalem and began to speak to many nations that were there for the Pentecost festivities. Each person heard in their own language the powerful words the disciples were speaking, and three thousand committed to following the way of Jesus.

On the Day of Pentecost, we see a stunning change in the Apostles and, in particular, Peter. Peter, the man who boastfully said that none would take Jesus and that he would never deny his Lord, was rebuked of the former and failed in the latter. Good intentions are worthless if they garner a rebuke from the Lord, and we cannot go through with our promises. In the power of the Holy Spirit, Peter stood before a multitude of people and boldly proclaims they are the ones who crucified the Savior who had come to give them salvation. Peter, who could not confess Jesus in the High Priest courtyard, now preaches in Jerusalem’s streets and converts three thousand to follow Jesus. Three thousand spiritual battles won in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Where is the Church today in that spiritual battle? The Church is commissioned to “Go” and make disciples in every nation. The Church is to preach the Word of God in the power of the Holy Spirit. The Church is to equip the saints to do the work of the Kingdom. Where is the Church today? Does the Church have the power of the Holy Spirit residing within? Does the Church think it can fight the spiritual battles without the Spirit’s power? Is the Church sitting comfy in the confines of a social club as the world is running on a path of destruction? The flesh is fractured and broken, driven by the inherent sin-nature of humanity storing up the wrath of God. “Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” (Galatians 5:19-21)

The Church needs to remember the teaching of the Apostles and return to the Rock of their salvation. Boldly as Peter and the Apostles return to the streets and preach the gospel message to a sin-sick, spiritually dead world. The Church needs again be led walking by the Spirit. That is where the power is for ministers of reconciliation. “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.” (Galatians 5:16) Is the Church filled with saints of God, set apart from the world so the light of Christ can be seen through them? Are we displaying the fruits of His Spirit in our lives? “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” (Galatians 5:22-23)

This Easter, revive yourself in the love of God and recommit yourself to be in the service of the King of kings that the Church in the power of the Spirit can win the mighty spiritual battles one heart at a time. God is love, and He loves the sinner. Let the Church also love the sinner that he can receive the security of God’s love in their life. In the Scriptures, God says do not fear 365 times, for He is with us until the end of the age. “But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:37-39)

Thomas N Kirkpatrick

First Baptist Church of Durant, March 20, 2019