How Do You See Yourself?
Introduction:
A. If you had to draw a self portrait totally from memory,
could you do it?
1. You would think it would be easy, but it would
probably be a lot harder than you might think.
3. We might get the basics correct: hair color, eye
color, height, and maybe even the shape of our
face, but beyond that it may be very difficult.
4. The image we may draw of ourselves may not
look much like us when we got done, because
we may not see ourselves as we really are.
B. How we see ourselves physically is less important,
however, than how we see ourselves as a person
(our character, who we really are).
1. We may have a distorted view or ourselves, and
not even realize it.
2. If we have a distorted view, it may keep us from
seeing, and correcting things we need to correct,
or it may keep us from building on our strengths.
Many times the easiest way for us to see ourselves is by
looking at others, so I would like for us to look at Peter,
and hopefully we will see ourselves more clearly.
I. Examining our faith in light of Peter's faith.
A. Peter exhibited strong faith at times, and weak faith
at times.
1. When he walked on the water (Matthew 14:25-32).
a. The apostles were in a boat, on the sea, when
Jesus came to them walking on the water.
b. At first they thought it was a ghost, but Jesus
told them not to be afraid, that it was Him.
c. When Peter knew it was Jesus, he asked Jesus
to let him come to Him walking on the water,
and Jesus said come...and he did.
d. But, he became afraid, and began to sink (14:30).
e. He allowed fear to keep him from doing what
Jesus told him he could do.
2. When Jesus was arrested (John 18:1-27).
a. In the garden, Peter drew a sword and cut off
Malchus' ear (18:10).
b. Later on, while Jesus was being tried, Peter
denied Jesus 3 times.
c. Peter denied Jesus when he was seperated from
the brethren, and among those of the world.
B. What is your faith like?
1. Do you ever let fear keep you from doing what Jesus
says you can do?
a. Give like you could? (I Cor.16:1-2) - II Cor.8:1-5.
b. Teach others? (Matthew 28:18-20) - "I am with you."
c. Defend the truth? (Jude 3)
d. We can have the same faith that the apostles, and
early church had:
1) Faith that can move mountains (Matthew 17:20).
2) Faith that can do all things (Philippians 4:13).
e. But, if we are going to have that type of faith we are
going to have to develope it, by studying, and putting
it to the test.
2. Do you ever find yourself acting differently when you
are around those of the world?
a. All of us have at one time or another.
b. What do we do?
1) I John 1:9.
2) Romans 12:1-2.
How do you think it made Peter feel knowing he had denied
Jesus? But, he did not give up. He kept on trying, and
growing, and eventually he became that stone that Jesus
said he was.
II. Examining what we believe by looking at what Peter
believed.
A. We get a glimpse of what Peter believed, and why, from
statements he made, and things that are said in the N.T.
1. Peter believed Jesus was the Christ - Matthew 16:16.
a. He believed Jesus was the one that God said He
would send in the O.T.
b. He believed Jesus was the Son of God.
c. Why did he believe these things? - Matthew 16:17.
1) Not because men said that is who he was.
2) Because of what God had revealed to him.
3) Revealed through: fulfilled prophecy; what Jesus
taught; and the miracles Jesus preformed.
d. Peter was absolutely correct.
2. But, Peter also believed that Jesus was going to set up
a kingdom here on the earth.
a. God did say that He would set up a kingdom (Dan.2).
b. The Jews of Peter's day believed that it was going to
be a literal earthly kingdom.
c. So did Peter, and the other apostles...even up to the
time when Jesus left this earth - Acts 1:6.
d. He was absolutely wrong. He eventually overcame his
preconceived ideas, and accepted the truth.
B. What do you believe?
1. Is what you believe correct?
a. Most people think what they believe is correct (otherwise,
hopefully, they would change what they believe).
b. Some people seem to believe there is no absolute truth,
or at least, we cannot know for sure what that truth is:
1) That is not what Jesus said - John 8:32.
2) There is a way to rightly/ wrongly divide - II Tim.2:15.
2. We can know that what we believe is correct by examing
what we believe by the scriptures.
a. Recently I had a sister in Christ say that she, at one time,
questioned whether she believed what she believed
because it was what she had been taught, or because it
was true.
b. She said she sat down and examined what she believed,
and determined that she believed what she believed
because it was what the Bible says.
c. We can do the same thing! - II Timothy 2:15.
3. Then what?
a. If what we believe is not correct, then we need to change
what we believe.
b. If what we believe is correct...then we need to stand firm;
and teach it to others. (reminds me of Ezra 7:10)
III. What are we like when we compare our actions to Peters?
A. Peter was a man of action.
1. Consider the things Peter did.
a. He left the family business to be with Jesus (Mat.4:18-20).
b. He preached in: Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria.
c. He wrote 2 of the N.T. books.
d. He was an elder in the Lord's church (I Peter 5:1).
2. Peter took Jesus' words to heart.
a. Matthew 28:18-20.
b. John 21:15-17.
B. Are we people of action?
1. Are we doing all that the Lord told us to do?
a. Helping the needy - Galatians 6:10?
b. Teaching others - II Timothy 2:2.
c. Edifying one another - I Thessalonians 5:11.
d. Spreading the gospel - Matthew 28:18-20.
e. Letting your light shine - Matthew 5:16.
2. The church desperately needs people of action.
a. The fields are white unto harvest.
b. There is a shortage of elders to shepherd, feed, and
protect the flock.
c. The church needs those who are willing to visit the
sick, and call on the erring.
d. There is always a need for sound Bible class teachers.
Conclusion:
A. How do you see yourself?
1. We may have a distorted view of ourselves (good or bad).
2. We need to examine ourselves, and correct any flaws.
B. If there is something in your life that you need to correct...
1. If your faith is not what it ought to be:
a. Start working on it right now.
b. If we can help, we would be glad to do so.
2. Is what you believe correct?
a. Can you show: book, chapter, and verse, what you believe?
b. If you believe something that is not in agreement with what
the Bible says, are you willing to change?
3. Are you busy serving the Lord?
a. There is plenty of work to do.
b. There is no time like the present.