I grow every time I confess.
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Luke 5:1-11 Every time you confess, you grow.
"Why won't my faith grow? How can my faith grow?" Today, I want to give you that answer through Peter. Peter was a fisherman in the Sea of Galilee who did not know Jesus at first. Peter confessed five times until he met Jesus and became an ambassador and became a man of faith who was crucified and martyred at Achaia Patri. These are called the five confessions of Peter. Each time Peter made this confession, his faith grew. Today, looking at Peter's five confessions, we want to give each of us an opportunity to grow in our faith.
1. First confession: I am a sinner (Luke 5:8)
Peter's first confession took place on the Sea of Galilee. He threw nets all night to catch fish. However, not a single fish was caught that day. Peter returned to the beach in the morning tired and weary to wash his nets. Then Jesus came to him and asked him to borrow Peter's empty boat. When Peter lent Jesus an empty boat, Jesus got into the boat and said to the people.
When Jesus had finished speaking, he said to Peter. "Go out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch." Peter said. "Teacher, we have toiled all night and have gained nothing; but at your word I will let down the nets." However, so many fish were caught that the nets were torn, and even the boat of a friend next to him was filled with fish. Then Peter knelt before Jesus and said, "Lord, I am a sinner. Leave me."
Ladies and gentlemen, when a poor man stands in front of a great rich man, he realizes his poverty. When you stand in front of a high person, you know you are low. Standing in front of a strong person makes you aware of your weakness. When you stand in front of a knowledgeable person, you realize your ignorance. When you stand in front of a zealous person, you know your laziness. Likewise, when you stand before Jesus, who is a righteous man, you come to know that you are a sinner. So Peter confessed before the sanctified Jesus. “Lord, I am a sinner.”
2. Second Confession: To whom shall we go? (John 6:68)
Because many of those who followed Jesus saw His miracles. But when Jesus did not perform a miracle, many people left him. Then Jesus asked his disciples. “Are you going too?” (John 6:67) Then Peter made a second confession. "Lord, to whom shall we go?" (John 6:68)
Ladies and gentlemen, those who have clearly realized that they are sinners and confessed that they are sinners know that the penalty for sin is death. And those who have no choice but to die because of their sins try to find the way to eternal life. Just as a hungry person seeks food, as a sick person seeks a doctor, as a cold person seeks a warm place, Peter, who confessed that he was a sinner, came to confess that Jesus is the only life and salvation.
Guys, there are so many great people in the world. But God has never given us any other name under the heavens by which we can be saved except Jesus. You cannot be saved by anyone other than Jesus. Only Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. Peter confesses that only Jesus has eternal life, and he confesses that he cannot go anywhere else to receive eternal life. In other words, it is impossible to live apart from Jesus.
3. Third Confession: You are the Christ. You are the Son of the living God. (Matthew 16:16)
Before Jesus was crucified, he took his disciples to Caesarea Philippi. There Jesus asked his disciples. “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” (Matthew 16:13) The disciples answered. “John the Baptist, Elijah, Jeremiah, one of the prophets.” Jesus asked again. "Who do you say I am?" At this point, Peter answered. “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16).
Hearing this answer, Jesus was so happy that he said, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah. Flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but my Father in heaven. And I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. I I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven” (Matthew 16:17-19).
Ladies and gentlemen, Peter's third confession was, 'You are the Christ. It is the confession of being the Son of the Living God. Our Jesus is Lord. The main word is 'curios' in Greek. This means the Master, the Absolute. Jesus is the Lord of the universe. He is the master of all life and all things. Peter's confession is that he will absolutely obey Jesus, his master.
Everyone, just think about it. Who is your master? Until they believe in Jesus, who is the Lord, they say that they are the Lord. So, he tries to live his life the way he wants, doing what he wants. But when Jesus, the Lord, comes, you will know that your life is not yours. I always say to the owner, "Lord, what shall I do?" and asks the owner's will.
And Peter says that the Lord is the Christ. Christ means 'the anointed one'. That is, Jesus is King, Priest, and Prophet. The kings, priests, and prophets of that time were all called by God to accomplish God's will. In other words, Jesus came to this earth to accomplish the will of God. Jesus is the One who took the sins of mankind and came to this earth to save me and you.
And Peter confesses that the Lord is the Son of the living God. Nietzsche, an atheist, said, "God is dead." An old Russian astronaut said, "God is safe" when he looked into the universe during his first space flight. But Peter confesses, "God lives." And he confesses that Jesus is the Son of the living God. Guys, does God really exist? To this question, I pray that you will be able to confess clearly, "God lives."
4. 4th confession: I love you. (John 21:17)
Peter's fourth confession occurred after Jesus was resurrected. After Jesus was resurrected, the first thing he did was go to Galilee. When Jesus died on the cross, Peter and the disciples gave up their discipleship and were fishing again in Galilee. But even this time, Peter could not catch a single fish. Even though Jesus came to the scene and saw themselves, Peter did not know that it was Jesus. Because he never dared to imagine that the dead would come to life.
Jesus stood by the lake and said to his disciples. “Cast your net on the right side of the boat, and you will find it.” (John 21:6) Then, as many as 153 fish were caught. Seeing this incident, a disciple cried out. "It is Jesus." Peter then jumped into the water without taking off his clothes. And he went to Jesus. We had breakfast on the Sea of Galilee with Jesus. And Jesus and Peter had a conversation like this.
"Simon, son of John. Do you love me more than these people?" "It is so, Lord. You know that I love you." "Feed my lamb." “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” "Lord, yes. You know that I love you." "Feed my sheep." "Simon, son of John. Do you love me?" "Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you." "Feed my sheep."
This is Peter's fourth confession. "I love you." Until now, Peter believed in Jesus for himself and followed him. They used Jesus, not loved them. I followed Jesus because I needed to be saved, because I needed answers to prayer, because I needed healing, because I needed to go to heaven, and because I needed eternal life. But now I am confessing. "I love you."
In other words, I went up to the stage of believing in Jesus for Jesus, not believing in Jesus for me. I want to ask. Are you using Jesus? do you love If you love Jesus, what is the evidence? Who are you spending your mind, time, and money on? People spend their time, money, and heart for what they like or for the person they love. Who are you giving the most time to in your 24 hours a day? Who do you spend most of your time with? Who do you think of all day? And who are you spending the most money on?
Folks, the church is the body of Jesus. It makes no sense to confess that you love Jesus and not come to church. It doesn't make sense to criticize the church and destroy it by saying that you love Jesus. The love of the church is the love of the Lord. Jesus told Peter, who confessed that he loved him, to feed my sheep and tend my sheep. In other words, caring for those entrusted by the Lord in the church is the love of Jesus. This confession raised Peter's faith to the next level.
5. 5th confession: In the name of Jesus (Acts 3:6)
Peter's fifth confession was made after Jesus ascended into heaven. The book of Acts is the book of Acts of the apostles. There are 28 chapters in all. Chapters 1 to 8 are the Acts of Peter. And chapters 9 to 28 are Acts of Paul. There were days when Peter converted 3,000 people a day. The day he raised the crippled brought 5,000 people back to the church. There is a saying that never leaves Peter's mouth. That's "in the name of Jesus."
These are the words that Peter exclaimed when he had 3,000 people repent and return to the presence of the Lord in one day. "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, saying, "Repent and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, which promises you and your children and all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call. that it was done to you” (1 Peter 2:38-39), which means that receiving the forgiveness of sins and receiving the Holy Spirit is also accomplished in the name of Jesus.
It was also when he raised the crippled in front of the beautiful gate of the temple. Peter cried out the name of Jesus. "Silver and gold I do not have, but what I have I give you; in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk." (Acts 3:6) Dear friends, the name of Jesus is a wonderful name. Prayers are answered in the name of Jesus. Miracles happen in Jesus name. Even demons go out in the name of Jesus. Even sickness can be healed in the name of Jesus. The name of Jesus is the name of which nothing is impossible. Through the name of Jesus, we can come boldly before the throne of God.
Conclusion. Peter confessed to Jesus five times. Each time I confessed, my faith grew that much. That confession goes like this: "I am a sinner." “If the word of eternal life is here, to whom will it go?” “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” "I love the Lord." "In the name of Jesus" I pray that this confession will become our confession.