I. Introduction: When Peter and John came before the Jewish leaders, the leaders were amazed at their boldness and ability. The Sanhedrin realized that the change was a result of their time spent with Jesus.
II. Encountering Jesus
A. Multitudes followed Jesus but He also had more personal interactions with many people.
B. Seeing the change in those who encountered Jesus should cause us to reflect how our interactions with Jesus have changed our lives
III. Some have a complete change in who they are and what is important to them
A. Act 8 tells us of a man who encountered Jesus through the teaching of Philip the evangelist
B. Often we focus on the repentance of Simon the Magician, or Sorcerer and neglect to see the power of his conversion.
C. Acts 8:9-13
- Simon’s fame
- Simon had great fame and influence in Samaria through practicing magic.
- Everyone honored him, from the smallest to the greatest considering that he had the power of God, and they listened to what he had to say.
- Simon’s encounter with Jesus through the gospel and power of the Holy Spirit
- He was an expert in illusion and deceit so when he saw the apostles demonstrating the genuine power of God, he was amazed and knew their power to be true.
- He heard the teaching of the more powerful Son of God whom Philip preached.
- Simon’s choice
- Simon faced a choice: if to follow Jesus he had to renounce his sorcery and lose all of the fame and influence it brought.
- Jewish leaders
The Jewish leaders heard the testimony of Jesus and witnessed the mighty signs and power of the Holy Spirit.
Consider their response: Acts 5:12-17, 33
- Elymas
Paul and Barnabas encountered another magician on the island of Cyprus.
Acts 13:4-12
This magician opposed the apostles and tried to dissuade the proconsul.
- Unlike the Jewish leaders or his fellow magician, Elymas, Simon believed the gospel and was baptized so he could be saved.
This meant that he would lose the reputation gained through magic and the worldly influence and favors he had gained.
In Acts 19:19, the Ephesian magicians who believed burned their very expense magic books instead of profiting by sharing their dark secrets. Perhaps we can infer that Simon likewise destroyed his valuable magic books and items that were used to deceive people.
- For Simon, the conversion to Christ was a complete turnaround, and came at a great price, but he gained a great eternal reward for his decision
IV. Some lives are modified to enhance good behaviors and correct the dysfunctional behaviors
A. Jesus’ apostles were not trained religious leaders, but were called from the common Jewish people.
B. Consider the life journey of Peter and John
- They were both fishermen, Matthew 4:18-22.
- Peter realized that he was a sinner, Luke 5:4-8.
- John had a bad temper, Luke 9:51-55.
- Because of their walk with Him, Jesus molded them into great men of faith and transformed them into something greater than they had been before.
V. Story of Peter
- Peter was often impetuous and speaking when he should have been quiet.
- Luke 9:28-36 – Transfiguration (Mk 9 For he did not know what to say, for they were terrified)
- John 13:6-10 – Washing feet
- Mark 8:31-33 – Peter rebuked for telling Jesus that He was not going to die by the hands of the Jewish leaders
- Luke 22:31-34 – Prediction of Peter’s betrayal
- But Peter also spoke up when it was appropriate and would glorify Jesus
- Matthew 14:28 – Peter asked to walk on the water with Jesus
- John 6:66-69 – Where shall we go? You have the words of eternal life
- Jesus did not shut Peter up or quench his enthusiasm, rather he molded Peter with humility, directed his enthusiasm to eternal things, and used his willingness to speak up to proclaim the gospel of Jesus in powerful ways.
- Peter became a leader among the apostles and the church in Jerusalem.
- Peter opened the door of the gospel preaching the great Pentecost sermon.
- Peter and John preached with boldness in the city of Jerusalem even when they received harsh treatment and threats from the Jewish leaders.
- Acts 4:13: Even their enemies, the Jewish leaders, recognized their powerful speaking and courage as evidence of a life changed by their encounter with Jesus.
- Peter was sent across the social barrier to the Gentiles to preach the gospel to Cornelius and his household in Caesarea.
- It was Peter who courageously defend going into a Gentile’s house and preaching the gospel when he was opposed by Jews upon his return to Jerusalem.
- Peter spoke first in the great discussion in Acts 15 defending the ability of the Gentiles to be Christians and to be saved without the requirement to follow the Law of Moses.
- Jesus used skills and behavior’s Peter for the service of the kingdom.
A. John
- Man who sought authority and the power to punish the opposition
- Luke 9:51-56 – wanted to call fire down on a city that would not believe
- Jesus nicknamed John and his brother James Boanerges, that is, Sons of Thunder
- Name reminds us of the thunderstorms of hail and fire on wicked cities in the OT.
- Mark 10:35-41 – openly sought places of power in the kingdom of God, they wanted authority
- Transformation by Jesus
- Through his life with Jesus, John earned another nickname the disciple of love.
He used “the disciple whom Jesus loved” instead of his name in John to reflect the love and grace Jesus showed to him.
John wrote extensively about love in his gospel and his letters.
- Instead of vengeance, John writes about mercy and forgiveness.
- Instead of seeking to rule, he emphasizes greatness through service to others
- Yet Jesus did not take away John’s sense of justice and desire to stand against wrong.
3 John 9-11 – he rebukes Dootrephes and promises a confrontation with him if Diotrephes doesn’t change his way before John arrives
John writes and preaches boldly against worldliness and false teachers and everything that is anti-Christ.
B. Jesus built on the good in Peter and John and redirected other behaviors to glorify God
VI. Timothy was encouraged to stretch beyond what he was able
A. Remember when Moses was called by God, he made many excuses why God should choose someone else to lead the people out of slavery. Moses humbled himself and God molded him to be the leader that Israel needed and helped Moses become, what the Holy Spirit described as “the friend of God.”
B. Gideon was frightened when called by God but God made him into a mighty warrior who saved Israel from her enemies.
C. We saw earlier how Peter was able to stretch out in faith and walk on the water with Jesus.
D. Timothy is a similar story in many ways.
- Timothy is a disciple of Jesus whom Paul calls his son in the faith.
- Paul’s exhortations in his letters seem to imply that Timothy had to resist the urge to be timid, shy, or reluctant to preach the gospel in difficult circumstances.
- 1 Timothy contains many exhortations from Paul to take a strong stand against many forces counter to the gospel that were in his midst; but to do so respectfully.
- 1 Timothy 4:11-16 – Paul reminds Timothy of his charge
- 1 Timothy 6:20-21 – This is one of many strong exhortations to stay faithful and bold
- 2 Timothy 1:3-8 – There is a strong plea for Timothy’s courage and faithfulness
- 2 Timothy 3:14 – guard the gospel entrusted to you
- 2 Timothy 2:1-7
- 2 Timothy 3:14 – after recounting suffering, continue in the word
- 2 Timothy 4:1-5 – Preach the word in the midst of suffering and opposition
E. Sometimes our encounter with Jesus is to call us to do more than we think we can do
- Help us to overcome shyness to share the gospel, teach others, or step out in service.
- Help us to overcome our contentment to share our time and money to help others
- Find new ways to serve, perhaps learning with others or learning from a Christian mentor
- There are many things that I may be nervous about doing but through the example and teaching of Christ, and praying for His strength, that I can do knowing it will help others and glorify God.
VII. As Christians we can develop a deep and lasting relationship with Christ
- Study – 1 John 2:3-6
- When the word abides in us, and we keep the commandments of God, we are allowing God to shape us into the image of His Son.
- We can know more about God by meditating on His word not seeking proof texts, but the God who is behind all of the word.
- Prayer – We are able to talk with God, share ourselves with Him and be mindful of his presence in our lives.
- Godly living – By living as Christ lived, enduring suffering and tribulation, and knowing the joy of the blessings of daily life, we can draw closer to Christ.
- We should see Christ living in us and around us.
- Like the Jewish enemies of Peter and John, It should be evident to the world that we have been with Christ.
- And when we look within, we will glory that it is obvious to us that we have been with Christ.