THE JOURNEY OF PETER: FROM FISHERMAN TO FOUNDATION

This lesson walks through Peter’s entire spiritual journey — his background, calling, walk on water, denial, restoration, partnerships, sacrifices, and the mission Jesus entrusted to him and the other disciples.

Peter’s Background and Early Life

Peter’s birth name was Simon (John 1:42). He lived in Bethsaida and later Capernaum, towns near the Sea of Galilee (John 1:44). He worked as a fisherman alongside his brother Andrew, and with James and John, the sons of Zebedee (Luke 5:10).

Fishing was a demanding trade:

- Long nights on the water  

- Heavy nets  

- Physical strength  

- Teamwork  

- Patience  

- Business skill  

Peter was an ordinary working man — strong, direct, and practical. He was not a religious scholar. Yet Jesus saw something in him that others did not.

Peter’s Calling and What Jesus Saw in Him

Peter was actively working when Jesus approached him. He was either casting his net (Matthew 4:18) or washing his nets after a long, unproductive night (Luke 5:2).

Jesus stepped into Peter’s boat, taught the crowd, and then told him to launch into the deep. After the miraculous catch of fish, Peter fell at Jesus’ knees, overwhelmed.

Jesus said:

“Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” (Matthew 4:19)

Peter and Andrew immediately left their nets and followed Him (Matthew 4:20).

Jesus chose Peter because He saw:

- Boldness  

- Courage  

- Leadership  

- Teachability  

- A repentant heart  

- A hunger for God  

- A willingness to step out  

Jesus does not call the perfect — He calls the willing.

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Peter Walking on Water and the Lesson of Faith

During a storm, the disciples saw Jesus walking on the water. Jesus said:

“Take courage! It is I; don’t be afraid.” (Matthew 14:27)

Peter replied:

“Lord, if it is You, tell me to come to You on the water.”

Jesus said:

“Come.”

Peter stepped out of the boat and walked on water. This revealed:

- His desire to be close to Jesus  

- His willingness to do what others feared  

- His faith in Jesus’ voice  

Peter began to sink when:

- He looked at the wind and waves  

- Fear replaced faith (Matthew 14:30)

But he cried out:

“Lord, save me!”

Jesus immediately caught him.

The lesson:  

Faith is not the absence of sinking — it is knowing Who to call when you do.

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Peter’s Denial of Jesus and Why It Happened

Peter denied Jesus the night Jesus was arrested (Luke 22:54–62).

He denied Him because:

- He was afraid  

- He was confused  

- He feared being arrested or killed  

- He was overwhelmed by the moment  

A servant girl recognized him and said, “You were with Jesus.”  

Peter panicked and said, “I don’t know Him.”

He denied Jesus three times, just as Jesus predicted.

When the rooster crowed, Peter remembered Jesus’ words and wept bitterly (Luke 22:62).  

This showed his heart was tender, not rebellious.

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Peter’s Restoration and His New Assignment

After the resurrection, Jesus met Peter by the Sea of Galilee (John 21:15–17).

Jesus asked him three times:

“Do you love Me?”

Each time Peter said yes, Jesus responded:

- “Feed My lambs.”  

- “Take care of My sheep.”  

- “Feed My sheep.”  

Jesus was:

- Restoring Peter  

- Reversing the three denials  

- Reaffirming his calling  

- Preparing him to lead  

Jesus also told Peter:

“When you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” (Luke 22:32)

Peter’s failure became part of his ministry.  

He could strengthen others because he knew what it felt like to fall and get back up.

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The Rock on Which Jesus Builds His Church

Jesus said:

“You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church.” (Matthew 16:18)

The “rock” was the revelation Peter spoke:

“You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” (Matthew 16:16)

Jesus was declaring:

- The church is built on the truth of who Jesus is

- Peter would be a foundational leader  

- God uses transformed people, not perfect ones  

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Who Guided Peter After Jesus Returned to Heaven

Jesus did not leave Peter to lead alone.  

He promised the Holy Spirit:

“The Holy Spirit… will teach you all things.” (John 14:26)

“You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you.” (Acts 1:8)

After Pentecost (Acts 2), Peter became bold, confident, and Spirit‑led.  

The same man who denied Jesus now preached to thousands.

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Peter’s Ministry Partnerships and Divine Pairings

Jesus never sent His disciples out alone.

Peter and John

Peter’s primary ministry partner was John:

- They ran to the tomb together (John 20:3–4)  

- They healed the lame man together (Acts 3:1–10)  

- They were arrested together (Acts 4:1–3)  

- They were sent to Samaria together (Acts 8:14)

Jesus’ Pattern: Two-by-Two

Jesus sent disciples out two by two (Mark 6:7).

Jesus’ Inner Circle

Peter was paired with: 

- James  

- John  

James and John, sons of Zebedee, were nicknamed “Sons of Thunder” (Boanerges) by Jesus in Mark 3:17. The title reflected their fiery, impulsive, and zealous personalities—seen most clearly when they wanted to call down fire on a Samaritan village that rejected Jesus (Luke 9:51–56). Jesus recognized both their intensity and their potential, shaping them into powerful ministers, with John later becoming known as the “apostle of love.”

Why Jesus Called Them “Sons of Thunder”

• Fiery Zeal: Their strong emotions and quick reactions resembled the sudden force of thunder.

• Protective Instincts: They fiercely defended Jesus and His mission, even suggesting destructive action against opponents.

• Boldness & Passion: Their overzealous confidence led them to seek high positions (Matthew 20:20–24) and to forbid others from casting out demons in Jesus’ name (Mark 9:38–40).

Examples of Their “Thunderous” Behavior

• Desire for Vengeance: Wanting fire from heaven to destroy a Samaritan village.

• Intense Loyalty: Readiness to act decisively—sometimes rashly—in defense of Jesus.

Jesus used the nickname not to shame them, but to acknowledge their passion and to shape it. Over time, their zeal matured into powerful leadership for God’s kingdom.

They witnessed:

- The Transfiguration (Matthew 17:1)  

- Jairus’ daughter raised (Mark 5:37)  

- Gethsemane’s inner prayer circle (Matthew 26:37)

After Jesus Left

The Holy Spirit formed new teams:

- Peter & John  

- Paul & Barnabas (Acts 13:2)  

- Paul & Silas (Acts 16:19–25)  

- Priscilla & Aquila (Acts 18:2–3, 24–26)

God builds His mission through partnerships.

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The Cost of Following Jesus and the Disciples’ Reactions

Peter said:

“We have left everything to follow You.” (Mark 10:28)

They left

- Jobs  

- Income  

- Homes  

- Comfort  

- Plans  

- Their old lives  

Jesus said:

“Anyone who does not give up everything he has cannot be My disciple.” (Luke 14:33)

At first, the disciples reacted with:

- Fear  

- Confusion  

- Running away (Matthew 26:56)  

- Peter’s denial  

But after receiving the Holy Spirit:

- They became bold  

- They preached publicly  

- They rejoiced when persecuted  

“They rejoiced that they were counted worthy to suffer for His name.” (Acts 5:41)

Jesus told Peter he would one day die for the gospel (John 21:18–19).  

Peter accepted this calling.

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The Central Lesson of Peter’s Life

Peter shows that:

- God calls ordinary people  

- God sees potential others miss  

- Faith requires stepping out  

- Fear may cause you to sink  

- Jesus saves when you cry out  

- Failure is not final  

- Repentance leads to restoration  

- Restoration leads to purpose  

- God pairs you with others for mission  

- The Holy Spirit empowers you  

- The mission is bigger than comfort  

- God uses imperfect people to build His church  

Peter went from:

- Fisherman → Disciple  

- Fearful → Bold  

- Denier → Leader  

- Broken → Restored  

- Ordinary → Foundational  

This is the transforming power of Jesus Christ.

As a child, God taught me to hear His voice and to discern the spirits that move in and around His people. He told me not to be afraid of their faces, and He commanded me to speak His word with boldness, in season and out. In 1985, I heard Him say, “Teach My people,” and I have obeyed that assignment ever since.

I do not speak to exalt myself. I speak because I was commanded. I speak because the word reaches me first. I speak because I have walked with God long enough to know when He is pressing something upon His daughters. And in a time when so many are leaving this world, sometimes suddenly, I cannot afford to hold back what He gives me.

This message is for every woman who has poured out much, carried much, endured much, and given much. It is for those who are strong, yet tired, faithful, yet human, wise, yet in need of rest. If this word finds you, may it strengthen you, steady you, and remind you that God sees you.

A word for the women who have poured out much

I come to you as a woman who has walked with God for many decades, who has watched His faithfulness, and who has learned that His word comes to correct, to comfort, and to call us into a different way of being. This word reached me first. I had to eat it before I could offer it to you.

This is why I teach.  

This is why I discern.  

This is why I prophesy.  

This is why I speak to you now.

“In quietness and in trust shall be your strength.” — Isaiah 30:15

This verse was spoken to people who were exhausted from fighting battles in their own strength. They were running, striving, pushing, trying to fix everything themselves, and God gently told them:

Your strength will not come from doing more, your strength will come from resting in Me.

Here is the deeper meaning for women who have carried much:

1. Strength is found in stillness, not striving  

This scripture reminds you that you do not have to prove anything anymore.  

You do not have to keep giving until you are empty.  

You do not have to outrun your pain.  

God is saying, Let Me carry you now.

2. Quietness is not weakness, it is healing  

For those who have spent a lifetime pouring out, quietness can feel unfamiliar.  

But in this verse, quietness means peace, rest, release, and letting the soul breathe.  

It is God’s invitation to stop fighting alone.

3. Trust becomes the new source of strength  

Not trust in your body, which may be tired.  

Not trust in your past accomplishments.  

Not trust in your ability to keep giving.  

But trust in God’s faithfulness.  

It is a shift from “I must do more” to “God is enough for me now.”

4. It speaks to this season of your life  

Many of you have been warriors, givers, teachers, and servants.  

But this scripture tells you, Your strength in this season will not look like your strength in the last one.  

Now your strength is receiving, resting, trusting, allowing God to rebuild you, and letting others bless you.

5. It gently answers the quiet fear, “Did I do enough”  

This verse says, Your value is not in what you did, your strength is in who you trust.  

It frees you from performance.  

It frees you from guilt.  

It frees you from the pressure to keep giving beyond your capacity.

In short, Isaiah 30:15 is God whispering to His daughters,  

You do not have to fight anymore, let Me be your strength now.

A word about you, women of God

What you are sensing in yourselves, the weariness, the quiet heaviness, the longing for rest, is something many seasoned women in ministry quietly carry. This message resonates because it speaks to a universal truth about servants who have poured out for decades. It is not about my assignment; it is about the weight you have carried, often in silence, and the way God is now calling you to let Him strengthen you in a new way.

You are strong, but you are tired.  

You are faithful, but you are human.  

You are wise, but you still need rest.  

You have given much, but you rarely receive.  

You have carried others, but you seldom feel carried.

This word is a mirror for many.

Women who have survived childhood wounds, endured ministry battles, carried families, churches, and communities, kept giving even when empty, kept believing even when hurting, and kept serving even when unseen, often need the same reminder:

Your strength in this season will come from quietness and trust, not from striving.

I have simply sought to create a place where women leaders can breathe, exhale, and remember that they are God’s daughters before they are His servants. My desire has always been to make room for you to rest, to be seen, and to be strengthened again. I offer what God gives me, and I trust Him to do the rest in your lives.

A pastoral prayer for the women who need rest

Father, in the name of Jesus, I lift every daughter who feels this word in her spirit. You see the ones who are tired in their bodies, tired in their minds, and tired in their souls. You see the ones who have carried others for years, yet struggle to find a place to lay their own burdens down.

I pray especially for the woman who knows You have called her to rest, yet feels trapped by responsibility. She is trying to recover, but the weight of bills, obligations, and fear keeps her moving when her body is asking her to be still. Lord, You know her situation. You know her needs. You know the pressure she is under. You know the fear that whispers, “If I stop, everything will fall apart.”

Speak to her now. Remind her that You are her source, not her job. Remind her that You are her keeper, not her strength alone. Remind her that You are the One who sustains her life, her home, and her future. Let her know that obedience to Your call to rest is not weakness, it is wisdom.

Cover her mind with peace. Quiet the fear that rises when she thinks about stepping back. Strengthen her faith to trust You in the places where she has always trusted herself. Surround her with help, with support, with provision, and with the assurance that she will not lose what You have given her.

And for every woman under the sound of this prayer, I speak rest, clarity, and courage. Let them know that they do not have to earn Your love. They do not have to strive to be worthy. They do not have to push themselves beyond their limits to prove their faithfulness. You see them. You know them. You love them.

Teach them to breathe again. Teach them to trust again. Teach them to rest in You without fear of what they cannot control.

Let this be the year where they learn that quietness is strength, and trust is power, and rest is obedience.

In Jesus name, Amen.

Pastoral closing blessing

May the peace of God settle over every woman who receives this word. May His strength rise in the places where yours has grown thin. May His wisdom guide every decision you must make in the days ahead. And may His presence remind you that you are never walking alone. I speak grace over your homes, clarity over your minds, and rest over your spirits. May the Lord carry you in the places where you can no longer carry yourself.

Submitted by Jacque Fielder, BTh/MCC 

Sr. Pastor,

Nabhi Christian Ministries