1) Simon Peter’s Revival
Can a run-of-the-mill laborer experience revival and become a prominent church leader?
Peter, an ordinary man, answered God’s call, and knew who Jesus was. An average fisherman was called, “As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen.” (Matthew 4:18 NIV) Ordinary people are usually the ones called and we understand that “few of you were wise in the world's eyes or powerful or wealthy when God called you.” (1 Corinthians 1:26-28). Man looks on things like wealth, power, and education, but “the Lord looks on the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7 ESV) and what was Peter’s heart? Answered by how he responded, “And He said to them, ‘Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.’ Immediately they left their nets and followed Him.” (Matthew 4:19-20 NASB)
The two brothers left their nets when? Call is not always something that requires a lot of thought, but always requires faith to act. And both brothers acted immediately. Believed that Jesus called them, they followed Him, not knowing where it would lead. Who He is, is more important than knowing where He will lead, because like a child trusts his teacher, we trust ours. Jesus has told us the final destination, and that He is the way. Is that enough for a people of faith?
History records that Peter died in Rome after having brought revival to many lives. Is the tradition true that Peter died by crucifixion? That is testified to by several early church fathers. Peter of Alexandria, Tertullian, Origin and Jerome all write about it. Died in the gardens of Nero, Peter may have been the last of all to be crucified in Rome. In several sources, it is said he was crucified upside down. Rome was eventually ruled by Constantine. Having seen a vision, he converted. Brought to faith, Constantine legalized Christianity.
Revival under Peter’s ministry included his sermon on Pentecost. To many he was the chief apostle, though perhaps not to the extent insisted upon by Rome. Many might point out James’ leadership in Jerusalem and Paul’s disagreement with Peter as examples which contradict any idea of Peter being a pope. Churches like those in Samaria (Acts 8), the Sharon Plain (Acts 9), Joppa (Acts 9), Caesarea (Acts 10), including Gentiles (Acts 10) all experienced revival through Peter’s ministry.
Rejoice, lovers of God, that there are people who answer God’s call without wavering and bring revival to many.
2) Andrew’s Revival
Can a loyal disciple of an unconventional preacher become a follower of Christ?
Andrew had an encounter with Jesus prior to his call, “The following day John was again standing with two of his disciples. As Jesus walked by, John looked at him and declared, ‘Look! There is the Lamb of God!’ When John’s two disciples heard this, they followed Jesus. Jesus looked around and saw them following. ‘What do you want?’ he asked them. They replied, ‘Rabbi’ (which means ‘Teacher’), ‘where are you staying?’ ‘Come and see,’ he said. It was about four o’clock in the afternoon when they went with him to the place where he was staying, and they remained with him the rest of the day. Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of these men who heard what John said and then followed Jesus. Andrew went to find his brother, Simon, and told him, ‘We have found the Messiah’ (which means ‘Christ’).” (John 1:35-41 NLT)
Responding like Peter, at once, is remarkable, “As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. ‘Come, follow me,’ Jesus said, ‘and I will send you out to fish for people.’ At once they left their nets and followed him.” (Matthew 4:18-20 NIV) Immediately responding to the Master’s call is an act of faith. Setting the example, this leaves us to answer a question. The call comes in our lives at many different times and from many different walks of life, but it is basically the same question: Will we follow Jesus? Example is important, and Andrew’s example begs the question, what will we do?
Andrew is a Greek name, indicating a family connection to Greek culture and language. Spread far and wide, Greek was a language of commerce, and even fishermen would have spoken it in the marketplace. The one-time disciple of John the Baptist, became an Apostle of Christ. Gospel messengers travelled far and wide, and Andrew is reputed to have preached along the Black Sea to Kiev and Novgorod, and Georgia. And he established the Church among East Slavic peoples. Died supposedly on an “X” shaped cross, he left a legacy of revival far and wide. In death, Andrew also became the patron saint of Scotland, Georgia, Ukraine, Russia, Greece, Romania, and many other places. Martyrdom is sometimes a part of the journey of revival.
Rejoice, lovers of God, that many faithful preachers like John the Baptist still point disciples like Andrew to Christ, and this key to revival has spread far and wide.
Eleven of the twelve apostles were revived in spirit. Those who answered God’s call eventually learned to live without wavering and brought revival to many.
