Courage And Cowardice At The Garden Gate (Part 1) Series

COURAGE AND COWARDICE AT THE GARDEN GATE

(Part 1)

John 18:15-18, 25-27

INTRO: This is the fulfillment of the prophecy of Jesus in John 13:38, about Peter denying Jesus. V. 27, states that Peter denies Jesus.

Today, we want to lock at "Courage and cowardice strangely mingled at the garden gate.

I. WHAT WE HEAR OFTENTIMES DEPENDS ON WHAT WE ARE.

A. What are we listening for when God speaks?

1. Simon Peter was not the only one that heard the cock crow that

night.

a. What some people heard with the ear, Peter heard with the

soul.

b. The meaning we find in any voice or sound is largely deter

mined by ourselves.

2. Simon Peter is like us in our human nature.

a. He did nothing in halves. His heart ruled his head.

b. He told Jesus in 13:8, Thou shalt never wash my feet.

3. Peter received more rebukes from Jesus than any of the other

disciples.

a. In Matt. 161:7, Jesus blesses.

b. In Matt. 16:23, Jesus rebukes.

c. Isn’t this like our lives, from blessing to rebuke?

4. In one brief 5 seconds, you can destroy the influence you work-

ed a lifetime to build.

a. Just a few minutes before, Peter had bravely defended

Jesus at his arrest.

b. Now he denies Jesus at the snare of a giggling woman.

c. The devil doesn’t need an army. with bayonets to cause us

to deny Jesus.

II. SATAN DELIGHTS IN OUR DENYING JESUS.

A. Simon peter denies Jesus three times.

1. The bible simply says, "immediate ly the cock crew."

2. Remember the old spiritual we used to sing? It is true.

a. Sometimes I’m up, sometimes I’m down, Oh Yes Lord.

b. It was true in peters life because he had his ups and

downs.

c. It is true in our lifetime, but maybe we have gotten so

calloused and careless that we can’t see it.

d. Are you that way? I am.

III. WE NEED THE STRENGTH THAT ONLY JESUS CAN GIVE TO US.

A. We can’t fight with Satan and expect to win.

B. Jesus can give us the help we need.

CONC: Our lives compare greatly to that of Simon Peter. We can learn a lot by reading the account of his life in our Bibles.

We just got started on this message this morning. We will finish it tonight.