IT’S A COLD DAY FOR SEPTEMBER WAS ALL I THOUGHT TO SAY. WHEN I SAW YOU ON THE STREET THE OTHER DAY. I KNEW SOMETHING CHANGED BETWEEN US ALL THE TALK WE MADE WAS SMALL. BUT WHAT DO YOU SAY TO SOMEONE WHEN THEY’VE HEARD YOU SAY IT ALL. IT’S AN AWKWARD CONVERSATION IN A MOST PECULIAR WAY. HOW DID WE GET FROM SAYING I LOVE YOU TO I’LL SEE YOU AROUND SOME DAY. IT SEEMS LIKE ONLY DAYS AGO WE HAD SO MUCH TO SAY DID WE TAKE IT ALL FOR GRANTED DID IT ALL GET THROWN AWAY.
THE BOYS IN GREAT BIG SEA WERE SINGING ABOUT A CHANCE MEETING WITH AN OLD FLAME. BUT HAVE YOU EVER MEET WITH GOD AND FELT LIKE THAT. I KNEW SOMETHING CHANGED BETWEN US ALL THE TALK WE MADE WAS SMALL, BUT WHAT DO YOU SAY TO SOMEONE WHEN THEY’VE HEARD YOU SAY IT ALL. IT’S AN AWKWARD CONVERSATION IN A MOST PECULIAR WAY. HOW DID WE GET FROM SAYING I LOVE YOU TO I’LL SEE YOU AROUND SOME DAY.
PETER MUST HAVE FELT LIKE THAT. WHAT A DAY HE HAD. I’m sure that he could identify with our friend murphy. HE ARGUED WITH THE OTHER DISCIPLES OVER WHO WOULD BE GREATEST, WOULDN’T LET CHRIST WASH HIS FEET AND BOASTED THAT HE WOULD DIE FOR CHRIST. IN GETHSEMANE HE FELL ASLEEP THEN HE FREAKED OUT IN THE GARDEN WITH A SWORD AND CUT A DUDES EAR OFF, AND THEN VEHEMENTLY DENIED CHRIST, NOT ONCE NOT TWICE BUT THREE TIMES. EVER HAVE ONE OF THOSE DAYS, HEY STUFF HAPPENS. DOES IT EVER.
BUT WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT PETER? HE WAS THE LEADER OF THE APOSTLES, ONE OF CHRIST’S CLOSEST FRIENDS LIKE HOW MUCH MORE SPIRITUAL CAN YOU GET. BUT SO OFTEN THAT IS THE VERY TYPE OF PERSON WHO IS SUBJECT TO SATANS GREATEST ATTACK. THE PERSON IN THE HIGHEST POSITION IS THE ONE WITH THE FARTHEST TO FALL.
BUT WHO WAS PETER? WELL HIS REAL NAME WAS SIMON AND HE WAS THE SON OF JONAs, HE WAS THE FIRST APOSTLE, BROUGHT TO CHRIST BY HIS BROTHER ANDREW, AND WAS RENAMED PETER BY JESUS. HE WAS PART OF THE INNER CIRCLE WITH JOHN AND JAMES THE SON’S OF THUNDER. IT WAS JOHN AND PETER WHO WENT AHEAD TO ARRANGE THE UPPER ROOM FOR THE LAST SUPPER. IT WAS PETER WHO WALKED ON THE WATER, A MAN WHOLLY DEVOTED TO CHRIST AND YET HE WAS STILL JUST A MAN.
IT WAS PETER WHO SAID, We have faith in you, and we are sure that you are God’s Holy One." AND "You are the Messiah sent from God." IN Matthew 26:33 Peter spoke up, "Even if all the others reject you, I never will!"
THE PHRASE THAT IS TRANSLATED REJECT YOU IS ACTUALLY ONE WORD IN THE GREEK AND THAT IS SKAN DAL IDZO, IT’S WHERE WE GET OUR WORD SCANDALIZE, AND IT MEANS TO TRIP UP, STUMBLE, ENTICE TO SIN OR TO OFFEND. AND SO PETER IS SAYING, "JESUS I WOULD NEVER SIN AGAINST YOU."
LET’S REMEMBER THAT WHEN EVER WE USE THE WORD NEVER WE’D BETTER WATCH OUT, IT’S AN AWFULLY BIG WORD, AND AN AWFULLY LONG TIME. ABOUT THE TIME WE USE THAT WORD SATAN PULLS OUT ALL THE STOPS. "I DON’T KNOW HOW THEY COULD DO THAT, I WOULD NEVER COMMIT ADULTERY." "I WOULD NEVER CUSS" "I WOULD NEVER LOSE MY TEMPER LIKE THAT" NEVER IS A LONG TIME. THE VERY WORD STUMBLE IS INDICATIVE OF THE KIND OF MISTAKE IT IS. THIS ISN’T "WELL I THINK I’LL GO OUT AND MURDER 17 PEOPLE TODAY." THIS IS A SLIP OF THE TONGUE THAT HURTS A FELLOW CHRISTIAN, THIS IS A FLASH OF ANGER, THIS IS A CARELESS THOUGHT OR ACTION.
THE SECOND PART OF PETERS BOAST COMES TWO VERSES LATER IN Matthew 26:35 But Peter said, "Even if I have to die with you, I will never say I don’t know you." All the others said the same thing.
HOW OFTEN HAVE WE HEARD SUCH A BOAST, FOR THAT MATTER HOW OFTEN HAVE WE MADE SUCH A BOAST. "O LORD I WOULD NEVER DO ANYTHING TO BRING REPROACH ON YOUR NAME, EVEN IF I HAVE TO DIE FOR YOU." I’M SURE THAT CHRIST WOULD CONCUR, THE PROBLEM ISN’T GETTING PEOPLE TO DIE FOR YOU, IT’S GETTING PEOPLE TO LIVE FOR YOU.
NOW LET’S RECOGNIZE THAT PETER DIDN’T PLUNGE FROM SAINT TO SINNER OVERNIGHT. HOW OFTEN WE THINK THAT PETER GOT UP AND SAID, "WELL THIS IS THE DAY." IT MAY APPEAR THAT WAY BUT IF THE TRUTH WAS KNOWN IT JUST DON’T HAPPEN THAT WAY. USUALLY A LOT HAPPENS BEFORE THE ACTUAL FALL TAKES PLACE. SATAN KNOWS THAT, HE DOESN’T OPEN UP WITH THE HEAVY STUFF RIGHT OFF, HE GRADUALLY WEARS DOWN THE DEFENCES AND THEN ZAP HE’S DONE IT TO YOU AGAIN.
THEY TELL US, ALTHOUGH I DON’T KNOW FROM ACTUAL EXPERIENCE, THAT IF YOU PUT A FROG IN A COOL POT OF WATER AND SLOWLY BRING IT TO A BOIL THAT SAID FROG WILL STAY IN THE POT UNTIL IT IS COOKED, BECAUSE THE GRADUAL RISE IN TEMPERATURE DOESN’T GIVE HIM ADEQUATE WARNING ABOUT THE DANGER, BUT IF YOU WERE TO TOSS THE SAME FROG IN A BOILING KETTLE THERE WOULD BE ALL KINDS OF ACTIVITY AS HE TRIED TO GET OUT. NOW I WANT TO KNOW HOW DID THEY FIND THIS OUT, AND WHAT OTHER CRITTERS DID THEY USE FIRST, A CAT? A DOG? YOU NEVER HEAR ABOUT THE HORSE IN THE KETTLE THEORY DO YOU?
FRIENDS PETER WAS WALKING A WELL TROD PATH. A PATH THAT OTHERS HAD WALKED BEFORE HIM AND THAT PLENTY HAVE WALKED SINCE. Luke 22:40
40 When they got there, he told them, "Pray that you won’t be tested." AND THEN IN Luke 22:45 Jesus got up from praying and went over to his disciples. They were asleep and worn out from being so sad. CHRIST HAS GONE TO THE GARDEN TO AWAIT THE TROOPS THAT JUDAS WAS BRINGING. AND JESUS GATHERS THE INNER CIRCLE TO HIM, JOHN, JAMES AND PETER AND IN VERSE 40 HE ASKS THEM TO WATCH AND PRAY.
NOW THE ONE ESSENTIAL INGREDIENT IN ANY RELATIONSHIP IS COMMUNICATION. YOU CANNOT SUSTAIN A RELATIONSHIP WITHOUT TALKING. IN WORK, SPORTS, LOVE, AND GOD THE COMMON DENOMINATOR FOR SUCCESS IS COMMUNICATION. NO WHERE IN THE BIBLE ARE WE COMMANDED TO PREACH ALWAYS, OR SING ALWAYS, OR TEACH ALWAYS. BUT WE ARE TOLD IN Luke 18:1Jesus told his disciples a story about how they should keep on praying and never give up:
AND PAUL COMMANDS US IN 1 Thessalonians 5:17 and never stop praying.
NOW THAT’S A SHORT VERSE, AND TO THE POINT AS WELL. THE FIRST DOWNWARD STEP FOR PETER WAS WHEN HIS PRAYER LIFE WENT ON THE SKIDS. THE BEST RELATIONSHIP IN THE WORLD CANNOT STAND UP TO SILENCE.
WHEN WE STOP TALKING TO GOD WE LOSE THE STRENGTH THAT HE OFFERS. I REALIZE THAT SOME PEOPLE THINK THAT THEIR PRAYERS HAVE TO BE IN KING JAMES ENGLISH WITH ALL THE THEES AND THOUS IN THE RIGHT PLACES. AND THAT IS PERFECTLY ALRIGHT IF THAT IS WHAT YOU ARE COMFORTABLE WITH. OTHER FOLKS JUST CAN’T GET INTO THAT, LIKE THEY DON’T TALK TO OTHERS LIKE THAT, HOW MANY PEOPLE COME UP TO ME FOLLOWING THE SERVICE AND SAY, "THOU HAST PREACHED A FINE MESSAGE MY SOVEREIGN PREACHER, I SHALST ENDEAVOUR TO FOLLOWEST THY WORDS IN MY DAILY ENDEAVOURS." WOW WOULDN’T THAT FREAK ME OUT REAL GOOD. IT REALLY DOESN’T MATTER HOW YOU TALK TO GOD AS LONG AS YOU TALK TO HIM.
Luke 22:54 Jesus was arrested and led away to the house of the high priest, while Peter followed at a distance. THAT LAST LINE IS THE SECOND STEP IN PETERS DOWNWARD TREK. PETER FOLLOWED AT A DISTANCE. I MEAN SURE HE FOLLOWED, WHERE WERE THE OTHER ELEVEN? BUT HE FOLLOWED AT A DISTANCE, NOT UP CLOSE WHERE YOU’D EXPECT TO SEE THE LEADER OF THE TWELVE. AFTER ALL HE WAS CHRIST’S FRIEND AND COMPANION FOR THREE YEARS. LIKE HE WASN’T JUST AN ACQUAINTANCE. I CAN JUST HEAR PETER NOW, "DON’T WORRY JESUS I’M BEHIND YOU, WAY BEHIND YOU." Love made Peter ashamed to run, fear made him ashamed to get too close. The disciples chose the left side of the road and ran, Jesus chose the right side of the road and obeyed. But Peter chose the middle of the road, you know where you find yellow stripes and dead skunks.
ONCE YOU STOP COMMUNICATING WITH SOMEONE, THEN YOU NO LONGER KNOW WHERE THEY ARE AND WHERE THEY ARE GOING. AND IT ISN’T LONG BEFORE YOUR PATHS USUALLY DIVERGE. IN 1982 TWENTY EIGHT OF US FROM BIBLE COLLEGE IN NEW BRUNSWICK HEADED FOR THE WORLD HEADQUARTERS OF THE WESLEYAN CHURCH IN MARION INDIANA (KIND OF LIKE GOING TO MECCA), SOMETHING LIKE A THIRTY HOUR TRIP. THE PROBLEM WAS THAT WE WERE DRIVING SIX CARS AND ONLY THE DRIVER OF THE LEAD CAR KNEW HOW TO GET TO MARION. ALONG THE WAY WE SOMEHOW MANAGED TO LOSe THE LAST CAR AND AS HE WAS STRUGGLING TO KEEP UP, HE WAS PULLED OVER BY A VERMONT STATE TROOPER FOR EXCEEDING THE SPEED LIMIT BY A MERE 48 KMH. WHEN HE EXPLAINED SHE TOLD HIM THAT IT DIDN’T MATTER HOW FAST HE DROVE HE WOULDN’T CATCH UP, HOW COME? CAUSE HE HAD MISSED THE RIGHT EXIT ABOUT THIRTY MILES BACK. IT DOESN’T MATTER HOW FAST YOU’RE GOING IF’N YOU’RE GOING IN THE WRONG DIRECTION.
IT DOESN’T TAKE LONG FOR YOU TO START FOLLOWING CHRIST FROM A DISTANCE ONCE YOU HAVE STOPPED TALKING TO HIM ON A REGULAR BASIS.
PETERS THIRD STEP DOWNWARD IS RECORDED IN Luke Luke 22:55Some people built a fire in the middle of the courtyard and were sitting around it. Peter sat there with them,
SAT DOWN WITH WHO? WHO IS THEM? WELL THEM IS THE TEMPLE POLICE, THEM ARE THOSE WHO ARRESTED CHRIST, THEM ARE THOSE WHO EVENTUALLY AND ULTIMATELY WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CRUCIFIXION. THE PATH AWAY FROM CHRIST EVENTUALLY LEADS INTO THE PATH OF THE UNGODLY. Peter would have been better off hiding in the shadows with the disciples or standing in the courtyard with his master but instead he was warming his hands over the devils fire.
AND DAVID TOLD US A LONG TIME AGO IN Psalm 1:1 1 God blesses those people who refuse evil advice and won’t follow sinners or join in sneering at God.
THE CONVERSE OF THAT IS ALSO TRUE, THE MAN WHO DOES WALK IN THE COUNSEL OF THE WICKED, AND STANDS IN THE WAY OF SINNERS AND SITS IN THE SEAT OF MOCKERS, IS NOT BLESSED AND THAT IS RIGHT WHERE OUR OLD BUDDY PETER FOUND HIMSELF. NOW THAT DOES NOT MEAN THAT WE ISOLATE OURSELVES. CHRIST NEVER INTENDED US TO LIVE IN MONASTERIES. REMEMBER ONE OF THE CHIEF COMPLAINTS AGAINST HIM IS THAT HE WAS A FRIEND OF SINNERS. BUT THEY WEREN’T HIS PRIMARY SOCIAL CONTACT, MOST OF THE TIME HE WAS IN THE COMPANY OF HIS DISCIPLES. AND REMEMBER THAT CHRIST WAS INTENT ON WINNING THOSE SINNERS INTO THE KINGDOM AND NOT SIMPLY HAVING A GOOD TIME WITH THEM. CHURCH IS FOR FELLOWSHIP AS WELL AS FOR WORSHIP. WHEN WE GO INTO THE NEW TESTAMENT WE DISCOVER THAT THE ENTIRE LIVES OF THE EARLY BELIEVERS WAS INTERWOVEN WITH THE CHURCH. AND THAT’S WHY WE HAVE coffee AFTER THE SERVICE, AND why we go bowling, AND why we are went on a PICNIC last week AND really need to have BARBECUES, AND GO TO THE BEACH SO WE CAN SIT AROUND AND TALK TO PEOPLE WHO AREN’T USING THE LORD’S NAME IN VAIN AND CUSSING AND TELLING SMUTTY STORIES. BECAUSE LIKE IT OR NOT YOU ARE DIFFERENT THEN THE WORLD. OR AT LEAST YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO BE.
BUT ONCE YOU START FOLLOWING CHRIST FROM A DISTANCE THEN YOU DISCOVER THAT ONCE AGAIN YOU HAVE MORE IN COMMON WITH THE WORLD THEN WITH YOUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CHRIST.
Mark 14:66-68 While Peter was still in the courtyard, a servant girl of the high priest came up 67 and saw Peter warming himself by the fire. She stared at him and said, "You were with Jesus from Nazareth!" 68 Peter replied, "That isn’t true! I don’t know what you’re talking about. I don’t have any idea what you mean." He went out to the gate, and a rooster crowed.
HERE IS THE FIRST DENIAL, AND IT IS FAIRLY SIMPLE, HE DOESN’T ACTUALLY DENY CHRIST HE SAYS, "I DON’T KNOW OR UNDERSTAND WHAT YOUR’E TALKING ABOUT". GOOD GOING PETE THAT STUMPED HER. THAT FIRST DENIAL WOULD BE THE EQUIVALENT TO "DO YOU GO TO BEDFORD COMMUNITY CHURCH?" "AH, UH, WELL I, WHAT DO YOU MEAN?" BUT DON’T YOU LOVE THE BRUTAL HONESTY OF THE NEW TESTAMENT, THE SCHOLARS TELL US THAT MARK WAS PROBABLY THE FIRST GOSPEL WRITTEN AND THAT MARK UNDOUBTEDLY GOT THE NARRATION FROM---PETER AND HE TELLS HIS STORY WARTS AND ALL. BUT EVEN AFTER THE FIRST ACCUSATION, PETER STILL STUCK AROUND.
Matthew 26:71-72 71 When Peter had gone out to the gate, another servant girl saw him and said to some people there, "This man was with Jesus from Nazareth." 72 Again Peter denied it, and this time he swore, "I don’t even know that man!"
PRETTY HEAVY STUFF, WE’VE GONE FROM "I’M NOT SURE WHAT YOU MEAN" IN THE FIRST DENIAL TO DENYING CHRIST WITH AN OATH IN THE SECOND DENIAL, THAT MEANT THAT BASICALLY PETER SAID, "I DO NOT KNOW JESUS, SO HELP ME GOD." AND THAT IS SERIOUS STUFF FOR THE JEW WHO HAD DEVELOPED A WHOLE COMPLEX SYSTEM FOR WHEN OATHS COULD AND COULD NOT BE SWORN." REMEMBER THE WORDS OF JESUS IN Matthew 5:33-37 33 You know that our ancestors were told, "Don’t use the Lord’s name to make a promise unless you are going to keep it." 34 But I tell you not to swear by anything when you make a promise! Heaven is God’s throne, so don’t swear by heaven. 35 The earth is God’s footstool, so don’t swear by the earth. Jerusalem is the city of the great king, so don’t swear by it. 36 Don’t swear by your own head. You cannot make one hair white or black. 37 When you make a promise, say only "Yes" or "No." Anything else comes from the devil.
YOU SURE GOT A SHORT MEMORY PETE.
Matthew 26:73-74 A little while later some people standing there walked over to Peter and said, "We know that you are one of them. We can tell it because you talk like someone from Galilee."
74 Peter began to curse and swear, "I don’t know that man!" Right then a rooster crowed,
BOY, WE’VE ARRIVE NOW HAVEN’T WE, RIGHT AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PILE. NOT ONLY WAS HE DENYING HIM IN WORDS BUT NOW HE WAS DENYING HIM IN ACTION. THOSE AREN’T THE WORDS OF PETER THE APOSTLE OF CHRIST, THEMS THE WORDS OF SIMON, THAT GROTTY OLD FISHERMAN FROM GALILEE. PROFANITY SHOWS THAT YOU’VE BEEN DEFEATED, CAN’T THINK OF ANYTHING CONSTRUCTIVE OR INTELLIGENT TO SAY SO YOU CUSS. MY DADDIES NOT A CHRISTIAN BUT HE TAUGHT ME THAT PROFANITY IS THE REFUGE OF ILLITERATES AND CHILDREN. BESIDES THAT MOST CUSSING IS REALLY UNCREATIVE, WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU HEARD SOMEONE USE SOMETHING REALLY ORIGINAL. I mean THEY’VE JUST ABOUT EXHAUSTED ALL THE BODY PARTS AND BODILY FUNCTIONS. AND PETER KNEW THAT, HE WAS IN EFFECT SAYING "IF THEY WON’T BELIEVE I’M NOT HIS DISCIPLE I’LL SHOW THEM I’M NOT."
NEXT WEEK WE ARE GOING TO DEAL WITH PETER’S RESTORATION, BUT THIS WEEK I WANT YOU TO ASK YOURSELF, "HOW WILL I DENY JESUS?"
1) BY OUR SILENCE, I KNOW THAT SILENCE IS GOLDEN, BUT I ALSO KNOW THAT SOMETIMES IT IS JUST PLAIN YELLOW. ABRAHAM LINCOLN SAID, "TO SIN BY SILENCE, WHEN THEY SHOULD PROTEST MAKES COWARDS OUT OF MEN." DO PEOPLE KNOW THAT YOU ARE A CHRISTIAN, DO THEY KNOW WHO YOU SERVE, AND WHY YOU SERVE HIM?
2) BY OUR INCONSISTENCIES, IT DON’T MATTER WHAT YOU’RE SAYING IF YOUR LIFE DOESN’T PROVE IT, IT HAS BEEN SAID, "WHAT YOU ARE DOING SPEAKS SO LOUDLY I CAN’T HEAR WHAT YOU ARE SAYING." LET US REFLECT BACK ON THE WORDS OF MY GOOD FRIEND C.K. CHITTY BY THE WAY YOU WILL KNOW THIS BY HEART SOMEDAY, "YOU HAVE TO WALK THE WALK, AND TALK THE TALK, BUT YOU ALSO HAVE TO TALK THE WALK AND WALK THE TALK." WHAT ABOUT THE CHRISTIAN WHO CHEATS ON HIS INCOME TAX, OR IS CROOKED IN HIS BUSINESS DEALINGS, OR THE STUDENT WHO CHEATS ON A TEST, OR THE PERSON WHOSE WORD ISN’T ANY GOOD. WHAT ABOUT THE CHRISTIAN EMPLOYEE OR STUDENT WHO DOESN’T DO THEIR BEST. OR THE CHRISTIAN EMPLOYER WHO ISN’T FAIR TO HIS WORKERS. OR WHAT ABOUT THE CHRISTIAN WHO CURSES AND SWEARS? WHAT DID PAUL SAY IN Titus 1:16 Such people claim to know God, but their actions prove that they really don’t. They are disgusting. They won’t obey God, and they are too worthless to do anything good.
KIND OF LIKE PETER CUSSING ISN’T IT?
3) BY OUR UNCHRISTLIKE ATTITUDES. HOW’S YOUR FORGIVENESS? DOES IT STACK UP TO Matthew 6:14-15 For if you forgive others for the wrongs they do you, your Father in heaven will forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.
WHAT ABOUT YOUR LOVE, CHRIST DEFINED HOW CHRISTIANS WOULD BE JUDGED IN John 13:35 If you love each other, everyone will know that you are my disciples.
WHAT ABOUT YOUR COMPASSION, Matthew 25:34-36 Then the king will say to those on his right, "My father has blessed you! Come and receive the kingdom that was prepared for you before the world was created. 35 When I was hungry, you gave me something to eat, and when I was thirsty, you gave me something to drink. When I was a stranger, you welcomed me, 36 and when I was naked, you gave me clothes to wear. When I was sick, you took care of me, and when I was in jail, you visited me."
HOW IS YOUR DAILY WALK, DOES IT TESTIFY TO YOUR KNOWLEDGE OF THE SAVIOUR OR DENY IT? ONLY YOU CAN ANSWER THAT.
Luke 22:61 The Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered that the Lord had said, "Before a rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will say three times that you don’t know me." If Peter didn’t understand it before he know had a first hand grasp of Hebrews 4:13 Nothing is hidden from God! He sees through everything, and we will have to tell him the truth.
The scriptures tell us that
ARE THERE THINGS IN YOUR LIFE THAT ARE PREVENTING YOU FROM GOING FURTHER WITH JESUS.? We are going to close this morning by singing Jesus take me as I am, but notice that it doesn’t say Jesus keep me as I am, he does expect change. Remember the words he told the women caught in the act of adultery in John 8:11...You may go now, but don’t sin anymore."
