TO FALL OFF THE MOUNTAIN OF CHRIST
MARK 14:29-72
I HAVE TO SAY THAT TO ME PETER IS THE SCARIEST OF ALL THE DISCIPLES. THE REASON THAT HE IS THE SCARIEST IS BECAUSE WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE LIFE HE LED IN THE PRESENCE OF JESUS CHRIST, HE STILL SEEMED TO FAIL ON A REGULAR BASIS. THAT ALSO GIVES ME SOME HOPE BECAUSE PETER WAS SPECIAL TO JESUS EVEN THOUGH SOMETIMES HE LET HIS MOUTH OVERLOAD HIS BEHIND. THIS MORNING WE ARE GOING TO LOOK AT SOMETHING THAT I HAVE EXPERIENCED FIRSTHAND AND AN ONGOING STRUGGLE IN EACH AND EVERY CHRISTIANS LIFE IN THIS BUILDING TODAY….
HOW DO I KEEP FROM BACKSLIDING OR TO PUT IT IN TERMS WE MIGHT UNDERSTAND A LITTLE BETTER….
HOW DO I STAND FIRMLY ON THE MOUNTAIN.
1. YOU MIGHT BE HERE THIS MORNING AND THINK THIS MESSAGE IS FOR SOMEONE ELSE HERE IN THIS BUILDING TODAY BUT I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT IF YOU CAN HEAR THE SOUND OF MY VOICE THIS MORNING… GOD WANTS YOU TO LISTEN UP!!
2. BACKSLIDING IS A PROCESS FOLKS. ONE DAY YOU JUST DON’T WAKE UP AND SAY
I’M GONNA THROW ALL THAT JESUS STUFF OUT THE WINDOW AND CHUCK EVERY-
THING IN ALL AT ONCE. IT JUST DOESN’T HAPPEN THAT WAY.
EVE SAW THE FRUIT FIRST NOW DIDN’T SHE? THEN SHE DESIRED THE FRUIT…. THEN
SHE TOOK THE FRUIT OFF THE TREE ( JUST TO LOOK AT IT AND SEE WHAT IT FELT LIKE AND MAYBE TO LOOK AT IT MORE CLOSELY)…. THEN EVE ATE OF THE FRUIT AND NO FRIEND SHE DIDN’T STOP THERE SHE DRUG SOMEBODY ELSE DOWN WITH HER DIDN’T SHE? SHE OFFERED THAT SAME FRUIT TO ADAM.
FALLING OUT OF THE WILL OF GOD FOR YOUR LIFE IS A PROCESS AND AS THAT PROCESS BEGINS TO TAKE SHAPE IN OUR HEARTS AND MINDS IT LEADS US TO BECOME BACKSLIDDEN.
FALLING AWAY FROM THE COMPANY AND FELLOWSHIP OF JESUS IS A DISEASE THAT DESTROYS TOO MANY MEN AND WOMENS LIVES BECAUSE WE AREN’T AWARE OF THE WARNING SIGNS…
HAVE YOU FALLEN FROM THE MOUNTAIN?
PETER OFFERS US HOPE IN LEARNING HOW WE MAY RECOGNIZE AND CURE THE INWARD DISEASE OF BACKSLIDING THAT CAN PROBABLY BE BETTER KNOWN AS SELF-WILL.
CAN YOU TAKE A LITTLE BIT OF GOD THIS MORNING?
IF YOU CAN THEN TURN IN YOUR BIBLES TO THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST AS RECORDED BY MARK THE FOURTEENTH CHAPTER STARTING IN VERSE 29 AND IF YOU DON’T WANT A LITTLE BIT OF GOD’S TRUTH TODAY YOU’RE IN THE WRONG PLACE FRIEND BECAUSE I’M FRESH OFF A VACATION AND GOD HAS BEEN TALKING TO ME!!!!
OUR TEXT IS GOING TO COME FROM VERSES 29 THRU 72 AS WE LEARN THE ELABORATE ON THE SEVEN STEPS TO FALLING FROM THE MOUNTAIN AND THE ONE GIANT STEP TO GET BACK ON THE MOUNTAIN.
VERSE 29 GIVES US THE FIRST WARNING SIGN OF BACKSLIDING ( READ )
( FIRST WARNING SIGN ) IS THAT PETER BECAME A LITTLE BIT TOO CONFIDENT IN HIMSELF…. THE I HERE IS PRETTY SELF EVIDENT OF WHO HIS TRUST WAS RELYING ON IN THOSE FINAL MOMENTS BEFORE THE GREATEST MOMENT IN HISTORY WAS CARRIED OUT. THE GREATEST MOMENT??? HOW CAN YOU SAY THAT ABOUT JESUS DYING ON THE CROSS???
THAT’S THE ONLY WAY HE COULD SAVE ME FRIEND! MAYBE WE NEED TO REFLECT A LITTLE MORE OFTEN ON WHAT JESUS SAVED US FROM BECAUSE WITHOUT HIS DEATH ON THE CROSS, NOBODY WAS GOING TO HEAVEN.
PETER BECAME SELF-CONFIDENT IN ALL THE THINGS THAT HE HAD DONE FOR CHRIST AND MAYBE HE EVEN GOT TO THINKING ABOUT HOW BIG AND STRONG HE WAS COMPARED TO ALL THOSE OTHER LITTLE BITTY DISCIPLES. SURELY THE STRONG BACK THAT HAD LIFTED ALL THOSE FISH IN THE NETS OF FISHING BOATS HIS WHOLE LIFE WOULD BE ABLE TO STAND UP TO THE STRAIN OF DYING FOR HIS BEST FRIEND OR WITH HIS BEST FRIEND.
FIRST MISTAKE WAS BELIEVING IN HIMSELF!
SECOND WARNING SIGN THAT PETER GAVE THAT WE SHOULD REMEMBER IS THAT HE WENT INTO A BOASTING ATTITUDE TO DEFEND HIS POSITION…. LOOK AT IT IN VERSE 31
ALL THE DISCIPLES SAID THAT THEY WOULD NEVER LEAVE OR F0RSAKE JESUS BUT PETER TOOK IT A STEP FURTHER THAN THAT…. HE VEHEMENTLY OBJECTED TO THE TRUTH JESUS SPOKE TO HIM… HE SHOUTED LOUDER THAN ANYBODY IN THAT ROOM
" NO NOT ME JESUS, EVEN THOUGH THEY MIGHT RUN I’LL BE HERE THROUGH THE THICK OF THE FIGHT. I’LL STILL BE HERE WHEN EVERYBODY ELSE IS GONE "
BOASTING ABOUT WHAT YOU MIGHT DO OR WHAT YOU HAVE DONE IS FOOLISH MY FRIEND BECAUSE YOU SEE JESUS KNOWS THE OUTCOME ALREADY. HE KNOWS WHAT YOUR WEAKNESS IS AND HE HAS ALREADY PROVIDED THE GRACE AND THE MERCY TO COVER OUR MISTAKES. IN JOHN 13:36 WE HAVE THE DIALOG OF PETER AND JESUS AND PETER IS LITERALLY BEGGING JESUS FOR THE OPPURTUNITY TO DIE WITH HIM AND GO WITH HIM IMMEDIATELY…
BUT PETER IS BLISSFULLY IGNORANT OF HIS WEAKNESS
THIRD WARNING SIGN TO BACKSLIDING IS NOT BEING WATCHFUL. JESUS LEAVES THE UPPER=ROOM AFTER THE BOASTING OF PETER AND GOES TO A PLACE OF QUIET SOLITUDE TO PRAY AND SEEK THE WILL OF HIS FATHER. HE GAVE PETER SPECIFIC DIRECTIONS OF HOW HE MIGHT KEEP FROM FALLING INTO TEMPTATION… TO WATCH AND PRAY BUT PETER KNEW BETTER WHAT HE NEEDED… HE NEEDED A LITTLE SLEEP, HE WAS TIRED AND WEARY SURELY A LITTLE CATNAP WOULDN’T HURT.
VERSE 37 " SIMON ARE YOU SLEEPING ?" ARISE FOR THE SON OF MAN IS BETRAYED INTO THE HANDS OF SINFUL MEN.
2. PETER FELL ASLEEP ON THE CALL OF GOD ON HIS LIFE AT THE MOMENT OF GREATEST DANGER…
3. SATAN HAD ASKED FOR PERMISSION TO SIFT HIM LIKE WHEAT OH BUT PETER KNEW HE WAS STRONG ENOUGH TO TAKE ANYTHING THE DEVIL COULD DISH OUT. NOPE NO PRAYER FOR ME, BEEN THERE DONE THAT, I’M ALL READY FOR THE FIGHT
BY HIS SLEEPING HE BECAME INSENSITIVE TO THE SUFFERING OF CHRIST! HAVE YOU FORGOTTEN THE TEARS SHED FOR YOU BY THAT SAME CHRIST?????
FOURTH WARNING SIGN IS FOUND IN VERSE 54 " PETER FOLLOWED HIM AFAR OFF "
1. BEING WITH JESUS ISN’T SO POPULAR NOW THAT WE SEE WE’RE NOT QUITE THE MAN WE THINK WE ARE. PETER WAS TOO ASHAMED TO ADMIT THAT HE WAS A FRIEND TO JESUS AND THAT HE WAS ONE OF HIS DISCIPLES TO THOSE PEOPLE AROUND HIM.
2. THIS IS THE MOST DANGEROUS WARNING SIGN OF ALL BECAUSE IT LEADS US INTO THE MOST DEADLY STAGES OF BACKSLIDING OF ALL. TOO MANY CHRISTIANS ARE JUST TRYING TO STAY WITHIN EARSHOT OF GOD’S VOICE JUST IN CASE ALL THIS STUFF IS TRUE. HAVE YOU BECOME ASHAMED OF THE ONE NAILED TO THE CROSS WHO DIED IN YOUR PLACE???????
3. AT THIS STAGE THE WORD OF GOD IS NEGLECTED, THE CHRISTIAN LIFE PRINCIPLES OR PRAYER, FAITH AND FELLOWSHIP ARE NEGLECTED AND IT SETS US UP FOR THE KNOCKOUT BLOW.
FIFTH WARNING SIGN IS THAT PETER BECAME WORLDLY AND IT’S ALSO FOUND IN VERSE 54 " PETER SAT WITH THE SERVANTS AND WARMED HIMSELF AT THE FIRE "
1. HAVING FALLEN OUT OF FELLOWSHIP WITH JESUS THE DEVIL HAD SOME PEOPLE HE COULD BE FRIENDS WITH. WELL ISN’T THAT HOW IT HAPPENS? THAT’S WHY THE BARROOMS ARE MORE POPULAR THAN CHURCH FRIEND BECAUSE WE HAVE TO HAVE SOMEBODY TO TELL OUR TROUBLES TOO. IF NOT JESUS THEN WHO??
2. SITTING DOWN WITH THE ENEMY TRYING TO JUST FIT IN. HEY BROTHER MIKE, I CAN’T LIVE MY WHOLE LIFE AROUND CHRISTIANS, I NEED SOME OTHER FRIENDS. LISTEN VERY CAREFULLY TO WHAT I’M ABOUT TO TELL YOU, IF YOU HAVE ANY FRIEND THAT YOU’RE NOT WILLING TO SHARE THE LIGHT OF JESUS CHRIST WITH – YOU ARE NOT HIS FRIEND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
SIXTH WARNING SIGN OF BACKSLIDING IS FOUND IN VERSES 67 AND 68 PETER BEGAN TO DENY THAT HE EVEN KNEW JESUS. DENIAL LEADS US MANY PLACES FOLKS BUT IT NEVER LEADS US CLOSER TO GOD… IT ALWAYS LEADS US FURTHER AWAY FROM THE FOOT OF THE CROSS.
1. WHEN A MAN HAS GONE SO FAR AS TO FIND COMFORT AND CONVENIENCE SITTING IN THE CAMP OF THE ENEMY, THE NEXT STEP IS DENIAL. HEY YOU DENY HIM IF YOU WON’T LIVE FOR HIM…. YOU MIGHT NOT SAY IT OUT LOUD BUT THE WICKED WORKS WE DO SAYS MORE ABOUT WHAT WE REALLY FEEL.
2. ISN’T A PICTURE WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS? LOOK AT PETER AND HOW FAR HE HAS FALLEN, ISN’T IT SAD? DO YOU FEEL SORRY FOR HIM ????????????
LAST WARNING SIGN OF BACKSLIDING IS THE SADDEST OF ALL AND IT IS FOUND IN VERSE 71 " HE BEGAN TO CURSE AND TO SWEAR SAYING I KNOW NOT HIS MAN "
2. PETER THREW HIM A GOOD OLD-FASHIONED CUSS FIT… I DON’T BELIEVE THAT HE SAID A FEW OF THE LITTLE CHOICE WORDS LIKE DAMN AND HELL BUT I BELIEVE THAT HE USED EVERY CURSE WORD IN THE BOOK… WHY ? LOOK HOW FAR HE HAS FALLEN AND WHY WOULD YOU EVER THINK THAT HE WOULD LIMIT HIMSELF NOW, NO HE WANTED TO FIT IN WITH THE WORLD AND AS HE LET HIS RAGE FLY FORTH FROM HIS MOUTH IT GOT EASIER AND EASIER AND EASIER TO CURSE AND TO SWEAR.
3. IF A BACKSLIDER ISN’T PUT BACK ON THE MOUNTAIN OR IN THE CENTER OF GOD’S WILL BEFORE HE HAS PROGRESSED THIS FAR INTO THE OPEN AND PUBLIC USE OF PROFANITY……. HE’S NOT FAR FROM A LOT MORE WICKEDNESS AND SIN THAN THAT
3. SOON THE BACKSLIDDEN WILL JOIN THE RANKS OF WHAT JESUS HAS RELEASED THEM FROM AND THEY WILL BE WORSE THAN THEY EVER WERE BEFORE
ARE YOU READY FOR THE CURE???????? ARE YOU READY FOR THE ONLY HOPE THAT IS OUT THERE FOR YOU. PRAISE GOD THAT HE NOT ONLY OUTLINES THE PROBLEMS BUT HE ALSO PROVIDES AND ANSWER.
LOOK IN VERSE 72 ( READ )
PETER REMEMBERED THE WORDS OF JESUS AND THEY SPOKE TO HIS HEART AND WHEN HE REALIZED WHAT HE HAD BECOME…………..
HE WEPT !!!!!!!!
IT WAS ONLY WHEN THE PRODIGAL SON THOUGHT ABOUT THE FINE HOME AND THE FIELDS AND THE RICHES OF HIS FATHER AND THE GOODNESS OF HIS FATHER THAT HE SAID I WILL ARISE AND GO BACK HOME. IT’S THE SAME WITH ALL OF US BECAUSE ONLY WHEN THE HOLY SPIRIT CALLS TO REMEMBERANCE ALL THE JOY WE FELT IN THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD AND THE EMPTINESS HE FILLED IN OUR LIVES………. THAT IS THE ONLY TIME THAT WE CAN WEEP TEARS OF REPENTANCE…..
ARE YOU IN NEED OF THE CURE ? TAKE IT TO JESUS EITHER AT THIS ALTER OR IF YOU LIKE I’LL LISTEN TO YOU AND I’LL LOVE YOU WITH THE SPIRIT OF JESUS CHRIST THAT LIVES IN ME AND I’LL PROBABLY CRY WITH YOU BECAUSE I KNOW WHAT YOU’RE GOING THROUGH RIGHT NOW…
I FELL OFF THE MOUNTAIN TOO ! COME HOME !!!!!!!
INVITATION
