Why We Repeat Our Mistakes
Matthew 26:30ff
Tonight I would like to begin a two part series on mistakes and bad habit. Why we make mistakes, and then next week how do we break bad habits!
When we find ourselves making the same mistakes over and over again, and if we desire to stop doing that, we need to find a remedy. In the life of Peter, we can see a remedy for repeating mistakes.
I WE REPEAT MISTAKES BECAUSE WE ARE STUBBORN AND HARD HEADED! – Matt 26:34-35
A The Issue of Overconfidence
1 The issue of focus
a Camera lenses are made to focus on one object.
b When I focus too much on me, I cannot see others
c Peter was so convinced of himself that he did not see how much he was like the other disciples
d The Bible speaks volumes about pride, yet sum up it danger in 1 Corinthians 10:12
2 The Issue of Ignorance
a Peter was unaware of the Lord’s mission
b Peter spoke and acted without all the facts
3 The issue of personal weakness
a We cannot see how things affect us
b Believe we are above serious sin or failure!
We also reject the …
B The Counsel of the Lord
1 The “set-up” for Peter’s failure was denying, not abiding in the counsel of Jesus
2 Christ’s warning was about the weakness of our hearts – Peter did not agree
3 We cannot judge ourselves on the weakness of others
4 Each person falls differently
5 Overconfidence is a dangerous sin
“Pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall” (Proverbs 16:18).
“Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips” (Proverbs 27:2).
“He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered” (Proverbs 28:26).
“Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!” (Isaiah 5:21).
C We are not to compare ourselves to each other, but to bear the burdens of each other
“Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself” (Galatians 6:1-3).
D When we understand that ALL sin is serious, we will understand that none of us is above serious sin
PETER’S STUBBORN REFUSAL TO UNDERSTAND AND ACCEPT HIS WEAKNESS RESULTED IN REPEATING HIS MISTAKES – 3 TIMES IN THE COURSE OF ONE EVENING!
II WE REPEAT THE SAME MISTAKES BECAUSE WE PERCEIVE OURSELVES ABOVE OTHERS – Matt 26:33,74-75
A It took the events of the crucifixion to bring Peter to the realization that he was weak.
B His perception was different than his reality.
1 Peter perceived himself strong
2 In reality Peter could not live up to his perception
3 In reality Peter had no one to bear his burdens
4 Peter listened to Jesus Late – BUT he listened
a When we listen to Jesus determines what we avoid in getting the message
C Once we align our perception with our reality we can break the mistake cycle
III WE REPEAT THE SAME MISTAKES BECAUSE WE FAIL TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE WEAKNESS OF OUR FLESH – Matt 26:41,75
A In essence Peter acknowledge what the Lord had said all along
B Our flesh is unfit to sustain us
C Peter cried tears of repentance
D The real Catalyst
Luke 22:61 The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: "Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times."
1 The closer we look to Jesus, the more He effects us
2 The more Jesus effects us the less we stray
3 The less we stray the less we make mistakes
4 The less we make mistakes, the less we repeat them.
