Following From A Distance
Luke 22:54-62
You look at the life of Peter, and you see a roller coaster experience. He is up and down more times than the Great American Scream Machine. He is at times is over-confidence, and half-cocked. At one point he’s ready to die for the Lord, and hours later, he deny’s even knowing who he is ! Is your relationship with the Lord much like Peter’s ? I can find many points on which I can relate to Peter. This morning I want us to look at Peter’s worst moments !
I. Peter Had A Problem With Distance. V.54
Though Peter followed the Lord, he is distant. Look back with me if you would to V33 "And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death."
Peter’s relationship with the Lord had more ups and downs than the Scream Machine ! In one instance, he’s walking on water, and in the next moment, he’s sinking beneath the waves. At one point he boldly confesses who he believes the Lord to be. Peter trys to rebuke the Lord after Jesus told them of his impending death. Jesus warns him that Satan is trying to sift him like wheat. And in these last days before the crucifixion, Peter boldly states that he will go to prison with the Lord, and even die for him. Yet in a short time, he falls asleep while the Lord is praying. As the Roman soldiers approach the Lord to arrest him, Peter shows remarkable courage by drawing a sword and cutting off the ear of one of the soldiers, but now as the Lord is led away we see Peter following at a distance....staying out of sight, staying in the shadows. Why was Peter keeping his distance ?
II. Peter Had A Problem With Discernment. V.55
Peter shows a real lack of discernment, and wisdom by what he does next. Having kept his distance as he followed the Lord and those who had arrested him, Peter now comes in, and plops himself right down next to the enemies of the Lord. He warms himself at the fire that they had kindled. Why would Peter do such a thing ? He wants to maintain some contact with the Lord. He wants to find out what happens, but he doesn’t want to be connected. He hopes that by sitting down among them that he will be counted among them. He hopes that he can mingle with them, and thus not stand out.
Folks, you better pay attention, and learn from Peter. You can’t sit with the enemy, and warm yourself by the enemies fire, and not be burned ! When you follow the Lord at a distance, when you lose your closeness to the Lord, you will soon find yourself camped out with the enemy !
III. Peter Had A Problem With Denial. Vs 56-62
It was easier for Peter earlier in his discipleship when the Lord asked who they believed that he was. Listen to his confident confession: Mat 16:16 Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And hadn’t he just hours earlier said that he would go to prison, and even die with him ? Yet now, having followed at a distance, and camped out by the enemy’s fire, he soons deny’s having known the Lord, and having been with him ! Peter, the stone, crumbles !
Folks....be careful what you say.....be careful where you stray......be careful with whom you stay ! You’ll soon find yourself talking just like them, and living just like them !
Why I would never.......you might say ! Have you not done so already ? By your own lack of activity, and involvement, have you not denied the Lord ? Think of those times that you had a opportunity to speak up for the Lord or witness for the Lord, and yet you chose to remain silent ! Does your silence not speak volumes ? Does it not say......I have not been with him ! I do not know who he is !
IV. Peter Had A Problem With Departing. John 21:1-3
Though the resurrected Lord had appeared to him, Peter had yet to be confronted with his denial. The rooster crowing is still fresh in his mind. Uncertain about what the future holds, Peter decides to depart, and return to his former occupation. V3. "I go a fishing....."
The word "I go" literally mean "I retire".
When our relationship with the Lord is distant, we lack discernment.
We will soon find ourselves in the wrong place, hanging with the wrong people. The next step is then denial or refusal, and from their we will not only find ourself distant from the Lord, but in danger of departing !
Some of you here this morning.....you have grown distant from the Lord. You are still following, but not as close as you once did. The company that you’re keeping is not with whom it should be. You by your lifestyle, and conversation are denying the Lord. The next step my friends is you’ll be out the door. You’ll be out of the will of God ! The things which were once dear to you will no longer seem important. You will find yourself giving up, and quitting !
Yet, there is hope this morning ! The great example that we can learn from Peter’s own fall in his Christian life is that their is hope for those who fall......there is help for those who forsake the Lord !
God was not through with Peter. There was hope for him ! He would arise from his fall, and go on to be greatly used of God. He would preach on the day of Pentecost, and thousands would come to know Christ through his ministry !
How was it possible ?
1. Notice the presence of the Lord V4
"......Jesus stood on the shore:......"
Having labored all night to catch fish, their nets were empty ! It was a total waste, yet in the morning when the sun came up, Jesus was standing on the shore ! Though the night be long, and dark, and all may seem in vain, the morning will show that Jesus is standing on the shore ! Though Peter had denied him, and had forsaken him, the Lord had not forgotten Simon Peter ! Neither this morning has the Lord forgotten us !
2. Notice the power of the Lord. Vs5-6
The Lord reminds Peter, and the rest of the disciples of his power, and his authority !
3. Notice the provision of the Lord. V9
Though they had labored all night for fish, the Lord had already made provision for them. He had fish already baking over coals of fire.
"Come and dine."
4. Notice the probing of the Lord. V15-17
Three times Peter had denied knowing the Lord and having been with him. The Lord now probes the heart of Peter, confronting him with his sin of denial. Three times he asks Peter if he loves him !
5. Notice the plan of the Lord. V19
The plan of the Lord from day one of his calling the disciples was "follow me". Though Peter had failed, the Lord reaffirms his calling to Peter......."follow me". You and I are alot like Peter ! We become filled with pride. We become cocky, and over confident, and sometimes downright arrogant ! Sometimes we feel we know what is best better than the Lord. Our pride, as pride always does, will lead us down a life of ruin ! Peter followed.....at a distant. His discernment failed him. He denied the Lord ! He departed back to his old way of life ! Yet the words of the Lord this morning are........"Lovest thou me............." Follow me !
