The Messiah And Failing Forward Series

The Messiah and Failing Forward

Text: Matt. 26:31-35

Introduction

1. It is the expressed purpose both corporately and individually of New Life Assembly of God Church to:

a. Worship: We were created to worship our Lord and Creator in spirit and in truth (John 4:23-24).

b. Witness: We have been commanded to share the truth of the Gospel with every living creature (Mark 16:15).

c. Walk: We have been commissioned to make disciples to follow Jesus (Matthew 29:18-20)

d. Work: We are committed to minister to one another and our community through humble service (John 13:1-17).

e. Welcome: We come together to love, honor, and encourage one another (Acts 2:42).

2. This morning we are going to talk about the 3rd "W" on that list, and that is the word "Walk."

a. This word of course represents the Biblical concept of discipleship.

b. We choose to use the word "walk" to describe our daily "walk" with Jesus.

c. One thing I found about taking a walk with someone you have to continue to walk.

d. You can be walking with someone and all of the sudden they stop walking, and you find yourself walking alone.

e. The point is, you either continue to walk or your not walking at all, or you walk in the opposite direction.

f. The reality is, if we are not walking with Jesus we are no longer following Him, and in fact, if we do that long enough we will end up walking away from Him.

3. From the story of Jesus' warning to Peter we learn that falling away...

a. Is Possible for all of us

b. Is Perpetuated by a lack of humility

c. Is Propitiated by the resurrection

4. Let's stand together and read Matt. 26:31-35

Proposition: Even when we walk away from Jesus He will not give up on us.

Transition: The most important thing we need to understand about walking away from Jesus that it...

I. Is Possible For All of Us (31).

A. All of You

1. One of the unfortunate realities of life after the fall of Adam is there will be times when we disagree with each other. An area where even the closest of Chritians sometimes disagree on is a theological concept know as Eternal Security.

a. Perhaps you have heard this concept described in this way, "Once saved, always saved."

b. There are some wonderful Christian people, some them are dear friends of mine, that believe wholeheartedly that once you give your life to Jesus there's no going back, and nothing you do after that point matters.

c. While I love and respect these Christian brothers and sisters, this is a concept that simply does not work for me, because I feel it is contrary to what the Bible teaches.

d. The New Testament places great value on the word "continue."

e. John 8:31-32 (NASB)

So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, "If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free."

f. Only if we continue walking with Jesus are we truly His disciples.

2. As a result, there is always that threat that we could come so far and yet come up short. Short not because Jesus no longer loves us or because anyone takes our salvation from us, but rather because we gave it back.

3. This danger is not just for the week, but it is genuine threat for all of us. This fact is illustrated for us in v. 31 where Jesus says to His disciples, “Tonight all of you will desert me."

a. These are not some fly by night wanna be disciples that He is talking to. No these are the 12; had picked by Jesus himself!

b. The same guys that said, "we have given up everything to follow you."

c. We are talking about James and John, the "Sons of Thunder."

d. We are talking about Peter, "the Rock."

e. They are most likely on their way back to Bethany, where they have spent each evening during Holy Week (cf. 21:17).

f. The two-mile walk to Bethany from Jerusalem takes them over the Mount of Olives, on which is located the Garden of Gethsemane.

g. This garden was a favorite place of prayer for Jesus, as well as a gathering place for people camping during their pilgrimage to the Passover.

h. Along the way Jesus startles the disciples with another ominous prediction: "This very night you will all desert me."

i. desert: to cause someone to no longer believe - 'to cause to give up believing, (Louw and Nidda, Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament: Based on Symantic Domains).

j. Matthew 26:31 (NIV)

"Then Jesus told them, "This very night you will all fall away on account of me..."