From Devotion to Denial and Back Again

As I mentioned to my Sunday school class this morning matter how much time you put in preparation unless the Holy Spirit empowers the message you're simply delivering information and I've asked if, as I've studied in prepared for tonight, the Lord would use me as he sees fit. The medicine the messenger is of little import messages all important I want to read an introduction to you tonight that is based on the book by Irwin lutes are will not be silenced, the deacons and elders are reading that book and going through it.

It is very sobering kind of descriptive of what is going on in our nation today, so let me begin by giving an introduction get in the message tonight. The title of the book by Dr. Irwin lutes or is we will not be silenced. Its subtitle is responding courageously to our culture's assault on Christianity on the back of the cover is the following statement each day you watch America turn further from Christian values in the core principles of liberty. It's frustrating to feel that you can't assert biblical truth without facing condemnation, and it's frightening to witness outreach and victimhood replace respect and reason. Amidst this dissent. How can you not only stay rooted in your faith, but continued to publicly testify for Jesus. Dr. Luther seeks to inspire Christians quote to have a courage to walk toward the fire and not run away from the flames. He states God has brought us to this cultural moment in our future cannot be taken for granted. As has been said in a time of universal deception telling truth is a revolutionary act that is a sobering statement. Beloved, let me read it again. As has been said in a time of universal deception telling truth is a revolutionary act.

This is truth and I feel that there is coming a time when opponents of Christianity that is assaulting this religion will do something about us telling I want to share with you four objectives tonight as we get in the message. The first one to caution us to take heed lest we fall using the tragic example of Peter. He was a pillar of the church. A pillar of the faith who went from devotion to Christ to denial of Christ and back again and that sobered me as I studied this passage.

This isn't just a nominal Christian. This is the leader of the church, the early church.

Secondly, not only do we want to caution us, but we want to challenge us to know and practice our convictions to pray for courage to stand for truth to present a consistent testimony for Christ like, nine, I began praying that in my prayers and my personal devotions Lord help me to know convictions based upon your word.

Give me courage to be consistent. My testimony for you today not only caution and challenge, but to assure us to Christ reaction to Peter than in those times finally denied being his disciples by our silence, or by wandering off course.

There is mercy and forgiveness to be had before the throne of grace and we can thank him from for that. We have six points tonight and not to worry, they are not all of the same length.

I'm not going to had returned the text yet. I just want you to listen to the first point that is Peter's privileges that comes under two headings discipleship and leadership. And I want I want you to listen to an overview if you would have several scriptures in Matthew that kind of pain a word picture of the privilege that Peter had discipleship.

First of all, if you listen Matthew 418 to 20. Just listen you introduced to Peter when Jesus called them to be a disciple and Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen.

Then he said to them, follow me and I will make you fishers of men.

They immediately left their nets and followed him under that is, subtitles, folks for around three years as a disciple and one of 12 apostles Peter heard Christ preach the gospel of the kingdom.

He witnessed him see it healed sick people who were afflicted with various diseases and torments those who were demon possessed epileptics and paralytic's.

He witnessed multitudes follow Christ as his fame went throughout the region, but it doesn't end there. He was present when Christ preach the greatest sermon ever preached the sermon on the Mount, he witnessed firsthand Christ's authority over nature as the disciples cross the sea of Galilee.

A great tempest arose and Jesus rebuked the winds and the sea. There was a great calm and all the disciples responded, who can this be that even the winds and the sea obey him. He heard two exceedingly fierce demon possessed men asked Jesus what have we to do with you, Jesus, you son of God. Have you come here to torment us before the time he saw Christ allow the demons to enter a large herd of swine that plunged to their death in the sea he heard Jesus tell a paralytic man son be a good share. Your sins are forgiven you.

He then heard Jesus save this Pharisees who thought they Christ blasting against God with those words Jesus said but that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins. Then he said to the paralytic, arise, take up your bed and go to your house. Beloved, with the other disciples he received from Christ's power over unclean spirits, to cast them out to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease twice twice Peter witness Christ feed thousands with less food than it would take defeated family when his disciples were crossing the Sea of Galilee. Amidst large waves and strong when they saw what they thought was a ghost walking on the water and cried out in fear.

Jesus assured them that it was he and Peter responded Lord if it is you, command me to come to you on the water at Christ bidding Peter stepped from the boat succumb to fear began to sink in, cried out, Lord save me the response of those in the boat was truly you are the son of God. Peter and the other disciples were told three times by Christ that he would go to Jerusalem where he would suffer be killed and then resurrected in three days and finally Peter James and John accompanied Christ a mountain where they witness his transfiguration as his face shone like the sun is close became as white as light.

They heard the voice of God say this is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased. Jesus gave Peter privileges as a disciple and then quickly.

As a leader, Peter, James and John are often mentioned apart from the other disciples is somewhat of an inner circle of and more often than not. Peter was the mouth for the disciples now like to ask you if you would to turn to Matthew 16 for message or be in Matthew 16 and Matthew 26 and again, keep in mind we are going to skip over some things I want her focus to be upon Peter and as I said earlier, I want this message to caution us dispatches that earlier this applies to us because we can very easily deny the Lord if Peter did with all the privileges he did. We who have the complete canon of Scripture and the Holy Spirit can do likewise.

But Matthew 1613 tonight and what I want us to look at is Peter's proclamation. We looked at his privileges. But what about his proclamation starting with verse 13 when Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, who do men say that I the Son of Man am so they said, some say John the Baptist some Elijah others Jeremiah 1 of the prophets, he said to them, but who do you say that I am Simon Peter answered and said you are the Christ, the son of the living God. Jesus answered and said to him, Blessed are you, Simon bar Jonah for flesh and blood is not revealed this to you, but my father who is in heaven. Jesus responded with the truth that God alone reveals this to men we mentioned in Sunday school this morning about the gift of repentant faith. Not all evangelicals believe that faith is a gift. I do not believe that you do as well. I I could not muster the faith is a natural man to believe in God in his grace and his mercy quickly made a life granted me repentant faith and I fled to Christ is the only way to be reconciled to God. And here is a caution though beloved, he recognize the truth about Jesus Christ. You are the Christ, the son of the living God. Here's a caution I demon possessed man later in the ministry of Christ said what have I to do with you, Jesus, son of the most high God, what am I saying it's not enough just to recognize Jesus as the son of God. The demons do we gotta go a lot further than that.

The third thing I want you to see not only Peter's privileges as a disciple and as a leader in his proclamation that Jesus is the son of the living God. But thirdly, his pride we know in reading the Scriptures that Peter often spoke his mind and sometimes I got them into trouble. But we all should be able to relate that to varying degrees. He spoke his mind, he rebuked Christ he rebuked this one that he had witnessed all those things he rebuked Christ and privately compared themselves together disciples, as we'll see in a moment.

Matthew 1622 through 24. When Jesus told the disciples that he would be killed. Peter took him aside and began rebuked him and here's what he said. Far be it from you, Lord. This shall not happen to you, but Christ turned and said to Peter, get behind me Satan you are an offense and that would mean stumbling block. You are an offense to me, for you are not mindful of the things of God but the things of men. Then Jesus said to his disciples, if anyone desires to come after me, let him just deny himself and take up his cross and follow me and beloved.

Can you imagine hearing Christ say that to you saying what get the behind me Satan get the behind me Satan you are an offense to me that we need to ponder that what must've gone to Peter's mind, but he did not learn the lesson. He did not learn the lesson turnover.

Now if you would from Matthew 16 to Matthew 26 and will stay here for the remainder of the message were looking at Peter's pride. He disagreed with the very words of Jesus in Matthew 2631 through 35. He does it again after the Last Supper, Jesus said to his disciples this beginning in verse 31, all of you will be made to stumble because of me this night, for it is written, I will strike the shepherd and the sheep of the flock will be scattered, but after I've been raised. I will go before you to Galilee. Peter answered and said to him, even if all are made to stumble because of you I will never be made to stumble.

Jesus said to him, assuredly, I say to you that this night, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times. Peter said to him, even if I have to die with you, I will not deny you so said all the disciples as mind-boggling folks. Mark's account states that Peter spoke more of a ham and only in stronger terms. In other words, when I look back at what Matthew said. Peter said I will never be made to stumble, I will not deny you the Hammond you know, almost as though he is scolding price he's denying what Jesus said would happen we go on no in Luke's account.

Jesus said, Simon, Simon, and deed. Satan is asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I pray for you that your faith should not fail to notice this and when you've returned to me strength and might your brethren. I'd like you to remember that and I'll read it again when we get back to the word Jesus restores Peter not only to a right relationship with him, but leadership. Notice what he says what I read he says. I pray for you that your faith should not fail when you have returned to me, strengthen, and to me that is a sign of leadership sign of instructing if you will strengthen your brethren drop down if you would. Verse 40 and this is all under Peter's pride were going to read several different verses out of this little section Matthew 2640 and 41 a. During Christ, prayer, and emotional suffering in Gethsemane. He warned the disciples to be alert is what he said. Verse 40 came the disciples and found them sleeping and said to Peter what could you not watch with me one hour and I I emphasize that because this is the guy that says I will never be made to stumble, I will not deny you. That means death. Jesus comes back and says to Peter, what could you not watch with me one hour watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing but the flesh is weak. I know you mean well, but your flesh is weak. Drop down to verse 47 we read, and while he was yet speaking, Jesus, behold Judas, one of the 12 with a great multitude with swords and clubs came from the chief priests and elders of the people as Jesus interacted with Judas's betrayer Peter Kreisberg that Christ prophetic word from coming true. He just this is the third time he doesn't get it. We read in verses 51 to 56 and suddenly one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his ear. But Jesus said and put your sword and its place for all who take the sword will perish by the sword or do you think I cannot now pray to my father and he will provide me with more than 12 legions of angels. How then could the Scriptures be fulfilled that it must happen. Thus, in that hour. Jesus said to the multitudes. If you come out as against a robber with swords and clubs to date me.

I daily sat with you by site daily with new teaching in the temple and you did not seize me. But all this was done that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled that all the disciples forsook him and fled. Beloved Jesus boldly proclaimed his deity as the son of God, and again confirm that what was happening was a fulfillment of prophecy, including the fulfilling of the disciples and commentators all agree that I read this sword wielding disciple was none other than Peter and I don't know that Peter really let it sink in that he was defying prophecy he was defying that one day he acknowledged as the Christ, the son of the living God. I have to hand it to them when you remember that a great multitude came with clubs and swords and they had to. And Peter took one and try to defend price commendable, but very ill-advised and very disobedient.

If I can put it that way. We've looked at Peter's privileges and they were great as a backdrop to his denials. We've heard his proclamation. You are the Christ, the son of the living God. We considered his pride just in three passages in Matthew and now we want to look at Peter's perjury. Perjury is a false oath and that is listed in Zachariah 817 is something that God hates it something that God hates why the Hebrew word means an untruth and were going to see that Peter made a false oath of the most grievous kind.

The most grievous kind that you could possibly make. We look first at his disobedience in Matthew 2657 258 starting with verse 57. Those who had laid hold of Jesus led them way to Caiaphas the high priest with the scribes and the elders were assembled, but here we go. Peter followed him at a distance to the high priest courtyard and went in and sat with the servants to see the end. John's account records it in the garden, Jesus said, let these go away if Peter and listen to the Lord and obeyed. He would not fail the Lord in such humiliating way, but he didn't listen and he didn't obey. Ironically, the apostle John was also part of this failure, for he followed with Peter. He was known by the high priest. The word tells us and got both of them into the high priest courtyard. So we seen his disobedience he follow Christ at all of them would flee. Secondly, we see his dissent from devotion to denial his dissent from devotion to denial. Chapter 26 starting with verse 69. In reading verse 69, 70 now Peter sat outside in the courtyard and a servant girl came to him, saying, you also will wind Jesus of Galilee, but he denied it before them all sign.

I do not know what you say and folks, here's a disturbing part of this. No one threaten Peter with harm this person simply said, you also were with Jesus of Galilee. John was with Jesus of Galilee, he knew the high priest and was farther in than Peter was so wasn't like they were pulling a sword, and no one threaten at this point.

Notice versus 71 to 72 and one and gone out to the gateway so he was by the fire. This girl says what she does. It says, and he decides to get a little bit further on the frame so he goes to the game with another girl so I am and said to those who were there this fellow also was with Jesus of Nazareth, but again he denied within oath.

I do not know the man and again beloved no one threaten him with harm.

He had retreated to the gateway from sitting with them at the fire in the courtyard, and he referred to Jesus as the man is the man thinking that through that is sobering to me. He had said you are the Christ, the son of the living God, and now he refers to him as the man he denied knowing Jesus within oath, Calvin MacArthur, many other commentators all agree with the statement about to make a quote calling on God as his witness, Peter declared I do not know the man and pronounced a curse of death on himself as God hand if his words were untrue. Can I read that again in starting this. It left me speechless.

Calling on God as his witness, Peter declared I do not know the man and pronounced a curse of death on himself at God's hand if his words were untrue. That is mind-boggling to me that is mind-boggling to me Peter profane's God's name William Barklay commentators states any of and what's the name of God was directly used was considered to be definitely binding. Let me read that again and then go on any oath in which the name of God was directly used was considered to be definitely binding, but any oath in which direct mention of the name of God was not made was not held to be binding. I taught this again a couple weeks ago and disciple serving Christ if you didn't call upon the name of God in making an oath.

It was the equivalent of a sign had my fingers crossed.

I didn't mean it. You know it was the commentators admit a sham of taking you know. But you if you invoke the name of God, that Jews would not even pronounce that serious job and I'm for lack of a boy you better way of putting it in all any oath in which the name of God was directly used was considered to be definitely binding and and Peter made an oath and pronounced a curse of death on himself at God's hands.

If his words were untrue. Let me give you another quote Ligon Duncan states Peter wasn't using foul language uses the word oath. Peter was not using foul language. He swears an oath. In other words he's saying something like this. May God strike me dead if I am one of the disciples of Jesus Christ.

He is swearing an oath that he doesn't know Christ and that is calling down God's curse upon them.

In case of his fault.

I have never, I don't believe ever heard that explained that deeply that he was calling a curse upon if he was one of Jesus disciples and it gets worse. Notice verse 73 through the first part of 74.

A little later those who stood by came up and said to Peter, surely you also are one of them for your speech betrays you, then he began to curse and swear sign. I do not know the man and again folks.

They are not threatening him with physical harm. At this point there saying that his speech betrays him. He's a Galilean. One commentator humorously put it this way as like some New Yorker living in the South you know and and when he starts talking Southerners know he ain't from here. I grew up in New York, but I have lived for nearly 50 years with a seven. You know, and I am a man without a country because you think I got a northern accent is some degree, and when I go back home I just use the term. We all know and this is what they're getting at your speech betrays you. You are a Galilean. That's that's basically what they're saying matter Henry put it this this way and this again profane swearing was very customary among the Jews. It's hard to suppose that swearing would be one of the spots of God's children. One of the sins of God's children since Peter when he was charged with being a disciple of Christ and would disprove disprove the charge cursed and swore. So you can imagine some follower of this goody-goody this Rabbi you can imagine one of them talking like Peter is talking now and he cursed and swore, thereby thinking to convince them he was no disciple of Jesus and why because it was well-known of his disciples.

They dared not allow themselves to swear. So he's gone from just I don't know what you're talking about taking out God strike me dead if I'm one of his disciples to swear to try to convince them that I don't I don't know who Jesus is not part of his his crown.

Then we look at Peter's punishment.

What was Peter's punishment. This might surprise you little bit at the start but versus 74 B2 75. He's done this is sworn immediately a rooster crowed and Peter remembered the word of Jesus who would said to him before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times. So he went out and wept bitterly as one who proclaimed that he would never deny Christ, Peter was devastated and Peter folks really. He was a strong man. We're not talking about some milquetoast due. He was a fisherman, a very hard task.

He showed he had courage by pulling out a sword against a multitude of clubs and spears clubs and swords. But here's the thing that I want you to get. He remembered the word Jesus. If you remember the word of the Lord, and you know I go against that word and you have the Holy Spirit dwelling within you.

That's punishment to me. I feel grief that I have knowingly violated the word of the Lord as part that is punishment be but it gets it gets worse. Luke's account adds a very troubling detail, and here's what he says and the Lord turned and looked at Peter and Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.

So Peter went out and and wept bitterly. I could not get away from those words.

The Lord turned and looked at Peter, that would be punishment that would be punishment, not only remembering the word of the Lord that you latently despicably violated but then after you violated it in the rooster's crowing and you look in the Lord turns and looks at you.

That is punishment. I can imagine the grief of Peter when he looked in the eyes of Jesus whom he denied in the strongest possible way. Matthew Henry says this he remembered the words of the Lord's foot brought them to himself and melted him into tears of godly sorrow, a sense of his ingratitude to Christ and the slight regard he had to the gracious warning Christ had given nothing grieves a pendant more than that he sinned against the grace of the Lord Jesus and Christ token of his love Ligon Duncan states that the early church father said Peter for the rest of his life could not hear a rooster crow without tears welling up in his eyes. I don't know how true that is.

But I know Ligon Duncan to be a very careful expositor of the word and the student of church history to be certain the early church father said that Peter for the rest of his life could not hear account crow without tears welling in his eyes, and I can believe I could believe that when you had so offended Jesus Christ. This one that you had lived with for three years and experience all these things culminating in hearing God's voice say this is my beloved son in whom I'm well pleased, and you have denied him so so badly beloved.

Here's a sobering thought believers will look in the eyes of the Lord at the judgment seat of Christ. And I'm thankful I'm not going to be judge her relationship because I am a son of God by faith in Jesus Christ. But I will be judged for works and I this is just pure speculation, but I can't help but wonder if when one when I look into his eyes. If I don't think what might have been if we might've been if I done more, not out of obligation, but out of love.

What might've been and I will at the same time, and you will also praise God for his grace and who saved us when we didn't serve saving and saved us in spite of ourselves, JC Ryle says this we see in Peter's bitter tears. The grand mark of difference between the hypocrite and the true believer when the hypocrite is overtaken by sin. He generally falls to rise no more. He has no principle of life within them to raise him up when the child of God is overtaken he rises again by true repentance and by the grace of God, amends his life that no man flatter himself that he may sin with impunity because David committed adultery and because Peter denied his Lord. No doubt these holy men sin greatly but they did not continue in their sins they repented greatly. They mourned over there falls they loathed and abhorrent their own wickedness and that's the difference between the hypocrite and a true disciple of Christ.

Mark 16 verse seven. The white women at the tomb, the angel said to them, but go, tell his disciples and Peter singling him out by name. Go tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you into Galilee.

There you will see him as he said to you another reminder, Peter. I told you that this is Holtzman happen and then wonderfully, we see that Peter met privately with the Lord and Christ restored him to discipleship. Listen if you would to first Corinthians 15 NI chapter, Paul wrote. Fry delivered to you. First of all that which I also received that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he rose again the third day according the Scriptures not get this and that he was seen by Cephas Peter then by the 12.

So the first person that Peter did that Jesus addressed privately after his resurrection was Peter and then the 12 men 500 at one time Jesus also restored him publicly and that's recorded in John 21 verses 14 to 19, and in closing, I'd like you to turn there you would John chapter 21 verses 14 to 19. I'm going to read those verses and then I want to read an excellent excerpt from John MacArthur's commentary on this. In closing were talking about Jesus restoring Peter publicly in front of others and in this case it's in front of the other disciples after putting this in context it's after the resurrection, Jesus met the disciples that the sea of Tiberius really begin in verse 14. This now is the third time is not interesting.

This is now the third time Jesus showed himself to his disciples after he was raised from the dead.

So when they had eaten breakfast. Jesus said to Simon Peter, Simon son of Jonah. You love me more than these he said yes Lord you know that I love you. He said to I'm feed my lambs.

He said him again a second time, Simon son of Jonah, do you love me, he said yes Lord you know that I love you. He said run feed my sheep are tend my sheep.

He said to him the third time, Simon son of Jonah, do you love me Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time. Do you love me and he said to him, Lord, you know all things you know that I love you. Jesus said to him, feed my sheep. Most assuredly, I say to you when you were younger you girded yourself and walk where you wish, but when you're old you will stretch out your hands. Another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish this he spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God and when he had spoken. Thus, he said to him, follow me. I'm going to make a statement and read what MacArthur has to share with us. Christ three questions do you love me do you love me do you love me parallel Peter's three denials and I cannot help but think, it seems to me that Peter's grief that's recorded after Christ's third question is almost like him saying I get I get what you say I denied you three times and you've asked me three times to let me know this is extremely insightful. MacArthur states when Jesus asked Peter if he loved him. He used the word for love that signified total commitment Peter respond with a word for love that signified his love for Jesus, but not necessarily his total commitment. This is not because he was reluctant to express that greater love but because he had been disobedient, denied the Lord in the past. He was perhaps reluctant to make a claim of supreme devotion when in the past. His life and not supported such a claim. The third time Jesus asked Peter he used Peter's word for love that signified something less than total devotion and plan words as profound folks. Peter do you love me Peter do you love me Peter do you love me. What was his response. Well third time Jesus asked Peter he used the word. Peter's word for love that signified something less than total devotion, MacArthur says Jesus pressed home to Peter, the need for unswerving devotion by repeatedly asking Peter if he loved him supremely.

The essential message here is that Jesus demands total commitment from his followers their love for him must place him above all others and I would ask you to recall Christ's words in Matthew 1624 then Jesus said to his disciples, if anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me love. Do you remember when I read had a John and it talked about, signifying by what death, Peter would glorify God. It doesn't tell us exactly what that means but if you look in commentaries, many of them. Many of them claim that refers to crucifixion, and church history tells us that Peter was crucified on the San Andreas cross spread eagle upside down because he did not want to be crucified like the Lord that he had denied Peter from devotion to denial and back again and beloved back again. We know that the story doesn't end here.

One of my favorite passages of Scripture is second Peter chapter 1, you know that is that is just golden to me that God has given us everything that pertains to life and godliness, and because of that, with the power of his spirit would add to our faith. The rest of these virtues were to make sure that we know that we are we are saved. Make your calling and election sure and and Peter knew then he said the Lord has shown me that shortly.

I must put off this my temper my tabernacle in the words the Lord is shown me shortly. I'm going to be martyred. JC Ryle's conclusion of what I've tried to share with you tonight is this the best of saints are only human and at many weaknesses a person may be converted to God, have faith, hope and love towards Christ and yet be overtaken in the fall and have awful falls and shows us the necessity of humility, so long as where in the body we are in danger. The body is weak, the devil is active. We must never think I cannot fall and that's the essence of my challenge to you tonight. We must never think I cannot fall to me briefly locate what I started out with a minimal closing order prayer. The objectives for tonight's message to caution us today keyed, lest we fall and we use the tragic example of Peter, a pillar of the faith went from devotion to Christ, a denial of Christ and then back. The second objective we had is to challenge us to know and practice our convictions not our preferences.

The things for which we will say all die before I denied this. That is a that is a small circle of things folks doesn't include a lot of things it evangelicals want to put under that label.

It's getting right down to the Maple sugar instead of maple syrup if you know what I mean know our convictions and say I will die I will die before I deny that the Scriptures of the word of God. I will die before I deny that Jesus Christ is God the son.

I will die before I deny that he came to this earth and lived a perfect life and died a substitutionary debt was buried, and rose demonstrate God's approval. I will die before I denied those are convictions and we need to know what we believe and then finally to assure us that through Christ reaction to Peter who grievously denied him that in those times when we deny his being his disciples by our silence to say nothing or by wandering off course not doing all that we should not being all that we should. There's mercy and forgiveness to be had before the throne of grace to spray father as I come before your throne tonight. Once again I pray that you use what we share to challenge our people to to comfort them to assure us Lord we see the moral climate of the world darkening by the day. If not by the hour. Give us conviction give us the courage to be consistent. Help us to realize that the darker the night.

The brighter the light and we are to be children of light bear testimony to be true. May you use us these times of uncertainty to point others to the Lord Jesus Christ in his name we pray. Amen