"But he denied Him" -Luke 22:57
Peter's denial of Jesus is one we can greatly learn from. Peter didn't just wake up one day thinking "today I'm going to deny Jesus", No, Peter's denial is the outcome of a series of symptoms. The root of Peter's denial is an overconfidence in the flesh to accomplish a successful walk with Christ. With Peter it started by him thinking that he was above or exempt from ever denying Jesus. When Jesus told him he would deny him 3 times before the rooster crowd, Peter flat out denied Jesus' words by saying he would go to jail and even die for Jesus. It is interesting that later on in His life he did go to jail and he did die for Jesus. According to tradition he was crucified upside down. Second Peter's prayer life was lacking leading up to his denial. When he and the other's were suppose to be praying they quickly fell asleep. Third when they came to take Jesus by force Peter also tried to use force in order to "keep Jesus". Peter behaved recklessly and cut some dude's ear off. Peter is later found following Jesus from a distance; watching Jesus from afar as He is being tried by the religious leaders. And lastly before he disowns Christ he is found taking shelter among the enemy fire.
So too if we are not careful and or if we don't cut this type of behavior from our lives, we too will be guilty of denying Jesus. Like Peter it starts with a refusal to believe that certain words of Christ do not apply to us, that we somehow are exempt from certain warnings in the scriptures. Paul said "Therefore let him that thinks he stands take heed lest he fall." (1 Cor 10:12). May this be a warning to us today and may we not rely on the flesh to accomplish the works of the spirit. Also when we have a semi to nonexistent prayer life we also become very vulnerable to temptation. Prayer is the willful decision to momentarily deny the flesh and surrender time to God. The Christian who finds him/herself on their knees most often, will not find themselves failing while on their feet. Third one who is not appropriating the word to themselves and not in prayer will behave recklessly and in the flesh--living out of impulse, feelings, and the heat of the moment. A believer practicing these things can also be seen following Jesus from a distance; not really being involved with the work of the Lord, or taking steps of faith in their life. To follow from a distance means to be nominal and not affected by and effective for Christ. Sadly many professing believer's are like this today. And lastly if one is not finding their comfort in Christ and the things of God, they will be seeking to filled by the things of the world. Like Peter he found his warmth at the enemy fire amongst unbelievers. One who is in this place might not deny Jesus with his or her mouth but they will do it with the way they behave and act around the world. There are many professing followers of Christ today who are "among" the world that behave no different than unbelievers.
Let's learn from Peter who repented and came back stronger, and Spirit filled, who no longer relied on the flesh to accomplish a faithful walk with Christ. Let's be like the Spirit filled Peter in whom there was no denying that Jesus had made a powerful impact in his life. Acts 4:13 says "Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus."
So too if we are not careful and or if we don't cut this type of behavior from our lives, we too will be guilty of denying Jesus. Like Peter it starts with a refusal to believe that certain words of Christ do not apply to us, that we somehow are exempt from certain warnings in the scriptures. Paul said "Therefore let him that thinks he stands take heed lest he fall." (1 Cor 10:12). May this be a warning to us today and may we not rely on the flesh to accomplish the works of the spirit. Also when we have a semi to nonexistent prayer life we also become very vulnerable to temptation. Prayer is the willful decision to momentarily deny the flesh and surrender time to God. The Christian who finds him/herself on their knees most often, will not find themselves failing while on their feet. Third one who is not appropriating the word to themselves and not in prayer will behave recklessly and in the flesh--living out of impulse, feelings, and the heat of the moment. A believer practicing these things can also be seen following Jesus from a distance; not really being involved with the work of the Lord, or taking steps of faith in their life. To follow from a distance means to be nominal and not affected by and effective for Christ. Sadly many professing believer's are like this today. And lastly if one is not finding their comfort in Christ and the things of God, they will be seeking to filled by the things of the world. Like Peter he found his warmth at the enemy fire amongst unbelievers. One who is in this place might not deny Jesus with his or her mouth but they will do it with the way they behave and act around the world. There are many professing followers of Christ today who are "among" the world that behave no different than unbelievers.
Let's learn from Peter who repented and came back stronger, and Spirit filled, who no longer relied on the flesh to accomplish a faithful walk with Christ. Let's be like the Spirit filled Peter in whom there was no denying that Jesus had made a powerful impact in his life. Acts 4:13 says "Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus."
- HAVE YOU EVER DENIED JESUS? WHAT LED YOU TO DO THIS? REARRANGE THE 5 SYMPTOMS THAT LEAD TO DENYING CHRIST IN THE ORDER THAT FITS YOUR WALK RIGHT NOW AND START TO IMPROVE IN THESE AREAS.
- "Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh?" -Paul (Gal 3:3)