U-turn (Day 16) Peter’s denial of Jesus | Pr Yap Ben-Ji

Hey guys, my name is Benji. It's day sixteen for Uturn Prayer and

fast for twenty twenty four. Today's key scripture is on Matthew twenty six,

verse thirty one to thirty five, and also verse sixty nine to seventy five.

Today's scripture is about Peter's denial of Jesus. Matthew twenty six, verse

thirty one to twenty five talks about Jesus predicting Peter's denial and Peter proclaiming that

he will not deny Jesus even if it meant death for him. Just a

small note, this particular passage is a sandwich between Jesus having communion with his

disciples and also praying at the garden of Gathsemane. It's also where he told

his disciples to keep watch and pray. So yeah, we go on to

read verse sixty nine to seventy five. He talks about Peto's denial, with

him remembering what Jesus predicted, and ending with him going out and weeping bitterly.

So some of the things that I picked up personally is Jesus was in

control the entire time. We started off today's scripture with Jesus saying this,

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. So reading this, it may feel like Jesus,

you know, has set up his disciples to fail, But rather it shows

that Jesus was in control. So Jesus also follow up this by saying that

after he is raised, he will go before them to Galilee. Wow,

you know, truly Jesus was in control, and with with this particular verse

he was already looking beyond the cross. He was already looking beyond his resurrection.

He was already looking ahead. This is how much in control Jesus was.

So also reading this scripture today, I think the first thing that would

catch our attention is Peter's flaw. So some saying that maybe he was full

of faith for saying the things that he said, or maybe he was just

foolish, but either way, he overestimated himself and that eventually led him to

fail in this. So has there ever been a time where we relied and

trusted on our own strength rather than putting our hope and trust in God.

I mentioned earlier on this passage that this you know, particular passage where Jesus

predicted the denial of Peter. It was sandwiched between Jesus taking communion with his

disciples and Jesus praying and the God of get semone reading this, it's almost

like Jesus was preparing for his you know, preparing disciples for what's to come

and showing them how important being dependent on God is. So yeah, you

know, jumping ahead, we all know what happened. Each denial became worse

than before. Peter went from denying to denying while taking an OAF to cursing

and swearing. Wow, it's just like one level lower than the other.

And everything ended with Peter remembering what Jesus said, and you know he ends

with him going out and wepping bitterly. By reading this, you know,

I think sometimes we will look at it and say, wow, you know,

Peter failed, But if you go on to read, there was a

beautiful story that the unfold. Yeah, so it was through the true repentance

of Peter, you know, him weeping bitterly, the acknowledgment that Peter being

a mere human being, you know that he cannot save himself, and that

he needed God in his life and through the redemptive love of Jesus. So

we all know that in John twenty one fifteen to seventeen, Jesus reinstated Peter.

That is the redemptive love of Jesus, and through that we're able to

witness the amazing things that Peter will go on to do in the Book of

Acts. So in Second Corinthians traut verse line says that my grace is sufficient

for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Through Peter's failure

and weaknesses, God used it and he turned a common man with a common

name Simon to Peter, a rock upon which God built his church. So

we all know that Peter went from a man who spoke things brashly you know,

oh Jesus, will you know, and a lot of things that he

just spoke without thinking, to someone who spoke with conviction and truth in Acts

two. So Jesus was never impressed with words and promises spoken by Peter,

but rather he was interested in his heart. God. Despite knowing that we

will and we can fill him at times through his love and grace. By

our repentance, God does not stop loving us and will continue to use us

for his glory. So during my younger days, you know, I many

of you might know that I did not have the chance to finish my tertiary

education. You know, I always have a dream to travel out to go

out of Malaysia to study, and like all my friends, you know,

they got a chance to do that, and I always wanted to do that,

but sadly, I did not have the chance to because of financial issues

back home. I had to work just to survive. And during the time,

I was very angry with God. You know, I was telling God,

I say it, you know, how come why? You know,

how is it that many people had has this opportunity and chance, But I'm

here, I'm start here. I can't do what I love. You know,

I have this dreams. But why. There was a lot of these

questions and just being very angry with God. But through that I continued,

I continued to serve, and uh, you know, I eventually just surrendered

my dreams. I say God. You know it was in a sense a

very angry manner. I say, God, I surrender everything to you.

You take my dreams, you take all of me. And yeah, you

know, I surrendered everything to God so fast forward a couple of years.

You know, I think it al also by God's grace and you know,

God's love as well, that I could start a company of my own with

my best friend, and through that, you know, I could travel the

world. I did many things that was beyond my wildness, imagination and dreams.

So yeah, you know, again forward from that, I had the

chance to you know, I'm still here and I have had the chance to

come to Osaka to start church, and I had to give that company up.

And during this time, you know, God was also working in me.

You know, God was also trying to teach me new things as well.

So last year I had the chance to baptize one of our brothers here

in Osaka and it was a it was a really wonderful time. We did

it in the ocean, and when I came out from the ocean with this

brother of ours, I packed him on the back and congratulated him. In

that one short moment in time, I really felt the Lord say this to

me, this is why. And suddenly I was overcome with this joy that

I have never experienced before. Uh And it was crazy, you know,

And and to think that when I was you know, traveling the world back

then. You know what that is? It God's God's blessing, you know.

And now to see someone come to uh know and trusting God as their

own personal lot and savior. Wow, that there was a different joy altogether.

Uh So yeah, you know, despite me being angry, I surrender

everything to God and God used that and in the end, you know,

God used it for his glory. So my challenge for everybody today is this,

Let's come before God, not just with words or extravagant promises. Let's

come even with our weaknesses, our frustrations, our disappointments, or even doubt.

Despite despite our failures and mistakes, let us acknowledge that we need God

and can we allow God to work in our lives. Let's pray thank you

Lord, Lord. I just want to thank you for loving us. Thank

you Lord for your grace that is sufficient for us. Lord, despite our

shortcomings, despite our weaknesses sometimes not even we are angry sometimes without you,

Lord Jesus. By pray to God today, let us uh surrender everything unto

you, Lord Jesus, because God, you know what's best. God,

you know what is good for us, and Lord, let us trust in

your plans. Let us continue to trust Lord Jesus, that you will do

the good work through us. Lot Jesus, that God, as we surrender

everything that we hold dear to us, everything that we think is the best

for us. Lord, as we surrender it to you, Lord, I

pray you take it, you use it, Lot Jesus for your glory,

Lot Jesus, Thank you Lord. I just want to pray that as we

continue to serve you and love you, Lord, use us for your glory.

Lord Jesus, Lord, we acknowledge that we need you and God Peace

work in our lives. Lord Jesus, I just want to comment all this

in Jesus name. We pray Amen. So thank you for listening. And

I pray that at Uh the remaining days of Uton will be powerful for everybody. M