Not Me!

Go ahead and take your Bibles this morning and throw it over to Mark chapter 14, Mark chapter 14 this morning.

Mark 14 · chapter mention Mark 14 · chapter mention

You know, as we had began, or as we continue here, of Jesus and His disciples, we know,

had enjoyed a very special celebration of the Passover together,

and they had ended the meal and had sung a hymn and went out towards the Garden of Gethsemane.

And as they'd enjoyed those things there in the upper room, as that meal had been transformed,

that memorial, from what it had focused on, what went back to Egypt and God passing over them,

to what it now was focused upon, because it was upon Jesus and what He was going to do.

It became a different focus. The picture of the Lamb changed.

It's now focused upon the true Lamb of God, the one who truly could take away the sin of the world.

But as we see here, as we begin today, we're going to begin looking as they depart the upper room,

we're going to see the in route, you might say, out to the garden as they walk through the city.

And John's Gospel gives us the most complete picture of this conversation as he goes.

But as we look here in Mark, Mark records for us some very specific things and very specific elements.

And this is recorded in all four of the Gospels, this incident we're going to look at today.

And as we're going to begin looking at this,

because Jesus continues to prepare His men for what was to come.

And they've been through a great thing and great opportunity and a real blessing.

I mean, I can't imagine being there that night with Jesus as Jesus walked them through this transformation of the Passover meal.

And so I imagine the disciples are kind of, you might say, on an emotional and spiritual high of all the things going on.

You know, they're excited about what's happening.

But also Jesus brings them back to the reality of why He was there.

What did it picture?

And that picture was His death, His burial and His resurrection, the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

And Jesus brings them back.

And as they walk through the city, Jesus presents something to them that's going to take place that causes them to be offended.

You know, today we're going to talk about not me.

You know, because you ever notice you always think somebody else is the one that will do that, but not me.

Jesus is going to deal with His disciples today, and we're going to deal with one specifically, Peter,

who was one, Lord, no, that might be others, but not me.

Lord, that might be what others would do, but not me.

You know, and that's a dangerous place to be.

As we're going to look here this morning in this account.

So if you found Mark chapter 14, let's stand together in honor of the reading of the Word of God.

Mark 14 · chapter mention

We'll pick up here in verse 26, and read down through verse 31 here this morning.

And it says this,

And when they had sung a hymn, they went out into the Mount of Olives.

And Jesus saith unto them,

All ye shall be offended because of me this night.

For it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.

But after that I am risen, I will go before you into Galilee.

But Peter said unto him,

Although all shall be offended, yet will not I.

And Jesus saith unto him,

Verily I say unto thee this day,

Even in this night, before the cock crow twice,

Thou shalt deny me thrice.

But he spake the more vehemently,

And if I should die with thee, I will not deny thee in any wise.

Likewise also said they all.

Let's pray.

Heavenly Father, as we come before you this morning,

Lord, we're just,

Lord, as we look at this reality of not me,

Lord, a reality of sometimes we can miss what you've said,

of what you've presented to us.

Lord, sometimes we catch apart and become offended at those things.

And Lord, we pray that you would just work here in our hearts and minds here this morning,

Lord, that we might draw close to you and understand the truth of what you're presenting here to us.

And Lord, that we be not offended, but faithful.

Lord, not just faithful of ourselves,

but in you and the power of your spirit to walk forward in the challenges and the days and the things that lie each hour of each day.

Lord, we pray we might rely upon you, realizing that your word is truth.

And Lord, that we need to rely upon it and not ourselves.

And Lord, we ask it all in your precious name.

Amen.

May be seated.

Amen.

You know, as we look here, the disciples had been walking with Jesus for three years,

over three years at this point.

They'd followed him.

They'd made a decision consciously to follow him, prioritizing everything around Jesus.

I mean, as a believer, that's how we ought to prioritize.

We ought to prioritize around what does God say?

What does God desire?

What does God want from us?

And we see the disciples had prioritized their life.

They'd given up fishing.

They'd given up other means of income.

They had trusted Jesus, not only as their Savior, but just in their following of him.

I mean, their focus was upon him.

And these three years and everything had been centered around that.

And the evening had been one to remember as they realized that Jesus was about to fulfill.

Fulfill all that he came to accomplish.

You know, Jesus here, as he tells him he's going to die, it's the fifth time in the book of Mark,

Jesus says, I'm going to go and I'm going to be killed.

I'm going to rise again.

You know, one thing you can always, I took note of as I read through the Gospels,

whenever you see Jesus saying, hey, I'm going to go and I'm going to die,

it's always attached to I'm rising again.

In other words, he doesn't separate those things because both are important.

It's not secondary, but primary, the reality that he died for our sins,

but resurrection is the victory that he gives us.

He gives us something far more.

You know, knowing that Jesus would soon be killed, they heard it.

But you know, just like us today, sometimes we can, the word of God can present something to us,

and we catch a hold of a part of it, but not all of it.

We grab a hold of a part, and we're going to see here today that Peter became offended

because he caught part of what Jesus said.

And we can do the same thing.

Sometimes we get caught up because it's what stuck out to us.

But you know, I want you to understand one very important thing.

When you're understanding Scripture, look at the whole picture.

Slow down.

If something offends you, take a look at the big picture.

How does it fit together?

What's he telling us?

And how do I need to apply it into my life?

Because when they heard it, they didn't fully grasp it.

You know, that's part of the problem.

Oftentimes we get caught up on one, and we miss something else very important

that Jesus has for us.

And so when Jesus reveals some details of what was to come,

I mean, we could spend a lot of time here in this passage

looking at this of all the elements involved,

that Jesus is lovingly telling them something very important.

You know, we could grab a hold of one thing very quickly here this morning.

And this isn't in the slide, so don't get to...

This is the rabbit trail for the preacher this morning.

I want you to understand that Jesus is declaring something very important to them

that he knows what they're going to do.

He knows that soon they're going to depart and they're going to run away.

But you know what?

I want you to see in here, Jesus, even though he knows who you are,

Jesus still loves you,

and Jesus still makes a plan to reconcile with you.

That's a wonderful truth to keep in mind,

that you are never too far for you to come back to him,

to be reconciled to him.

Jesus knew how the disciples were going to respond.

But yet he lovingly said,

Hey, I'll see you soon.

And we're going to see that pictured here this morning.

And because along the way to the garden,

I mean, there's so much conversation here.

I mean, consider, look over to John chapter 15 for a moment.

John 15 · chapter mention

As Jesus is walking to the garden,

this is one of the statements that he makes to his disciples.

He says this,

Greater love hath no man than this,

that he lay down his life for his friends.

Ye are my friends, if you do whatsoever I command you.

Henceforth I call you not servants,

for servants know not what the Lord doeth,

but I have called you friends.

For all things that I have heard of my Father,

I have made known unto you.

That's a powerful truth that Jesus told him.

He says, Hey guys,

you're not just a servant,

you're a friend.

I'm telling you what's going to happen.

That you might be prepared for what's going to happen.

Of what's going to be accomplished.

You know, that's a different status

than just being commanded to go do something.

When you consider Jesus here,

even this morning,

as we look at this passage,

Jesus is telling him,

Guys, what's going to happen

has been foretold what's going to happen,

but it doesn't change the fact of who you are

and what I'm going to do through you.

And we're going to see Jesus,

he wants them to know,

he says,

You're not just my servant,

but you're my friend,

because I'm letting you know these things.

But you know,

the problem is,

sometimes when you're blunt and truthful

with people,

they get offended.

You ever notice that?

I mean,

I want you to understand,

truth always needs to be wrapped in love.

People need to know,

if you're going to speak hard truths,

you have to have a relationship of love.

Because you know what happens

when there's not a relationship there?

It's taken the wrong way.

You know,

I'll tell you,

you need people who can speak truth into your life,

and you know you love them.

That you know they love you,

and be able to speak hard things.

You know,

as a parent,

sometimes you've got to speak hard things to your kids.

You know what gives credibility as a parent?

When you speak hard truths,

because they know that you love them.

They know that you're seeking what's best for them.

You know?

Those things,

you don't have to like it,

but you do have to understand it.

You have to put it in perspective,

because notice here,

the offended in this passage.

Look at verse 27.

And Jesus saith unto them,

All ye shall be offended,

because of me this night.

You know?

It's funny that Jesus is talking about what's about to happen,

and Peter takes offense to what Jesus said.

He got offended at something that Jesus told him

that he was going to be offended later at.

It kind of has a little irony in it,

and it really connects to how we react oftentimes too, doesn't it?

We can grab a hold of things wrongly,

and Jesus here is revealing to his disciples

what was about to happen,

and he backs it up with Scripture.

In other words,

Jesus says,

Hey guys,

I want you to understand

that what's about to happen,

I already knew it.

I already knew how you were going to respond.

You know,

in the Old Testament,

we find Zechariah chapter 13.

Zechariah 13 · chapter mention

We find in verse 7,

because the passage Jesus is referring to here

is right here.

Zechariah said this,

he said,

Awake, O sword,

against my shepherd,

and against the man that is my fellow,

saith the Lord of hosts.

Smite the shepherd,

and the sheep shall be scattered,

and I will turn mine hand upon the little ones.

And we see here that Jesus is referring back here to Zechariah.

In other words,

I want you to know that Jesus knows your heart,

he knows who you are,

and he loves you anyways.

You know,

that's one of the things that I stood out in this passage,

is the fact that Jesus knows who you are,

what you're going to do,

the decisions you're going to make,

and he loves you anyways.

That's a powerful reality to grab a hold of.

That your performance in life does not matter how much God loves you.

That God loves you in spite of yourself sometimes.

You know,

not because of,

but in spite of,

you might say.

It's like an amazing thing that he would love me,

and that he would love you.

And we see this because as they get involved in these things,

it would involve all of them.

You know,

consider that just a few minutes earlier,

Judas,

who betrayed him.

Well,

you know,

they were looking at that.

Judas had walked out,

and Jesus said,

one was going to betray him.

And we're going to look at that a little bit too,

because it's funny,

because just a few minutes earlier than this,

Jesus tells them,

one's going to betray him,

and they're all like,

who is it,

me?

And now they're,

and Peter's looking at Jesus here in this passage,

and saying,

not me,

I'll never leave you.

You know,

it's amazing how fickle we can be as people.

But we see that he applies it to all,

the plural,

all involves all 11,

there that night,

just as the promise was for each of them,

because I want you to see something here.

Look at verse 28,

because they get caught up on the fact that Jesus said,

hey,

you're going to be offended.

You're going to run away.

You're going to leave me alone.

But look at verse 28.

This is where,

sometimes I think we do the same thing as Peter did here.

We get caught up on the first thing that catches our mind,

and we don't slow down and consider what else is being said.

Because notice what Jesus says in verse 28.

He says,

but after that,

I am risen,

I will go before you into Galilee.

You know,

I want you to think about the implication of what Jesus is saying here.

Jesus is telling them,

he goes,

guys,

I want to let you know,

you're all going to disperse when this goes down.

You're all going to go for fear,

and you're going to depart from me.

But he says,

when I'm risen,

he's giving them a marker.

He says,

hey guys,

when I've risen again,

I'll meet you in Galilee.

You know,

that's interesting.

He says,

I know you're going to depart,

but he says,

I know I've already got a plan to restore you.

God already had things in place.

It didn't catch him off guard.

You know,

the reality is the same when it comes to our salvation.

When Adam and Eve fell in the garden,

it didn't catch God off guard.

Ephesians says,

from the very foundation of the world,

God had a plan to redeem us.

That's love when you say,

I'm going to do everything it takes.

I'm going to provide.

He says,

he's going to rise again and meet them in Galilee.

You know,

but he says,

first you're going to be offended.

You know,

this word offended

is the same word that we get our English word scandalized from.

In other words,

they would look at Jesus as a scandal.

They would rethink their association

that night.

You know,

and really that's kind of what happened

when everything went down

and Jesus was arrested.

They were rethinking their association here.

You know,

they were rethinking,

hey,

what have we invested three plus years in?

Even though Jesus had already told them

all that was going to happen.

This word offended

is a reality that happens.

It should be just a little while

and they would flee for their lives.

You know,

just a little later here in Mark chapter 14,

Mark 14 · chapter mention

we find in verse 50,

it says,

and they all forsook him and fled.

It's a matter of minutes

as we walk through this

of people going,

I'll serve you forever.

I'm running the other direction.

It's the reality of life

and this very evening

in just a little while,

they'll be fleeing from him.

You know,

have you ever considered that

if you would have been asked that night,

do you think you would ever fail the Lord?

You know,

I think most of us would probably

think of ourselves

kind of like Peter sometimes.

Not I, Lord.

Not me.

Others might,

but not me.

You know,

Peter's saying,

I'll be faithful to the end.

But I want to caution you

because it's a dangerous place

to think that you are following the Lord

so close

that you'll never be offended

and turn away.

Because it's a wrong understanding

because that's a place

of self-righteousness saying,

in my power,

I can hold on to Jesus

and we need to realize

that you're not holding on,

he's holding on to you.

We can be self-righteous,

we can be hypocrisy,

we can lack spiritual understanding.

But Jesus shows us

that we need to live our lives

understanding our true condition.

Not one of the disciples

were exempt from it.

It was something

they needed to take personally.

Because notice the personal element

of this here.

Look at verse 29.

But Peter said unto him,

Although all shall be offended,

yet will not I.

What's Peter saying?

He says,

You know, Lord,

I know them other shady people

over there.

They'll let go.

They'll go the other direction.

But you can trust me.

I've got enough.

I have what it takes

to stick with it.

Not I.

You know,

the irony here I find

as I read through this passage,

it wasn't,

but just a few minutes earlier

at the dinner,

in verse 19,

if you look up there,

it's interesting.

When Jesus said

one was going to betray him,

and Peter's one of them

saying,

Is it I?

He goes from,

Is it I?

to not I?

To here in a little bit.

Before the morning comes,

having denied Jesus three times.

Back and forth.

See,

the problem was here,

Peter was sure of himself.

He was strong enough to follow.

The fact is that we really,

that we do not really

even know ourselves,

but Jesus does.

You know,

I want you to understand,

Jesus knew what Peter

was going to do,

as we're going to see here.

Jesus even tells Peter

what he's going to do

when he denies him.

And Peter's still saying,

No, Lord,

you're mistaken.

You don't know me.

You know,

considering the scripture,

you know,

recorded,

you know,

in Luke,

you know,

it talks about in Luke 5,

22,

it says where Jesus

perceives our thoughts.

He perceived the very thoughts

of the people around him.

Chapter 6 in Luke

talks about his words,

even discern,

not only our thoughts,

but our tense.

He knows our thoughts,

it tells us in Hebrews,

and he knows even the intent

of our hearts.

You know,

think about Hebrews chapter 4

Hebrews 4 · chapter mention

in verse 12.

At the end of the verse,

it says,

He is the center of the thoughts,

and then he takes it up a notch.

The intents.

I want you to understand

when he says,

to know what somebody's thinking

is one thing,

but to know the intent

behind the thought

is like taking it

a whole step up.

Because oftentimes,

we spend a lot of time

trying to judge people's intents.

Why did they do it?

I'm going to try to judge you

on why did they do that?

And they're just doing that

because they're mean,

or they're doing it for this,

or they're doing it for that.

But you know what?

We really have no clue

of the intent

of somebody's thoughts.

You might be able

to get a big picture,

but you don't have

the detailed picture.

Jesus wants us to know.

He says,

Peter,

I don't just know your thoughts.

I know the intent

behind those thoughts.

What's in your heart?

Where's your relationship

with me?

When Jesus quotes

Zachariah's prophecy,

it revealed that he knew

their thoughts

and intents better

than they did.

Jesus knew Peter,

but he also knew

what Peter would do,

yet with understanding.

Because I want you

to see another part.

Luke records a different

portion of this conversation.

We'll turn to Luke 22

for a moment.

Because I want you

to understand here,

Jesus was not being harsh

with him,

but he was being loving

with him.

This is that same dynamic

and part of this conversation.

Luke chapter 22

Luke 22 · chapter mention

and verse 31 says,

And the Lord said,

Simon, Simon,

behold,

Satan hath desire

to have you,

that he may sift you

as wheat.

Consider,

this is that same part

of this conversation

given to us.

As Peter saying,

no, Lord,

I'll be with you.

And Jesus says,

Peter, slow down.

The devil's going to put

some temptations in place

to sift you as wheat.

He wants to take you down.

But the next part's

something we need

to keep in mind.

Because the devil

wants to take you down,

but you know what?

This is the good part.

Notice what Jesus says,

but I have prayed for thee,

that thy faith fail not.

And when thou art converted,

strengthen thy brethren.

We could spend a lot

of time right here,

but I'm just going to give you

the cliff notes here quick.

Jesus is telling him,

Peter,

when you come

and understand

what's really took place,

when you look back

and say,

I need to come back

to Jesus

when I'm converted,

when I change

my direction,

after he denied Jesus,

he changed his direction.

And Peter is reminded,

Jesus looks at him

and says,

strengthen others

with what you learn,

what you've come through.

It was needful.

Jesus is telling them here

something very important.

Because the same

is true with us.

He knows us better

than we know ourselves.

He knows what we are capable of.

He knows the depths of sin

that even resides

within your heart.

You know,

I think sometimes

we can deceive ourselves

into thinking that

because we're saved,

we have reached a place

where we're no longer

tempted to fail

or can fail.

You know,

we seem to think

that others may fail

but will never fail.

You know,

Peter comes into that place.

I want you to understand,

nobody,

nobody is more

than a decision away

from walking away

from God

when you try to do it

in your own power.

When you try to do it,

I can do it.

You know,

as human beings,

that's one of the things

that we like to do.

I,

I,

I,

I can do it.

I can overcome.

We live in a self-generation

that says,

you have self-willpower

to accomplish.

I want to tell you,

there's certain things

that willpower

is not going to get you through.

Fortitude is good.

All those things are good

but unless you're hanging on

to the Lord,

sooner or later,

you're going to slip.

You know,

look what Peter later writes.

Look up 2 Peter 3,

2 Peter 3:17

verse 17.

He says,

You know what Peter's saying?

Hey,

you better guard everything

and rely upon the Lord.

Trust Him

in all that's happening.

Don't get upset

over little things.

Keep your eyes

on the Lord.

Because we find ourselves

just like Peter

thinking that we can

serve the Lord

in our own strength,

not relying on Him

to strengthen us

and settle us

just as Paul later writes.

You know,

look over to Philippians chapter 3.

Philippians 3 · chapter mention

Philippians chapter 3

Philippians 3 · chapter mention

and verse 9.

This is just the same principle

being laid out for us

because Paul says,

How did I endure these things?

I want you to see here.

Paul didn't say,

I endured them

because I'm strong.

I want you to see here,

Peter,

or Paul says,

I endured

and served the Lord

and God used me mightily

not because I'm strong

but because He's strong.

Verse 9 says,

And be found in Him

not having mine own righteousness

which is of the law

but that which is through faith of Christ,

the righteousness

which is of God by faith,

that I may know Him

and the power of His resurrection

and the fellowship

of His sufferings

being made conformable

unto His death

if by any means

I might attain

unto the resurrection

of the dead.

You know,

I want you to see here,

Paul's saying,

hey,

it has nothing to do with me,

it has everything to do with Him.

To have the right focus.

While the disciples

were focused

on the immediate

where it touched them,

the focus was not upon them

but what was possible.

I mean,

they took offense

because Jesus said,

hey,

you're going to all run away tonight

and they're all like,

stop,

tap the brakes.

We're going to get upset

right here

because you're saying

we're not going to be faithful.

And Jesus is telling them,

hey,

guys,

you're missing the point

because He says,

I know what's going to happen.

Scripture is going to be fulfilled

but I'm going to rise again.

Meet me in Galilee.

You know?

As I was studying this,

one commentator

made an interesting point.

He says,

like,

Jesus made a calendar appointment

with His disciples afterwards.

He already put it

on the calendar form.

You know,

oftentimes,

you know,

today we operate by calendar.

Peter,

this you might say

is Jesus' calendar appointment.

He says,

guys,

I'm going to rise again.

Meet me in Galilee.

He says,

I know you're all going to run away

but He says,

meet me in Galilee.

He says,

that after I'm risen,

I will go before you

into Galilee.

You know,

we see this being played out

and the observation

that is there

as Peter is declaring

his loyalty,

Jesus gives him

the details

of what He's going to do.

You know,

I think we need to know

something important

that's shown here.

Jesus knows you

and still made a way

for you to be reconciled

to Him.

Jesus told the same men

that would deny Him

to meet Him in Galilee.

You know,

think about that.

Jesus says,

after I rise again,

I already know

what's going to take place

next too

because these men

are going to have

a moment

when they understand,

when they see

the risen Savior

that changes everything.

I mean,

think about even Thomas.

You know,

Thomas missed church

and missed out.

You know,

and then when he comes

the next time

and he says,

only if I see His hands.

You know,

if I see the scars,

if I see His side.

You know,

I think more of us

relate to Thomas

than we think.

But you know what?

It transformed Thomas

when he realized

Jesus was risen again.

It transformed everything.

When we understand

what Jesus did,

Jesus tells him

that though you're

going to deny me,

meet me in Galilee.

And so,

he looks at Peter

and he deals with Peter

very directly.

Notice verse 30

and he says,

and Jesus saith unto him,

Verily I say unto thee

that this day,

even in this night,

before the cock crow twice,

thou shalt deny me thrice.

Now,

sometimes I like to sit

and think of just reality

of personality.

and people of,

just this conversation

going on.

As Peter gets offended

and says,

not me,

he's denying,

Lord,

all the others

but not me.

And Peter looks,

Jesus looks at Peter

and says,

hey Peter,

the devil wants

to sift you as wheat,

but I've prayed for you

that your faith fail not.

And Peter

is confronted

with the next part

where Jesus says,

Peter,

before the cock

crows twice

tomorrow morning,

you're going to deny me

three times.

It's quite a contrast

of conversation.

But it reveals us

of a loving Savior

that says,

I know you.

I know what's going to,

decisions.

But Peter,

when thou art converted,

strengthen thy brethren.

when they realize

what really is taking place.

When your life

is transformed

by the truth

of the resurrection

of Jesus Christ,

the victory

that we have in Him,

that things are different.

That Peter,

you're not being counted out.

I want you to understand

as Peter is here,

as he responds to this,

notice what it says

in verse 31,

but he spake

the more vehemently,

if I should die with thee,

I will not deny thee

in any wise.

Peter was declaring

his loyalty.

You know,

sometimes we have

to be careful

because we can be

just like Peter.

We get so caught up

in what we're doing

instead of getting focused

upon what Jesus is doing.

Focus upon what

He would have for us.

The declaration here,

Jesus exposes the truth

about the matter,

but also reveals to Peter

that restoration

is possible.

Peter,

in his typical fashion though,

I mean,

Peter's one that many people

can relate to.

You know,

they only hear

what they want to hear.

Peter was the one

of the crowd

that always spoke out

and said the things

that everybody else

was probably thinking

but didn't want to.

You know,

they're a little more reserved

and maybe a little smarter

saying,

let's see how this plays out.

Peter will say something.

We'll let Peter

take the heat.

But I think that's the reason

Peter in the Gospels

becomes very relatable to us

because he says

what we're thinking anyways.

Peter says

what the others were thinking.

He refuses to listen

and he's relying

on his own strength,

his own fortitude

to be faithful

because notice

how the focus is

in this

and notice what he says here.

I will not deny thee

in any wise.

He says,

I will die with thee.

You know,

one of the things

we need to realize here

that Peter gets in trouble

and I think we get

in trouble with

because the Scripture

has declared

what was going to happen.

The Scripture

already determined

how Jesus

was going to go to the cross

and die for our sin.

That on the third day

he was going to rise again.

That we can have victory.

That salvation is free.

It's given by faith

as you trust Christ

that realize you're a sinner

that can't save yourself.

That's all set in Scripture.

From the Old Testament

you can lead somebody

to Christ.

The reality

that they need a Savior

that God had a plan

from the very beginning

to provide

what was needed.

We can't rely upon

our own strength

in salvation

and we can't rely upon

our own strength

to be faithful.

We need to have our focus

upon the Savior.

We need to be drawn to Him.

Likewise, the reasons

that Peter's and the others

failed is the same for us.

I want you to see here

as you look down

at the end of that verse

as we see here

in verse 31

it's just one of those

little add-on sentences

you might say.

Likewise, also said they all.

So in other words

all the other ten

are listening to the conversation

because remember

Judas has departed

to go betray Jesus

so there's only eleven

and so you've got Peter

and Jesus in conversation

the other ten

are gathered around

and Peter says

I'll die with you

and the rest of them go

yeah!

Not realizing

what was about to happen

because they took offense

at Jesus saying

they would take offense

and Jesus said

no, you've got your eyes

on the wrong thing

because ultimately

through this passage

He points them back

to the Word of God.

He said what does

the Word of God tell?

The Word of God

reveals who we are

it reveals the thoughts

and intents of our hearts

it reveals where we stand

before God

it reveals everything

about us

I think we can fall

into the same problem

very easily

as the disciples

because you know

the root cause

of the problem here

are very simple

some of the problems

that they face

are the same problems

we faced here

why would Peter respond

not I Lord?

I think in the Scripture

you find very clearly

it's probably pride

pride gets us in trouble

they never thought

they could fail

you know what it says

when I in my own power

that's pride saying

I can, I can, I can

if you notice in this passage

Peter looks nothing at Jesus

but he says

I can, I can, I can

not I

pride

it was an inward focus

they believed

that they were above

all that

you know

Proverbs 16, 18

says

pride goeth before destruction

and a haughty spirit

before fall

Jesus even in this

is revealing to Peter

and the disciples

you've got to be careful

of the pride

because what we think

we might do

doesn't mean that's

what you will do

when pride gets involved

secondly

self-deception

the disciples

had convinced themselves

that they loved Jesus

more than anything

in life

the irony is

they're about to find out

that they still

loved themselves

more than they loved him

when they all fled

what did that say?

it says

I still love myself

I'm willing to die

but when the moment comes

they're running

the other direction

Lord I love you enough

I'll die for you

but they're running

the other direction

they deceived themselves

you know

Galatians tells us this

if a man think himself

to be something

when he is nothing

he deceiveth

himself

you know

we've got to be careful

of pride

we need to be careful

of self-deception

you know

we need to measure

ourselves according

to scripture

but also

fear

you know

these men

were confident

they would go

with Jesus

even unto death

they were about

to be brought

face to face

with the power

that fear presents

in our life

because you know

what

fear has caused

many of God's children

to back away

from their testimony

you know

fear is a major thing

in our life

isn't it

even the strongest

deal with fear

fear is something

that everybody

deals with

I'll give you a clue

if you're not scared

go back to point two

and point one

because fear is real

but how we deal

with that fear

is important

because fear

has magnified

the power

of Satan

and minimized

the power

of Almighty God

you know

I want you

to never underestimate

the power

that fear can have

because fear

is a motivator

however we should

not fear people

or Satan

or the things

of this life

I want you to understand

the Bible says

that we're going

to have fear

it matters

where you're going

to focus that fear

because if that fear

is an awe

and respect for God

and understand

he's over all those

other things

that scare you

all those other things

that scare us

are under submission

of God

you know

often times

we get in trouble

because our fear

of God

is not what it ought to be

you know what that says

it means we're not

having the right respect

the right honor

the right focus

think about what

Ecclesiastes says

Ecclesiastes chapter 12

Ecclesiastes 12 · chapter mention

and verse 13

says this

you know Solomon

comes down

to this conclusion

you know

and if you read

through Ecclesiastes

you'll find

Solomon

you know

he went all sorts

of different directions

seeking for these things

and at the end

of Ecclesiastes

Solomon makes

a summary statement

he says

let me give you

the cliff notes

of this whole thing

he says

let me sum it up

for you

he says

let us hear

the conclusion

of the whole matter

fear God

and keep his commandments

for this is the whole

duty of man

he said

you better keep

your eyes on God

to understand

who God is

but you know

what we get in trouble

when we get our eyes

off a true

fear of awe

and respect

because we'll either

fear God

knowing everything else

that we fear

is under him

or we'll let

all the things

we fear

all the things

that control us

dominate our

perception of God

you know

Romans 3

tells us

one of the big

problems

is there's no

fear of God

before their eyes

but I want you

to understand

the other problem

is ignorance

the disciples

were ignorant

of the power

of Satan

and their own

weakness

Satan was behind

the failure

you know

think about that

Luke 22

Jesus says

hey Peter

Satan hath a desire

to sift you

as wheat

he wants to

draw you

distract you

get your eyes

on everything else

but God

he wants to try

to build a separation

they thought

they could stand

on their own

power

self-confidence

is a deadly

thing

1 Corinthians

10 12

says

wherefore let

him that

thinketh

he standeth

take heed

lest he fall

you know

we need to be able

to stand

in the day

in which we have

and that's by

keeping our eyes

upon the Lord

you know

we don't have time

this morning

but write down

Ephesians 6

Ephesians 6:10–13

verses 10

through 13

and read that

a little later

because if you're

going to stand

for the Lord

I want you to

understand you need

to stand

in his equipment

in his power

focused on the

right thing

because a not me

attitude is a

dangerous place

to be

each of us

must rely

upon the Lord

not ourselves

each day

you know

you might find

yourself like

Peter and others

who have never

thought they would

be offended

only to stumble

and fall away

because of

something that

took place

that they

didn't want

or desire

but maybe

you're here

this morning

and you've

never trusted

Christ as

your Savior

the one

that died

for you

and rose

again

in victory

you know

the wonderful

thing about

turning to God

is it's a

whosoever will

nothing in

your life

hinders you

from turning

to God

but yourself

it's open

to whosoever

will

today

will you

come to

him

because

he will

fulfill

all

that he

said

his heads

are bowed

and eyes

are closed

this morning

what about

you today

maybe the

Lord spoke

to you

maybe it's

just one of

the problems

we talked

about

maybe it's

just getting

your eyes

on the

right things

getting your

eyes on

the Lord

keeping your

eyes on

the Lord

even in

the midst

of all

the things

happening

to say

Lord

all these

other things

might be

disrupted

but Lord

I'm going

to keep

my eyes

on you

you're

the one

that's

above

my fears

Lord

you're

the one

that's

above

everything

else

I'm going

to serve

you

faithfully

not because

of who

I am

but because

of who

you are

Heavenly

Fathers

we just

come before

you this

morning

Lord

you know

each heart

each life

here today

Lord

I pray

just have

your hand

upon each

one

Lord

you know

the needs

you know

everything

that's

taking place

and Lord

we pray

you just

work in a

mighty way

Lord

if there's

one here

today

that doesn't

know you

as Savior

that they

might call

upon you

Lord

if there's

things to be

dealt with

in lives

Lord

as points

of surrender

to say

Lord I'm

going to

trust your

word above

how I

feel

or how I

perceive

Lord

I'm

not going

to be

offended

at what

you

have

declared

but I'm

going to

trust

to this

truth

Lord

you know

each one

as we

have an

opportunity

to respond

today

Lord

I pray

that your

spirit

work in a

mighty way

and we

give you

all the

praise

in Jesus

name

as the

piano plays

what about

you

through