How did Peter ever get to the point where he would deny His Lord? In this message Pastor Brian seeks to show Peter’s downhill slide into sin as we see his Spiritual Pride, Self-Confidence, Spiritual Laziness, and Misdirected Works.
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The Downhill Slide Into Sin
John 18:1-27
Intro: 18:25-27. Forsook Master, acted like coward. Ashamed to own Christ when should have confessed. How could his happen? Sin deceiftul. Creeps up by degrees. Almost imperceptible, but stealthy. Don’t commit horrible sins overnight. Pastors who commit adultery. Peter’s fall didn’t happen overnight. Over 6 months.
- Spiritual Pride: 16:13-23
- 16:13-20. Wonderful feeling to be used of God. Speak forth truth & then be told God had revealed it. Flying high.
- M.16:21-23. Peter’s the Rock! Hears from God! Inside line to heaven! Holds keys to kingdom of heaven. Pretty heady stuff. Cocky – Proud. Now must straighten Jesus out. 16:22 – “Lord, don’t want to embarrass in front of disciples, but got it all wrong. Let me set you straight.” 22 – rebuked! Imagine it! Lord, seems overcome w/ amnesia. Just said going to build church; gates of hell won’t overpower. Give keys of kingdom. We’ll bind & loose. What’s all nonsense about suffering & dying. Operation’s ready to roll! Going to build Monster Church. No demon can stand against us! Don’t deflate enthusiasm by all talk of suffering!”
Peter’s error – spiritual pride. Thought knew more than Jesus. Result – change from spokesperson for God to spokesperson for devil. True of us. God uses us & speaks through us. Goes to head. Think know all answers. Corner on truth. Minute that happens, we become tool in hands of devil. Rather than being humble & teachable, God can’t use us. Beware of spiritual pride! When God begins to use, plead w/ God not to allow to go to head. Ask to keep humble.
- Self-Confidence: 26:31-35.
Jesus says all will fall away because of Me, quotes Scripture to prove. But Peter argues. He will never fall away. Though other disciples cowards, I will be true to end. 35 – Peter continues to argue. So sure of himself. So self-confident. Putting confidence in flesh. Doesn’t know deceitfulness of own heart. Doesn’t realize w/o Christ can do nothing.
Watch out when say, “I would never do that!” Never use TV as babysitter. If owned nice home would never let get dirty & run down. Never cheat, lie, steal. 1Cor.10:12 “let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.”
- Spiritual Laziness: 26:36-41
Jesus gave command. Humanly speaking, He needed support of friends. Peter is fatigued so falls to sleep. Christ returns, rebukes. Their praying not just for Christ, but for themselves. Would face great temptation w/in next 12 hours. Only way to be prepared is prayer. Spirit willing – flesh weak. So often that our problem. Spirit willing to read, study, meditate, memorize, fast, worship, serve – but flesh weak. Too often we indulge flesh. Spiritually lazy. Don’t cultivate spiritual disciplines. Let body dictate to spirit rather than vice versa. Setting up for fall.
- Dead Works: 18:8-11.
Peter still arguing. Christ giving himself up to arrest. “I’m ready to go – let these go their way.” Malchus probably 1st one to step up to Christ. Peter: “No Lord, this isn’t the plan. Remember we’ve got to build church. Gates of Hell won’t overpower. Peter fighting when should be submitting, cuz sleeping when should been praying. If awake in prayer would have heard Christ agonize over cup. Understand this was God’s plan. Peter still fighting against cross. Unwilling to submit to Christ’s Word.
Do we keep Lord busy putting on ears we cut off? Think doing right thing. But wrong thing. Why? Cuz don’t pray, listen to Christ. Bound to swing swords in flesh & do lots of damage. Create lots of messes Jesus must clean up. You doing lots of good things God doesn’t really want doing? Heb.6:1 – repentance from dead works.(work in flesh; doesn’t come from God’s life, His Spirit).
Chain: notice how one sin leads to another. Our problem starts w/ spiritual pride. Leads to self-confidence. Leads to spiritual lazyness (neglect spiritual disciplines – don’t’ need them. got it all together). Leads to dead works (w/ communion w/ God broken, continue to do religious things, but dead. Busy but barren. Diligent but dead – not listening to Christ. Know when serving becomes burdensome). Leads to denial of Christ (doing something couldn’t believe would ever do. 18:5 – Judas stood w/ Christ’s enemies. 18:25 – Peter does same. Taken outward position of Judas. Didn’t happen overnight. 6 months. Would never have believed if told him would lie to maid to save skin. Was man of courage & boldness. Drew sword to defend Jesus. Now hit rock bottom).
Application:
- Guard yourself against first signs of sin: sin’s deceitful. Looks great at first. Enticing, fun. If take bait, will hook you. Sin leads to more intense sin. At first easy to resist, but if give in, harder & harder. Like leprosy. Rom.13:14. Deal severely w/ 1st motions of sin!
- If Far From God, Repent & Return: Peter did. Fully restored & used greatly. But wept bitterly.
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