S3 - 3 Fires in Peter's Life

Fire of Denial

Matthew 26:69–75 KJV

Now Peter sat without in the palace: and a damsel came unto him, saying, Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee. But he denied before them all, saying, I know not what thou sayest. And when he was gone out into the porch, another maid saw him, and said unto them that were there, This fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth. And again he denied with an oath, I do not know the man. And after a while came unto him they that stood by, and said to Peter, Surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech bewrayeth thee. Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew. And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly.

Intro: We saw last week how devoted Peter was to Jesus. He even went as far as telling Jesus that he would “lay down his life for Him” (John 13:37). Now we pick up after the arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane and Jesus has been taken for trial at the High Priest Caiaphas’ house.

Devotion

I. From the Garden to the Courtyard

a. Peter lobbed off the ear of Malchus the servant

b. Followed Christ to the trial at a distance.

c. John tells us that “another disciple” gives access to Peter with the servant at the gate.

i. This is probably not John (the disciple whom Jesus loved).

ii. Probably a secret follower known to the high priest (possibly Nicodemus? [speculative])

1. Conversation with Jesus in John 3.

2. Arranged for the burial of Jesus after crucifixion.

II. The devotion of Peter is very high

a. Followed Christ into enemy territory

b. Wanted to stay close to his Savior

Denial

I. Three times Peter denies knowing Christ.

a. All three times standing at a fire.

i. Think about the intimacy of a fire burning.

ii. Cold night, conversation probably buzzing about Jesus

iii. Peter probably didn’t say much but knowing he had been there with Jesus to see all the truth He taught.

b. Hanging with servants and guards

i. Asked if a Galilean

ii. Accent gave away (73).

II. Violently denies Christ

a. Curses when asked the third time.

b. Have you ever violently denied knowing someone?

c. Peter was trying to convince them.

Despair

I. While he was speaking, the rooster crowed

Luke 22:60 KJV

And Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest. And immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew.

a. Luke includes the passage that Jesus turned and looked at him (22:61).

i. This tells us that he was in close proximity to Christ.

II. Satan sifting Peter

a. At that point Peter realized his sin.

b. Satan asked to sift all 10 disciples (not including Judas)

i. Greek, plural is obvious of you speaking about all disciples not just Peter.

c. God let Satan work in order to break the back of pride & self reliance in Peter.

i. Jesus said “Upon this rock I shall build my church”

Matthew 16:18 KJV

And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

ii. Peter has to be torn down and built up in Christ before he can be used of God.

iii. Many times, we have to be torn down before we can be built up in Christ.

1. He has to take away all our stuff and give us a clean heart but that begins with conviction about the sin in our heart even though we may not see it.

2. God allows Satan to work against us sometimes to give us the realization that not everything is alright.

III. Shifting sands in Peter’s life

a. Everything Peter has known and done is upside down right now.

i. He has been with Christ for 3 ½ years.

ii. Seen numerous miracles and wondrous teachings

iii. His Savior is about to be killed

iv. His friends have scattered

v. He is in enemy territory

vi. His sin has been revealed

vii. He has done what he swore he would never do

1. Never say never to anything.

2. We do not know what our heart is capable of until we are placed in certain situations.

3. Do not judge others for what they may or may not do b/c we don’t know what we would do given the circumstances.

b. Peter’s world is upside down and he has nothing it seems

c. Satan has won and the battle is lost

d. We have all been in this position

i. Peter ran out and wept bitterly.

1. Pikros - violently.

2. Meaning rivers of tears, heaving and hard to breathe from crying so hard, snot and spit everywhere.

3. We have all been at this place before.

Conclusion:

Is there hope for Peter and for you in this place? Yes. Is our heart broken over the sin in our life? Jesus prayed for Peter. That his faith not fail. Peter had been sifted but not thrown away by God. Look at Psalm 30:5 “Weeping may endure for a night but joy comes in the morning”. Peter was restored later, but the bitterness of denial had delivered it’s sting to him. If you feel cast away and alone, there is hope for you. You can still have the Joy of the Lord and become victorious again through the love and forgiveness of Jesus Christ.