The Danger of Getting Too Close to the Devil's Fire
Tony Schachle
The Danger of Getting Too Close to the Devil's Fire • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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· 129 viewsPeter got too close to the devil’s fire. It started by following Jesus at a distance. Then he found himself standing around with those who opposed Jesus. Then he finally became comfortable and sat down and began to warm himself at the enemy’s fire. As a result, Peter denied being associated with Jesus. Peter’s failure demonstrates to us how we can, step by step, progressively fall into temptation and sin. Psalm 1:1 gives us the progression: walking in the counsel of the ungodly, standing in the path of sinners, and finally sitting in the seat of the scornful. These are the results getting too close to the devil’s fire.
Notes
Transcript
SCRIPTURE
SCRIPTURE
54 But Peter followed Him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest. And he sat with the servants and warmed himself at the fire.
MESSAGE
MESSAGE
Background
Peter boldly declared that he would never abandon Jesus.
Jesus predicted Peter’s denial.
Jesus is arrested in the Garden.
The disciples abandoned Jesus.
Peter followed at a distance.
Peter sat down and warmed himself at the enemy’s fire.
Peter Denies Jesus
Peter was not ready for his test of faith.
As he sat and warmed himself by the enemy’s fire, the temptation was too strong.
We like to think that we are stronger than we actually are sometimes.
We like to think that we can walk right up to the devil’s fire and we won’t get burned.
If you get too close to the devil’s fire, you will get burned!
The fall into temptation doesn’t always happen instantly. It is a slow downward spiral.
Boiling a Frog
Peter’s Downward Spiral
Walking
Peter followed Jesus at a distance.
He wanted to follow Jesus, but he didn’t want to be associated with Him.
Standing
Peter came and stood at the enemy’s fire.
25 Now Simon Peter stood and warmed himself. Therefore they said to him, “You are not also one of His disciples, are you?” He denied it and said, “I am not!”
Peter allowed himself to be lured into the devil’s trap.
Sitting
Our scripture text today says that Peter eventually sat down and began to warm himself at the enemy’s fire.
Sin will pull you in until you are sitting down, comfortable, and warming yourself at the devil’s fire.
Event Horizon of a Black Hole
The Connection to Psalm 1
1 Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;
Walking involves progress; thus, the verse instructs, “Don’t walk in the counsel, don’t stand in the path, don’t sit in the seat” of the ungodly. The apparent progression presents a picture of someone walking next to sin, then stopping to stand and take it all in, and then finally sitting right down in sin’s seat “to enjoy the fleeting pleasures” of it (Hebrews 11:25).
Notice the same progression in this verse as Peter’s fall into temptation.
Walking
Standing
Sitting
The Downward Spiral into the Devil’s Fire
Do Not Walk in the Counsel of the Ungodly
Walking in the Counsel of the Ungodly = Being influenced by ungodly attitudes and behaviors.
The first step to falling into sin is to start to listen and give heed to ungodly advice.
King Rehoboam Listened to the Wrong Advice (1 Kings 12).
I’ve seen it so many times where good hearted godly people got tripped up and started down the wrong path because they started listening to ungodly advice from the wrong people.
“I don’t know why you go down to that church.”
“Come on over and hang out and party with us, what’s the big deal?”
“Why do you hang around those people at church? Don’t you know what kind of people they are? Let me tell you about them.”
If you start listening to the lies, the gossip, and the evil advice you’ll start to believe some of it. And the next thing you know it will start changing your attitude.
It may seem like a small thing right now, and you may feel like those relationships are at a distance and you can keep walking on the right path, but listening to the counsel of the ungodly is the first step to falling completely into sinful attitudes and behaviors.
If you are walking in the counsel of the ungodly, you are TOO CLOSE TO THE DEVIL’S FIRE!
Do Not Stand in the Path of Sinners
Standing in the Path of Sinners = Entering into fellowship with those who practice ungodly attitudes and behaviors.
Once you’ve given heed to ungodly advice, the next step is to join in fellowship with those who practice ungodliness.
The Bible warns us explicitly not to join in fellowship with the ungodly and unbelievers:
14 Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? 15 And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? 16 And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will dwell in them And walk among them. I will be their God, And they shall be My people.” 17 Therefore “Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you.” 18 “I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.”
Why is this important?
33 Do not be deceived: “Evil company corrupts good habits.”
Another translation says: “Bad company corrupts good morals.”
In other words, if you continue to stand in the path of sinners, no matter how strong you think your faith is, you will eventually become corrupted.
If you are standing in the path of sinners, you are TOO CLOSE TO THE DEVIL’S FIRE!
Do Not Sit in the Seat of the Scornful
Sitting in the seat of the scornful = Participating with the ungodly attitudes and behaviors of the scornful.
Once you’ve gone from walking, to standing, and finally to sitting, you’ve now become one of them.
What are the attitudes of the scornful?
Disrespectful
Arrogant and Haughty
Reject Correction
Source of Strife and Contention
Spirit of Mockery
If you are sitting in the seat of the scornful, you are TOO CLOSE TO THE DEVIL’S FIRE!
How to Avoid the Devil’s Fire
Not walking, standing, or sitting with the ungodly implies steering clear of sin by avoiding participation in every aspect of the sinner’s way of life.
Psalm 1 not only gives us instructions on how not to get too close to the devil’s fire, but it also tells us how.
2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night.
Those who are not living Too Close to the Devil’s Fire will delight in God’s Word.
Those who are not living Too Close to the Devil’s Fire will let God’s Word be a lamp for their feet and a light for their path.
Those who are not living Too Close to the Devil’s Fire will sit and meditate on God’s Word day and night.
CLOSING
CLOSING
