Declaration of Love (Week 1)

Introduction:

Pledge

Passage: & 69-75

English Standard Version Chapter 26

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

31 Then Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away because of me this night. For it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’

32 But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee.”

33 Peter answered him, “Though they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away.”

34 Jesus said to him, “Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.”

35 Peter said to him, “Even if I must die with you, I will not deny you!” And all the disciples said the same.

English Standard Version Chapter 26

69 Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. And a servant girl came up to him and said, “You also were with Jesus the Galilean.”

70 But he denied it before them all, saying, “I do not know what you mean.”

71 And when he went out to the entrance, another servant girl saw him, and she said to the bystanders, “This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.”

72 And again he denied it with an oath: “I do not know the man.”

73 After a little while the bystanders came up and said to Peter, “Certainly you too are one of them, for your accent betrays you.”

74 Then he began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, “I do not know the man.” And immediately the rooster crowed.

75 And Peter remembered the saying of Jesus, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly.

Prayer

Segway:

Give examples of Oaths, pledges, vows, declaration .....

“I pledge Allegiance to the Flag ...”

“I swear to tell the whole true ...”

In a few weeks there will be some who are going to be taken in as members.

They will be making a declaration to the church (to adhere to the code of conduct and teachings of the church)

We all did this at our weddings, remember guys … (My wife wrote my vows)

I have the right to remain silent, anything I say can and will be used against me over and over and over again.”

In all seriousness though ......

Shelly made a declaration when she was younger that she was never going to be a Pastor’s wife!

She dated about 5 different guys who later on became pastors.

When we got married, all I heard was “Thank God I am not a pastors wife.”

She made this declaration!

Side comment, “

What we see in this passage is 2 Declaratory Statements:

By Jesus

By Peter

Body:

What Jesus declares!

(Vs 31) “You will all fall away”

Fall Away: Skandalizo - Scandle

Definition - refusing to believe in Him

(Vs 32a) “But after Im raised up”

Definition - Be in a state of life

(Vs 32b) “I will go before you to Galilee.”

Definition - Meet at a certain location (Lead)

This declaration by Jesus is a promise to be fulfilled

Are you not grateful for the promises of God?

Now lets look at Peters declaration ....

What Peter Declares!

(Vs 33) “Though they will fall away because of you, I will never fall away.”

I find humor in scripture!

Look at what Peter does .... He throws the other disciples under the bus!

“Though they will fall away”

He makes this declaration, “I will never fall away!”

We know that Peter has good intentions.

We know he loved Jesus and believed he would follow him anywhere.

(Vs 35) “Even if I must die with you, I will not deny you.”

Matthew records something that I felt was humorous as well ....

(Vs 35) And all the Disciples said the same!

There is a statement that needs to be made here ......

A declaration without information will result in reservation!

Example: Shelly declaring she would never be a pastors wife!

This is exactly what Peter did!

He made a declaration without all the information which led to his reservation.

Lets look at his reservation:

Describe what was taking place!

Jesus has been arrested!

He is sitting in the courtyard around a fire with the guards who are abusing Him.

Peter is in the courtyard with other bystanders watching what is taking place.

Peter is as close as he could be.

A young servant girl says to Peter, “You also were with Jesus the Galilean.”

He plays ignorant! “I do not know what you mean!”

Another servant girl says to the bystanders, “This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.”

He makes an Oath, “I do not know the Man.”

A little while later the bystanders approach Peter accusing him of being a follower because of his accent.

Peter invokes a curse by swearing, “(I swear) I do not know the Man.”

There are some things that need to be pointed out that we might have read over in the past ....

Peters first denial

- He is located in the center of the courtyard close to Jesus.

- He is approached by a servant girl and she is the only one who confronts Peter.

- Mild response by Peter to the accusation.

Peter starts walking toward the exit door of the courtyard.

Peters second denial

- He is approached by another servant girl who speaks out to the bystanders.

- He speak with an Oath in mind “I do not know this Man.” (Believe me, I do not know this man)

- He is now located at the exit door ready to run out if need be.

Peters third denial

- Matthew tells us “A little while later” (about an hour later right before dawn)

- Peter is called out by the Bystanders themselves due to his accent.

- Peter invokes a curse on himself, “I swear I do not know this Man.”

About this time, The rooster crows and Jesus locks eyes with Peter.

Scripture tells us Peter went away (exiting the courtyard) and wept bitterly.

Just a few hours before, Peter was declaring that he would die with Jesus … but once he gathered more information .... he had reservations.

So Peter declared his love for Christ without all the information concerning what was to come and less than 12 hours later he was denying he even knew Jesus 3 times.

Declaration without information will lead to reservation.

Climax:

Let’s go back and look at the declaration Jesus made!

Here is what we find with Jesus ....

His declaration, with Him knowing all the information, leads all to salvation. (31-32)

Many of us here this morning have made a declaration to Christ!

You have accepted Christ (A)

You have acknowledged and believe Christ did for your sins (B)

You have confessed your sin (c)

And now you are following Him.

But there are some here today who are debating about making a declaration ..... you are still gathering information that will relieve you of your reservation.

Let me help you with your information part ....

God Loves you! ()

Be careful because Satan is a liar!

God Forgives you! (Scripture Reference)

Ha has made a way to forgive!

God desires you! (Scripture Reference)

From the moment sin entered into the world God was making a way back to Him.

I believe there is someone here this morning who is ready to make a declaration, based on the information you have just heard which will lead you to your salvation experience.

There is nothing wrong with Peters declaration, “I will never fall away from you.” “I will not deny you.”

He just didn’t have all the information at the time.

Conclusion:

Today, you have all the information to make a declaration that will lead to salvation.