Beginning Failure

Beginning Failure

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INTRODUCTION

ILL- Dentist drilling my hot tooth. I cannot hear the sound of a drill without flashing back to that chair.

Peter- Roster crow was probably similar the rest of his life.

READ ;

John 18:15–18 ESV

Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple. Since that disciple was known to the high priest, he entered with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest, but Peter stood outside at the door. So the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to the servant girl who kept watch at the door, and brought Peter in. The servant girl at the door said to Peter, “You also are not one of this man’s disciples, are you?” He said, “I am not.” Now the servants and officers had made a charcoal fire, because it was cold, and they were standing and warming themselves. Peter also was with them, standing and warming himself.

John 18:25–27 ESV

Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. So they said to him, “You also are not one of his disciples, are you?” He denied it and said, “I am not.” One of the servants of the high priest, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, asked, “Did I not see you in the garden with him?” Peter again denied it, and at once a rooster crowed.

John 18:15–18 ESV

Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple. Since that disciple was known to the high priest, he entered with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest, but Peter stood outside at the door. So the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to the servant girl who kept watch at the door, and brought Peter in. The servant girl at the door said to Peter, “You also are not one of this man’s disciples, are you?” He said, “I am not.” Now the servants and officers had made a charcoal fire, because it was cold, and they were standing and warming themselves. Peter also was with them, standing and warming himself.

PRAY

Peter does not deny Jesus because he is not willing to die for him.

-He takes out sword at the arrest.

he denies Jesus because he was not trusting Jesus.

3 Reasons Jesus is Denied

Pride

Pride is not the same thing as high self esteem.

Biblical pride can be seen as arrogance.

It is not feeling good about yourself and who you are.

High Self-esteem is a good thing. - Self-worth.

Pride is thinking you are God.

Genesis 3:5 ESV

For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

Humility- knowing your place and embracing your role in the big picture. It’s surrender to God’s purpose in your life.

Pride causes boosting which gets us in trouble.

Peter- around last supper table, “I will lay down my life for you.”

Kept him from humbling obeying Jesus.

Cuts off servants ear at arrest.

Pride kept him from listening to Jesus.

He knew better- He would show Jesus!

Peter Walking on water- his pride turns to doubt quickly.

Pride keeps us from following Jesus.

We think we know better.

We think we have a better way.

We think Jesus needs us.

Cost (15-18)

John gets Peter a way in but the servant wants to make sure she doesn’t let in someone she shouldn’t.

A "yes" answer would have meant he watched from outside.

A little white lie meant he could witness Jesus' trial.

The cost of them knowing is too high.

Rich Young Ruler And a ruler asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 19 And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. 20 You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery, Do not murder, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother.’ ” 21 And he said, “All these I have kept from my youth.” 22 When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” 23 But when he heard these things, he became very sad, for he was extremely rich. 24 Jesus, seeing that he had become sad, said, “How difficult it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God! 25 For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” 26 Those who heard it said, “Then who can be saved?” 27 But he said, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.” 28 And Peter said, “See, we have left our homes and followed you.” 29 And he said to them, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, 30 who will not receive many times more in this time, and in the age to come eternal life.” 

Luke 18:18–30 ESV

And a ruler asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery, Do not murder, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother.’ ” And he said, “All these I have kept from my youth.” When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” But when he heard these things, he became very sad, for he was extremely rich. Jesus, seeing that he had become sad, said, “How difficult it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God! For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” Those who heard it said, “Then who can be saved?” But he said, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.” And Peter said, “See, we have left our homes and followed you.” And he said to them, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, who will not receive many times more in this time, and in the age to come eternal life.”

Peter left everything...

Peter gave up the big things but missed the small things.

Character was inconsistent.

Paul will argue with Peter for this very reason. -Regarding keeping the Law.

The cost caused him to follow in secret.

Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, where are you going?” Jesus answered him, “Where I am going you cannot follow me now, but you will follow afterward.” 37 Peter said to him, “Lord, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.” 38 Jesus answered, “Will you lay down your life for me? Truly, truly, I say to you, the rooster will not crow till you have denied me three times. 

John 13:36–38 ESV

Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, where are you going?” Jesus answered him, “Where I am going you cannot follow me now, but you will follow afterward.” Peter said to him, “Lord, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.” Jesus answered, “Will you lay down your life for me? Truly, truly, I say to you, the rooster will not crow till you have denied me three times.

Willing to die- but not willing to tell the truth.

We say we are willing to die. But we deny Jesus daily with our closed mouths and our unclear answers.

Others (25-27)

In the wrong place with the wrong people.

Servants and officers (Officers present at Jesus' arrest- probably Temple Guard)

  Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; 2  but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.  

Psalm 1:1–2 ESV

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.

He wasn’t friends with them- but they were influencing him.

We are influenced by who we spend time with.

We don’t want to offend- so we find common ground.

“You aren’t any better than we are...”

Kills our witness.

Self Defense- accused of cutting off ear- now he is protecting himself from arrest

Defending Jesus or self?

CONCLUSION

Clay in the hands of the potter.

Jesus has been shaping Peter from the beginning. Through failures and successes.

After resurrection he will be shaped more.

Peter wanted to be like Jesus. He wanted to walk on water. He wanted to rule with Jesus. He wanted to die with Jesus. Yet, he continually came up short.

As believers God is changing us. Through a life of surrender.

We come up short and are reminded often. - Dentist- Rooster Crow

Salvation doesn’t immediately make us perfect, but it does make us forgiven.

Have you accepted Jesus’ gift of salvation? Have you surrendered to Jesus’ will for your life?

Have you surrendered to Jesus’ will for your life?