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THE NECESSITY OF TEARS FOR TRANSFORMATION
THE NECESSITY OF TEARS FOR TRANSFORMATION
IN LOOKING BACK OVER HIS LIFE
SO WHAT DID PETER SEE, CLEARLY, AFTER HIS DENIAL THAT CAUSED HIM TO WEEP
I. PETER SAW HIS ARROGANCE
I. PETER SAW HIS ARROGANCE
And Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away, for it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’
But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee.”
Peter said to him, “Even though they all fall away, I will not.”
And Jesus said to him, “Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.”
But he said emphatically, “If I must die with you, I will not deny you.” And they all said the same.
CAN YOU IMAGINE THE ARROGANCE OF SAYING TO THE LORD - IN HIS FACE - THE ONE WHO KNOWS EVERYTHING - THE ONE WHO CREATED YOU! CAN YOU IMAGINE TELLING HIM HE DOES NOT KNOW BETTER THAN YOU?
THATS WHAT PETER WAS TELLING HIM. SURE, IT SOUDED LIKE AND PROBABLY WAS A WORD OF DEVOTION FROM HIS HEART BUT WE KNOW THAT PETER WAS NOT ONLY MISGUIDED
BUT HOW OFTEN DO WE DO THE SAME THINGS?
HOW OFTEN DOES THE LORD TELL US IN HIS WORDS THAT CERTAIN COURSES OF ACTIONS ARE BAD AND HARMFUL AND WOULD GRIEVE HIM AND THEN WE, IN SPITE OF THE ALL KNOWING TELLING US THE ALL TRUTH - WE ACTS AS IF WE KNOW BETTER THAN HE DOES.
A. PRIDE IS DEADLY BECAUSE
A. PRIDE IS DEADLY BECAUSE
1. It always precedes a fall and destruction
1. It always precedes a fall and destruction
Better is a little with righteousness
than great revenues with injustice.
2. It is always provokes the opposition of the Lord
2. It is always provokes the opposition of the Lord
But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
II. PETER SAW HIS SPIRITUAL WEAKNESS
II. PETER SAW HIS SPIRITUAL WEAKNESS
And they went to a place called Gethsemane. And he said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.”
And he took with him Peter and James and John, and began to be greatly distressed and troubled.
And he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death. Remain here and watch.”
And going a little farther, he fell on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him.
And he said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.”
And he came and found them sleeping, and he said to Peter, “Simon, are you asleep? Could you not watch one hour?
JESUS ASKS PETER, JAMES AND JOHN TO SIT FOR A BIT WHILE HE GOES TO PRAY
JESUS IS IN A TOUGH AND DIFFICULT POSTURE:
HIS SOUL IS SORROWFUL EVEN UNTO DEATH (V34)
“REMOVE THIS CUP FROM ME” (V36)
NOW HERE IS THE IRONY OF THIS PASSAGE
JESUS, THE ONE THEY WERE FOLLOWING AND THE ONE PETER JUST SAID: HE WOULD DIE FOR, HE CAN’T EVEN STAY AWAKE FOR.
THERE ARE THREE OF THEM - PETER, JAMES AND JOHN, BUT WHEN JESUS COMES BACK HE CALLS PETER’S NAME
And he came and found them sleeping, and he said to Peter, “Simon, are you asleep? Could you not watch one hour?
NOT YOU PETER! NOT THE ONE WHO JUST TOLD ME THAT I MUST DIE WITH YOU!- NOT YOU PETER. I COULD SEE JAMES AND JOHN, BUT NOT YOU PETER BECAUSE YOU HAD JUST SAID YOU WOULD HANG TOUGH WITH ME TO THE END.
YOU SAID IN THE FACE OF DEATH YOU WOULD NOT DENY ME -
BUT SLEEP TOOK YOU OUT???
THIS IS WHY JESUS SAYS
Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
THE LORD IS TEACHING US THROUGH THIS INCIDENT THAT WE SHOULD NEVER TRUST OURSELVES BECAUSE WE, BY NATURE, ARE WEAK!
IF I DO NOT WATCH MY FLESH I WILL ENTER OR BE EASILY DRAGGED INTO TEMPTATION
HERE IS THE CHALLENGE WITH A CONFESSION WITHOUT CHARACTER: IT IS TALK WITHOUT WALK; IT IS PROFESSION OF A FAITH AND DEVOTION THAT IS EASILY SNUFFED OUT BY SMALL THINGS LIKE SLEEP.
A. BUT IT’S NOT JUST SLEEP THAT WAS THE PROBLEM
A. BUT IT’S NOT JUST SLEEP THAT WAS THE PROBLEM
IT WAS THE FACT THAT JESUS CALLED PETER TO DO SOMETHING THAT WENT AGAINST HIS PERSONAL, MOMENTARY COMFORT
IT WAS THE FACT THAT JESUS CALLED PETER TO DO SOMETHING THAT WENT AGAINST HIS PERSONAL, MOMENTARY COMFORT
PETER, A SELF CONFESSED ADDICT OF JESUS WHO SAID LIKE PRICE
“YOU, YEAH, I WOULD DIE FOR YOU”
WAS KNOCKED OUT BY FATIGUE; HE CHOSE THE EASY WAY AND IT TRAPPED HIM.
Principle: “Don’t let your lips take you where your life cant keep you.”
Principle: “Don’t let your lips take you where your life cant keep you.”
AND YET SOME OF US TALK A HOLY GAME BUT WALK SOMETHING VERY DIFFERENT.
WE SPEALK OF A LOVE FOR CHRIST BUT WE LIVE A LIFE THAT DOES NOT SHOW IT
WE SAY WE LOVE HIM BUT WE CONTINUALLY CHOOSE WHAT IS BEST FOR US AND NOT WHAT IS HONORABLE TO HIM.
WE CHOOSE THE EASY WAY; THE WAY THAT IS WELL LIT; THE WAY THAT IS WITHOUT TROUBLES, DIFFICULTIES AND DISCOMFORTS
BUT JESUS TELLS US
“Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many.
For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.
BUT NOTICE WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE CHOOSE COMFORT:
AFTER JESUS TOLD THEM TO WATCH FOR THEIR SPIRIT IS WILLING BUT THE FLESH IS WEAK MARK TELL US
And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were very heavy, and they did not know what to answer him.
And he came the third time and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? It is enough; the hour has come. The Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.
Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand.”
DO YOU SEE THE WARFARE TAKING PLACE HERE?
DO YOU SEE HOW WE LOSE WHEN WE CHOOSE COMFORT?
WHILE WE ARE SPIRITUALLY SLEEPING THE ENEMY IS SYSTEMATICALLY ENCROACHING
WHILE WE ARE SPIRITUALLY SLEEPING THE ENEMY IS SYSTEMATICALLY ENCROACHING
JESUS SAYS MY BETRAYER IS AT HAND
WHEN WE ARE SPIRITUALLY SLEEP TWO THINGS ARE TRUE:
WHEN WE ARE SPIRITUALLY SLEEP TWO THINGS ARE TRUE:
We are not able or willing to watch out for ourselves
We are not able or willing to watch out for others
III. PETER SAW HIS SELF PRESERVATION
III. PETER SAW HIS SELF PRESERVATION
And they led Jesus to the high priest. And all the chief priests and the elders and the scribes came together.
And Peter had followed him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest. And he was sitting with the guards and warming himself at the fire.
NOTE THE FLOW OF THE NARRATIVE
PETER - THE ONE WHO SAID HE WOULD DIE FOR JESUS
BECOMES THE PETER WHO COULD NOT STAY AWAKE FOR JESUS
AND NOW IS THE ONE WHO IS FOLLOWING JESUS AT A DISTANCE.
DO YOU SEE THE NEGATIVE MOVEMENT AWAY FROM JESUS?
HIS SELF PRESERVATION IS SEEN IN HIS FOLLOWING JESUS AT A DISTANCE.
DISTANCE CONVEYS THE IDEA OF:
BEING FAR OFF
REMOTENESS
FAR AWAY THAT SOMETHING SEEMS SMALL
HE WANTS JESUS BUT DOES NOT WANT TO BE AFFILIATED WITH JESUS BECAUSE THINGS ARE NOT LOOKING GOOD FOR JESUS, SO PETER STAYS BACK FAR ENOUGH TO NOT BE SO CLOSE, BUT CLOSE ENOUGH TO NOT BE SO FAR:
HE IS BEING SAFE
THIS IS WHAT IS A CHALLENGE FOR THE COMFORTABLE AMERICAN CHURCH.
WE AFFIRM JESUS BUT WE HOLD BACK ALLEGIANCE TO JESUS.
WE CONFESS JESUS BUT WE MINIMIZE THE LIFE THAT CLIAMS HIM
WE LOVE THE CROSS OF JESUS, BUT WE THINK IT CRAZY TO WILLINGLY TAKE UP ONE
WE ARE COMFORTABLE AND WE WOULD RATHER PRESERVE OUR
SOCIAL
FINANCIAL
RELATIONAL AND POLITICAL COMFORT
OVER BEING 100 PERCENT IDENTIFIED AS A CHRIST FOLLOWER.
SO WE DO LIKE PETER - WE DENY HIM
MARK SAYS
And immediately the rooster crowed a second time. And Peter remembered how Jesus had said to him, “Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.” And he broke down and wept.
HE WEPT. BUT WHY DID HE WEEP?
THE ROOSTER REMINDED PETER OF WHAT JESUS SAID EARLIER
And Jesus said to him, “Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.”
AT THAT MOMENT PETER SAW ALL OF HIS SIN AS ONE MOTION PICTURE THAT TOLD THE “E-TRUE HOLLYWOOD STORY” OF HIS LIFE.
YOU SEE, EVERY OTHER SIN HE COULD ISOLATE AND PROBABLY EXPLAIN AWAY AS A MOMENTARY FAILURE.
BUT WHAT WAS BEFORE HIM NOW WAS THE ESSENCE OF WHO HE REALLY WAS AND WHAT HE ACTUALLY DID AND THIS PICTURE MADE HIM WEEP.
THE WORD “WEEP” IS OTEN INTERPRETED “AND WHEN HE THOUGHT ABOUT IT, HE WEPT.”
THIS IS WHY WE DON’T WEEP: WE DON’T THINK ABOUT OUR SIN - WE PUSH IT ASIDE
THIS IS WHY WE DON’T WEEP: WE DON’T THINK ABOUT OUR SIN - WE PUSH IT ASIDE
BUT WHAT IF MY THINKING ABOUT MY SIN AS THE LORD’S EXPOSES IT TO ME IS ACTUALLY THE BEST THING FOR ME?
SEE, HERE IS THE DEAL
JESUS KNOWS WHAT PETER DID NOT KNOW
JESUS KNEW THAT PETER NEEDED SOME TEARS FOR THE PROCESS OF HIS TRANSFORMATION.
JESUS KNEW THERE WOULD NOT BE REAL CHANGE AND READINESS IN PETER UNTIL PETER WAS BROKEN
LUKE RECORDS THIS SCENE WITH JESUS TELLING PETER
“Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat,
but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.”
IN LUKE’S ACCOUNT JESUS IS TELLING PETER:
You cannot be the man I want you to be until you are emptied of the man that you want to be
You cannot be the man I want you to be until you are emptied of the man that you want to be
But to emptied of the man you want to be you need to see that man AND HIS SIN for who he really is
BUT WHEN YOU DO:
WHEN YOU TRULY SEE IT,
YOU CAN TRULY FEEL IT,
AND WHEN YOU TRULY FEEL IT YOU CAN SINCERELY WEEP OVER IT AND REPENT OF IT
WHAT IF YOU NEEDED TO BE SIFTED IN ORDER TO BE LIFTED?
WHAT IF YOU NEEDED TO BE SIFTED IN ORDER TO BE LIFTED?
WHAT IF YOU NEEDED TO BE EMPTIED OF YOURSELF SO THAT YOU CAN RUN IN THE POWER, AUTHORITY AND PURPOSE THE LORD HAS FOR YOU
PETER WOULD BE SIFTED BY THE DEVIL TO SO THAT HE COULD WALK IN THE AUTHORITY OF THE LORD - BUT HE NEEDED TO WEEP
KNOW THIS:
JESUS INTERCEDED FOR PETER AND THAT IS WHAT TURNED HIM AROUND
JESUS INTERCEDED FOR US ON THE CROSS AND THAT WHAT CLEANS US UP
OH, I WANT YOU TO KNOW TODAY THAT
THE STRANGE BEAUTY OF THE GOSPEL IS THIS
THE STRANGE BEAUTY OF THE GOSPEL IS THIS
1. IT CALLS US TO SEE OUR WEAKNESS AND EMBRACE
IT AS OUR STRENGTH - BECAUSE OF THE CROSS
1. IT CALLS US TO SEE OUR WEAKNESS AND EMBRACE
IT AS OUR STRENGTH - BECAUSE OF THE CROSS
2ND COR 12 - PAUL BUFFETED (MESSENGER OF SATAN SENT)
THIS IS WHY PAUL SAID:
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
2. THE GOSPEL CALLS US TO OWN OUR SINFULNESS IN
ORDER TO TAKE AWAY ITS INFLUENCE - BECAUSE OF
THE CROSS
2. THE GOSPEL CALLS US TO OWN OUR SINFULNESS IN
ORDER TO TAKE AWAY ITS INFLUENCE - BECAUSE OF
THE CROSS
THE BARRIER TO OUR EXPERIENCE OF GLORY ON THIS SIDE OF ETERNITY IS OUR UNWILLINGNESS TO SEE WHO WE REALLY ARE AND TO OWN IT
· BUT IF WE DON’T OWN IT WE CANNOT CONFESS IT AND IF WE CANNOT CONFESS IT WE CANNOT BE APPREHENDED BY CHRIST’S MERCY, GRACE AND POWER.
SO PUT AWAY THAT 13INCH, BLACK AND WHITE TV WITH THE FOIL ON THE TOP OF THE ANTENNA
AND GO WATCH THE BIG SCREEN HIGH DEF, TV OF THE GOSPEL AND SEE EVERY NOOK AND CRANNY OF YOUR DEPRAVITY; YES, SEE IT; PNDER OVER IT; ANALYZE IT; DON’T TURN AWAY FROM IT AND THEN, WHEN YOU FALL IN THE AGAINST OF WHAT YOU SEE, YOU WILL HERE THE WORDS OF CHRIST TO YOUR SOUL SAYING:
SON, DAUGHTER, TURN TO ME BECAUSE NOW, YOU ARE READY!