I'm In Denial But, I'm Coming Out

Introduction

There was once this boy who played basketball. He loved the game of basketball and he would spend countless hours practicing his craft to be better and to improve his game. He was dedicated to this game and wanted to be the best he could be. One day this young man was in a game and he was going up for a layup and his knee buckled and instantly fell to the ground. After this he rested and took an Xray which the Xray came back negative. The xrays came back negative. They informed the young man after the xray to get an Mri to be on the safe side. Not only get the MRI but to take some time off for a few weeks. So this young man took a few weeks out but his MRI appointment wasn’t until a month and half later. During this time the young mans knee started feeling better full range of motion was there. He was able to move, cut, Jump, all of these above. His knee felt great. So the story goes on and The young man got the MRI and about 2 weeks later the MRI came back and the report was that his ACL was torn. The Young man was in denial he didn’t want to believe it he could run jump and cut do everything but his ACL was torn he didn’t want to believe it but it was torn. Many times in life we find ourselves in situations where we are in denial about things. Okay you don’t believe no matter what you think or believe life without mask and covid 19 isn’t going anywhere soon. And many times we find ourselves believing that this pandemic is over even when we see the numbers rising people still dying and getting sick but we are in denial that this pandemic is over and is going to end.

Thats just how it is with some christians we find ourselves making everything look good on the outside when we have structural damage on the inside that we find denying it because of how we are able to make things look with our outer appearance.

What I like about the story of the young man even though on the outside his knee looked fine and he could do things but on the inside it was still damaged and the more he cut and ran and jumped he was just making more damage to the inside of his knee and the more damage means more needs to be repaired.

We have christians who like to make things seem like its all good on the outside. They come and sing and shout and pray but in all reality they are damaged on the inside. They find themselves in denial with being structurally damaged on the inside and they keep doing things that are damaging their inside even more. And I just stop by to let somebody know today that its time to be repaired. You’ve been in denial long enough. So i came this morning to speak over you life to be Healed in Jesus Name. The time of being in denial is over but its time to stand firm on Gods word and let him heal you.

Christians have no reason to be in denial when we have christ on our side, but there are times when find ourselves in denial and believing things of the World More than things of the Word.

In our Sermonic Dissertation today we see first hand how you can be in christ walking with christ and still be in denial and deny him. Today We look at the book of Matthew where we see one of Jesus own denies him. Peter Denied christ. It throws me for a loop on how Peter Could Deny christ. Pastor Brown it didn’t make sense to me because if you look at the life of peter. Peter was a disciple, Peter was one of the 12 apostles, Peter was a follower of christ. We can see throughout this whole gospel of the book of Matthew peter was one that was seen a-lot. Lets take a look we see in the earlier chapters of matthew about the many things that Peter did.

We see in Matthew 14 27-31

Matthew 14:27–31 NLT

But Jesus spoke to them at once. “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Take courage. I am here!” Then Peter called to him, “Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water.” “Yes, come,” Jesus said. So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. “Save me, Lord!” he shouted. Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him. “You have so little faith,” Jesus said. “Why did you doubt me?”

We see here the faith of peter. Jesus is walking on the water and peter’s faith bids him to ask jesus a Question he Says Lord if its You let me come. Jesus Tells peter to come and peter gets out of the boat and begins to walk. I want to pause right here and tell somebody you been in the boat long enough but its time to step out of the boat. You say you have faith and trust in God but you are afraid to get out of the boat. Look at your neighbor and say Get out the Boat. You have the faith God is just waiting on you get out of the Boat. I come against the spirit of fear and charge you today to get out of the Boat. Its time to be a water walker. Dry land was good for a season but God has more for you if you just Get out Of the BOAT!!!

But something happened to peter when he got out the boat. He Began to walk and while walking on this water The bible says he sees the wind and the waves and he becomes terrified and begins to sink. In other words denial creeps in on peter he begins to let the mighty winds and waves cause him to take his eyes off of Jesus. If i may use my sanctified imagination that I believe Peter began to say to him self its no way I’m walking on water with this crazy storm out here its no way i’m doing it and once he began to say that he began to look and thats where he messed up at. Peter Looks at the winds and waves and begins to sink. When he begins to sink he calls on the master to save him Jesus picks peter up from sinking and says these words, Oh ye of little faith, Why did you doubt me. Peter allowed denial to sink in thats what caused him to stop looking towards jesus and to start looking at the winds and the waves. But what i like about this is that Jesus tells him oh ye of little faith. Brothers and sisters when we let denial sink in our faith will be little. If we don’t want to have little faith we must not let denial slip in but keep your focus on Jesus. I just want to stop right here and ask a question is your focus on jesus. The storms of life are going to rise winds are going to blow rain is going to fall but you must remain focus on Jesus. Because Jesus is the one who will be there with you to get you through your storm. When you tried your parents and they left you and when you tried your boyfriend and girlfriend and they left you Jesus will be there. They use to sing a song He was there all the time the lord was there all the time waiting patiently in line He was there all the time. The bible reminds me that some trust in horses and some in chariots but we will remember the lord our God. Some trust in horoscopes and in burning sage trust in their money and job but i Stopped by to tell you to keep your trust and focus on Jesus. Look at your neighbor and ask them where is your focus.

Keep your focus on Jesus.

Now we see Peter 2 chapters later in chapter 16. Matthew 16:13-19

Matthew 16:13–19 NLT

When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” “Well,” they replied, “some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say Jeremiah or one of the other prophets.” Then he asked them, “But who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus replied, “You are blessed, Simon son of John, because my Father in heaven has revealed this to you. You did not learn this from any human being. Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means ‘rock’), and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it. And I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven. Whatever you forbid on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven.”

Peter becomes the spokesman for the disciples right here. The disciples had been with Jesus for some time by now but Jesus Ask a question. He Says Who do men say that I Am. The disciples begin to answer by saying they say you are one of the prophets or John the baptist. Then he asked them well since you have been walking with me and who do you say that I am, and one disciple by the name of peter spoke up and though art the christ the son of the living God. Jesus said Peter Flesh and Blood didn’t reveal this to you but my Father in Heaven has revealed this to you and for this reason Simon Peter you are blessed.

My brothers and sisters if jesus were to ask you a question how would you answer.

Peter here is walking in the spirit he realizes that it is christ who is the Messiah the Son of the God, The question was asked to all of them but it was peter that Answered correctly. Are you answering correctly? Has God given you a revelation of who he is? God is

Jehovah Jireh- The Lord That Provides

He is Jehovah Shalom- The Lord of Peace

He is- Jehovah Rophe- The Lord that heals

He is Jehovah Uzzi - The Lord My strength

He is Jehovah Nissi- The Lord My Banner

He is A Waymaker

He is a Miracle Worker

He is a Light in the darkness

Grandma would say he is my leaning post

He is my walking stick

He is my all in all.

And if you can’t remember that Just remember He is Jesus the one Who Bled Suffered and Died., rose on the third day, just for you.

Just look at somebody and ask them do you know who he is? That was the wrong person Look at somebody else and ask them Do you know who he is?

The Lord Blesses Peter For Knowing who he Was.

Now we we see peter in this same chapter a few verses later being rebuked. Peter Had a roller coaster ride it seemed like Every-time he would do something Good he would mess up and do Something bad.

Peter just a few verses Later let Denial creep in yet again. If you go back and read the text it tells us that Jesus is telling His disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and that he will have to die. He is telling his disciples that and of course you had the one spokeperson who was going to speak up and that was peter. Peter Begins to say he forbids this and says this cannot happen to you, But Jesus Spoke and Told Peter Get Thee Behind Me Satan. Peter here let denial Invade his ranks one more time. He begins to deny the things that Jesus and saying thats why Jesus Has to Rebuke him.

Peter Was Just Had This great Revelation of Who christ was then he comes back and Lets His flesh take over and evaluated what God said not from a spiritual perspective but a human flesh perspective.

Be careful how you evaluate things. Some things need spiritual evaluation. This is because from a flesh evaluation it could have us thinking that some things that we do is Right when it is really wrong.

Im sorry im a neighbor preacher just look at somebody close to you and ask them How are you evaluating things.

Now as We look here in our Lesson today It’s A Few Points I want to pull from this lesson why Peter Found himself in Denial. These points I share today if we are doing these things we can find ourselves in denial as well.

We See Peter in the Text that he Denied Christ 3 times. If we look in Matthew the 26 chapter its some things that happened and led up to Peter denying christ. I want you to keep an close Look at what the text say sin Matthew 26:33-35

Matthew 26:33–35 NLT

Peter declared, “Even if everyone else deserts you, I will never desert you.” Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, Peter—this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny three times that you even know me.” “No!” Peter insisted. “Even if I have to die with you, I will never deny you!” And all the other disciples vowed the same.

Now we here Peter has Said in Verse 35 that Even if I have to die with you i will never deny you. This was interesting to me Peter says this but if go take a look at Matthew 26:58

Matthew 26:58 NLT

Meanwhile, Peter followed him at a distance and came to the high priest’s courtyard. He went in and sat with the guards and waited to see how it would all end.

Peter Said Lord I will never deny you and even if i have to die with you, then thats what it is. Peter Said this and all the other disciples vowed and agreed with him. Peter Now in verse 58 is now following from a distance. My brothers and sisters if we want don’t want to be in denial we must have perseverance. If peter was really about what he said and vowed he wouldn’t be following Jesus From a Far but he would be up there with him. He Just said even if he has to die with him then he would do it now he is following from a far distance. Brothers and Sisters if we don’t want to be in denial we must have perseverance to stand for our Lord. Perseverance to Say Lord I’m willing to God with you all the way. For God i will live and for God i will die. We got to persevere in our relationship with christ because we have a reward if we keep pushing through. Persevere through the storm Persevere through the hurt persevere through the pain, Because my bible tells me that the sufferings of this present world is nothing compared to glory that shall be revealed to us. So in order to not be in denial you must Persevere. The song writer puts it like this Don’t Give Up on God cause he won’t give up on you. Keep Persevering.

Let us Also take a look at Matthew 26:36-41

Matthew 26:36–41 NLT

Then Jesus went with them to the olive grove called Gethsemane, and he said, “Sit here while I go over there to pray.” He took Peter and Zebedee’s two sons, James and John, and he became anguished and distressed. He told them, “My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” He went on a little farther and bowed with his face to the ground, praying, “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” Then he returned to the disciples and found them asleep. He said to Peter, “Couldn’t you watch with me even one hour? Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak!”

This is My second Point The reason you may find yourself in Denial is because you are not praying. Jesus here gives instructions to peter, James and John to keep watch why he goes to pray. Jesus goes and pray and he comes back and find his disciples sleeping.Jesus said could you not keep watch for an hour while i went to pray. Jesus also goes on to tell them for a second time to Keep watch and Pray so they won’t fall into temptation for the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.

Brothers and sisters it is key that we have a prayer life. Prayer is essential. Prayer is how we communicate with God. We must learn how to to take time out and pray. Nobody wants to have prayer time anymore. But the saints of old use to sing a song I know Prayer changes things. Is there anybody here that knows prayer changes things. I just need somebody to open up there mouth throw their head back and say Prayer changes things.

Yes prayer changes things, So we must continually pray because this flesh of ours is weak and if he don’t put it in check we will find ourselves in denial. The only denying we should be doing is denying our flesh.

Brothers and Sisters we must keep prayer in our life so we won’t be in denial.

For my final point Lets look here at Matthew 26:69-75

Matthew 26:69–75 NLT

Meanwhile, Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. A servant girl came over and said to him, “You were one of those with Jesus the Galilean.” But Peter denied it in front of everyone. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said. Later, out by the gate, another servant girl noticed him and said to those standing around, “This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.” Again Peter denied it, this time with an oath. “I don’t even know the man,” he said. A little later some of the other bystanders came over to Peter and said, “You must be one of them; we can tell by your Galilean accent.” Peter swore, “A curse on me if I’m lying—I don’t know the man!” And immediately the rooster crowed. Suddenly, Jesus’ words flashed through Peter’s mind: “Before the rooster crows, you will deny three times that you even know me.” And he went away, weeping bitterly.

My Last point when i looked at these scriptures Something jumped out at me. The text tells us peter was sitting in the courtyard. I can just imagine I know the people are turnt up. They have Jesus and they are mocking him spitting on him treating him real bad. They go on to say that christ deserves to die. And Peter is justing sitting there in the Courtyard. My brothers and sisters i would make the suggestion today that Peter was persuaded thats why he was in denial and denied jesus. If i may put this text in the JLC translation. Peter was out there and he seen all that was going on they probably had a fish fry going cause you know it was a friday. They probably had music playing having a good time because they had caught Jesus and are about to crucify him. Peter being human probably got him a piece of fish and a red solo cup and started enjoying himself out there. But The time came and a servant girl came over to peter and said Aren’t you one of those that be with Jesus and Peter Denied it.

Then he goes on and another servant Girl notices peter and says that is one of the ones who was with Jesus of Nazareth and Peter Denies it again

Finally Another bystander comes by and says i can hear it in your accent that you are one of them who is with Jesus and for the third time peter denied it.

Peter denied the fact that he knew christ.

I come to ask you a question this morning have you denied knowing Christ because of your persuasion to other things. Your speech used to be of holiness, now you are talking like the world. Not only are your actions, persuaded, sitting amongst and participating with the world, but your speech is also persuaded.

The only thing that we must be persuaded to do is to stay with The Lord. The bible tells me in Romans 8:38-39

Romans 8:38–39 NLT

And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

I’ll Let nothing separate me from Gods word. I won’t Let Alcohol, I wont let weed, I won’t Let Sexual Desires, I wont Let Friends, I won’t Let family I won’t let denial, I won’t let anything separate me from the Love of God.

Peter messed up and he know he messed up but the text goes on to say that he left and went away weeping. This weep was different it was a weep and tears and repentance.

Im So Glad it didn't end there for peter but after the resurrection of Christ he got himself together and Christ used Peter To Establish the Church in the book of Acts. Peter was in denial in Matthew but he was preaching and helping those be delivered in Acts. Im so Glad Peter did let the denial be his End but he Got himself together and Preach so In Acts that 3000 souls got saved. Acts 2:41

Acts 2:41 NLT

Those who believed what Peter said were baptized and added to the church that day—about 3,000 in all.

Its time for us to come out of denial you been in denial long enough, Its time to go and preach and tell the Good news about Jesus, Get out your feelings and Tell somebody about Jesus. Denial has no place because There was a man that came Down through 42 Generations this man is Jesus......