When the Presure is On, Will You Confess Christ?
Seeing Jesus Through the Eyes of a Friend • Sermon • Submitted
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· 9 viewsPeter deny's Christ for the 2nd and 3rd time...
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Introduction
Opening - Lead with a Story! In the movie Wonder...
Via and her friend Miranda...
Miranda is very aloof to Via and blows her off and goes and sits with her new and cool friends. Via was devastated because her friend blew her off and was basically ashamed of her once closest friend.
Textual Idea - Peter Fails Twice in Admitting He knows Jesus
Peter Fails in Admitting He knows Jesus
Main Idea - When the Pressure Mounts will You Admit you Know Jesus?
Transition -
Remember in the last scene, the High Priest, Annas sent Jesus off to the High Priest for that year, Caiaphas to face another illegal, Jewish trial.
1. Do You Buckle Under the Pressure of Direct Confrontation? (vs. 25)
25 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.”
2
Explain - Remember, as we work our way through chapter 18, we are taking each stop in the story that John takes. First we saw Judas and the Roman soldiers come and arrest Jesus. Then Jesus is brought before the High Priest Annas. After this we see Peter first deny Jesus. Then Jesus is questioned by Annas and then sent to Caiaphas. And that brings us to today’s focus...
Peter standing by the fire warming himself…standing with the enemies of Jesus. What a poignant picture when you consider the situation. Peter, following Jesus because of curiosity more than anything. Now standing in the courtyard of the High Priest in the early, early morning hours. Warming himself, desperate to remain incognito. Especially being within earshot of both Annas’ and Caiaphas’ interrogations. If you remember, Annas specifically asked about Jesus’ disciples. Not good news for a disciple that wished to remain anonymous.
Jesus, however stands in front of a different fire. Look at what Jesus was dealing with while Peter was warming himself. Jesus is on trial before Caiaphas. The synoptics fill in the gaps here (; ; ) and Mark’s account is the most robust...
53 And they led Jesus to the high priest. And all the chief priests and the elders and the scribes came together. 54 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. 55 Now the chief priests and the whole council were seeking testimony against Jesus to put him to death, but they found none. 56 For many bore false witness against him, but their testimony did not agree. 57 And some stood up and bore false witness against him, saying, 58 “We heard him say, ‘I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and in three days I will build another, not made with hands.’ ” 59 Yet even about this their testimony did not agree. 60 And the high priest stood up in the midst and asked Jesus, “Have you no answer to make? What is it that these men testify against you?” 61 But he remained silent and made no answer. Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?” 62 And Jesus said, “I am, and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.” 63 And the high priest tore his garments and said, “What further witnesses do we need? 64 You have heard his blasphemy. What is your decision?” And they all condemned him as deserving death. 65 And some began to spit on him and to cover his face and to strike him, saying to him, “Prophesy!” And the guards received him with blows.
By the way, Jesus had to meet with Caiaphas for this “official” trial in order to have the opportunity to go before the Roman Governor...
So while all of this is going on at 2 am Friday morning, Peter is comforting himself by a fire while standing with the enemies of His Rabbi.
Peter is comforting himself while standing with sinners. Jesus is standing for the truth and not comfortable at all.
What an interesting contrast to Jesus is standing for the truth and not comfortable at all. Take a look at the verse again...
25 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.”
25 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.”
Maybe it was the light of this fire that caused someone to see Peter’s face and recognize him?
Imagine, Jesus is being interrogated and Peter is scared to death! After all, it wasn’t too long ago that Annas asked Jesus about His disciples. Perhaps Peter overheard this exchange and it freaked him out?
Maybe it was the light of this fire that caused someone to see Peter’s face and recognize him?
55 And when they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat down among them. 56 Then a servant girl, seeing him as he sat in the light and looking closely at him, said, “This man also was with him.”
Peter, couldn’t catch a break! He just wanted to remain anonymous to see what what going on with Jesus. And now, over and over people keep pestering him about who he is and does he have a relationship with the guy on trial!
Remember his response to the accusation in verse 17?
17 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 look again at how he responds in verse 25...
25 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.”
He denied it! “I am not”!
“I AM NOT”
By the way, do you happen to remember how Jesus responded when the 600 Roman soldiers showed up in the garden to arrest him?
3 So Judas, having procured a band of soldiers and some officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, went there with lanterns and torches and weapons. 4 Then Jesus, knowing all that would happen to him, came forward and said to them, “Whom do you seek?” 5 They answered him, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus said to them, “I am he.” Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them.
“I AM HE” In fact, He said it twice!!! I AM HE!! He didn’t back down! He stood strong and bold in the midst of personally harmful circumstances - remember He was completely innocent!
What a contrast from the Apostle Peter!!
The Pillar New Testament Commentary: The Gospel according to John 5. Peter’s Second and Third Denials of Jesus (18:25–27)
‘John has constructed a dramatic contrast wherein Jesus stands up to his questioners and denies nothing, while Peter cowers before his questioners and denies everything’ (Brown, 2. 842).
Something gave his identity away.
But what is really interesting is when we harmonize the accounts, according to Matthew, there was another denial between and 25. Look at Matthews account and how adamant Peter’s denial is here...
55 And when they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat down among them. 56 Then a servant girl, seeing him as he sat in the light and looking closely at him, said, “This man also was with him.”
Luke
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.”
72 And again he denied it with an oath: “I do not know the man.”
Folks, pardon my phrasing here, I mean no disrespect, but in quoting the Apostle Peter, it is as if he is saying, “I swear to God I do not know the man!”
Illustrate - Something about one person not admitting to knowing anther person out of embarrassment and
The pressure was mounting on Peter. More and more accusations (albeit true accusations) were mounting against Him and Peter was buckling under the pressure.
The contrast between Jesus and Peter is unmistakeable.
Jesus before the roman soldiers?
4 Then Jesus, knowing all that would happen to him, came forward and said to them, “Whom do you seek?” 5 They answered him, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus said to them, “I am he.” Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them.
Jesus before Annas -
20 Jesus answered him, “I have spoken openly to the world. I have always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all Jews come together. I have said nothing in secret.
Peter before the door keeping servant girl -
17 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.”
John
And as He warmed himself in front of the fire and was confronted by the officers and the servants?
The Pillar New Testament Commentary: The Gospel according to John 5. Peter’s Second and Third Denials of Jesus (18:25–27)
‘John has constructed a dramatic contrast wherein Jesus stands up to his questioners and denies nothing, while Peter cowers before his questioners and denies everything’ (Brown, 2. 842).
“I am not”
John is laying our a very clear contrast between the perfect boldness of Jesus and the frail fear of Peter and the other disciples. He (they) buckled under the scrutiny and immense pressure of being a disciple of Jesus.
Peter was directly confronted about his relationship with Jesus. He had a choice to make each time. And each time he chose against Jesus and for Himself.
I can’t begin to understand what that hour must have been like for Peter. And now his wrong decisions are forever recorded in God’s Holy Word (are you thankful this isn’t true of you?)
But this example is here for our encouragement and help...
Apply - Every one of us who name Christ as our savior run the risk of denial. We still have the seeds of doubt and rebellion coursing through our sinful flesh. As the great hymn, “Come Thou Fount” says in the second verse...
Oh, to grace how great a debtor
daily I'm constrained to be!
Let thy goodness, like a fetter,
bind my wandering heart to thee:
prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,
prone to leave the God I love;
here's my heart, O take and seal it;
seal it for thy courts above.
You and I have the propensity to buckle under the pressure of direct confrontation regarding Jesus. Understanding this and knowing this about ourselves will help us as we prepare ourselves to be the loving soldiers for Christ we have been called to be...
So, first we must recognize this about ourselves.
Second we must pray for power to overcome the fear of man...
6 The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?
Third, realize those confronting you have no real power over you. In fact, they are desperately lost and in need of rescue. Look at how God treats his enemies...
10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.
Fourth, if you are a Christian, you are in Christ and Christ is in you! Look at what God says about you!
You are blameless and free from accusation. ()
Christ Himself is in you. ()
You are firmly rooted in Christ and are now being built up in Him. ()
You have been made complete in Christ. ()
You have been spiritually circumcised. Your old unregenerate nature has been removed. ()
removed. ()
You have been buried, raised, and made alive with Christ. (,)
You died with Christ and You have been raised up with Christ. Your life is now hidden with Christ in God. Christ is now your life. ()
With Christ in God. Christ is now my life. ()
You are an expression of the life of Christ because He is your life. ()
You are chosen of God, holy and dearly loved. (; )
You are a son or daughter of light and not of darkness. ()
You have been given a spirit of power, love, and self-discipline. ()
You have been saved and set apart according to God’s doing. (; )
(; )
Because You are sanctified and are one with the Sanctifier, He is not ashamed to call you brother or sister. ()
to call me brother. ()
You are a holy partaker of a heavenly calling. ()
You have the right to come boldly before the throne of God to find mercy and grace in a time of need. ()
grace in a time of need. ()
You have been born again. ()
You are one of God’s living stones, being built up in Christ as a spiritual house. ()
()
You are a member of a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a People for God’s own possession. (,)
People for God’s own possession. (,)
You are an alien and stranger to this world in which I temporarily live. ()
()
You are an enemy of the devil. ()
You have been given exceedingly great and precious promises by God by which you are a partaker of God’s divine nature. ()
Which I am a partaker of God’s divine nature. ()
You are forgiven on the account of Jesus’ name. ()
You are anointed by God. ()
You are a child of God and I will resemble Christ when He returns. (,)
I am loved. ()
You are like Christ. ()
You have life. ()
I am born of God, and the evil one…the devil…cannot touch me. (:8)
(:`8)
You have been redeemed. ()
You are loved. ()
Actually there is much more in the Scriptures regarding what God says about you who are in Christ.
Peter failed to understand these things. You cannot!
When the waves of doubt crush in never forget who you are in Christ. If you remember and believe, you won’t buckle like Peter did. In fact, when you truly believe these things that God says about you, you will gladly admit you know Jesus!
Review - When the Pressure Mounts, Will you Admit you Know Jesus?
Do you buckle under the pressure of direct confrontation?
2. Are You Broken Over the Reality of Determined Failure? (vs. 26-27)
What does this mean? Well, While it is true that one can sin without much thought, most all sin is a conscious decision to live for self and go against God and His ways. This is what I mean by “the reality of DETERMINED FAILURE.” Are you broken by your choice to sin? Does it bother you when you sin and choose against God?
As we continue with this story we see, yet again, Peter’s choice to deny Christ. No one held a gun to his head and made him reject Jesus. He chose it all on his own. Look at the next two verses...
26 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?” 27 Peter again denied it, and at once a rooster crowed.
26
Explain -
In the Thomas and Gundry “A Harmony of the Gospels” the authors claim that between the four gospels there are at least 4 times Peter denied Jesus. Over and over when given the opportunity to stand for truth, Peter buckled under the pressure.
If we were to read only John’s story about Peter’s denial of Christ, we might get the impression there was no real regret on Peter’s behalf. After all, John moves from the rooster crowing right into the trial before Pilate.
However, this is the value of the harmonization of the other gospels to give us a fuller picture of what took place.
Just like
A police officer will ask many bystanders to a car accident so he can get the most complete picture of what happened...
In his gospel account, John moves from the rooster crowing right into the trial before Pilate. But the other gospels paint a more complete picture for us...
But the other gospels paint a more complete picture for us...
God has given us four witnesses to help us has the fullest picture possible. Here what these witnesses said about what happened before and after the roster crowed...
58 And a little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.” But Peter said, “Man, I am not.” 59 And after an interval of about an hour still another insisted, saying, “Certainly this man also was with him, for he too is a Galilean.” 60 But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are talking about.” And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. 61 And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the saying of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.” 62 And he went out and wept bitterly.
58-
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.
Matt
72 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.
Mark 1
Illustrate -
58 And a little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.” But Peter said, “Man, I am not.” 59 And after an interval of about an hour still another insisted, saying, “Certainly this man also was with him, for he too is a Galilean.” 60 But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are talking about.” And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. 61 And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the saying of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.” 62 And he went out and wept bitterly.
John doesn’t tell us this information because the other three do...
Can you imagine Peter’s shame? His regret? His realization of his determined self-preservation as the Lord Jesus looked at him…He was just slapped, punched and beaten for speaking the truth! Exactly opposite of what Peter had just done. He lied over and over because He was more interested in saving his own skin than supporting the savior of the world. What a horrible moment for Peter!
John MacArthur - This is colossal. This is Peter who said, “To whom shall we go, You and You alone have the words of eternal life.” Who said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” This is Peter, the great leader, the great preacher. How can this happen? This is a believer. And this is not just a momentary slip up, his denials if you think they happen in a brief time, you miss it. His denials are strung out over two hours and the first one was a shock and a surprise, but the next two were pre-meditated responses, not just knee-jerk. You might think that it took about as long to do this, in Peter’s case, as it did for me to read it, you’d be very wrong. The text is brief but the experience was strung out over those two hours. In fact, the same two hours that Jesus is on trial before Annas and Caiaphas, in the house of Annas and the house of Caiaphas being the same house, the great enclave of the high priestly family, this is a concurrent second-story line, this is a subplot. Jesus on trial for two hours from one to three, Peter denial from one to three, they run concurrently. Christ is seen in glorious triumphant, speaking honestly knowing it will cost Him His life. Peter speaks dishonestly trying to preserve his life.
Illustrate -
Can anyone here this morning relate to Peter? Have you ever been in a situation where you denied Christ? Maybe it was as simple as not bringing up the fact that you know Him when it was quite appropriate to do so? Or maybe it was a straight up denial? For me, I know I can easily downplay my relationship with Christ when I am around unbelievers. This is an area I am actively working to change in my own personal walk.
Argue - Peter was broken for His sin against his Savior, his close, personal friend. He let Jesus down because he, the bold, brash, confident, courageous one didn’t have the hutzpah to admit to knowing Jesus! And he grieved over this! He wept bitterly because of His sin and shame. After all the Lord had done for him, this is he treats his Rabbi!
But I have a question for you. Didn’t Judas do the same thing? He denied Jesus just like Peter! He turned his back on the Sinless Son of God! Both men, Peter and Judas betrayed Jesus. Both were sorry. Why is Judas synonomous with treachery and betrayal while Peter is considered to be a key leader in the first church and allowed to pen holy scripture?
A couple of reasons. First, Judas was never a believer and was always in it for Himself...
6 He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it.
Second
Eventually he became a tool of Satan himself. At the last supper...
2 And the chief priests and the scribes were seeking how to put him to death, for they feared the people.
3 Then Satan entered into Judas called Iscariot, who was of the number of the twelve.
3 Then Satan entered into Judas called Iscariot, who was of the number of the twelve.
Yet after he sold Jesus out, he exhibited remorse, regret and shame...
1 When morning came, all the chief priests and the elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death. 2 And they bound him and led him away and delivered him over to Pilate the governor. 3 Then when Judas, his betrayer, saw that Jesus was condemned, he changed his mind and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders, 4 saying, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” They said, “What is that to us? See to it yourself.” 5 And throwing down the pieces of silver into the temple, he departed, and he went and hanged himself.
Do you notice something here? Judas allowed his regret to drive him away from God not to him. It drove Him to continue to take things into his own hands and take his own life. Judas didn’t run to Jesus for forgiveness, he ran away from Jesus and not only was a thief and betrayer, but now a murderer of himself.
Peter, on the other hand was despairing but his grief and guilt eventually led him back to Jesus not away from Him.
In the last chapter of this Gospel, John records this beautiful moment of restoration after the resurrection!
15 When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” 16 He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” 17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. 18 Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.” 19 (This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, “Follow me.”
20 Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them, the one who also had leaned back against him during the supper and had said, “Lord, who is it that is going to betray you?” 21 When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, “Lord, what about this man?” 22 Jesus said to him, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!” 23 So the saying spread abroad among the brothers that this disciple was not to die; yet Jesus did not say to him that he was not to die, but, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you?”
24 This is the disciple who is bearing witness about these things, and who has written these things, and we know that his testimony is true.
25 Now there are also many other things that Jesus did. Were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.
15 When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” 16 He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” 17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. 18 Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.” 19 (This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, “Follow me.”
And Peter did follow Jesus. In fact Peter, by the grace of God and the power of the Holy Spirit, He became a force to be reckoned with in the newly established church! He preached the gospel powerfully and thousands came to know Jesus! God used him over and over throughout the rest of his life! An unschooled fisherman, because he ran to Christ after his failure and not away from Him, was used by God in immeasurable ways in establishing and growing Christ’s church!
Judas ran from Jesus, Peter ran to Him! This is the difference. One had, what Paul calls a “Worldly sorrow” while the other had a “Godly sorrow.”
8 For even if I made you grieve with my letter, I do not regret it—though I did regret it, for I see that that letter grieved you, though only for a while. 9 As it is, I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because you were grieved into repenting. For you felt a godly grief, so that you suffered no loss through us.
10 For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.
10 For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.
Peter had a godly grief and Judas had a worldly grief. The first led to a radical and bold life for Jesus. The second lead to self-murder and death.
Folks, sorry over sin can lead to life!
32 but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.”
Apply - Everyone of us in the room, bar none are sinners. We have chosen our way over God’s way. Everyone of us in this room deserved eternal punishment in Hell. But if you come to terms with this reality and recognized you are a sinner and that the only one who can give you any hope is Jesus,
Does your sin drive you to Jesus or away from Him? It seems counterintuitive to run to Jesus when we sin. It seems to make more sense to run from Him. That is the last thing you need. Running to Him is a sign of humility and brokenness. There is no other way that you can enjoy the fruits of forgiveness other than running to Jesus...
And by the way, when we run to Him, He is already running to us...
17 “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.” ’ 20 And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. 21 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. 23 And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. 24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.
11 And he said, “There was a man who had two sons. 12 And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them. 13 Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living. 14 And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. 16 And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything. 17 “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.” ’ 20 And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. 21 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. 23 And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. 24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate. 25 “Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. 27 And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and sound.’ 28 But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, 29 but he answered his father, ‘Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!’ 31 And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. 32 It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.’ ”
For the unbeliever...
Luke 1
I’m not sure where you are at today but I know this. Pride, self-assurance, arrogance will keep you from running to Jesus...
Will you just take a minute to recognize that you may be caught up in sin and it is that sin that driving you away from God but it also drove Jesus to the cross...
He wants you to come home like the prodigal son did - he’ll run to you!
He wants to to be restored like Peter was - He’ll gladly take you back!
He doesn’t want you to take things into your own hands like Judas did. It will only lead to permanent separation and eternal death!
Review - When the Pressure Mounts, Will you Admit you Know Jesus?
Do you buckle under the pressure of direct confrontation?
1.
2. Are You Broken over the reality of determined failure?
Conclusion
Explain -
Illustrate -
Argue -
Apply -
Review -
1.
2.
3.
Conclusion
Concluding thought
I like to think of the Peter that became the bold lion for the Lord. God turned him into a force for righteousness! The time is now for your to admit you know Jesus. Become a comfortable expert at letting people know about your Jesus. Do it in small ways. Make it part of your language and lifestyle. Start it today! Do it this week. Admit you know Jesus.
Because I promise you the time is coming soon where you very well may be made to to answer this question.
Invitation
Questions for Reflection
Why is it so easy for believers to buckle under the pressure of direct confrontation against their faith? Has this happened to you? What happened?
How does knowing who you are in Christ help believers to stand strong? What are some ways you can have these truths sink into you mind and heart?
Why is a genuine brokenness about our sin a good thing for believers to experience?
Describe in your own words the difference between the regret of Peter verses the regret of Judas.
What does genuine repentance look like?