Sermon Tone Analysis

Seven Steps To Backsliding

Mark 14:66-72

INTRODUCTION:

Backsliding is a process.

Eve, first saw, then desired, then took.

The artistry is especially memorable because the contrast is between two rocks.

Christ the Rock, “the spiritual rock” that accompanied Israel in the wilderness (1 Corinthians 10:4), and is now the “foundation” of the Church (1 Corinthians 3:11), remains unmoved.

The other rock is Peter, Petros (Rock), so named by Christ.

For the moment he is seen crumbling under the pressures brought on by being identifed as one of Jesus’ followers.

This provides an instructive contrast, a contrast which is revelant for anyone who is swimming against the tide of culture or who wishes to do so.

So we may trace Peter’s fall step by step.

Let us examine our own hearts in the light of the tragic events in Peter’s downward descent.

I. STEP ONE - SELF-CONFIDENCE.

Peter said, Although all should be offended yet will not I (V.

29).

J.C. Ryle-Expository Thoughts on Mark (Mark 14:53–65: Christ Condemned before the High Priest)

Let us observe in these verses, how foolishly Christians sometimes thrust themselves into temptation.

We are told that when our Lord was led away prisoner, “Peter followed Him afar off, even into the palace of the high priest: and he sat with the servants, and warmed himself at the fire.”*

There was no wisdom in this act.

Having once forsaken his Master and fled, he ought to have remembered his own weakness, and not to have ventured into danger again.

It was an act of rashness and presumption.

It brought on him fresh trials of faith, for which he was utterly unprepared.

It threw him into bad company, where he was not likely to get good but harm.

It paved the way for his last and greatest transgression,—his thrice-repeated denial of his Master.

II.

STEP TWO - BOASTING.

Boasting aka pride

III.

STEP THREE - PRAYERLESSNESS.

Mark 14:32-38

He said unto Peter, Simon, sleepest thou (V.

37).

Sleepy souls are easy marks for Satan’s temptations.

IV.

STEP FOUR - SHAME.

Peter followed him afar off (V. 54).

Christ was now less popular with the crowd, Peter follows but not near enough to be identified with Him.

Ashamed to bear the reproach of Christ, the disciple is backsliding and afar off.

At this moment false witnesses are bringing charges against Jesus, yet Peter says nothing.

Peter could have given testimony to the power of Jesus: healing of his mother in law, raising the dead, feeding the 5000, feeding the 4000, salvation of thousands, calming the sea, the transfiguration, he could have told but he was ashamed!

V. STEP FIVE - WORLDLINESS.

The lost man knows when a Christian is not in the right place.

EX: I have never had a lost man argue with me about a Christian drinking alcohol.

Peter sat with the servants, and warmed himself at the fire (V.

54).

After falling out of step with Christ, it now becomes natural to warm at the fire of the world.

There are some fires we should never warm ourselves by: the fire of the ESV bible, the fire of Calvinism, the fire of Southern Baptists, the fire of rock music, the fire of compromising preachers......

There are other fires that we ought not to warm by: the fires of pride in my standards being higher than yours, the fires of self righteousness, the fires of arrogance, the fires of apathy, etc.

When we warm by the fires of the world we are no longer spiritual and if I am not spiritual then I am worldly and I am backslidden!!!!

VI.

STEP SIX - DENIAL.

The natural consequence of self confidence, boasting, lethargy, and worldliness is denial.

The world and the Devil will surely put the pressure on, and all are forced to either confess Christ or deny Christ with our daily lives.

VII.

STEP SEVEN - RECKLESSNESS.

t was the peculiar habit of the cock crowing, with comparative regularity, at three times during the period between midnight and 3:00 A.M. that accounts for the designation of the third watch of the night as “cock-crow” (cf.

Ch 13:35b).

An early rabbinic tradition speaks of people setting out upon a night journey, departing at the first cock-crow, or the second, or the third (TB Yoma 21a, Baraitha).

Observation over a period of twelve years in Jerusalem has confirmed that the cock crows at three distinct times, first about a half hour after midnight, a second time about an hour later, and a third time an hour after the second.

Each crowing lasts from 3–5 minutes, after which all is quiet again.

Thus between the first crowing, noted in verse 69, and the second only an hour had passed, but Peter had been provoked to deny solemnly and emphatically his relationship to Jesus three times.

He began to curse and to swear, saying, I know not this man.

Often times seven devils return to the house that is now swept and garnished.

CONCLUSION:

But it is an experimental truth that ought never to be overlooked, that when a believer has once begun to backslide and leave his first faith, he seldom stops short at his first mistake.

He seldom makes only one stumble.

He seldom commits only one fault.

A blindness seems to come over the eyes of his understanding.

He appears to cast over-board his common sense and discretion.

Like a stone rolling down-hill, the further he goes on in sinning, the faster and more decided is his course.

Like David, he may begin with idleness, and end with committing every possible crime.

Like Peter, he may begin with cowardice,—go on to foolish trifling with temptation, and then end with denying Christ.

What is the prevention of Backsliding?

Realize how weak I am...

Hudson Taylor said, “God chose me because I was weak enough.

He trains somebody to be quiet enough, and little enough, and then uses him.”

As the beloved Vance Havner put it: “The Lord had the strength and I had the weakness, so we teamed up!

It was an unbeatable combination.”8

The Revived Life (The Revived Life)

"I'm weak, and I will always be weak this side of heaven.

But He's strong, and He will always be strong.

The Spirit-filled life is not me becoming strong; it is me recognizing that I am weak and always will be, so I keep trusting in Him who is always strong."

What is the cure for backsliding?

It is confession and repentance.

Peter went out and wept bitterly.

Now in all sincerity, have we been guilty of boasting, shame, or self-confidence?

If we have, we can start the revival in our own hearts by humble repentance.