SHARING BREAD
69 Now Peter was sitting out in the courtyard, and a
servant girl came to him. “You also were with Jesus of Galilee,” she said.
70 But he denied it before them all. “I don't know what you're talking about,” he said.
71 Then he went out to the gateway, where another girl saw him and said to the people there, “This fellow was with Jesus of Nazareth.”
72 He denied it again, with an oath: "I don't know the man!"
73 After a little while, those standing there went up to Peter and said, “Surely you are one of them, for your accent gives you away.”
74 Then he began to call down curses on himself and he swore to them, “I don't know the man!”
Immediately a rooster crowed. 75 Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: “Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly.
70 But he denied it before them all. “I don't know what you're talking about,” he said.
71 Then he went out to the gateway, where another girl saw him and said to the people there, “This fellow was with Jesus of Nazareth.”
72 He denied it again, with an oath: "I don't know the man!"
73 After a little while, those standing there went up to Peter and said, “Surely you are one of them, for your accent gives you away.”
74 Then he began to call down curses on himself and he swore to them, “I don't know the man!”
Immediately a rooster crowed. 75 Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: “Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly.
Matt
26:69-75 (NIV)
Poor Pete! It’s a
bummer to have too much confidence in the flesh is it not? To think we will definitely do this or that or definitely not do this or that is simply setting
ourselves up to be Humpty Dumpty, sitting ripe for a fall. Self-assurance will get us into trouble more
often than not. Remember, Paul boasted
in his weaknesses – not his strengths – so that Christ’s power would rest on
him. Besides that, Christ won’t own what
the flesh alone accomplishes – it’s mere chaff:
7 To keep me from becoming conceited because of these
surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a
messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8 Three
times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9 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 about my weaknesses, so that
Christ's power may rest on me. 10 That
is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships,
in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Cor 12:7-10 (NIV)
“Take heed that you do not glory in your graces, but let all
your glorying and confidence be in Christ and His strength, for this is the
only way you can be kept from falling.
Pray more often. Spend longer
periods of time in holy adoration. Read
the Scriptures more earnestly and constantly.
Watch your lives more carefully.
Live nearer to God. Take the best
examples for your pattern. Let your
conversation emit the fragrance of heaven.
Let your hearts be perfumed with affection for the souls of others. So live that others may recognize that you
have been with Jesus, and have learned of Him…On, Christian, with care and
caution! On, with holy fear and trembling! On, with faith and confidence in Jesus alone,
and let your constant petition be, ‘Sustain me according to your promise.’ He, and He alone, is able ‘to keep you from
falling and to present you before His glorious presence without fault and with
great joy.’” Charles H. Spurgeon
We are to always be on our guard - particularly in areas where
we are the most vulnerable and prone to fall.
When we become careless or lazy in fortifying these breeches in our
walls of self-control, Satan will come upon us both quickly and expertly. The adversary is a very good shot with his
fiery arrows and seeks his aim right where our weaknesses are uncovered and
unfortified. This is why Jesus told
Peter to watch and pray – it would behoove us to heed these instructions as
well. The body may be willing but the
flesh is weak. Scripture tells us:
12 So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful
that you don't fall! 13 No
temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he
will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted,
he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it. 1 Cor 10:12-13 (NIV)
“You should be very anxious, indeed, to look up to God, that
He may keep you! Your prayer should be,
‘You hold me up, and I shall be safe.’
Having prayed, you must also watch, guarding every thought, word, and
action, with holy jealousy. Don’t expose
yourselves unnecessarily; but if called to exposure, if you are summoned to go
where the darts are flying, never venture forth without your shield; for if
once the devil finds you without your buckler, he will rejoice that his hour of
triumph has come, and will soon make you fall down wounded by his arrows…No one
ever fell into error through being too careful.” Charles H. Spurgeon
It does us well to remember that we fall into sin yet holiness
is a pursuit. Peter had boasted to the
Lord that he would never forsake Him.
Indeed, he confidently pronounced that if all the rest fell away, he
would stand firm by the Lord’s side to the end – even if that meant going with
Him to prison or with Him to his death.
Had he had but zipped his lips and listened and leaned upon the Master,
he would have perhaps forgone his bitter weeping.
33 Peter replied, “Even if all fall away on account of
you, I never will.” Matt 26:33 (NIV)
35 But Peter declared, “Even if I have to die with you, I
will never disown you.” And all the other disciples said the same. Matt 26:35 (NIV)
33 But he replied, “Lord, I am ready to go with you to
prison and to death.” Luke 22:33 (NIV)
“Every sermon, every Bible lesson, every word of testimony,
and every verse of Scripture is a warning, calling us to repentance and revival. Our God is a consuming fire, and a day of
judgment is coming. We must not neglect
the warning, and today’s church must not forget that our message includes the
ministry of warning.” Robert J. Morgan
“Man
cannot control himself, and if he will not be controlled by Jesus Christ, then
he will be controlled by Satan.” Billy Graham
What
I glean from this:
· “I need Thee every hour – every hour I need Thee.”
· Jesus’ power is made perfect in my weakness.
· When Jesus holds me up I am safe.
