Am I Making The Same Mistakes As Did Peter?

  1. INTRODUCTION:

    1. SCRIPTURE READING:

      2. Luke 22:54-62 = "Then took they him, and led him, and brought him into the high priest's house. And Peter followed afar off. And when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the hall, and were set down together, Peter sat down among them. But a certain maid beheld him as he sat by the fire, and earnestly looked upon him, and said, This man was also with him. And he denied him, saying, Woman, I know him not. And after a little while another saw him, and said, Thou art also of them. And Peter said, Man, I am not. And about the space of one hour after another confidently affirmed, saying, Of a truth this fellow also was with him: for he is a Galilaean. And Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest. And immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew. And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And Peter went out, and wept bitterly."

    2. THE DISCUSSION CENTERS ON THREE SIN FULL MISTAKES THAT PETER MADE.
    3. HOWEVER, THE DISCUSSION OF THE HOUR IS WHETHER OR NOT WE ARE MAKING THE SAME SIN FULL MISTAKES THAT PETER DID.
    4. MISTAKES ARE NOT NECESSARILY FATAL:
      1. We can let them drag us down into the depths of God’s condemnation.
      2. We can profit from them by fortifying ourselves from them, and becoming strong in spite of them.
      3. We must correct mistakes as soon as it is discovered for two reasons:
        1. We may form the habit of making mistakes, and this is fatal to our living a Christian life.
        2. We might die before the mistake is corrected, and we might be barred from heaven.

  2. DISCUSSION:

    1. PETER’S THREE MISTAKES COULD BE THE SAME MISTAKES THAT WE ARE MAKING TODAY:
      1. Peter followed Jesus - but afar off.

        2. Luke 22:54 = "Then took they him, and led him, and brought him into the high priest's house. And Peter followed afar off."

        Matthew 26:58 = "But Peter followed him afar off unto the high priest's palace, and went in, and sat with the servants, to see the end."

        Mark 14:54 = "And 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."

        QUESTION: How close am I to the Lord?

          1. Thousands are doing this same thing today – Following afar off.
          2. They are following Christ, but are making ever attempt not to let it be known. How could that person be letting his light show forth that others "…may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven" = Matthew. 5:16?
          3. These individuals are too cold, too lifeless, see no happiness and joy in Christian service.
          4. These individuals are like those described in the parable of the sower on thorny ground.

        Matthew 13:7 = "And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them:"  
        Matthew 13:21         ="Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended."

      2. Peter warmed himself by fire of Christ’s enemies.

        3. Luke 22:55 = "And when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the hall, and were set down together, Peter sat down among them."

        John 18:18 = "And the servants and officers stood there, who had made a fire of coals; for it was cold: and they warmed themselves: and Peter stood with them, and warmed himself."

        Mark 14:66-67 = "And as Peter was beneath in the palace, there cometh one of the maids of the high priest: And when she saw Peter warming himself, she looked upon him, and said, And thou also wast with Jesus of Nazareth."

        Amos 3:3 = "Can two walk together, except they be agreed?"

        QUESTION: By whose fire are you warming?

          1. The old farmer called a man a duck and the man took offense at being called a "duck". The farmer said, "If you do not want to be called a duck then do not do as they do: For if you waddle, walk like a duck and quack like a duck, you are showing yourself to be a duck and evidently want to be known as a duck."
          2. Enemies of Christ do not avow to be an enemy:
            1. They profess themselves as friends and willing workers.
            2. Jesus made it clear how to tell the difference: Luke 11:23 = "He that is not with me is against me: and he that gathereth not with me scattereth."
            3. Individuals not building up the church are tearing it down.
          3. Are you associating with those that are seeking to bring the church down to man’s level; or are you associating with those to bring man up to Christ’s level?

            4. COMMENT: This would include the liberals; digressive; those that would remove the name of Christ off the church building and call it "Community church"; and those that participate in the services of the enemies of Christ.

            1. If you are warming by devil’s fires you are more guilty than Peter.
            2. Peter did not at this time have the clear conception of Christ and His kingdom that he later had, and we have in the written inspired Word of God. 
              [ See II Timothy 3:16-17]

              3. Note: Peter late wrote this: II Peter 1:16-21 = "For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount. We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost."

            3. There is no excuse for us to be warming by the devil’s fire, or to be following too far off.
      3. Peter denied the Lord - Do you deny the Lord by your speech and the words you speak?

        4. Luke 22:58 = "And after a little while another saw him, and said, Thou art also of them. And Peter said, Man, I am not."

        Mark 14:66-71 = "And as Peter was beneath in the palace, there cometh one of the maids of the high priest: And when she saw Peter warming himself, she looked upon him, and said, And thou also wast with Jesus of Nazareth. But he denied, saying, I know not, neither understand I what thou sayest. And he went out into the porch; and the cock crew. And a maid saw him again, and began to say to them that stood by, This is one of them. And he denied it again. And a little after, they that stood by said again to Peter, Surely thou art one of them: for thou art a Galilaean, and thy speech agreeth thereto. But he began to curse and to swear, saying, I know not this man of whom ye speak."

        John 18:25-27 = "And Simon Peter stood and warmed himself. They said therefore unto him, Art not thou also one of his disciples? He denied it, and said, I am not. One of the servants of the high priest, being his kinsman whose ear Peter cut off, saith, Did not I see thee in the garden with him? Peter then denied again: and immediately the cock crew."

        QUESTION: This was the pentacle, or height , of Peter’s mistake. The other two mistakes led to his denial of the Lord.

        1. We may imagine that we are well pleasing to God, for we assemble with his people from time to time and profess faithful in their presence. Yet deny the Lord when we are in the midst of those who are opposed to the Lord..
        2. These that those that talk like the world and not as a follower of Christ.
        3. Peter when brought face to face with his sins - Luke 22:62 = "And Peter went out, and wept bitterly."
        4. You know better and know the Lord will judge you. [John 12:48-50] -- Where are the tears? Do you weep over the folly of your sins?

  3. CONCLUSION:

    1. WE MUST REPENT OR PERISH.

      2. Luke 13:3 = "I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish."

    2. WE MUST CONFESS CHRIST AND SPEAK SO AS TO PLEASE THE LORD.

      3. Romans 10:10 = "For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."

      Matthew 12:32-37 = "And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come. Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit. O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. "But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. "For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned."

      Jude 16 = "These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men's persons in admiration because of advantage."

    3. DOES THE CONDUCT OF YOU’RE YOUR LIFE FAIL TO PROFESS CHRISTIANITY?
    4. WHAT WILL IT TAKE TO IMPRESS UPON YOU THE NEED OF FAITHFULNESS?

Revelation 2:10 = "Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life."

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