Peter denied Jesus – Danger to avoid

TEXT: Matthew 26:31-35

INTRODUCTION:

A boy of age 4 once told his grandpa to take him along to the farm. Grandpa said, 'you can't go because of what is in the farm'. The boy replied, 'Grandpa I will go no matter what's there and I will not disturb you'.

On the farm, a large number flies surrounded the boy, other ones bite him. He cried and said, 'I will never come to your farm again in my life'. He now realize why grandpa told him he can't go to the farm.

Peter couldn't believe this about himself. Peter could believe it .. Sin occurs too soon for all of us.

Too soon after prayer. Peter was soon to be at the greatest prayer meeting of all times...in Gethsemane yet he slept through it.

• Too soon after attending church. They had just observed the Lord's Supper.
• Too soon after singing. Peter had just been singing and now he's sinning!
• Peter declared he would rather die than deny His Lord, Matthew 26:35.

Jesus told Peter that he was going to be running into Satan that night, Luke 22:31-32. "Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat." Satan is doing everything he can to shake us from Jesus.

Peter did not know the forces that would be coming against him that night. He did not know how dark the darkness would be. Peter's overconfidence exposed him into the very face of temptation.

What was Peter's failure? He denied the Son of God.

And what did God use to get Peter's attention?

* For Adam God used a symbol - a slain animal.

* For Moses God used a sight - the burning bush.

* For Jonah God used a storm to get his attention.

* For Peter God used a sound - the rooster crowed! What a powerful preacher that rooster was! Matthew 26:74b-75.

APLICATION/CONCLUSION

Sometimes in life, things we so much boast upon never to do is what we eventually find ourselves doing. Meanwhile, we should know that in life there is nothing we can do by our very own power. We should always rely on God’s grace and power. If Peter had replied Jesus that ‘by your grace’ I will never deny you, maybe he will not. Be careful of overconfidence as it will always expose you to the very face of temptation.

Memory Verse: 1 Corinthians 10:12