First, it is
impossible to follow Christ in the flesh. Human nature breaks down under
spiritual pressure. Second, in Gethsemane, Peter slept during critical prayer
moments. This is the sleep of immaturity.
Human nature
prefers to serve God as long as it is convenient and ego-boosting. Those who
blow a trumpet about their piety are generally hypocrites and/or ignoramuses.
The truly spiritual puff down whether under pressure or in pleasure.
Third,
Peter's denial represents three levels of society: the intelligent, the
experienced and the innocent. Peter denied knowing Jesus even when asked by an
innocent girl! Fourth, Peter's denials were sincere but immature. Sincerity
will do you no good unless backed by a revelation of Jesus Christ is.
Fifth,
however, after Pentecost Peter becomes the leader into enemy territory. He
accepts the beatings that go with following Christ. He sleeps in jail with two
guards guarding him. This is the sleep of mature faith.Continue..
The mature
have peaceful sleep in the midst of a severe storm. They know that they are
neither being look after by the Bodyguard that never sleeps nor slumber.
Finally, denials of Christ are a product of immature faith and walking in the
flesh.
How you respond when your faith is under
pressure is a reliable test of personal faith. Again I say, those whose faith
has never been tested with fire will easily blame those who are being grilled
by man and devils! You cannot follow Christ without power from on high!
Those who
follow Christ have no intention from returning from war alive. Here is our
motto: in our battles against sin, satan and the world, we accept victory or
death. Defeat or surrender is not an option! "Not by might, nor by power,
but by the Spirit of the Lord", when mountains move at the command of our
voice and presence! Selah!
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