Sermon Central
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Peter's Slow Fade
Contributed by Victor Ramlall on Dec 27, 2012 (message contributor)
Summary: Our failure does not happen suddenly but is the result of a continuous gradual process of self will, arrogance, overconfidence and a refusal to listen to the Lord often preferring to remonstrate with Him and give Him advice!
Mark 14:27-31 KJV And Jesus saith unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered. 28 But after that I am risen, I will go before you into Galilee. 29 But Peter said unto him, Although all shall be offended, yet will not I. 30 And Jesus saith unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this day, even in this night, before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice. 31 But he spake the more vehemently, If I should die with thee, I will not deny thee in any wise. Likewise also said they all.
Psalms 1:1-6 KJV Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. 2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. 3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. 4 The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away. 5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. 6 For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.
James 1:14-16 KJV But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. 15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. 16 Do not err, my beloved brethren.
Casting Crowns Lyrics
It's a slow fade when you give yourself away
It's a slow fade when black and white have turned to gray
Thoughts invade, choices are made, a price will be paid
When you give yourself away
People never crumble in a day
Daddies never crumble in a day
Families never crumble in a day
…It's a slow fade, it's a slow fade
Why do you think Peter denied Christ in spite of his vehement protestations that he would never do so?
Christ saw him doing this even before it happened and informed him of it. Did Christ do it just to rub it in? Absolutely not for that is not the nature of the LORD! Christ let him know before it happened that He (Christ) knew but it did not change the disposition of the Lord towards Peter for he told him previously; … Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: 32 but I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren. Luke 22:31-32 KJV
Peter's fall was not due to the malicious whim of a capricious God. It came as a result of little insignificant seeming things that accumulated over a period of time. A drain does not become blocked suddenly, but the debris accumulates over time without being constantly cleaned and then one day we have blockage! A seed does not become a tree overnight unless it is in a story titled Jack and the Beanstalk. It may remain in the ground a long while before a tiny slip of a shoot poke its way out of the soil. That tiny shoot given the right conditions can grow up into a mighty tree that takes on the nature of the code in the seed. It's like a wheel with a tiny hole in it that leaks the air out ever so slowly until one morning you wake up and realize you have a flat.
The final fall comes after there has been a repeated self indulgence of the flesh. Some of us are too smart for our own good and think we can stay on top of things, but we later find out sadly, that we also are very susceptible and prone to fail and fall. For they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind: ... Hosea 8:7 KJV
We are led to several notable observations concerning Peter’s journey down the slope of sin:
1. PETER’S DISPLAYED A BOASTFUL SELF-CONFIDENT ATTITUDE TINTED WITH UNTEACHABLE ARROGANCE
Arrogance: an attitude of superiority manifested in an overbearing manner or in presumptuous claims or assumptions. Boastful: To glorify oneself in speech; talk in a self-admiring way
Mark 14:27-31 KJV And Jesus saith unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered. 28 But after that I am risen, I will go before you into Galilee. 29 But Peter said unto him, Although all shall be offended, yet will not I. 30 And Jesus saith unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this day, even in this night, before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice. 31 But he spake the more vehemently, If I should die with thee, I will not deny thee in any wise. Likewise also said they all.
