DON’T “KILL THE ROOSTER” ……… LUKE 22:60-62 …… Rev. Jesse W. Evans Jr.
LUKE 22:60-62 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.
THE ROOSTER STILL CROWS ……………. Luke 22:54-62
THE GOSPEL WRITERS, MATTHEWS, MARK, LUKE AND JOHN WROTE MANY PAGES OF SCRIPT
CONCERNING AND LEADING UP TO THE CRUCIFIXION OF JESUS.
MANY OF THE SCRIPTURES WERE WRITTEN SO THAT WE COULD HAVE A HISTORY OF JESUS’ MINISTRY.
WHEN WE LOOK AT THE EVENTS OF JESUS’ LAST WEEK ON EARTH LEADING UP TO HIS CRUCIFIXION.
AFTER COMING INTO THE CITY ON SUNDAY,
WE DISCOVER THAT HE SPENT MOST OF THE WEEK TEACHING DURING THE DAY.
AND HIS EVENINGS WERE SPENT IN THE HOME OF MARY, MARTHA AND LAZARUS IN BETHANY.
ON MONDAY JESUS CLEANSED THE TEMPLE AND CHASED OUT THE MONEYCHANGERS, THOSE WHO WERE BUYING AND SELLING IN THE TEMPLE AS HE EXPLAINED TO THEM “ MY FATHER’S HOUSE IS A HOUSE OF PRAYER, BUT YOU HAVE MADE IT INTO A DEN OF THIEVES”.
ON TUESDAY THE SANHEDRIN CHALLENGED HIS AUTHORITY AS JUDAS ONE OF HIS OWN DISCIPLES WAS BARGAINING WITH THE JEWISH RULERS ON WHICH WAY TO BETRAY HIM.
ON WEDNESDAY AT SUNSET WHEN THE PASSOVER BEGAN, PEOPLE REMEMBER HOW GOD HAD SAVED AND DELIVERED THEM OUT OF EGYPT BY ALLOWING THE DEATH ANGEL TO “PASSOVER” ALL THE HOUSES THAT WERE SPRINKLED WITH THE BLOOD OF A LAMB.
ON THURSDAY AS JESUS WAS EATING THE PASSOVER MEAL WITH HIS DISCIPLES HE INSTITUTED THE LORD’S SUPPER OR HOLY COMMUNION.
AND IT IS AFTER THIS SUPPER THAT JESUS AND HIS DISCIPLES WENT INTO THE GARDEN OF GETHSEMANE AND HERE JESUS PRAYED FOR THEM EVEN THOUGH THEY COULD NOT STAY A WAKE FOR ONE HOUR, JESUS PRAYS FOR THEM.
I AM GLAD THAT JESUS IS NOT LIKE US.
I AM GLAD HE NEVER SLEEPS NOR SLUMBERS,
THAT EVEN WHILE WE ARE ASLEEP HE HAS HIS EYES ON US, WATCHING OVER US, KEEPING TROUBLE AWAY.
THEN ON FRIDAY, WHAT WE CALL GOOD FRIDAY, JESUS WAS BETRAYED, ARRESTED, LIED ON, MOCKED, CONDEMNED AND SENTENCED TO DEATH, ….. BUT BEFORE HE WAS CRUCIFIED, PETER ALSO DENIED HIM.
I WANT TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT A GOSPEL ROOSTER
NOTICE THIS ROOSTER:
HE DIDN’T NEED AN INTERPRETER…………. HE DIDN’T TALK IN TONGUES
THIS GOSPEL ROOSTER PREACHED THE SAME MESSAGE OVER AND OVER.
AND, HIS MESSAGE, ……. THIS MESSAGE IS STILL HEARD BY MILLIONS TODAY!
FOR WHEN THE ROOSTER CROWED PETER REMEMBERED THE WORDS OF THE LORD.
AND ITS TIME THAT THE CHURCH REMEMBERED THE WORDS OF THE LORD
FOR WE ALL HAVE AT ONE TIME OR ANOTHER ………… DENIED JESUS.
WHEN WE ARE DISOBEDIENT TO THE WORD OF GOD WE ARE DENYING HIM,
WHEN WE HAVE COMMITTED ACTS OF SINS WE ARE DENYING HIM.
GOD’S WORD THE BIBLE IS TO US …………………… WHAT THE ROOSTER WAS TO PETER.
FOR WHEN PETER HEARD THAT ROOSTER CROW HE WAS CONVICTED OF HIS SIN AND HE WEPT BITTERLY.
GOD’S WORD TELLS US THAT ALL HAVE SINNED AND FALLEN SHORT OF THE GLORY OF GOD.
HIS WORD TELLS US THAT THE WAGES OF SIN IS DEATH.
AND HIS WORD TELLS US THAT IF WE CONFESS OUR SINS HE IS FAITHFUL TO FORGIVE US OUR SINS AND TO CLEANSE US FROM ALL UNRIGHTEOUSNESS
I HAVE COME TO TELL YOU
THAT TOO MANY PEOPLE KEEP “KILLING THE ROOSTER”
UNTIL THEY CAN’T HEAR HIM “CROWING” ANYMORE.
DON’T “KILL THE ROOSTER”
IN TIMES OF TROUBLE, WE NEED TO REMEMBER WHAT THE LORD SAID: LET NOT YOUR HEARTS BE TROUBLED, YOU BELIEVED IN GOD BELIEVE ALSO IN ME.
DON’T “KILL THE ROOSTER”
IN TERMS OF OUR SERVICE WE NEED TO REMEMBER WHAT THE LORD SAID: MATTHEW 16:24 “IF ANY MAN WILL COME AFTER ME, LET HIM DENY HIMSELF, AND TAKE UP HIS CROSS, AND FOLLOW ME.”
DON’T “KILL THE ROOSTER”
IN TIMES OF OUR FAITH FULLNESS, YOU’LL NEED TO REMEMBER WHAT THE LORD SAID: “MATTHEW 7:7 “ASK, AND IT SHALL BE GIVEN YOU; SEEK, AND YE SHALL FIND; KNOCK, AND IT SHALL BE OPENED UNTO YOU:”
DON’T “KILL THE ROOSTER”
WHEN IT’S TIME TO BE A WITNESS, YOU WILL NEED TO REMEMBER WHAT THE LORD SAID: ACTS 1:8 “BUT YE SHALL RECEIVE POWER, AFTER THAT THE HOLY GHOST IS COME UPON YOU: AND YE SHALL BE WITNESSES UNTO ME BOTH IN JERUSALEM, AND IN ALL JUDAEA, AND IN SAMARIA, AND UNTO THE UTTERMOST PART OF THE EARTH.”
DON’T “KILL THE ROOSTER”
THE ROOSTERS STILL CROWS AND IN THESE TIMES WE NEED TO REMEMBER WHAT THE LORD TOLD US TO DO : “GO YE THEREFORE, AND TEACH ALL NATIONS, BAPTIZING THEM IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER, AND OF THE SON, AND OF THE HOLY GHOST: 20 TEACHING THEM TO OBSERVE ALL THINGS WHATSOEVER I HAVE COMMANDED YOU: AND, LO, I AM WITH YOU ALWAY, EVEN UNTO THE END OF THE WORLD. AMEN.”
YOU MAY NOT LIKE THE ROOSTER!
(1) BUT HE DID WHAT HE COULD - THE ROOSTER CROWED
EVERY MAN AND WOMAN HAS A CALLING.
SOME ARE PASTORS, SOME ARE EVANGELISTS, SOME ARE TEACHERS
NOTICE THAT THE ROOSTER, HE DID NOT DO WHAT HE COULD NOT DO.
HE DIDN’T TRY TO BARK,
HE DIDN’T TRY TO SING LIKE A CANARY,
OR TALK LIKE A PARROT!
HE JUST CROWED
I BELIEVE THAT EVERY TIME PETER HEARD A ROOSTER CROW,
HE THOUGHT ABOUT THE MESSAGE THAT CONVICTED HIS SOUL TO REPENTANCE.
DON’T “KILL THE ROOSTER”
(2) EVEN THOUGH HIS JOB IS CONSIDERED UN-IMPORTANT BY THE WORLD (AND OTHER STRUTTING ROOSTERS).
WHEN HIS CROWING IS NOT HIGHLY ESTEEMED BY THE WORLD.
WHEN HIS CROWING IS CONSIDERED COMMON
WHEN HIS CROWING SEEMED FOOLISH AND REPETITIVE TO OTHERS (1 CORINTHIANS 1:16-18)
THAT DIDN’T RUFFLE HIS FEATHERS.
THAT DIDN’T STOP HIM ………..
BUT HE CROWED ANY HOW!
DON’T “KILL THE ROOSTER”
(3) HE IS NOT ASHAMED (ROMANS 1:16)
HE CROWED BEFORE.
ALL HIS CROWING DIDN’T EMBARRASS HIM.
HIS CROWING DIDN’T MAKE HIM WANT TO QUIT, EVEN IF IT WAS ONLY ONE PERSON THAT HEARD HIM
(HE DIDN’T QUIT BECAUSE HIS MINISTRY WAS SMALL).
HE WAS NOT ASHAMED BECAUSE GOD DOESN’T HAVE ANY SMALL PREACHERS, OR SMALL MINISTRIES!
DON’T “KILL THE ROOSTER”
(4) HE WAS FAITHFUL HE CROWED AT A GIVEN TIME REGARDLESS OF WHO LISTENED.
HE CROWED WHETHER HE FELT LIKE IT OR NOT.
HE CROWED REGARDLESS OF ……. RAIN OR SHINE.
HE CROWED IN SEASON AND OUT OF SEASON (2 TIMOTHY 4:2)
BUT ………… DON’T “KILL THE ROOSTER”
(5) HE WAS NOT POPULAR AT ALL - WHY???
BECAUSE HE WOKE SLEEPING PEOPLE UP
BECAUSE HE REMINDED THEM IT’S TIME TO GET UP
BECAUSE HE REMINDED THEM IT’S TIME TO GET BUSY, AND GET TO WORK
WHEN HE CROWED HE SOMETIMES STEPPED ON THEIR TOES
HE DISTURBED PEOPLE, HE ANGERED SOME PEOPLE,
BUT ………… DON’T “KILL THE ROOSTER”
(6) HE NEVER GOT DISCOURAGED...
EVEN WHEN THE OTHER ROOSTERS TRIED TO STOP HIM,
HE DIDN’T LOOK FOR ENCOURAGEMENT,
NEVER ASKED THE OTHER ROOSTERS WHAT TO PREACH.
HE NEVER HAD TO SAY, "HEY, GIVE ME A MESSAGE!”
HIS CROWING WAS A LONELY JOB …. AND …………..
(7) HE DID HIS JOB WELL...
BECAUSE HE PREACHED WHAT, WHERE, AND TO WHOM GOD WANTED HIM TO PREACH.
HE CROWED AT THE RIGHT TIME, AND PETER HEARD HIM.
NOBODY HAD TO FEED HIM A HAND FULL OF CORN (TO BRIBE HIM TO PREACH).
HE DIDN’T RUN FROM HEN HOUSE TO HEN HOUSE SAYING, "I CAN’T PREACH FOR CHICKEN FEED."
THIS GOSPEL ROOSTER IS NOT LIKE THE CHICKENS WE HAVE IN OUR PULPITS TODAY!
CAUSE AT THE RIGHT TIME HE CROWED ON TIME!
IN CONCLUSION:
I NEED TO REMIND YOU THAT …………….. "THE GOSPEL ROOSTER IS STILL CROWING."
HE CROWS WHEN WE DISOBEY GOD.
HE CROWS WHEN WE WORSHIP THE CREATURE INSTEAD OF THE CREATOR.
HE CROWS WHEN WE FAIL TO GLORIFY GOD.
HE CROWS WHEN COME TO WORSHIP WITH AN UNGRATEFUL HEART.
HE CROWS WHEN WE GO PLACES THAT WE SHOULDN’T GO.
THE GOSPEL ROOSTER CROWS WHEN WE DENY GOD IN OUR DAILY LIVES.
I’VE SEEN PEOPLE WHO SAID THEY LOVED THE LORD WITH ALL THEIR HEART …………. ONCE
AND IT SEEMED AS IF THEY WOULD NEVER FAIL TO SERVE GOD
AND YET TODAY THEY ARE NO LONGER IN THE HOUSE OF GOD?
THEY ARE NO LONGER SERVING GOD
WHAT HAPPENED?
THEY’VE “KILLED THE ROOSTER”
AND IGNORED HIS “CROWING”
AND NOW THEY DON’T HEAR HIM AT ALL ………. ANYMORE.
I CAME TO GIVE YOU A WARNING
DON’T “KILL THE ROOSTER” BY IGNORING HIM
DON’T “KILL THE ROOSTER” BY IGNORING THE GUILT FEELINGS
BUT WHEN YOU HEAR THE ROOSTER CROWING AND HE’S TALKING TO YOU
AND YOU BECOME CONVICTED
FALL ON YOUR FACE BEFORE GOD IN REPENTANCE.
FOR THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS SET UP IN THE HEART OF EVERY REPENTANT BELIEVER
AND IT IS THERE IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD
THAT YOU FIND RIGHTEOUSNESS, JOY AND PEACE IN THE HOLY GHOST
THE DEVIL CAN’T STAND ANYBODY WHO IS AT PEACE AND HAS JOY
THEREFORE HE SEEKS TO TORMENT THEM
WHY ?
IT IS THE DEVIL’S DESIRE TO TORMENT THOSE WHOM HE CANNOT DESTROY!
THE DEVIL USES OUR SIN AGAINST US
IT IS SATAN’S DESIRE TO DESTROY THE WORK OF GOD IN YOU .
SO DON’T “KILL THE ROOSTER” BY IGNORING HIS CROWING!
HE MAY BE CONSIDERED UN-IMPORTANT
HIS CROWING MAY SEEM COMMON .
HIS CROWING MAY SEEM FOOLISH AND REPETITIVE
BUT HE IS NOT ASHAMED
HE CROWED BEFORE, AND HE WILL CROW AGAIN
HE IS FAITHFUL HE CROWED AT A GIVEN TIME REGARDLESS OF WHO LISTENED.
HE CROWED WHETHER THEY WANTED TO HEAR HIM OR NOT
HE WAS NOT POPULAR AT ALL
BECAUSE HE WOKE SLEEPING PEOPLE UP
HE NEVER GOT DISCOURAGED...
EVEN WHEN THE OTHER ROOSTERS TRIED TO STOP HIM,
HE DID HIS JOB WELL...
BECAUSE HE PREACHED WHAT, WHERE, AND TO WHOM GOD WANTED HIM TO PREACH.
AND WHEN HE CROWED AT THE RIGHT TIME,
FOR THAT’S WHEN PETER HEARD HIM.
WHEN DOES THE ROOSTER CROW IN YOUR LIFE? OH,
MAYBE IT’S THE DREAM THAT MAKES YOU SIT UPRIGHT IN BED IN THE DEAD OF NIGHT–
MAYBE IT THE DREAM THAT SEEMED MORE REAL THAN ANY OF THE OTHER STUFF THAT HAPPENS WHILE YOU ARE AWAKE,
THE DREAM THAT’S SO STARTLING IT MAKES YOU RE-EVALUATE THE WHOLE DIRECTION OF YOUR LIFE.
MAYBE IT’S A CELL PHONE CALL FROM YOUR MOTHER WHO QUIETLY BUT SURELY LETS YOU KNOW YOU’RE NOT WALKING THE PATH YOUR CHRISTIAN PARENTS MARKED OUT FOR YOU.
MAYBE IT’S THE SUDDEN LOSS OF A JOB
MAYBE IT’S A GLORIOUS BIRTH OF A CHILD.
MAYBE IT’S THE DEATH OF A LOVED ONE
OR THE HYMN THE CHOIR WE SANG THAT SEEMED TO HAVE BEEN CHOSEN JUST FOR YOU,
AND YOU CAN’T HELP TO WONDER WHAT IT ALL MEANS.
BUT KNOW THIS:
FATHER ALONG WE‘LL KNOW ALL ABOUT IT
FARTHER ALONG WE’LL UNDERSTAND WHY
CHEER UP MY MY BROTHER LIVE IN THE SUNSHINE
WE’LL UNDERSTAND IT ALL BY AND BY!
THEREFORE I BESEECH AND I BEG YOU ………… PLEASE ………… “DON’T “KILL THE ROOSTER”
