THE PURPOSE FOR MY TRIALS
Mark 14:26-33, 66-72
The disciples had eaten the last passover meal with Jesus. He had participated in the
doctrine of communion with them. He had given the disciples the events leading to
His death. His disciples did not understand the significant of His death, nor did they want to see Him die. When you quit listening, you quit learning.
CHIRCH WORK BEGINS WHEN THE SERVICE ENDS
V:26-27. When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
27 \”You will all fall away,\” Jesus told them, \”for it is written: \”\’I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.\’
- Jesus knows what will happen to you before it happens.
- Some things that happens to you are according to God\’s divine plan of redemption.
- Whatever happens to you will work out for your good.
- The good thing is, you are in God\’s plan.
- According to scripture, you will suffer with Christ and for Christ.
- It not unusual for us to be tempted to deny Christ as our faith is tested.
- It was God\’s plan that Jesus be crucified and the disciples be push out of the
Jerusalem.
- The Gospel was expanded by the movement of the disciples into new places.
- After the Resurrection, Jesus commanded His disciples to
take the Gospel to the ends of the earth.
- This command is also given to us to proclaim the Gospel where ever we go.
- In order to respond to God, you have to trust Him to prepare the way.
THE LORD\’S HAS PREDETERMINED ALL EVENTS
V:28. \” But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.\”
- Jesus gave the disciples beforehand knowledge of the order of events
that would happen over the resurrection weekend.
- First He would be delivered to the hands of evil men and crucified , then be
resurrected.
- The disciples should not have been concerned about the events that took place.
- Because they were not listening they grieved at the death of Jesus.
- If they had been listening they would have been looking expectantly
for His resurrection.
- If they had been listening, they not would have abandon Jesus, Friday night
when He was taken captive.
- If they had believed the Word of Jesus, they would not have spent the
weekend in fear.
- When you don\’t trust the Word, you will spend countless hours worrying
about things that Jesus has promised to take care of.
BOASTING IN YOURSELF IS SINFUL
V:29-31.\” Peter declared, \”Even if all fall away, I will not.\”
30 \”I tell you the truth,\” Jesus answered, \”today — yes, tonight — before the rooster crows twice you yourself will disown me three times.\”
31 But Peter insisted emphatically, \”Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.\” And all the others said the same. \”
- Our pride is a stumbling block to trusting in the Word.
- When we humble ourselves we can respect the Word of God.
- Trusting the Word will save much hardship.
- Pride will cause you to say things you cannot backup.
- Pride is the work of the devil creeping into your life
- Pride is an irrational behavior for a believer.
- Pride causes you to over estimate your abilities.
- Pride will cause you to lie.
COMMUNICATION WITH THE FATHER THROUGH PRAYER
V:32 \”They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, \”Sit here while I pray.\”
- Prayer is a primary tool of a believer.
- Before going into battle with Satan, have a conversation with God.
- The only person you can rely on is Jesus.
- When you pray, pray not only for yourself but for others who serve with you.
- When you pray, discuss with God the things you are concerned about.
- When you pray, include others who serve with you.
Mark 14:66-15:1
PEOPLE KNOW WHEN YOU BEEN WITH JESUS
V:66-68. While Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high priest came by. 67 When she saw Peter warming himself, she looked closely at him. \”You also were with that Nazarene, Jesus,\” she said. 68 But he denied it.\”
- When you have been with Jesus, you will take on some of His characteristics.
- When you have been with Jesus, you can deny Him with your mouth, but your heart
will be grieved.
- There are some people that you may not know that have been watching you.
- There are some people that you don\’t know that can tell a story about you.
- Peter did not know the servant girl, but she had observed him.
- Not only did she know Peter, but she knew who he hung out with.
- Once you know the Lord for yourself, your mind want be to far from Him.
- Once you know the Lord for yourself , you will be concerned about how you
treat Him.
- No matter what setting you are in, your conscience want let you forget who you are
and who\’s you are.
- The servant girl was Peter\’s conscience.
- Peter was in the right place, he just didn\’t have the guts to own up to it.
- It was cold that night. Only Jesus could warm up his heart.
LYING UNDER PRESSURE IS A LACK OF TRUST
V:69-70 \”I don\’t know or understand what you\’re talking about,\” he said, and went out into the entryway. 69 When the servant girl saw him there, she said again to those standing around, \”This fellow is one of them.\” 70 Again he denied it. After a little while, those standing near said to Peter, \”Surely you are one of them, for you are a Galilean.\”
- You can\’t get away from your past.
- Your past will follow you around.
- When people look at you, they ought to see the best in you.
- Peter had been with Jesus, that was good.
- Peter was a Galilean, that was good.
- By denying Jesus, Peter denied the good that was in him.
JESUS CAN USE THE CONSEQUENCES OF YOUR SINS TO BRING YOU TO YOURSELF.
71 He began to call down curses on himself, and he swore to them, \”I don\’t know this man you\’re talking about.\” 72 Immediately the rooster crowed the second time. Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken to him: \”Before the rooster crows twice you will disown me three times.\”
And he broke down and wept.
- The servant girl\’s persistence caused others in the crowd to recognize Peter as a
disciple Jesus.
- When a believer try\’s to deny his relationship with Jesus, he gives the devil the
opportunity to take charge of your mind.
- When you give in to the devil, you will find yourself saying and doing things that
are outside of your true character.
- The servant girl was under the control of Jesus to force Peter to his third denial.
- The purpose was to cause Peter to reflect on Jesus and the truth in His Word.
- Once you understand that you failed to live up to your faith, you should be
grieved from the heart.
- When Peter heard the cock the second time, he was convicted that he had let his
Savior down.
- Boastful Peter was brought to the conclusion that he was not as strong in Jesus as
he pretended to be.
- It is the difficult times that test the strength of our faith.
- We need the difficult times to point out the weakness of our faith.
- While Peter was denying Jesus, he was still under His control.
- Throughout our walk with Jesus, we will fail from time to time.
- The good news about Jesus is that He tolerates us.
- Jesus uses our weaknesses to strengthen us.
- If we never look in the mirror we will never see our faults.
- God had a purpose for Peter\’s denial.
- It is found in Luke 22:31-32
\”Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat.
But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you
have turned back, strengthen your brothers.\”
- The Lord knew that Peter had a boastful and prideful spirit.
- Jesus knew that Peter needed to unload the baggage of his pride for the
next step of the ministry.
- Jesus had Peter\’s back through his trials.
- The Lord knew that failure would be the catalyst for Peter\’s change.
- Through his failure, Jesus would strengthen Peter to bless many people.
- James 1:2 says count your trials as joy, because the end results is patience
perfection and completion.
YOU CAN DENY JESUS BUT YOU CAN\’T HIDE
Rev. M. Mitchell
Asst Pastor of Greater Macedonia Baptist Church
5510 West Sam Houston Parkway
Houston, Texas
