Luke 22:54-62 - Peter Sounds and Looks Like the World

Todaywe're looking at Luke chapter 22:54-62. Here we see Peter's steps to failure. Wecan look at what he did and how he got to where he would deny the Lord and evencurse and swear. And then we can apply these things to our lives and learn howwe can stand strong in the face of temptation by looking at his steps tofailure. Remember, a couple days ago we said Peter’s first step was pride.Peter had just said, "Though all these others fail you and though theystumble and though they deny you and run from you, not me. I'll die withyou." What pride to say that in front of the other disciples? Can youimagine how they must have felt when Peter said that as he compared himself tothem?  Secondly,we see that Peter in the garden failing to heed the warning of Jesus to “watchand pray”. Instead of watching and praying, Peter was sleeping. When we getpride in our heart, we don't think we need to pray like we should. We can skipprayer. We can skip Bible reading. We can skip church. We can choose otherthings over those things that keep us close to the heart of God in our worship.And so the second thing is he did not watch and pray. He was sleeping. That'sthe problem with America today. Too many Christians are asleep at the wheel.They're asleep. They're not committed to doing those things that keep themclose to the heart of God.  Thethird thing we see is Peter has now developed a wrong attitude. He decided toattack the mob with a sword when they grabbed Jesus. He tried to fight thespiritual battle in the flesh. And he had the wrong weapon. My friend, ourweapons are not carnal, but they're mighty through God to the pulling down ofstrongholds. Yes, if you fail to pray, it won't be long till you have a wrongattitude. Remember Jesus had just said in the Upper Room a few hours earlier, “Thatwithout Me you can do nothing. Abide in Me and let My words abide in you. Youcan ask what you will and it'll be done unto you.” But of course Peterforgot about that.  Pleaseread the above verses again (vv. 54-62). The fourth thing we see is that Peterfollowed at a distance. That's the fourth thing we see is that “Peterfollowed at a distance” (v.54). When you have pride in your heart, whenyou fail to watch and pray, and when you have a wrong attitude, it won't belong till you follow Jesus at a distance. from afar.  Thefifth thing we see is Peter sitting by the fire of the enemy (vv. 55-56). He'swarming himself at the enemy's fire. It's interesting how as we go down thesesteps away from the Lord, and begin to follow Him at a distance, that we then expectthe world to give us the comfort we need and the protection we need. And he'swarming himself at the enemy's fire. We try to use the things of the world tofind comfort and warmth in our heart and satisfaction, but that's the wrongplace to look.  Nexta little servant girl confronts and accuses Peter and he responds “Woman Ido not know Him.” Then a man accuses Peter of being with Jesus with Him, butPeter said, "Man, I am not." Then after an hour had passed,another confidently affirmed, saying, "Surely this fellow also was withHim, for he is a Galilean." But Peter said, "Man, I do not knowwhat you're saying."  Let'slook at this closely in our own lives and make sure that we're not following ata distance, warming ourselves at the enemy's fire, have pride in our hearts,depending on the wrong weapons. Matthew’s Gospel tells us that Peter then beganto curse and swear (Matthew 26:74). Peter goes back to his old ways. And that'sexactly what happens when we get away from God. We begin to sound like and looklike the world.  Maythe Lord help us and save us from these steps of failure.  Godbless.