Henry and Allison had their son
this week, Philip Michael Williams. Another baby in our midst, man,
we're having a bunch of them. Also, after the service, if some
men could help set up some tables for tonight, that would be helpful. Peter's denial. That's why I've entitled this
message, Peter's Denial. Now perhaps we know more about
Peter than we know about the other apostles because Peter
had a lot more to say. He was always speaking. I think it's interesting Several
times in the scriptures we read where Peter answered when no
one asked him any questions, but he was quick to speak and
voice his thoughts. Peter was very human with raging inconsistencies and
contradictions within himself. Sound like anybody else you know? He could say incredibly stupid
things. This is the Apostle Peter when
he was on the Mount of Transfiguration. And Moses and Elijah appeared
at that time speaking with the Lord, speaking about his death
and what he would accomplish. Scripture says Peter answered.
Nobody asked him anything, but he answered. Lord, it's good
for us to be here. Let's make three tabernacles.
Three? One for thee, one for Moses,
one for Elijah. How irreverent and how stupid. I don't think there's ever been
a more ridiculous statement made in the history of the universe
than three tabernacles? One for you, one for Moses, one
for Elijah. He's putting these men on the
same level of Christ. There's none that can be compared
to him. There's none like him. He could practice remarkable
hypocrisy. And this was after he was already
an apostle. You can read about it in Galatians chapter two.
We touched on it in Bible study this morning when he moved tables. He was eating with the Gentiles,
enjoying them, certain from James came. Scripture says he feared
them which were of the circumcision. He was overcome with the fear
of man at this time, more concerned about what men think than what
God thought, and he moved tables. Paul called it dissimulation
or hypocrisy. The Lord actually said to Peter
on one occasion, get thee behind me, Satan. Thou savors not the
things that be of God, but the things that be of man. After the resurrection of Christ,
he said, I go fishing. Now he's not saying I'm going
to go fishing today. You know, like some of us do. He said,
I'm done with this disciple business. I'm going back to being a fisherman. But he was someone that Christ
loved. And he was someone who loved
Christ. You can remember when the Lord said, Peter, do you
love me? Lord, you know all things. You know that I love you. I love your person. He was a
man of courage and boldness. Sometimes he wasn't that way,
but sometimes he was. Remember when they came to arrest the
Lord. Some 500 men, most people say,
between 500 and 1,000. And John 18 tells us that Peter
cut the servant of the high priest's ear off. Now, how do you do that? Cut their ear off? Because he
ducked his head. He was trying to take his head
off. He was going to take on a whole army. for Christ. That's how bold and courageous
he was. Yes, he could get before a little
maid and be scared to death and say, I don't know the man. Think
of that. I know not the man. And he did
so with cursing and swearing. I want to spice this up to make
sure they know I don't know him. And yet he can demonstrate such
courage and such boldness. I'm going to read the passage
from Acts chapter four, beginning in verse five. And it came to
pass on the morrow that the rulers and elders and scribes and Annas,
the high priest and Caiaphas and John and Alexander, and as
many as were of the kindred of the high priests were gathered
together at Jerusalem. And when they had set them in
the midst, they asked by what power or by what name have you
done this? Then Peter filled with the Holy
Ghost said unto them, ye rulers of the people and the elders
of Israel, if we this day be examined of the good deed done
to this impotent man by what means he has made whole, be it
known unto you all and to all the people of Israel that by
the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God
hath raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here
before you whole. This is the stone which was set
at nought of you builders, which has become the head of the corner,
neither is there salvation in any other. For there's none other
name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. Now when they saw the boldness,
what boldness he displayed here. of Peter and John and perceived
that they were unlearned and ignorant men. They marveled and
took knowledge of them that they had been with Jesus. Peter was clearly the leader
of the 12. He was the spokesman. of the
12. Now I'm going to draw from all
four Gospels in considering this thing of Peter's denial. I'd like you to turn to Luke
chapter 22. Verse 31. And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to
have you. Literally, Satan hath asked permission
to have you that he may sift you as wheat. Now, question, why did Satan ask for permission
to sift him as wheat? Have you considered my servant
Job? God brought Job up to Satan. Satan asked for permission for
this one reason, God directed him to. And let me show you that
in scripture. We saw this a few months ago,
but I would like us to look at it again. Second, Samuel 24 one,
would you turn with me there? Second Samuel 24, one. And again, the anger of the Lord
was kindled against Israel and he moved David against them to
say, go number Israel and Judah. What's it say? It says he moved David against
them. He inspired David to do something
that was wrong, and it would end up costing seventy-some thousand
people their lives. God moved David to number Israel,
and we know that in the law you are forbidden to take a census
of the people without the atonement money. That's what was wrong
about this. He was numbering them without
the atonement money. Now I want you to look at the
Chronicles account in 1 Chronicles 21. Verse 1 of 1 Chronicles 21. And Satan stood up against Israel
and provoked David to number Israel. Now, said the Lord did in Samuel's
account. But here it says Satan provoked
him. Now remember, Satan is God's
devil. He can't do anything but what
God directs him to do. He might not know it. He is seeking
to be the enemy of Christ and seeking to destroy him, but all
he can do is what God causes him to do. Somebody says, are
you making the Lord the author of evil? No, human people say
that. That's so ridiculous. He's God.
Whatever he does is right. It's holy. It's just. It's true.
We bow. Satan provoked David to do this. So when the
devil comes along and says, I want to sift David's wheat. I mean, Peter's wheat with your
permission. Why do you do this? The Lord
purposed him to do this. This story of The fall of Peter,
the denial of Peter begins where everything else begins. It begins
with the Lord's purpose. Now, just before this, turn back
to Luke chapter 22. Just before the Lord says this,
look at verse 24 of the same chapter. And there was also a
strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest."
Right before the Lord's dying at the Lord's table, they're
having this fight, which one of us is going to be the greatest?
I think probably Peter instigated this because he said to the Lord,
though the rest of this bunch denied you, I'll never do it.
But here they are fighting among themselves, which one of them
should be the greatest? Simon, Simon, verse 31. You can feel the tenderness of
the Lord's voice at this time. Every time he repeated somebody's
name, Abraham, Abraham, Jacob, Jacob,
Moses, Moses, Samuel, Samuel, Martha, Martha, Saul, Saul. Simon, Simon, one he loved. Literally, Satan hath made a
request to have thee, to sift you as wheat, but I have prayed
for thee. Even though Satan has made this
request, I have prayed for thee that thy faith fail not. And when thou art converted,
strengthen thy brethren. Now he didn't pray that Peter
would not fall. He prayed that Peter's faith
would not fail. Now we're going to come back
to this at the end of the message. But what does he pray for Peter?
I've prayed for you that your faith fail not. Now turn with me to Matthew 26
for a moment. Verse 21. And as they did eat, this is
the last supper. And as they did eat, he said,
verily I say unto you that one of you shall betray me. And they were exceeding sorrowful,
and began every one of them to say unto him, Lord, is it I?
Am I going to be the one that does this? Peter said it too,
because every one of them asked this question in suspiciousness
of themselves. Lord, am I going to be the one
to do it? I know I'm so weak and sinful
that it'll be me. If you don't, is it I? Am I the one that's going to
do it? Now look in verse 31. Then saith Jesus unto them, all
ye shall be offended because of me this night. For it's written,
I'll smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall
be scattered abroad. But after I'm risen again, I'll go before
you into Galilee. Peter answered and said unto
them, though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet
will I never be offended. Now, is this the same guy? Is
it I? And now, though the rest of this
bunch does, it'll never be me. coming out of the same mouth. Now back to John's account in
John chapter 13. Verse 36, Simon Peter said unto him, Lord,
whither goest thou? Jesus answered him, whether I
go, thou canst not follow me now, but thou shalt follow me
afterwards. You know, when the Lord was going
to the cross, yes, every believer was in him, but this was something
he was doing by himself. They didn't help out. He, by
himself, purged our sins. Verse 37, Peter said unto him,
Lord, why cannot I follow thee now? I'll lay down my life for
thy sake. And I'm sure he meant it. He
wasn't being a phony. He meant that from the depths
of his heart. I'm willing to die for you. Jesus answered him, wilt thou
lay down thy life for my sake? Verily, verily, I say unto you,
the cock shall not crow till thou hast denied me three times. Let not your heart be troubled. Now remember, these chapter divisions
are made by men. In the original, this was the
way it read. You're going to deny me three
times. Let not your heart be troubled. How can that be? How could he
say that? You're going to deny me three
times. Let not your heart be troubled. You believe in God. Believe also
in me. That's the reason. You believe
in God, that word also can just as easily be translated and quite
often is translated, even so believe in me. This is the one
cure for heart trouble, who God is, who Jesus Christ is. You
believe God is eternal, even so believe in me. You believe
God is absolutely sovereign in control of everything, the first
cause behind everything. Even so, believe in me. I'm in
control of this situation. You believe God is holy and absolutely
just? Even so, believe in me. Do you
believe God is gracious? Even so, believe in me. Do you
believe God is the first cause behind all things? Even so, believe
in me. I'm the first cause behind all
things. It's me speaking when I say the king's heart is in
the hand of the Lord. As the rivers of water, he turneth
it whithersoever he will. He reigns. Here's a reason for your heart
not to be troubled. Me. That's the only reason for their
heart to not be troubled. I am. You believe in God? Even so, believe in me. I'm the God of glory. I'm in
absolute control of everything and everybody. What was Peter thinking after
that he heard these words? You believe in God, believe also
in me. Now look in verse 54 of Luke
chapter 22. Turn back to Luke 22 for a moment. Now Peter didn't believe he was
gonna do this at the time. He didn't believe he was gonna
do this. Verse 54, then they took him led him and brought
him unto the high priest's house. And Peter followed afar off. And when they kindled a fire
in the midst of the hall and were set down together, Peter
sat down among them. But a certain maid beheld him
as he sat by the fire and earnestly looked upon him and said, this
man was also with him, And he denied him, saying, Woman, I
know him not. And after a little while, another
saw him and said, Thou art also of them. And Peter said, Man,
I'm not. And about the space of an hour,
after another confidently firm saying of a truth, This fellow
also is with him, for he's a Galilean. And Peter said, Man, I know not
what thou sayest. And immediately the cock crew
Now three times he denied. And in some of the other, he
said, I know not the man. I don't know him. I'm not, I
don't know. And he actually started cursing
and swearing and using swear words to prove to everybody.
I don't have any association with this man. I know not the
man. And immediately. As he spake,
the cock crew, and the Lord turned and looked upon Peter. He didn't say anything. He just
looked at him. While Peter cursed and swore,
I know not the man, can you imagine what that look must have been?
When the Lord, his face marred and bloody, been beaten up, looked
upon Peter. Nothing had to be said. And he
wasn't going to say anything to Peter, you know. Can you imagine how Peter felt
as he was denying the Lord, his conscience screaming against
him, knowing what he was doing was wrong, and yet he kept going
farther and farther down? Then the Lord 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 three times. And Peter went out and wept bitterly. Some of this is true mourning
over sin. Some of this is because he's
afraid it was over for him. You know, the Lord said, who
so denies me before men, him will I deny before my father,
which is in heaven. And all Peter could conclude
from this is that the Lord was going to deny him before his
father. He thought it's over for me.
There is no hope for me now. He went out and he wept bitterly,
feeling despair over what he had done. Now, I don't know where
he went out to when he went out and wept bitterly, but during
this time, the Lord was crucified. The Lord died. The Lord was placed
in a tomb. And unbeknownst to Peter, he was raised from the dead. Peter should have known about
it. The Lord told him it would take place, but I would imagine
Peter thought if it did take place, I have no share in it. It's over for me. I've sinned
away any hope of my salvation, I denied the Lord. Turn to Mark 16. Mark 16, verse 1. And when the Sabbath was passed, Mary Magdalene and Mary, the
mother of James and Salome, had bought sweet spices and that
they might come and anoint him. And very early in the morning,
the first day of the week, they came into the sepulchre at the
rising of the sun. And they said among themselves,
who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre?
And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away,
for it was very great. And entering into the sepulcher,
they saw a young man sitting at the right side, clothed in
a long white garment, and they were affrighted. And he said
unto them, Be not affrighted, ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which
was crucified. He's risen, he's not here. Behold the place where they laid
him, but go your way, tell his disciples and Peter. Make sure you tell Peter. He didn't mention the other ones.
He said, make sure you know, Peter knows. I've risen from
the dead. Now, why did he say, make sure
you tell Peter? Because I guarantee you, Peter
didn't believe he was a disciple anymore. This is not for me. I have no share in this. You
go and tell Peter that he goeth before you into
Galilee and there shall you see him. Back to Luke 22. Verse 31. And the Lord said, Simon, Simon,
behold, Satan has desired to have you that he may sift you
as wheat. And how he was sifted. And if
you think that you could do any better than Peter before this
sifting, you're deceived. He's got so much he can work
with, with me and you. It's no problem. Peter didn't think it could happen.
He thought it could happen with John and Andrew and Philip and
that bunch. Sure, not me. But oh, how he
was sifted, turned inside out, upside down. And if you think,
and if I think, that couldn't happen with us, we're dead wrong. Simon, Simon, Satan, it's desired
to have you, that he may sift you as wheat. But, this is the but of grace. But
God. You were dead in trespasses and
sins, but God. But Noah found grace in the eyes
of the Lord. This is the but of grace. But, Peter. I have prayed for you. There's the difference between
Peter and Judas. There's the difference between
the believer and the unbeliever. I have prayed for you. You see, it's not possible that
the Father would not answer his prayer. I have prayed for you
that your faith fail not. Now, he didn't pray that he wouldn't
fall because Peter needed to fall. Peter was so proud, feeling
superior to the other disciples, he no doubt thought he was the
greatest. Oh, he was in a bad way in his views of himself. And he needed to fall, and it
was for the good of the church. He said, when you're converted,
when you've been turned by, from this ignorant view of yourself
that you think you're so good, when you're converted, strengthen
your brethren. This is gonna be for the good
of the church. This is gonna be for our good this morning.
This fall of Peter is strengthening all the brethren when they see
what takes place. When you're converted, strengthen
your brethren But the difference between Judas and Peter was the
Lord said, I have prayed for you. Now, when the Lord said,
Father, forgive them. They know not what they do. Everybody he prayed for was forgiven. There wasn't anybody he prayed,
the Lord didn't deny, not that one. He's too bad. No. Everyone he prayed for was forgiven. He said in John chapter 17, nine,
I pray for them. I pray not for the world, but
for them, which you have given me. I'm praying for the elect. I'm praying for those the father
gave me before time began. I pray not for the world, but
for them which you've given me, for they are thine. You see,
if he prays for you, you must be saved. Wherefore he is able
to save them to the uttermost. that come to God by him, seeing
he ever liveth to make intercession for them. Right now, there's
one who's praying for me. And it's not, it's not like this,
well, I sinned, well, he did it again, but forgive him again.
I know he's done that a million times, but forgive him again.
No, he stands before the Father as the great intercessor. And his presence makes everybody
he represents accepted. Peter, I've prayed for you that
your faith fail not. Now, when the Lord said, who
shall deny me before me in him will I deny before my Father,
which is in heaven, didn't Peter do that? He said, I know not the man,
Didn't Peter deny the Lord? Isn't what the Lord says absolute? He did deny him, didn't he? No, he didn't. He denied he knew
him. He denied any connection with
him. And he tried to be very persuasive in his denial by using
strong cursing language and swear words. I know not the man. He denied He knew Him, but even
while He was denying Him, He knew He was the Son of God. He
never quit believing who He is. Even in the midst of His sinful, I don't know Him. And he did not say, this man
is not the son of God. This man is an imposter. He's not. No, he didn't deny
his person and his work. That's what denying him is. It's
denying who he is. It's denying what he accomplished. Now Peter was spiraling down,
denying he knew him, hating himself the whole time he was doing it,
scaring himself to death, thinking he'd cut himself off. But he did not deny the Lord. Now this gives us some important
insight as to what faith is. I feel quite certain that Peter
had no assurance that he was saved. I'm sure he thought he had committed
the unpardonable sin, cut himself off. He knew that Christ said, if
you deny me, I'll deny you before my father. And he thought he'd
done that. And he had no assurance that he was saved. And here's what this tells me
about faith. Faith has nothing to do with what you believe about
yourself. Let me repeat that. Faith has
nothing to do with what you believe about yourself. Because Peter
believed himself to be cut off. But he never quit believing that
Jesus was the Christ, the Son of the Living God. He continued
to believe that. You'll remember in Matthew chapter
16, verse 13, whom do men say that I, the Son of Man am? Now here is the issue, who is
he? That is the issue, who Jesus
Christ is. Whom do men say that I, the son
of man, am? The disciples said, well, they
put you in some high cotton. Some say you're Jeremiah or Elijah
or one of the prophets. They put you in some high cotton. That's not putting him in high
cotton. There's nobody like him. He's not to be compared to any
other man. And then he said, whom say ye that I am? Peter answered, thou art the
Christ, the son of the living God, the Christ, God's prophet,
the very word of God, God's priest. brings me to the Father, I must
be saved. God's King, the one who rules. Thou art the Christ,
the Son of the living God. Remember when that big crowd
left the Lord in John chapter six at the sermon at Capernaum? After he said these things, many
of his disciples, these are people who claim to believe, went back
and walked no more with him. And can you imagine, at least
5,000, probably 20,000, because it's just 5,000 men, not including
the women and children. That's a big group. And he sat
there and watched them walk away. And he didn't say, let me rephrase
this so maybe you'll stay. No, he just watched them leave.
He didn't ask them to come back. And he looked at the 12, and
he said, will you also go away? Peter answered, Lord, to whom shall we go? It's not
like we have an option. You have the words of eternal
life, and we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ,
the Son of the living God. Do you believe that Jesus is
the Christ? the son of the living God. I'm not asking you if you believe
you're saved. I'm not asking you if you believe
that Jesus Christ died for you. I'm not asking you if you believe
you're one of the elect. But I am asking you this. Do
you believe that Jesus is the Christ? The Son of the Living
God. If you do, it's because Christ
has prayed for you. That's an awesome thing to think
about, isn't it? Christ has prayed for you that your faith fail
not. And the reason you continue to
believe is because Jesus Christ has prayed for you. He lived
for you. He died for your sins. He died
for that sin of Peter's. He bore it in his own body on
the tree. He was raised for you. He prays for you. We're gonna close by looking
at 1 John chapter five. Verse one, whosoever, are you one of those
people? Are you in that demographic?
Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God. And everyone that loveth him
that begat, loveth him also that is begotten of him. By this we
know that we love the children of God and we love God and keep
his commandments. For this is the love of God that
we keep his commandments and his commandments are not grievous.
Now, does that mean if you love God, you'll keep the Ten Commandments?
Well, we've kept the Ten Commandments in the Lord Jesus Christ. We've
kept them. Someone says, I try to keep the
law. I've kept it. I've kept it. But in 1 John 3, verse 23,
and this is His commandment, that we should believe on the
name of His Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another as He gave
His commandment. That's His commandment. We keep
the commandment. We believe on the name of his
son. We believe his name is the only name that God will accept.
We rely on him and we love his people. Back to 1 John chapter
five. For whatsoever is born of God
overcometh the world. And this is the victory that
overcometh the world, even our faith. Peter, I prayed for you that
your faith fail not. Who is he that overcometh the
world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? I believe that Jesus is the Christ. I believe that Jesus is the Son
of God. And there's one reason for that.
He prayed for me. Let's pray. Lord, we. Ask that we might be. Of that
number. That he. Praise for. Lord, we're thankful for what
you've revealed in your word about Peter, because Lord, we
see ourselves in him so clearly. And how we thank you for the
grace that made him to differ. and that made all your people
to differ because of what your son has done for us. Lord, I
ask in Christ's name that every one of us might be given this
faith to believe that Jesus is the Christ. the son of the living
God. Don't let us leave here without
having trusted and continue to trust thy son and continue to
look to who he is and what he did as everything in our salvation. In Christ's name we pray. Amen.