1 00:00:01,000 --> 00:00:07,280 Matthew 26, we're in verse 31, everything's slowing down. 2 00:00:07,280 --> 00:00:08,840 We're in these last few chapters. 3 00:00:10,240 --> 00:00:14,120 We just had the Last Supper. Jesus just established the new 4 00:00:14,120 --> 00:00:16,640 covenant in his blood. They're thinking, Yep, here's 5 00:00:16,640 --> 00:00:18,400 the Passover meal just like always. 6 00:00:18,400 --> 00:00:22,200 Passover meal, just like always. Passover meal, just like always. 7 00:00:22,200 --> 00:00:25,200 Jesus says, take this, eat it. And they're like, Yep, He says, 8 00:00:25,200 --> 00:00:29,080 this is the new covenant. Take this, drink it. 9 00:00:29,280 --> 00:00:31,440 This is the new covenant in my blood. 10 00:00:31,440 --> 00:00:33,560 And they're going, that's different. 11 00:00:33,560 --> 00:00:35,760 That's different from the Passover meal. 12 00:00:35,760 --> 00:00:37,200 He says, well, it's still a Passover. 13 00:00:37,200 --> 00:00:40,160 The death Angel is still going to Passover you because you'll 14 00:00:40,160 --> 00:00:43,240 be covered in my blood. Everything was always pointing 15 00:00:43,240 --> 00:00:45,720 to Jesus. Everything the whole Bible is 16 00:00:45,720 --> 00:00:48,640 about Jesus. All of creation was built by 17 00:00:48,640 --> 00:00:53,200 Jesus for Jesus through Jesus. Nothing exists without Jesus. 18 00:00:54,400 --> 00:00:56,040 Everything will glorify Jesus forever. 19 00:00:56,520 --> 00:01:01,640 So now we saw in verse 30 that they sang a hymn, and then they 20 00:01:01,640 --> 00:01:05,200 left. When they had sung A hymn, they 21 00:01:05,200 --> 00:01:08,000 went out to the Mount of Olives. Now we pick up here in verse 31. 22 00:01:08,520 --> 00:01:13,160 Then Jesus said to them, You will all fall away because of me 23 00:01:13,320 --> 00:01:16,560 this night. For it is written, I will strike 24 00:01:16,560 --> 00:01:19,960 the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered. 25 00:01:21,160 --> 00:01:24,200 But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee. 26 00:01:25,240 --> 00:01:28,800 Peter answered him, Though they all fall away because of you, I 27 00:01:28,800 --> 00:01:32,560 will never fall away. Jesus said to him, Truly, I tell 28 00:01:32,560 --> 00:01:37,040 you this very night before the rooster crows, you'll deny me 29 00:01:37,040 --> 00:01:40,360 three times. Peter said to him, Even if I 30 00:01:40,360 --> 00:01:42,880 must die with you, I will not deny you. 31 00:01:43,360 --> 00:01:45,800 And all the disciples said the same. 32 00:01:46,840 --> 00:01:52,720 Heavenly Father, help us to depend upon you right now, even 33 00:01:52,720 --> 00:01:54,120 for something that we're familiar with. 34 00:01:54,600 --> 00:01:57,880 We've come to church many times, we've gathered many times, we've 35 00:01:57,880 --> 00:02:01,280 heard many sermons. Lord, I pray right now that we 36 00:02:01,280 --> 00:02:04,520 would be dependent upon you. I pray for each of your people 37 00:02:05,320 --> 00:02:10,800 that they would be needy and desperate for your help in 38 00:02:10,800 --> 00:02:13,560 expecting you to unlock something and reveal something 39 00:02:13,560 --> 00:02:16,400 and change something, shift something, remove something, 40 00:02:16,680 --> 00:02:21,040 grow something, please yourself and glorify Your name in US. 41 00:02:21,840 --> 00:02:24,720 Your word is anointed Lord. As it comes forth, it's going to 42 00:02:24,720 --> 00:02:27,000 accomplish everything you intended for it to accomplish. 43 00:02:27,880 --> 00:02:30,240 I pray that you would guide me, my tongue and my thoughts and my 44 00:02:30,240 --> 00:02:33,960 words that they will be what's best and what's right for your 45 00:02:33,960 --> 00:02:37,640 flock. You as the chief Shepherd who 46 00:02:37,640 --> 00:02:41,600 care for your people, help me to serve them well and help them to 47 00:02:41,600 --> 00:02:45,320 be humble sheep who receive it and depend upon You for their 48 00:02:45,320 --> 00:02:47,600 daily bread. We thank you for your word now 49 00:02:47,600 --> 00:02:53,560 in Jesus name, Amen. They sung in hymn and they went 50 00:02:53,560 --> 00:02:57,320 out to the Mount of Olives. Now we don't know if we're on 51 00:02:57,320 --> 00:02:59,400 the way walking out to the Mount of Olives. 52 00:03:00,200 --> 00:03:04,080 We don't know if they're already in the Mount of Olives. 53 00:03:04,800 --> 00:03:07,760 But they were in Jerusalem when they had had that Last Supper 54 00:03:07,760 --> 00:03:11,680 meal in an upper room together, that Passover meal that had been 55 00:03:11,680 --> 00:03:16,040 prepared for them by some man, some unnamed man who somehow 56 00:03:16,040 --> 00:03:18,480 makes the pages of Scripture because he had prepared 57 00:03:18,480 --> 00:03:21,880 something for the Lord. And now here they're probably 58 00:03:21,880 --> 00:03:26,000 walking out up the Mount of Olives away from the city. 59 00:03:26,280 --> 00:03:28,480 It's about a mile or so. Gordon Linda, is that what it 60 00:03:28,480 --> 00:03:29,400 is? About a mile or so. 61 00:03:29,400 --> 00:03:32,120 You can see into Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives, I'm told. 62 00:03:32,560 --> 00:03:34,120 So you can see Jerusalem right there. 63 00:03:34,120 --> 00:03:36,400 It's still Passover time. It's still festival time. 64 00:03:36,760 --> 00:03:41,560 Everybody else is super excited. Jesus heart is very, very heavy. 65 00:03:41,920 --> 00:03:43,480 He's going into the garden to pray. 66 00:03:43,600 --> 00:03:46,360 He's going up to the Mount of Olives, but he's preparing his 67 00:03:46,360 --> 00:03:50,240 disciples now for this moment. And he says to them, you will 68 00:03:50,240 --> 00:03:53,680 all fall away because of me on this night. 69 00:03:55,880 --> 00:03:58,960 This is shocking to them. He's just exposed betrayal. 70 00:03:59,160 --> 00:04:02,680 Remember at the meal he says 1 of you will betray me. 71 00:04:03,560 --> 00:04:08,440 And they go, well, that's heavy. I mean, that's that's the worst 72 00:04:08,440 --> 00:04:10,000 thing we could possibly do is betray. 73 00:04:10,760 --> 00:04:15,600 But now the betrayer is left. Satan entered into Judas when he 74 00:04:15,600 --> 00:04:17,920 took the body and the blood of the Lord unworthily. 75 00:04:17,920 --> 00:04:21,279 Satan entered into him and then he went to go betray the Lord. 76 00:04:21,680 --> 00:04:27,440 But now Jesus says to the 11 you will all fall away because of me 77 00:04:28,440 --> 00:04:34,840 this very night. So he's exposed weakness now in 78 00:04:34,840 --> 00:04:38,080 every single one of them. That's hard for them to hear and 79 00:04:38,080 --> 00:04:40,960 it's shocking for them to hear, but it's interesting. 80 00:04:40,960 --> 00:04:43,760 Notice the way he puts it. You will fall away because of 81 00:04:43,760 --> 00:04:46,760 me. It's not that it's Jesus's fault 82 00:04:46,760 --> 00:04:48,800 that they're going to fall away. He's not. 83 00:04:48,800 --> 00:04:50,400 You're falling away because of my fault. 84 00:04:50,400 --> 00:04:53,200 But what he's saying is that he is the dividing line, which he's 85 00:04:53,200 --> 00:04:56,320 always said about himself. Jesus is the dividing line. 86 00:04:56,320 --> 00:04:59,520 Jesus divides households. Jesus said I did not come to 87 00:04:59,520 --> 00:05:02,880 bring peace, but a sword. And a man's enemies will be 88 00:05:02,880 --> 00:05:07,240 enemies of his own household because of Christ, not because 89 00:05:07,240 --> 00:05:10,160 of family dysfunction there. There's all kinds of stuff that 90 00:05:10,160 --> 00:05:12,200 happens in families all the time for all kinds of reasons like 91 00:05:12,200 --> 00:05:13,800 that. But Jesus saying people be 92 00:05:13,800 --> 00:05:17,440 divided by me, I will be the severing factor. 93 00:05:17,800 --> 00:05:19,840 I'll be the sword that divides things. 94 00:05:19,840 --> 00:05:22,160 He separates people, He divides households. 95 00:05:23,160 --> 00:05:27,360 Jesus is the cornerstone or Jesus is the stumbling block for 96 00:05:27,360 --> 00:05:31,480 every single life on earth. He's either your cornerstone, 97 00:05:31,480 --> 00:05:33,640 meaning when they build the building, they started with a 98 00:05:33,640 --> 00:05:37,040 big cornerstone and they set the cornerstone perfectly, and now 99 00:05:37,040 --> 00:05:39,960 everything will be calibrated according to the cornerstone. 100 00:05:39,960 --> 00:05:42,720 It's like the compass and they say we'll work every stone off 101 00:05:42,720 --> 00:05:47,920 of that one. That stones the truth For those 102 00:05:47,920 --> 00:05:51,520 who love and follow Christ. We say he is the cornerstone and 103 00:05:51,520 --> 00:05:56,200 I and I, if I, if something is out of line, it ain't him, It's 104 00:05:56,200 --> 00:05:59,240 me. And I need to readjust myself to 105 00:05:59,240 --> 00:06:01,800 make sure I'm in alignment with the cornerstone. 106 00:06:02,040 --> 00:06:04,960 Jesus is either your cornerstone or Jesus is your stumbling 107 00:06:04,960 --> 00:06:06,960 block. He's the thing that you trip 108 00:06:06,960 --> 00:06:08,240 over and that you're offended at. 109 00:06:08,680 --> 00:06:11,960 You're angry at. You stubbed your toe because you 110 00:06:11,960 --> 00:06:14,680 were out of line. The cornerstone never moved, but 111 00:06:14,680 --> 00:06:16,120 he becomes a stumbling block for you. 112 00:06:16,120 --> 00:06:17,680 And now you go. How could you? 113 00:06:17,680 --> 00:06:19,200 How dare you? I don't understand you. 114 00:06:19,200 --> 00:06:22,040 I disagree with you. I challenge you. 115 00:06:22,320 --> 00:06:25,440 All the things we see people do to Christ, all the things that 116 00:06:25,440 --> 00:06:27,720 we've done in our own hearts when we've challenged the Lord, 117 00:06:28,120 --> 00:06:32,000 when we've disobeyed the Lord, He is the cornerstone or he's 118 00:06:32,000 --> 00:06:33,400 the stumbling block in every life. 119 00:06:33,800 --> 00:06:38,880 And even the leaders of the church, the 11 are not exempt 120 00:06:39,040 --> 00:06:44,320 from stumbling. The leaders, the beginners of 121 00:06:44,320 --> 00:06:48,600 the church, all fall away on the Lord's on the night of the 122 00:06:48,600 --> 00:06:51,920 Lord's suffering. He says, For it is written, I 123 00:06:51,920 --> 00:06:54,480 will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be 124 00:06:54,480 --> 00:06:58,040 scattered. He's quoting Zechariah 13, Old 125 00:06:58,040 --> 00:07:02,560 Testament prophecy about Jesus. It had, it had the the prophecy 126 00:07:02,560 --> 00:07:06,000 had some fulfillment for the nation of Israel previously, but 127 00:07:06,000 --> 00:07:08,880 now it has ultimate fulfillment in Christ. 128 00:07:09,920 --> 00:07:12,560 I will, I will strike the shepherd and the flock will be 129 00:07:12,560 --> 00:07:14,800 scattered. This is the fulfilment of this. 130 00:07:14,800 --> 00:07:17,040 The shepherd will be struck, the sheep will scatter. 131 00:07:17,240 --> 00:07:19,920 The scattering is real. The failure is real. 132 00:07:19,920 --> 00:07:23,360 But thankfully the prophecy does not end there in Zechariah. 133 00:07:23,520 --> 00:07:28,160 Zechariah continues to speak of refinement like silver and like 134 00:07:28,160 --> 00:07:31,200 the testing of gold. So this is good news. 135 00:07:31,200 --> 00:07:33,320 We always just think that that's all there was to the Zechariah 136 00:07:33,320 --> 00:07:35,160 passage because that's all that Jesus quoted here. 137 00:07:35,160 --> 00:07:37,640 But that's not all there is. You should go read Zechariah 13 138 00:07:37,960 --> 00:07:40,240 and you'll be encouraged to see the restoration that's taking 139 00:07:40,240 --> 00:07:42,160 place. And ultimately we see it happen 140 00:07:42,160 --> 00:07:44,960 with the 11. You'll all be scattered. 141 00:07:46,680 --> 00:07:48,080 But Jesus doesn't leave them there. 142 00:07:53,120 --> 00:07:55,520 There is a refining and that's what happens. 143 00:07:56,440 --> 00:07:58,320 Zechariah continues to speak of refinement. 144 00:07:58,360 --> 00:08:00,400 Jesus in a moment is going to allude to it. 145 00:08:00,840 --> 00:08:03,000 A remnant will be brought through fire. 146 00:08:03,360 --> 00:08:07,480 They will call on His name, He will say they are my people. 147 00:08:07,640 --> 00:08:09,360 The scattering is not the final word. 148 00:08:09,600 --> 00:08:13,920 Refining is not destruction and testing is not abandonment. 149 00:08:15,120 --> 00:08:16,440 Have you ever sinned against the Lord? 150 00:08:16,440 --> 00:08:18,680 Yes, you have. Has the Lord ever gathered you 151 00:08:18,680 --> 00:08:20,600 back to Himself? Yes He has. 152 00:08:21,080 --> 00:08:24,160 This is the comfort that we have in having a shepherd instead of 153 00:08:24,160 --> 00:08:28,520 saying my survival is based upon me being the perfect sheep. 154 00:08:28,520 --> 00:08:31,920 Well, good luck with that. Sheep are dumb and that's what 155 00:08:31,920 --> 00:08:34,159 the Lord chose to compare us to over and over throughout 156 00:08:34,159 --> 00:08:36,760 scripture. So he says, I'm comparing you to 157 00:08:36,760 --> 00:08:41,000 a dumb ignorant animal with no defense mechanisms, who often 158 00:08:41,000 --> 00:08:44,360 gets lost, who will go eat the wrong things and kill itself, 159 00:08:45,480 --> 00:08:47,800 who will be attacked by parasites and cannot help 160 00:08:47,800 --> 00:08:50,360 itself. That's what he compares us to 161 00:08:50,360 --> 00:08:53,760 over and over and over he says, and I love you and I will keep 162 00:08:53,760 --> 00:08:57,600 gathering you back to myself. So we see a great fall here on 163 00:08:57,600 --> 00:09:00,600 this night from the disciples, but this isn't the final say. 164 00:09:00,760 --> 00:09:03,400 So don't miss this. Jesus knows that they will fall. 165 00:09:04,360 --> 00:09:07,680 He does not want them to fall. He is warning them, but He also 166 00:09:07,680 --> 00:09:10,120 knows that He is going to gather them back to Himself. 167 00:09:10,280 --> 00:09:12,720 Even in His warning, there's mercy. 168 00:09:14,240 --> 00:09:19,560 Verse 32 He says, but after I am raised up, he puts in a butt 169 00:09:19,560 --> 00:09:22,560 there because the butt is essentially the undoing of what 170 00:09:22,560 --> 00:09:25,080 was just said. This is something I try and be 171 00:09:25,080 --> 00:09:26,600 mindful of in my speech to people. 172 00:09:26,600 --> 00:09:31,600 Hey, I love you. What typically comes next when 173 00:09:31,600 --> 00:09:34,920 we're getting ready to correct somebody on something, but it 174 00:09:34,920 --> 00:09:36,600 almost seems like you're taking back the I love you. 175 00:09:36,600 --> 00:09:38,240 You don't intend to take back the I love you. 176 00:09:38,400 --> 00:09:42,320 What you intend to say is I love you and you need to knock it 177 00:09:42,320 --> 00:09:44,760 off. Both of those things are true at 178 00:09:44,760 --> 00:09:48,480 the same time. I love you and I'm very annoyed 179 00:09:49,120 --> 00:09:52,760 both of these things are true. I love you and not I love you 180 00:09:52,760 --> 00:09:55,400 but but Jesus is saying there's a bit of an undoing. 181 00:09:55,400 --> 00:09:58,360 He puts the the butt here. There's going to the flock will 182 00:09:58,360 --> 00:10:02,440 be scattered, but after I'm raised up, I will go before you 183 00:10:02,880 --> 00:10:07,200 into Galilee. What Jesus is communicating is 184 00:10:07,200 --> 00:10:08,920 that they are going to be restored and that he is going to 185 00:10:08,920 --> 00:10:11,640 gather them again and they are going to meet together again in 186 00:10:11,640 --> 00:10:14,320 Galilee. The good news for you here, 187 00:10:14,320 --> 00:10:17,960 Saints, is before the fall happens, Jesus is already 188 00:10:17,960 --> 00:10:19,720 declaring and talking about the resurrection. 189 00:10:20,040 --> 00:10:23,120 Before the scattering happens, He's already planning for the 190 00:10:23,120 --> 00:10:26,720 regathering. Jesus doesn't stay dead. 191 00:10:27,040 --> 00:10:28,800 He's already planning his resurrection. 192 00:10:29,560 --> 00:10:32,200 He's still experiencing the weight of the cross, and still 193 00:10:32,200 --> 00:10:35,040 he knows he will be resurrected. He still knows he's going to be 194 00:10:35,040 --> 00:10:37,120 glorified forever. He doesn't have any question 195 00:10:37,120 --> 00:10:39,440 about that. And yet it's painful to walk 196 00:10:39,440 --> 00:10:42,400 through painful things. It was painful for Jesus to walk 197 00:10:42,400 --> 00:10:44,440 through the cross. It's painful for you and I to 198 00:10:44,440 --> 00:10:46,720 walk through sin. It's painful for the 199 00:10:46,720 --> 00:10:49,560 consequences of the sin. It's painful for the separation 200 00:10:49,560 --> 00:10:51,920 that we experience in our fellowship with the Lord, our 201 00:10:51,920 --> 00:10:54,360 relationship. When we sin as Christians, the 202 00:10:54,360 --> 00:10:58,080 relationship is not severed. When Natalie and I sin against 203 00:10:58,080 --> 00:11:00,760 one another, we don't instantly become divorced, do we? 204 00:11:01,200 --> 00:11:03,160 But our fellowship is hindered in that moment. 205 00:11:03,960 --> 00:11:06,440 And in any relationship you have with someone, the relationship 206 00:11:06,440 --> 00:11:10,320 isn't permanently severed, and yet the fellowship is injured. 207 00:11:10,960 --> 00:11:12,240 The fellowship needs to be healed. 208 00:11:12,440 --> 00:11:13,920 The fellowship needs to be restored. 209 00:11:14,680 --> 00:11:16,280 There's ways that we can go about that. 210 00:11:16,440 --> 00:11:18,200 But the disciples experience this pain. 211 00:11:18,200 --> 00:11:22,120 They experience this separation. But Jesus encourages them. 212 00:11:22,320 --> 00:11:24,920 I will go before you. That is shepherd language. 213 00:11:26,480 --> 00:11:29,440 Even after they abandoned Him, He still goes before them. 214 00:11:29,440 --> 00:11:32,480 Even after they fought, even after they fall and fail, he 215 00:11:32,480 --> 00:11:36,760 still leads. Even before you sin, Jesus has 216 00:11:36,760 --> 00:11:39,880 already planned through to your restoration. 217 00:11:40,600 --> 00:11:42,040 He knows that your sin is coming. 218 00:11:43,560 --> 00:11:45,920 That's comforting to me. It doesn't mean that you're 219 00:11:45,920 --> 00:11:48,160 doomed and destined to commit that sin. 220 00:11:48,160 --> 00:11:50,720 It doesn't mean that He's forcing you to do the thing 221 00:11:50,960 --> 00:11:53,040 that's coming. It just means that even though 222 00:11:53,160 --> 00:11:56,000 he sees it, even though he knows it's coming, he's planning for 223 00:11:56,000 --> 00:11:59,440 the next step past it. That's what the sovereignty of 224 00:11:59,440 --> 00:12:01,240 God means. It doesn't mean that God is 225 00:12:01,240 --> 00:12:06,400 orchestrating your every action. It means that the Lord is still 226 00:12:06,400 --> 00:12:10,920 sovereign over your every action, and He still sees the 227 00:12:10,920 --> 00:12:14,600 beginning from the end. So his foreknowledge does not 228 00:12:14,600 --> 00:12:18,760 mean that he is in deliberate control of the thing that you've 229 00:12:18,760 --> 00:12:22,880 done wrong, but it means that He is still orchestrating a good 230 00:12:22,880 --> 00:12:25,040 outcome to bless you and to resurrect you. 231 00:12:26,880 --> 00:12:29,920 The sins you have not even committed, He's not forcing you 232 00:12:29,920 --> 00:12:31,520 to do them. You're not doomed to do them. 233 00:12:31,880 --> 00:12:35,080 But he sees what's coming, and He's already prepared a path for 234 00:12:35,080 --> 00:12:37,160 your return. That's comforting. 235 00:12:37,800 --> 00:12:40,080 So no matter what sin you're facing, no matter what 236 00:12:40,080 --> 00:12:42,760 difficulty you're in, no matter what shame you feel, the Lord 237 00:12:42,760 --> 00:12:44,320 has a path back right in that moment. 238 00:12:44,320 --> 00:12:47,280 You're like, surely it's too, it's I'm too far gone. 239 00:12:47,720 --> 00:12:49,800 I can't bear, I can't bear the shame. 240 00:12:50,120 --> 00:12:51,840 I can't walk through the repentance. 241 00:12:51,960 --> 00:12:53,520 I can't walk through the restoration. 242 00:12:53,520 --> 00:12:55,440 The Lord's like I've, I've paved a road. 243 00:12:56,000 --> 00:12:58,480 There is a path for restoration for you. 244 00:12:59,960 --> 00:13:01,440 This is the good news of the gospel. 245 00:13:02,080 --> 00:13:03,480 Well, why? Why has he done it? 246 00:13:03,480 --> 00:13:07,120 Well, Jesus earned that path. You didn't deserve it, but God 247 00:13:07,120 --> 00:13:10,680 loved you, and as you put faith in Christ, now you experience 248 00:13:11,520 --> 00:13:14,640 the advocacy of Christ. He advocates to you. 249 00:13:14,880 --> 00:13:16,840 He advocates to the Father on your behalf. 250 00:13:18,320 --> 00:13:20,160 What a blessing, what a comfort, what a God. 251 00:13:20,800 --> 00:13:24,360 He sees the weaknesses, and he still plans the gathering for 252 00:13:24,360 --> 00:13:27,200 later. The issue we see here in this 253 00:13:27,200 --> 00:13:30,760 passage comes of course, from the disciples and Peter in 254 00:13:30,760 --> 00:13:32,160 particular. Verse 33. 255 00:13:32,440 --> 00:13:35,680 Peter answered him though. They all fall away because of 256 00:13:35,680 --> 00:13:41,080 you, I will never fall away. Immediately we see the problem. 257 00:13:41,560 --> 00:13:47,600 Peter disagrees with Jesus. Hey Jesus, you are wrong. 258 00:13:48,720 --> 00:13:51,960 That's the boldness of Peter. But it's not a Holy Spirit 259 00:13:51,960 --> 00:13:54,240 boldness. It's a it's just Peter's own 260 00:13:54,240 --> 00:13:56,360 flesh. It's Peter's own 261 00:13:56,360 --> 00:13:59,560 self-confidence. It's Peter's own self assurance. 262 00:13:59,760 --> 00:14:01,680 We all love Peter. We all like Peter. 263 00:14:01,680 --> 00:14:04,600 We can all relate to Peter. Peter's a real guy. 264 00:14:05,200 --> 00:14:07,800 Peter's a real person. He, you can tell he genuinely 265 00:14:07,800 --> 00:14:10,560 loves the Lord and you can tell he genuinely puts his foot in 266 00:14:10,560 --> 00:14:13,160 his mouth and that's why he's so lovable because we're like, this 267 00:14:13,160 --> 00:14:15,920 guy's real. This guy looks like us. 268 00:14:16,240 --> 00:14:17,880 This guy's a blue collar fisherman. 269 00:14:17,880 --> 00:14:20,560 When he sees a problem, he's like, I'm going fishing. 270 00:14:20,680 --> 00:14:22,040 That's what that's all I know to do. 271 00:14:22,040 --> 00:14:25,560 We're not catching any fish. You just fish harder, you fish 272 00:14:25,560 --> 00:14:29,840 more, you fish better, you fish, you just keep fishing. 273 00:14:29,840 --> 00:14:31,360 That's what he does over and over. 274 00:14:31,360 --> 00:14:34,880 When you see Peter's problems, that's all he knows to do, and 275 00:14:34,880 --> 00:14:36,040 you can't help but love him for it. 276 00:14:36,200 --> 00:14:40,840 And also, it's not the answer. Peter lacks A dependence upon 277 00:14:40,840 --> 00:14:43,440 the Lord over and over and over. And we continue to see it. 278 00:14:43,800 --> 00:14:45,880 We continue to see Peter trusting in himself. 279 00:14:45,880 --> 00:14:48,480 He's like, I'm going to do it. And you see, Jesus loves Peter. 280 00:14:48,920 --> 00:14:51,920 Jesus loves Peter. He cares about Peter. 281 00:14:51,920 --> 00:14:55,800 He encourages Peter, he rebukes Peter, he corrects Peter. 282 00:14:55,800 --> 00:15:00,880 He's a friend to Peter, but he needs Peter to grow and he needs 283 00:15:00,880 --> 00:15:02,680 Peter to stop trusting in himself. 284 00:15:03,400 --> 00:15:05,960 He needs Peter to actually depend upon the Lord. 285 00:15:06,480 --> 00:15:07,840 Remember 1 of Peter's first license? 286 00:15:07,840 --> 00:15:11,120 Whenever you've been fishing all night long, Jesus called out and 287 00:15:11,120 --> 00:15:15,520 said, cast your Nets onto the other side of the boat. 288 00:15:17,640 --> 00:15:19,600 Well, Peter's a fisherman. That doesn't make any sense. 289 00:15:20,800 --> 00:15:22,080 And he said that doesn't make any sense. 290 00:15:22,080 --> 00:15:23,640 We've been fishing all night. But you know what? 291 00:15:24,120 --> 00:15:27,600 I'll do it. I'll do it reluctantly, but I'll 292 00:15:27,600 --> 00:15:29,320 do it. And then of course, comes the 293 00:15:29,320 --> 00:15:32,000 massive catch. Could Peter explain it? 294 00:15:32,200 --> 00:15:35,280 No Did it make sense to this seasoned fisherman? 295 00:15:35,280 --> 00:15:39,040 No, but it's the goodness of God and its obedience to the Lord. 296 00:15:39,440 --> 00:15:43,080 Peter needs to humble himself before the Lord and not trust in 297 00:15:43,080 --> 00:15:47,640 himself. At the dinner they were super 298 00:15:47,640 --> 00:15:49,240 humble. When Jesus said one of you will 299 00:15:49,240 --> 00:15:53,800 betray me, they all the true the 11 go is it I is it me? 300 00:15:54,000 --> 00:15:56,800 They were fearful and we applauded that. 301 00:15:56,840 --> 00:15:58,240 And we said, look, look at the humility. 302 00:15:58,240 --> 00:16:00,720 And they're concerned. They're asking, is it me? 303 00:16:00,800 --> 00:16:04,520 They didn't say I never would. They were like, please tell me. 304 00:16:04,680 --> 00:16:06,800 But now something's changed. Something shifted. 305 00:16:06,800 --> 00:16:11,080 Even in their walk in this short time, within the hour, maybe we 306 00:16:11,080 --> 00:16:16,080 see a problem. Before, they were inspecting 307 00:16:16,080 --> 00:16:19,720 their own hearts. Now Peter says, not me. 308 00:16:20,520 --> 00:16:22,440 No way. It's absolutely not going to 309 00:16:22,440 --> 00:16:24,440 happen. That shift from humility to 310 00:16:24,440 --> 00:16:28,000 confidence in self. And then he makes another error 311 00:16:28,000 --> 00:16:30,720 here. He says even if they all fall 312 00:16:30,720 --> 00:16:33,480 away now he separates himself from the rest of the 11. 313 00:16:34,280 --> 00:16:37,680 All right, Judas is fishy. We've had our eye on him. 314 00:16:37,680 --> 00:16:39,000 We don't know where he went tonight. 315 00:16:39,720 --> 00:16:41,920 That seemed weird the way he left. 316 00:16:42,320 --> 00:16:46,520 But here we are with the 11. Even if the other 10 fall away. 317 00:16:46,520 --> 00:16:50,040 Jesus, I will never and he separates himself from the rest 318 00:16:50,040 --> 00:16:51,800 of this is in front of the rest of the guys. 319 00:16:52,280 --> 00:16:53,960 They're all right there and he goes. 320 00:16:53,960 --> 00:16:56,520 They might keep your eye on them Lord. 321 00:16:56,800 --> 00:17:00,040 They might all fall away tonight, but not me. 322 00:17:02,240 --> 00:17:06,599 He's comparing himself elevates himself above the group 323 00:17:06,760 --> 00:17:10,720 misplaced confidence that he is placed in himself and also this 324 00:17:11,000 --> 00:17:13,599 this comparison reveals his pride. 325 00:17:13,720 --> 00:17:16,040 This is why he falls. He's not dependent upon the 326 00:17:16,040 --> 00:17:18,680 Lord. When Jesus said you're all going 327 00:17:18,680 --> 00:17:22,520 to fall away on account of me tonight, what should the 328 00:17:22,520 --> 00:17:25,560 response have been? Oh my goodness, Lord, help us to 329 00:17:25,560 --> 00:17:27,119 pray. Which is what he encouraged them 330 00:17:27,119 --> 00:17:29,840 into in the garden. Pray that you will not fall into 331 00:17:29,840 --> 00:17:32,720 temptation. Can't you stay away for one hour 332 00:17:32,720 --> 00:17:34,960 and pray? And they're like, we're not 333 00:17:34,960 --> 00:17:37,400 going to fall away. Trust us. 334 00:17:37,920 --> 00:17:40,960 We know we love you. We know we'll be faithful. 335 00:17:42,240 --> 00:17:44,200 It scares me because I've thought that way before. 336 00:17:45,360 --> 00:17:47,080 I've definitely thought that way before. 337 00:17:47,200 --> 00:17:49,480 I've absolutely thought how Peter is thought. 338 00:17:49,480 --> 00:17:52,480 I've absolutely talked how Peter is talked. 339 00:17:52,920 --> 00:17:54,920 And as I've gotten older, I've repented from that. 340 00:17:55,520 --> 00:17:56,880 You still might feel those things. 341 00:17:56,880 --> 00:17:59,880 You still might feel no way would I ever deny the Lord. 342 00:18:00,240 --> 00:18:02,640 I'm talking in anything. And I'm like, I've used my 343 00:18:02,640 --> 00:18:08,200 imagination to to go to to dark and awful places. 344 00:18:08,200 --> 00:18:11,000 What might someone do to try and get me to deny the Lord? 345 00:18:11,000 --> 00:18:14,400 And I've gone, I've taken it to extremes and I'm like never. 346 00:18:15,480 --> 00:18:17,080 But I've since changed over the years. 347 00:18:17,080 --> 00:18:21,120 I'm going, Lord, keep me faithful instead of a zealous, 348 00:18:21,280 --> 00:18:23,840 I'll tell you who I am and I'll tell you what I'll do kind of 349 00:18:23,840 --> 00:18:26,240 confession. I've changed it to Jesus, please 350 00:18:26,240 --> 00:18:28,960 give me strength. Jesus, please give me strength. 351 00:18:28,960 --> 00:18:31,400 I never want to grieve you. And he knows I don't want to 352 00:18:31,400 --> 00:18:33,840 deny him. He knows my heart is to love 353 00:18:33,840 --> 00:18:36,760 him. But instead of I'll muscle up, 354 00:18:36,760 --> 00:18:39,320 I'll fish harder, I'll fish all night. 355 00:18:39,960 --> 00:18:41,120 That's not the answer to Michael. 356 00:18:41,120 --> 00:18:44,160 It's actual dependence upon the Lord, because if you're going 357 00:18:44,160 --> 00:18:46,600 to, if you're going to sustain anything, you're going to do it 358 00:18:46,600 --> 00:18:49,120 in the power of God. And if you're going to fail, 359 00:18:49,160 --> 00:18:50,960 you're going to fail in your own flesh. 360 00:18:52,040 --> 00:18:55,520 Keeping yourself aligned to the cornerstone is the solution. 361 00:18:59,640 --> 00:19:03,240 Jesus has already warned Peter earlier this night, Simon, 362 00:19:03,240 --> 00:19:05,800 Simon, Satan demanded to sift you like wheat. 363 00:19:06,720 --> 00:19:08,320 But Jesus told him, I've prayed for you. 364 00:19:09,360 --> 00:19:11,640 And then of course he tells them, watch that you don't enter 365 00:19:11,640 --> 00:19:13,800 into temptation. He tells them the Spirit is 366 00:19:13,800 --> 00:19:17,720 willing, but the flesh is weak. The answer for them was prayer. 367 00:19:18,280 --> 00:19:20,280 Peter chose his personal confidence instead. 368 00:19:20,280 --> 00:19:23,480 He was certain. He was super, super certain. 369 00:19:23,480 --> 00:19:28,000 I've been super certain before. Being certain in yourself is not 370 00:19:28,000 --> 00:19:30,640 a solution. And it can even feel like your 371 00:19:30,640 --> 00:19:32,720 Bible certain. And really you're still just 372 00:19:32,720 --> 00:19:35,440 pridefully certain. What you've called faith was 373 00:19:35,440 --> 00:19:39,040 your presumption instead of a heart faith that's bubbling out 374 00:19:39,040 --> 00:19:41,920 of a humility that came from a place with I've. 375 00:19:41,920 --> 00:19:43,560 I've sought the Lord on my knees. 376 00:19:44,000 --> 00:19:46,800 I've sought the Lord in humility and I sense his strength. 377 00:19:49,280 --> 00:19:52,160 Once you've tasted both, they're very, very recognizable. 378 00:19:52,160 --> 00:19:54,400 The counterfeit becomes pretty obvious to you. 379 00:19:59,080 --> 00:20:02,040 Prayerlessness is often the fruit of self trust. 380 00:20:05,640 --> 00:20:08,400 I've seen this. Proven over and over and over in 381 00:20:08,400 --> 00:20:11,080 my life. When you feel strong, you pray 382 00:20:11,080 --> 00:20:13,800 less. When you feel experienced, you 383 00:20:13,800 --> 00:20:17,640 lean on him less. Now I've got wisdom for this. 384 00:20:17,640 --> 00:20:21,520 I've done this 1000 times. I know how to fish. 385 00:20:22,200 --> 00:20:23,480 I've been doing it my whole life. 386 00:20:23,480 --> 00:20:26,400 My granddaddy was a fisherman, My daddy was a fisherman. 387 00:20:26,680 --> 00:20:30,040 I'm a fisherman and this is the only lake I've ever fished. 388 00:20:30,400 --> 00:20:32,640 I know this lake. I know the timing, I know the 389 00:20:32,640 --> 00:20:34,640 currents. I know exactly what to do with 390 00:20:34,640 --> 00:20:37,120 this lake. I'm an expert. 391 00:20:37,560 --> 00:20:39,720 And then the Lord says do it different. 392 00:20:40,520 --> 00:20:42,640 Do it different because you're not being successful. 393 00:20:43,960 --> 00:20:47,360 Prayer is the answer though. Actual devotion to the Lord, 394 00:20:47,520 --> 00:20:51,440 actual seeking the Lord. Peter felt so strong. 395 00:20:51,440 --> 00:20:53,040 He felt so courageous on this night. 396 00:20:53,200 --> 00:20:56,720 He felt so devoted. When you feel those things, take 397 00:20:56,720 --> 00:21:01,040 heed the lest you fall. It is unwise to look back on 398 00:21:01,040 --> 00:21:04,480 your past victories and assume that they guarantee future 399 00:21:04,480 --> 00:21:07,640 victories. Your past victories do not 400 00:21:07,640 --> 00:21:11,840 guarantee future victories. Past victories are evidence of 401 00:21:11,840 --> 00:21:14,360 the Lord's faithfulness. They are not proof of your 402 00:21:14,360 --> 00:21:17,120 invincibility. That's all. 403 00:21:17,160 --> 00:21:18,880 Look at all these past things. Yeah. 404 00:21:19,160 --> 00:21:22,320 Praise the Lord. That's what all that is intended 405 00:21:22,320 --> 00:21:24,400 to do. To draw you vertical to worship 406 00:21:24,400 --> 00:21:26,720 ago. God, you've been so good to me. 407 00:21:27,240 --> 00:21:29,280 Well, haven't you done stuff? Well, yeah, I've done stuff. 408 00:21:29,800 --> 00:21:31,400 Yeah. I put the Nets on the other side 409 00:21:31,400 --> 00:21:34,560 of the boat like he told me to. We're not talking about a 410 00:21:34,560 --> 00:21:36,720 passivity that that takes no action. 411 00:21:37,040 --> 00:21:39,360 We're not talking about a mindlessness that sits on the 412 00:21:39,360 --> 00:21:42,720 sofa and says God will provide. Or like I was saying, the person 413 00:21:42,720 --> 00:21:44,720 who sleeps 3 hours a night. It's like just pray for a 414 00:21:44,720 --> 00:21:48,240 miracle that I would have some energy from the Lord like, well, 415 00:21:48,240 --> 00:21:50,440 we know your solution. It's a bad time. 416 00:21:50,840 --> 00:21:53,000 It's OK. Pray that my pray that my blood 417 00:21:53,000 --> 00:21:55,080 sugar will get in check. Hey, we know your solution. 418 00:21:55,200 --> 00:21:58,440 It's changing what you eat and changing how you move your body. 419 00:21:58,760 --> 00:22:00,400 You know, there's, there's some things that we can do. 420 00:22:00,400 --> 00:22:02,040 There's some things we can impact. 421 00:22:02,760 --> 00:22:05,440 So we're not minimizing the fact that we could ever take action, 422 00:22:05,720 --> 00:22:10,120 but we we are minimizing a self-confidence and a courage 423 00:22:10,120 --> 00:22:13,160 that comes from me and a courage that comes from all my 424 00:22:13,160 --> 00:22:16,800 experience. Past victories are evidence of 425 00:22:16,800 --> 00:22:18,720 the Lord's faithfulness. They're not proof of my 426 00:22:18,720 --> 00:22:23,600 invincibility. So the Lord spoke, Peter says, 427 00:22:23,600 --> 00:22:25,080 no Lord, it's not going to be like that. 428 00:22:25,680 --> 00:22:29,960 And now the Lord double S down. Jesus said to him, verse 34, 429 00:22:30,160 --> 00:22:34,760 truly, I tell you this very night before the rooster crows, 430 00:22:35,440 --> 00:22:39,960 you will deny me three times. So Jesus got very specific. 431 00:22:41,160 --> 00:22:43,320 It tells him exactly how it's going to happen now because of 432 00:22:43,320 --> 00:22:44,680 his pride. Unfortunately. 433 00:22:45,640 --> 00:22:47,360 Remember, this is known by the Lord. 434 00:22:47,520 --> 00:22:49,800 That does not mean that this is forced by the Lord. 435 00:22:50,440 --> 00:22:54,040 Just as Judas's betrayal was foreknown, not forced, Peter's 436 00:22:54,040 --> 00:22:56,480 denial was foreknown, not forced. 437 00:22:58,120 --> 00:23:01,120 What if, what if now he had repented? 438 00:23:01,600 --> 00:23:04,600 That's a foolish mind game that isn't fruitful. 439 00:23:04,760 --> 00:23:07,720 The point is the Lord saw a long time ago what Peter was going to 440 00:23:07,720 --> 00:23:10,480 do on this night, and he's just letting him know what he's going 441 00:23:10,480 --> 00:23:12,280 to do. It's not a trap that he has set 442 00:23:12,280 --> 00:23:17,760 for Peter. Verse 35, Even after Jesus's 443 00:23:17,760 --> 00:23:21,840 specific prophecy and revelation to Peter, Peter said to him, 444 00:23:22,200 --> 00:23:25,800 even if I must die with you, I will not deny you. 445 00:23:26,520 --> 00:23:31,600 And all the disciples said the same pride multiplies now 446 00:23:32,200 --> 00:23:36,720 leadership in self-confidence spreads quickly. 447 00:23:37,320 --> 00:23:41,040 And then within hours they have all proven the prophecy true. 448 00:23:41,840 --> 00:23:44,640 That's wild. Like we think we're ready for 449 00:23:44,640 --> 00:23:47,280 the heat. And then 600 soldiers show up 450 00:23:47,280 --> 00:23:52,200 into the garden and they go, oh, my knees feel like Jelly and my 451 00:23:52,600 --> 00:23:56,280 stomach is in my throat and my heart rate is sky high. 452 00:23:56,920 --> 00:23:59,760 And that's why are all these soldiers here that it's not 453 00:23:59,760 --> 00:24:01,680 happening how I thought it was going to happen. 454 00:24:02,360 --> 00:24:06,720 I had imagined something else. And they take off and they 455 00:24:06,720 --> 00:24:10,880 scatter. This is one of the reasons that 456 00:24:10,880 --> 00:24:15,880 I'm so emphatic about people being built on Christ and not 457 00:24:15,880 --> 00:24:19,280 being super devoted to their end times expectations. 458 00:24:20,200 --> 00:24:23,760 I want you to be secure and faithful no matter how it comes 459 00:24:23,760 --> 00:24:25,400 out. If your chart is the one that 460 00:24:25,400 --> 00:24:27,960 happens perfectly, congratulations, but I don't 461 00:24:27,960 --> 00:24:31,200 want you to be dependent upon your chart and going like, Oh 462 00:24:31,200 --> 00:24:35,640 no, I had, you know, my bingo card had this happening next and 463 00:24:35,640 --> 00:24:36,960 there, but this happened instead. 464 00:24:37,960 --> 00:24:41,400 Like I said, we're all, we have much freedom in our convictions 465 00:24:41,400 --> 00:24:43,680 on how the world is going to end and how Jesus is going to wrap 466 00:24:43,680 --> 00:24:46,800 this whole thing up. But no matter what, we need to 467 00:24:46,800 --> 00:24:49,920 have simplicity and focus on following him and waking up and 468 00:24:49,920 --> 00:24:53,240 doing it day after day and night after night. 469 00:24:57,520 --> 00:25:00,400 Even if it's even if I must die with you, I will. 470 00:25:00,560 --> 00:25:03,600 I will not deny you. And all the other disciples are 471 00:25:03,600 --> 00:25:05,480 like after they've just been insulted by Peter. 472 00:25:05,480 --> 00:25:07,120 He's like they all might, but I won't. 473 00:25:07,120 --> 00:25:12,080 And Jesus goes, Peter, you're going to deny me not once. 474 00:25:13,120 --> 00:25:15,240 You being the hero that you are, you're going to deny me three 475 00:25:15,240 --> 00:25:18,280 times and it'll be before we hear a rooster. 476 00:25:18,920 --> 00:25:23,080 And then later, if you'll remember Peter and Jesus, 477 00:25:23,080 --> 00:25:26,640 because Peter was at a distance, he was kind of following but not 478 00:25:26,640 --> 00:25:29,720 close enough to be identified with Jesus, and he was watching 479 00:25:29,720 --> 00:25:32,640 from a distance. And in that moment, a rooster 480 00:25:32,640 --> 00:25:37,320 crows after Jesus, after Peter denies Jesus 1/3 time and Jesus 481 00:25:37,320 --> 00:25:39,480 looks at Peter. So they're in some courtyard and 482 00:25:39,480 --> 00:25:42,560 there's some scenario and Jesus is there and he's been punched 483 00:25:42,560 --> 00:25:45,400 and he's already been assaulted multiple times and he's been 484 00:25:45,400 --> 00:25:48,320 mocked and he's been belittled. And Peter denies Jesus. 485 00:25:48,320 --> 00:25:50,080 Hey, you're a Galilean. I can tell your accent. 486 00:25:50,080 --> 00:25:52,760 No, I saw you with him. No, no, I swear. 487 00:25:52,760 --> 00:25:56,160 I swear to God. And he calls down Kurt. 488 00:25:56,160 --> 00:25:59,080 If I'm lying, then May God strike me dead. 489 00:25:59,080 --> 00:26:02,040 All kinds of obnoxious fear coming up out of him. 490 00:26:02,400 --> 00:26:06,120 All that pride vanished. All that courage long gone. 491 00:26:06,360 --> 00:26:11,480 I swear to God, which we don't do. 492 00:26:11,640 --> 00:26:14,160 Let your yes be yes and let your no be no. 493 00:26:15,480 --> 00:26:17,240 Anything more than that comes from the evil 1. 494 00:26:19,560 --> 00:26:21,280 And in that moment a rooster crows. 495 00:26:22,720 --> 00:26:27,840 And in that moment Jesus looks over at Peter, and Peter runs 496 00:26:27,840 --> 00:26:33,840 away and weeps bitterly. I denied him just like he said I 497 00:26:33,840 --> 00:26:35,520 would. I just denied the Lord. 498 00:26:35,520 --> 00:26:38,120 He's over here being assaulted. This is. 499 00:26:38,520 --> 00:26:40,560 Things are going from bad to worse for him tonight. 500 00:26:41,360 --> 00:26:43,640 And Peter, he's got the shame of what he's done. 501 00:26:43,640 --> 00:26:45,640 He's got the humiliation of what he's done. 502 00:26:45,880 --> 00:26:49,120 I said I never would. That was like a couple hours ago 503 00:26:49,120 --> 00:26:50,600 in the garden in the Mount of Olives. 504 00:26:51,000 --> 00:26:56,240 And here I am doing it. And yet the restoration was also 505 00:26:56,240 --> 00:27:00,040 already prophesied. But I'm going to go ahead of you 506 00:27:00,040 --> 00:27:02,480 all in Galilee. Hey, you're all going to, you're 507 00:27:02,480 --> 00:27:04,200 all going to, you're all going to deny me tonight. 508 00:27:04,200 --> 00:27:05,560 You're all going to be scattered because of me. 509 00:27:05,960 --> 00:27:09,920 Oh, no, we never would do that. But we're going to meet together 510 00:27:09,920 --> 00:27:14,080 again in Galilee. Don't worry, you're going to be 511 00:27:14,080 --> 00:27:17,200 restored because I'm the shepherd, That's why. 512 00:27:17,880 --> 00:27:21,080 Not because you're the best sheep, but because I'm the best 513 00:27:21,080 --> 00:27:23,120 shepherd. So you're all going to be 514 00:27:23,120 --> 00:27:25,320 restored, and then you're going to get power. 515 00:27:25,720 --> 00:27:28,960 And then, Peter, don't you worry, you will finally actually 516 00:27:28,960 --> 00:27:31,760 have real boldness. Not this thing that comes and 517 00:27:31,760 --> 00:27:34,360 goes with moments, Peter, but you're going to have this thing 518 00:27:34,360 --> 00:27:37,120 that lasts all the way through. And yes, Peter, you will die 519 00:27:37,120 --> 00:27:42,600 with me and you'll die on a cross and you won't be afraid 520 00:27:43,840 --> 00:27:45,920 because I'll give you, I'll give you real power and you'll 521 00:27:45,920 --> 00:27:48,600 actually lean on me. You actually trust me for power. 522 00:27:50,360 --> 00:27:55,160 Everybody feels brave, but we only get tested when the heat 523 00:27:55,160 --> 00:27:57,640 comes. The heat is what reveals the 524 00:27:57,640 --> 00:28:01,000 weakness in the steel. The fire reveals the impurities 525 00:28:01,000 --> 00:28:03,760 in the gold. And this is where we're refined. 526 00:28:04,520 --> 00:28:06,600 This is where things are exposed in our lives. 527 00:28:06,600 --> 00:28:09,600 And we go. I thought I was at this level, 528 00:28:10,600 --> 00:28:13,800 but the fruit is always talking to you church, your fruit is 529 00:28:13,800 --> 00:28:15,360 always telling you what level you're at. 530 00:28:16,160 --> 00:28:17,440 So you're like, I thought I was here. 531 00:28:17,440 --> 00:28:20,080 I thought I was there. Well, you're probably 532 00:28:20,400 --> 00:28:22,360 embarrassed about it because you're comparing yourself to 533 00:28:22,360 --> 00:28:25,040 others. So knock that off because that 534 00:28:25,040 --> 00:28:27,560 doesn't serve you. Compare yourself to you of 535 00:28:27,560 --> 00:28:30,720 yesterday and say, Lord, how can I bear good fruit today? 536 00:28:31,640 --> 00:28:34,240 I want the I want my life to look like progress. 537 00:28:34,240 --> 00:28:36,920 Lord, I just want it to look like progress. 538 00:28:37,000 --> 00:28:40,600 Help me to not compare to anybody else, but except old 539 00:28:40,600 --> 00:28:42,280 John Michael. Help me to keep comparing to him 540 00:28:42,280 --> 00:28:44,240 and say, Lord, am I, am I more faithful? 541 00:28:44,760 --> 00:28:47,960 Lord, am I sweeter? Are the fruits of the Spirit 542 00:28:48,160 --> 00:28:50,720 more evident in me? Am I more gracious with my 543 00:28:50,720 --> 00:28:54,120 enemies than I used to be? All the things that I know are 544 00:28:54,120 --> 00:28:57,200 weaknesses for me, particular weaknesses for me. 545 00:28:57,200 --> 00:28:59,800 We all have sins that are particular and particularly 546 00:28:59,800 --> 00:29:03,160 common for us and our makeup and our way and our background and 547 00:29:03,160 --> 00:29:06,440 our whatever. Those are areas in particular 548 00:29:06,440 --> 00:29:08,960 that I'm watchful of and I'm going, this is where I need to 549 00:29:08,960 --> 00:29:10,880 keep growing. This is where the Lord applies 550 00:29:10,880 --> 00:29:14,120 heat because He loves me. And this is where the impurity 551 00:29:14,120 --> 00:29:17,000 can come up, rise to the top and He can sweep that thing away. 552 00:29:18,120 --> 00:29:20,520 Have you ever looked at someone else's sin and thought, I could 553 00:29:20,520 --> 00:29:23,760 never do that? Take heed lest you fall. 554 00:29:24,560 --> 00:29:29,160 Oh, I could never do that. I have instead said I am capable 555 00:29:29,160 --> 00:29:32,040 of any sin that any human being has ever committed on the earth. 556 00:29:33,080 --> 00:29:35,120 How could you say that? Because I'm a human. 557 00:29:36,640 --> 00:29:38,040 You really think you. Yeah. 558 00:29:38,240 --> 00:29:42,240 Apart from the grace of God. I bet if I had had to walk in 559 00:29:42,240 --> 00:29:45,200 all of their shoes and had all the temptation and pressures and 560 00:29:45,200 --> 00:29:50,520 circumstances I've had done what they did, man, it almost makes 561 00:29:50,520 --> 00:29:52,280 like God's the hero in the story. 562 00:29:52,280 --> 00:29:54,480 I know. It's like I get no credit. 563 00:29:54,480 --> 00:29:55,920 Like, dude, I don't even know I should trust you. 564 00:29:55,920 --> 00:29:58,560 Joe Michael, I agree. I don't trust you either. 565 00:29:58,560 --> 00:30:04,960 So there you go. But for the grace of God, there 566 00:30:04,960 --> 00:30:07,360 go. I doesn't mean that we don't 567 00:30:07,360 --> 00:30:10,600 still want justice to be executed in wicked situations. 568 00:30:10,960 --> 00:30:14,520 We are seeing extreme wickedness displayed in our government at 569 00:30:14,520 --> 00:30:17,200 the highest level right now. Things that are grieving me, 570 00:30:18,160 --> 00:30:23,960 grieving me, things from our White House, Demonic pedophiles 571 00:30:24,760 --> 00:30:28,480 are being hidden and protected by the White House that we 572 00:30:28,480 --> 00:30:30,680 elected, that I encourage you to elect. 573 00:30:30,720 --> 00:30:32,560 And if I could go back, I would elect again. 574 00:30:33,400 --> 00:30:34,520 Why? Because when you've got to 575 00:30:34,520 --> 00:30:36,760 choose between two demon worshipping pedophiles, you're 576 00:30:36,760 --> 00:30:39,400 going to always choose the one that you think is still going to 577 00:30:39,400 --> 00:30:42,720 be better for your nation, although it's still a fool's 578 00:30:42,720 --> 00:30:45,320 game, all of it. But there are wicked, wicked 579 00:30:45,320 --> 00:30:48,480 things taking place. And we still want justice to be 580 00:30:48,480 --> 00:30:50,800 served. And our Justice Department is 581 00:30:50,800 --> 00:30:54,040 anything but at the moment. So we still want that. 582 00:30:54,680 --> 00:30:58,640 We still expect those things our humility and us need. 583 00:30:58,640 --> 00:31:01,360 Realizing that we need the lore doesn't mean that we should that 584 00:31:01,360 --> 00:31:04,080 we say that there aren't consequences for actions. 585 00:31:04,280 --> 00:31:06,880 That was just a quick sidebar. And I was able to bring in a 586 00:31:06,880 --> 00:31:11,240 quick relevant issue from the weak because I want you to be 587 00:31:11,240 --> 00:31:14,320 able to people who think clearly as well, think about issues. 588 00:31:14,320 --> 00:31:18,000 Well, I like this person for that thing, OK, And you don't 589 00:31:18,000 --> 00:31:20,400 like them for this thing. We're allowed to say two things 590 00:31:20,400 --> 00:31:21,840 at the same time. Well, I'm going to support the 591 00:31:21,840 --> 00:31:23,200 president. No, no, no. 592 00:31:23,200 --> 00:31:25,600 I'm going to support righteousness, I'm going to 593 00:31:25,600 --> 00:31:27,320 support righteousness, I support Jesus. 594 00:31:27,320 --> 00:31:29,520 That's it. So to whatever degree the 595 00:31:29,520 --> 00:31:33,080 president is honoring the Lord Jesus and he's fulfilling his 596 00:31:33,080 --> 00:31:36,800 duties of the earth to punish the wicked and reward the 597 00:31:36,800 --> 00:31:40,080 righteous, which is literally the job description. 598 00:31:40,240 --> 00:31:43,360 Then I'll say 2 thumbs way up. But the farther you venture from 599 00:31:43,360 --> 00:31:46,000 that assignment, well, he's done good stuff. 600 00:31:46,000 --> 00:31:49,560 Yep, most pro-life president history. 2 thumbs way up. 601 00:31:50,240 --> 00:31:52,000 I see you fulfilling the ministry of Jesus and the earth 602 00:31:52,000 --> 00:31:53,960 there. But protecting demon worshipping 603 00:31:53,960 --> 00:31:57,920 pedophiles, we have real, real, real, real, real problems. 604 00:31:58,560 --> 00:32:02,000 Real problems. All right, back to the points 605 00:32:02,000 --> 00:32:08,160 here. Heat is applied and all gets 606 00:32:08,160 --> 00:32:10,040 revealed. Peter had a blind spot. 607 00:32:11,760 --> 00:32:17,120 You have blind spots. When someone points them out, be 608 00:32:17,120 --> 00:32:22,040 thankful. Cry if you must hurt. 609 00:32:22,200 --> 00:32:27,200 If it hurts, it's OK, but later you will be gathered. 610 00:32:28,040 --> 00:32:29,440 You're not going to stay scattered. 611 00:32:31,080 --> 00:32:34,640 Be embarrassed if you must, but be driven by all of that into 612 00:32:34,640 --> 00:32:39,400 prayer, not into pride. Some are tempted to dismiss the 613 00:32:39,400 --> 00:32:42,240 messenger. Peter dismissed the Lord Jesus 614 00:32:42,240 --> 00:32:44,800 himself even after Jesus doubled down. 615 00:32:45,760 --> 00:32:48,320 I think it's because people don't really believe that grace 616 00:32:48,320 --> 00:32:51,600 is coming for them. I can't acknowledge the depth of 617 00:32:51,600 --> 00:32:53,200 my sin. I can't acknowledge the depth of 618 00:32:53,200 --> 00:32:55,440 my error. I believe that's most common 619 00:32:55,440 --> 00:32:58,200 when a person really doesn't believe that there's grace on 620 00:32:58,200 --> 00:33:01,200 the other side of it. They're like, I think I'll just 621 00:33:01,200 --> 00:33:02,800 be rejected. I think I'll just be condemned. 622 00:33:02,800 --> 00:33:06,200 Or if they really knew. Well, I can't cast people's 623 00:33:06,200 --> 00:33:08,320 votes. I can cast my vote. 624 00:33:08,440 --> 00:33:11,280 I can tell you I'll be gracious. I can tell you I'll be merciful. 625 00:33:11,280 --> 00:33:14,320 I can tell you I'll be kind, but I can I can tell you the Lord's 626 00:33:14,320 --> 00:33:15,440 vote. His has already been cast. 627 00:33:15,440 --> 00:33:18,000 He cast it on the cross. He wants to gather you to 628 00:33:18,000 --> 00:33:20,520 himself, but it will take humility. 629 00:33:21,560 --> 00:33:24,320 But can you receive it when a messenger brings things to you? 630 00:33:24,760 --> 00:33:26,480 Peter couldn't even receive Jesus. 631 00:33:26,880 --> 00:33:29,840 Some of you wouldn't even receive Jesus if he corrected 632 00:33:29,840 --> 00:33:32,360 you on certain things. How could you say that? 633 00:33:32,360 --> 00:33:36,360 Well, because Peter did it. So clearly we're capable. 634 00:33:37,120 --> 00:33:40,600 I'm capable of any sin anyone's ever committed, including 635 00:33:40,600 --> 00:33:42,000 Peter's. On that night. 636 00:33:42,640 --> 00:33:44,560 I love to look back at the knuckleheads and go, what a 637 00:33:44,560 --> 00:33:48,000 knucklehead. But I'm also a sheep in his 638 00:33:48,000 --> 00:33:55,280 pasture in Revelation 3, and we're closing, Jesus is speaking 639 00:33:55,280 --> 00:33:59,800 to the church and Laodicea, they're the ones who are 640 00:33:59,800 --> 00:34:01,880 prideful. Laodicea was known for its 641 00:34:01,880 --> 00:34:06,720 textiles, super nice fabrics. They were known for wealth. 642 00:34:06,720 --> 00:34:08,520 They had lots of gold. They were, they were known for 643 00:34:08,520 --> 00:34:11,760 this. I salve an ointment that would 644 00:34:11,760 --> 00:34:14,760 be put on the eyes that was supposedly helped to cure 645 00:34:14,760 --> 00:34:18,600 people's eyes. And Jesus attacked the church in 646 00:34:18,600 --> 00:34:21,320 every area where they were pride, where where they had 647 00:34:21,320 --> 00:34:25,679 pride and he mocked each one. He said you think you're rich, 648 00:34:25,880 --> 00:34:30,239 you're poor, you think you're clothed, you're naked, you got 649 00:34:30,239 --> 00:34:32,920 your fancy eye salve, you're blind. 650 00:34:33,679 --> 00:34:38,239 They're like us. He attacked all the things where 651 00:34:38,239 --> 00:34:40,120 they said we're the church are laid to see him. 652 00:34:40,360 --> 00:34:41,600 Here's what we have going for us. 653 00:34:41,600 --> 00:34:44,000 He's like, you're proud of a bunch of stupid things. 654 00:34:44,960 --> 00:34:47,800 You should buy gold from me. That's what you should do. 655 00:34:48,040 --> 00:34:49,600 You should buy your gold from me. 656 00:34:49,679 --> 00:34:51,520 You don't have real gold, Laodicea. 657 00:34:53,159 --> 00:34:54,080 Yes. Look at our. 658 00:34:54,239 --> 00:34:56,600 Look at this and look at that. Look at this and our fine 659 00:34:56,600 --> 00:34:58,920 textiles. Nobody cares. 660 00:34:59,600 --> 00:35:02,800 You need to buy gold from me. The precious things of God. 661 00:35:05,040 --> 00:35:06,440 I thought everything was free in Christ. 662 00:35:06,440 --> 00:35:08,040 Your salvation is free in Christ. 663 00:35:08,560 --> 00:35:14,520 But anointing fellowship, those things will cost you. 664 00:35:14,920 --> 00:35:17,960 They'll cost you time. Knowing him, it's got to look 665 00:35:17,960 --> 00:35:20,360 like something. It can't look like nothing. 666 00:35:21,360 --> 00:35:24,440 I have an awesome marriage. It did not fall on us out of the 667 00:35:24,440 --> 00:35:27,120 sky. It was not automatic. 668 00:35:28,120 --> 00:35:33,120 It was devotionals and it was books and it was sofa time and 669 00:35:33,120 --> 00:35:35,760 it was hanging out and it was conversations and it was 670 00:35:35,760 --> 00:35:39,360 learning how to fight fair. And it was deliberate effort 671 00:35:39,360 --> 00:35:42,040 over and over and over. And that's a lot of work. 672 00:35:42,040 --> 00:35:43,240 Yeah. Well, it's a lot of fruit. 673 00:35:44,040 --> 00:35:47,520 It's a lot of harvest. It's a whole lot of harvest. 674 00:35:50,280 --> 00:35:54,160 Everything takes effort. It's not the same thing as 675 00:35:54,160 --> 00:35:56,680 earning it, though. It's still the blessing of the 676 00:35:56,680 --> 00:35:59,640 Lord. It's still God did it. 677 00:36:00,280 --> 00:36:03,920 It's still the Lord LED it. As we look back at our marriage, 678 00:36:04,080 --> 00:36:06,720 we, we just, we just go, God, it's been so good to us. 679 00:36:07,600 --> 00:36:10,640 And then yes, simultaneously, when people are like, hey, how 680 00:36:10,640 --> 00:36:12,600 have you done it? Yeah, we have many things to 681 00:36:12,600 --> 00:36:14,520 tell them and teach them and instruct them in, but not 682 00:36:14,520 --> 00:36:18,680 because we nail this thing, but also because God has been good 683 00:36:18,680 --> 00:36:20,560 to us isn't the most helpful answer to them. 684 00:36:21,200 --> 00:36:23,800 So it's true that God has been good to us and he has done the 685 00:36:23,800 --> 00:36:25,880 work. And yet here's what he showed 686 00:36:25,880 --> 00:36:28,480 us. Here's how he led us. 687 00:36:28,920 --> 00:36:38,160 Here's how we walk this out. Do not say you're rich and you 688 00:36:38,160 --> 00:36:41,640 need nothing if Jesus says you're poor, blind, and naked, 689 00:36:42,520 --> 00:36:45,800 buy gold from me. Buy white garments from me. 690 00:36:46,600 --> 00:36:49,640 Buy salve from me. The very things they boasted in 691 00:36:49,880 --> 00:36:51,600 are the things that they actually lacked. 692 00:36:53,000 --> 00:36:55,280 Buying from Jesus is not a transaction of money. 693 00:36:56,000 --> 00:37:00,360 It's not offering in the plate. That is false teaching. 694 00:37:01,120 --> 00:37:04,240 That is demonic teaching. If you need your miracle, you 695 00:37:04,240 --> 00:37:07,240 can put money in the offering. That is false teaching. 696 00:37:07,400 --> 00:37:10,240 It is unbiblical. It is clearly unscriptural. 697 00:37:11,320 --> 00:37:12,920 I thought ties and offerings are good. 698 00:37:12,920 --> 00:37:14,520 Absolutely, ties and offerings are good. 699 00:37:14,520 --> 00:37:16,720 You should give them. But the Lord did not. 700 00:37:16,840 --> 00:37:20,120 The Lord does not connect them to particular breakthroughs and 701 00:37:20,120 --> 00:37:22,520 blessings. False prophets and false 702 00:37:22,520 --> 00:37:25,840 preachers have done that. Could the Holy Spirit lead you 703 00:37:25,840 --> 00:37:27,120 to do something? Of course He can. 704 00:37:27,120 --> 00:37:28,120 He could lead you to do anything. 705 00:37:28,120 --> 00:37:29,920 The Lord could say, hey, I want you to do this, I want you to do 706 00:37:29,920 --> 00:37:32,000 that. But He's not going to tell me to 707 00:37:32,000 --> 00:37:35,360 tell you to do that. He's not going to tell me to 708 00:37:35,360 --> 00:37:39,880 say, Chris and Halo, are you? Have you been praying for a 709 00:37:39,880 --> 00:37:42,280 miracle? Because I think it's on the 710 00:37:42,280 --> 00:37:44,360 other side of a $10,000 offering this morning. 711 00:37:47,240 --> 00:37:49,120 If the Lord will tell me that, then he can tell them that. 712 00:37:50,120 --> 00:37:53,000 I don't need to tell them that. It's not my place. 713 00:37:53,240 --> 00:37:55,840 It's not my business. If the Lord tells them that, 714 00:37:55,840 --> 00:37:57,680 that's between them. He can do whatever he wants. 715 00:38:00,360 --> 00:38:04,800 Buying from Jesus is not a transaction of money, is a 716 00:38:04,800 --> 00:38:07,720 transaction of humility. It is dependence. 717 00:38:08,080 --> 00:38:12,000 It is seeking him first. It is going to him in prayer and 718 00:38:12,000 --> 00:38:16,080 saying, Lord, I need your gold. I need your vision. 719 00:38:16,280 --> 00:38:18,960 I need your covering, by the way, I want to, I want to 720 00:38:18,960 --> 00:38:21,680 specifically add to that that that is not the Lord's will. 721 00:38:22,680 --> 00:38:25,120 Just to be even more clear, I'm going to go farther and say 722 00:38:25,400 --> 00:38:26,520 obviously I would never say that. 723 00:38:26,760 --> 00:38:28,600 And also I'm telling you, the Lord's not telling you that. 724 00:38:28,600 --> 00:38:30,640 So nobody's allowed to go home and get in their head and be 725 00:38:30,640 --> 00:38:32,160 like, is there? Nope. 726 00:38:33,040 --> 00:38:38,800 No. Who's blessed? 727 00:38:38,800 --> 00:38:42,080 Blessed are the poor in spirit. Peter and disciples. 728 00:38:42,080 --> 00:38:43,360 That night they were not poor in spirit. 729 00:38:44,120 --> 00:38:46,240 Peter's large in spirit, rich in spirit. 730 00:38:46,240 --> 00:38:48,960 Lord, I have much spirit. My spirit will carry me all the 731 00:38:48,960 --> 00:38:52,400 way. No, but his spirit will. 732 00:38:53,240 --> 00:38:55,680 Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of 733 00:38:55,680 --> 00:38:57,960 heaven. Blessed are those who mourn. 734 00:38:58,400 --> 00:39:01,680 Why? They shall be comforted, and 735 00:39:01,680 --> 00:39:03,400 that's the pop. That is the posture that Peter 736 00:39:03,400 --> 00:39:07,720 lacked in this moment. Apart from him, you can do 737 00:39:07,720 --> 00:39:11,320 nothing. If you're attempting to follow 738 00:39:11,320 --> 00:39:13,280 God in your own strength, you're already failing. 739 00:39:13,800 --> 00:39:17,200 We get strength from God Himself to follow God Himself. 740 00:39:18,880 --> 00:39:21,040 So prayer is the thing I call you to. 741 00:39:21,600 --> 00:39:22,720 That's the thing I invite you to. 742 00:39:22,720 --> 00:39:25,280 What the disciples are about to be invited into when they 743 00:39:25,280 --> 00:39:29,200 finally get into the garden. What does that look like? 744 00:39:31,360 --> 00:39:33,120 The thing that you're facing in life, the thing that you're 745 00:39:33,120 --> 00:39:35,840 concerned about in life, the thing that's heavy in your life, 746 00:39:35,920 --> 00:39:37,680 How much have you really taken it to the Lord? 747 00:39:39,480 --> 00:39:42,160 How much time have you spent in prayer over your marriage, over 748 00:39:42,160 --> 00:39:44,400 your job, over your struggles, over your kids? 749 00:39:44,720 --> 00:39:46,640 Are you white knuckling everything in life? 750 00:39:47,520 --> 00:39:50,120 That's self-reliance. That is exhausting. 751 00:39:50,680 --> 00:39:53,160 That dependence on the Lord though, that strengthens you. 752 00:39:53,800 --> 00:39:57,600 Jesus is still king. Satan is still seeking to sift 753 00:39:58,280 --> 00:40:01,480 like we are wheat, but Jesus intercedes to the Father on our 754 00:40:01,480 --> 00:40:04,000 behalf. Jesus is praying for you. 755 00:40:04,960 --> 00:40:08,080 That is good news. I haven't been praying enough. 756 00:40:08,720 --> 00:40:13,520 OK, Jesus has though. And now he calls you into 757 00:40:13,520 --> 00:40:15,040 prayer. He calls you into prayer. 758 00:40:15,040 --> 00:40:16,520 Why? Because you actually believe 759 00:40:16,520 --> 00:40:18,680 you're dependent. Person who doesn't pray is a 760 00:40:18,680 --> 00:40:20,440 person who thinks they don't need anything from the Lord. 761 00:40:21,120 --> 00:40:23,240 Person who never prays is a person who's saying I think I 762 00:40:23,240 --> 00:40:24,800 got this. No, no, I got it. 763 00:40:24,800 --> 00:40:26,400 I've done this. I've done this 1000 times. 764 00:40:26,600 --> 00:40:28,480 I've been fishing in this lake a long time. 765 00:40:28,920 --> 00:40:31,240 I got this. I've seen this before. 766 00:40:31,240 --> 00:40:39,590 I know what to do. Jesus strengthens his sheep. 767 00:40:39,870 --> 00:40:42,630 Even when we scatter, he gathers us again. 768 00:40:44,190 --> 00:40:46,150 So this morning I call you to those two things. 769 00:40:47,750 --> 00:40:53,510 Return independence to Him. Return to Him in dependence, 770 00:40:53,870 --> 00:41:00,640 relying upon Him, and rejoice in His mercy for all the times that 771 00:41:00,640 --> 00:41:04,800 you failed and He regathered you, and the times likely still 772 00:41:04,800 --> 00:41:08,160 to come when we fail, and know that the path is already paved 773 00:41:08,680 --> 00:41:12,600 to regather us into the flock. He sees all of our weakness, and 774 00:41:12,600 --> 00:41:15,680 He still works all things together for the good of those 775 00:41:15,680 --> 00:41:19,320 who love Him and who are called according to His purpose. 776 00:41:20,280 --> 00:41:22,680 Lord, thank you so much for the comfort of the gospel. 777 00:41:23,880 --> 00:41:26,440 Jesus is the hero. Jesus paid it all. 778 00:41:26,960 --> 00:41:31,200 Jesus is worthy. The manliest man to ever live, 779 00:41:31,200 --> 00:41:34,360 the most courageous one, the one who got all of his strength from 780 00:41:34,360 --> 00:41:37,160 God, the one who relied upon the Father. 781 00:41:38,880 --> 00:41:41,720 If there was anyone who could do things on his own, it would have 782 00:41:41,720 --> 00:41:43,520 been Jesus. And still, Jesus often went 783 00:41:43,520 --> 00:41:47,840 alone to pray, constantly getting away to pray for 784 00:41:47,840 --> 00:41:49,960 direction, for strength, for encouragement. 785 00:41:52,080 --> 00:41:55,000 He sang that hymn before he went to go face the cross. 786 00:41:55,320 --> 00:41:58,320 Before he faced the cross he he prayed and pleaded in the 787 00:41:58,320 --> 00:42:04,560 garden. Still on the cross, he called 788 00:42:04,560 --> 00:42:10,200 out in prayer to the Father. And then in his dying breath, 789 00:42:11,240 --> 00:42:13,320 Father, into your hands I commit my spirit. 790 00:42:16,360 --> 00:42:19,440 Lord, help us to live that kind of vulnerable life, truly 791 00:42:19,440 --> 00:42:22,920 trusting the shepherd and being thankful that we are not the tip 792 00:42:22,920 --> 00:42:27,440 of the spear. But you go before us like you 793 00:42:27,440 --> 00:42:30,920 went before them in the Galilee. You go before us in the Sunday 794 00:42:30,920 --> 00:42:33,960 afternoon. You go before us into Monday. 795 00:42:33,960 --> 00:42:37,520 You go before us into that family issue. 796 00:42:37,520 --> 00:42:40,040 You go before us into that work situation. 797 00:42:40,800 --> 00:42:44,040 You go before us into the cultural moment. 798 00:42:44,040 --> 00:42:46,800 You go before us in all that we're facing. 799 00:42:46,800 --> 00:42:50,800 You go before us in our health. You go before us in our 800 00:42:50,800 --> 00:42:56,240 finances, lead us deeper into prayer, deeper into dependence. 801 00:42:57,480 --> 00:43:02,880 We surrender again in Jesus name, Amen. 802 00:43:02,880 --> 00:43:06,200 And now the Lord bless you and keep you. 803 00:43:07,040 --> 00:43:11,280 The Lord make his face Shinedown upon you and be gracious to you. 804 00:43:12,160 --> 00:43:15,680 The Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you great 805 00:43:15,680 --> 00:43:20,880 peace in Jesus name, Amen. Be blessed.