How to Never Stumble of Fall

Notes: How to Never Stumble or Fall
Greg Laurie
Thursday, January 18, 2018
Series: Life: the Gospel of John
John 18, Luke 22
Music: Harvest Worship Band
https://www.harvest.org/watch-and-listen/webcast/watch/how-to-never-stumble-or-fall

Many fall when that don’t plan on it. But, it appears many are setting themselves up for it.

Jeremiah 2:19 NKJV
[19] Your own wickedness will correct you, And your backslidings will rebuke you. Know therefore and see that it is an evil and bitter thing That you have forsaken the LORD your God, And the fear of Me is not in you," Says the Lord GOD of hosts.

Jeremiah 3:22 NKJV
[22] "Return, you backsliding children, And I will heal your backslidings." "Indeed we do come to You, For You are the LORD our God.

One of the signs of the last days is that people will fall away from the faith.

If we are not moving forward in Christ, then we are naturally moving backwards.

Simon Peter famously backslides.

At Caesarea Peter rebuked Jesus.  

Peter, James and John went with Jesus to the transfiguration. Jesus was with Moses and Elijah. 

Matthew 17:4 NKJV
[4] Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, let us make here three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah."

Simon Peter would either be knocking it out of the park or failing famously.

Luke 22:31-34 NKJV
[31] And the Lord said, "Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. [32] But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren." [33] But he said to Him, "Lord, I am ready to go with You, both to prison and to death." [34] Then He said, "I tell you, Peter, the rooster shall not crow this day before you will deny three times that you know Me."

Jesus dropped a bombshell on Peter when he said that.

It is unlikely many of us have personally be tempted by Satan himself.

Satan is NOT omnipresent so he cannot be attacking everyone at any time.

If Satan comes knocking at your door, make sure Jesus answers it.

The steps to Peter’s Fall
1. Self confidence 

Luke 22:33-34 NKJV
[33] But he said to Him, "Lord, I am ready to go with You, both to prison and to death." [34] Then He said, "I tell you, Peter, the rooster shall not crow this day before you will deny three times that you know Me."

Peter tried to make himself look good by looking better than others.

Pride goes before a fall.

Recognize your weakness and your vulnerability. 

The devil didn’t make you do anything, he just tempted it.

2.Prayerlessness

Luke 22:39-42 NKJV
[39] Coming out, He went to the Mount of Olives, as He was accustomed, and His disciples also followed Him. [40] When He came to the place, He said to them, "Pray that you may not enter into temptation." [41] And He was withdrawn from them about a stone's throw, and He knelt down and prayed, [42] saying, "Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done."

Luke 22:45-46 NKJV
[45] When He rose up from prayer, and had come to His disciples, He found them sleeping from sorrow. [46] Then He said to them, "Why do you sleep? Rise and pray, lest you enter into temptation."

They were “sleeping from sorrow”

John 18:15-18 NLT
[15] Simon Peter followed Jesus, as did another of the disciples. That other disciple was acquainted with the high priest, so he was allowed to enter the high priest's courtyard with Jesus. [16] Peter had to stay outside the gate. Then the disciple who knew the high priest spoke to the woman watching at the gate, and she let Peter in. [17] The woman asked Peter, "You're not one of that man's disciples, are you?" "No," he said, "I am not." [18] Because it was cold, the household servants and the guards had made a charcoal fire. They stood around it, warming themselves, and Peter stood with them, warming himself.

3. Keeping his distance from Jesus

John 18:15 NLT
[15] Simon Peter followed Jesus, as did another of the disciples. That other disciple was acquainted with the high priest, so he was allowed to enter the high priest's courtyard with Jesus.

When you are the straggler that is usually when you become the prey.

Too much of the world to be happy with the Lord and too much of the Lord to be happy with the world.

4. Warming himself at the enemies fire.

John 18:18 NLT
[18] Because it was cold, the household servants and the guards had made a charcoal fire. They stood around it, warming themselves, and Peter stood with them, warming himself.

He was in the wrong place, with the wrong people, about to do the wrong thing.

5. The first denial

Luke 22:56-57 NLT
[56] A servant girl noticed him in the firelight and began staring at him. Finally she said, "This man was one of Jesus' followers!" [57] But Peter denied it. "Woman," he said, "I don't even know him!"

Sin makes you stupid.

6. The last denial

John 18:25 NLT
[25] Meanwhile, as Simon Peter was standing by the fire warming himself, they asked him again, "You're not one of his disciples, are you?" He denied it, saying, "No, I am not."

John 18:26-27 NLT
[26] But one of the household slaves of the high priest, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, asked, "Didn't I see you out there in the olive grove with Jesus?" [27] Again Peter denied it. And immediately a rooster crowed.

Luke tells us that a full hour had passed between the first and last denial.

Peter wanted to be near Jesus but he didn’t want to stand up for Him.

Luke 22:61-62 NLT
[61] At that moment the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Suddenly, the Lord's words flashed through Peter's mind: "Before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will deny three times that you even know me." [62] And Peter left the courtyard, weeping bitterly.

Peter was broken-hearted. 

The setback was temporary; Peter would be back.

Maybe you have fallen. Well you might not be able to get back up on your own, but God can lift you up.

Jesus has given us access to the Father. We don’t deserve it, yet Jesus still did it for us.

Jesus loves us all.