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Matthew Chapter Twenty-Six

 
The Lord's Supper (26:26-30)
 
INTRODUCTION
 
1. During His last week, Jesus observed the Passover for the last
 time...
 a. The Passover was a Jewish feast, observed annually - Deu 16:1-8
 b. Commemorating Israel's deliverance from Egypt - Exo 12:1-28,43-49
 
2. This last Passover was very special to Jesus - Lk 22:14-15
 a. His knew His death was imminent ("before I suffer")
 b. He was with those he loved - Jn 13:1 ("He loved them to the end")
 
3. On this occasion Jesus instituted what we call the Lord's Supper...
 a. Read our text - Mt 26:26-30
 b. As recorded by Luke, Jesus wanted His disciples to do this in His
 memory - Lk 22:19
 
4. The importance of properly observing the Lord's Supper should not be
 underestimated...
 a. The church at Corinth was guilty of abusing it - 1 Co 11:20-22
 b. Such misuse has serious consequences - 1 Co 11:27,29
 
[That we might observe the Supper properly, to receive its blessings
rather than condemnation, let's use this opportunity to review what is
revealed about the purpose and observance of "The Lord's Supper"...]
 
I. THE MEANING OF THE SUPPER
 
 A. IT IS A MEMORIAL...
 1. Note Paul's account as given by the Lord Himself - 1 Co 11:
 23-25
 a. We eat the bread in memory of His body
 b. We drink the cup (fruit of the vine) in memory of His blood
 2. We therefore commemorate the death of Jesus on the cross 
 - Mt 26:28
 a. Whose death make the new covenant possible - He 9:16
 b. Whose blood was shed for the remission of sins - Ep 1:7
 -- As the Passover was a memorial commemorating Israel's
 deliverance from Egypt through the blood of the lambs on the
 door post, so the Supper is a memorial of our Lord's death who
 makes our deliverance from the bondage of sin possible
 
 B. IT IS A PROCLAMATION...
 1. We proclaim our faith in the efficacy of the Lord's death 
 - 1 Co 11:26a
 a. That His death was indeed for our sins
 b. If we didn't believe it, why keep the Supper?
 2. We also proclaim our faith in the Lord's return - 1 Co 11:26b
 a. For it is to be done "till He comes"
 b. If we don't believe He is coming, then why keep the Supper?
 -- Thus the Lord's Supper looks forward as well as backward, and
 will ever be observed by His disciples who trust in His
 redemption and anticipate His return!
 
 C. IT IS A COMMUNION...
 1. A fellowship or sharing in the blood of Christ - 1 Co 10:16a
 a. As we partake, we commune with the blood of Christ
 b. Perhaps in the sense of reinforcing blessings we enjoy
 through the blood of Christ - cf. 1 Jn 1:7,9
 2. A fellowship or sharing in the body of Christ - 1 Co 10:16b-17
 a. As we partake, we commune with the body of Christ
 b. Perhaps in the sense of reinforcing fellowship together in
 the body of Christ (i.e., the church), as we break bread
 together
 
["The Lord's Supper", which is also called "Communion" and "Breaking of
Bread" (cf. 1 Co 10:16; Ac 2:42; 20:7) certainly has great significance
and should not be taken lightly. We should therefore consider what the
Scriptures reveal about...]
 
II. THE OBSERVANCE OF THE SUPPER
 
 A. TO BE DONE WITH REVERENCE...
 1. That is, "in a worthy manner" (NKJV) - 1 Co 11:27,29
 a. The KJV says "worthily", which some have misunderstood
 b. It is an adverb, describing how we take it, not whether we
 are worthy (none are truly worthy)
 2. With respect for the supreme price Jesus paid for our sins
 a. Cf. the cruel torture and humiliation of His physical body
 b. Cf. the spiritual anguish suffered as the Son of God bore
 the punishment for our sins ("My God, My God, Why have You
 forsaken Me?" - Mt 27:46)
 3. Failure to observe with proper reverence brings condemnation
 - 1 Co 11:27,29
 a. One will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord
 b. One will eats and drinks judgment to himself
 -- To make light of this memorial puts one in the same category
 as those who mocked Him as He hung on the cross!
 
 B. TO BE DONE WITH SELF-EXAMINATION...
 1. Such as reflecting upon one's spiritual condition - 1 Co 11:28
 2. Are we living in a manner that shows appreciation for His
 sacrifice?
 a. By accepting the grace of God in our lives? - 2 Co 5:18-6:1
 b. By living for Jesus who died for us? - 2 Co 5:14-15; Ga 
 2:20
 3. Or are we by willful sinning, guilty of having:
 a. "trampled the Son of God underfoot"?
 b. "counted the blood by which [we were] sanctified a common
 thing"?
 c. "insulted the Spirit of grace"? - cf. He 10:26-29
 4. Do we, by refusing to repent of our sins, "crucify again for
 themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an shame"? - cf. He
 6:4-6
 -- In one sense, the Supper is a very private matter between a
 Christian and his or her God; a time to reflect the past and
 to resolve for the future
 
 C. TO BE DONE WITH OTHER CHRISTIANS...
 1. There is ample indication the Supper is designed to be a
 communal meal
 a. The disciples "came together" to break bread - Ac 20:7
 b. When they came together, they were to "wait for one 
  another" - 1 Co 11:33
 c. Partaking together of "one bread", they demonstrate they
 are "one bread and one body" - 1 Co 10:16
 -- We commune not just with the Lord, but with one another
 2. For this reason I personally question such practices as:
 a. Observing the Supper by one's self when camping or
 traveling
 b. Observing the Supper on Sunday night when just one or a
 couple of people in the congregation are partaking
 c. Taking the elements to the sick or shut-in who were unable
 to assemble
 -- While such issues may fall in the realm of "opinion", let's
 not forget that the Supper builds fellowship with one
 another as well as with the Lord!
 
 D. TO BE DONE OFTEN...
 1. The Biblical evidence is that it was done weekly...
 a. Christians came together on the first day of the week to
 "break bread" - Ac 20:7
 b. Other indications of a weekly observance:
 1) The church at Corinth was coming together to eat the
 Lord's Supper, though they were abusing it - cf. 1 Co
 11:17-22
 2) Instructions concerning the collection suggest their
 coming together was on the first day of the week - cf.
 1 Co 16:1-2
 c. Following the divinely approved example of Christians in
 the Bible, we know God approves of a weekly observance on
 the first day of the week
  2. The earliest historical evidence outside the Bible confirms
 the day and frequency...
 a. The Didache (ca. 95 A.D.) indicates Christians were to come
 together on the first day of the week to break bread 
 - Didache 14:1
 b. Justin Martyr (ca. 150 A.D.) records how Christians
 assembled on Sunday and partook of the Supper - Apology I,
 67
 3. Some believe that a weekly observance diminishes the
 importance of the Supper
  a. Which is why some do it monthly, quarterly, or annually
 b. But does the frequent practice of:
 1) Assembling diminishing its value and importance?
 2) Singing praises and offering prayers devalue their
  benefits?
 3) Preaching and studying God's Word decrease their
 significance to our lives?
 -- Our spiritual lives are dependent upon the value and benefits
 of our Lord's death on the cross; a weekly observance of the
 memorial helps us to live appreciatively and accordingly!
 
CONCLUSION
 
1. "The Lord's Supper" is a very special memorial of His death for our
 sins...
 a. Instituted by Jesus Himself, He asked His disciples to do it in
 His memory
 b. Jesus told His disciples that He would not eat of the elements
 again until:
 1) "...that day when I drink it new with you in My Father's
 kingdom." - Mt 26:29
 2) "...that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God." - Mk
  14:25
 3) "...it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God." - Lk 22:16
 4) "...the kingdom of God shall come." - Lk 22:18
 c. There are two plausible explanations for what Jesus means:
 1) Some think it refers to Jesus having fellowship with us as we
 observe the Lord's Supper in the church, which is His kingdom
 - cf. 1 Co 10:16-17
 2) Others propose that it refers to the special communion we will
 have with Jesus in His Father's kingdom, spoken often in terms
  of a heavenly feast - cf. Isa 25:6-8; Mt 8:11; 22:2-14; Lk
 14:15-24; Re 19:9
 
2. The first Christians "continued steadfastly" in its observance...
 a. Just as they did in the apostles' doctrine, fellowship and prayer
 - Ac 2:42
 b. Coming together on the first day of the week for that very
 purpose - Ac 20:7
 
3. Christians today should never lose sight of its significance...
 a. A constant reminder of the sacrifice Jesus paid for our sins
 b. A communion or sharing of the body and blood of the Lord
 c. A time for self-examination and re-dedication of our service to
 the Lord
 d. A means for building fellowship with one another in the body of
 Christ
 
May such thoughts encourage us to never neglect opportunities we have
to observe the Lord's Supper, but to continue steadfastly and in so
doing "proclaim the Lord's death till He comes."

The Garden Of Gethsemane (26:36-46)
 
INTRODUCTION
 
1. The last supper of Jesus with His disciples was finished...
 a. He predicted the betrayal by Judas - Mt 26:21-25
 b. He observed the Passover, instituting the Lord's Supper - Mt 26:
 26-30
 b. He then foretold Peter's denial of Him, as they made their way to
 the Mount of Olives - Mt 26:31-35
 
2. Jesus and His disciples then came to a place called Gethsemane...
 a. A garden outside the city, across the Kidron brook and on the
 Mount of Olives
 b. It's name means "olive press", and was possibly a remote walled
 garden
 c. A place where Jesus often went with His disciples - Jn 18:1-2
 
3. Note the contrast between the Garden of Eden, and the Garden of
 Gethsemane...
 a. In the first garden, the first man fell by yielding to temptation
 b. In the second garden, the Second Man (cf. 1 Co 15:47) conquered
 by yielding to the will of God
 
[Yes, "The Garden Of Gethsemane" was a place of victory for Jesus (and
consequently for us as well). But the victory did not come easy, as we
notice first of all that...]
 
I. THE GARDEN WAS A PLACE OF SUFFERING
 
 A. WHERE JESUS EXPERIENCED GREAT DISTRESS...
 1. He went to pray, accompanied only by Peter, James, and John 
 - Mt 26:36-37
 2. Before He began praying, He was "deeply distressed" - Mt 26:37
 3. Mark records that He was "troubled and deeply distressed" - Mk
 14:33
 4. Later, Luke records that He was "in agony", and His sweat
 became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground 
 - Lk 22:44
 5. He was likely troubled for He knew that His hour had come 
 - cf. Jn 12:27
 a. He knew what was imminent, for He had told His disciples
 three times - Mt 16:21; 17:22-23; 20:17-19
 b. There was not only physical pain to endure, but also the
 burden of our sins and separation from His Father as He
 bore our sins on the cross! - cf. Isa 53:6; Mt 27:46
 
 B. WHERE JESUS ENDURED INTENSE SORROW...
 1. He described Himself as "exceedingly sorrowful, even to death"
 - Mt 26:38
 2. The writer of Hebrews refers to His "vehement cries and tears"
 - He 5:7
 3. Again, His grief and sorrow was partly due to the fact that He
 was taking upon Himself our own griefs and sorrows! - cf. Isa
 53:4-5
 
 C. WHERE JESUS ENCOUNTERED SOLEMN LONELINESS...
 1. He wanted His closest disciples to watch with Him - Mt 26:
 37-38
 a. Those who had been with Him from the beginning - Mt 4:18-22
 b. Those who were privy to one of His greatest miracles - Mk
 5:37-43
 c. Those who saw Him transfigured on the mountain - Mt 17:1-2
 d. Including the disciple "whom He loved" - Jn 13:23; 19:26;
 20:2; 21:7,20,24
 2. Yet after each episode of praying, He found them sleeping - Mt
 26:40-41,43,45
 a. When He desired fellowship for comfort, there was none to
 be found
 b. The Psalmist foretold this would happen - cf. Psa 69:20
 
[Alone in His distress and sorrow, our Lord found "The Garden Of
Gethsemane" to be a place of great suffering for Him. Then something
happened. Before He left to face the mob led by Judas to arrest Him,
Jesus found that...]
 
II. THE GARDEN WAS A PLACE OF STRENGTH
 
 A. WHEN JESUS EXPRESSED AGONIZING PRAYER...
 1. The agony in His prayer is:
 a. Seen by His posture: "He...fell on His face" - Mt 26:39
 b. Heard in His words: "O My Father, if it is possible, let
 this cup pass from Me" - Mt 26:39,42,44
 2. It was "godly fear" Jesus expressed, and for such His prayer
 was heard - He 5:7
 a. Not that the cup (of suffering) was removed
 b. But that He would be able to drink it
 
 B. WHEN JESUS EXTENDED ENTIRE RESIGNATION...
 1. As evidenced by His words:
  a. "Not as I will, but as You will." - Mt 26:39
 b. "if this cup cannot pass away from Me unless I drink it,
 Your will be done." - Mt 26:42
 2. When man first said "My will, not Thine be done..."
 a. It opened the flood gate of sin
 b. It turned man out of the Paradise of God
 3. But when Jesus said "Not as I will, but as You will..."
 a. Victory over sin and access to the Tree of Life became
 possible
 b. For it prepared Jesus to go to the cross to make it 
 possible
 
 C. WHEN JESUS ENJOYED SPECIAL COMFORT...
 1. Jesus received an answer to His prayer - cf. Lk 22:43
 a. Not the answer He requested (let this cup pass from Me)
 b. But strength from an angel!
 2. Like the apostle Paul would pray later - cf. 2 Co 12:7-10
 a. Asking the Lord to remove his thorn in the flesh
 b. Receiving an answer different than requested, but more than
 sufficient to meet the need!
 
  D. WHEN JESUS EVINCED RENEWED RESOLVE...
 1. Strengthened, Jesus was ready to face the hour at hand - Mt
 26:45
 2. He was ready to meet His betrayer and those with him - Mt 26:
 46-47
 
CONCLUSION
 
1. So "The Garden Of Gethsemane" was a place of both suffering and
 strength...
 a. Jesus entered the garden suffering
 b. He left the garden strengthened in His resolve
 
2. Notice what turned the place of suffering into a place of strength:
 prayer!
 a. Prayer that is fervent and persistent
 b. Prayer in which one submits to the will of God
 c. Prayer in which one is strengthened
 d. Prayer that enables one to face the cup of life given them
 
3. There will be times when we must enter our "Garden of Gethsemane"...
 a. Times of distress, sorrow, loneliness
 b. But such times can also be a time of comfort and strength
 -- Provided we spend them in prayer, and be willing to accept the
 Father's will
 
Jesus found prayer to be the key for turning a garden of suffering into
a garden of strength. As Christians we have a similar blessing in
prayer:
 
 "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and
 supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known
 to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding,
 will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." - Ph 4:6-7
 
May we never neglect to utilize this wonderful gift, especially since
we now have Jesus Himself to intercede on our behalf!
 
 "Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed
 through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast
 our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot
 sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted
 as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to
 the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace
 to help in time of need." - He 4:14-16
 
 "Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who
 come to God through Him, since He always lives to make
 intercession for them." - He 7:25

The Betrayal Of Jesus (26:47-50)
 
INTRODUCTION
 
1. Certainly one of the saddest moments in the life of Jesus was His
 betrayal by Judas...
 a. One of Jesus' closest disciples, even one of His twelve apostles
  - Mt 26:47-50
 b. Who had been privileged to a part of Jesus' ministry here on
 earth - Ac 1:17
 
2. What led Judas to betray his Lord and Savior? How could one who had
 been with Jesus...
 a. Seen His miracles
 b. Heard His teachings
 ...betray Him with a kiss?
 
3. What about us, who claim to be Jesus' disciples today?
 a. Could we be guilty of betraying Jesus in some way?
 b. Are there things that misled Judas that could have a similar
 effect on us?
 
[What might we learn from "The Betrayal Of Jesus"? Lest we follow the
same path of Judas, let's reflect for a few moments on what we can
glean from the Scriptures...]
 
I. JESUS WAS BETRAYED BY A CLOSE FRIEND
 
 A. JUDAS WAS NO STRANGER TO JESUS...
 1. As already mentioned, he was one of the apostles - Mt 10:2-4
 2. He was among those whom Jesus loved - Jn 13:1
 3. Yet as prophesied, Jesus was betrayed by "a familiar friend" 
 - Psa 41:9
 
 B. BEING CLOSE TO JESUS IS NO GUARANTEE...
 1. Just being His disciples is no assurance we could not betray
 Him
 2. Like several of the churches in Asia Minor, we could...
 a. Leave our first love - Re 2:4-5
 b. Begin to tolerate false doctrine - Re 2:14-16
 c. Permit false teachers to spread their doctrines - Re 2:20
 d. Fail to perfect our works, and not be watchful - Re 3:1-3
 e. Become lukewarm - Re 3:15-16
 3. Yes, we can betray Jesus by denying Him who bought us - 2 Pe
 2:1
 
[Therefore we need to heed Jesus' admonition to be "faithful unto
death" (Re 2:10), and not assume that close proximity to Jesus in the
past guarantees faithfulness in the future.]
 
II. JESUS WAS BETRAYED BY A LOVER OF MONEY
 
 A. MONEY WAS A PROBLEM FOR JUDAS...
 1. He often pilfered from the money box - Jn 12:4-6
 2. The opportunity to make money led him to betray Jesus - Mt 26:
 14-16
 
 B. MONEY CAN BE A PROBLEM FOR US...
 1. The deceitfulness of riches can render us unfruitful - Mt 13:
 22
  2. The desire for riches and the love of money can lead us to
 stray from the faith and drown in destruction and perdition
 - 1 Ti 6:9-10
 3. The Laodiceans' preoccupation with wealth made them lukewarm
 - Re 3:16-17
 
[Could we be guilty of betraying Jesus by our desire for riches,
letting such things take precedent over our service to God and His
church?]
 
III. JESUS WAS BETRAYED BY A SHOW OF AFFECTION
 
 A. JUDAS BETRAYED JESUS WITH A KISS...
 1. He could have simply pointed...perhaps by kissing he sought to
 soften the blow of betrayal - Mt 26:48-49
 2. Jesus noted the obvious contradiction - Lk 22:47-48
 
 B. DISPLAYS OF AFFECTION DON'T ENSURE FAITHFULNESS...
 1. Many people are very emotional in their religion
 a. As displayed in their worship
 b. Believing it to be evidence of being "Spirit-filled"
 2. Yet emotions alone are not a reliable guide
 a. They can easily mislead us - cf. Pro 16:25; Jer 10:23; 17:9
 b. They are often present in the unstable believer - Mt 13:
 20-21
 3. This is not to discount the place and value of emotions
 a. We are to love God with all our heart and with all our mind
 - Mt 22:37-38
 b. The Spirit does produce fruit in our lives that affects our
 emotions - Ga 5:22-23
 b. But we must keep them in the proper order:
 1) Our emotions must come from faith, not faith coming from
 emotions
 2) Otherwise we are led by emotionalism, not faith
 -- And true faith comes from the Word of God - Ro 10:17;
 Jn 20:30-31
 
[If we believe that displays of affection in our religion can make up
for our failure to heed God's Word, we deceive ourselves and betray
Jesus in the process!]
 
IV. JESUS WAS BETRAYED BY A MISTAKEN DISCIPLE
 
 A. JUDAS MISTOOK THE CONSEQUENCES OF HIS ACTION...
 1. He evidently didn't think Jesus would be condemned - Mt 27:3-4
 2. This has prompted some to think that Judas was motivated by
 more than money
 a. That perhaps his betrayal would force Jesus to act, show
 His true power
 b. That in such a way it would demonstrate who Jesus truly was
 
 B. WE CAN BE GUILTY OF MISTAKEN SERVICE...
 1. Thinking our service is acceptable, when it is not - Mt 7:
 21-23
 2. Thinking we can improve on God's way, when we can't know what
 He wants unless He reveals it - Isa 55:8-9
 3. We need to head the Preacher's advice - cf. Ecc 5:1-2
 a. Come to hear and do what He says
 b. Not presume to know what pleases God and offer what we
 think is best
 
[In our zeal, we may be guilty of acting on mistaken knowledge (cf. Ro
10:1-3). Dare we possibly betray Jesus by presuming we know what is
according to His will and plan?]
 
V. JESUS WAS BETRAYED BY AN OVERWROUGHT FOLLOWER
 
 A. JUDAS REACTED TO HIS SIN THE WRONG WAY...
 1. He was overcome with grief - Mt 27:3
 2. He took the wrong course of action and hung himself - Mt 27:5
 
 B. WE CAN REACT TO OUR SINS THE SAME WAY...
 1. There are two kinds of sorrow - 2 Co 7:10
 a. Sorrow of the world that produces death
 b. Godly sorrow that produces repentance
  -- The first is sorrow where one is preoccupied with self; the
 other is sorrow due to sinning against God
 2. It is natural to be sorrowful for our sins
 a. But we should not wallow in our grief
 b. But repent, as did Peter who denied Christ
 3. Paul provides another example of one who did not let his sins
 of the past hinder his service in the present
 a. He focused on God's grace which gave him another chance 
 - 1 Co 15:9-10
 b. He directed his attention on striving for the upward call
 of God - Ph 3:12-14
 
CONCLUSION
 
1. While Jesus was betrayed by all these things, let's not forget the
 influence of Satan...
 a. Satan used Judas to betray Jesus - Lk 22:3-4
 b. Satan put it in Judas' heart to betray Jesus - Jn 13:2
 -- For this reason Jesus referred to Judas as "a devil" - Jn 6:70-71
 
2. Yet how did Satan influence Judas? By some of the very things we've
 noticed...
 a. Through his love of money
 b. Through his emotionalism
 c. Through his mistaken ideas
 d. Through his preoccupation with self
 -- Even Peter was influenced by Satan through some of these things
 (cf. Mt 16:23)
 
And so while we may decry the treachery of Judas, we should humbly
learn from his mistakes, taking to heart the words of Peter:
 
 "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks
 about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist
 him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings
 are experienced by your brotherhood in the world."
 - 1 Pe 5:9-10

Peter's Denial Of Jesus (26:69-75)
 
INTRODUCTION
 
1. Among the things Jesus suffered, was the indignity of Peter's 
 denial...
 a. Three times, with increasing intensity, Peter denied knowing
 Jesus - Mt 26:69-75
 b. Peter denied knowing Jesus, despite being with Jesus:
 1) From the beginning of His earthly ministry - Mt 4:17-19
 2) At the healing of his own mother-in-law - Mt 8:14-15
 3) On the Sea of Galilee, walking on the water - Mt 14:22-33
 4) On the mount, seeing Jesus with Moses and Elijah - Mt 17:1-13
 
2. How did Peter come to deny his Lord and Savior?
 a. What forces were at work, that led to his cowardly deed?
 b. Might they be forces we face today, encouraging us to do the
 same?
 
[From "Peter's Denial Of Jesus", there are important lessons to be
gleaned. Indeed, Peter himself can help us to avoid making the mistakes
he made when he writes as one who knows the dangers before us. For
example, we note first of all that...]
 
I. PETER WAS BETRAYED BY PRIDE
 
 A. HE BOASTED HE WOULD NEVER DENY JESUS...
 1. Proudly proclaiming that even if all left Jesus, not him! 
 - Mt 26:31-33
  2. In so doing, Peter took the first step in falling away - Pro
 16:18
 3. We can also be overconfident in our service to God - cf. 1 Co
 10:12
 
 B. PETER LATER COMMANDED HUMILITY...
 1. To be clothed with humility - 1 Pe 5:5
 2. To humble ourselves before God - 1 Pe 5:6
 
[Peter learned the hard way about the danger of pride. Will we learn
from the mistake of Peter, and value the importance of humility? Next,
notice that...]
 
II. PETER WAS BESIEGED BY LAZINESS
 
 A. HE KEPT FALLING ASLEEP...
 1. At a time when he needed to be watchful - Mt 26:36-46
 2. His laziness therefore led to lack of preparation
 3. The same thing can happen to us!
 a. Without diligent preparation, we too can be unprepared 
  - cf. Lk 21:34-36
 b. More often than not, we gradually "drift away" because we
 are too lazy to "give the more earnest heed" - cf. He 2:1-3
 
 B. PETER LATER ENJOINED DILIGENCE...
 1. Commanding vigilant resistance against the devil - 1 Pe 5:8-9
 2. Calling for diligence that we might:
 a. Grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus - 2 Pe 1:5,10
 b. Be found in peace, without spot and blameless - 2 Pe 3:14
 
[Do we allow simple laziness to keep us from careful preparation? Do we
fail to attend services, study God's Word, or even pray, because of
laziness? If so, how can we hope to stand up for Jesus when put to the
test? As we continue, we observe that...]
 
III. PETER WAS BESET BY COWARDICE
 
 A. HE FOLLOWED JESUS AT A DISTANCE...
 1. Peter still followed Jesus - Mt 26:58
 2. But now that Jesus was unpopular...
 a. He stays far enough away so not to be identified with Him
 b. He was unprepared to face the challenge of ridicule and
 persecution
 3. Might we be guilty of trying to follow Jesus, but with 
 cowardice?
 a. Ashamed to be seen carrying a Bible?
 b. Ashamed to be seen giving thanks?
 c. Ashamed to be seen with other Christians?
 
 B. PETER LATER EXHORTED GLORIFYING GOD...
 1. Charging us not to be ashamed, but to glorify God - 1 Pe 4:16
 2. Thinking not of what things mean to us, but what they mean to
 God! - cf. Mt 5:16
 
[With cowardice keeping him at a distance from his Lord, Peter was a
prime candidate for succumbing to what came next...]
 
IV. PETER WAS BELEAGUERED BY WORLDLINESS
 
 A. HE WAS INFLUENCED BY THE WORLD...
 1. By sitting with the servants of the High Priest, and warming
 himself by their fire - Mt 26:58; Mk 14:54
 2. Ashamed to be seen with Christ, it was easy to mingle with
 those of the world and enjoy their comforts
 3. But one cannot be "comforted by the fire" of the world, and
 not be "burned"!
  a. E.g., close contact with things that can harm has an effect
 - cf. Pro 6:27-29
 b. So we cannot flirt with the world and walk away untouched
 - 1 Co 15:33
 
 B. PETER LATER CALLED FOR US TO BE OTHER-WORLDLY...
 1. To live as sojourners and pilgrims, abstaining from fleshly
 lusts and with honorable conduct among the nations - 1 Pe 2:
 11-12
 2. To look for that new heavens and new earth, being diligent to
 be found by Christ in peace, without spot and blameless - 2 Pe
 3:13-14
 
CONCLUSION
 
1. When Peter concluded his second epistle, he did so with a warning...
 a. To beware lest you fall from your own steadfastness - 2 Pe 3:17
 b. To grow in the grace and knowledge of Christ - 2 Pe 3:18
 
2. These admonitions come from one who was well qualified to speak...
 a. For he knew how easy it was to fall through such things as:
 1) Pride
 2) Laziness
 3) Cowardice
 4) Worldliness
 b. But he also knew how to grow in grace through such things as:
 1) Humility
 2) Diligence
 3) Glorifying God
 4) Living as strangers and sojourners
 
Yes, we know that Peter, though he denied Jesus three times and wept
bitterly, received grace when forgiven by Jesus and permitted to
fulfill his role as an apostle (cf. Jn 21:15-17).
 
If we have been guilty of letting our Lord down, look to Him for the
grace to repent and grow that only He can bestow!

－－《Executable Outlines》