Luke 22:31-34 AMP
31 “Simon, Simon (Peter), listen! Satan has demanded permission to sift [all of] you like grain; 32 but I have prayed [especially] for you [Peter], that your faith [and confidence in Me] may not fail; and you, once you have turned back again [to Me], strengthen and support your brothers [in the faith].” 33 And Peter said to Him, “Lord, I am ready to go with You both to prison and to death!” 34 Jesus said, “I say to you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will [utterly] deny three times that you know Me.”
In Luke 5, we see the beginning of Peter's journey with the Lord, and throughout his walk with the Lord, he had become naturally devoted to HIM having been captivated by the irresistible charm of the Lord - the miracles, divine provision, the wealth of His knowledge, etc.
It was thus natural for Peter to make his rash emotional promises and resolutions to follow the Lord even unto death.
However, all the devotion could not make Peter a disciple as evidenced in his eventual denial.
- Our devotion to Jesus, as important as it is, most of the time could be a stumbling block to our following the Lord in discipleship.
- Most Christians fall short of what it means to truly follow Jesus. The matter of taking up the cross becomes an offence so all the promises and resolutions lead to denial of the Lord because of lack of power to accomplish them.
2 Timothy 3:1-7 AMP
But understand this, that in the last days dangerous times [of great stress and trouble] will come [difficult days that will be hard to bear]. 2 For people will be lovers of self [narcissistic, self-focused], lovers of money [impelled by greed], boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy and profane, 3 [and they will be] unloving [devoid of natural human affection, calloused and inhumane], irreconcilable, malicious gossips, devoid of self-control [intemperate, immoral], brutal, haters of good, 4 traitors, reckless, conceited, lovers of [sensual] pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 holding to a form of [outward] godliness (religion), although they have denied its power [for their conduct nullifies their claim of faith]. Avoid such people and keep far away from them. 6 For among them are those who worm their way into homes and captivate morally weak and spiritually-dwarfed women weighed down by [the burden of their] sins, easily swayed by various impulses, 7 always learning and listening to anybody who will teach them, but never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
- The warning above was given to the Church and not the world, and all are manifest in the Church today, upon whom the end of the age has come!
- The obvious problem is that the HOLY SPIRIT has been relegated/muzzled in our time. Organizations, denominations, committees, etc have all replaced the all-important third Person of the Trinity, without whom nothing can be accomplished.
PRAYERS:
- Thank You Lord for captivating my affection since You came into my life. Thank You for all the miraculous/supernatural provisions and protection that I enjoy everyday inside You.
- Thank You for offering me the Cross and the grace You bestow to SEE and take up my Cross to follow You.
- Lord, I have promised to follow You to the end. Please help me see that my promises are empty and therefore, lead to denial without the power of the Comforter, the Holy Spirit.
- Baptise me afresh in the Holy Spirit Lord; You are the Baptiser. Lord, I wait on You to fill me again and again and again. I can only fulfil destiny with the Holy Spirit brooding over and overshadowing me.
- Holy Spirit, please come again to us/the Church. We have sinned by silencing You, but now we see our wretchedness and powerlessness. We see how the enemy has made havoc of us and ridiculed the name of our Lord. We are sorry Lord. Please come upon the waiting host.
Let it come, O LORD we pray Thee; Let the Fire of blessing
fall. We are waiting, we are waiting, O revive the hearts of all.
O Jesus, I have promised to serve Thee to the
end;
Be Thou forever near me, my Master and my
Friend;
I shall not fear the battle if Thou art by my
side,
Nor wander from the pathway if Thou wilt be my
Guide.
O let me feel Thee near me! The world is ever
near;
I see the sights that dazzle, the tempting
sounds I hear;
My foes are ever near me, around me and
within;
But Jesus, draw Thou nearer, and shield my
soul from sin.
O let me hear Thee speaking in accents clear
and still,
Above the storms of passion, the murmurs of
self will.
O speak to reassure me, to hasten or control;
O speak, and make me listen, Thou Guardian of
my soul.
O Jesus, Thou hast promised to all who follow
Thee
That where Thou art in glory there shall Thy
servant be.
And Jesus, I have promised to serve Thee to
the end;
O give me grace to follow, my Master and my
Friend.
O let me see Thy footprints, and in them plant
mine own;
My hope to follow duly is in Thy strength
alone.
O guide me, call me, draw me, uphold me to the
end;
And then in Heaven receive me, my Savior and
my Friend.
