Not Me!

[0:00] Go ahead and take your Bibles this morning and throw it over to Mark chapter 14, Mark chapter 14 this morning. You know, as we had began, or as we continue here, of Jesus and His disciples, we know, had enjoyed a very special celebration of the Passover together, and they had ended the meal and had sung a hymn and went out towards the Garden of Gethsemane.

[0:27] And as they'd enjoyed those things there in the upper room, as that meal had been transformed, that memorial, from what it had focused on, what went back to Egypt and God passing over them, to what it now was focused upon, because it was upon Jesus and what He was going to do.

[0:49] It became a different focus. The picture of the Lamb changed. It's now focused upon the true Lamb of God, the one who truly could take away the sin of the world.

[1:02] But as we see here, as we begin today, we're going to begin looking as they depart the upper room, we're going to see the in route, you might say, out to the garden as they walk through the city.

[1:14] And John's Gospel gives us the most complete picture of this conversation as he goes. But as we look here in Mark, Mark records for us some very specific things and very specific elements.

[1:28] And this is recorded in all four of the Gospels, this incident we're going to look at today. And as we're going to begin looking at this, because Jesus continues to prepare His men for what was to come.

[1:43] And they've been through a great thing and great opportunity and a real blessing. I mean, I can't imagine being there that night with Jesus as Jesus walked them through this transformation of the Passover meal.

[1:56] And so I imagine the disciples are kind of, you might say, on an emotional and spiritual high of all the things going on. You know, they're excited about what's happening.

[2:06] But also Jesus brings them back to the reality of why He was there. What did it picture? And that picture was His death, His burial and His resurrection, the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

[2:20] And Jesus brings them back. And as they walk through the city, Jesus presents something to them that's going to take place that causes them to be offended.

[2:32] You know, today we're going to talk about not me. You know, because you ever notice you always think somebody else is the one that will do that, but not me. Jesus is going to deal with His disciples today, and we're going to deal with one specifically, Peter, who was one, Lord, no, that might be others, but not me.

[2:54] Lord, that might be what others would do, but not me. You know, and that's a dangerous place to be. As we're going to look here this morning in this account. So if you found Mark chapter 14, let's stand together in honor of the reading of the Word of God.

[3:08] We'll pick up here in verse 26, and read down through verse 31 here this morning. And it says this, And when they had sung a hymn, they went out into the Mount of Olives.

[3:19] And Jesus saith unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night. For it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.

[3:30] But after that I am risen, I will go before you into Galilee. But Peter said unto him, Although all shall be offended, yet will not I.

[3:44] And Jesus saith unto him, Verily I say unto thee this day, Even in this night, before the cock crow twice, Thou shalt deny me thrice.

[3:56] But he spake the more vehemently, And if I should die with thee, I will not deny thee in any wise. Likewise also said they all.

[4:09] Let's pray. Heavenly Father, as we come before you this morning, Lord, we're just, Lord, as we look at this reality of not me, Lord, a reality of sometimes we can miss what you've said, of what you've presented to us.

[4:25] Lord, sometimes we catch apart and become offended at those things. And Lord, we pray that you would just work here in our hearts and minds here this morning, Lord, that we might draw close to you and understand the truth of what you're presenting here to us.

[4:42] And Lord, that we be not offended, but faithful. Lord, not just faithful of ourselves, but in you and the power of your spirit to walk forward in the challenges and the days and the things that lie each hour of each day.

[4:58] Lord, we pray we might rely upon you, realizing that your word is truth. And Lord, that we need to rely upon it and not ourselves. And Lord, we ask it all in your precious name.

[5:09] Amen. May be seated. Amen. You know, as we look here, the disciples had been walking with Jesus for three years, over three years at this point. They'd followed him.

[5:20] They'd made a decision consciously to follow him, prioritizing everything around Jesus. I mean, as a believer, that's how we ought to prioritize.

[5:30] We ought to prioritize around what does God say? What does God desire? What does God want from us? And we see the disciples had prioritized their life. They'd given up fishing.

[5:42] They'd given up other means of income. They had trusted Jesus, not only as their Savior, but just in their following of him. I mean, their focus was upon him.

[5:55] And these three years and everything had been centered around that. And the evening had been one to remember as they realized that Jesus was about to fulfill.

[6:07] Fulfill all that he came to accomplish. You know, Jesus here, as he tells him he's going to die, it's the fifth time in the book of Mark, Jesus says, I'm going to go and I'm going to be killed.

[6:19] I'm going to rise again. You know, one thing you can always, I took note of as I read through the Gospels, whenever you see Jesus saying, hey, I'm going to go and I'm going to die, it's always attached to I'm rising again.

[6:32] In other words, he doesn't separate those things because both are important. It's not secondary, but primary, the reality that he died for our sins, but resurrection is the victory that he gives us.

[6:46] He gives us something far more. You know, knowing that Jesus would soon be killed, they heard it. But you know, just like us today, sometimes we can, the word of God can present something to us, and we catch a hold of a part of it, but not all of it.

[7:01] We grab a hold of a part, and we're going to see here today that Peter became offended because he caught part of what Jesus said. And we can do the same thing.

[7:12] Sometimes we get caught up because it's what stuck out to us. But you know, I want you to understand one very important thing. When you're understanding Scripture, look at the whole picture.

[7:24] Slow down. If something offends you, take a look at the big picture. How does it fit together? What's he telling us? And how do I need to apply it into my life?

[7:35] Because when they heard it, they didn't fully grasp it. You know, that's part of the problem. Oftentimes we get caught up on one, and we miss something else very important that Jesus has for us.

[7:45] And so when Jesus reveals some details of what was to come, I mean, we could spend a lot of time here in this passage looking at this of all the elements involved, that Jesus is lovingly telling them something very important.

[8:01] You know, we could grab a hold of one thing very quickly here this morning. And this isn't in the slide, so don't get to... This is the rabbit trail for the preacher this morning. I want you to understand that Jesus is declaring something very important to them that he knows what they're going to do.

[8:19] He knows that soon they're going to depart and they're going to run away. But you know what? I want you to see in here, Jesus, even though he knows who you are, Jesus still loves you, and Jesus still makes a plan to reconcile with you.

[8:37] That's a wonderful truth to keep in mind, that you are never too far for you to come back to him, to be reconciled to him. Jesus knew how the disciples were going to respond.

[8:51] But yet he lovingly said, Hey, I'll see you soon. And we're going to see that pictured here this morning. And because along the way to the garden, I mean, there's so much conversation here.

[9:03] I mean, consider, look over to John chapter 15 for a moment. As Jesus is walking to the garden, this is one of the statements that he makes to his disciples. He says this, Greater love hath no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.

[9:19] Ye are my friends, if you do whatsoever I command you. Henceforth I call you not servants, for servants know not what the Lord doeth, but I have called you friends. For all things that I have heard of my Father, I have made known unto you.

[9:33] That's a powerful truth that Jesus told him. He says, Hey guys, you're not just a servant, you're a friend. I'm telling you what's going to happen. That you might be prepared for what's going to happen.

[9:47] Of what's going to be accomplished. You know, that's a different status than just being commanded to go do something. When you consider Jesus here, even this morning, as we look at this passage, Jesus is telling him, Guys, what's going to happen has been foretold what's going to happen, but it doesn't change the fact of who you are and what I'm going to do through you.

[10:09] And we're going to see Jesus, he wants them to know, he says, You're not just my servant, but you're my friend, because I'm letting you know these things. But you know, the problem is, sometimes when you're blunt and truthful with people, they get offended.

[10:23] You ever notice that? I mean, I want you to understand, truth always needs to be wrapped in love. People need to know, if you're going to speak hard truths, you have to have a relationship of love.

[10:36] Because you know what happens when there's not a relationship there? It's taken the wrong way. You know, I'll tell you, you need people who can speak truth into your life, and you know you love them.

[10:50] That you know they love you, and be able to speak hard things. You know, as a parent, sometimes you've got to speak hard things to your kids. You know what gives credibility as a parent?

[11:01] When you speak hard truths, because they know that you love them. They know that you're seeking what's best for them. You know? Those things, you don't have to like it, but you do have to understand it.

[11:11] You have to put it in perspective, because notice here, the offended in this passage. Look at verse 27. And Jesus saith unto them, All ye shall be offended, because of me this night.

[11:25] You know? It's funny that Jesus is talking about what's about to happen, and Peter takes offense to what Jesus said. He got offended at something that Jesus told him that he was going to be offended later at.

[11:38] It kind of has a little irony in it, and it really connects to how we react oftentimes too, doesn't it? We can grab a hold of things wrongly, and Jesus here is revealing to his disciples what was about to happen, and he backs it up with Scripture.

[11:55] In other words, Jesus says, Hey guys, I want you to understand that what's about to happen, I already knew it. I already knew how you were going to respond.

[12:06] You know, in the Old Testament, we find Zechariah chapter 13. We find in verse 7, because the passage Jesus is referring to here is right here. Zechariah said this, he said, Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow, saith the Lord of hosts.

[12:23] Smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered, and I will turn mine hand upon the little ones. And we see here that Jesus is referring back here to Zechariah.

[12:34] In other words, I want you to know that Jesus knows your heart, he knows who you are, and he loves you anyways. You know, that's one of the things that I stood out in this passage, is the fact that Jesus knows who you are, what you're going to do, the decisions you're going to make, and he loves you anyways.

[12:51] That's a powerful reality to grab a hold of. That your performance in life does not matter how much God loves you.

[13:01] That God loves you in spite of yourself sometimes. You know, not because of, but in spite of, you might say. It's like an amazing thing that he would love me, and that he would love you.

[13:13] And we see this because as they get involved in these things, it would involve all of them. You know, consider that just a few minutes earlier, Judas, who betrayed him.

[13:25] Well, you know, they were looking at that. Judas had walked out, and Jesus said, one was going to betray him. And we're going to look at that a little bit too, because it's funny, because just a few minutes earlier than this, Jesus tells them, one's going to betray him, and they're all like, who is it, me?

[13:40] And now they're, and Peter's looking at Jesus here in this passage, and saying, not me, I'll never leave you. You know, it's amazing how fickle we can be as people. But we see that he applies it to all, the plural, all involves all 11, there that night, just as the promise was for each of them, because I want you to see something here.

[14:01] Look at verse 28, because they get caught up on the fact that Jesus said, hey, you're going to be offended. You're going to run away. You're going to leave me alone. But look at verse 28.

[14:12] This is where, sometimes I think we do the same thing as Peter did here. We get caught up on the first thing that catches our mind, and we don't slow down and consider what else is being said. Because notice what Jesus says in verse 28.

[14:25] He says, but after that, I am risen, I will go before you into Galilee. You know, I want you to think about the implication of what Jesus is saying here. Jesus is telling them, he goes, guys, I want to let you know, you're all going to disperse when this goes down.

[14:44] You're all going to go for fear, and you're going to depart from me. But he says, when I'm risen, he's giving them a marker. He says, hey guys, when I've risen again, I'll meet you in Galilee.

[14:59] You know, that's interesting. He says, I know you're going to depart, but he says, I know I've already got a plan to restore you. God already had things in place. It didn't catch him off guard. You know, the reality is the same when it comes to our salvation.

[15:12] When Adam and Eve fell in the garden, it didn't catch God off guard. Ephesians says, from the very foundation of the world, God had a plan to redeem us. That's love when you say, I'm going to do everything it takes.

[15:26] I'm going to provide. He says, he's going to rise again and meet them in Galilee. You know, but he says, first you're going to be offended. You know, this word offended is the same word that we get our English word scandalized from.

[15:41] In other words, they would look at Jesus as a scandal. They would rethink their association that night. You know, and really that's kind of what happened when everything went down and Jesus was arrested.

[15:52] They were rethinking their association here. You know, they were rethinking, hey, what have we invested three plus years in? Even though Jesus had already told them all that was going to happen.

[16:04] This word offended is a reality that happens. It should be just a little while and they would flee for their lives. You know, just a little later here in Mark chapter 14, we find in verse 50, it says, and they all forsook him and fled.

[16:19] It's a matter of minutes as we walk through this of people going, I'll serve you forever. I'm running the other direction. It's the reality of life and this very evening in just a little while, they'll be fleeing from him.

[16:35] You know, have you ever considered that if you would have been asked that night, do you think you would ever fail the Lord? You know, I think most of us would probably think of ourselves kind of like Peter sometimes.

[16:47] Not I, Lord. Not me. Others might, but not me. You know, Peter's saying, I'll be faithful to the end.

[16:59] But I want to caution you because it's a dangerous place to think that you are following the Lord so close that you'll never be offended and turn away. Because it's a wrong understanding because that's a place of self-righteousness saying, in my power, I can hold on to Jesus and we need to realize that you're not holding on, he's holding on to you.

[17:21] We can be self-righteous, we can be hypocrisy, we can lack spiritual understanding. But Jesus shows us that we need to live our lives understanding our true condition.

[17:33] Not one of the disciples were exempt from it. It was something they needed to take personally. Because notice the personal element of this here. Look at verse 29.

[17:44] But Peter said unto him, Although all shall be offended, yet will not I. What's Peter saying?

[17:55] He says, You know, Lord, I know them other shady people over there. They'll let go. They'll go the other direction. But you can trust me. I've got enough. I have what it takes to stick with it.

[18:06] Not I. You know, the irony here I find as I read through this passage, it wasn't, but just a few minutes earlier at the dinner, in verse 19, if you look up there, it's interesting.

[18:17] When Jesus said one was going to betray him, and Peter's one of them saying, Is it I? He goes from, Is it I? to not I? To here in a little bit. Before the morning comes, having denied Jesus three times.

[18:32] Back and forth. See, the problem was here, Peter was sure of himself. He was strong enough to follow. The fact is that we really, that we do not really even know ourselves, but Jesus does.

[18:46] You know, I want you to understand, Jesus knew what Peter was going to do, as we're going to see here. Jesus even tells Peter what he's going to do when he denies him. And Peter's still saying, No, Lord, you're mistaken.

[18:58] You don't know me. You know, considering the scripture, you know, recorded, you know, in Luke, you know, it talks about in Luke 5, 22, it says where Jesus perceives our thoughts.

[19:09] He perceived the very thoughts of the people around him. Chapter 6 in Luke talks about his words, even discern, not only our thoughts, but our tense.

[19:22] He knows our thoughts, it tells us in Hebrews, and he knows even the intent of our hearts. You know, think about Hebrews chapter 4 in verse 12. At the end of the verse, it says, He is the center of the thoughts, and then he takes it up a notch.

[19:35] The intents. I want you to understand when he says, to know what somebody's thinking is one thing, but to know the intent behind the thought is like taking it a whole step up.

[19:48] Because oftentimes, we spend a lot of time trying to judge people's intents. Why did they do it? I'm going to try to judge you on why did they do that? And they're just doing that because they're mean, or they're doing it for this, or they're doing it for that.

[19:58] But you know what? We really have no clue of the intent of somebody's thoughts. You might be able to get a big picture, but you don't have the detailed picture. Jesus wants us to know.

[20:10] He says, Peter, I don't just know your thoughts. I know the intent behind those thoughts. What's in your heart? Where's your relationship with me? When Jesus quotes Zachariah's prophecy, it revealed that he knew their thoughts and intents better than they did.

[20:26] Jesus knew Peter, but he also knew what Peter would do, yet with understanding. Because I want you to see another part. Luke records a different portion of this conversation.

[20:37] We'll turn to Luke 22 for a moment. Because I want you to understand here, Jesus was not being harsh with him, but he was being loving with him. This is that same dynamic and part of this conversation.

[20:50] Luke chapter 22 and verse 31 says, And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desire to have you, that he may sift you as wheat.

[21:03] Consider, this is that same part of this conversation given to us. As Peter saying, no, Lord, I'll be with you. And Jesus says, Peter, slow down. The devil's going to put some temptations in place to sift you as wheat.

[21:15] He wants to take you down. But the next part's something we need to keep in mind. Because the devil wants to take you down, but you know what? This is the good part. Notice what Jesus says, but I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not.

[21:30] And when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren. We could spend a lot of time right here, but I'm just going to give you the cliff notes here quick. Jesus is telling him, Peter, when you come and understand what's really took place, when you look back and say, I need to come back to Jesus when I'm converted, when I change my direction, after he denied Jesus, he changed his direction.

[21:55] And Peter is reminded, Jesus looks at him and says, strengthen others with what you learn, what you've come through. It was needful.

[22:06] Jesus is telling them here something very important. Because the same is true with us. He knows us better than we know ourselves. He knows what we are capable of.

[22:17] He knows the depths of sin that even resides within your heart. You know, I think sometimes we can deceive ourselves into thinking that because we're saved, we have reached a place where we're no longer tempted to fail or can fail.

[22:29] You know, we seem to think that others may fail but will never fail. You know, Peter comes into that place. I want you to understand, nobody, nobody is more than a decision away from walking away from God when you try to do it in your own power.

[22:46] When you try to do it, I can do it. You know, as human beings, that's one of the things that we like to do. I, I, I, I can do it. I can overcome. We live in a self-generation that says, you have self-willpower to accomplish.

[22:59] I want to tell you, there's certain things that willpower is not going to get you through. Fortitude is good. All those things are good but unless you're hanging on to the Lord, sooner or later, you're going to slip.

[23:10] You know, look what Peter later writes. Look up 2 Peter 3, verse 17. He says, You know what Peter's saying?

[23:28] Hey, you better guard everything and rely upon the Lord. Trust Him in all that's happening. Don't get upset over little things. Keep your eyes on the Lord. Because we find ourselves just like Peter thinking that we can serve the Lord in our own strength, not relying on Him to strengthen us and settle us just as Paul later writes.

[23:50] You know, look over to Philippians chapter 3. Philippians chapter 3 and verse 9. This is just the same principle being laid out for us because Paul says, How did I endure these things?

[24:03] I want you to see here. Paul didn't say, I endured them because I'm strong. I want you to see here, Peter, or Paul says, I endured and served the Lord and God used me mightily not because I'm strong but because He's strong.

[24:16] Verse 9 says, And be found in Him not having mine own righteousness which is of the law but that which is through faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith, that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings being made conformable unto His death if by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.

[24:38] You know, I want you to see here, Paul's saying, hey, it has nothing to do with me, it has everything to do with Him. To have the right focus. While the disciples were focused on the immediate where it touched them, the focus was not upon them but what was possible.

[24:55] I mean, they took offense because Jesus said, hey, you're going to all run away tonight and they're all like, stop, tap the brakes. We're going to get upset right here because you're saying we're not going to be faithful.

[25:11] And Jesus is telling them, hey, guys, you're missing the point because He says, I know what's going to happen. Scripture is going to be fulfilled but I'm going to rise again.

[25:22] Meet me in Galilee. You know? As I was studying this, one commentator made an interesting point. He says, like, Jesus made a calendar appointment with His disciples afterwards.

[25:32] He already put it on the calendar form. You know, oftentimes, you know, today we operate by calendar. Peter, this you might say is Jesus' calendar appointment. He says, guys, I'm going to rise again. Meet me in Galilee.

[25:43] He says, I know you're all going to run away but He says, meet me in Galilee. He says, that after I'm risen, I will go before you into Galilee. You know, we see this being played out and the observation that is there as Peter is declaring his loyalty, Jesus gives him the details of what He's going to do.

[26:04] You know, I think we need to know something important that's shown here. Jesus knows you and still made a way for you to be reconciled to Him. Jesus told the same men that would deny Him to meet Him in Galilee.

[26:18] You know, think about that. Jesus says, after I rise again, I already know what's going to take place next too because these men are going to have a moment when they understand, when they see the risen Savior that changes everything.

[26:31] I mean, think about even Thomas. You know, Thomas missed church and missed out. You know, and then when he comes the next time and he says, only if I see His hands.

[26:43] You know, if I see the scars, if I see His side. You know, I think more of us relate to Thomas than we think. But you know what? It transformed Thomas when he realized Jesus was risen again.

[26:58] It transformed everything. When we understand what Jesus did, Jesus tells him that though you're going to deny me, meet me in Galilee. And so, he looks at Peter and he deals with Peter very directly.

[27:11] Notice verse 30 and he says, and Jesus saith unto him, Verily I say unto thee that this day, even in this night, before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice.

[27:24] Now, sometimes I like to sit and think of just reality of personality. and people of, just this conversation going on. As Peter gets offended and says, not me, he's denying, Lord, all the others but not me.

[27:40] And Peter looks, Jesus looks at Peter and says, hey Peter, the devil wants to sift you as wheat, but I've prayed for you that your faith fail not.

[27:52] And Peter is confronted with the next part where Jesus says, Peter, before the cock crows twice tomorrow morning, you're going to deny me three times.

[28:05] It's quite a contrast of conversation. But it reveals us of a loving Savior that says, I know you. I know what's going to, decisions. But Peter, when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.

[28:18] when they realize what really is taking place. When your life is transformed by the truth of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the victory that we have in Him, that things are different.

[28:33] That Peter, you're not being counted out. I want you to understand as Peter is here, as he responds to this, notice what it says in verse 31, but he spake the more vehemently, if I should die with thee, I will not deny thee in any wise.

[28:49] Peter was declaring his loyalty. You know, sometimes we have to be careful because we can be just like Peter. We get so caught up in what we're doing instead of getting focused upon what Jesus is doing.

[29:04] Focus upon what He would have for us. The declaration here, Jesus exposes the truth about the matter, but also reveals to Peter that restoration is possible.

[29:18] Peter, in his typical fashion though, I mean, Peter's one that many people can relate to. You know, they only hear what they want to hear. Peter was the one of the crowd that always spoke out and said the things that everybody else was probably thinking but didn't want to.

[29:32] You know, they're a little more reserved and maybe a little smarter saying, let's see how this plays out. Peter will say something. We'll let Peter take the heat. But I think that's the reason Peter in the Gospels becomes very relatable to us because he says what we're thinking anyways.

[29:45] Peter says what the others were thinking. He refuses to listen and he's relying on his own strength, his own fortitude to be faithful because notice how the focus is in this and notice what he says here.

[29:58] I will not deny thee in any wise. He says, I will die with thee. You know, one of the things we need to realize here that Peter gets in trouble and I think we get in trouble with because the Scripture has declared what was going to happen.

[30:13] The Scripture already determined how Jesus was going to go to the cross and die for our sin. That on the third day he was going to rise again. That we can have victory.

[30:26] That salvation is free. It's given by faith as you trust Christ that realize you're a sinner that can't save yourself. That's all set in Scripture.

[30:36] From the Old Testament you can lead somebody to Christ. The reality that they need a Savior that God had a plan from the very beginning to provide what was needed.

[30:49] We can't rely upon our own strength in salvation and we can't rely upon our own strength to be faithful. We need to have our focus upon the Savior. We need to be drawn to Him.

[31:02] Likewise, the reasons that Peter's and the others failed is the same for us. I want you to see here as you look down at the end of that verse as we see here in verse 31 it's just one of those little add-on sentences you might say.

[31:19] Likewise, also said they all. So in other words all the other ten are listening to the conversation because remember Judas has departed to go betray Jesus so there's only eleven and so you've got Peter and Jesus in conversation the other ten are gathered around and Peter says I'll die with you and the rest of them go yeah!

[31:38] Not realizing what was about to happen because they took offense at Jesus saying they would take offense and Jesus said no, you've got your eyes on the wrong thing because ultimately through this passage He points them back to the Word of God.

[31:53] He said what does the Word of God tell? The Word of God reveals who we are it reveals the thoughts and intents of our hearts it reveals where we stand before God it reveals everything about us I think we can fall into the same problem very easily as the disciples because you know the root cause of the problem here are very simple some of the problems that they face are the same problems we faced here why would Peter respond not I Lord?

[32:22] I think in the Scripture you find very clearly it's probably pride pride gets us in trouble they never thought they could fail you know what it says when I in my own power that's pride saying I can, I can, I can if you notice in this passage Peter looks nothing at Jesus but he says I can, I can, I can not I pride it was an inward focus they believed that they were above all that you know Proverbs 16, 18 says pride goeth before destruction and a haughty spirit before fall Jesus even in this is revealing to Peter and the disciples you've got to be careful of the pride because what we think we might do doesn't mean that's what you will do when pride gets involved secondly self-deception the disciples had convinced themselves that they loved Jesus more than anything in life the irony is they're about to find out that they still loved themselves more than they loved him when they all fled what did that say?

[33:23] it says I still love myself I'm willing to die but when the moment comes they're running the other direction Lord I love you enough I'll die for you but they're running the other direction they deceived themselves you know Galatians tells us this if a man think himself to be something when he is nothing he deceiveth himself you know we've got to be careful of pride we need to be careful of self-deception you know we need to measure ourselves according to scripture but also fear you know these men were confident they would go with Jesus even unto death they were about to be brought face to face with the power that fear presents in our life because you know what fear has caused many of God's children to back away from their testimony you know fear is a major thing in our life isn't it even the strongest deal with fear fear is something that everybody deals with I'll give you a clue if you're not scared go back to point two and point one because fear is real but how we deal with that fear is important because fear has magnified the power of Satan and minimized the power of Almighty God you know

[34:36] I want you to never underestimate the power that fear can have because fear is a motivator however we should not fear people or Satan or the things of this life I want you to understand the Bible says that we're going to have fear it matters where you're going to focus that fear because if that fear is an awe and respect for God and understand he's over all those other things that scare you all those other things that scare us are under submission of God you know often times we get in trouble because our fear of God is not what it ought to be you know what that says it means we're not having the right respect the right honor the right focus think about what Ecclesiastes says Ecclesiastes chapter 12 and verse 13 says this you know Solomon comes down to this conclusion you know and if you read through Ecclesiastes you'll find Solomon you know he went all sorts of different directions seeking for these things and at the end of Ecclesiastes Solomon makes a summary statement he says let me give you the cliff notes of this whole thing he says let me sum it up for you he says let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter fear God and keep his commandments for this is the whole duty of man he said you better keep your eyes on God to understand who God is but you know what we get in trouble when we get our eyes off a true fear of awe and respect because we'll either fear God knowing everything else that we fear is under him or we'll let all the things we fear all the things that control us dominate our perception of God you know

[36:14] Romans 3 tells us one of the big problems is there's no fear of God before their eyes but I want you to understand the other problem is ignorance the disciples were ignorant of the power of Satan and their own weakness Satan was behind the failure you know think about that Luke 22 Jesus says hey Peter Satan hath a desire to sift you as wheat he wants to draw you distract you get your eyes on everything else but God he wants to try to build a separation they thought they could stand on their own power self-confidence is a deadly thing 1 Corinthians 10 12 says wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall you know we need to be able to stand in the day in which we have and that's by keeping our eyes upon the Lord you know we don't have time this morning but write down Ephesians 6 verses 10 through 13 and read that a little later because if you're going to stand for the Lord I want you to understand you need to stand in his equipment in his power focused on the right thing because a not me attitude is a dangerous place to be each of us must rely upon the Lord not ourselves each day you know you might find yourself like

[37:31] Peter and others who have never thought they would be offended only to stumble and fall away because of something that took place that they didn't want or desire but maybe you're here this morning and you've never trusted Christ as your Savior the one that died for you and rose again in victory you know the wonderful thing about turning to God is it's a whosoever will nothing in your life hinders you from turning to God but yourself it's open to whosoever will today will you come to him because he will fulfill all that he said his heads are bowed and eyes are closed this morning what about you today maybe the Lord spoke to you maybe it's just one of the problems we talked about maybe it's just getting your eyes on the right things getting your eyes on the Lord keeping your eyes on the Lord even in the midst of all the things happening to say Lord all these other things might be disrupted but Lord

[38:34] I'm going to keep my eyes on you you're the one that's above my fears Lord you're the one that's above everything else I'm going to serve you faithfully not because of who I am but because of who you are Heavenly Fathers we just come before you this morning Lord you know each heart each life here today Lord I pray just have your hand upon each one Lord you know the needs you know everything that's taking place and Lord we pray you just work in a mighty way Lord if there's one here today that doesn't know you as Savior that they might call upon you Lord if there's things to be dealt with in lives Lord as points of surrender to say Lord I'm going to trust your word above how I feel or how I perceive Lord I'm not going to be offended at what you have declared but I'm going to trust to this truth Lord you know each one as we have an opportunity to respond today Lord I pray that your spirit work in a mighty way and we give you all the praise in Jesus name as the piano plays what about you through