Thank you, James, for the warm welcome.
Once again, it's lovely to be with you,
to be back amongst old friends,
and we pray that indeed we'll know God's blessing
by his spirit over these days
as we come around word and sacrament.
Well, friends, we're going to begin
by singing to God's praise.
We're going to worship his name from Psalm 146.
This is a Sing Sam's version on page 191.
Psalm 146.
We can read at the beginning of the psalm.
Praise the Lord, my soul, O praise him.
I'll extol him all my days.
While I live to God, my saviour,
from my heart I will sing praise.
Do not put your trust in princes,
mortal men who cannot save.
All their plans will come to nothing
when they perish in the grave.
Then down to verse 9 and 10.
He frustrates the wicked's purpose,
so the Lord through endless days
reigns to every generation.
Praise your God, O Zion, praise.
We'll stand to sing the whole psalm
to the praise of God.
Praise the Lord, my soul, O praise him.
I'll extol him all my days.
While I live to God, my saviour,
from my heart I will sing praise.
Do not put your trust in princes,
or tell men who cannot save.
All their plans will come to nothing
when they perish in the grave.
Blessed is the one who truly
works for help to Jacob's call.
Blessed is the one who places all his hope
upon the Lord.
He who made the earth and heaven
and blesses with all their store.
He who keeps his every promise
who is faithful evermore.
He delivers from oppression
and releases the hungry's plight.
He releases those in prison
to the blind the Lord his side.
Those who are bowed down he raises.
God delights in righteousness.
He protects and cares for strangers,
widows and the fatherless.
He frustrates the wicked purpose
So the Lord through endless days
Praise to every generation
Praise your God, O Zion, praise.
Amen.
Let's join together and unite our hearts in prayer.
Let us pray.
Gracious and eternal God,
King of kings and Lord of lords,
the God of heaven and the God of earth,
the one who inhabits eternity,
we gather this evening out before you, O Lord,
with that longing in our hearts
to truly know what it is to worship.
You are truly worthy of all praise
and adoration of your name being high
and lifted up.
You are the one to whom we seek to sing praises
and even exalt in our hearts.
And yet we are so aware that even for this short time
as we come together as a people,
that without you we can do nothing.
We are completely reliant upon you
in all that we seek to do in terms of worship,
worship, and in service.
And in light of this, O Lord,
we pray that you might be pleased
to fulfill that promise to your people
that where two or three gather in your name,
you are there in their midst,
that for all of us here,
we could truly say that we come not in our own name,
but in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ,
and that you would honor this
by your Holy Spirit coming
and applying this word to our hearts
and our minds,
so that all the more
we might bow down before you.
And as we reflect upon who you are
and what we have from your hand day by day,
we cannot but come and give thanks.
You are the God who is supplying all of our needs
according to your riches and glory,
the one who gives unto us health and strength
and daily food,
the one who's lavishing upon us
such an abundance of blessings day by day.
Forgive us, we pray, O Lord,
for the fact that we are so slow
to return thanks to you,
that all too often as a people
we find ourselves taking from the hand of God,
yet are so reluctant to give back.
Forgive us, O Lord, for such,
and grant unto us that true
and that right spirit of thankfulness,
not least for these spiritual blessings,
the blessings of our soul,
that for God so loved the world,
he gave his only begotten Son,
so that whosoever believes in him
should not perish,
but have everlasting life.
What a wonder it is
that we can lay hold of this promise by faith.
What a wonder it is
that when our health, our strength,
and our daily food passes away as it will,
that we can lay hold
upon the eternal promises of Christ
that are indeed yea and amen.
And as we gather these days
and as we seek to remember,
we pray, O Lord,
that our hearts and our minds
might be taken to Calvary's hill,
that we might be enabled
to a fresh gaze upon
the beauty of our Saviour,
the one who was despised
and rejected of men,
a man of sorrow and acquainted with grief.
There was no beauty in him
that we should look upon him.
But yet there is beauty there,
inexpressible beauty,
beauty that enables sinners
such as us to cry out,
He died for me.
O Lord, we praise you then
for the wonder of what it is
to be brought into the royal household of faith
with that spirit of adoption
whereby we can cry out,
Abba, Father.
And if there are any here this evening hour
who are yet to know what it is
to take their place
in the banqueting house of the Lord,
who perhaps,
as we once were ourselves,
are strangers both to grace and to God,
who know not their danger,
who sense not their load,
who are quite content
going through the realms of time
without a word of eternity.
We pray, O Lord,
that tonight and in the days that lie ahead,
your Holy Spirit might be pleased
to touch them at their point of need,
taking them to that place of darkness
to your own most marvellous light
from death to life.
And if there are any here this evening
who do know you in their hearts
and love you,
but are yet to come
and to profess your name
for the first time,
through perhaps fear of man
or whatever reason
they are perhaps following from a distance,
we pray, O Lord,
that you would impress upon them,
even through the preaching
of your word this evening,
the blessing that follows obedience.
We know in many ways
that the easiest thing is to stay away.
We know that all that we are called to do
in the name of the Lord
appears to be so difficult,
a mountain set before us.
But yet we know that these thoughts
come not from yourself,
but from the evil one
who seeks to distract us
and to destroy our peace
and to lead us on a path
that does not honour your name.
And so help our dear friends here
who perhaps have even been on the road
for many a year,
who are yet to come
and to take this step of faith,
to know in a very real way
that they will not walk on water
until they step out of that boat,
keeping their eyes upon Jesus,
the author and the finisher
of their faith.
And we thank you, Lord,
that you do not call us
to go it alone,
that you give unto us
that helping hand
every step of the way.
As for many of us here tonight,
perhaps we are so acutely aware
of the challenges
that face us in this wilderness,
but yet you've not promised
an easy path for any of us,
but what you have promised
is that you will be with us,
that your rod and your staff,
that they will comfort us
and lead us and guide us
as we navigate our way
through this scene of time.
Be with us, dear congregation,
we pray.
We give thanks for them
and their witness in this town.
We pray for all their efforts
to reach out
with the glorious gospel
of Jesus Christ
in a world that in many ways
is so dark
and is so needful
of the light of your gospel.
We pray that you may give unto them
that boldness to go out,
not in their own strength,
but in the strength
of the one who cried out,
it is finished,
the one who promises to us
that he will be with us,
that he will honor those
who honor them.
We pray now that you will
lead us in your truth,
that you will open out hearts
and our minds
to incline your voice,
to hear what you have
to say to us this evening hour.
To all we ask,
we ask for the forgiveness
of our many sins.
In Jesus' name.
Amen.
Well, friends,
we're going to sing once more
to the praise of our Lord and Savior
from Psalm 46,
this time in the Scottish Psalter.
Psalm 46.
We can pick up our reading
at verse 7 of the Psalm.
The Lord of hosts upon our side
doth constantly remain,
the God of Jacob's our refuge
us safely to maintain.
Come and behold
what wondrous works
have by the Lord
have by the Lord been wrought.
Come see what desolations
he on the earth
hath brought.
Down to verse 10.
Be still and know
that I am God
among the heathen.
I will be exalted.
I on earth
will be exalted.
I will sing
verses 7 to 10
to the praise of God
standing to sing
the Lord of hosts
upon our side.
Amen.
The Lord of hosts
upon our side
hath constantly
hath lost me
The evil desolation he on the earth hath thrown.
Until the ends of all the earth, wars into peace he turns.
The glory break, the spear he cut, in fire the child burns.
Be still and know that I am gone, upon the hidden eye.
Will be exalted, thy honour will be exalted high.
Friends, we're going to turn now to read God's word together from the Gospel of Luke, chapter 22.
Luke, chapter 22.
We're going to read two sections of this chapter.
Firstly, from verse 14 through to 34.
And then we'll pick up our reading at verse 54 through to verse 62.
So that's Luke 22, 14 to 34, and 54 to 62.
Let us hear the word of God.
And when the hour came, he reclined at a table, and the apostles with him.
And he said to them, I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer.
For I tell you, I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.
And he took a cup.
And when he had given thanks, he said, take this and divide it among yourselves.
For I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.
And he took bread.
And when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying,
This is my body, which is given for you.
Do this in remembrance of me.
And likewise the cup, after they had eaten, saying,
This cup that is poured out for you is a new covenant in my blood.
But behold, the hand of him who betrays me is with me on the table.
For the Son of Man goes as it has been determined.
But woe to that man by whom he is betrayed.
And they began to question one another, which of them it could be who was going to do this.
A dispute also arose among them as to which of them was to be regarded as the greatest.
And he said to them,
The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them,
and those in authority over them are called benefactors.
But not so with you.
Rather, let the greatest among you become as the youngest,
and the leader as one who serves.
For who is the greater, one who reclines at a table or one who serves?
Yes, is it not the one who reclines at table?
But I am among you as the one who serves.
You are those who have stayed with me in my trials.
And I assign to you, as my Father assigned to me, a kingdom,
that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom,
and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you,
that he might sift you like wheat.
But I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail,
and when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.
Peter said to him,
Lord, I am ready to go with you, both to prison and to death.
Jesus said, I tell you, Peter,
the cock will not crow this day
until you deny three times that you know me.
Then on to verse 54.
Then they seized him and led him away,
that is Jesus, bringing him into the high priest's house.
And Peter was following at a distance.
And when they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard
and sat down together, Peter sat down among them.
Then a servant girl, seeing him as he sat in the light
and looking closely at him, said,
This man also was with him.
But he denied it, saying,
Woman, I do not know him.
And a little later, someone else saw him and said,
You also are one of them.
But Peter said, Man, I am not.
After an interval of about an hour,
still another insisted, saying,
Certainly this man also was with him,
for he too is a Galilean.
But Peter said, Man,
I do not know what you are talking about.
And immediately while he was still speaking,
the cock crowed,
and the Lord turned and looked at Peter.
And Peter remembered the saying of the Lord,
how he had said to him,
Before the cock crows today,
you will deny me three times.
And he went out and wept bitterly.
And so on.
Amen.
We pray God's blessing on that portion of his own holy,
inspired and inerrant word.
Friends, before we come back to this passage,
we're going to sing once more.
This time from Psalm 9,
again in the Sing Psalms,
Psalm 9,
9a.
We'll pick up our reading at verse 7.
Psalm 9, verse 7.
This is on page 9 of the psalm book.
The Lord forever reigns on high.
His throne for judgment stands.
He'll judge the world in righteousness.
With justice rule the lands.
The Lord will be a hiding place for those who are oppressed.
And he will be a strong defense for those who are distressed.
We'll sing down to the end of the verse marked 11,
to the praise of God,
standing to sing,
The Lord forever reigns on high.
His throne for judgment stands.
He'll judge the world in righteousness.
With justice rule the lands.
The Lord will be a hiding place for those who are oppressed.
And he will be a strong defense for those who are distressed.
All those who know your name, O Lord,
In you, there trust will place.
For you do not abandon those.
For you do not abandon those who are afflicted.
Sing praises to the Lord who sits in Zion on his throne.
Among the nations of the world proclaim what he has done.
Well friends, for a short time, let's turn back together to the chapter that we read in the Gospel of Luke, chapter 22.
Luke, chapter 22.
If we were to take a text this evening, perhaps we could consider the words of verses 31 and 32.
Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat.
But I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail.
And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.
Well friends, over the course of the weekend, what I'd like to do, or God willing, what I hope to do, is to lay before you something of that great plan of God's redemption.
That is, after all, why we are here.
What I'm going to do is ask for questions.
Tonight we're going to think about why we are here this weekend.
And we're going to focus our thoughts and answering this question upon the narrative that we have before us.
Why are we here?
God willing, tomorrow night, we're then going to answer the question, how has this been made possible?
On Lord's Day morning, we'll think about what we've received as a result of that which has been made possible for us.
And then God willing, on Lord's Day evening, we'll close by thinking about who this is for.
Why, how, what, and who.
Now I'm going to begin this evening by asking another question.
And as we think about the answer to this question, we hopefully, by the end of the sermon,
and we'll be able to answer the overarching question that we're considering, why are we here?
And the question I have for you friends is this.
Tonight, on Friday the 17th of February, 2023,
how is your walk with the Lord?
It's a searching question.
It's a probing question.
It's a question that causes us to stop and to think.
And were we to go around this building this evening and ask individuals that very question,
I dare say that we would have many different answers.
Some of you would say, well, my walk isn't as it should be.
It's not what I would like it to be.
In fact, if I'm being honest, I feel like I'm following the Lord from afar,
and I have been for a while.
I present myself outwardly as following the Lord,
but in my heart there's something not quite right.
Perhaps others of you might say, well, I actually feel close to the Lord at the minute.
I'm enjoying sweet fellowship with him in his word, in prayer with his people.
I would say, yes, I am walking closely with the Lord.
Yet if we're being entirely honest, all of us, myself included,
those of us who are Christians here tonight,
we can identify with both of these feelings and everything in between at one time or another,
being close to the Lord or perhaps walking at a distance from him in our heart.
But of course, and we'll see this tonight,
there's nothing new under the sun.
Because here we have our friend Peter.
Here we have Peter who, in the space of a few hours,
he thought in his own mind's eye that, yes, he was walking closely with the Lord.
But then soon after, within a matter of hours,
he shows that, in fact, he isn't.
So tonight we're going to think about Peter and his denial of Christ under three headings.
Firstly, we're going to think about Peter's confidence in himself.
Secondly, we're going to think about how he is confronted by Satan.
And then lastly, we're going to close by looking at that commitment
that is shown to Peter by the Lord Jesus Christ.
Confidence, confrontation, and commitment.
And after having considered these three points,
we should be able to answer the question,
why are we here this weekend?
So here we are in verse 31, 32.
And we find ourselves in the upper room.
This is, of course, the night before Jesus is crucified.
And here he is spending time with his disciples.
He's having fellowship with his disciples.
He's breaking bread with his disciples in the form of the Lord's Supper.
He's having a blessed time.
But what do we notice, friends?
We notice that no sooner has our blessed time of fellowship
had with Jesus and his disciples that it's broken.
It's broken.
What we see here is that something comes in
that seeks to destroy that blessing.
The problem?
Well, the problem is that very quickly after having had the Lord's Supper,
the disciples, what they do is they forget.
They take their eyes off Jesus.
They neglect to remember exactly what they've just been doing
and who they've been doing it with.
And instead, their eyes are focused upon themselves.
See, in verse 24, I have here.
Yes, 24.
A dispute also arose among them
as to which of them was to be regarded as the greatest.
Isn't this just so like us?
After a time of great blessing with God's people,
around sacrament, around word,
isn't it so like us just to be distracted,
to be embroiled in disputes and discussions
which in reality have no real importance?
That's what we see here.
And of course, this has consequences
because when we're in that heady frame of mind,
what we find, friends,
and we know this knowing what human nature is like,
when we've had a dispute over something,
something we're intently focused on,
what we find is that we have this confidence in ourselves,
this assumed confidence,
whether it's genuine or not is another thing,
but we have this confidence.
We're sure that we're right.
We're sure that our point of view is the point of view
as the disciples themselves were eager to find out
who would be the greatest.
Would it be me?
And that's what we see with Peter
because no sooner has this dispute taken place
that Jesus announces the unthinkable to him.
Simon, Simon.
Just notice that.
Simon, Simon.
What's Jesus doing here?
He's referring to Simon Peter by his old name.
Jesus had given to him the name Peter.
Now he's been referred to as his old name.
Why?
Because he was going to go back very soon to his old ways.
And just look at how he says it.
Simon, Simon.
There's that tone of disappointment.
That tone of a loving heavenly father
speaking to a son,
of a brother speaking to a brother.
Simon, Simon.
I don't want you to do this.
Simon, Simon.
Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you
that he might sift you like wheat.
And it goes on to say,
I tell you, Peter,
the rooster will not crow this day
until you deny three times that you know me.
I wonder, friend, tonight,
if you were told that this very evening
you would deny the Lord three times
with cursing and with swearing.
If I was to tell you that,
what would your reaction be?
Well, you would no doubt,
and me with you,
our natural reaction would be to say,
never, never would I do such a thing to my Lord.
Never would I deny my Savior,
certainly not with cursing and with swearing.
Peter certainly had that confidence.
And in Matthew's account of what we have before us here,
he responds by saying,
even if I must die with you,
I will not deny you.
You've all heard the saying,
never say never.
And of course,
as the Lord's people,
as Christians,
this is something that we continually need
to take on board.
You know,
one of the most dangerous things
for us to do,
friends,
as Christians,
is to look upon others
who have perhaps fallen into sin
and to look upon them
with disgust
and with disdain
and confidently saying out hearts,
although we might not articulate it
with our lips,
saying out hearts,
I would never do that.
Whatever I would do,
I would never do that.
It's lethal.
It's lethal because it shows
that we've lost sight
of who we really are by nature.
It's lethal because this way of thinking,
it overestimates our own strength
and ability to resist sin.
It's lethal.
We see this with Peter
because at its center,
this way of thinking
is one of the most ugliest sins of all.
The sin of pride.
And of course,
as an aside,
when we see our brothers
or sisters falling into sin
instead of looking down upon them
from our ivory tower,
what are we to do?
We are to draw alongside them.
We are to seek to restore them
in that same spirit of restoration
that has been granted to us
as undeserving sinners
by our Lord and our Savior.
We forget, don't we,
who we are in Christ
and what he's done for us.
And so,
such unfounded confidence
that here Peter has it
only goes on to make him weaker.
He who thinks he stands,
take heed lest he falls.
And that's what happens.
His confidence leads him,
and this brings us to our second point,
to be confronted by Satan.
Remember what Jesus said,
Satan has desired to sift you as wheat.
What a vivid and clear picture this is.
When the wheat was harvested,
the wheat and the chaff,
they were shaken,
they were tossed up into the air,
and as it was being tossed up into the air,
what would happen was
that the wind would blow
the chaff away
and the wheat would be left,
the good grain would be left.
And that's what Satan's deciding
to do with Peter.
That's what he's deciding to do
with all of us,
if the truth be told.
That's what he's deciding
to do with Peter.
He wants to violently shake him
to see if really,
really this faith
that he professes to have
is through.
After all,
look at the many times
Peter has blundered.
Look at the many times
he's let the Lord down.
He certainly doesn't look
like one of the Lord's people.
Let's shake him,
let's sift him,
let's get to the root of the matter
and show him for who he really is.
And so he confronts Peter.
But what does he confront him with?
Does he confront Peter
with an obviously glaring sin
that would instantly derail Peter,
discredit Peter?
Is that what he does?
Leading Peter into this obvious,
heinous sin?
Is that what he does?
No, it's not,
because that's not how Satan operates.
He's far more subtle
and clever than that.
What he does is this.
The next day,
when Jesus is being led away,
we missed out some of the chapter,
when he's being led away
by those, of course,
who are going to crucify him,
he confronts Peter.
Satan confronts Peter.
What does he confront him with?
Well, he confronts him
with a temptation.
What's the temptation?
Well, it's such a subtle temptation,
but one that I believe
is so real to all of us,
that temptation of comfort
and of ease.
You see, Peter had a choice.
Here's his Lord and Savior
being led away to be crucified.
He has a choice.
He can either boldly
and publicly identify
as a follower of Jesus,
or he can remain in the shadows.
He can go to the side.
He can somehow show
that he doesn't really know
this man Jesus.
Verse 54.
Then they seized him
and led him away,
bringing him into
the high priest's house.
And what does Peter do?
And Peter was following
at a distance.
That's the first temptation.
The subtle temptation.
Following at a distance.
Having so been confronted
with that temptation
of comfort,
of ease,
of taking the easy way out,
he does so.
He follows Jesus at a distance.
No doubt he's embarrassed
or he's scared
to identify
with the Lord Jesus Christ
because in doing so,
he knows
there will be repercussions.
There was repercussions,
but perhaps not in the way
that he expected.
Because in following Jesus
from a distance,
friends,
he was putting himself
in the perfect place
to be confronted further
by Satan.
And that's again what happens.
Because not only does Peter
follow Jesus from a distance,
but then he goes on further
to identify
with the enemies of God.
Verse 55.
And when they had kindled
a fire in the middle
of the courtyard
and sat down together,
Peter sat down among them.
Then a servant girl,
seeing him as he sat
in the light
and looking closely at him,
said,
This man also
was with him.
At this crucial,
pivotal point
in the life
and the ministry
of the Lord Jesus Christ,
instead of actively
being involved
with what's going on,
instead of spending time
with the disciples,
perhaps in prayer
over the situation
that was unfolding
before their very eyes
or fighting the cause
of Christ,
trying to be there
for his Savior,
instead,
what do we see?
we see Peter
abdicating
all responsibility
and warming himself
at the fire
of the faithless.
This was one
who had been
so confident
and now compromised,
weakened in his witness,
so that having been
confronted by that
temptation
of comfort
and ease,
by distancing himself
from Jesus,
things begin
to snowball,
to get out
of all control.
Verse 57,
but he denied it,
saying,
Woman,
I do not know him.
I don't know this man,
he's saying.
And a little later,
someone else saw him
and said,
You also are one of them,
but Peter said,
Man,
I am not.
And it's not even
as if he regretted
what he said
and wished he hadn't
said it.
You know,
sometimes we say things
in the heat of the moment
and we wince
at the thought
that we've just said it,
we wished we hadn't said it,
we wouldn't say it again.
Well,
we see that another hour
goes past
and what does Peter do?
He goes on
to deny
his Savior
again.
Satan desired
to sift
Peter
as wheat
and Peter
agreed.
As it were,
he signed
on the dotted line.
An important point
for all of us
to remember,
it's
so easy,
I suppose,
for us
when we're confronted
with the suggestions
of Satan
that
we blame
Satan,
that we blame
Satan
for our sins.
He made me do it.
And of course,
Satan does whisper
in our ears,
sometimes very loudly,
sometimes very convincingly,
sometimes even
as an angel of light.
So it's hard
to discern
if it's
from the Lord
or if it's
from Satan himself.
But at the end
of the day,
we cannot
blame
Satan
for
our
own
sin.
So friends,
what we
have before us
here is,
is it not
a
heartbreaking
scene?
A scene
that ought to
lead all of us,
myself included,
to examine
ourselves
and to
remind
ourselves
that the only
confidence we
can ever
afford to
have,
it's not
in ourselves,
it's not
in our own
estimation
of things
in this world.
The only
confidence
that we
can ever
or should
ever have
should be
in the person
and in the work
of the Lord
Jesus
Christ.
Maybe
tonight
you're sitting
here or
perhaps you're
joining us
online and
and you're
saying with a
heavy heart,
that's me.
That's me.
People around
me don't
know it,
but that's
me.
You're
talking to
me.
I see
myself in
this whole
situation.
Well,
friends,
if that is
you tonight,
dear
struggling
Christian
friend,
and I'm
sure there
are some
of you
here,
that is
the reality
of what
it is to
be the
Lord.
We're
not good
at talking
about that,
are we?
Building one
another up,
being there
for one
another,
but yet
it's so
part and
partial of
what it
is to
be called
from
darkness
into
his
marvelous
light,
that we
are
warring
against
principalities
and powers
each and
every day.
and if
you are
in the
center of
that
warfare,
if you're
so aware
of it
and you're
succumbing
time and
time again
not to
make excuse
for sin,
we do not
make excuse
for sin,
we see the
result of
sin,
we see
where it
leads us
here,
and as
heartbreaking
as this
scene is,
we can't
leave it
there,
we can't
leave it
there because
we come
here tonight
around a
message of
hope,
and so
as
heartbreaking
as the
scene is
before us
here,
it's not
a hopeless
scene,
this brings
us to our
final point,
the
commitment,
the
commitment
shown by
the Lord
Jesus Christ
to a
weak and
weary
sinner,
Peter,
and to
a weak
and weary
sinner,
you,
and to a
weak and
weary
sinner,
me,
and as
we reflect
upon that
commitment,
we're led
to answer
that question,
why are
we here
this weekend?
Verse 31,
Simon,
behold,
Satan
demanded
to have
you,
that he
might sift
you like
wheat,
but,
aren't we
so thankful
for that
word,
but,
I have
prayed for
you that
your faith
may not
fail,
because although
Satan desired
to sift
Peter as
wheat,
and Peter
said yes,
Jesus said
no,
just like
with Job,
the Lord
allowed
Satan to
go so
far with
Peter
in that
whole
rendezvous
that they
have here
at this
time,
but no
further,
no further,
Satan
might for a
time have
God
Peter's
service,
he might
for a time
have your
service,
but he
won't get
his soul,
he won't
get your
soul,
if you're
in Christ
tonight,
why?
Because
greater
is he
that is
in you,
than he
that is
in the
world,
and so
no matter
how low
we go,
and maybe
tonight you
are very
low,
I don't
know,
maybe you're
very low
in your
walk with
the Lord,
and at
times you
feel like
as it were
throwing the
towel,
and giving
up,
turning your
back on
the whole
thing,
it's just
too
difficult,
no matter
how low
you go,
you can
have
confidence
in the
one who
has committed
to you,
the one
who will
never leave
you,
never forsake
you,
the one
who died
on that
cross
for a
reason,
the Lord
Jesus
Christ,
and we
see that
commitment,
do we
not,
in this
very
statement,
I have
prayed for
you,
that your
faith
fail you
not,
and what's
wonderful
about this
statement
is that
it's said
before Peter
even fell,
before Peter
fell,
he prayed
for Peter
before Peter
sinned,
isn't that
something,
the Lord
is always
a step
ahead of
his
people,
does this
mean that
Jesus'
prayer wasn't
answered,
you might
say well
his faith
did fail
him,
did it
not,
look at
what he's
just done,
he's denied
the Lord
Jesus three
times,
and so
maybe,
maybe Jesus'
prayer wasn't
answered by
God the
Father,
of course
that's not
true,
we know
that's not
true,
Peter failed
himself
undoubtedly,
but his
faith never
failed,
because his
faith is in
the finished
work of the
Lord Jesus
Christ,
and that
can never
fail,
our faith
can flounder,
it can waver,
that is true,
but it can
never fail,
ultimately,
it can
never fail,
I have
prayed for
you,
that your
faith may
not fail,
why is he
praying,
why is this
intercessory
prayer necessary,
we might
ask,
was Peter's
sins not
going to be
defeated once
and for all
on the cross
on Calvary's
hill,
why pray at
all,
what's the
point of
this,
it's a
good question,
well one
commentator put
it like this,
this is not
a supplemental
work adding
to his
sacrifice of
himself on
the cross,
but rather
a consequential
work based
on it,
this is a
fruit of
the cross,
this prayer
is as a
result of
what's to
take place
on the
cross,
a prayer
that we
see also
in John
17,
and this
is one of
the most
wonderful
chapters
whereby we
see the
care and
the commitment
that the
Lord Jesus
Christ has
for his
people.
I do not
ask for
these only,
but also for
those who
will believe
in me
through their
word,
this is a
high priestly
prayer,
that they
may all
be one,
just as
you Father
are in me,
and I
in you,
that they
also may
be in us,
so that
the world
may believe
that you
sent me.
In verse
24,
Father, I
desire that
they also,
that's us
if it is
tonight,
Father, I
desire that
they also
whom you
have given
me may be
with me
where I
am to
see my
glory that
you have
given me
because you
loved me
before the
foundation
of the
world.
He
prays
because he
loves,
because he's
committed,
committed
to that
cause,
that cause
that had
been set
out from
all
eternity.
And so
we can
put an
amen to
the
psalmist
when he
says,
my flesh
and heart
doth faint
and fail,
but God
doth fail
me
never.
And so
to answer
the overarching
question of
tonight,
why are we
here this
weekend?
Well,
friends,
we are here,
are we not,
to remember
and to
rejoice in
the glorious
reality of
what it is
to be safe
and secure
in Christ.
Not to
excuse our
sin,
far from
it,
but still
to remember
that we
are safe
and secure
in Jesus,
a glorious
reality that
we're not
to keep
to ourselves.
Jesus
says this
to Peter,
and when,
not if,
notice that
word when,
and when
you have
returned to
me.
He had his
eye on
Peter,
he knew
that Peter
would return
just as he
has his
eye on
any
wandering
lamb of
his.
When you
have returned
to me,
strengthen
your
brethren.
Strengthen
your
brethren.
Maybe this
is a
picture of
someone here
tonight,
I don't
know,
someone who
perhaps hasn't
been walking
closely with
the Lord
for some
time,
has
strayed,
someone perhaps
joining us
online,
I don't
know.
But what I
do know is
this,
is that you're
not to
stay away,
you're to
come back,
you're to
profess your
faith publicly
again.
He has
prayed that
your faith
will not
fail.
why don't
you come
back?
Come back
and strengthen
your
brethren.
We are
a family.
We are a
church family.
And as a
family, we
long, do we
not, and if we
don't, there's
something far
wrong, we
long, do we
not, to see a
long-lost family
member coming
back to the
table.
And when they
do, what do we
do?
we rejoice.
We praise
God.
We ourselves
are strengthened
in our
faith.
It does our
hearts good to
see those who
perhaps haven't
been with us
for many a
long year,
they're back
in their
rightful place.
Because Christ
has prayed for
them.
Their faith
will not
fail.
Maybe you're
here tonight
and you've
never professed
and you wonder
where you fit
into all of
this.
You might say,
well, how can I
return when I
never went away
in the first
place?
Well, you
did.
You did go
away.
Because we've
all got
that
image of
Christ
within us.
That's how
we've been
made, to
serve and
to worship.
And so for
every single
man and
woman, boy
and girl in
this world
who is not
in the way,
they've gone
astray.
They've chosen
to go away
from their
creator.
And so the
same plea
goes to you
tonight.
Come back.
Come back
to the
Lord.
Come back
to that
place whereby
you can come
to know not
just the
creation, but
the creator.
The one who
died on that
cross so
sinners like
us might
live.
Or maybe
tonight you
do know him
in your
heart.
Maybe you
are one of
the Lord's
people, but
still you
haven't
professed his
name.
I'll just
look at
Peter.
You might
think, well
I've got
plenty time.
I'll
profess in
my own
good time.
Just look
at Peter.
He
followed from
afar and
what happened?
He fell.
He followed
from afar and
he fell.
So dear
Christian friend,
if you
haven't
professed,
if you
follow from
afar, if
you're scared
of the
consequences
of coming
out on his
side and
for everyone
knowing that
you are a
child of
God, beware
because Satan
desires you
also.
Friend, we
know that the
blessing follows
obedience.
Not to say
that when we
come to the
Lord's table
somehow our
lives are
going to be
miraculously
smooth,
sailing,
plain sailing,
that is not
true.
But what is
true is this,
that when we
obey we
will have
that strength
that comes
from the
one who
tells us
that if we
come and
if we
profess his
name publicly
he will
honour them
who honour
him.
Does that
mean you'll
be perfect?
No it
doesn't.
Maybe that's
what you're
waiting for.
Maybe you
look at
yourself and
you think
well what
about this
sin in
my life
and what
about that?
And you're
waiting until
all of these
sins are
eradicated and
then you'll
come.
Well you'll
never come.
You'll never
come.
Peter was
far from
perfect,
you are
far from
perfect,
I am
far from
perfect but
still we can
profess the
one who
is perfect.
If we love
the Lord
that is our
calling tonight
hope to
come forward
and to
show to
all those
around us
that we
love the
one who
has interceded
on our
behalf,
the one
who tells
us that
our faith
will never
fail us.
I wonder
if you're
waiting.
Don't
wait.
there is
no perfect
time apart
from tonight
because today
friend is a
day of
obedience.
Let's
unite our
hearts in
prayer.
We come
oh Lord
and we
praise your
name that
you've given
unto us a
mirror in
your word
whereby we
can see
ourselves so
clearly.
but yet
often times
we neglect
to focus
on it.
We neglect
to look
into the
realities of
what we
see therein.
But yet
it is there
for us to
know that
indeed there
is nothing
new under
the sun
that you
are God
and that you
have prayed
that our
faith will
not fail
us.
We thank
you oh
Lord for
that anchor
for our
soul sure
and steadfast
that is to
be found
in you
and you
alone.
And so
help us
one and
all to
be strengthened
by this
as we go
forward
into this
weekend
as we
perhaps are
so aware
of our
unworthiness
to come
and sit
at your
table
that we
would have
one eye
at ourselves
that we
would have
our vision
set firmly
upon you
the one
who is
worthy
for worthy
is the
lamb
who takes
away the
sin
of the
world.
Go with us
then we
pray.
Forgive us
for Jesus
sake.
Amen.
Well we're
going to
conclude
friends
singing
together
from
Psalm 73
in the
Scottish
Psalter
reading
at
verse
25
Whom have
I in
the heavens
high
but thee
O Lord
alone
and in
the earth
whom I
desire
besides
thee
there is
none
my flesh
and heart
doth faint
and fail
but God
doth fail
me never
for of my
heart
God is
a strength
and portion
forever
for lo
they that
are far
from thee
forever
perish
shall
them that
are whoring
from thee
go
thou hast
destroyed
all
but surely
it is good
for me
that I
draw near
to God
in God
I trust
that all
thy works
I may
declare
abroad
standing to
sing these
verses
to the
praise
of our
Lord
that SEMPEVE
Him
somewhere
ize
in the
heavens
heaven
up
but
the
O
Lord
alone
and
in the
earth
whom I desire besides thee there is none.
My flesh and heart, a kingdom here,
but God will fail thee never.
For, O my God, God is the strength
and portion forever.
For, Lord, may that our power profit
forever perish thou,
then that the warring wrongly go,
thou hast destroyed all.
But surely it is good for me
that I draw near to God.
Amen.
Thank you.