TEXT:  Luke 22:31-34,  54-62

INTRODUCTION:

A.      THE LORD WARNED PETER – THE DEVIL WANTS YOU!

          1.       Peter affirms his faith – ready to go to prison and death! (vs. 33).

          2.       Before the cock crows … (vs. 34).

B.      PETER’S MISGUIDED ZEAL.

          1.       Let the revolution begin! (vs. 49-50).

          2.       The answer of Jesus (vs. 51;  Matt. 26:52-54).

C.      PETER’S DENIAL (Luke 22:54-62).

          1.       Peter followed afar off, sat with the enemy, and warmed himself with their fire.

          2.       His third denial was most convincing (Matt. 26:73-74).

          3.       The witness of the cock (Luke 22:60-62).

D.      MIGHT WE ALSO BE GUILTY OF DENYING THE LORD?  HOW?

I.      SOME DENY OUT OF SIMPLE UNBELIEF.

A.      UNBELIEF WAS THE CAUSE OF THE CRUCIFIXION (Acts 3:13-14).

B.      WHO IS THE ANTICHRIST? (1 John 2:22-23).

C.      PROOF TO THE IDENTITY OF JESUS IS AMPLE.

          1.       The resurrection is proof (Rom. 1:4).

          2.       There were many witnesses (1 Cor. 15:5-8;  2 Cor. 4:11).

D.      THERE IS NO HOPE WHERE THERE IS NO FAITH (John 8:24).

II.     CHRISTIANS OFTEN DENY OUT OF FEAR (Matt. 10:32-33).

A.      THE CONTEXT OF JESUS’ STATEMENT (vs. 16-18,  21-22).

B.      WHAT HAVE WE TO FEAR?

          1.       Paul warns of persecution (2 Tim. 3:12).

          2.       Ridicule and slander (1 Pet. 4:3-4).

          3.       Being “put out of the synagogue” (John 12:42-43).  Loss of prestige.

          5.       Loss of family (Matt. 10:34-36).

C.      WE SHOULD NOT ALLOW FEAR TO RULE US (1 Pet. 4:13-15).

D.      WE HAVE THE EXAMPLE OF THE EARLY CHURCH (Rev. 2:12-13;  3:7-11).

E.      WE ALSO HAVE THE ASSURANCE OF JESUS (Matt. 10:28;  Rev. 2:10).

III.    AN INCONSISTENT LIFE IS A DENIAL OF JESUS.

A.      MANY ARE DECIEVED (Titus 1:15-16;  2 Tim. 2:1-5).

B.      WE ARE TO WALK WORTHILY OF OUR CALLING (Eph. 4:1).

          1.       We are called through the gospel of Jesus (2 Thess. 2:14).

          2.       Called to a standard (1 Pet. 2:9;  1 Thess. 4:7,  ie. 1 Tim. 5:8).

C       WE MAY FOOL OURSELVES (James 1:22).

D.      BUT WE CAN’T FOOL GOD (Gal. 6:7-9).

IV.   TEACHING ERROR IS DENYING JESUS.

A.      TO DENY HIS TEACHING IS TO DENY HIM (2 Pet. 2:1;  Jude 4).

B.      LOYALTY DEMANDS ACCEPTING BOUNDARIES.

          1.       What does it take to leave the grace of God (Gal. 1:1-9).

          2.       Those who depart lose fellowship (2 John 9).

C.      TEACHING ERROR EQUATED WITH DENYING THE FAITH

          (2 Tim. 3:5-8;  2:16-18;  Col. 2:8).

D.      WE ARE TO HOLD THE PATTERN (2 Tim. 1:13-14).

CONCLUSION:

A.      THERE IS A CONSEQUENCE TO DENYING JESUS (Matt. 10: 33).

B.      BUT THERE IS ALSO A WONDERFUL PROMISE (Matt. 10:32).