Keeping Warm at the Enemy’s Fire

 

Click below for the sermon manuscript of the third sermon in the "Going to Jerusalem" series.

On this journey We will be walking with Jesus through those crucial hours surrounding his crucifixion and resurrection. As we go on this spiritual journey, I want us to carefully observe the individuals on the journey with Jesus. When we look carefully, we will see ourselves.

Today, we are going to look at a person that we would consider a strong loyal follower of Christ. In fact, this person is someone close to Jesus. He is an apostle, one of Jesus’ closest confidants. We are going to see this strong, loyal person face and experience a spiritual defeat. This person is Peter.

Luke 22:54-55 NIV Then seizing him, they led him away and took him into the house of the high priest. Peter followed at a distance. And when some there had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter sat down with them.

The same crucial question that confronted Peter confronts us as well: “What will you do with Christ?” You can’t pass the decision off to someone else. You must decide. The Lord wants to hear us say, “Yes, I know Jesus—he is my Lord!”

Scripture

Luke 22:32‭-‬43‭, ‬54‭-‬62 NIV But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” But he replied, “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death.” Jesus answered, “I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me.” Then Jesus asked them, “When I sent you without purse, bag or sandals, did you lack anything?” “Nothing,” they answered. He said to them, “But now if you have a purse, take it, and also a bag; and if you don’t have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one. It is written: ‘And he was numbered with the transgressors’; and I tell you that this must be fulfilled in me. Yes, what is written about me is reaching its fulfillment.” The disciples said, “See, Lord, here are two swords.” “That’s enough!” he replied. Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. On reaching the place, he said to them, “Pray that you will not fall into temptation.” He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. Then seizing him, they led him away and took him into the house of the high priest. Peter followed at a distance. And when some there had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter sat down with them. A servant girl saw him seated there in the firelight. She looked closely at him and said, “This man was with him.” But he denied it. “Woman, I don’t know him,” he said. A little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.” “Man, I am not!” Peter replied. About an hour later another asserted, “Certainly this fellow was with him, for he is a Galilean.” Peter replied, “Man, I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed. The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly.

Text:

Luke 22:54‭-‬55 NIV Then seizing him, they led him away and took him into the house of the high priest. Peter followed at a distance. And when some there had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter sat down with them.

Introduction 

The title of this sermon is "Keeping Warm at the Enemy’s Fire"

Remember when we started this journey to Jerusalem, I said that when we carefully observe the individuals that we will encounter we will see ourselves.  Today we are going to take a look at a person that we would consider a strong loyal follower of Christ.  In fact, this person is someone very close to Jesus. He is a Apostle, one of Jesus’ closest confidants. We are going to see this strong loyal person face and experience a spiritual defeat. 

This person is Peter. We would expect spiritual defeat to happen to anyone but him. I'm sure that we were shocked at what Jean read in our scripture this morning. Strong loyal Peter denied Jesus while keeping warm at the enemy’s fire.  We think not Peter, anybody but Peter.  Not a strong loyal Peter.  We considered Peter a strong individual, a great leader, and a dynamic follower of Christ. 

I. Peter: was a person of strength. 

A. He has strength of leadership. 

Whenever the disciples are listed, by the Gospel writers Peter’s name comes first, reflecting their view of his leadership.

Luke 6:12‭-‬16 NIV One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God. When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles: Simon (whom he named Peter), his brother Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Simon who was called the Zealot, Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.

Peter was one of the inner circle of disciples that was privileged to share in special experiences with Jesus.  Experiences like the transfiguration. 

Matthew 17:1‭-‬5 NIV After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus. Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!”

On the day of Pentecost, it was Peter who stood to preach.

Acts 2:14‭-‬16 NIV Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. These people are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning! No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:

B. Peter had strength of spirit. 

He was bold spiritually. Once he even tried and for a short time walked on water,

Matthew 14:26‭-‬30 NIV When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear. But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”

 On the day of Jesus' resurrection, he ran to Jesus’ tomb. 

Luke 24:9‭-‬12 NIV When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others. It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles. But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense. Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. Bending over, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, and he went away, wondering to himself what had happened.

C. Peter was physically strong 

As a fisherman, Peter had developed his muscles by rowing boats and casting heavy nets. He showed his physical strength in the garden when Jesus was arrested; he was strong enough to take on the entire mob.

John 18:3‭-‬10 NIV So Judas came to the garden, guiding a detachment of soldiers and some officials from the chief priests and the Pharisees. They were carrying torches, lanterns and weapons. Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to him, went out and asked them, “Who is it you want?” “Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “I am he,” Jesus said. (And Judas the traitor was standing there with them.) When Jesus said, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground. Again he asked them, “Who is it you want?” “Jesus of Nazareth,” they said. Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. If you are looking for me, then let these men go.” This happened so that the words he had spoken would be fulfilled: “I have not lost one of those you gave me.” Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, cutting off his right ear. (The servant’s name was Malchus.)

Despite all these qualities, Peter, this strong guy denied the Lord while warming himself at the enemy’s fire. 

Here are a couple things that those of us who like to boast that “I am saved, sanctified, and filled with the Holy Ghost should keep in mind.

1 Corinthians 10:11‭-‬12 NIV These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the culmination of the ages has come. So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!

We must be constantly aware that no Christian is immune from “the flaming arrows of the evil one” 

Ephesians 6:16 NIV In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.

We are not immune; the arrows will come.

II. Like Peter we are vulnerable to sin. 

A. Just like Peter we are often blind to our weakness. 

Peter, a typical human, had strengths and weaknesses, but he was blind to his weaknesses. Peter confidently told the Lord, “I am ready to go with you to prison and to death”.

Luke 22:31‭-‬33 NIV “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” But he replied, “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death.”

This was a noble expression and a wonderful assurance, however, as we see later, it was uttered in ignorance of his fleshly potential for succumbing to sin’s temptation. 

The apostle Paul gives us a realistic view of the tension between good and evil that rages in all of us: 

Romans 7:20‭-‬24 NIV Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death?

But praise God we can say like Paul, what is says in verse 25

Romans 7:25 NIV Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!... 

B. You see, Satan always attacks our vulnerable spot. 

Jesus warned Peter of Satan’s impending attack

Luke 22:31 NIV “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat.

The evil one, Satan, caught the strong Peter in a vulnerable moment.  He was surrounded by the enemy and separated from the other disciples. Our enemy the devil, Satan, will sift us until he finds the most vulnerable place at which to tempt us. 

Remember our struggle isn’t really with other people or things.

Ephesians 6:12‭-‬13 NIV For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.

That's why Jesus taught us to pray:

Matthew 6:13 NIV And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. ’

III. Like I said, like us, Peter was vulnerable to sin and he, like us, was under pressure to conform. 

A. He was under pressure from other people. 

Peter let himself be guided by those around him.  That is not always wrong because a healthy concern for what others think can be an asset. But Peter went beyond this concern and allowed his actions to be molded by those around him. 

There is a dialogue between Jesus and Peter recorded in Matthew 16 that illustrates this peer pressure. It was surprisingly around the  time that Peter says that he knows that Jesus is God's Messiah.   Later in the conversation with his disciples Jesus predicts His death and Peter reacted 

 

Matthew 16:21‭-‬23 NIV From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life. Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!” Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”

Peter’s concept of the Messiah did not include Jesus as the Suffering Servant. Instead, Peter subscribed to the popular concept of the victorious Messiah conquering the Romans and reestablishing the throne of David.   That's why Jesus rebuked him and said “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns” (v. 23 NIV). 

There is another occasion recorded in scripture where Peter again exhibited a tendency to reflect the prevailing societal pressure.

This is from Paul's letter to the Galatian church. 

Galatians 2:11‭-‬13 NIV When Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. For before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself from the Gentiles because he was afraid of those who belonged to the circumcision group. The other Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so that by their hypocrisy even Barnabas was led astray.

Peter knew the Lord was no respecter of persons. Remember he had that "rise Peter slay and eat vision" recorded in Acts 10, which brought Peter to the conclusion we read at

Acts 10:34‭-‬36 NIV Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right. You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, announcing the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.

But, in the instance recorded by Paul, Peter was afraid to resist the pressure of a strong group in the church. Peter was a strong man but not strong enough to stand against the values of immature Christians—even though they were against God. 

B. So how are we to deal with peer pressure? 

Paul gives us a good answer in Romans 

Romans 12:1‭-‬2 NIV Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

In the mid-1800s, two distinguished statesmen delivered addresses before a British university. One of them, Benjamin Disraeli said, “If you would succeed, know the temper and spirit of the times in which you live and act accordingly.”  The other man, William Gladstone said, “Do not drift with the age. Have fixed principles and stand by them.” 

When he was at the enemy’s campfire, Peter did drift with the age and lived to regret it. 

When we are faced with the temptation to conform, we should look to our perfect example, Jesus.

Though Jesus is God, He laid aside some of the privileges of His deity. He did not void His deity; He veiled it. He humbled Himself and became a man.

Jesus experienced human limitations like we do. He was tired. He knew physical thirst and physical hunger. And He also felt physical weakness.

The Bible teaches us that Jesus was tempted. And He left us an example to follow when we face temptation ourselves.

When the devil tempted Jesus to turn stones into bread, He said, “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone’” (Luke 4:4 NLT).

When the devil tempted Jesus to worship him, He answered, “The Scriptures say, ‘You must worship the Lord your God and serve only him’” (verse 8 NLT).

And when the devil tempted Jesus to jump off the temple in Jerusalem, Jesus said, “The Scriptures also say, ‘You must not test the Lord your God’” (verse 12 NLT).

From this passage, in Luke 4, we see that Jesus felt the presence and pressure of temptation like we do, but He did not sin. Instead, He countered every temptation with a quote from Scripture.

From the example of Jesus, we can know how to effectively resist temptation. We need to have the Scriptures stored in our minds and hearts so that when we’re tempted, we can deflect the devil’s blows. The psalmist wrote, “I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you” (Psalm 119:11 NLT).

Ephesians 6:17 NLT Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

During His temptation in the wilderness, Jesus did not use His incredible supernatural power. Rather, He met the devil with the written Word of God. 

Conclusion 

Now in the days following Jesus’ resurrection, some of the disciples had breakfast with the Lord beside the Sea of Galilee.  Peter was there and Jesus asked Peter three times if he loved him.  Ironically, this corresponded with the three times that Peter denied Jesus.  Peter answers Jesus each time saying yes I  love you.  Then Jesus told Peter that he would have to suffer for him.

John 21:18‭-‬19 NIV Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!”

Then Peter pointed to John and asked, “‘Lord, what about him?’ 

John 21:20‭-‬22 NIV Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them. (This was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper and had said, “Lord, who is going to betray you?”) When Peter saw him, he asked, “Lord, what about him?” Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.”

As you see the tension was still there; it was still difficult for Peter to face God’s will for him.  He understood what he had to face but he wanted to know about the other guy too.

The same crucial question that confronted Peter confronts us as well: “What will you do with Christ?” You can’t pass the decision off to someone else. You must decide. The pressure of others offers convenient options. The warmth of the enemy’s fire is appealing. But the Lord wants to hear us say, “Yes, I know Jesus—he is my Lord!”

Dear Heavenly Father, thank you that you are longsuffering with your children. We often neglect to give you praise and gratitude instead of cursing and complaining about our circumstances. Give us eyes to see people the way you do, choosing to rejoice with those who rejoice and encouraging one another as they seek to further your kingdom.

Forgive us when we compare our circumstances, desiring the gifts, talents, and resources of others. We ask that you fill our hearts with gratitude, reminding us daily of the infinite blessings you have bestowed in our lives. We love you, Lord. In Jesus’ name, amen.