Genesis 2:21- 25 And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. And Adam said, This [is] now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh. And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.
WHY DID YOU GET MARRIED? lonely, companionship, money, love, sex?
I Corinthians 7:8- 9 I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I. But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.
*** THIS IS A POOR REASON TO GET MARRIED... small part of overall picture old saying ===> good kissing don't last, good cookin do! ha !
REMEMBER: marriage is Holy before God! SATAN WANTS TO ROB YOU OF YOURS!
next verse...
Genesis 3:1 Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?
He will destroy your life!
John 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to
steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have [it] more abundantly.
**** WHAT STARTS OFF GREAT CAN END IN MISERY! = ESTRANGEMENT "make hostile" to cause to be hostile
===> I've seen couples you could never have guessed they used to love each
Used to love, forgive, please help etc... FOLLOWED WRONG STEPS! <><><><><><><><><><>lt;><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
BUT I BRING THIS TO THE SPIRITUAL! ( church is the bride! )
Nothing sadder than someone who at 1 time loved God & now is estranged!
THE SAME THINGS THAT CAUSE A MARRIAGE TO FAIL WILL CAUSE YOUR SOUL ALSO
Hebrews 2:1- 3 Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let [them] slip. For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward; How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard [him];
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Mark 14:69- 72 And a maid saw him again, and began to say to them that stood by, This is [one] of them. And he denied it again. And a little after, they that stood by said again to Peter, Surely thou art [one] of them: for thou art a Galilaean, and thy speech agreeth [thereto]. But he began to curse and to swear, [saying], I know not this man of whom ye speak. And the second time the cock crew. And Peter called to mind the word that Jesus said unto him, Before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice. And when he thought thereon, he wept.
LISTEN TO THESE TWO CONTRASTING CONFESSIONS! page 2
Matthew 16:16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. ( WHAT A GREAT CONFESSION)
Matthew 16:17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar- jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed [it] unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
WHAT LEAD PETER DOWN PATH FROM REVELATION TO REBELLION = I don't know him
It started right after the victory! I'm gonna build my church etc... Jesus started speaking of crucifixion
Peter said, BE IT FAR FROM THEE. was rebuked!
REBELLED AGAINST IDEA OF A CROSS! Idea of personal surrender of will.
*** When Peter began to challenge the Word of God... he began estrangement
* INSTEAD OF RESISTING WORD ===> WHY NOT JUST ACCEPT IT?
Psalms 119:11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. *** w/o word you will sin!
AS LONG AS JESUS TALKED ABOUT BUILDING A CHURCH & KINGDOM Peter was there he was ready to fight... on the right hand etc...
BUT WHEN JESUS STARTED TALKING ABOUT A CROSS.... wait! no Lord! He really thought he knew more about the kingdom than Jesus did?
BE CAREFUL when you start to think you can run your life better then he
**** YOUR EITHER DRAWING CLOSE OR DRIFTING AWAY TODAY. (Very rare stay still
Philippians 3:10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
SO MANY DRAW CLOSE - TALK ABOUT POWER draw away when talk cross
Peter refused the cross concept right then.
Mark 14:27- 29 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 shall be scattered. 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.
PETER HAD A HARD HEADED PRIDE AND SELF WILL! ( there he goes again )
Be leary of someone always telling you their accomplishments
Proverbs 16:18 Pride [goeth] before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.
Look at another step of progression:
Mark 14:37 And he cometh, and findeth them sleeping, and saith unto Peter, Simon, sleepest thou? couldest not thou watch one hour? (CALLED SIMON!)
HE IS NO ROCK, HE IS FRACTURED! notice how he calls Peter out?
FAILURE IN DEVOTIONS IS ALWAYS AN OUTWARD SIGN OF INWARD ESTRANGEMENT
It's just slow and gradual UNTIL one day, " I don't know the man "
NEXT STEP...
Do You remember the FIRST time you said... THOU ART THE CHRIST!
There was passion... went to church twice on Sunday & other nights BUT THINGS HAVE CHANGED! (you wake up to check the weather.
a) don't pray d) don't feel drawn to Word b) prayer is chore
c) Bible isn't exciting anymore LOOK OUT!
Mark 14:47 And one of them that stood by drew a sword, and smote a servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear. ( GUESS WHO? = Peter)
So often when someone has lost a fire of devotion... they try to substitute it with works! ( some say well I got away from God ... I need to teach =NO
PETER NEVER HAD GOTTEN OVER HIS ORIGINAL PROBLEM = resisting the cross *** here he is ready to kill to keep Jesus from a cross!
CLASSIC EXAMPLE OF ZEAL W/O KNOWLEDGE
No cross for you Lord... were gonna see you crowned! (I'm gonna push!)
Mark 14:53- 54 And they led Jesus away to the high priest: and with him were assembled all the chief priests and the elders and the scribes. And Peter followed him afar off, even into the palace of the high priest: and he sat with the servants, and warmed himself at the fire.
SO MANY: follow afar... no longer in tight with Jesus (but don't want out of it either!)
come to church ............ 1/2 heatedly
give ...................... semi faithfully
Pray ...................... in crisis
enough to slip into heaven... but not enough to cramp lifestyle Jesus is welcome to come..... as long as he doesn't spoil my fun
*** it's interesting... when folks grow cold they warm self at enemy's fire
UNRESPONSIVE TO SPIRIT OF GOD ... turn to something to warm the spot
places of sin! enemy's fire is an illusion = can't warm you
I John 2:15 Love not the world, neither the things [that are] in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
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*** WHEREVER YOU GO: there will always be a maiden to say: I thought you were a Christian? What are you doing here?
THEY KNOW YOU DON'T BELONG HERE! She pressed Peter... he cursed & denied
*** Some have grown cold, you gone to enemy's fire :
next step is deny I don't know what you mean?
DENIAL IS A LONG WAY FROM DECLARING HIM CHRIST!
But thanks to God.... no matter how far you've drifted ==>
IT'S ONLY ONE STEP BACK TO HIM!
Matthew 26:74- 75 Then began he to curse and to swear, [saying], I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew. And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly. REMEMBER, REPENT, WEPT,
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