March 31, 2012
"But why can't I come now, Lord?" he asked. "I'm ready to die for you." Jesus answered, "Die for me? I tell you the truth, Peter--before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will deny three times that you even know me. -- John 13: 37-38
Continuing the road to the cross we see the prediction from Jesus that Peter will in fact deny even knowing Him three times. Before it seems like I pick on poor Peter here realize that he is on a spiritual journey here just like you and I are today. He is still very immature in the way that he thinks, as we can be as well. Once we get to the Book of Acts and the Holy Spirit falls, Peter is a new and different person. Sometimes God has to completely break us in order to raise us up as He intends for us to be.
The statement here that gives me pause is Peter exclaiming that "I am ready to die for you." This is an example of spiritual pride. Of having a showy spirit instead of the spirit of God. If we are not careful this spirit can manifest itself in our own lives and the lives of our church. Worship for example is meant to bring glory and draw attention to God and God alone. So much of modern worship is man worshiping what man can do or worshiping the art of worship itself. God does not require choreography -- He requires worship! Likewise preaching is supposed to be presenting the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the lost and discipling the saints of God by creating a sole dependence upon God and God alone. Unfortunately, much of modern preaching has devolved into trying to extort blessings from God, motivational speaking, and self-help-new age theologies. The Prophet Micah warns us:
You are building Jerusalem on a foundation of murder and corruption. You rulers make decisions based on bribes; you priests teach God's laws only for a price; you prophets won't prophesy unless you are paid. Yet all of you claim to depend on the Lord . "No harm can come to us," you say, "for the Lord is here among us." -- Micah 3: 10-11 (NLT)
What foundation are we building the church upon? Is God pleased with that foundation? Or will He see it for the spiritual pride and arrogance it is and wipe it away? Do we claim the Lord is here among us when all we really have is emotionalism and the smoothness of man's logic? Peter had his peers around him that day and questioned the Lord repeatedly. What is worse is he must have thought that he could fool God or even worse than that -- he believed his arrogance to be righteousness! If the authorities came today to lock up our churches and arrest our pastors, would we be ready to die for Him who saved us or deny even knowing Him? When we get to the place of true maturity in Christ, we will not have to say anything. We will not have to brag about what we will do "for Christ." Our lives will say it. Our lives will scream it. There will be no denying it.
Rev. Anthony
