FOLLOWING GOD FROM AFAR (Luke 22:54-62; Matthew 26:33-58)

 

FOLLOWING GOD FROM AFAR

BIBLE PASSAGE: LUKE 22:54-62; MATTHEW 26:33-58

Picture taken from Google

Lesson Prepared by: Krisha of Solomon’s Wisdom FB page

JANUARY 02, 2021

 

MEMORY VERSE

If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.

JOHN 12:26

 

INTRODUCTION:

Do you want to serve the Lord? Say Amen if you do want (allow responses). Many Christians when asked, would you like to serve the Lord, no one will say NO! Yes, that’s true; no one will say NO but they want to serve the Lord in a distance. What does this mean? They want to serve the Lord but don’t want to give up the things they give them pleasure – they don’t want to give up the pleasures in the world. Some want to serve the Lord they don’t want their lifestyle, time, pleasures to be interfered by the Lord or the church. They want to serve the Lord according to their time or schedules. For example: they just want to serve the Lord during morning services only, some don’t go to prayer meeting because that’s the only time she or he has to have quality time with his or her girlfriend or boyfriend, some don’t want to commit in music ministry because that’s the time for household chores, though he has the talent in music, and some want to serve but based from their will and perspective. I remember one time a member told me the reason why once in a while she was not in one of the church services. She said, “We need rest and self-checking,” and that’s why she was not consistent. If we want self-checking and rest, don’t do it on Sundays. I say these things not because I’m perfect but because I know the struggles and feelings but we need to fight for it and do what is God’s will.

Our lesson is titled “FOLLOWING GOD FROM AFAR” and this is about Peter. In the passage we have read is the night of arrest of Christ which is also a night of extremes for Peter. In Matthew 26 verses 33-35, we can see how he boldly mentioned to Christ his allegiance. He won’t deny Christ and will follow him even for the result of his death but in Matthew 26:40-41, we can read how sleepy he was in the Garden of Gethsemane and the Lord Jesus Christ urged him and the others to pray with him even just an hour but they were too sleepy. When Jesus was arrested this was the time where Peter lost his temper and drew a sword for defense; he smote the ear of the high priest’s servant. This was the time all the disciples forsook Jesus; they left and fled.  Drawn back, Peter followed Him afar off (Matthew 26:57-58). When confronted, he denied Jesus three times (Matt. 26:69-75). So you see, Peter ate his words.

LESSON OUTLINE:

1.  NO CHRISTIAN IS STRONG WHEN FOLLOWING GOD FROM AFAR (MATTHEW 26:69-70)

⁶⁹ Now Peter sat without in the palace: and a damsel came unto him, saying, Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee.  ⁷⁰ But he denied before them all, saying, I know not what thou sayest.

From the experiences of apostle Peter, we can see agree that no Christian is strong when following God from afar. From the verses, we see that Peter denied Jesus in front of the people.  In the previous verses we’ve read, we can sense that Peter wouldn’t come to a point in his life where he will deny the Lord Jesus Christ though his confirmation of his allegiance was firm and bold. So not up close to the Lord will lead to become unprepared to resist sin and error. You will lose when you follow God from afar.

Peter declared he was strong enough to stay with Christ, to never deny Jesus. We have no strength in ourselves. Our strength is Jesus. Our strength is His power in us. We are to cling to Him, to read His Word, to draw near to Him as sheep to a Shepard. He is our strength.

The weakest you will ever be is far from Christ. You cannot afford to have a once a week or once a month or twice yearly relationship with Christ.

When we were saved dear Christian you were called not to Religion but to the Savior’s side. The safest and most powerful place you can be is close to Jesus, close to His Word, close to His Family, His Church, close to Him in prayer and closely heeding His Word.

2.  WE ARE CLOSER TO THE ENEMY THAN TO CHRIST (JOHN 18:17-18)

¹⁷ Then saith the damsel that kept the door unto Peter, Art not thou also one of this man's disciples? He saith, I am not. ¹⁸ And the servants and officers stood there, who had made a fire of coals; for it was cold: and they warmed themselves: and Peter stood with them, and warmed himself.

What comes to mind when someone says, “It seems like there is a distance between us?” In our daily relationships we understand that to mean that something isn’t what is should be and that we should give close attention to it. Sometimes that distance is an indication of a closeness that is fading or sometimes it represents that there is a danger of the relationship crumbling. A distance can leave us vulnerable, open to danger, or drifting away from something that is sure and solid. The gospels show us where Peter “followed at a distance” at one point in his relationship with Jesus. What can we learn from that to help strengthen our relationship with God?

Peter tried blending in with the crowd. If you belong to the Lord, you are no longer your own. You are bought with a price. Glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s. You are no longer a part of the darkness, but are the Light of God. You do not belong huddled in among the lost pretending to be lost with them. You are God’s people. Shine for Him! Glorify Him. Live because Christ lives in you.

In James 4:4, “Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God,” friendship with the world is enmity with God. In 1 John 2:15-17, we are reminded not to love the world.

What will be the situation if we are closer to the enemy? We become comfortable with the world and uncomfortable with the Lord. You show less importance to spiritual matters and give your time more to yourself, friends, school and other things not spiritual. Also, you begin justifying your wrong decisions. To sum it up, we are prone to mire in sin.

 

Many times believers make the mistake of thinking they can face the world and even move toward it without adverse consequences. They think that since they are not yet too close, they are fine. But in truth, the direction in which we are pointed tells the story of where we will end up.

 

3.  WE ARE SPECTATORS RATHER THAN PARTICIPANTS (MATTHEW 26:58)

But Peter followed him afar off unto the high priest's palace, and went in, and sat with the servants, to see the end.

This we have heard: “I am a born again Christian and I am happy that my sins are forgiven and I go to church on Sunday because I like the fellowship!” We ask: “Do you not go to put yourself in the way of spiritual blessing?” The answer: “No, I am saved and I do not need anything!” We ask: “Have you offered to witness, to pray, to encourage, to assist, to participate in your church’s life and outreach?” The answer: “No. My church seems to get along very well without my help!” Brethren, this “non- participation” kind of faith is a strange parody on Bible Christianity. Men and women who say they are believers just cancel themselves out. Is it something we have learned from the sporting events? -the great majority are spectators. They come and sit! If there is any true spiritual life within us, God will give us a gift of some kind and the humble soul will find something to do for God!

— A.W. Tozer, Christian Theologian

A lot easier to join in criticizing and condemning others for what they are doing when you are on the sidelines instead of in the game (when you’re not in the arena, battling the devil, Eph. 6:10-13).

¹⁰ Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. ¹¹ Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. ¹² For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. ¹³ Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

Let’s check our actions and our words if we are more in criticizing, watch out! We need to go on the field and work.

 

 

 

CONCLUSION:

John 12:26 says, “If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.”

It's a measure of a person's sincerity. Those who earnestly want to submit to God will put Him at the very top of their priorities. They won't "love" things as much as they "love" God and His will. To the world, that looks like death, just as burying a seed has all the appearance of killing it (John 12:24). In reality, that act is what allows the seed to achieve the purpose for which it was created!

Have you been following Jesus at a distance? Walking far enough behind that you can still see Him but others don't see you right next to Him? Grab a Bible. Crack it. Get into God's Word and get His Word into you. No more lagging behind. Let's walk right beside the Lord, unashamedly, and allow others to see our desire to be near Jesus in hopes they will long to get to know Him too.

This month is commitment month; may this remind us about our decision in committing our lives to the Lord.