LEARN HUMBLY Part 4 of Series: One Month To Live January 24, 2010 Agape Outpost Dr. Mike Atkinson Life is a lot like a Motocross track. 1.
Thrills 2. Spills a. Low side crashes b. High side crashes We all crash. Christian life is Victory—but not without defeats, falls, crashes, wipeouts… “‘My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.’ So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.” 2 Cor. 12:9 (NLT) Peter’s High side crash Luke 22:31‐34 (NKJV) 31 And the Lord said, "Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. (asked—summons to trial, prosecutor to Judge) ( you –plural—all the disciples) 32 But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren." (fail—eklepo—lit. leave out, die. Return—he left) 33 But he said to Him, "Lord, I am ready to go with You, both to prison and to death." 34 Then He said, "I tell you, Peter, the rooster shall not crow this day before you will deny three times that you know Me." Luke 22:47‐62 (NKJV) 47 And while He was still speaking, behold, a multitude; and he who was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them and drew near to Jesus to kiss Him. 48 But Jesus said to him, "Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?" 49 When those around Him saw what was going to happen, they said to Him, "Lord, shall we strike with the sword?" 50 And one of them struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his right ear. (Guess who? John 18:10) 51 But Jesus answered and said, "Permit even this." (the arrest) And He touched his ear and healed him. 52 Then Jesus said to the chief priests, captains of the temple, and the elders who had come to Him, "Have you come out, as against a robber, with swords and clubs? 53 When I was with you daily in the temple, you did not try to seize Me. But this is your hour, and the power of darkness." 54 Having arrested Him, they led Him and brought Him into the high priest's house. But Peter followed at a distance. (Mark—“far distance‐‐some of you follow Jesus from a safe distance too) 55 Now when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat among them. (why was Peter there?) 56 And a certain servant girl, seeing him as he sat by the fire, looked intently at him and said, "This man was also with Him." (here was his chance) 57 But he denied Him, saying, "Woman, I do not know Him." 58 And after a little while another saw him and said, "You also are of them." But Peter said, "Man, I am not!" 59 Then after about an hour had passed, another confidently affirmed, saying, "Surely this fellow also was with Him, for he is a Galilean." 60 But Peter said, "Man, I do not know what you are saying!" . (Mark 14:71 “curse and swear”)Immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed 61 And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had said to him, "Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times." 62 So Peter went out and wept bitterly. (Have you ever wept bitterly over your sin?…) MICHAEL HOLT ‐‐TESTIMONY Every Christian can learn humbly by taking three steps in their relationship with God: 1. AGREE WITH GOD ABOUT MY “DENIALS” “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.” Luke 22:61­62 (NIV) • Take Responsibility for My Failure “A man who refuses to admit his mistakes can never be successful. But if he confesses and forsakes them, he gets another chance.” Prov. 28:13 (LB) • Let Go of My Guilt “But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see Him, just as He told you.’ “ Mark 16:7 (NIV) Joshua Harris. The Room. He said, I dreamed I found myself in the room. There was no distinguishing features except for one wall covered with small index card files. Without being told, I knew exactly where I was. This lifeless room with these small files was a crude catalog system for my whole life. Here was written the actions of my every moment, big and small, in a detail my memory couldn’t match. The titles ranged from the mundane to the outright weird: Books I have read, lies I have told, comfort I have given, jokes I have laughed at, a lot of things I wasn’t proud of, like things I have done in my anger, people I have judged, things I’ve muttered under my breath. And when I came to a file marked lustful thoughts, I felt a chill run through my body. I drew out a card and I shuddered at it’s detailed content. I felt sick that such a moment had been recorded. One thought dominated my mind: No one must ever see these cards. No one must ever see this room. I have to destroy them. I became desperate and pulled out a card to destroy it, only to find it as strong as steel when I tried to tear it. Defeated and utterly hopeless, I returned the file to its slot and then the tears came. I fell on my knees and I cried. I cried out of shame from the overwhelming shame of it all, but then as I pushed away the tears, I saw Him. There was Jesus reading each card. I couldn’t bear to watch His response, and in the moments I could bring myself to look at His face, I saw a sorrow deeper than my own. Starting at the end of the room, He took out a file and one by one began to sign His name over mine on each card. The name of Jesus covered mine. It was written with His blood. I don’t think I’ll ever understand how He did it so quickly, but the next instant it seemed I heard Him close the last file and walk to my side. He placed His hand on my shoulder and He said, it is finished. I stood up and He led me out of the room. There was no lock on its door. There were still blank cards to be written on. There are still blank cards to be written on in your life. Your future is as bright as the promises of God all because of the power of the cross. 2. SURRENDER TO GOD’S STRENGTH “Then He said to them all: ‘If anyone would come after me, He must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me.’ ” Luke 9:23 (NIV) Zechariah 4:6 (TLB) 6 Then he said, "This is God's message to Zerubbabel: `Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord Almighty‐‐you will succeed because of my Spirit, though you are few and weak.' Acts 1:8 (NKJV) 8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." 3. PURSUE GOD’S PATH “I run in the path of Your commands, for You have set my heart free.” Ps. 119:32 (NIV) The Call—every Christian is called! The Wall—the flesh or the devil The Fall –face or knees “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God. They are brought to their knees and fall, but we rise up and stand firm.” Ps. 20:7­8 (NIV)