Nepaug Bible Church - http://www.nepaugchurch.org - Pastor's Evening Sermon Notes - http://www.nepaugchurch.org/ev/ev20051009.htm

JESUS CHRIST'S DISCIPLING OF SIMON PETER: A STUDY IN MAKING DISCIPLES
Part II: Getting Peter To Forsake Himself
C. Teaching Peter To Forsake Self-Pride To Lean Upon The Lord
(Luke 22:31-32 et al.)
  1. Introduction
    1. We Christians spiritually mature in three main stages: (a) as "children," we learn to follow Jesus versus false teachers (1 John 2:13c, 18-27); (b) as "young men," though we have learned to use Scripture to combat false teaching and false messiahs, we must yet battle the world and its influence through lusts (1 John 2:13b, 14b-17), and one of those self-centered lures is PRIDE; (c) finally, as "fathers" (1 John 2:13a, 14a with John 14:21-23 et al.), we cease looking to false idols for fulfillment, be it false messiahs and their errors or the world to seek fulfillment only in Christ Who "was from the beginning," 1 Jn. 1:1-4.
    2. In this series, we have learned that Peter learned to follow Jesus ("little child"). Now we find him in the throes of learning to forsake himself, or the lusts the world has upon him as a "young man." At his lowest ebb in this process, Peter had to face and reject false pride, one of the lures of the world (as follows):
  2. Teaching Peter To Forsake Self-Pride To Lean Upon The Lord, Luke 22:31-32 et al.
    1. We review the scene of this refining process: Jesus had announced to Peter that Satan had desired to "sift" him like harvested grain, a picture of using Peter's pride to fall into Satan's snare of false conduct caused by an effort to protect his pride in this life (cf. Luke 22:31 with 1 Timothy 3:6). However, the victory over this test would be that Peter's faith in Christ not fail, a faith that would make him a "father" who sought fulfillment only in His Lord, cf. 1 John 2:13a, 14a; for this end result Jesus prayed, Luke 22:32.
    2. We now study the refining process that was involved in this trial of Peter's faith (as follows):
      1. Jesus began the process by exampling utter humility in Himself, John 13:3-10b:
        1. Knowing Satan had already entered Judas' heart to betray Him, and aware of His own rightful glory and honor as God, Jesus nevertheless stooped to wash the feet of Judas and the other disciples as would a house SLAVE! Such deep humility bothered even Peter who objected to Christ's action!
        2. The lesson for us is this: the "Timothy" we seek to disciple must first behold utter selflessness and humility in us as a pattern for leaving his "young man" status to become a "father." Thus, we must be ready to exhibit humility in some open way so he can behold this quality in unmistakable terms!
      2. Jesus then confronted Peter with his current problem of false pride, Luke 22:31-34:
        1. Jesus announced Peter would be sifted as grain by Satan, but that He had prayed for Peter to rebound from this as his faith in Christ not fail in the process, Luke 22:31-32.
        2. Peter denied this prediction, saying he was ready to go with Jesus to prison and to death, Lk. 22:33.
        3. Jesus continue to confront Peter with his shortcoming, replying Peter would deny Him three times before the cock crowed, Luke 22:34.
        4. The lesson for us is this: the time may come when God directs the "Timothy" we disciple to be confronted with his need to forsake his earthly pride and trust in God instead. This would be an uncomfortable event for the discipler and the one discipled, but it would be a necessary one.
      3. When the trial came, Jesus supported Peter, but not his pride (as follows):
        1. Peter's errant effort to defend Jesus in Gethsemane is recorded with Christ's rebuke of his action. After this rebuke, Peter fled for his life, Matthew 26:51-56; John 18:10-11.
        2. Yet, he followed Jesus from afar to see Him to the end, Matthew 26:58!
        3. Eventually, Peter denied the Lord to defend his own life in fulfillment of the Lord's prophecy, Mtt. 26:69-75b. Jesus looked at Peter when the cock crowed, a look that devastated Peter as he realized he had failed the Lord opposite his claim to the contrary; he thus left and wept bitterly, Lk. 22:60ff.
        4. We can only guess that this look was one of rebuke and love all at the same time, a look that conveyed great love for Peter but real rebuke for the pride that had led to his current failure!
Lesson: When God sought to break down Peter's pride so he could finally trust entirely in the Lord, it involved a very difficult trial for Peter; thus, Jesus prayed for Peter and supported him in the trial while also rejecting his pride all to drive a wedge between Peter and his pride that he might mature in Christ.

Application: May we like Jesus encourage our "Timothy" in such a trial while also rejecting his pride!