Series Beholding the Lamb 31- the NIGHT the ROOSTER CROWED John 18:12-27

Series Beholding the Lamb 31-“THE NIGHT THE ROOSTER CROWED” John 18:12-27

Intro- Have you ever heard a rooster crow? It is a sound you’ll never forget. The night the cock crew in the palace courtyard was a night that Peter would never forget the rest of his life. The sound of the cock crowing echoed loud in his conscience. Do you know why a rooster crows? According to a farmer, a rooster’s crow is a wakeup call. The apostle Peter was given a Divine Wakeup Call, and I am persuaded that GOD through his message is giving a Holy Wake-Up Call to someone here today!

During the arrest of the Son of God, the Bible gives us a snap shot of a fallen disciple. While all the lights and cameras were on Christ being tried for crimes he was innocent of; God the Holy Ghost shinned the light on Peter to give us a warning of denying Christ.

Have you ever denied Christ? Would you?

ILL- Mohammed Ismail, 21, was arrested by the Egyptian police in October 1990 and joined two friends who had been arrested eleven days earlier. The three Moslem youths had heard the gospel of Jesus Christ and had accepted Jesus as their Savior. They had been sharing the love of Christ at a youth meeting. While in prison, according to an Egyptian human rights organization, they were tortured with electric shocks, beaten, and threatened with rape. At their trial in November 1990 they were declared innocent by the courts and released, but they were arrested again by the secret police and charged with contempt of Islam and threatening the unity of the country. Other charges were drummed up for which there was a possible ten-year sentence.

While in jail, Ismail's two friends confessed their crimes under duress; however, Ismail is reported to have said, "I will never deny Christ." Then he was sent to a special wing of the prison called the Tribulation Sector. His lawyer states that he was deprived of food and sleep and confined to a dark, severely cramped cell, where he finally recanted his faith in Christ. According to News Network International, it is difficult to prove that the government always tries to force Christians to revert to Islam or recant their Christianity, but after ten months in prison, the three were released in July 1991--as professing Moslems (Christianity Today, July 20, 1992, p. 35).

Peter was like a giant tree among the disciples that came crashing down to the ground! ------Did you know that trees don’t just fall? Trees that are standing one minute don’t just fall the next! They go through a progression.

Trees that fall begin to lean. And when they begin to lean they start to crack. A tree starts cracking, it’s because it’s letting go of the foundation. Being in the ministry now for some 18 years I’ve witnessed the fall out of many Christians. I’ve come to recognize the cracks and squeaks in the house of God. (Peter was like a large tree that blown back and forth by the winds of opposition. I want you to see Peter didn’t start to lean on this night, but long before!)

1 Corinthians 10:12 12Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.

I. PETER FELL BECAUSE OF SELF CONFIDENCE The fact that Peter had the courage to follow to the palace spoke of his self confidence! Did you know that confidence leads to carelessness? It’s often the strongest swimmer that faces the most danger. It’s often the winning team at half time that suffers defeat. Why? Because of Carelessness!

A. PETER FELL BECAUSE HE DID NOT LISTEN Luke 22:31-34 (Christ gave a warning to Peter) 31And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: 32But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren. 33And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death. 34And he said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me.

Mark 14:31 31But he spake the more vehemently, If I should die with thee, I will not deny thee in any wise. Likewise also said they all.

Instead of arguing with the Lord, Peter should have been listening! The Son of God was right there telling Peter Satan has desired to sift you as wheat! Peter, the devil has got your number! Can I remind us all that None of us are a match for the devil.

B. PETER FELL BECAUSE HE DID NOT LEARN Time and time again Jesus told the disciples “how that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things of the elders and chief priest and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day. 22Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee. 23But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men. (Mt. 16:22-23)

Peter failed to learn that Jesus came to die, be buried and rise again! Self Confidence is a warning beacon that shines bright to prevent us from becoming shipwreck! Self Confidence is a warning of the consequences of prayerlessness! Had Peter prayed he may have never entered into temptation.

ILL-John Knox, that bold Scottish preacher, approached the court of Bloody Mary, an avowed enemy of the preacher. He was advised to postpone his visit as she was in an angry mood. He kept right on walking toward her throne, saying, ”why should I be afraid of a Queen when I have just spent four hours with God?”

II. PETER FELL BECAUSE OF SLIPPING COMMITMENT Notice: A. PETER SLIPPED BECAUSE WHERE HE STOOD- look at verse 18 “and Peter stood with them” We have already come across these words back in verse 5. “And Judas… stood with them”. WHERE was Peter standing? He was standing with the wrong crowd. Who was this wrong crowd? They were people who refused to believe Jesus Christ was the Son of God. They were the world’s crowd. The world’s crowd does not believe this Bible. The world’s crowd does not believe that homosexuality is a sin! That drinking alcohol is a sin that will destroy your life and family! The world’s crowd believes it’s okay to shack up and commit adultery. The world’s crowd believes it’s okay to be hooked on Pornography and drugs, live like the devil and everything’s okay! It’s always dangerous standing among the wrong crowd!

As our kids are starting school, GOD help us to warn them of the dangers of hanging around the wrong crowd. The wrong crowd will invite you to do drugs! Do you know how many phone calls I get here at the church from some crying woman begging for money to pay bills and buy groceries because some sorry daddy is strung out on drugs and spent all their money feeding his addiction of sin!

Peter fell because of Where He Stood. He was standing with the wrong crowd warming his hands by the world’s fire. This once fiery disciple was slipping due to a chill in his soul! He should have remembered Psalms 1:1 1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.

B. PETER SLIPPED BECAUSE WHAT HE SAID- (Vs.16-17) “But Peter stood at the door without.” I wonder what would have happened if Peter

would have went inside with that other brave disciple? But he stood without! Perhaps if Peter would have been standing with that other disciple he would not have been tempted to deny Christ. Maybe if would have stood close to a brother he could have stayed strong! He was afraid to go in. WHERE are you standing? Are you standing without the door? Are you afraid to go all the way in? Are you scared of what the CROWD will say?

Verse 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. Do you see the fear that was brought on by standing with this wrong crowd? This big rough rugged fisherman was intimidated by a damsel. The word “damsel” means “young girl” or “maid”. This young girl caused Peter to deny Christ. Are YOU tempted to deny Christ?

1) Did you know we can deny Christ by SILENCE? A proverb says, ”Silence is golden, sometimes its yellow.” Don’t be afraid to speak for Christ! “The Only Thing It Takes for Evil to Prevail is for Good men to do Nothing!”

2) Did you know we can deny Christ by our STANCE? Don’t say you love the Lord and lay out of Church! Don’t say you’re a Christian and have a mouth full of vulgarity!

Peter Slipped because of Where He Stood & What He Said; but also:

C. PETER SLIPPED BY WHAT HE SAW- (Vs.26) 26One of the servants of the high priest, being his kinsman whose ear Peter cut off, saith, Did not I see thee in the garden with him? (John 18:26) Peter now saw a man looking at him with particular attention. John adds a detail that this man is a relative of the man who got his ear cut off. Because of standing with the wrong crowd and saying the wrong thing, Peter Fell because he FAILED to see this was a lost soul who was destined for hell and Peter could have said Yes I was the One. But I cut his ear off foolishly! But did you see when Jesus reached down and picked up his ear and placed it back on his head? Only God could do that! Surely Jesus is the Son of God! But he Fell to see the value of a soul!

Peter Fell Because of Self Confidence! Peter Fell because of Slipping Convictions!

III. PETER FELL BUT HE GOT BACK UP! Luke 22:60-62 60And Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest. And immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew. 61And the Lord turned, and Page 5

looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. 62And Peter went out, and wept bitterly. (The fact that Peter went out and wept bitterly shows remorse for what he had done! These tears of sorrow led to tears of Repentance!) Its so easy to criticize Peter but what about us?

The Night the Rooster Crowed was a WAKE-UP CALL for Peter. What about YOU? Will You deny Christ? Have you denied Christ?