22:55 And when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the hall, and were set down together, Peter sat down among them. 22:56 But a certain maid beheld him as he sat by the fire, and earnestly looked upon him, and said, This man was also with him. 22:57 And he denied him, saying, Woman, I know him not. 22:58 And after a little while another saw him, and said, Thou art also of them. And Peter said, Man, I am not. 22:59And about the space of one hour after another confidently affirmed, saying, Of a truth this [fellow] also was with him: for he is a Galilaean. 22:60And Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest. And immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew. The message has to do with the life of the Apostle Peter. The flip and the flops, the text begins with Peter following Jesus from a far after the Lord was betrayed and arrested. Prior to this Peter pulls out a sword and removes the ear of one of those that came to arrest the Lord. Peter in the flip mode is trying to assure the Lord that though others will for sake him. Lord, I will never forsake thee, nor will I deny thee, here comes the flop. Jesus warns Peter that not only will he deny him, but that he will deny him three times before the rooster crows. Peter finds himself warming his body by the devil's camp fire, these folks were not the pro Jesus crowd. First a woman in the crowd recognizing that Peter was one of his disciple and ask Peter, if he was one of Jesus followers? Peter says, Woman I know not the man, Jesus. After a while warming a man takes note of Peter, with a surety again identifies him as one of the disciples of Jesus. Peter sticking to his lie, assures this man, that I am not one of them. After another hour passes another gentlemen studying Peter realize that he was one of the main followers of Jesus and Peter again denies that he knows Jesus only to hear the crowing of the rooster in the background. What a flop, all the power bragging about how that he would react different than others, that he would in fact give up his life. Here's the flip, Peter went out and wept bitterly in repentance, he could have hanged himself, as Judas did. Peter after the resurrection had to face the Lord for his denials, Jesus made Peter repent 3 times by asking Peter, if he really loved him. On the flip side, Peter was the only man in the boat the night that Jesus came walking on the water that had the courage to step out into the ragging sea. The flop, Peter got his eyes off of Jesus and begin to sink. Peter flips and cries out to the Lord, Jesus save me. Peter flops when the Lord lays out God's plan for his dying on the cross, Peter tells the Lord that, he could not allow that to happen. Jesus says to Peter, "Satan get thee behind me ,for thou art an offence to the will of God". Peter flips, Jesus asking his disciples, Who do men say that I am? Peter speaks up, Thou art the Christ the Son of the living God. Peter flops after see Jesus, Mose and .Elijah on the mount of transfigation and wanting to build three tabernacles. Peter flips on the day of pentecost as he speaks to those thinking those filled with the Holy Ghost were drunk.( 3000 were converted to Christ,) Peter flops again after accepting the Gentile believers, then siding with those that wanted all believers, including Gentiles to be circumcized. Paul confronts Peter over this issue, Peter later calls Paul our beloved brother in 2 Peter 3:15. Peter before pentecost illustrates that the best, we can be without being lead by the Holy Spirit is a flip and a flop. Serving God in the flesh will always be a flop. Jesus said something important to Peter that is needful to day. When thou art converted, strenghten the brethren. The Lord told Peter that he would build his church upon the rock that the gates of Hell would not prevail against. Has the Lord spoke to you as he spoke with Peter, a member of his inner circle? |
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