Dear Reader, This is Part 5 of our series: God is calling us to love Jesus (The Life of Peter). You will find the previous post here: [1] [2] [3] [4]
Thoughtless Words Create Tongues of Fire
By Charles Cameron
What a great difference there is between godly silence and guilty silence!
* Godly silence – “Be silent before the Lord” (Zephaniah 1:17; Zechariah 2:13; Habakkuk 2:20). Peter found godly silence difficult.
* Guilty silence – failure to confess Jesus as Lord. We are not to be silent before men and women. We are to confess Christ, our great Saviour.
How are we to overcome our guilty silence? We need more godly silence. We are to wait upon the Lord and renew our strength (Isaiah 40:31).
* In Jesus, we see godly silence – “Jesus was silent” (Matthew 26:63). Jesus refused to protest His own innocence. He was bearing our guilt. Jesus was bearing our sin. He was suffering as our Substitute. He was taking our place. He was drawing near to the time when He would give Himself in death for us.
* Peter was so different! He broke out of godly silence and into ungodly speech. Peter is a warning to us: “the tongue is a fire” (James 3:6). Peter was speaking out his own ideas. He should have been listening to the Word of the Lord.
* Peter’s ungodly speech becomes godly speech. On the Day of Pentecost, his tongue is set on fire by the Holy Spirit. He speaks the word of God with power and love.
* The story of Peter can be told in terms of his names – (a) Simon; (b) Simon Peter; (c) Peter – (a) the old man; (b) great difficulty in learning to live as the new man; (c) living, more truly and more fully, as the new man.
* Peter’s denial – The hand of the Lord is on him (Luke 22:32). nevertheless, there is a great deal of self in him. The letter “I” lies at the heart of the word, “sin”. Peter has still to learn that it is to be “not I, but Christ” (Galatians 2:20). He has still to learn that he must decrease, while Christ increases (John 3:30).
Before Peter’s denial, there are alarm bells ringing.
* Luke 22:33 – Peter is too confident in himself. Immediately, Jesus tells him that he should not be so confident in himself (Luke 22:34).
* Even though he had been warned, “Satan has desired to have you” (Luke 22:31), Peter, together with the other disciples, had lost his alertness. The disciples had been told to “pray” (Luke 22:40). When Jesus returned, all of the disciples, including Peter, were “sleeping” (Luke 22:45). Jesus rebuked them. He called them to “rise and pray” (Luke 22:46).
* Peter acted in retaliation (Luke 22:50; John 18:10). Jesus had to rebuke Peter. Jesus had to reverse the effect of Peter’s sinful action.
This is the background to Peter’s sinful denial: (a) He says that he is ready to be imprisoned. He says that he is ready to die for Jesus (Luke 22:33); (b) He cuts off a soldier’s ear. He thinks that he is doing the Lord’s will. He is wrong. He’s denying the Lord.
* A true confession of Christ is more than empty words. It is more than misguided actions, which speak of self more than they speak of Christ.
* As we move into the foreground of Peter’s denial, we find that the alarm bells are still ringing.
“Peter followed at a distance” (Luke 22:54). How do you and I follow Jesus? at a distance?
“Peter sat among them” (Luke 22:55). Should he have been there? Are there not places where we should not be, unless we are intent on inviting spiritual disaster?
Three times, Peter denies the Lord (Luke 22:56-60).
* We must not end with Peter’s failure. We must focus our attention on Jesus’ love. In Luke 22:61, we read about the look of love, which speaks the language of love. Love has been offended. Peter weeps (Luke 22:62). This is the beginning of repentance and restoration.
In Mark 11:1-11, we read the story of Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem. As we read on, we read the story of a fig tree (Mark 11:12-14,20-21). The fig tree was “nothing but leaves” (Mark 11:13). It “withered” (Mark 11:20). The fig tree had had its day. It had outlived its usefulness. This is a parable for today’s Church.
It is significant that the ‘fig tree’ incident is followed by the cleansing of the Temple. Before there can be fruitfulness, there needs to be cleansing. This cleansing takes place as God’s people pray (Mark 11:17), and as they receive the Word of the Lord (Mark 11:18). These are to be the great priorities for God’s people in every generation – prayer and the Word of God.
The story of the fig tree continues in Mark 11:20-21. Here, Peter enters the story. Peter’s words are more than words about fig trees. They are about the necessity of God’s blessing. Unless God sends his blessing from above, there is nothing of any real value. If God withholds his blessing, everything is in vain.
* How can our work for God be fruitful? It will be fruitful when it is done “in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:58). If we are to work for God, He must be at work in us.
– He works in us, as we pray. We receive the Lord’s strength in answer to prayer.
– He works in us, as we receive the Word of the Lord. His Word strengthens in us the resolve to live a life of faithfulness and fruitfulness.
The story of the fig tree is followed by Jesus’ words about faith removing mountains. there are mountains which need to be removed if the work of the Lord is to move forward more fruitfully.
Let’s return to the story of Peter.
In his case, there was the ‘mountain’ of pride. Peter’s pride may be compared with the pride that is expressed in the words from the story of the Tower of Babel – “let us … make a name for ourselves” (Genesis 11:4).
Peter was trying to do what he thought was right – but his pride carried him in directions that were more about Peter getting his own way than Peter walking in the way of the Lord. He seemed to have a burning desire to be the No.1 among Jesus’ disciples. He even wanted to put Jesus right!
There are two levels of pride here – (a) wanting to be the ‘lord it over’ other people; (b) wanting to ‘lord it over’ Jesus.
The first is bad enough. What about the second? Trying to put Jesus right – This is pride of the most extreme kind, It is, however, closely connected to the first kind of pride. Our relationship with God is affected by our relationships with other people. This is the point of Mark 11:25. If our lives are ruled by human pride – trying to impress other people by being better than them, we will have big problems with receiving the Gospel of God’s grace. The ‘mountain’ of pride will get in the way. It will need to be removed. If we are to be fruitful in the service of the Lord, we must learn the lesson of the ‘fig tree’ incident. We must get rid of the ‘Tower of Babel’ way of thinking. There is only room for one No.1. it’s not you. It’s not me. It’s Jesus.
We must concentrate on what God has given us to do. We must pray. We must receive the Word of the Lord.
Charles Cameron, better known as Charlie to his friends, lives in Scotland and is a member of the Church of Scotland. He owns several Christian blogs found at the following links:
Feature Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay
Dear Reader, This is Part 5 of our series: God is calling us to love Jesus (The Life of Peter). You will find the previous post here: [1] [2] [3] [4]
Thoughtless Words Create Tongues of Fire
By Charles Cameron
What a great difference there is between godly silence and guilty silence!
* Godly silence – “Be silent before the Lord” (Zephaniah 1:17; Zechariah 2:13; Habakkuk 2:20). Peter found godly silence difficult.
* Guilty silence – failure to confess Jesus as Lord. We are not to be silent before men and women. We are to confess Christ, our great Saviour.
How are we to overcome our guilty silence? We need more godly silence. We are to wait upon the Lord and renew our strength (Isaiah 40:31).
* In Jesus, we see godly silence – “Jesus was silent” (Matthew 26:63). Jesus refused to protest His own innocence. He was bearing our guilt. Jesus was bearing our sin. He was suffering as our Substitute. He was taking our place. He was drawing near to the time when He would give Himself in death for us.
* Peter was so different! He broke out of godly silence and into ungodly speech. Peter is a warning to us: “the tongue is a fire” (James 3:6). Peter was speaking out his own ideas. He should have been listening to the Word of the Lord.
* Peter’s ungodly speech becomes godly speech. On the Day of Pentecost, his tongue is set on fire by the Holy Spirit. He speaks the word of God with power and love.
* The story of Peter can be told in terms of his names – (a) Simon; (b) Simon Peter; (c) Peter – (a) the old man; (b) great difficulty in learning to live as the new man; (c) living, more truly and more fully, as the new man.
* Peter’s denial – The hand of the Lord is on him (Luke 22:32). nevertheless, there is a great deal of self in him. The letter “I” lies at the heart of the word, “sin”. Peter has still to learn that it is to be “not I, but Christ” (Galatians 2:20). He has still to learn that he must decrease, while Christ increases (John 3:30).
Before Peter’s denial, there are alarm bells ringing.
* Luke 22:33 – Peter is too confident in himself. Immediately, Jesus tells him that he should not be so confident in himself (Luke 22:34).
* Even though he had been warned, “Satan has desired to have you” (Luke 22:31), Peter, together with the other disciples, had lost his alertness. The disciples had been told to “pray” (Luke 22:40). When Jesus returned, all of the disciples, including Peter, were “sleeping” (Luke 22:45). Jesus rebuked them. He called them to “rise and pray” (Luke 22:46).
* Peter acted in retaliation (Luke 22:50; John 18:10). Jesus had to rebuke Peter. Jesus had to reverse the effect of Peter’s sinful action.
This is the background to Peter’s sinful denial: (a) He says that he is ready to be imprisoned. He says that he is ready to die for Jesus (Luke 22:33); (b) He cuts off a soldier’s ear. He thinks that he is doing the Lord’s will. He is wrong. He’s denying the Lord.
* A true confession of Christ is more than empty words. It is more than misguided actions, which speak of self more than they speak of Christ.
* As we move into the foreground of Peter’s denial, we find that the alarm bells are still ringing.
“Peter followed at a distance” (Luke 22:54). How do you and I follow Jesus? at a distance?
“Peter sat among them” (Luke 22:55). Should he have been there? Are there not places where we should not be, unless we are intent on inviting spiritual disaster?
Three times, Peter denies the Lord (Luke 22:56-60).
* We must not end with Peter’s failure. We must focus our attention on Jesus’ love. In Luke 22:61, we read about the look of love, which speaks the language of love. Love has been offended. Peter weeps (Luke 22:62). This is the beginning of repentance and restoration.
In Mark 11:1-11, we read the story of Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem. As we read on, we read the story of a fig tree (Mark 11:12-14,20-21). The fig tree was “nothing but leaves” (Mark 11:13). It “withered” (Mark 11:20). The fig tree had had its day. It had outlived its usefulness. This is a parable for today’s Church.
It is significant that the ‘fig tree’ incident is followed by the cleansing of the Temple. Before there can be fruitfulness, there needs to be cleansing. This cleansing takes place as God’s people pray (Mark 11:17), and as they receive the Word of the Lord (Mark 11:18). These are to be the great priorities for God’s people in every generation – prayer and the Word of God.
The story of the fig tree continues in Mark 11:20-21. Here, Peter enters the story. Peter’s words are more than words about fig trees. They are about the necessity of God’s blessing. Unless God sends his blessing from above, there is nothing of any real value. If God withholds his blessing, everything is in vain.
* How can our work for God be fruitful? It will be fruitful when it is done “in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:58). If we are to work for God, He must be at work in us.
– He works in us, as we pray. We receive the Lord’s strength in answer to prayer.
– He works in us, as we receive the Word of the Lord. His Word strengthens in us the resolve to live a life of faithfulness and fruitfulness.
The story of the fig tree is followed by Jesus’ words about faith removing mountains. there are mountains which need to be removed if the work of the Lord is to move forward more fruitfully.
Let’s return to the story of Peter.
In his case, there was the ‘mountain’ of pride. Peter’s pride may be compared with the pride that is expressed in the words from the story of the Tower of Babel – “let us … make a name for ourselves” (Genesis 11:4).
Peter was trying to do what he thought was right – but his pride carried him in directions that were more about Peter getting his own way than Peter walking in the way of the Lord. He seemed to have a burning desire to be the No.1 among Jesus’ disciples. He even wanted to put Jesus right!
There are two levels of pride here – (a) wanting to be the ‘lord it over’ other people; (b) wanting to ‘lord it over’ Jesus.
The first is bad enough. What about the second? Trying to put Jesus right – This is pride of the most extreme kind, It is, however, closely connected to the first kind of pride. Our relationship with God is affected by our relationships with other people. This is the point of Mark 11:25. If our lives are ruled by human pride – trying to impress other people by being better than them, we will have big problems with receiving the Gospel of God’s grace. The ‘mountain’ of pride will get in the way. It will need to be removed. If we are to be fruitful in the service of the Lord, we must learn the lesson of the ‘fig tree’ incident. We must get rid of the ‘Tower of Babel’ way of thinking. There is only room for one No.1. it’s not you. It’s not me. It’s Jesus.
We must concentrate on what God has given us to do. We must pray. We must receive the Word of the Lord.
Charles Cameron, better known as Charlie to his friends, lives in Scotland and is a member of the Church of Scotland. He owns several Christian blogs found at the following links:
Feature Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay
Thanks, Andy, for reblogging these notes. God bless you.
Thank you for sharing them, Charlie! God Bless!