Placing Confidence in God, Not Self

Introduction:

Think of how effectively Satan wages war against Christians. We must realize there is no point in the Christian life where we are not vulnerable to his devices. When a Christian fails to realize that Satan has effective attack weapons that targets the spiritually strong, that person invites serious spiritual crisis and disaster into his life.

I. Let’s talk about Peter for a moment.

A.     Peter deserves recognition as an exceptional person and leader in the NT church.

1.     Mt. 4:18-22 - He was decisive.

2.     Mk. 10:28 - He was a wholehearted man.

3.     John 6:66-68; Mt. 16:16-18 - He was a perceptive man.

4.     Mt. 16:21-23 - He was a loyal man.

B.     Even with this, we recognize Peter as someone who quickly said what he felt.

1.     What he felt, he totally felt.

2.     What he thought, he said with conviction.

C.    What we see in Peter are notable successes and notable failures.

D.    So what’s the point?

1.     It not unusual for committed Christians to be a combination of notable successes and notable failures.

2.     People who do great things for God often make significant mistakes.

II. The foundation of Peter’s problems rested in Peter’s faith.

A.     Mt. 16:21-23. Jesus begins to tell disciples he would be killed.

1.     16:22 – Peter contradicts Him.

2.     16:23 - Jesus...who just blessed Peter now condemns him.

B.     Mt. 26:31-35 – events prior to Jesus’ betrayal.  26:33-35 – Peter argues.

C.    Since Jesus said it would happen, why did Peter strongly deny the possibility?

1.     Answer:  Peter had enormous confidence in Peter.

2.     Confidence not in Jesus…but in himself.

III. With all of Peter’s confidence in himself, it happened.

A.     Mt. 26 – it happened just as Jesus said it would.

B.     Lk. 22:61 – cock crows and Jesus looks at Peter.

C.    This is a truth we need to be aware of:

1.     Every Christian who dares to grow and mature in Jesus will face a moment when the cock will crow.

2.     Satan’s most powerful weapon against spiritually mature is to attack their confidence in themselves.

3.     There are going to be some times when we will be tested like we never imagined. As a result, we will make mistakes we never thought we were capable of making.

D.    When the cock crowed for Peter, he wept, was broken, retreated in confusion, but ultimately let God put him back together again to become even stronger!

1.     What we will do when the cock crows for us?

Conclusion:

A.     We must learn to trust in God instead of self.

B.     There is a lot of Peter in all of us. What about you?

C.    Is your confidence in God or in yourself?