69 Now Peter was sitting out in the courtyard, and a servant girl came to him. “You also were with Jesus of Galilee,” she said.
70 But he denied it before them all. “I don't know what you're talking about,” he said.
71 Then he went out to the gateway, where another girl saw him and said to the people there, “This fellow was with Jesus of Nazareth.”
72 He denied it again, with an oath: "I don't know the man!"
73 After a little while, those standing there went up to Peter and said, “Surely you are one of them, for your accent gives you away.”
74 Then he began to call down curses on himself and he swore to them, “I don't know the man!”
Immediately a rooster crowed. 75 Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: “Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly.
Poor Pete! It’s a bummer to have too much confidence in the flesh is it not? To think we will definitely do this or that or definitely not do this or that is simply setting ourselves up to be Humpty Dumpty, sitting ripe for a fall. Self-assurance will get us into trouble more often than not. Remember, Paul boasted in his weaknesses – not his strengths – so that Christ’s power would rest on him. Besides that, Christ won’t own what the flesh alone accomplishes –it’s mere chaff:
7 To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Cor 12:7-10 (NIV)
“Take heed that you do not glory in your graces, but let all your glorying and confidence be in Christ and His strength, for this is the only way you can be kept from falling. Pray more often. Spend longer periods of time in holy adoration. Read the Scriptures more earnestly and constantly. Watch your lives more carefully. Live nearer to God. Take the best examples for your pattern. Let your conversation emit the fragrance of heaven. Let your hearts be perfumed with affection for the souls of others. So live that others may recognize that you have been with Jesus, and have learned of Him...On, Christian, with care and caution! On, with holy fear and trembling! On, with faith and confidence in Jesus alone, and let your constant petition be, ‘Sustain me according to your promise.’ He, and He alone, is able ‘to keep you from falling and to present you before His glorious presence without fault and with great joy.’” Charles H. Spurgeon
We are to always be on our guard - particularly in areas where we are the most vulnerable and prone to fall. When we become careless or lazy in fortifying these breeches in our walls of self-control, Satan will come upon us both quickly and expertly. The adversary is a very good shot with his fiery arrows and seeks his aim right where our weaknesses are uncovered and unfortified. This is why Jesus told Peter to watch and pray – it would behoove us to heed these instructions as well. The body may be willing but the flesh is weak. Scripture tells us:
12 So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall! 13 No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it. 1 Cor 10:12-13 (NIV)
“You should be very anxious, indeed, to look up to God, that He may keep you! Your prayer should be, ‘You hold me up, and I shall be safe.’ Having prayed, you must also watch, guarding every thought, word, and action, with holy jealousy. Don’t expose yourselves unnecessarily; but if called to exposure, if you are summoned to go where the darts are flying, never venture forth without your shield; for if once the devil finds you without your buckler, he will rejoice that his hour of triumph has come, and will soon make you fall down wounded by his arrows...No one ever fell into error through being too careful.” Charles H. Spurgeon
It does us well to remember that we fall into sin yet holiness is a pursuit. Peter had boasted to the Lord that he would never forsake Him. Indeed, he confidently pronounced that if all the rest fell away, he would stand firm by the Lord’s side to the end – even if that meant going with Him to prison or with Him to his death. Had he had but zipped his lips and listened and leaned upon the Master, he would have perhaps forgone his bitter weeping.
33 Peter replied, “Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will.” Matt 26:33 (NIV)
35 But Peter declared, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” And all the other disciples said the same. Matt 26:35 (NIV)
33 But he replied, “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death.” Luke 22:33 (NIV)
“Every sermon, every Bible lesson, every word of testimony, and every verse of Scripture is a warning, calling us to repentance and revival. Our God is a consuming fire, and a day of judgment is coming. We must not neglect the warning, and today’s church must not forget that our message includes the ministry of warning.” Robert J. Morgan
“Man cannot control himself, and if he will not be controlled by Jesus Christ, then he will be controlled by Satan.” Billy Graham