WARMING YOUR HANDS BY THE WRONG FIRE!

John 18:15 -27

Our text records the saddest hour in the life of one of our Lord's most interesting disciples. 

No other follower of Christ demonstrated…

1-Such COURAGE At Times

2-Yet Such COWARDICE At Other Times.

A-The night before the crucifixion was a very cowardice night for Simon Peter.   He said things and did things of which he would forever be ashamed!

B-If there was one segment in Peter's life he would love to blot out of his record it would have been that night! 

Several events took place on that fateful night which led up to Peter's spiritual collapse. 

The events occurred as follows:

1.  His DISPUTING about Foot Washing  (John 13:6 - 10)

        "Thou shalt never wash my feet"  (v. 8)  Rebellion!

2.  His DECLARATIONS of Loyalty--(Matthew 26:33, John 13:37)

        *The very thing that Peter proudly boasted that he would

       NOT do, he did!  Christ's warnings were simply cast aside!

       (I Corinthians 10:12)

3.  His DROWSINESS in Gethsemane---(Matthew 26:36 - 45)

"If Peter could not be faithful in the face of DROWSINESS, he certainly will not be faithful in the face of DEATH!"

            "If you sleep during PRAYER time,

you will fail during PROVING time!"

4.  His DEMONSTRATION of Swordplay  (John 18:10 - 11)

            *Christianity does NOT conquer with the Sword of STEEL,

 but rather with the Sword of the SPIRIT!  (Ephesians 6:17)

5.  His DRIFTING from Fellowship  (Matthew 26:58)

*The phrase "afar off" represents more than just Peter's physical distance from the Lord, but it also reflects his distance apart from his spiritual relationship with the Lord.  Instead of being close to the Lord (the True Fire, Hebrews 12:29), Peter found himself by the worldly fires with the ungodly!  (John 18:18, 25)  Warming himself with this fire says that Peter was more concerned about his physical coldness than his spiritual coldness. 

 I.  He FELLOW SHIPPED with the WORLD!---"and Peter stood with them"  (v. 18, II Corinthians 6:17)

*Any time your fellowship with the Lord and His people begins to wane, you will soon move into the camp of the ungodly!

"Birds of a feather flock together!"

"It is unwise to warm yourself beside the fire with people of whom you may get burned!"

II.  He FORGOT His WORDS!   (Luke 22:61)

III. He FORSOOK His WILL!   (Luke 22:56 - 60)

A.  His Wickedness  (He Denied Christ!) 

The same Peter who once said of his Lord, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God."(Matt 16:16), now refers to Him as "this man of whom ye speak" (Mark 14:71)

            B.  His Weeping  (Luke 22:61 - 62)  "wept bitterly"

If you are warming your hands by the world's fire of PASSION and PLEASURES, instead of the PRAISE, PRAYER, and POWER of God, then you are warming yourself by the wrong fire!!!