Renew a Commitment That Started to Fade

Luke 22:31-34, 54-62 >>
31 “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift each of you like wheat. 32But I have pleaded in prayer for you, Simon, that your faith should not fail. So when you have repented and turned to me again, strengthen your brothers.”
33 Peter said, “Lord, I am ready to go to prison with you, and even to die with you.”
34 But Jesus said, “Peter, let me tell you something. Before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will deny three times that you even know me.” 54 So they arrested him and led him to the high priest’s home. And Peter followed at a distance.55 The guards lit a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat around it, and Peter joined them there.56 A servant girl noticed him in the firelight and began staring at him. Finally she said, “This man was one of Jesus’ followers!”
57 But Peter denied it. “Woman,” he said, “I don’t even know him!”
58 After a while someone else looked at him and said, “You must be one of them!”
“No, man, I’m not!” Peter retorted.
59 About an hour later someone else insisted, “This must be one of them, because he is a Galilean, too.”
60 But Peter said, “Man, I don’t know what you are talking about.” And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed.
61 At that moment the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Suddenly, the Lord’s words flashed through Peter’s mind: “Before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will deny three times that you even know me.”62 And Peter left the courtyard, weeping bitterly.

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Comments:

Peter’s commitment to God was enthusiastic, but he perhaps was afraid and denied Jesus three times. Perhaps he was caught up in the moment and let his emotions take over. Perhaps he was disappointed. In either case, we should not let our circumstances, place and situation dictate our level of commitment. We should be wise in how we express it, but not be ashamed of God ever.

Sleep in God’s Presence

Psalm 127:1-5

A song of ascents. Of Solomon.
1 Unless the LORD builds the house,
its builders labor in vain.
Unless the LORD watches over the city,
the watchmen stand guard in vain.

2 In vain you rise early
and stay up late,
toiling for food to eat—
for he grants sleep to [a] those he loves.

3 Sons are a heritage from the LORD,
children a reward from him.

4 Like arrows in the hands of a warrior
are sons born in one’s youth.

5 Blessed is the man
whose quiver is full of them.
They will not be put to shame
when they contend with their enemies in the gate.

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1. I learned that unless the Lord blesses something, or is involved, then whatever we do is in vain. Unless He builds it, unless He protects it, unless He blesses our work, it is in vain. So we should never be anxious or toil and trouble all day and night but “God gives rest to His loved ones (v.2).” He will take care of us and bless us so we don’t have to bend over backwards. He is more than able to do more than we can ever imagine!

2. I have to rely on God everytime because I want His blessing!

3. If I’m a parent, I need to see my children as a gift from God, and a reward. I should be joyful and know they are like “arrows in a warrior’s hands (v.4).”

Mentoring (Leading Others)

2 Timothy 4:1-5
1In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: 2Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. 3For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. 5But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.

—

1. When I see friends doing the wrong thing, I will usually say a comment of disapproval. When I see something wrong, as a believer, I must step in. But I must do it in LOVE, with the right motivation – not out of self-righteousness but love and compassion. So in doing so, I must encourage also!
2. A good way to confront someone and motivate them is to be a good example yourself first (“walk the talk”) and also to do it without judging or criticizing. We may not have all the information so we should try to be understanding and encouraging so they can know that we care and are not just there to condemn them.

Don’t Sleep, Be Alert!

Luke 22:46,
46″Why are you sleeping?” he asked them. “Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.”

1 Thes 5:4-11
4But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. 5You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. 6So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled. 7For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. 8But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. 9For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. 10He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. 11Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

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1. To be alert and aware means to know that we are only human and susceptible to sin. We need to be focus on God and be aware that the devil is out there working overtime to try to make us fall. So we can’t be naive but just always be close to the Lord and listen to the Holy Spirit inside of us and follow the Word of God which is in us.
2. I must be alert so I don’t fall into temptation.
3. Some conditions that make me restless so I end up forgetting to stay alert is when I’ve already fought and I’m tired. I need to practice endurance or an early exit so I don’t have to stay tempted for a long period of time.

Attain Life’s Goals Through Discipline

1 Timothy 6:12,
12Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

1 Cor 9:24-27
24Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.

25Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 26Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. 27No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.

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1. To win the race of faith in life, I need to have discipline and make my body my slave so “after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize (v.26-27).”

2. Areas in my life which still needs more discipline and self-control is bedtime, organization, cleanliness and planning.

Involve the Lord in All Your Plans

Proverbs 27:1,
¹ Do not boast about tomorrow,
for you do not know what a day may bring forth.

James 4:13-16,

Boasting About Tomorrow

¹³Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” ¹⁴Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. ¹⁵Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” ¹⁶As it is, you boast and brag. All such boasting is evil.

Romans 12:2
²Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

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1. I have plans to get married and buy a house. I have asked God about it but I will keep asking Him because I love getting confirmations and Him speaking.
2. According to the verses above, one form of arrogance is saying you WILL do things when you do not know if it is the Lord’s will or not. We are just a mist and do not know what tomorrow will bring, and so we should not boast or brag.
3. When planning something out in life, we can make those plans in line with God’s plans by not conforming to worldly patterns but being “transformed by the renewing of (my) mind…so then I can test and approve what God’s will is,” that is “good, pleasing and perfect, (Romans 12:2).”

Do Not Ignore the Lord’s Presence

Luke 16:15,
¹⁵He said to them, “You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of men, but God knows your hearts. What is highly valued among men is detestable in God’s sight.

2 Kings 19:27,
²⁷ ” ‘But I know where you stay
and when you come and go
and how you rage against me.

Proverbs 24:12, 
¹² If you say, “But we knew nothing about this,”
does not he who weighs the heart perceive it?
Does not he who guards your life know it?
Will he not repay each person according to what he has done?

Proverbs 15:3,
³ The eyes of the LORD are everywhere,
keeping watch on the wicked and the good.

2 Chronicles 16:9a,
⁹ For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. You have done a foolish thing, and from now on you will be at war.”

Psalm 63:1-9

A psalm of David. When he was in the Desert of Judah.

¹ O God, you are my God,
earnestly I seek you;
my soul thirsts for you,
my body longs for you,
in a dry and weary land
where there is no water.

² I have seen you in the sanctuary
and beheld your power and your glory.

³ Because your love is better than life,
my lips will glorify you.

⁴ I will praise you as long as I live,
and in your name I will lift up my hands.

⁵ My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods;
with singing lips my mouth will praise you.

⁶ On my bed I remember you;
I think of you through the watches of the night.

⁷ Because you are my help,
I sing in the shadow of your wings.

⁸ My soul clings to you;
your right hand upholds me.

⁹ They who seek my life will be destroyed;
they will go down to the depths of the earth.
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1. The way I live my life and respond to different problems change if I continually value the Lord’s presence because then I won’t do stupid things like try to justify what I’m doing, but it’s useless trying to lie to yourself. God knows the DEEPEST parts of our hearts and motivations and will judge all according to what he has done (Prov 24:12b).

2. What makes me forget ad not realize that GOd is all-knowing and omnipresent is if I focus too much on the current situation – if I am narrowly focused and get too “caught up.”

3. To improve my awareness of the Lord’s presence so I may have a better relationship and communication with Him is to remember Him throughout the day and talk to Him and thank Him and ask for His guidance and wisdom throughout the day. Also to read His Word everyday and start and end my day with praying and acknowledging His greatness and surrendering my life to Him.

Mentoring (Leading Others)

2 Timothy 4:1-5 >>

1In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge:

2Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.

3For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.

4They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.

5But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.
–

God, answer the questions below, honestly before the Lord:

1. What I usually do when I see my friends doing things that are not right, is that I tell them to stop, but sometimes I don’t. From the verses above, I learned that as a believer, when I see something wrong, I need to be ready at all times to correct, rebuke and encourage.

2. A good way to confront someone and motivate them is to love them at all times first so that will establish your general goodwill for them, so that they do not misinterpret your intent as ill will. Also do it at a proper time and don’t say things brashly, but kindly.

 

 

Do Not “Sleep” but Be Alert

Luke 22:46 >> “Why are you sleeping?” He asked them. “Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.”

1 Thessalonians 5:4-11 >>

4But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief.

5You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness.

6So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled.

7For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night.

8But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet.

9For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.

10He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. 11Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

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1. I have to be alert so that I do not fall into temptation [Luke 22:46].
3. Instance and/or conditions that make me restless that I end up forgetting to stay alert is when I compare myself to others or hold on to grudges. To stay alert/attentive, I must guard my heart and not be like a chicken, focusing on the ground, but look up, to the future, to what’s ahead. I must fly above the problems and see it from God’s perspective.

Attain Life’s Goals Through Discipline

1 Timothy 6:12 >>

Fight the good fight for the true faith. Hold tightly to the eternal life to which God has called you, which you have confessed so well before many witnesses.

1 Corinthians 9:24-27 >>

24 Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! 25 All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. 26 So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing. 27 I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified.

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1. In order to win the race of faith in this life, I need to “run with purpose in every step,” and “discipline my body [verse 26-27].”
2. Some areas in my life that still needs discipline and self control is my sleep schedule and being on time…and not spreading myself too thin.