May 15, 2022

Kept by God’s Power

Preacher:
Passage: Mathew 26:31-35, Luke 22:24-34
Service Type:

Introduction

A popular song – ‘He will hold me fast’

The words are over 100 years old but it has a modern tune
Miss Habershonnew wrote it in 1905
A new tune has revived these old words

Today to think about how Christ holds us fast

Simon Peter will deny Jesus three times and all will be made to stumble
Satan has sought to sift Peter – but Jesus has prayed for Him
He may deny Jesus but his faith will remain
He will be restored

Although at times we are faithless – Jesus is always faithful

We cannot lose our salvation – it is of grace and not of works
It is Christ at home who holds us fast and brings us to glory
We must keep our eyes upon Him but it is His obedience that brings us to heaven

Looking first at Mathew 26:31-35, then Luke 22:24-34
This is an awful hour – the hour and the power of darkness

Satan had entered Judas
Satan sought to attack all the disciples (though he marked out Peter in particular)
All the disciples fled when the soldiers came to the Garden of Gethsemane

How is your life at the moment?

Satan is an accuser of the brethren and puts temptation before us – at these times, Christ holds us fast
Christ prays for His own in the hour of darkness
Quote from Robert Murray McShane

Overview:

The Disciples
Peter
Ourselves

The Disciples

Mathew 26:31-35
They had celebrated an intimate Passover, but Jesus had not restricted the elements from them, even though they would desert Him and were arguing who was the greatest (Luke)

Jesus had to teach them that He who serves is greatest – Humility

They are talking about greatest but Jesus humbles them – v31

They will all be made to stumble

Has this ever happened to you?

On any previous occasion when Jesus was opposed – He was delivered – examples

Perhaps in the Garden of Gethsemane the disciples were expecting deliverance
They were not expecting Jesus to be given into the soldiers hands

Jesus would go before them – v32

Even though they would run away and Jesus would go to a cross – after His resurrection, He would restore them
Jesus prayed for the disciples – John 17:11, 15

As we come to the communion table – remember that Christ did not deny the elements to the disciples even though they would desert Him

Yes, we should examine our own heart
But, we should obey the ordinance of Communion – example

Jesus quotes a verse from Zechariah – Zech 13:7

He is predicting what will happen based on Old Testament Scripture
He understood the Old Testament and Isa 53

It is God in heaven that will strike the Shepherd

Isa 53:4,10
Isa 53:5
We are kept through Jesus’ blood – cleaned from sin

Peter

Luke 22:31-34
This account is in all four Gospels – but only this account focuses on Peter

Satan is asking permission from God to sift Peter
Jesus has prayed for Peter – yes he will be shaken (like chaff), but then return to Him and strengthen the disciples

Simon Peter was a principle Apostle

He name was changed to Cephas – mean rock
He was the first to declare that Jesus Christ was the Son of God – revealed by the Father in Heaven
Jesus Christ was to build His Church on the basis of this confession
He was often headstrong but sincere
He keenly felt his sin – Luke 5
He loved the Lord Jesus with all his heart

Simon, Simon

Jesus addresses him tenderly
He acknowledges his weakness
But He has prayed for him – even before Satan had asked

His faith would remain even though he would be shaken

He was to strengthen the brethren
1 Peter 1:5 – He speaks of being kept by the power of God

Jesus predicts exactly what would happen

1 Peter 2:24-25 – He speaks of the work of Christ

Ourselves

What about us?

Our name is not Peter but Jesus’ knows our name

He speaks tenderly to us

He speaks to us – He will keep us

We will be kept

John 10:27
Heb 7:25 – Jesus prays for us

Rom 8:31-34
We come with confidence and gladness because Christ keeps us