Denying Jesus: The Path to Denial (Matthew 26:69-75)

1. Denying Jesus: The Path to Denial (Matthew 26:69-75)

3. Denying Jesus: The Path to Denial * Denial of Jesus is caused by spiritual pride and self-reliance.

4. - Remember that your salvation is by faith not by your own works.

5. 21 But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— 22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. • (Romans 3:21-25)

6. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. • (Ephesians 2:8-9)

7. - Remember that your salvation is by faith not by your own works. - Recognize that pride leads to destruction.

8. 18 Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. • (Proverbs 16:18)

9. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” • (1 Peter 5:5)

10. - Remember that your salvation is by faith not by your own works. - Recognize that pride leads to destruction. - Resist temptation through God’s grace, not your own strength.

11. 12 Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. 13 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. • (1 Corinthians 10:12-13)

12. 6 But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. • (James 4:6-7)

13. Denying Jesus: The Path to Denial * Denial of Jesus is caused by spiritual pride and self-reliance. * Denial of Jesus is caused by failing to cultivate a life of prayer.

14. - Cultivate a lifestyle of prayer rather than maintaining an emergency line.

15. 16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. • (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)

16. - Cultivate a lifestyle of prayer rather than maintaining an emergency line. - Cultivate a lifestyle of prayer through acknowledging your weakness and God’s strength.

17. 41 Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. • (Matthew 26:41)

18. - Cultivate a lifestyle of prayer rather than maintaining an emergency line. - Cultivate a lifestyle of prayer through acknowledging your weakness and God’s strength. - Cultivate a lifestyle of prayer based in faith rather than feeling.

19. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. (James 1:5-8)

20. - Cultivate a lifestyle of prayer rather than maintaining an emergency line. - Cultivate a lifestyle of prayer through acknowledging your weakness and God’s strength. - Cultivate a lifestyle of prayer based in faith rather than feeling. - Cultivate a lifestyle of prayer that focuses on glorifying God rather than self.

21. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. • (James 4:3)

22. - Cultivate a lifestyle of prayer rather than maintaining an emergency line. - Cultivate a lifestyle of prayer through acknowledging your weakness and God’s strength. - Cultivate a lifestyle of prayer based in faith rather than feeling. - Cultivate a lifestyle of prayer that focuses on glorifying God rather than self. - Cultivate a lifestyle of prayer by knowing God is near you, rather than far away.

23. 4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. 5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. • (Philippians 4:4-7)

24. Denying Jesus: The Path to Denial * Denial of Jesus is caused by spiritual pride and self-reliance. * Denial of Jesus is caused by failing to cultivate a life of prayer. * Denial of Jesus is caused by fighting in the flesh.

25. - Recognize that we are in a war. - Fight the right battles. - Fight the right way.

26. 3 For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. 5 We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, 6 being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete. • (2 Corinthians 10:3-6)

27. 10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. • (Ephesians 6:10-13)

28. Denying Jesus: The Path to Denial * Denial of Jesus is caused by spiritual pride and self-reliance. * Denial of Jesus is caused by failing to cultivate a life of prayer. * Denial of Jesus is caused by fighting in the flesh. * Denial of Jesus is caused by distancing yourself from Him.

29. - Draw near to Jesus, rather than away. - Draw near to Jesus in prayer. - Draw near to Jesus in His Word. - Draw near to Jesus in your living. - Draw near to Jesus in your public declaration of Him.

30. 34 And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 35 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it. 36 For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? 37 For what can a man give in return for his soul? 38 For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.” (Mark 8:34-38)

31. 8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. (James 4:8)

32. Denying Jesus: The Path to Denial * Denial of Jesus is caused by spiritual pride and self-reliance. * Denial of Jesus is caused by failing to cultivate a life of prayer. * Denial of Jesus is caused by fighting in the flesh. * Denial of Jesus is caused by distancing yourself from Him. * Denial of Jesus is caused by fearing the temporal rather than the eternal.

33. - Cultivate a fear of God rather than a fear of man.

34. 28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. • (Matthew 10:28)

35. - Cultivate a fear of God rather than a fear of man. - Seek heavenly treasures rather than earthly ones.

36. 19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. ... 24 “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money. • (Matthew 6:19-24)

37. - Cultivate a fear of God rather than a fear of man. - Seek heavenly treasures rather than earthly ones. - See the glories of where we are heading rather than where we are.

38. 21 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” • (Revelation 21:1-4)

39. 1 “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. • (John 14:1-2)

40. 16 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. 17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 18 as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. • (2 Corinthians 4:16-18)

41. 18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. • (Romans 8:18)

42. Denying Jesus: The Path to Denial * Denial of Jesus is caused by spiritual pride and self-reliance. * Denial of Jesus is caused by failing to cultivate a life of prayer. * Denial of Jesus is caused by fighting in the flesh. * Denial of Jesus is caused by distancing yourself from Jesus. * Denial of Jesus is caused by fearing the temporal rather than the eternal. * Denial of Jesus is caused by a pattern rather than just a momentary choice.

43. - Trust in and follow the Lord moment by moment. • 5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. 7 Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. 8 It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones. • (Proverbs 3:5-8)

44. Denying Jesus: The Path to Denial * Denial of Jesus is caused by spiritual pride and self-reliance. * Denial of Jesus is caused by failing to cultivate a life of prayer. * Denial of Jesus is caused by fighting in the flesh. * Denial of Jesus is caused by distancing yourself from Jesus. * Denial of Jesus is caused by fearing the temporal rather than the eternal. * Denial of Jesus is caused by a pattern rather than just a momentary choice.

45. Response - On who are what do you rely upon? - How is your prayer life? - Are you fighting the right battles the right way? - Are you distancing yourself or drawing yourself toward Christ? - Are you focusing upon the temporal or the eternal? - How do you make your choices moment by moment?