Today's Passage - Matthew 26:69-75

River of Life Christian Church ︳www.rolcc.net/english Matthew 26:69-75   Now Peter was sitting out in the courtyard, and a servant girl came to him. "You also were with Jesus of Galilee," she said. But he denied it before them all. "I don't know what you're talking about," he said. 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." He denied it again, with an oath: "I don't know the man!" 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." Then he began to call down curses on himself and he swore to them, "I don't know the man!" Immediately a rooster crowed. 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.     Remember that Peter once boasted, "Even if all fall away, I will not." Indeed, this is the most difficult part of being human: relying on ourselves too much, believing that we are the most dependable ones. Others may do this, or that, but I am the one with the principle. Others will fall, but I will never. The main reason is that we don't understand our weakness. That's why the Lord exercises us through sufferings, making us realize our weaknesses and shortcomings.   God often uses our circumstances to exercise us. Through our co-workers, we realize our lack of wisdom. Through our children, we saw our lack of patience. Similarly, God was exercising Peter, so that he could understand himself. How useless our natural lives are. Peter was a person with a very strong natural life. He thought he could rely on his bravery to win over this spiritual battle. But in fact, he discovered that men's bravery and calculation are no match to devil's authority. That's why three times he denied Jesus in front of maids, and servants. God used these to humble himself. I believe that from that moment on, he would never rely on his flesh to boast. After Peter denied the Lord three time, and start weeping bitterly, the mercy of God descended upon him. The Lord said, "a broken and contrite heart ... will not despise." In fact, not only didn't Lord despise him, in the days after, the Lord would also use him. In the Pentecostal, Peter bravely stood up amid his failures, became a witness of the Lord to the crowd. From that moment, he no longer relied on his flesh, but on the mighty power of the Spirit. He stood up again and again from his failures.   Have you ever denied the Lord in your life? Maybe you did not deny Him openly as Peter did. But many times, one would do that without realizing it: afraid of saying grace in front of people, afraid of claiming to be a Christian, or not letting others know that you are a Christian. May the Lord forgive our sins and save us from the bondage of keep relying on our flesh to live the life of a Christian. May God's Spirit release us, so that every day we can rely on the mighty power of the Holy Spirit to live a life of victory for the Lord.   Pray with Pastor Tong     Lord, May your spiritual light shine upon us,. Make us realize our weaknesses and shortcomings so that we no longer serve you with our natural personality and strength. Let us humble ourselves, seek your power and your will, so that we can live a life that pleases you.  I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!