Did the Rooster Crow?

In all of Peter's denials, he seems to take a 180 about associating with Jesus. This brings to mind those who accept Jesus for salvation and eternity in heaven but will not serve Him or grow in their relationship with Him. I always wonder what happened to the seed of faith and did it get lost and thrown out after making sure you got fire insurance? This might be the scenario. I received Jesus to make sure I would go to heaven when I die, but that is as far as I am going. No taking up my cross. No denying the world and following Jesus wholeheartedly. No joining in with other believers to follow the Great Commission. No, no, no, and......NO. Denial is a tough thing to do, especially when you have been born again in the Spirit and the Holy Spirit is now in your life!

So, where does this denial come from? In trying to get Jesus to deny the Father, satan took some drastic steps while Jesus was in the wilderness. Jesus was about to begin the process to the cross, grave, and resurrection, and satan was trying to "nip it in the bud." Before Jesus went to the wilderness, He had this happen in Matthew 3:16 After He was baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and settling on Him, 17 and behold, a voice from the heavens said, “This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” How soon before satan tried to stop Jesus? The next chapter speaks to the wilderness encounter. Matthew 4: 1Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 And after He had fasted for forty days and forty nights, He then became hungry. 3 And the tempter came and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.” 4 But He answered and said, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes out of the mouth of God.’”

5 Then the devil took Him along into the holy city and had Him stand on the pinnacle of the temple, 6 and he said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down; for it is written: ‘He will give His angels orders concerning You’; and ‘On their hands they will lift You up,So that You do not strike Your foot against a stone.’” 7 Jesus said to him, “On the other hand, it is written: ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’” 8 Again, the devil took Him along to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory; 9 and he said to Him, “All these things I will give You, if You fall down and worship me.” 10 Then Jesus said to him, “Go away, Satan! For it is written: ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only.’” 11 Then the devil left Him; and behold, angels came and began to serve Him.

As you can see in the above scripture, satan seems to do things in "3s," and it was no different for Peter than it was for Jesus in that area. Peter was tempted and denied Jesus three times, and Jesus was tempted by satan to abandon who He was and what God wanted three times by offering Jesus something He could not produce. Jesus defeated what the devil was trying to do with the Word of God. Peter just failed on his own. Satan would love nothing better than to get a new convert to deny Jesus at the onset of being born again, so there is a fight to protect and allow that seed of faith to grow. That is just another reason why it is so vital for new converts to immediately be immersed in the Word of God, where the battle can be won. Scripture is the key!!

When the new convert is discipled, the process will be able to handle the attack from satan, but the Word of God is where the power lies. Here is a process that incorporates the "3s" from the Spirit's leading. 1. Immediately having the new convert become a Bible reader beginning in the book of John would be good. Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, even penetrating as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and

intentions of the heart. 2. Establish a mature Christian to come alongside them in fellowship and mentorship to answer questions they might have about their newfound faith. Jeremiah 29:13 And you will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. 3. Teach the new convert about where the spiritual battle is and how to fight it effectively. Ephesians 6:12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist on the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Help them find their "call" in the service of the Lord. This is called a Spiritual act of Worship. Romans 12: 1Therefore I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

There is a new way of thinking that comes into play for the new convert and that thinking is all about the transformation being complete. If you are a mature believer in Jesus, it is dependent upon you to disciple that new convert and lead them to a place of surrender and victory instead of a place of wandering and defeat. Then they won't have to worry about the sound of the rooster that Peter heard. John 18:27 Peter then denied it again, and immediately a rooster crowed. Did someone come alongside you and lead you to a deeper walk with Jesus, or were you left to figure it out yourself? It is time to own up to the truth and let the truth change you, whether you are a mature believer or a new one. Jesus has called us to be lights, sharing His light with new converts. The truth is found in the Word of God. Time to read it and live!! I wonder about new converts. Did the rooster crow?

Today's Message,

David Warren