Introduction: A. Jesus has many followers: 1. Some follow close to him; 2. Some not quite as close as they should; 3. Some are like Peter, who follow far, far away
NOTICE:When we follow afar off...
I. IT BECOMES MORE DIFFICULT TO FOLLOW JESUS:
The reason saved people know little joy, have less spiritual victories is because they are following the Lord at a great distance. The farther we follow behind Him, the harder it becomes to follow Him at all. It is not hard to live a Christian life, get answers to our prayers and know his will when we are near Him.(Matthew 11:28-30).
II. WE GET IN WITH THE WRONG CROWD:
Peter followed hurriedly at first but his feet began to slow down and he followed at distance
when they arrested our Lord in the garden. Peter began to stand by the fire of the enemy of
our Lord, sat down with them, and then denied Him. So it is with us, when we follow at a
distance, we will end up denying Him as the Lord of our life when we get in with the wrong
crowd.
III. WE LOSE OUR TESTIMONY:
What a tradegy here, Peter is found cursing and swearing. He lost his testimony for the Lord. Instead he should have been declaring Jesus as the "way, truth, and the life." Buot with the language he used, what good would have done to witnessed to them. My his cursing and swearing he convinced them "he was not one of His." (Ill: I don't know about you, by my testimony for the Lord is precious to me. I don't want to lose it and I won't as long as I am following close to Him.)
IV. WE GET DEEPER INTO SIN:
How many times have we seen those who once walked with the Lord, left his side and began a journey of their own because of some small sin, later ended up in disgrace because they plunged deeper into sin and ruined their walk with Jesus. (Ill: I have seen,in my church, those who had a good start with the Lord, ran well, but the race was hinder because of some besetting sin.)
V. WE CAN BE SURE THAT GOD WILL CALL US BACK:
Old Peter fulfilled exactly what our Lord said and denied Him thrice. But God is a loving God and used a rooster to call Peter back to repentance. Have you had some strange thing come into your life that made you more aware of what God wants to do in your life. God used a donkey to speak to Baalam. He used snakes to speak to the nation of Israel. Sometimes God speaks in strange ways, and we don't like how he speaks to us.
VI. NOTHING SHORT OF REPENTANCE WILL GET US BACK:
Peter had to go out and do some weeping and getting right with God. I suspect we have to also. He had to repent and admit he was the one who strayed and followed afar off.
VII WHEN WE TURN AROUND AND COME BACK, WE FIND SWEET FORGIVENSS:
Peter found forgiveness for his lack of faith, and that is what makes follow afar off. We fail
to realize that we are walking displeasing to the Lord and feel we have to prove something to
ourselves or someone else. Praise the Lord, His arms are open to welcome you back and place
on our the "kiss" of forgiveness, as the prodigal experienced.CONCLUSION: Who are you following today? Are you finding it harder to follow Him?
Are you finding yourself sinking deeper and deeper into sin? Are you running with the wrong
crowd? Be assured, God waits to welcome you back. Will you REPENT and come home?