Morning Worship
THE NAILS OF THE CROSS
Matthew 27:38-44
Introduction:
a. The mob taunted Jesus, “if thou be the Son of God come down from the
cross”
b. The chief priests also saying, “If he be the King of Israel let him now
come down from cross, and we will believe him”
c. What held him to that cross?
d. Was it the nails?
I. WAS CHRIST POWERLESS TO REMOVE MAN'S NAILS?
a. He that raised others from the dead could surely save himself - Matthew
27:42; John 11:39-44
b. He could have called more than 12 legions of angels to help him- Matthew
26:53
c. No man could take Christ's life from him -John 10:18
d. Christ, willingly, laid down his own life - John 10:17
II. THE FATHER'S WILL AND WISH HELD HIM ON THE CROSS?
a. Jesus certainly did not relish the humiliation & suffering - Matthew
26:39
b. It was the Father's will that Christ would become the sacrifice- I John
2:2; Romans 3:25
c. Christ did not come to do His own will - John 6:38
d. It was love that held Him there - John 3:16, I John 3:16-18
III. GOD'S ETERNAL PURPOSE HELD CHRIST TO THE CROSS:
a. Jesus died to purchase the church with His own blood - Acts 20:28
b. It is through the church that God's eternal purpose is to be made known –
Ephesians 3:10,11
c. Without Christ's death there would be no forgiveness of sin - Hebrews
9:16,17; 28
d. A blood sacrifice was necessary Hebrews 9:18-23; John 1:29
IV. THE JOY SET BEFORE CHRIST HELD HIM TO THE CROSS:
a. He endured the cross because of the joy of saving others – Hebrews 12:2
b. There is joy in heaven when a sinner is saved -Luke 15:7
c. If we keep His commandments His joy will be in us - John 15:10,11
d. We are Christ's friends, if we do what he commands - John 15:12-14
V. HIS CROSS SHOULD COMPEL US:
a. To be grateful - I Corinthians 15:57; Colossians 3:15
b. To be content with what we have -Philippians 4:11; I Timothy 6:8
c. To remain faithful -Galatians 4:9; I Corinthians 4:2; Revelation 2:10
d. To look forward for our reward - Titus 2:13; Hebrews 12:1,2; ii Peter
3:12
Conclusion:
a. Neither the lack of power nor the nails driven into his hands & feet held
Jesus to the cross.
b. His desire to please His Father, and His love for the souls of mankind
bound Him to the tree on which He died!
Evening Worship
PETER FOLLOWED AFAR OFF
Luke 22:52-54
INTRODUCTION:
A. AS THE LORD WAS ON THE WAY TO THE CROSS, PETER
WAS LEFT BEHIND.
B. HE DID THIS OF HIS OWN ACCORD.
C. LOOK AT WHERE IT GOT HIM!
i. BRAVERY: HAD LEFT ALL TO FOLLOW - MATTHEW 4:18-20:
A. He was energetic and impulsive - MATTHEW 16:21,22
B. At crisis he jumped right into the battle - MATTHEW 16:13-16; JOHn 18:10.
C. We too are in a terrific battle; Must never retreat – i TiMOTHY 6:12.
D. The Savior's warning and sad prophecy - MATTHEW 26:31-34.
ii. DISAPPOINTMENT LED TO HIS BACKING AWAY:
A. Mock trial, false witnesses: He began to THINK "afar off" -- His Lord was
to die.….Peter's hopes and dreams shattered -- His courage began to fail:
1. He followed Christ to satisfy his conscience, but thought to keep his
distance and thereby to save his life.
2. Off-guard, he settled into wrong company, when he should have been at his
Master's side - Matthew 12:30; John 18:18; I Corinthians 15:33
B. We now live among those who oppose Christ (Those who reject His truth on
baptism, music, organization and function of church, etc.):
1. Do WE keep standing strong, no matter the company? - James 4:4.
2. May be perilous to our souls not to let them know who we are and where we
stand – II Corinthians 4:13; II Timothy 3:12; Matthew 10:32,33
C. Before Peter fell, he took four downward steps:
1. Presumptuous Self-Confidence: Felt secure in his own power - Luke
22:31-34; We may fall if we think it impossible for us – I Corinthians 10:12
2. Misguided Zeal: Intended good, but did wrong - John 18:10,11
3. Timid Backwardness: Though had boasted of loyalty - Luke 22:54
4. Bad Company: Was very strong while in the company of Christ's friends,
but weakened before enemies' hostility - Proverbs 4:14,15
D. While he sat at the devil's fire, the temptation came - Matthew 26:69,70:
1. What a small temptation -- A girl spoke to him! Had armed soldiers
threatened him with death, some excuse might have been made for him: but to
disown his Savior to a girl that kept the door! How little did he reflect
his name -John 1:42
-- He was now not a rock, but a little weed blown down by a woman's breath.
2. Tried to pass off that first statement with ignorance, then went further
down as he met the second with an emphatic denial - Mark 14:69,70
3. Completely down -- Answered third with a curse - Mark 14:70,71
4. Imagine! An apostle, a special favorite who with James / John had the
honor to be with Christ at His transfiguration: Yet he denied his Master,
his Savior, and Redeemer -- He that in great humility had washed Peter's
feet, had eaten the Passover with Peter, had just handed him the bread and
fruit of the vine.
E. The Lord's sad look required no words - Luke 22:61:
1. That look melted Peter, dissolved him into tears of sorrow - Luke 22:62
2. Sin always costs our souls great sorrow, either here or in hell -- We
must either mourn now, or mourn forever - Matthew 25:30
F. We win spiritual battles only if we stay close to Christ in unfailing
devotion - Philippians 4:13; I Thessalonians 5:17; II Peter 3:18; Hebrews
10:25.
III. PETER'S SAD STORY TURNED TO A HAPPY CONCLUSION:
A. His defection was of short duration - Luke 22:31,32
B. He then became a pillar of strength - Galatians 2:9:
1. Was first to use the keys - Matthew 16:18-19; Acts 2:37,38; 11:13,14
2. Wrote part of the New Testament -- First and Second Peter.
3. Eventually he died for Christ - John 21:18,19
C. A concluding exhortation to us (In his words) - I Peter 1:13-16.
CONCLUSION:
a. Have any of us fallen with Peter, not with a formal statement, but by a
practical denying of Him, like Demas? – II Timothy 4:10
b. Let us weep with him; Let us be watchful and prayerful - Hebrews 2:1
c. May distant disciples renew devotion - Acts 8:22
d. Some have never even become followers - Luke 9:23
