KEY SCRIPTURE: John 18:28 ISV “Then Jesus was led from Caiaphas to the governor’s headquarters early in the morning. The Jews did not go into the headquarters, to avoid becoming unclean and unable to eat the Passover meal.”

Jesus was now sent to the governor for his interrogation and judgment. The Jews said they were not going to the meeting place of the governor because that would make them unfit for observing the Passover meal. The governor as a gentile was considered unclean and they could have nothing to do with unclean one. These people were very strict with God’s laws of sanctity yet they were single-mindedly seeking to crucify Jesus. To them, they were righteous about getting Jesus killed. These people were keen about keeping Holy yet they wanted Jesus killed. They were sincere, yet they were sincerely lost.

Religion always makes heartless followers, who would do anything to defend their religion. True Christianity is not a religion. Religion is a practice in which the practitioners follow certain rules, and observe ordinances so that they would be acceptable to their God or supreme being. Religion is all about self-effort. The result of self-effort is a breeding of self-righteous people who would judge and condemn anyone who they think does not fall within their acceptable standards. These people are prepared to die for their course. These were the people who were seeking to kill the Lord Jesus. These people have a zeal for God, yet they lack the knowledge of the right way to serve God.

Apostle Paul says he prays for his fellow Jewish people, for they have a zeal for God, yet they lack the knowledge of God’s way of making people right with Himself. Rom 10:2,3. They seek to establish their own way of righteousness. God’s way of justifying a sinner is not by works but by faith. Dear one if you are counting on your works or how good you are and not trusting in the finished work of Jesus, then you are still in your sins. The Lord Jesus stands at the door of your heart knocking for you to welcome Him into your life. Turn from the deceit of religion to the reality of encountering real life. Jesus came to give His life, that is eternal life to all who would believe in Him.

THOUGHT: RELIGION BREEDS SELF-RIGHTEOUS PEOPLE WITH HATRED, WHILE CHRISTIANITY RAISES SAINTS WITH LOVE.

FURTHER STUDIES

Rom 10:2 3 ISV “For I can testify on their behalf that they have a zeal for God, but it is not in keeping with full knowledge. For they are ignorant of the righteousness that comes from God while they try to establish their own, and they have not submitted to God’s means to attain righteousness.

Rom 3:22 KJV Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:

KEY SCRIPTURE: John 18:27 ISV” Peter again denied it, and immediately a rooster crowed.”

Our key scripture is a fulfillment of a prophetic word the Lord Jesus gave Peter after he said he would lay his life down for Jesus. This is what the Lord told Peter.  John 13:38 ISV Jesus answered him, “Would you lay down your life for me? I tell you emphatically, a rooster will not crow until you have denied me three times.” Peter tried as much as he could to prove, the Lord wrong but he failed. All that the Lord said came to pass.

It seemed the Lord’s word was just to prove Apostle Peter wrong. Remember that it is not every event that is created by God. God who knows all things may report about an event, yet it could have been initiated by the devil himself. In this particular case, it was Satan who had sought to destroy Peter and the other apostles because they were all living by the arm of the flesh. Luke 22:31,32 ISV “Simon, Simon, listen! Satan has asked permission to sift all of you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your own faith may not fail. When you have come back, you must strengthen your brothers.” The whole event had already occurred in the realm of the spirit. The Lord only told Peter about it. Satan the accuser wanted to destroy the faith of all the disciples at the moment of the arrest of Jesus. Peter could do nothing about it because he was also functioning in the flesh.

This event teaches us the following.

1. Satan keeps making claims accusations and requests to take the people of God captive.

2. If your voice or no one stands to defend your course, Satan’s claims will hold and have his way against you.

3. Doing things by the flesh always gives the enemy an advantage to have his way.

4. Your daily prayer for yourself is very important. Jesus taught in Lk 18:1 that men ought always to pray and not to faint. Failure to pray will be your own undoing.

Now the main thing that upheld Satan’s attack was that Peter and the rest of the disciples were all functioning in the flesh. If they had been living by the Spirit Satan would not have prevailed to the damage he achieved.

THOUGHT: TO KEEP DEFEATING SATAN, LIVE BY, FAITH AND A CONSISTENT PRAYER LIFE.

FURTHER STUDIES

Eph 6:11 ISV” Put on the whole armor of God so that you may be able to stand firm against the devil’s strategies.”

Eph 6:18 ISV “Pray in the Spirit at all times with every kind of prayer and request. Likewise, be alert with your most diligent efforts and pray for all the saints.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: Joh 18:25 ISV” Meanwhile, Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. Some people asked him, “You aren’t one of his disciples, too, are you?” He denied it by saying, “I am not!”

Simon Peter who was warming himself in the company of some people, while the Lord was been tried. For the second time, Peter was asked, whether he was one of Jesus’ disciples. Out of fear, he responded no. Remember that the Lord had said to him that, before the rooster crows he would have denied him three times.  Could this event have been prevented? Yes, it could have been prevented if Peter had asked the Lord for mercy and divine assistance.

Peter went in his natural ability and failed the first time. He should have quickly broken down in repentance and asked for God’s help, but did nothing like that. I believe he was still feeling guilty. Guilt is a tool of Satan. Guilt means man’s efforts failed. Guilt comes when self-righteousness does not meet its expectations. When guilt stays longer in a man, it condemns him, thereby weakening his ability to honour God’s word. On the flip side, when a child of God acknowledges his righteousness which he has received by faith. He would be able to act rightly in the light of God’s word.

Unfortunately, many children of God enjoy feeling guilty, thinking that, it would easily lead to repentance. Guilt is more or less a worldly or fleshly sorrow. There is a godly sorrow, that leads to repentance. 2 Cor 7:10 ISV “For having sorrow in a godly way results in repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regrets. But the sorrow of the world produces death”. Peter had a worldly sorrow that made him condemn himself. In that light, he was too weak to face the second test. He failed again, saying he was not a member of Jesus’ disciples.

Once again, what weakened Peter such that he could not face up to the second test? It was guilt that took over his soul. Refuse to give any place to guilt. Accept your error and ask for forgiveness.  Accept God’s forgiveness and cleansing. After, this, know that God has justified you and holds nothing against you.

THOUGHT: REFUSE GUILT, FOR GUILT CONDEMNS; CONDEMNATION KILLS, AND DEATH FINALLY ENSLAVES.

FURTHER STUDIES

Rom 8:1 ISV” Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in union with the Messiah Jesus.”

2Cor 7:9 ISV ” Now I am happy, not because you had such sorrow, but because your sorrow led you to repent. For you were sorry in a godly way, and so you were not hurt by us in any way.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: John 18:23 KJV” Jesus answered him If I have spoken evil bear witness of the evil: but if well, why smitest thou me?”

During the High Priest interrogations, the Lord answered him, by asking Him to contact the many who heard Him teach, concerning His doctrine. An officer who stood by slapped His face. The Lord asked whether He said anything wrong. If He did not speak wrongly then why did he have to slap Him? This is a man who really had control of Himself. In all His passion or suffering, this was the first assault to be followed by more grievous ones. Many men would quickly respond to such provocation with rage. They would show by an outburst of anger and even with insults. The Lord had absolute control over Himself. Pro 16:32 KJV “He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.”

Proverbs 16:32 describes the comportment of Jesus. He was slow to anger and was able to rule His spirit. The scripture said such a person is better than the mighty and the man that takes over a city. Real strength is not physical but rather one’s ability to hold himself from doing wrong. Many great leaders have been reduced to pieces of bread because they could not control their ego, anger, or pride. They ended up bringing shame and reproach to the ministry.

Apostle Paul said in 2nd Corinth 6:3 as follows ” Giving no offence in anything, that the ministry be not blamed:” He said we give no offence under any condition. He meant no matter the difficulty he would not act in a way that would dishonor the name of Christ and their office as ministers of God. He said in ALL THINGS he approves himself as a minister of God, in much patience, in afflictions, necessities, and in distresses. Every child of God is a minister or, in a more simple word, a servant or slave of God. We are not masters of ourselves, but representatives of the king of Kings. We must exercise rule over our spirits or inner self to always do things according to what God’s word says. This could be possible by renewing our minds. Renewal of the mind is different from just feeding the mind with the scripture. One may have the whole bible in his memory yet, if the Spirit of his mind is not renewed, he would continue living like a child of Satan. It is when the mind is brought to the place of surrender totally to the reign of Christ, that one could be described as having a renewed mind.

THOUGHT: REAL MEN CONTROL THEMSELVES

FURTHER STUDIES

1Pet 2:23 KJV ” Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:”

James 1:19 KJV” Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:”

KEY SCRIPTURES: Joh 18:20 KJV” Jesus answered him, I spake openly to the world; I ever taught in the synagogue, and in the temple, whither the Jews always resort; and in secret have I said nothing.”

The Lord Jesus instructed His disciples never to think of what to say when they were summoned before any authorities because the Holy Spirit would teach them what to say (Luke 12:11, 12) In this light, the Lord also depended on the Holy Spirit to answer the High Priest.  This is divine wisdom in action. As children of God in a world predominantly ruled by Satan, we daily need the assistance of the Holy Spirit in every aspect of our lives, especially when we have to answer a hostile world that seeks to overthrow the faith of many.

The Lord was never lost for the right answers on any day of His service on the earth. When these religious leaders brought a lady, who they claimed was caught in the very act of adultery to Him, He made sure His answer was not against the law of Moses as well as found a way to free the poor woman, yet to counsel her never to go sin again. He asked them, which of them had not committed any sinful act before, he should cast the first stone at the woman. None of them threw a piece of dust at her. This was the Holy Spirit speaking through Him.

One aspect of our Christian life is sharing goodness with people. Some may seem to be very defensive and argumentative and even try to pin you down with very difficult questions. In such moments, do not panic, just stay calm, and listen attentively to his questions. Meanwhile be praying in your heart, asking the Holy Spirit to answer your enquirer. He would give you very wise answers which your enquirer would have no further questions to oppose you.

THOUGHT: THE SPIRIT IS EVER READY TO ASSIST US DAILY.

FURTHER STUDIES

Luk 12:11 KJV” And when they bring you unto the synagogues, and unto magistrates, and powers, take ye no thought how or what thing ye shall answer, or what ye shall say: For the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say.”

Luke 21:15 KJV “For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: John 18:19 KJV” The high priest then asked Jesus of his disciples and of his doctrine”

In our previous study, we realized from our key scripture that. the question that the High Priest asked Jesus, exposed their motives for crucifying Him. They had envied Jesus because He was always thronged by a very large audience. Envy is a very horrible state for one to be Proverb 24:4 says: Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous; but who is able to stand before envy? Indeed, who can stand before envy.? Envy first slays its victim and uses him or her to attack the second party.

How does envy kill its victim? It builds hatred in the heart of its victim. Remember the scripture that says he that hates his brother abides in death.1 John 3:14, 15. Many times those under the spell of envy are the very people we call friends, brothers, and even sisters. They smile at us yet deep down in their hearts, they are a ravening wolf. Envy is anti-growth, anti-development and even anti-glory. It would attack anyone or close associates who has an advantage or opportunity to excel.

Many times, envy destroys people who are destined to save, help or bless them. King Saul pursued David to destroy him, yet David was raised by God to save king Saul from death, and demonic bondage. He came into Saul’s life to ease the many difficulties that engulfed him. Envy blinded his eyes to all these.

How can one free himself from the clutches of envy?

1. BE ready to submit to what God’s word says about envy.

2.  See the beauty, glory, and handiwork of God in the life of anyone who is doing great and be ready to give glory to God for their lives.

3. Sincerely rejoice with those who are blessed

4. Understand that it is only those things that you appreciate or celebrate in a man that can also come into your life.

5. Instead of hating great achievers, let their success inspire you to also go higher, not as a competition, but to also glorify God with yours.

THOUGHT: YOU CAN’T BE A CHILD OF GOD AND LIVE IN ENVY, FOR IT TAKES ETERNAL LIFE FROM YOU.

FURTHER STUDIES

1Jn 3:14 KJV” We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.”

Mark 15:10 KJV” For he knew that the chief priests had delivered him for envy.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: John 18:19 KJV “The high priest then asked Jesus of his disciples and of his doctrine.”

Our key scripture talked about the questions that the high priest and the Jewish elders asked Jesus. As simple as the question was, it exposed their real motives for arresting Jesus and seeking for His crucifixion. They first asked about His disciples. During the days of the Lord Jesus, various teachers of the law attracted a number of followers. These followers were the disciples of that particular teacher or rabbi. Most of these teachers had just a few students or disciples. Any teacher who attracted lots of disciples will surely be envied by the rest who had a few. This sentiment was expressed in the following verse. John 12:19 KJV” The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, Perceive ye how ye prevail nothing? behold, the world is gone after him.” In the foregoing scripture, the Pharisees teased each other saying, see how you prevail nothing for the whole world has gone after Him. Just listen to how they described Jesus excelling in having more disciples. They said the whole world has gone after Him. This was the real concern of these teachers of the law.

He also expressed another statement of concern. That was about the doctrine that He taught His followers. It was the kind of teaching He gave His followers that, they believed made thousands of people follow Him. These seemingly harmless questions revealed their true motives for arresting the Lord and seeking His crucifixion. This issue shows how petty men could become. The Lord’s excellence in ministry earned him the fury of the scribes and Pharisees. Envy is a poison in the soul that corrupts the mind.

Envy can happen to any man, if one does not constantly get his or her mind straightened up. There are pastors in our day who are filled with great envy for those with very large audiences. It is quite easy to envy the successful. Dear brother or sister are you envious of a successful one? Please repent, or else, envy easily drives its victims into murder. Envy would surely end you up in hell fires. Envy also sets up an atmosphere of accusations and lack of achievements. The cost of bearing up with envy is too much, drop it and be free.

THOUGHT: THE ENVIOUS ARE DEAD, ALTHOUGH THEY LIVE, CAST IT OFF AND LIVE.

FURTHER STUDIES

Prov 14:30 KJV “A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones.”

Prov 27:4 KJV “Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous; but who is able to stand before envy?”

KEY SCRIPTURE: John 18:18 KJV” And the servants and officers stood there, who had made a fire of coals; for it was cold: and they warmed themselves: and Peter stood with them, and warmed himself. “

After Peter denied his knowledge and relationship with Jesus, he stood further away from the judgment area of the Lord. Peter was gradually losing his focus on what he came to do in the first place. What had happened to Peter? His earlier failure to accept that he was one of Jesus’ followers could have made him feel very guilty. Guilt often turns a person inward looking and depressed, if his guilt gets at him so much. The result is an absolute loss of focus or concentration on what he had in mind to pursue earlier.

The Bible says ” Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life”. (Prov 13:12) Hope deferred means a disappointment, which often makes the heart sick.   Peter’s heart got sick. There are many people who have lost focus of whatever they set before then to attain. The year is in its last quarter and you might be feeling defeated and disappointed because nothing seemed to be achieved. It is alright to be challenged about how little you have done, so you improve on your efforts. It is very defeating to be so sorrowful about negative outcomes that you stop making efforts to regain what you have not achieved or lost. Put the bad experience behind you and forge on to the heights before you.

Some get so defeated by a negative situation, such that they never recover from it again. Dear one there is so much to be done for our Lord Jesus. Refuse that negative event and commit your life to bring glory unto the Lord. Never forsake that good thing you started. Many great lives today evolved from very difficult conditions. These people decided not to bow to fate, but they vowed to rate.

They kept fighting their way to greatness, and now have become a spectacle of great success in life. Maintain your focus in spite of painful setbacks.

THOUGHT: DO NOT BOW TO FATE, BUT VOW TO RATE.

FURTHER STUDIES

Ecc 9:4 KJV “For to him that is joined to all the living there is hope: for a living dog is better than a dead lion”.

Mar 9:23 KJV “Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: Joh 18:17 KJV “Then saith the damsel that kept the door unto Peter, Art not thou also one of this man’s disciples? He saith, I am not.”

Peter followed after to express his love for Jesus, yet in a sense, it was a self-willed agenda to prove the Lord wrong. He got to the entrance of the High Priest palace, but could not be allowed in, since He knew not any of the men of influence at the place. John who knew the high priest came to usher him in.  It was at this moment that the girl at the entrance asked him.’ Are you not also one of His disciples? Peter was overtaken with fear and answered,’ I am not, John, who is one of Jesus’ disciples, came to this same girl, to let her allow Peter to get in. She did not ask John any questions but asked Peter. What is happening? God’s word is always superior, and would surely have to come to pass. Human effort or ego cannot alter what God has said. Jesus told Peter, before the rooster will crow, you would forsake me three times. This was the reason John was seen by the girl, yet no question was posed to him, instead, Peter was asked.

Never attempt to prove the word of God wrong. One can only live in peace and fulfillment by believing what God says and doing accordingly.  Dear child of God, are you consciously striving to please God, or living by your wisdom? Any man who is rejecting the appeals of love from the Spirit of God, through preaching, and life encounters, yet you keep turning a death ear, then difficulty and anguish of soul is what is awaiting you. Spare yourself avoidable ‘soul aches’ by surrendering your life to Jesus.

THOUGHT: LIFE IS MADE EASIER IF YOU DILIGENTLY FOLLOW GOD’S WORD.

FURTHER STUDIES

Psalms 119:89 KJV LAMED. Forever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.

Rom 2:10 KJV” But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile:”

KEY SCRIPTURE: Joh 18:15 KJV” And Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple: that disciple was known unto the high priest, and went in with Jesus into the palace of the high priest.”

In Matt 26, we see Jesus telling His disciples that, when He is arrested His disciples would all forsake Him

Peter promised the master that when every one of the disciples left, he would not do so. This statement was a direct answer to what the Lord said. Matt 26:31 KJV” Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad.” Just after the Lord made the preceding statement Peter responded with the following. Matt 26:33 KJV “Peter answered and said unto him, Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended.” Peter made a very daring statement opposing what the Lord said.

Peter’s decision to follow Jesus was an act to justify the statement He made in response to what the Lord said. He was not acting by faith and as a result, there was no grace backing him. Grace is a divine provision that helps us. Grace is always solicited by faith, and faith is produced by acting on the word of God. Peter’s action therefore was surely going to fail. What is the basis of whatever action you may be taking? Peter’s action was purely presumptuous and self-willed.

How do we assess whether one’s action is presumptuous?

1. If it is self-willed. If your action is to prove a point then you are acting presumptuously. Dear people of God, as men we have no point to prove. Whatever we do is on the basis of what God has said, and therefore it is done to bring Him all the glory.

2. When one does not act on the word of God but expects a positive result, then he is only being presumptuous. 

3. Another presumptuous act is when one acts on the word of God, yet, he acts in fear. Fear means faith is absent. Fear also means you are not settled on the word of God. Anything done in unbelief is sin Rom 14:23.

THOUGHT: ALL ACTIONS MUST BE DONE, BASED ON THE WORD OF GOD, IN THE NAME OF THE LORD, AND TO HIS GLORY.

FURTHER STUDY

Gal 5:26 KJV ” Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.”

Rom 14:23 KJV” And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.”