MINISTRY KILLERS

Good has given us an awesome responsibility as Ambassadors to declare His word and name in the earth. As Paul declared, we have this treasure in clay vessels (2 Corinthians4:7). God entrusts His glory to fragile human beings. As a result, Satan never stops trying to disrupt our effectiveness. It’s God’s will and our prayer that we all finish well. Endure till the end. Make full proof of our ministry and get a “well done thy good and faithful servant.”

In order to achieve this, there are some ministry killers we will need to avoid. Warfare and human weakness have not changed. The same attacks and strategies are used repeatedly over the centuries to weaken or cut short our ministry.  Let’s learn what they are and shun them so we may run well. 

I.    LOSS OF VISION – Samson

Samson was called and anointed by God with a specific vision. He was given a personal vision and a ministry vision. Eventually, He lost focus on both visions. The result was a ministry cut short and intense personal suffering.

Proverbs 29:18

18     Where there is no vision, the people perish…

1.    Samson’s Personal Vision

Judges 13:2-5

2 Now there was a certain man from Zorah, of the family of the Danites, whose name was Manoah; and his wife was barren and had no children. 3 And the Angel of the LORD appeared to the woman and said to her, “Indeed now, you are barren and have borne no children, but you shall conceive and bear a son. 4 Now, therefore, please be careful not to drink wine or similar drink, and not to eat anything unclean. 5 For behold, you shall conceive and bear a son. And no razor shall come upon his head, for the child shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb; and he shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines.

Numbers 16:1-7 (Nazarite Vow)

•    No Wine

•    No Strong Drink (Vinegar)

•    No Razor

•    No Grapes or Raisins

•    Touch No Dead Body

•    Never become unclean

Samson forgot who he was. He ate honey out of a carcass (Judges 14:7-9_. He took the jawbone of a donkey and used it as a weapon (Judges 15:15).

2.    Neglected Cooperate Vision

Judges 13:5

5 For behold, you shall conceive and bear a son. And no razor shall come upon his head, for the child shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb; and he shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines.

Samson let His emotional issues get in the way of His corporate ministry vision. He was no longer delivering Israel just playing around with Delilah.

Solution: Stay focused on your life and ministry vision. Cling to them through every season of life. Fulfill them when it seems fruitful and when it doesn’t. Let death find you doing what you were born to do.

II.    FRUSTRATION / BITTERNESS – Moses

Moses was anointed by God; Humble and meek, But he internalized things too much.  The improper internalization of issues showed several times in his ministry and ultimately cost him the Promised Land.

Exodus 2:11-14

11 Now it came to pass in those days, when Moses was grown, that he went out to his brethren and looked at their burdens. And he saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his brethren. 12 So he looked this way and that way, and when he saw no one, he killed the Egyptian and hid him in the sand. 13 And when he went out the second day, behold, two Hebrew men were fighting, and he said to the one who did the wrong, “Why are you striking your companion?” 14 Then he said, “Who made you a prince and a judge over us? Do you intend to kill me as you killed the Egyptian?”

Exodus 4:24-26

24 And it came to pass on the way, at the encampment, that the LORD met him and sought to kill him. 25 Then Zipporah took a sharp stone and cut off the foreskin of her son and cast it at Moses’ feet, and said, “Surely you are a husband of blood to me!” 26 So He let him go. Then she said, “You are a husband of blood!”—because of the circumcision.

Exodus 18:1-2

And Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses’ father-in-law, heard of all that God had done for Moses and for Israel His people—that the LORD had brought Israel out of Egypt. 2 Then Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, took Zipporah, Moses’ wife, after he had sent her back

Exodus 32:19-20

19 So it was, as soon as he came near the camp, that he saw the calf and the dancing. So Moses’ anger became hot, and he cast the tablets out of his hands and broke them at the foot of the mountain. 20 Then he took the calf which they had made, burned it in the fire, and ground it to powder; and he scattered it on the water and made the children of Israel drink it.

Numbers 11:10-15

10 Then Moses heard the people weeping throughout their families, everyone at the door of his tent; and the anger of the LORD was greatly aroused; Moses also was displeased. 11 So Moses said to the LORD, “Why have You afflicted Your servant? And why have I not found favor in Your sight, that You have laid the burden of all these people on me? 12 Did I conceive all these people? Did I beget them, that you should say to me, ‘Carry them in your bosom, as a guardian carries a nursing child,’ to the land which you swore to their fathers? 13 Where am I to get meat to give to all these people? For they weep all over me, saying, ‘Give us meat that we may eat.’ 14 I am not able to bear all these people alone, because the burden is too heavy for me. 15 If You treat me like this, please kill me here and now—if I have found favor in Your sight—and do not let me see my wretchedness!”

Numbers 20:10-11

10 And Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly together before the rock; and he said to them, “Hear now you rebels! Must we bring water for you out of this rock?” 11 Then Moses lifted his hand and struck the rock twice with his rod; and water came out abundantly, and the congregation and their animals drank.

Psalm 106:32-33

They angered him also at the waters of strife So that it went ill with Moses for their sakes: 33 Because they provoked his spirit, So that he spoke unadvisedly with his lips.

Solution: Let stuff go. Do not hold on to things. Practice

Philippians 4:6. Be careful for nothing but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be made known unto God and let the peace of God that passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds.  Don’t ever let yourself become more burdened than Jesus is for His church.

III.    PEOPLE PLEASING – Saul

Saul cared more about his image before people than obeying and pleasing God. This cost him His throne.

1 Samuel 15:20-25

20 And Saul said to Samuel, “But I have obeyed the voice of the LORD, and gone on the mission on which the LORD sent me, and brought back Agag king of Amalek; I have utterly destroyed the Amalekites. 21 But the people took of the plunder, sheep, and oxen, the best of the things which should have been utterly destroyed, to sacrifice to the LORD your God in Gilgal.” 22 So Samuel said: “Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, As in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed than the fat of rams. 23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, And stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, He also has rejected you from being king.” 24 Then Saul said to Samuel, “I have sinned, for I have transgressed the commandment of the LORD and your words because I feared the people and obeyed their voice. 25 Now, therefore, please pardon my sin, and return with me, that I may worship the LORD.”

John 5:44

44 How can you believe, who receive honor from one another, and do not seek the honor that comes from the only God?

Matthew 23:2-6 

2 saying: “The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. 3 Therefore whatever they tell you to observe that observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do. 4 For they bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. 5 But all their works they do to be seen by men. They make their phylacteries broad and enlarge the borders of their garments. 6 They love the best places at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues, 7 greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called by men, ‘Rabbi, Rabbi.

Solution: Stay God-focused. Seek to please Him. Follow your assignment. Realize Jesus loved all but did not seek to please all. The danger of a seeker-friendly model is we have to know the boundaries so that people pleasure does not replace God’s favor.

IV.    BURNOUT – Elijah

1 Kings 19:1-10

And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, also how he had executed all the prophets with the sword. 2 Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time.” 3 And when he saw that, he arose and ran for his life, and went to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there. 4 But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he prayed that he might die, and said, “It is enough! Now, LORD, take my life, for I am no better than my fathers!” 5 Then as he lay and slept under a broom tree, suddenly an angel touched him, and said to him, “Arise and eat.” 6 Then he looked, and there by his head was a cake baked on coals, and a jar of water. So he ate and drank, and lay down again. 7 And the angel of the LORD came back the second time, and touched him, and said, “Arise and eat, because the journey is too great for you.” 8 So he arose, and ate and drank; and he went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights as far as Horeb, the mountain of God. 9 And there he went into a cave, and spent the night in that place; and behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and He said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 10 So he said, “I have been very zealous for the LORD God of hosts; for the children of Israel have forsaken your covenant, torn down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left, and they seek to take my life.

•    33% felt burned out within their first five years of ministry.

•    33% say that being in ministry is an outright hazard to their family.

•    40% of pastors and 47% of spouses are suffering from burnout, frantic schedules, and/or unrealistic expectations.

•    45% of pastors say that they've experienced depression or burnout to the extent that they needed to take a leave of absence from ministry.

•    50% feel unable to meet the needs of the job.

•    52% of pastors say they and their spouses believe that being in pastoral ministry is hazardous to their family's well-being and health.

•    56% of pastors' wives say that they have no close friends.

•    57% would leave the pastorate if they had somewhere else to go or some other vocation they could do.

•    70% don't have any close friends.

•    75% report severe stress causing anguish, worry, bewilderment, anger, depression, fear, and alienation.

•    80% of pastors say they have insufficient time with their spouse.

•    80% believe that pastoral ministry affects their families negatively.

•    90% work more than 50 hours a week.

•    1,500 TO 1,700 pastors leave their ministries each month due to burnout, conflict, or moral failure.

•    Doctors, lawyers, and clergy have the most problems with drug abuse, alcoholism, and suicide.

1.    Improper Boundaries

2.    Messiah Complex

3.    Insufficient Intercession

Solution: We must know our sphere and stay within it.  The one only given two talents must realize he only has two and not five. We also must obey Sabbath principles. This continues to be the only commandment we feel need not to be obeyed. Lastly, we must labor with a focus on sovereignty.

V.    PRIDE – Lucifer

We often forget Lucifer once had a ministry far grander than anything we will ever have. He was once close to God than we can fathom. He lost his ministry and place before God do to one thing; Pride. That same pride propels Him today to seek to kill steal and destroy. That pride will land him in the lake of fire with the angels he persuaded.  We must resist pride at all cost

Ezekiel 28:13-15

13 You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone was your covering: The sardius, topaz, and diamond, Beryl, onyx, and Jasper, Sapphire, turquoise, and emerald with gold. The workmanship of your timbrels and pipes was prepared for you on the day you were created. 14 “You were the anointed cherub who covers; I established you; you were on the holy mountain of God; you walked back and forth in the midst of fiery stones. 15 You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created, till iniquity was found in you.

Isaiah 14:12-15

12    “How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, you who weakened the nations! 13 For you have said in your heart: ‘I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation on the farthest sides of the north; 14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.’ 15 Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol, to the lowest depths of the Pit.

Proverbs. 16:18-19

18 Pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall. 19 Better to be of a humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.

James 4:6

6 But He gives more grace. Therefore He says:” God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”

Solution: Embrace humility with every fiber of our being. As Paul, the Apostle says, “be clothed with humility.” (1 Peter 5:5). We must learn the warning signs of pride and resist them at all cost. Here are a few signs:

•    Consistent strife in relationships. Prov. 13:10; Prov. 28:25

•    Not praying much. Luke 18:10-13

•    Place and position seeking.  Luke 14:7-11

•    Constant discontentment and ingratitude. Isaiah 14:12-15

•    Always having to be right. 2 Samuel 17:23-24

VI.    BECOMING PROFESSIONAL – Ephesus

Revelations 2:1-5

“To the angel of the church of Ephesus write, ‘These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands: 2 “I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; 3 and you have persevered and had patience, and have labored for my name’s sake and have not become weary. 4 Nevertheless, I have this against you, that you have left your first love. 5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent.

2 Corinthians 11:1-3 NLT

I hope you will put up with a little more of my foolishness. Please bear with me. 2 For I am jealous for you with the jealousy of God himself. I promised you as a pure bride to one husband—Christ. 3 But I fear that somehow your pure and undivided devotion to Christ will be corrupted, just as Eve was deceived by the cunning ways of the serpent.

Solution: Pursue love above all else. Seek to be a lover of God. Make relationship primary, not duty. Let duty be out of a relationship not in lieu of it. Measure progress by your heart, not your tasks. Ask God to show you your heart regularly. Seek a baptism of love. Let daily growth in love be your pursuit.

Answer Key: VISION, Frustration; Professional 

Passion 

(Part 3)

Revelation 3:7-12

⁷ “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write, ‘These things says He who is holy, He who is true, “He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts and shuts and no one opens”:⁸ “I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept my word, and have not denied my name. ⁹ Indeed I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but lie—indeed I will make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you. ¹⁰ Because you have kept my command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. ^11] Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown. ¹² He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name.

Revelation 2:1-5

To the angel of the church of Ephesus write, ‘These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands: ² “I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; ³ and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for my name’s sake and have not become weary. ⁴ Nevertheless, I have this against you, that you have left your first love. ⁵ Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent.

·        Jesus makes similar declarations about two different churches, yet the outcome for each is vastly different. The one thing that separates them is _____________________.

A.    Why don’t we pursue passion after God?

1.     We think He is impersonal (i.e. A robot)

2.     We think He is ______________   ___________________ from us.

3.     We think we can’t meet His standard.

B.    The shepherd and the bride.

1.     Desire for Jesus but awareness of self.

Song of Solomon 1:2-6

² Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth— for your love is better than wine. ³ Because of the fragrance of your good ointments, your name is ointment poured forth; therefore the virgins love you. ⁴ Draw me away! We will run after you. The king has brought me into his chambers. We will be glad and rejoice in you. We will remember your love more than wine. Rightly do they love you? ⁵ I am dark, but lovely, O daughters of Jerusalem, like the tents of Kadar, Like the curtains of Solomon. ⁶       Do not look upon me, because I am dark, because the sun has tanned me. My mother’s sons were angry with me; they made me the keeper of the vineyards, but my own vineyard I have not kept.

2.     Place of enchantment.

Song of Solomon 2:7

⁷ Tell me, O you whom I love, where you feed your flock, where you make it rest at noon. For why should I be as one who veils herself by the flocks of your companions?

3.     Recognizes Jesus as a conqueror, but rejects His offer to join Him. 

Song of Solomon 2:8-17

⁸ If you do not know, O fairest among women, Follow in the footsteps of the flock, And feed your little goats beside the shepherds’ tents. ⁹         I have compared you, my love, to my filly among Pharaoh’s chariots. ¹⁰ Your cheeks are lovely with ornaments, your neck with chains of gold. ¹¹ We will make you ornaments of gold with studs of silver. ¹² While the king is at his table, my spikenard sends forth its fragrance. ¹³ A bundle of myrrh is my beloved to me that lies all night between my breasts. ¹⁴     My beloved is to me a cluster of henna blooms in the vineyards of En Gedi. ¹⁵ Behold, you are fair, my love! Behold, you are fair! You have dove’s eyes. ¹⁶ Behold, you are handsome, my beloved! Yes, pleasant! Also, our bed is green. ¹⁷ The beams of our houses are cedar and our rafters of fir.

4.     Chastisement (presence withdrawn). 

Song of Solomon 3:1

By night on my bed, I sought the one I love; I sought him, but I did not find him.

5.     Repentance (change of mind). 

Song of Solomon 3:2-5

² “I will rise now,” I said, “And go about the city; in the streets and in the squares I will seek the one I love.” I sought him, but I did not find him. ³      The watchmen who go about the city found me; I said, “Have you seen the one I love?”  ⁴ Scarcely had I passed by them, When I found the one I love. I held him and would not let him go, until I had brought him to the house of my mother, And into the chamber of her who conceived me. ⁵ I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, by the gazelles or by the does of the field, Do not stir up nor awaken love Until it pleases.

6.     Affirmation of her beauty.  (Song 4:7-15)

Song of Solomon 4:7-15

⁷ You are all fair, my love, and there is no spot in you. ⁸ Come with me from Lebanon, my spouse, with me from Lebanon. Look from the top of Amana, from the top of Senir and Hermon, from the lions’ dens, from the mountains of the leopards. ⁹ You have ravished my heart, my sister, my spouse; you have ravished my heart with one look of your eyes, with one link of your necklace. ¹⁰ How fair is your love, my sister, my spouse! How much better than wine is your love and the scent of your perfumes than all spices! ¹¹ Your lips, O my spouse, Drip as the honeycomb; Honey and milk are under your tongue; and the fragrance of your garments is like the fragrance of Lebanon. ¹²      A garden enclosed is my sister, my spouse, A spring shut up, A fountain sealed. ¹³ Your plants are an orchard of pomegranates with pleasant fruits, Fragrant henna with spikenard, ¹⁴      Spikenard and saffron, Calamus and cinnamon, with all trees of frankincense, Myrrh, and aloes, with all the chief spices—¹⁵        A fountain of gardens, a well of living waters, and streams from Lebanon.

7.     Growth. 

Song of Solomon 4:16

¹⁶ Awake, O north wind, And come, O south! Blow upon my garden that its spices may flow out. Let my beloved come to his garden and eat its pleasant fruits.

8.     Testing  

Song of Solomon 5:6-7

⁶ I opened for my beloved, but my beloved had turned away and was gone. My heart leaped up when he spoke. I sought him, but I could not find him; I called him, but he gave me no answer. ⁷ The watchmen who went about the city found me. They struck me, they wounded me; the keepers of the walls Took my veil away from me.

9.     Maturity

Song of Solomon 5:8

⁸ I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, If you find my beloved, That you tell him I am lovesick!

C.     Why do we need this?

1.     If we don’t know He loves us now, we’ll never pursue passion. 

1 John 4:19

¹⁹ We love Him because He first loved us.

John 17:23b

“…and that the world may know that you have sent me, and have loved them as you have loved Me.”

2.     Passion turns ________________ into beauty.

Matthew 26:6-12

 ⁶ And when Jesus was in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper, ⁷ a woman came to Him having an alabaster flask of very costly fragrant oil, and she poured it on His head as He sat at the table. ⁸ But when His disciples saw it, they were indignant, saying, “Why this waste? ⁹ For this fragrant oil might have been sold for much and given to the poor.” ¹⁰ But when Jesus was aware of it, He said to them, “Why do you trouble the woman? For she has done a good work for Me. ¹¹ For you have the poor with you always, but Me you do not have always. ¹² For in pouring this fragrant oil on my body, she did it for my burial.

3.     Without passion, we cannot fulfill the great command.

Matthew 22:37-38

³⁷ Jesus said to him, “‘you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ ³⁸ This is the first and great commandment.

Answer Key: passion, emotionally detached, duty

PASSION

(Part 2)  

Steps to Loving God

I.                   LOVE IS THE END OF THE COMMANDMENT

1 Timothy 1:5

⁵ Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith.

Matthew 22:37-38

³⁷ Jesus said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ ³⁸ This is the first and great commandment.

Revelations 2:1-4

“To the angel of the church of Ephesus write, ‘These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands: ² “I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; ³ and you have persevered and had patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary. ⁴ Nevertheless, I have this against you, that you have left your first love.

Ephesians 3:14-20

¹⁴ For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, ¹⁵ from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, ¹⁶ that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, ¹⁷ that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, ¹⁸ may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height—¹⁹ to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. ²⁰ Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.

II.               THE PROCESS

1.     A revelation of Jesus that makes you want to Pursue Him

Hebrews 1:1-4

God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, ² has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; ³ who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, ⁴ having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.

·        Paul the Apostle

Acts 9:1-7

Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest ² and asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. ³ As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. ⁴ Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” ⁵ And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.” ⁶ So he, trembling and astonished, said, “Lord, what do you want me to do?” Then the Lord said to him, “Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” ⁷ And the men who journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice but seeing no one.

·        Disciples (Peter)

-         Matthew and Mark simply say they left all and followed Him but Luke tells why…

Luke 5:4-11

⁴ Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught. ⁵ And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless, at thy word I will let down the net. ⁶ And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake. ⁷ And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships so that they began to sink. ⁸ When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord. ⁹ For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken: “…And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men. ¹¹ And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all and followed him.

2.     The Need (Sinfulness)

Acts 9:6

⁶ So he, trembling and astonished, said, “Lord, what do you want me to do?”

Luke 5:8

⁸ When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.

Galatians 3:24

²⁴ Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ…

3.     Divine Affirmation

Luke 5:9

⁹ For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish which they had taken…And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid. From now on you will catch men.”

Acts 9:10-18

¹⁰ Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias…the Lord said to him, “Arise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus, for behold, he is praying. ¹⁷ And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” ¹⁸ Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once, and he arose and was baptized.

4.     The Challenge / Crisis (Human Weakness)

Matthew 16:21-26

²¹ From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day. ²² Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, “Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!” ²³ But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.” ²⁴ Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. ²⁵ For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. ²⁶ For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?

Mark 14:32-38

³² Then they came to a place which was named Gethsemane; and He said to His disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” ³³ And He took Peter, James, and John with Him, and He began to be troubled and deeply distressed. ³⁴ Then He said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch.” ³⁵ He went a little farther, and fell on the ground, and prayed that if it were possible, the hour might pass from Him. ³⁶ And He said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for You. Take this cup away from Me; nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will.” ³⁷ Then He came and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “Simon, are you sleeping? Could you not watch one hour? ³⁸ Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

Mark 14:72

⁶⁶ Now as Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high priest came. ⁶⁷ And when she saw Peter warming himself, she looked at him and said, “You also were with Jesus of Nazareth.” ⁶⁸ But he denied it, saying, “I neither know nor understand what you are saying.” And he went out on the porch, and a rooster crowed. ⁶⁹ And the servant girl saw him again, and began to say to those who stood by, “This is one of them.” ⁷⁰ But he denied it again. And a little later those who stood by said to Peter again, “Surely you are one of them; for you are a Galilean, and your speech shows it.” ⁷¹ Then he began to curse and swear, “I do not know this Man of whom you speak!” ⁷² A second time the rooster crowed. Then Peter called to mind the word that Jesus had said to him, “Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times.” And when he thought about it, he wept.

5.     The Consolation

John 21:15-19

¹⁵ So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Feed My lambs.” ¹⁶ He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Tend My sheep.” ¹⁷ He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep. ¹⁸ Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish.” ¹⁹ This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, “Follow Me.”