FEATURE ARTICLE
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FEATURE ARTICLE
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| Sunday, April 21, 2024 |
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[email protected] Toronto, Ontario, Canada 
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“So they arrested him(Jesus)and led him to the high priest’s home. And Peter followed at a distance. 55 The guards lit a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat around it, and Peter joined them there. 56 A servant girl noticed him in the firelight and began staring at him. Finally she said, “This man was one of Jesus’ followers!”57 But Peter denied it. “Woman,” he said, “I don’t even know him!”58 After a while someone else looked at him and said, “You must be one of them!””No, man, I’m not!” Peter retorted.59 About an hour later someone else insisted, “This must be one of them, because he is a Galilean, too.”60 But Peter said, “Man, I don’t know what you are talking about.” And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed.” Lk 22:54-60.
1. When in service you delight in sitting at the back “at a distance” from the altar particularly in this modern day fully engaged in social media activities, texting, browsing, phoning, chatting, watching movie and more. 2. When according to Psalm 1:1. You are walking in the counsel of ungodly people (aligning with people who oppose godly values), standing (agreeing with sinful lifestyle) and seat with scorners (mock godly principle and creation). 3. When you are corrected and warned by the usher to move forward and you refuse. 4. When you are always around people that are “persecuting” Jesus, making mockery, jokes and jest of Jesus and you are enjoying it. 5. When you value your comfort (warming yourself by the fire) to the discomfort of Jesus facing crucifixion in the hands of Pilates! 6. When as a pastor you invite comedian to church altar and they are making jest of Jesus, the Holy Spirit, the Trinity and the body of Christ.
7. When you believe there is God, but deny Jesus as Savior, Son of God, the Way,the Truth and the life! 8. When you claim Jesus did not resurrect with physical body. 9. When you claim you love God but you are not willing to sacrifice your comfort, money, time resources for Him and the gospel. 10. When in that place of work, school, neighborhood you needed to speak up for Jesus and you keep quiet. 11. When for whatever reason you are ashamed that you are a Christian. 12. When you should go for evangelism, soul winning, missionary trip and you refuse. 13. When you are to show the love of God by helping your neighbour and you refuse. 14. When you are afraid to proclaim Jesus because of what people will do to you or for a momentary gain. 15. When you continue to live in sin, practice sin and enjoy sin even though you come to church, and function as worker in church. Gal 5:19-21. 16. When you are not bearing the nine fruits of the spirit, love, joy etc Gal 5:22-23. 17. When you frustrate and waste his death on Calvary at Golgotha by refusing to accept Jesus as Saviour and Lord.Gal 2:21. 1Jn 3:7-8. 18. When you enjoy and relish in perversion, profanity,sex(before/outside marriage), foul language, hedonism, engage in shady businesses etc.
19. When you love the things of this world sports, movies as oppose to reading the Bible, fellowship and prayer meeting. 20. When you are consulting medium, herbalist, voodoos, charmers, babalawos, for solutions to your predicaments instead of trusting in the miraculous power of Jesus and the Holy Ghost. 21. When you deny the existence of heaven or hell. Conclusion: The list continues but for brevity let me stop here. The question you really want to ask yourself when your conscience pricks you about any activity is “will this amount to denying Jesus” if your spirit say “yes,”then don’t do it. Secondly if you have been doing one or any of the things above do what Peter did. “At that moment the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Suddenly, the Lord’s words flashed through Peter’s mind: “Before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will deny three times that you even know me.” 62 And Peter left the courtyard, weeping bitterly.Lk 22:61-62. Spend sometime right now and weep it is right to express your regrets emotionally, but genuinely repent. Sooner than later Jesus will give you second or nth chance and you will hear his voice(Dele Dada, put your name there) do you love me- feed my sheep! That is Jesus style he doesn’t condemn he restores! Shalom!
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ost times today a lot of preachers do a lot of exegesis and expose on Peter’s denial of Jesus to the delight of their listeners and parishioners.The parishioners are not left out in accusing and abusing Peter for denying Jesus. This morning the Holy Spirit will like you to ask yourself “ are you really better than Peter”, “Are you denying Jesus? Check this “list” out if you are among the modern day disciple like Peter who denied Jesus three times in one night!