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WHAT CAUSES OUR PERSONAL FAILURES? 3 Things Peter Did Wrong   1. WE OVERSTATE OUR STRENGTHS ‘“Jesus said ‘Tonight every one of you will desert me. For the Scripture says that when the shepherd is killed, the sheep will be scattered. BUT after I’ve been raised from the dead, I will go ahead of you to Galilee and meet you there.’ Then Peter boasted, ‘But Lord, even if everyone else fails you, I will NEVER deny you!’ Jesus replied, ‘Peter, the truth is that before this night is over, and before the rooster crows at dawn, you will deny knowing me three times.’ Peter insisted, ‘But Lord, I would NEVER do that! Even if I have to die with you I’ll never deny knowing you!’ And all the other disciples vowed the same thing.”            Matthew 26:31-35   “If you think, ‘I am strong! I can handle this. I’d never fall for that temptation,’ then be careful! For you could easily fall too!”  1 Corinthians 10:12     2.  WE FEAR THE DISAPPROVAL OF OTHERS “Peter followed Jesus at a distance to the courtyard of the high priest's palace. He went in and sat down with the guards to see what was going to happen to Jesus . . . As he was sitting in the courtyard, a servant girl came up to him and said, ‘You were with Jesus of Galilee, weren’t you?’ But standing there in front of everyone Peter denied it. ‘I don't even know what you're talking about!’ he said.” Matthew 26:58, 69-70   “It is a dangerous trap to be concerned with what others think of you, but if you trust the Lord, you’ll be safe.”          Proverbs 29:25   3. WE SPEAK WITHOUT THINKING “Then Peter went out to the entrance of the courtyard and there another woman saw him and said to those standing there, ‘This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.’ Again Peter denied it, and this time he swore an oath and said ‘I don't even know that man!’ But after a while, the men who had been standing there came over to Peter and said ‘We KNOW that you are one of them because your Galilean accent gives you away.’ Peter lost his temper and started cursing and swearing. He shouted ‘I don’t know the man!’ Immediately he heard a rooster crow.” Matthew 26:71-74   “The tongue is a small thing, but what enormous damage it can do! Just as a tiny spark can burn up a great forest, the tongue is a flame of fire. That part of your body is full of wickedness and can poison everything else in your life. It is set on fire by hell itself and can turn our whole lives into a blazing flame of destruction and disaster.” James 3:5-6   WHAT SHOULD I DO WHEN I FAIL?  3 Things Peter Did Right   1. GRIEVE “When Peter heard the rooster crow, he remembered that Jesus had said, ‘Before the rooster crows, you’ll deny me three times.’ Then Peter went outside and WEPT BITTERLY.”  Matthew 26:75   2. LET MY SMALL GROUP SUPPORT ME (Easter morning) “Mary Magdalene went and found the disciples together, grieving and weeping.” Mark 16:10   (Easter night) “That evening the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders. Suddenly, Jesus appeared in the middle of the group, and said ‘Peace be with you!’ . . . The disciples were filled with joy when they saw the Lord!” John 20:19-20   “A week later the disciples were together again meeting in a home.” John 20:26   3. CAST MYSELF ON GOD’S MERCY “Because of his great mercy God has given us a new life by raising Jesus Christ from death. This fills us with a living hope . . .” 1 Peter 1:3    “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”        1 Peter 5:7