Be in Community with God’s People

Pray – (1/2 minute)

Read – (2 1/2 minutes) – “. . . There he sat with the guards and warmed himself at the fire. . . While Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high priest came by. When she saw Peter warming himself, she looked closely at him. ‘You also were with the Nazarene, Jesus,’ she said. But he denied it, ‘I don’t know or understand what you’re talking about,’ he said, and went out into the entryway.” (Mark 14:54b, 66-68)
  Passage: Hebrews 10:24-25

          On the Thursday evening which would culminate with the arrest of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane and His illegal trial through the early morning hours of Friday, Jesus had predicted that all the disciples would run away and that Peter would deny Him three times. Peter had boldly claimed that he would die before he would deny, yet before the crowed twice to signal the morning, Peter would deny he even knew Jesus. Instead of confessing, Peter began cursing. Peter didn’t stand up for Jesus because he was sitting with the world. He was trying to fit in as he warmed himself by the fire.
        The answer for believers to avoid the failure of Peter is not to be isolated from the world. It is to be insulated from the world, so that we can be salt and light and witnesses to the world. The insulation comes through being controlled by the power of the Holy Spirit, begin conscious of His presence in and around us and being in community with God’s people. God brought us into His forever family, and He designed the local church to be a place for a group of His family members to gather to help each other fulfill His purposes for their lives. Thank God for your local church family and be active in your presence and participation. You will be encouraged and you will be an encouragement to others.

Apply - (2 1/2 minutes)
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Pray - (1 1/2 minutes)