Title: Your Association Matters
Memorize: Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; Psalm 1:1 (Nkjv)
Bible Reading (Nkjv): Mark 14:54, 66-71
[54] But Peter followed Him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest. And he sat with the servants and warmed himself at the fire.
[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!”
Message:
The Bible, on many occasions, warns against keeping the company of the ungodly so as not to be entangled with their wickedness.
For example, the Bible says in Proverbs 1:10: “My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent.” The Bible also says: “ Do not be deceived: “Evil company corrupts good habits.””* (1 Corinthians 15:33).
Our Bible reading for today shows that Peter did three deadly things that fueled his denial of Jesus Christ.
First, he was following Jesus from afar (from a distance). It is possible that he would have received courage from the Master if he had followed Jesus closely.
Secondly, even though Jesus had asked the soldiers to allow His disciples to leave, Peter ignored this request: he followed Jesus fearfully.
Thirdly, he sat with the servants, enjoying the warmth of the fire with the ungodly: he found comfort with the wrong people.
Beloved, be wary of the comfort zones of life; they may be physically comfortable but not spiritually ideal.
Don’t share an apartment with a member of the opposite sex due to accommodation issues: it is simply playing with fire.
Action Point:
Study your environment te see whether it is conducive to your spiritual growth, and take wise steps to avoid temptation.
HYMN 3: ALL TO JESUS I SURRENDER
1. All to Jesus I surrender
All to Him I freely give;
I will ever love and trust Him,
In His presence daily live.
CHORUS
I surrender all.
I surrender all:
All to Thee, my blessed savior
I surrender all
2. All to Jesus I surrender,
Humbly at His feet I bow;
Worldly pleasures all forsaken.
Take me, Jesus, take me now.
3. All to Jesus I surrender.
Lord, I give myself to Thee;
Fill me with Thy love and power,
Let Thy blessing fall on me.
4. All to Jesus I surrender,
Now I feel the sacred flame
O the joy of full salvation!
Glory, glory to His name!
Bible Reading In One Year: Matthew 27-28
AUTHORS: PASTOR E.A ADEBOYE
PASTOR MRS FOLU ADEBOYE