August, 1933
T H E K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S
258
M A r t V f ì O | f T & FA I LURE and R E C O V E R Y
B y P. W . PJIILPOTT Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Peter gave Satan the advantage, first, by his own self- confidence. Had Peter been less sure o f himself that night, he would have been more secure. Probably Paul had this disciple in mind when he wrote: “ Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.” When Jesus told the twelve that they would all forsake Him in the hour when the shame and sin o f the world came upon Him, Peter meant it when he replied, “ Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death.” I believe he was prepared to fight the whole company o f Christ’s enemies that night with a little sword that he had concealed beneath his flowing gar ment. Indeed, the first thing that offended Peter was Christ’s rebuff. “ Put up thy sword into his place,” said Jesus. That was a hard thing for Peter to do. He could not take the rebuke. Not many o f us can. Years after, when this apostle was an old man, he gave some good advice on this point. Possibly he had in mind his own experience when he wrote: “ God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand o f God, that he may exalt you in due time; Casting all your care upon him ; for he careth for you. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith.” The trouble with many o f us today is that we are too big for God; we are too strong; we know too much; we have too much confidence in the flesh. “ When I am weak,” says the apostle, “ then am I strong.” When my own resources fail, then His power shall most prevail. In the second place, Peter gave Satan the advantage by his failure to pray. “ Pray, lest ye enter into temptation,” said Jesus, as He came with His own into the garden. If
[Dr. Philpott was formerly pastor of the Gospel Tabernacle, Hamilton, Ont., the Mo o d y Memorial Church, Chicago, III., and the Church o f the Open Door, Los Angeles. In recent years, he hds been led into the evangelistic field, conducting
DR. PH ILPOTT
city-wide campaigns throughout the country, which have resulted in the salvation o f hundreds. He is scheduled fo r meetings on the Pacific Coast, beginning in January, 1934, in Vancouver, B.C., and culminating probably in Los Angeles, assisted by Mr. and Mrs. Arthur W. McKee, evangelistic musicians. Readers o f T he K ing ’ s B usiness will welcome this message from his pen—a mes sage characteristic o f the man, and filled with comfort and vital hope .— E ditor .] he B ible never attempts to. hide or excuse the faults o f its favorite characters. True, Abraham is called “ the friend of God,” Moses, the man to whom “ the Lord spake . . . face to face,” and David, the “man after God’s own heart.” But at the same time, the story o f their sin and shame is written with a boldness that is startling. It is very evident that the Scripture is not given to display human virtue, but rather the marvelous grace o f God. Hence, across the picture o f man as he really is, drawn against the black background of failure and shame, God spans the bow o f heavenly mercy and love. The story before us in this scripture is of Peter’s fall and restoration. His was a shameful failure, we must admit, but a most glorious and complete recovery. “ Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound.” In this connection, there are some things to be said on behalf of Peter, some extenuating circumstances to be considered. He was the outstanding personality o f the twelve apostles. His name appears in the gospel story more frequently than that o f any other man. According to the record, the Lord spoke to him more often than to any other. He received more praise and more blame than any others o f the apostles. He was rebuked and reproved more point edly than any o f the others, but he had a keen sense o f sin and o f his own unworthiness, and with all his faults he was a very lovable character. In considering his failure, we must not overlook the occasion. It was the world’s darkest night, the night when men laid unholy hands on the Son of God and led Him “ as a lamb to the slaughter” ; the night when they plucked out His beard and crowned Him with thorns. “ Be ye come out, as against a thief, with swords and staves?” inquired Jesus o f the chief priests and the captain of the temple. “ This is your hour, and the power o f darkness,” He added. That night, Satan was given divine permission to do his very worst, and his purpose was tw ofold : He would kill Jesus, the Christ, and he would bring about the downfall of Peter. “ Satan hath desired to have you,” said Jesus, “ that he may sift you as wheat.” Before we judge the apostle too harshly, let us consider if we would have stood up any better than Peter did under such conditions. W h y P eter F ailed In his second letter to the Corinthians, Paul warns be lievers lest they give Satan an advantage over them. This is exactly the kind o f admonition that Peter failed to heed.
ever a man needed to pray it was that n i g h t . We fre quently h e a r it s a i d that prayer changes t h i n g s , a n d that prayer m a k e s a differ ence. I . wonder how much o f a difference we be lieve it m a k e s , h o w g r e a t a change we think c a n b e effected through the minis try o f prayer. It might have meant that night the dif ference b etw een defeat and victory, had Peter waited upon God as the Lord admonished him to do. During the nearly fifty years o f my min istry, I have suf fered some severe
hen took they him, and led him, and brought him into the high priesfs house. And Peter fol lowed afar off. And when they had kindled a fire in the midst of. the hall, and were set down to gether, Peter sat down among them. But a certain maid beheld him as he sat by the fire, and earnestly looked upon him, and said, This man was also with him. And he denied him, saying, Woman, I know him not. And after a little while another saw him, and said, Thou art also o f them. And Peter said, Man, I am not. And about the space o f one hour after another confidently affirmed, saying, O f a truth this fellow also was with him; for he is a Galilean. And Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest. And immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew. And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remem bered the word o f the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And Peter went out, and wept bitterly (L k . 2 2 :54-62).
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