1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:08,160 The Word of God is food for the spirit and health to the body. 2 00:00:08,160 --> 00:00:14,000 Through the spirit of revelation, we are guided into the wisdom and deep mysteries in His 3 00:00:14,000 --> 00:00:17,800 Word that make our lives vibrant and productive. 4 00:00:17,800 --> 00:00:21,120 Welcome to the Merciful Gospel Church Podcast. 5 00:00:21,120 --> 00:00:26,560 As you're listening, the glory of God will be quickened and activated in your life. 6 00:00:26,560 --> 00:00:31,760 And now, the Word. 7 00:00:31,760 --> 00:00:39,560 This morning I want to divert a bit from the book of Acts and deliver a message to you 8 00:00:39,560 --> 00:00:45,960 that I think will speak to someone this morning. 9 00:00:45,960 --> 00:00:49,960 You know, sometimes you have to obey the Holy Spirit. 10 00:00:49,960 --> 00:00:52,560 I had another message prepared. 11 00:00:52,560 --> 00:01:00,760 I have actually several prepared from the book of Acts, but the Lord showed me to dwell 12 00:01:00,760 --> 00:01:03,840 on something different this morning. 13 00:01:03,840 --> 00:01:05,760 I want to bring the topic to you. 14 00:01:05,760 --> 00:01:09,560 The Roster still speaks. 15 00:01:09,560 --> 00:01:12,000 The Roster, Rusta. 16 00:01:12,000 --> 00:01:13,560 You know the Rusta? 17 00:01:13,560 --> 00:01:16,280 Segwanga, the cook. 18 00:01:16,280 --> 00:01:19,520 The Rusta still speaks. 19 00:01:19,520 --> 00:01:22,640 The Rusta still speaks. 20 00:01:22,640 --> 00:01:29,120 We'll read in the Gospel of Luke chapter 22, and I want us to read a few passages there 21 00:01:29,120 --> 00:01:31,880 to begin with. 22 00:01:31,880 --> 00:01:36,600 Luke 22 from verse 56. 23 00:01:36,600 --> 00:01:52,720 But a certain maid beheld him as he sat by the fire, and earnestly looked upon him and 24 00:01:52,720 --> 00:01:56,600 said, This man was also with him? 25 00:01:56,600 --> 00:02:02,800 And he denied him, saying, Woman, I know him not. 26 00:02:02,800 --> 00:02:11,160 And after a little while another saw him and said, Thou art also of them? 27 00:02:11,160 --> 00:02:15,280 And Peter said, Man, I am not. 28 00:02:15,280 --> 00:02:24,840 And about the space of one hour, after another confidently affirmed saying of truth, this 29 00:02:24,840 --> 00:02:29,880 fellow also was with him, for he is a Galenian. 30 00:02:29,880 --> 00:02:33,080 And Peter said, Man, I know not. 31 00:02:33,080 --> 00:02:39,160 Listen now verse, I've jumped to verse 50, verse 60. 32 00:02:39,160 --> 00:02:42,280 Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest. 33 00:02:42,280 --> 00:02:50,000 And immediately Quirle yet spake the cock crow, and the Lord turned and looked upon 34 00:02:50,000 --> 00:02:51,760 Peter. 35 00:02:51,760 --> 00:02:57,000 And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock 36 00:02:57,000 --> 00:03:02,520 crow thou shalt deny me three times. 37 00:03:02,520 --> 00:03:06,240 You know these days I live in the village, you know that. 38 00:03:06,240 --> 00:03:09,600 I was born in Kampala, raised up in Kampala. 39 00:03:09,600 --> 00:03:13,000 I never really understood the village. 40 00:03:13,000 --> 00:03:21,440 But when COVID came and there was a lockdown, I and my wife by accident ended up in the 41 00:03:21,440 --> 00:03:22,440 village. 42 00:03:22,440 --> 00:03:25,280 We've been there ever since. 43 00:03:25,280 --> 00:03:33,640 One thing about the village is the sounds you hear in the morning, the symphony of music, 44 00:03:33,640 --> 00:03:36,000 but noise. 45 00:03:36,000 --> 00:03:43,080 You hear the birds chirping, all kinds of birds make noise in the morning. 46 00:03:43,080 --> 00:03:48,400 We have many trees and therefore we have all kinds of birds that come in the morning and 47 00:03:48,400 --> 00:03:50,200 they wake us up. 48 00:03:50,200 --> 00:03:58,240 You also get to hear the communication between the cows and their calves. 49 00:03:58,240 --> 00:04:07,320 When it's morning time, the calves want to suckle their mothers and they communicate, 50 00:04:07,320 --> 00:04:10,120 the cows cry and the calves cry. 51 00:04:10,120 --> 00:04:11,960 And that's noise. 52 00:04:11,960 --> 00:04:15,680 Then you hear the cock, the rooster. 53 00:04:15,680 --> 00:04:23,000 It's amazing how this animal can tell time. 54 00:04:23,000 --> 00:04:26,680 Up to now I don't know what God has put in those birds. 55 00:04:26,680 --> 00:04:32,120 Some of them are on the dot 4 a.m., between 4 and 5 they crawl. 56 00:04:32,120 --> 00:04:39,600 And you know that it's almost dawn and the morning has come upon us. 57 00:04:39,600 --> 00:04:50,440 Now Jesus told Peter, before the cock crawls, you deny me three times. 58 00:04:50,440 --> 00:04:55,120 And of course Peter said, no, no, no, no, all these guys may fail you but I'm not going 59 00:04:55,120 --> 00:04:57,000 to fail you. 60 00:04:57,000 --> 00:05:05,040 But alas, it came to pass and Peter denied Jesus. 61 00:05:05,040 --> 00:05:13,640 When he did, the cock crawled, before his denial, when he had a cock, it had no message 62 00:05:13,640 --> 00:05:15,640 to him. 63 00:05:15,640 --> 00:05:22,600 Israel, in the times of Peter, was like rural country. 64 00:05:22,600 --> 00:05:27,720 The cocks and the animals would make noise in the morning. 65 00:05:27,720 --> 00:05:32,360 When the rooster crawls, no big deal. 66 00:05:32,360 --> 00:05:42,040 But when he denied Jesus, every time the rooster crawled, it triggered an emotion in him. 67 00:05:42,040 --> 00:05:53,400 It triggered a sense of failure, a sense of being a coward, a sense of being a disappointment. 68 00:05:53,400 --> 00:05:57,280 He was a disappointment to Christ. 69 00:05:57,280 --> 00:06:06,040 A sense of being one who was braggart and he boasted but it was really just hot air, 70 00:06:06,040 --> 00:06:07,200 nothing. 71 00:06:07,200 --> 00:06:12,040 And that was an epic failure in the life of Peter. 72 00:06:12,040 --> 00:06:19,440 So after that denial of Jesus, every time Peter had the cock crowed, and remember when 73 00:06:19,440 --> 00:06:25,880 it crowed, the Bible says he went out and wept bitterly. 74 00:06:25,880 --> 00:06:36,080 So I imagine that until when Jesus rose from the dead and made the disciples, every time 75 00:06:36,080 --> 00:06:41,320 Peter had the cock crowed, it brought bad emotions. 76 00:06:41,320 --> 00:06:49,480 But when Jesus came back from the dead and spoke to Peter, then the cock, when it crowed, 77 00:06:49,480 --> 00:06:52,960 it sent a different message. 78 00:06:52,960 --> 00:07:02,720 And I want us to look at the message the cock or the rooster sent to Peter after resurrection. 79 00:07:02,720 --> 00:07:09,800 First of all, it reminded him, Peter, every time you hear the cock, you must watch and 80 00:07:09,800 --> 00:07:12,200 pray. 81 00:07:12,200 --> 00:07:13,200 Watch and pray. 82 00:07:13,200 --> 00:07:25,280 Jesus had said in Luke 22 verse 31 to 34, he said, Simon, behold, O Saturn has desired 83 00:07:25,280 --> 00:07:30,640 to have you, that he may sift through as wheat. 84 00:07:30,640 --> 00:07:35,320 But I prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not. 85 00:07:35,320 --> 00:07:38,880 When thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren. 86 00:07:38,880 --> 00:07:47,240 33, and he said to him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee both into prison and to death. 87 00:07:47,240 --> 00:07:54,160 34, he said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crawl this day before that thou 88 00:07:54,160 --> 00:07:59,320 hast thrice denied that thou knowest me. 89 00:07:59,320 --> 00:08:05,920 Jump to verse 39, and he came out and went as he was wont to the Mount of Olives, and 90 00:08:05,920 --> 00:08:09,040 his disciples also followed him. 91 00:08:09,040 --> 00:08:20,240 When he was at that place, he said unto them, Pray that you enter not into temptation. 92 00:08:20,240 --> 00:08:29,080 Every time the cock crowed after resurrection, it reminded him, Jesus told us before that 93 00:08:29,080 --> 00:08:32,920 eventful day to watch and pray. 94 00:08:32,920 --> 00:08:43,680 None of the disciples understood the danger that was coming to them. 95 00:08:43,680 --> 00:08:47,360 This was no ordinary attack. 96 00:08:47,360 --> 00:08:52,800 Saturn himself was managing the operation. 97 00:08:52,800 --> 00:08:57,580 He had come and entered Judas. 98 00:08:57,580 --> 00:09:06,360 This operation was masterminded and managed by Saturn himself. 99 00:09:06,360 --> 00:09:10,120 If you talk about hell, all hell broke loose. 100 00:09:10,120 --> 00:09:14,520 All hell came out that day. 101 00:09:14,520 --> 00:09:17,160 The disciples did not know what Jesus saw. 102 00:09:17,160 --> 00:09:23,160 He said to them, ye people, ye better pray. 103 00:09:23,160 --> 00:09:27,920 If you don't pray, you won't enter into temptation. 104 00:09:27,920 --> 00:09:34,280 There is a formidable storm and attack coming your way. 105 00:09:34,280 --> 00:09:37,240 They took it lightly. 106 00:09:37,240 --> 00:09:48,200 But when Jesus rose from the dead and encouraged Peter, Peter remembered, when the cock crawled, 107 00:09:48,200 --> 00:09:51,880 I remember what he said, watch and pray. 108 00:09:51,880 --> 00:09:56,660 It is a need for us to be vigilant. 109 00:09:56,660 --> 00:10:02,640 When you go to bed tonight and the cock crawls in the morning, remember that message. 110 00:10:02,640 --> 00:10:05,000 Wake up and pray. 111 00:10:05,000 --> 00:10:08,520 Watch and pray. 112 00:10:08,520 --> 00:10:13,840 Jesus saw a big storm coming. 113 00:10:13,840 --> 00:10:19,960 So them, come on, can't you stand up and pray for only one hour? 114 00:10:19,960 --> 00:10:20,960 Says watch. 115 00:10:20,960 --> 00:10:25,920 Or else you fall into temptation. 116 00:10:25,920 --> 00:10:33,880 And Saturn had particularly asked for Peter. 117 00:10:33,880 --> 00:10:41,080 Why we cannot guess, hey people, Peter was so loud and he seemed to be like the natural 118 00:10:41,080 --> 00:10:42,940 leader of the group. 119 00:10:42,940 --> 00:10:51,600 The devil said, let me, allow me to sift this one. 120 00:10:51,600 --> 00:11:00,720 He asked and Jesus told Peter, Simon, Simon, your life is in danger. 121 00:11:00,720 --> 00:11:02,440 Pray. 122 00:11:02,440 --> 00:11:05,520 Saturn has asked to sift you. 123 00:11:05,520 --> 00:11:09,080 When you sift something, you shake it violently. 124 00:11:09,080 --> 00:11:15,760 When they're sifting wheat, when they're trying to remove chaff, you shake violently. 125 00:11:15,760 --> 00:11:19,080 Devil has asked to shake you violently. 126 00:11:19,080 --> 00:11:22,880 Your life is in danger. 127 00:11:22,880 --> 00:11:26,320 Watch and pray. 128 00:11:26,320 --> 00:11:37,280 And Jesus predicted, it is said in Mark 14, verse 27. 129 00:11:37,280 --> 00:11:44,880 He says, and Jesus said unto them, all ye shall be offended because of me this night. 130 00:11:44,880 --> 00:11:51,120 It is written, I will smite the shepherd and the sheep shall scur. 131 00:11:51,120 --> 00:11:52,120 28. 132 00:11:52,120 --> 00:11:55,840 But after that I'm risen. 133 00:11:55,840 --> 00:11:59,680 I'll go before you into Galilee. 134 00:11:59,680 --> 00:12:07,600 Jesus predicted that all of them are going to fall. 135 00:12:07,600 --> 00:12:09,280 He predicted it. 136 00:12:09,280 --> 00:12:12,840 He warned them, he said, all of you are going to fall. 137 00:12:12,840 --> 00:12:14,480 And you know why? 138 00:12:14,480 --> 00:12:18,600 Because the men of them did not take heed to his warning. 139 00:12:18,600 --> 00:12:22,200 He told them, watch and pray. 140 00:12:22,200 --> 00:12:30,160 Listen, Jesus was praying for them, but that is not sometimes enough. 141 00:12:30,160 --> 00:12:34,880 You also must pray for yourself. 142 00:12:34,880 --> 00:12:39,960 He said, I've prayed for you, but you need to pray also. 143 00:12:39,960 --> 00:12:42,560 I don't know why God does that. 144 00:12:42,560 --> 00:12:49,160 You think that God is so powerful, he can put a wall around you and keep you from falling. 145 00:12:49,160 --> 00:12:51,520 Sometimes he does it. 146 00:12:51,520 --> 00:13:00,160 He wants you to stand up and pray and fight and stand. 147 00:13:00,160 --> 00:13:03,360 Unless you stand and pray, you will fall. 148 00:13:03,360 --> 00:13:05,880 You say, pastor, they'll just stop praying for you. 149 00:13:05,880 --> 00:13:11,080 They'll just stop praying for you, but some things require your involvement. 150 00:13:11,080 --> 00:13:14,600 You have a role to play. 151 00:13:14,600 --> 00:13:23,640 That's why in Luke chapter 18 verse 1, Jesus spoke of a parable and says, men ought to 152 00:13:23,640 --> 00:13:25,320 pray always. 153 00:13:25,320 --> 00:13:31,840 He says always and not faint. 154 00:13:31,840 --> 00:13:33,600 I know we have an intercessor. 155 00:13:33,600 --> 00:13:41,960 Jesus lives forever to pray for us, but please don't fold your hands and say, you will fall. 156 00:13:41,960 --> 00:13:44,560 You will fall. 157 00:13:44,560 --> 00:13:50,000 Every time the cock crows, tomorrow morning, open your ears. 158 00:13:50,000 --> 00:13:54,520 When you hear the cock, get up and pray. 159 00:13:54,520 --> 00:13:56,080 Watch and pray. 160 00:13:56,080 --> 00:14:02,960 That is the message that Peter now would pick from the cock crowing. 161 00:14:02,960 --> 00:14:09,400 Before you would feel condemned, but after Christ rose from the dead, the message changed. 162 00:14:09,400 --> 00:14:15,360 Every day announces new possibilities, get up and pray. 163 00:14:15,360 --> 00:14:19,680 Every day comes with new challenges, get up and pray. 164 00:14:19,680 --> 00:14:23,040 Every day comes with new temptations, get up and pray. 165 00:14:23,040 --> 00:14:27,440 Watch and pray. 166 00:14:27,440 --> 00:14:34,400 That's the powerful message that we receive from the cock crowing in the morning. 167 00:14:34,400 --> 00:14:40,720 In James chapter 5 verse 13, it says, is any among you afflicted? 168 00:14:40,720 --> 00:14:41,720 Let him do what? 169 00:14:41,720 --> 00:14:42,720 Pray. 170 00:14:42,720 --> 00:14:49,320 It doesn't mean that Christ is not praying for you, no, but you also pray. 171 00:14:49,320 --> 00:14:56,360 If you're afflicted, if you're having difficulties and temptation, pray. 172 00:14:56,360 --> 00:15:01,080 Praise the Lord. 173 00:15:01,080 --> 00:15:13,040 In John chapter 18 verse 10, then Simon Peter having a sword, drew it and smothered the 174 00:15:13,040 --> 00:15:17,520 high priest servant and cut off his right ear. 175 00:15:17,520 --> 00:15:20,800 The servant's name was Malchus. 176 00:15:20,800 --> 00:15:24,160 Now let me ask you a question. 177 00:15:24,160 --> 00:15:32,920 When Peter drew the sword, did he want to cut off an ear or he want to cut off the head? 178 00:15:32,920 --> 00:15:35,720 The head. 179 00:15:35,720 --> 00:15:44,400 When Peter drew that sword, his aim and intent was to cut off the man's head. 180 00:15:44,400 --> 00:15:54,440 To see if he don't pray, all you cut are ears. 181 00:15:54,440 --> 00:15:59,840 You are ineffective in ministry. 182 00:15:59,840 --> 00:16:03,640 You lack impact. 183 00:16:03,640 --> 00:16:09,080 You lack power behind your words. 184 00:16:09,080 --> 00:16:13,800 Your ministry is feeble. 185 00:16:13,800 --> 00:16:15,360 You aim for the head. 186 00:16:15,360 --> 00:16:23,520 The only thing you can cut is an ear because you are powerless. 187 00:16:23,520 --> 00:16:31,760 You know, Samson with his bare hands, killed a lion. 188 00:16:31,760 --> 00:16:40,240 He had no sword, but Samson was full of the power of the Holy Spirit. 189 00:16:40,240 --> 00:16:45,960 When you have the power of the Holy Spirit, you can do amazing things. 190 00:16:45,960 --> 00:16:50,400 But I can tell you that even if Peter had been given a machine gun to kill that man, 191 00:16:50,400 --> 00:16:56,240 he would still miss. 192 00:16:56,240 --> 00:17:00,160 Because he had no power, there was no waiting upon his life. 193 00:17:00,160 --> 00:17:04,920 He would still miss with a machine gun. 194 00:17:04,920 --> 00:17:12,480 How do you fail to cut a head and only I don't know how he struck, I don't know, he was looking 195 00:17:12,480 --> 00:17:13,480 this way. 196 00:17:13,480 --> 00:17:14,480 How? 197 00:17:14,480 --> 00:17:18,200 You see, and you only cut an ear. 198 00:17:18,200 --> 00:17:21,420 Maybe the man dodged, maybe. 199 00:17:21,420 --> 00:17:27,160 But the man was unarmed and moreover a slave, a servant. 200 00:17:27,160 --> 00:17:28,960 He was not trained in any military tactics. 201 00:17:28,960 --> 00:17:33,160 He was a servant, but he dodged. 202 00:17:33,160 --> 00:17:37,880 The problem is Peter had no power. 203 00:17:37,880 --> 00:17:39,720 He had no power. 204 00:17:39,720 --> 00:17:42,240 He had no anointing upon his life. 205 00:17:42,240 --> 00:17:46,000 And that's what happens often. 206 00:17:46,000 --> 00:17:52,200 We become ineffective in what we do for the Lord. 207 00:17:52,200 --> 00:17:54,160 Hallelujah. 208 00:17:54,160 --> 00:18:01,160 The Bible says that the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to 209 00:18:01,160 --> 00:18:05,520 putting down all strongholds. 210 00:18:05,520 --> 00:18:08,320 Praise the Lord. 211 00:18:08,320 --> 00:18:17,080 There are things that will require more than just your connections or your background or 212 00:18:17,080 --> 00:18:20,240 your academic qualifications. 213 00:18:20,240 --> 00:18:26,240 You need to pray, watch and pray. 214 00:18:26,240 --> 00:18:28,940 Hallelujah. 215 00:18:28,940 --> 00:18:32,640 I also want you to notice something in that verse. 216 00:18:32,640 --> 00:18:40,320 Go back to John 18 verse 10. 217 00:18:40,320 --> 00:18:44,800 The psalmist's name was Malchus. 218 00:18:44,800 --> 00:18:51,200 That means this man was known in the early church. 219 00:18:51,200 --> 00:19:01,080 When you see a name mentioned, it's because the readers of the audience know him. 220 00:19:01,080 --> 00:19:04,280 They can refer to him. 221 00:19:04,280 --> 00:19:10,000 It's believed this man actually became a believer. 222 00:19:10,000 --> 00:19:12,080 He became a Christian. 223 00:19:12,080 --> 00:19:20,000 Many scholars believe this man, when Christ rose from the dead, he gave his life to Christ. 224 00:19:20,000 --> 00:19:28,520 Now do you see why Jesus took his ear and put it back on his head? 225 00:19:28,520 --> 00:19:34,120 Because this man was going to become a believer himself and he had to have ears to hear the 226 00:19:34,120 --> 00:19:36,120 word of God. 227 00:19:36,120 --> 00:19:40,260 So God put back his ear to hear the word of God. 228 00:19:40,260 --> 00:19:43,120 But here's my point. 229 00:19:43,120 --> 00:19:49,320 That when we don't pray, we cut off people's ears. 230 00:19:49,320 --> 00:19:51,800 This man actually was serving God. 231 00:19:51,800 --> 00:19:52,880 Why do I say that? 232 00:19:52,880 --> 00:20:04,160 Because in verse 11, verse 11, then said Jesus to Peter, put up thy sword into the stitch. 233 00:20:04,160 --> 00:20:08,480 The cup which my father has given me shall I not drink it. 234 00:20:08,480 --> 00:20:15,200 In other words, Malchus in a bizarre way was serving God. 235 00:20:15,200 --> 00:20:19,000 Are you following? 236 00:20:19,000 --> 00:20:22,640 That servant was serving God. 237 00:20:22,640 --> 00:20:28,000 He was fulfilling the purpose of Jesus for coming on earth. 238 00:20:28,000 --> 00:20:32,280 Yes, so Peter, take away that sword. 239 00:20:32,280 --> 00:20:33,280 Have a cup. 240 00:20:33,280 --> 00:20:34,280 I must drink it. 241 00:20:34,280 --> 00:20:40,600 And Malchus and these soldiers are hoping me go up the cross. 242 00:20:40,600 --> 00:20:49,420 In a bizarre, strange, paradoxical way, Malchus was serving God. 243 00:20:49,420 --> 00:20:56,240 But because Peter had not prayed, he had no discernment. 244 00:20:56,240 --> 00:21:04,840 He did not know the purpose and the working of God behind the scenes. 245 00:21:04,840 --> 00:21:08,000 He did not know what God was doing. 246 00:21:08,000 --> 00:21:11,840 He was acting in the flesh. 247 00:21:11,840 --> 00:21:14,920 He was acting carnally. 248 00:21:14,920 --> 00:21:21,240 If he had been praying, he probably would have received a revelation that this is actually 249 00:21:21,240 --> 00:21:24,880 the purpose of why Jesus came. 250 00:21:24,880 --> 00:21:28,840 He came to die for us on the cross. 251 00:21:28,840 --> 00:21:33,800 And what's happening now is in the will of God. 252 00:21:33,800 --> 00:21:36,440 Praise the Lord. 253 00:21:36,440 --> 00:21:48,360 This God uses people to give us assignments, to give us roles, and to give us positions. 254 00:21:48,360 --> 00:21:49,360 And we complain. 255 00:21:49,360 --> 00:21:54,640 We think this person is just being rude or bad. 256 00:21:54,640 --> 00:21:57,880 And we begin to badmouth them. 257 00:21:57,880 --> 00:21:59,720 We begin to cut off their ears. 258 00:21:59,720 --> 00:22:01,480 Let me give you an example. 259 00:22:01,480 --> 00:22:05,220 Many years ago, many, many, many years ago. 260 00:22:05,220 --> 00:22:09,140 My role, of course, is to mentor other leaders. 261 00:22:09,140 --> 00:22:13,220 And God has, by His grace, helped me raise up several leaders. 262 00:22:13,220 --> 00:22:16,520 One of them was a young man in his church. 263 00:22:16,520 --> 00:22:22,980 And I sensed that it was time for him to go out and begin a church. 264 00:22:22,980 --> 00:22:24,840 He was ambitious. 265 00:22:24,840 --> 00:22:32,560 He was visionary and could not stay within this vision because he had his own plans and 266 00:22:32,560 --> 00:22:33,560 he was very boisterous. 267 00:22:33,560 --> 00:22:42,040 I said, look, it's better for you to go out and begin a church and do your own thing. 268 00:22:42,040 --> 00:22:49,080 Even though we gave him support for a number of years, he castigated and talked ill of 269 00:22:49,080 --> 00:22:52,920 me locally, abroad. 270 00:22:52,920 --> 00:22:54,960 He wrote emails to missionaries. 271 00:22:54,960 --> 00:22:57,160 He wrote. 272 00:22:57,160 --> 00:23:01,840 But now he has a large ministry. 273 00:23:01,840 --> 00:23:05,900 He has a large ministry and I'm glad. 274 00:23:05,900 --> 00:23:15,880 But he did not pray well to understand that actually God was using me to push him to his 275 00:23:15,880 --> 00:23:16,880 destiny. 276 00:23:16,880 --> 00:23:22,720 Sometimes we cut off people's ears because we don't have a designament. 277 00:23:22,720 --> 00:23:27,060 We say things that are wrong. 278 00:23:27,060 --> 00:23:28,640 We insult people. 279 00:23:28,640 --> 00:23:30,640 We accuse people. 280 00:23:30,640 --> 00:23:35,400 We cut off their ears because we have not prayed to receive understanding of what God 281 00:23:35,400 --> 00:23:39,840 is doing. 282 00:23:39,840 --> 00:23:46,400 Every time the cock crowed, I said, I need to watch and pray. 283 00:23:46,400 --> 00:23:49,000 I remember what happened. 284 00:23:49,000 --> 00:23:51,760 It will not happen to me again. 285 00:23:51,760 --> 00:23:54,640 I need to watch and pray. 286 00:23:54,640 --> 00:23:55,640 Hallelujah. 287 00:23:55,640 --> 00:23:58,640 Praise the Lord. 288 00:23:58,640 --> 00:24:07,440 The second thing that will be the last thing I want to talk about is it reminded him of 289 00:24:07,440 --> 00:24:11,440 God's promises. 290 00:24:11,440 --> 00:24:14,440 Write the statement down. 291 00:24:14,440 --> 00:24:24,000 My life does not stand on my promises to God, but on Christ's promises to me. 292 00:24:24,000 --> 00:24:29,200 Let me explain this. 293 00:24:29,200 --> 00:24:36,320 In Matthew chapter 26, I want to explain this point. 294 00:24:36,320 --> 00:24:40,000 Matthew 26 verse 31. 295 00:24:40,000 --> 00:24:59,880 It is said, Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night. 296 00:24:59,880 --> 00:25:08,400 For it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered. 297 00:25:08,400 --> 00:25:11,400 Verse 32. 298 00:25:11,400 --> 00:25:17,240 But after I am risen again, I will go before you into Galilee. 299 00:25:17,240 --> 00:25:21,120 He is giving them a promise. 300 00:25:21,120 --> 00:25:24,960 He is saying, Look, I am predicting. 301 00:25:24,960 --> 00:25:31,000 Enemies going to strike the shepherd and the sheep will. 302 00:25:31,000 --> 00:25:39,720 But I give you a promise, I will rise again, and I will go ahead of you into Galilee. 303 00:25:39,720 --> 00:25:40,720 Verse 33. 304 00:25:40,720 --> 00:25:49,440 Peter answered and said unto him, Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet 305 00:25:49,440 --> 00:25:51,480 will I never be offended. 306 00:25:51,480 --> 00:25:54,200 Now, this is Peter now. 307 00:25:54,200 --> 00:25:57,800 Peter is full of what they call bravado. 308 00:25:57,800 --> 00:25:59,520 He's being cocky. 309 00:25:59,520 --> 00:26:04,720 This beast pumped up, says, Now, Lord, you know, you don't know me. 310 00:26:04,720 --> 00:26:13,680 Me, me, I, if these guys may disappoint you, but me, you can trust in me. 311 00:26:13,680 --> 00:26:16,180 Wherever you go is where I will go. 312 00:26:16,180 --> 00:26:19,160 Wherever you die is where I'm going to die. 313 00:26:19,160 --> 00:26:26,600 He's giving promises to Christ, saying, Lord, you don't, I don't think you know me very 314 00:26:26,600 --> 00:26:27,600 well. 315 00:26:27,600 --> 00:26:28,600 I am different. 316 00:26:28,600 --> 00:26:32,320 I will never fail you. 317 00:26:32,320 --> 00:26:38,160 Like many of us, we give God promises. 318 00:26:38,160 --> 00:26:40,840 We make covenants with God. 319 00:26:40,840 --> 00:26:42,620 We make an oath. 320 00:26:42,620 --> 00:26:43,920 We make a vow. 321 00:26:43,920 --> 00:26:49,920 Has anybody ever made an oath and a vow to God? 322 00:26:49,920 --> 00:26:53,480 Do you always keep your vow? 323 00:26:53,480 --> 00:26:54,640 Not all the time. 324 00:26:54,640 --> 00:26:55,640 And that's the truth. 325 00:26:55,640 --> 00:26:58,480 Now, that is Peter. 326 00:26:58,480 --> 00:27:05,160 Jesus has predicted the enemy is going to strike the shepherd. 327 00:27:05,160 --> 00:27:07,680 Sheep the scatter. 328 00:27:07,680 --> 00:27:10,720 But I promise you, I will come back. 329 00:27:10,720 --> 00:27:13,120 I'll go ahead of you. 330 00:27:13,120 --> 00:27:14,120 That's his promise. 331 00:27:14,120 --> 00:27:17,080 Now, Peter also gives his promise. 332 00:27:17,080 --> 00:27:21,280 Ah, now, Lord, I don't think you know me, Lord. 333 00:27:21,280 --> 00:27:22,940 Not me. 334 00:27:22,940 --> 00:27:25,760 I am going to stay with you until the end. 335 00:27:25,760 --> 00:27:34,160 Verse 34, Jesus said to him, very listen to thee, that this night before the cock crow 336 00:27:34,160 --> 00:27:36,720 thou shalt deny me thrice. 337 00:27:36,720 --> 00:27:37,720 35. 338 00:27:37,720 --> 00:27:40,160 Look at this man. 339 00:27:40,160 --> 00:27:46,040 Peter said to him, though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. 340 00:27:46,040 --> 00:27:48,920 Likewise also said all the disciples. 341 00:27:48,920 --> 00:27:54,040 The problem is Peter stood out among all the others. 342 00:27:54,040 --> 00:28:03,320 He stood out more than, of course, all of them promised to be faithful to the end. 343 00:28:03,320 --> 00:28:06,320 God, I will never leave you. 344 00:28:06,320 --> 00:28:07,320 All of us say that. 345 00:28:07,320 --> 00:28:11,000 Lord, I will never go back to that man. 346 00:28:11,000 --> 00:28:12,840 I will never fornicate again. 347 00:28:12,840 --> 00:28:14,120 I will never speak a lie. 348 00:28:14,120 --> 00:28:18,120 We all make those promises, don't we? 349 00:28:18,120 --> 00:28:19,120 And we should. 350 00:28:19,120 --> 00:28:23,080 But I'm here to tell you the truth. 351 00:28:23,080 --> 00:28:30,840 At the end of the day, it's not my promises that I make to Christ, I hope, Mr. It's his 352 00:28:30,840 --> 00:28:35,920 promises to me that I'm still here. 353 00:28:35,920 --> 00:28:45,280 His faithfulness to me, his integrity, his power, he said, I'll never leave you nor forsake 354 00:28:45,280 --> 00:28:46,280 you. 355 00:28:46,280 --> 00:28:49,800 It's because of those promises that I'm still here. 356 00:28:49,800 --> 00:28:53,400 Not because I'm a perfect person, I am not. 357 00:28:53,400 --> 00:28:55,360 I don't always keep my promises. 358 00:28:55,360 --> 00:28:57,760 I want to. 359 00:28:57,760 --> 00:28:58,760 I desire to. 360 00:28:58,760 --> 00:29:02,760 I have a good will, I have a good motive. 361 00:29:02,760 --> 00:29:03,760 I want to. 362 00:29:03,760 --> 00:29:10,200 But the truth is, the flesh sometimes fails us. 363 00:29:10,200 --> 00:29:17,880 Every time that Peter would hear the cock crowing, remember the promise of God is a 364 00:29:17,880 --> 00:29:20,400 sure anchor. 365 00:29:20,400 --> 00:29:26,480 That's why in this church, I remind you every week, read your Bible, read your Bible. 366 00:29:26,480 --> 00:29:29,560 That is the sure foundation. 367 00:29:29,560 --> 00:29:31,520 Everything else will shake. 368 00:29:31,520 --> 00:29:38,040 People may change the country, economy, whatever may change, but what is sure to start is the 369 00:29:38,040 --> 00:29:40,200 word of God. 370 00:29:40,200 --> 00:29:42,160 Read it. 371 00:29:42,160 --> 00:29:45,080 Hallelujah. 372 00:29:45,080 --> 00:29:49,240 Because everything else, you yourself can change. 373 00:29:49,240 --> 00:29:50,680 This poor God had good intentions. 374 00:29:50,680 --> 00:29:52,360 Maybe he had good intentions. 375 00:29:52,360 --> 00:30:01,200 He wanted to be faithful, but this flesh, this flesh. 376 00:30:01,200 --> 00:30:15,040 Now in verse Corinthians chapter 10, verse 12, verse 12, it says, wherefore let him that 377 00:30:15,040 --> 00:30:21,200 thinks he stands, take heed, lest he what? 378 00:30:21,200 --> 00:30:29,760 For there's no one here who's beyond failure, even your pastor. 379 00:30:29,760 --> 00:30:34,200 You know what I said? 380 00:30:34,200 --> 00:30:45,840 No one here has been made from metal or rock, we are all flesh. 381 00:30:45,840 --> 00:30:54,000 Because of that, the only thing I can hold onto this life, the promise of God that is 382 00:30:54,000 --> 00:31:02,920 faithful and just forgive all those who repent. 383 00:31:02,920 --> 00:31:06,200 He has said, I will never leave you nor forsake you. 384 00:31:06,200 --> 00:31:10,520 Those are things that helped me stand to this very day. 385 00:31:10,520 --> 00:31:16,800 Not because I have made very good promises and I'm keeping every one of them. 386 00:31:16,800 --> 00:31:20,520 I've made the covenants, I've made promises and I'm keeping. 387 00:31:20,520 --> 00:31:22,880 No, I've made those promises. 388 00:31:22,880 --> 00:31:23,880 I've made a covenant. 389 00:31:23,880 --> 00:31:30,680 I do and I should, but at the end of the day, it's not what I've said to God. 390 00:31:30,680 --> 00:31:31,680 That's important. 391 00:31:31,680 --> 00:31:35,960 It's what God has said to me that's important. 392 00:31:35,960 --> 00:31:37,960 God's promises. 393 00:31:37,960 --> 00:31:39,280 Hallelujah. 394 00:31:39,280 --> 00:31:43,840 Oh, thank you, Jesus. 395 00:31:43,840 --> 00:31:47,560 Jesus told Peter, Peter, I've prayed for you. 396 00:31:47,560 --> 00:31:55,480 I've prayed for you and when you are converted, Peter, now it will be your time to strengthen 397 00:31:55,480 --> 00:31:56,920 others. 398 00:31:56,920 --> 00:32:00,120 You know, all the disciples fail. 399 00:32:00,120 --> 00:32:02,280 Don't you forget that. 400 00:32:02,280 --> 00:32:05,420 But never all of them fail. 401 00:32:05,420 --> 00:32:12,800 When Jesus rose from the dead, he told the women, tell my disciples I'm going ahead of 402 00:32:12,800 --> 00:32:17,480 them, Galilee, until Peter also. 403 00:32:17,480 --> 00:32:24,080 Peter had a one-on-one with Jesus and Jesus strengthened him. 404 00:32:24,080 --> 00:32:29,440 He said, now you strengthen your brothers. 405 00:32:29,440 --> 00:32:37,160 I see Peter telling James and look, you guys, we missed, but the love of God is amazing. 406 00:32:37,160 --> 00:32:41,000 We can still do this thing and we can still serve God. 407 00:32:41,000 --> 00:32:42,720 We can still succeed. 408 00:32:42,720 --> 00:32:46,240 He strengthened the others. 409 00:32:46,240 --> 00:32:50,160 He strengthened them. 410 00:32:50,160 --> 00:32:51,880 Jesus kept his promise. 411 00:32:51,880 --> 00:32:59,840 He said to Peter, I have seen what the enemy tends to do against you, but I have prayed 412 00:32:59,840 --> 00:33:00,840 for you. 413 00:33:00,840 --> 00:33:12,800 And when you're fallen and risen, converted, now you also strengthen the others. 414 00:33:12,800 --> 00:33:20,600 The Bible says in 2 Timothy, chapter 2, verse 13, and this probably will be my last verse, 415 00:33:20,600 --> 00:33:24,600 2 Timothy 2, verse 13. 416 00:33:24,600 --> 00:33:38,400 It says, if we believe not, yet he abides faithful, he cannot deny himself. 417 00:33:38,400 --> 00:33:42,240 Sometimes we are unfaithful. 418 00:33:42,240 --> 00:33:50,640 We want to obey him, but things don't work out the way we want. 419 00:33:50,640 --> 00:33:56,000 But brothers and sisters, this is our hope. 420 00:33:56,000 --> 00:33:59,440 God can't deny himself. 421 00:33:59,440 --> 00:34:02,960 He saves us to the uttermost. 422 00:34:02,960 --> 00:34:05,160 Hallelujah. 423 00:34:05,160 --> 00:34:14,120 That is why even when he was being arrested, he asked the soldiers, whom are you looking 424 00:34:14,120 --> 00:34:15,440 for? 425 00:34:15,440 --> 00:34:18,440 They said, we're looking for Jesus. 426 00:34:18,440 --> 00:34:20,640 He says, I am here. 427 00:34:20,640 --> 00:34:24,600 When they heard that, they fell back. 428 00:34:24,600 --> 00:34:27,400 And he said, Jesus is amazing. 429 00:34:27,400 --> 00:34:29,560 He could have used that chance to walk away. 430 00:34:29,560 --> 00:34:30,560 He didn't. 431 00:34:30,560 --> 00:34:35,920 He said, brother, who are you looking for, second time, who are you looking for? 432 00:34:35,920 --> 00:34:36,920 They said, Jesus. 433 00:34:36,920 --> 00:34:38,920 He said, I am here. 434 00:34:38,920 --> 00:34:43,040 He says, but let these go. 435 00:34:43,040 --> 00:34:47,580 Let my disciples go. 436 00:34:47,580 --> 00:34:53,160 You can arrest me, but don't touch these disciples. 437 00:34:53,160 --> 00:35:00,760 Because he knew at that time they didn't have the strength to stand the test. 438 00:35:00,760 --> 00:35:02,400 Hallelujah. 439 00:35:02,400 --> 00:35:07,920 And he had made a promise, I'll keep you to the end. 440 00:35:07,920 --> 00:35:12,000 Even during his arrest, he had his eyes upon Peter. 441 00:35:12,000 --> 00:35:14,120 He was watching over them. 442 00:35:14,120 --> 00:35:15,280 Hallelujah. 443 00:35:15,280 --> 00:35:18,600 He was concerned for their well-being. 444 00:35:18,600 --> 00:35:23,440 He was aware of where they were emotionally, physically, spiritually. 445 00:35:23,440 --> 00:35:25,480 He covered them. 446 00:35:25,480 --> 00:35:32,480 Tell the soldiers, you arrest me, but let these men go free. 447 00:35:32,480 --> 00:35:34,400 Don't touch them. 448 00:35:34,400 --> 00:35:37,480 The Bible says they all fled. 449 00:35:37,480 --> 00:35:44,460 They all ran away and fled from Christ. 450 00:35:44,460 --> 00:35:50,480 But that verse, to me, offers hope. 451 00:35:50,480 --> 00:36:00,640 It means that whatever you've done in this life, because of the fact that Jesus has become 452 00:36:00,640 --> 00:36:11,520 your Lord and Savior, even though we are unfaithful, he can't deny himself, there is hope for you 453 00:36:11,520 --> 00:36:13,240 to start again. 454 00:36:13,240 --> 00:36:18,080 There is hope for you to be forgiven. 455 00:36:18,080 --> 00:36:22,920 There is hope that the dream can still come to pass. 456 00:36:22,920 --> 00:36:26,320 Peter fell badly. 457 00:36:26,320 --> 00:36:29,760 He denied Christ and cursed. 458 00:36:29,760 --> 00:36:32,000 He swore, I don't know the man. 459 00:36:32,000 --> 00:36:34,600 He even called him a man. 460 00:36:34,600 --> 00:36:36,980 I don't know the man. 461 00:36:36,980 --> 00:36:38,760 That is epic. 462 00:36:38,760 --> 00:36:40,840 That is huge. 463 00:36:40,840 --> 00:36:45,120 I think the whole of Jerusalem heard about it. 464 00:36:45,120 --> 00:36:48,920 It was news all over Jerusalem. 465 00:36:48,920 --> 00:36:56,400 The man used to be here and brag, under pressure, he buckled, buckled and denied him and even 466 00:36:56,400 --> 00:36:57,400 cursed. 467 00:36:57,400 --> 00:37:00,520 It was bad. 468 00:37:00,520 --> 00:37:02,560 But you know what? 469 00:37:02,560 --> 00:37:12,560 A few weeks later, the Saint Peter stood in Jerusalem and preached to thousands and told 470 00:37:12,560 --> 00:37:18,960 the Pharisees, you are the ones who killed him. 471 00:37:18,960 --> 00:37:20,880 But God raised him from the dead. 472 00:37:20,880 --> 00:37:24,480 He boldly spoke about Christ before thousands. 473 00:37:24,480 --> 00:37:30,200 And the Bible says three thousand came to Christ, the Saint Peter. 474 00:37:30,200 --> 00:37:35,480 Every time he would hear the cock crow, hope would come in him. 475 00:37:35,480 --> 00:37:42,880 If God brought me from that, I have hope to overcome this. 476 00:37:42,880 --> 00:37:54,040 That's why when he was in prison in Act, chapter 12, and he had soldiers shackled to him on 477 00:37:54,040 --> 00:37:59,080 his left and right, he slept. 478 00:37:59,080 --> 00:38:06,200 I didn't know because God is faithful. 479 00:38:06,200 --> 00:38:10,000 If I die, I go with him. 480 00:38:10,000 --> 00:38:12,840 If he wants me to be alive, I'll walk out from here alive. 481 00:38:12,840 --> 00:38:19,120 So he slept. 482 00:38:19,120 --> 00:38:28,120 This message this morning, when the cock crows, it should bring in us hope. 483 00:38:28,120 --> 00:38:33,920 The promise that I will never leave you nor forsake you is repeated all over in the Bible. 484 00:38:33,920 --> 00:38:37,680 God has promised to never, never forsake us. 485 00:38:37,680 --> 00:38:42,720 The last verse I want us to read is Luke 22 verse 61. 486 00:38:42,720 --> 00:38:48,760 Luke 22 verse 61. 487 00:38:48,760 --> 00:38:57,400 Luke 22 verse 61 will be our last verse. 488 00:38:57,400 --> 00:39:09,080 When the Lord turned, I checked in the Greek, that's 180 turn. 489 00:39:09,080 --> 00:39:13,760 Jesus is standing before Caiaphas. 490 00:39:13,760 --> 00:39:14,760 He's being interrogated. 491 00:39:14,760 --> 00:39:19,840 They're asking very malicious questions. 492 00:39:19,840 --> 00:39:29,880 When Peter denied him, he forgot about Caiaphas, he forgot about the soldiers, he turned 180 493 00:39:29,880 --> 00:39:36,440 degrees and looked at Peter. 494 00:39:36,440 --> 00:39:38,960 Thought about that. 495 00:39:38,960 --> 00:39:46,400 When I think, when you are being slapped and beaten and kicked and people spitting in your 496 00:39:46,400 --> 00:39:58,400 face and asking many questions, he still had time to think about Peter. 497 00:39:58,400 --> 00:40:08,320 When he says in the spirit, a good day, he turned and looked at him. 498 00:40:08,320 --> 00:40:13,720 Now you say, pastor, what kind of look was it? 499 00:40:13,720 --> 00:40:18,120 It depends on your understanding of who God is. 500 00:40:18,120 --> 00:40:25,680 If you think God is judgmental, is like a policeman with a big gun or a club to beat 501 00:40:25,680 --> 00:40:28,680 you every time before, that's up to you. 502 00:40:28,680 --> 00:40:42,160 But me, he turned the look was of pity. 503 00:40:42,160 --> 00:40:47,560 When Peter saw the love in those eyes, he realized he had made a big mistake. 504 00:40:47,560 --> 00:40:59,760 He ran out and wept bitterly because he knew he had let down a faithful friend. 505 00:40:59,760 --> 00:41:06,480 Somebody in here needs to know that God's eyes are on you. 506 00:41:06,480 --> 00:41:11,800 He watches you all the time. 507 00:41:11,800 --> 00:41:14,040 He cares for you. 508 00:41:14,040 --> 00:41:20,440 The day begins with the cock crowing. 509 00:41:20,440 --> 00:41:28,120 From now on, when you hear the cock crowing, remember this, God's eyes are upon you. 510 00:41:28,120 --> 00:41:31,920 He watched also for you. 511 00:41:31,920 --> 00:41:34,080 You may not even realize it. 512 00:41:34,080 --> 00:41:38,640 I mean, Peter thought he was the one watching Jesus. 513 00:41:38,640 --> 00:41:42,760 He followed from a distance, the Bible says, he followed us, and everywhere they go, they 514 00:41:42,760 --> 00:41:45,120 go to him. 515 00:41:45,120 --> 00:41:46,400 He followed in fear. 516 00:41:46,400 --> 00:41:47,920 He sat from a distance. 517 00:41:47,920 --> 00:41:51,840 He kept on peeping and shaking. 518 00:41:51,840 --> 00:41:54,880 And he could hear him probably scream as they whipped him. 519 00:41:54,880 --> 00:42:01,360 Oh, and he could see, hear the slaps that sent terror and fear in his heart. 520 00:42:01,360 --> 00:42:04,480 And they said, but you're also one of them. 521 00:42:04,480 --> 00:42:07,320 I said, I don't know the man. 522 00:42:07,320 --> 00:42:09,440 But you look like a girl. 523 00:42:09,440 --> 00:42:15,400 Three times, the third time, Jesus forgot about his pain. 524 00:42:15,400 --> 00:42:24,720 By now, he forgot about his trouble and turned 180 degrees. 525 00:42:24,720 --> 00:42:29,280 And look, Peter, oh, I just come to pass. 526 00:42:29,280 --> 00:42:32,480 Oh, good day. 527 00:42:32,480 --> 00:42:42,380 If you're here this morning and you have had failure in your life, when the cock crows 528 00:42:42,380 --> 00:42:50,280 every morning, it reminds you, God, I did not send Christ to condemn sinners. 529 00:42:50,280 --> 00:42:53,960 He sent Christ to save sinners. 530 00:42:53,960 --> 00:42:57,600 There is hope. 531 00:42:57,600 --> 00:43:01,320 Come back to Jesus. 532 00:43:01,320 --> 00:43:04,200 Come back to Jesus. 533 00:43:04,200 --> 00:43:07,160 You'd think at that time he would have ignored him. 534 00:43:07,160 --> 00:43:16,800 He had his own problems, but he still cared enough to forget his pain and look with pity 535 00:43:16,800 --> 00:43:21,360 on a Christian who had fallen. 536 00:43:21,360 --> 00:43:26,260 The cock reminds us many things. 537 00:43:26,260 --> 00:43:31,120 This morning, I want you to take this message and apply it. 538 00:43:31,120 --> 00:43:38,720 Every day in the morning when you hear that thing standing up, remember, his promises, 539 00:43:38,720 --> 00:43:43,640 watch and pray, hope in God. 540 00:43:43,640 --> 00:43:45,680 His eyes are upon you. 541 00:43:45,680 --> 00:43:48,840 The watch is over you. 542 00:43:48,840 --> 00:43:51,920 His concern over you. 543 00:43:51,920 --> 00:43:54,080 Hallelujah. 544 00:43:54,080 --> 00:43:55,080 Thank you for listening. 545 00:43:55,080 --> 00:43:59,120 We hope that you've been strengthened with his might and fortified by the word of God. 546 00:43:59,120 --> 00:44:04,040 Please make sure to like, follow and subscribe to our Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube 547 00:44:04,040 --> 00:44:06,040 pages at FullGospaMap. 548 00:44:06,040 --> 00:44:31,160 Goodbye.