Bible Text: Matthew 26:31-75, John 20:1-9;21:1-25 | Preacher: Pastor Joe Ricchuiti | Series: Failure, Fear, John, Matthew, Triumph

1.  Peter’s pride caused him to be self-reliant, prayerless, impatient, and silent.  He spoke when he should have listened, slept when he should have prayed, acted when he should have waited, and was silent when he should have spoken up.  (Matthew 26:31-75)

2.  The Scripture warns about the danger of pride.  (Proverbs 16:18)

3.  Peter’s pride made him:  blind to his limitations, blind to Satan’s designs on him, trust in his own strength and ability, feel superior to the other disciples, and caused him to reject the Word of God.

4.  When Jesus restored Peter after the resurrection, he asked Peter three times if he loved Him.  Even as Peter denied the Lord three times, Jesus restores him three times.

5.  The heart of Jesus’ challenge to Peter had to do with Peter’s love and devotion to Him.  “The Lord didn’t say ‘Simon, son of Jonas, will you preach for Me?  Will you suffer for Me?  Will you evangelize for Me?  Will you believe in Me?’  He didn’t say that.  Instead Christ asked, ‘Simon, son of Jonas, do you love Me more than these?  Do you really love Me?’  That is what He is after….If your service is not an outflow for your love for the Lord personally, it will become a chore.  You will soon give it up.  And conversely, the less I love Him, the less I’ll serve Him, and the less I’ll talk about Him.”  (An Everlasting Love, John G. Mitchell)