Κύριος Notes: Denial X3

Adoration

Yes, I Will
Will I stumble in the darkness?

In my weakness, when I feel afraid

Hear me Jesus, Hear me Jesus, when I call Your name

Oh help me Lord, won't You help me Lord

Please help me Lord

Would you help me Lord

Follow You Jesus, all the way up that hill

Follow You Jesus, all the way up that hill

To the cross where the river runs

Crimson even still, yes I will

Follow You Lord, I will
Bebo Norman

Scripture Reflection:Luke 22

54Then seizing him, they led him away and took him into the house of the high priest. Peter followed at a distance.

Why did Peter follow at a distance? Lord Jesus others ran away and were scattered as you said they would be...But here is Peter wanting to follow but not close enough to get caught. Lord Jesus help me to follow so close that I am right there with you. Peter was close but not close enough.

This was one of those times in Peter's life where he must have looked back on with sincere and utter regret. It would not be the last time that he would look at what he had done and wonder why, how,...was that even me?

55But when they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter sat down with them. 56A servant girl saw him seated there in the firelight. She looked closely at him and said, "This man was with him."
57But he denied it. "Woman, I don't know him," he said.

It was a unnamed servant brought Peter to the point of denial. What power this poor, lowly servant girl had on this big fishermen from Galilee a man weathered by the storms on the Sea of Galilee was wither by the voice of a young servant girl in the dark beside the fire.

58A little later someone else saw him and said, "You also are one of them." "Man, I am not!" Peter replied.
59About an hour later another asserted, "Certainly this fellow was with him, for he is a Galilean."
60Peter replied, "Man, I don't know what you're talking about!" Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed. 61The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter.

Lord Jesus, You knew what Peter would go through...you knew when he went through it and you understood his need. You understand my need...you know when I am going to make a mess of it all...and you are there.

Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: "Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times." 62And he went outside and wept bitterly.

There is regret when I don't measure up Lord...there are tears in the middle of denial. Truth be told Peter and I are not far apart sometimes. I find myself weeping bitter tears of a reality that has been impacted by my inability to just stand my ground to a servant girl.

What did denial teach Peter? That there are lessons to be learned even in denial...That Your love reaches beyond our own inability to follow...That without your intervention in our lives we are not enough to meet the challenge...That hope is in Your work and word for our everyday lives...That you don't leave us in the dark for long.

Lord Jesus help me to live up to these few simple lines in a life that is more complex than it needs to be.

Follow You Jesus, all the way up that hill

Follow You Jesus, all the way up that hill

To the cross where the river runs

Crimson even still, yes I will

Follow You Lord, I will

Κύριος Notes: When Darkness Reigned?

Adoration

Yes I Will
In the passion of Your sacrifice
I saw the prophecy fulfilled
The Healer of the world, the wounded Christ
I heard You say, come follow me
So I will, yes I will

Follow You Jesus, all the way up that hill
Follow You Jesus, all the way up that hill
To the cross where the river runs
Crimson even still, yes I will
Follow You Lord, I will

Bebo Norman

Scripture Reflection:Luke 22

47While he was still speaking a crowd came up, and the man who was called Judas, one of the Twelve, was leading them. He approached Jesus to kiss him, 48but Jesus asked him, "Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?"

Lord Jesus there is sad irony in a kiss being the method of betrayal.

49When Jesus' followers saw what was going to happen, they said, "Lord, should we strike with our swords?" 50And one of them struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear.
51But Jesus answered, "No more of this!" And he touched the man's ear and healed him.

I wonder who it was that cut off the servant of the high priest...something tells me Peter, but it could have been any of them. You had just spoken of sword just a few moments earlier...so there was confusion. Lord should we strike with our swords? The question was logical...and yet in such contrast to Your message Lord Jesus. In the middle of being arrested You healed the servant of the person who wanted you dead.

52Then Jesus said to the chief priests, the officers of the temple guard, and the elders, who had come for him, "Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come with swords and clubs? 53Every day I was with you in the temple courts, and you did not lay a hand on me. But this is your hour—when darkness reigns."

But this is your hour—when darkness reigns." --Those are haunting words you spoke Lord Jesus...words that were accurate. Good Friday as we call it was really Dark Friday...it began with a Garden garden arrest when those closest to you failed to pray. The darkness continued with betray at the kiss of a friend, and sword draw in the defense of a gospel of grace... and yet in the middle of it...this last healing...a severed ear replaced. He who has ears to hear let him hear...it is clear that few choose to hear your message or see your light on this day.

In the middle of all of this it is so crystal clear that you allowed the cross...you accepted the cross...you obeyed the call of the Father to the cross...darkness reigned because you allowed it room to on this day. You allowed people to choose to participate in your death.

Lord Jesus it is a mystifies me the depth of your love for me...people just like me were so important to you that you allowed the cross. So you call me to follow you... to take up my cross and to follow you up the hill... to be yours even when the darkness surrounds me.

Κύριος Notes: A Prayer Away From Heaven's Strength

Adoration

His Strength Is Perfect

I can do all things

Through Christ who gives me strength,

But sometimes I wonder what He can do through me;

No great success to show,

No glory on my own,

Yet in my weakness He is there to let me know . . .

His strength is perfect when our strength is gone;

He’ll carry us when we can’t carry on.

Raised in His power, the weak become strong;

His strength is perfect, His strength is perfect

Scripture Reflections: Luke 22

39Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. 40On reaching the place, he said to them, "Pray that you will not fall into temptation."

In the middle of temptation, at times the last thing I think of is prayer Lord Jesus...prayer was the first thing that you thought of in your hour of need. That is a fundamental difference. Lord Jesus don't let me miss the fundamentals in the middle of the complex.

Lord Jesus the prayer that you asked the disciples to pray was not strength during temptation but that the disciples would not fall into temptation...as if it was a location, and something that can be avoided...reminds me of the prayer that you taught the disciples..."lead us not into temptation."

In this day that will begin in just a few short hours, may I not fall into temptation, and if I have to travel through it because there is no route around it, please send strength from heavenly places.

41He withdrew about a stone's throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, 42"Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done." 43An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him.

Lord Jesus, yielding to the Father's will, you found strength from beyond this world. Victory is not found in pulling myself up by my boot straps, but by yielding to the One that made my feet in the first place.

44And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.

Lord Jesus, you went through the agony of the garden, the court and the cross. Thank you for the fact that in the middle of temptation you yielded to the will of the Father.

45When he rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, he found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow. 46"Why are you sleeping?" he asked them. "Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation."

At this point the disciples understood what was coming. They understood and yet did not find the strength to pray when they needed to, it was a lesson that would take time from them to learn...just like it has taken time for me to learn it.

Κύριος Notes The Battle Takes Many Forms

Adoration

Praise starts this day.
Praise fills this day.
Praise as a statement of faith.
Praise as tool of your Holy Spirit.

Scripture Reflections: Luke 22

35Then Jesus asked them, "When I sent you without purse, bag or sandals, did you lack anything?" "Nothing," they answered.

Lord Jesus the sending out of the seventy two was a time when the disciples saw the beginnings of a movement of grace. It was camp meeting, prayer conference and missions weekend all rolled up in one event. It was a high point spiritually and emotionally for the disciples. The disciples remembered being sent out and the great impact that they had seen on the lives of the people. I am sure it was one of those events that the disciples and the community that they were a part of remembered around the fire at night and talked about with their families when they got the chance.

Lord Jesus there are high points of your grace that I need to remember and focus on...times when your work and presence was so clear. Times when the Holy Spirits work was amazing and inspiring. Thank you for those times.

36He said to them, "But now if you have a purse, take it, and also a bag; and if you don't have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one. 37It is written: 'And he was numbered with the transgressors'; and I tell you that this must be fulfilled in me. Yes, what is written about me is reaching its fulfillment."

Lord there was a change in the direction of your ministry that you were telling the disciples to prepare for. A change in reception that could be expected from the crowds and a change in way to plan for the disciples. This was a time for battle and when there would be contrast to the events that they remember. It was a time when they would have to prepare for their worlds to be shaken.

There are also those times when there is need to prepare for the battle that is coming. Don't let me miss the words of warning that you will send my way for the upcoming battle. I know that you continue to call your people to the battle and for spiritual warfare.

38The disciples said, "See, Lord, here are two swords." "That is enough," he replied.

Help me in this day to prepare for the battle that you call your people to...may I hear your call and meet the challenge of this day.

Κύριος Notes:Surrender is More Than Words

Adoration

I'm giving You my heart, all that is within

I lay it all down, for the sake of You my King

And I surrender all to You, all to You

And I surrender all to You, all to You

I'm giving You my dreams, laying down my rights

I'm giving up my pride, for the promise of new life*

And I surrender all to You, all to You

And I surrender all to You, all to You

Scripture Reflections: Luke 22
31"Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. 32But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers."

Lord Jesus you prayed for Simon that this stone could become a rock...that this one who was about to go through a difficult, and questioning time would come out the other side and be able to be a help to the rest of the brothers.

That is a powerful thought...with the power and the strength of the Son of God and the prophetic view of the rest of the life that was before Peter you prayed for him. At a time when your own life on Earth was at it's hardest point you prayed for Peter.

"Satan has asked to Sift you like wheat"...reminiscent of Job. Sometimes this life feels like Job's experience, just for a few self-indulgent moments. I have never thought of ongoing conversations between Satan and God, but there must be some type of communication. I wonder what the conversation about me is like?...and about Living Springs folk? It gives me great hope that you are praying for us Lord Jesus...that you live to make intercession for us to the Father. Right now you are in communication with the Father on our behalf.

33But he replied, "Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death."
34Jesus answered, "I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me."

I would guess that Peter really thought that he was ready to go to prison and death for You Lord when he said this. His impulsive and quick reactions brought him to the point of rash words yet again. This is not the last time that Peter would speak too soon and think too late.

Peter here is saying that he would willing go to the very darkest places for you, just hours before he denys that he even knows you. Lord Jesus teach me the lessons of real surrender and not just saying the words.

Κύριος Notes:Unfinished

Adoration

Perfect People

Suddenly it's like a weight is lifted

When you hear the words that you are loved

He knows where you are and where you've been

And you never have to go there again

T

here's no such thing as perfect people

There's no such thing as a perfect life

So come as you are, broken and scarred

Lift up your heart and be amazed

And be changed by a perfect God

Who lived and died to give new life

To heal our imperfections

So look up and see love. Let grace be enough
Natalie Grant

Scripture Reflections: Luke 22

24Also a dispute arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest.

The timing of this dispute is so tragic and ironic. As the first communion was celebrated the core group that Jesus had spent his active ministry establishing was discussing who was greatest in their little crew. From the point of view of the disciples, they were expecting that Jesus was going to be setting up his earthly kingdom and they wanted to establish who was most important...they wanted to know pecking order.

25Jesus said to them, "The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. 26But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves. 27For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves.

Lord Jesus you pointed them to your example...to what you have lived out for them in front of them day and night. Greatness is determined by servant hood not by authority that is exercised over those who have less power. Greatness is demonstrated by the master washing the feet of the disciples. Greatness is the master touching the leper who had not been touched for years. Greatness is determined by faithfulness to the call of God.

28You are those who have stood by me in my trials. 29And I confer on you a kingdom, just as my Father conferred one on me, 30so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

The kingdom on earth that the disciples were looking for was set up only in the hearts up until now. There is fulfillment that still waits here Lord Jesus. The disciples waited and watched that night knowing nothing of what the next few hours would bring.

Lord Jesus I am left thinking of the places where the pieces just don't fit together yet...the unfinished parts there are to me, just like that night found the disciples unfinished. It may be that the finish they needed could only be brought about by your departure. They needed growth and spiritual formation that could only come without your foot steps beside them everyday.

So why is it Lord that I get so out of sorts when I have not felt You beside me for a while? There are times when You seem to close. Then there are those times when for all my attempts at connection I am left with no feeling, just the discipline of living out Your word each day. And then in the middle of the obedience I trip over You as if you were just a step or two behind me all the time.

Tonight as I write this I realize that all that I am is utterly dependant on You...I can not live this life out without You. Don't leave me here this far from home. As I sit here tonight the darkness surrounds me, the dogs are asleep at my feet and the house is quiet with just the hint of coming fall in the chill in the air. I realize that these times when I don't feel your closeness are really the times of growth in my soul, they are the times when I am in the Jesus school of learning the walk and not just the talk.

Teach me the walk step upon step, day upon day...a life that is lived out with genuineness, grace and a hint of Your unfolding plan on the edges of my sight.

Κύριος Notes: Betrayal Large and Small

Adoration

There"s no such thing as perfect people

There no such thing as a perfect life

So come as you are, broken and scarred

Lift up your heart and be amazed, and be changed

by a perfect God

Natalie Grant

Scripture Reflections: Luke 22

20In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.

Lord Jesus, when I think of this last teaching moment with you disciples it is hard to imagine the thoughts must have been going through you mind as you were preparing for what was ahead. A new covenant established at the cost of your blood. Law gives way to grace. You died for me...you willingly sacrificed your life on my behalf.

21But the hand of him who is going to betray me is with mine on the table. 22The Son of Man will go as it has been decreed, but woe to that man who betrays him." 23They began to question among themselves which of them it might be who would do this.

Judas was sitting right there at the table hearing the words flow over him as you spoke. Yet he was unmoved or at the very least he kept the deal that he made. Was it the money? Was it a grab for power? Was it a twisted attempt to force you to act with power?

It doesn't even really matter why. He made his choice. He paid the price for betrayal. A price that continues in eternity. I would like to think that there is a difference in kind between Judas and myself...that I could never make that kind of error in judgement. But truth be known, the difference is just a matter of degrees. Every time that I react in ways that are not as You would have me to, Lord, I betray you in my own way.

Yesterday as we celebrated communion together at worship, you reminded me again Lord Jesus of your death for me... You suffered so that people just like my friends at Living Springs could come together and rejoice at what was done on our behalf. We could not have earned what we freely were given.

Lord Jesus thank you for your death on the cross for me.