Peter meant well, but he did not recognize the pride in his own heart. Later that night when the mob came to arrest Jesus and all were watching, Peter pulled out a sword to defend His Master. But just a few hours later at His trial, as Peter was being mocked by the enemies of Jesus, he denied three times that he even knew Him. Each time Peter became more bold, until he finally denied Him with swearing and cursing (Matthew 26:74).

Then the rooster crowed. At that very moment, Jesus was in the judgment hall, being beaten by the guards. Peter saw Jesus turn and look at him with love and compassion, and it broke his heart. “Then Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had said to him, ‘Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.’ So Peter went out and wept bitterly.” Luke 22:61, 62.

From that day forward, Peter was a different man. He no longer lived to please the crowd, but was determined to please only God. After his conversion, when brought before the Jewish council and threatened with beating if he continued preaching about Jesus, Peter fearlessly answered, “We ought to obey God rather than men.” Acts 5:29. Peter forever proved his loyalty and love for Jesus when he chose to be crucified upside down by the Roman Emperor Nero rather than to deny his Lord again.

THE STUDY

Fill in the blanks after reading each Bible text.

1. How does God determine whether or not we are on His side?

Matthew 7:21 Not everyone who says to Me, “Lord, Lord,” shall____ the kingdom of heaven, but he who_____ will of My Father in heaven.

Romans 6:16 Do you not know that to whom you____ yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you____ whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?

NOTE: It is a simple principle that our loyalties are determined by whom we listen to. If we say we are servants of God but take our instructions from the devil or the world, we are deceiving ourselves.

2. When the commands of God and men conflict, whom did Peter say we should obey?

Acts 5:29 But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: “We ought to obey ____ rather than men.”

NOTE: After Peter was converted and fell in love with Jesus, he told the Jewish council that his first allegiance was to God. We have learned that in the last days, the laws of the beast and the world will conflict with the laws of God. We must choose now to obey the laws of God—regardless of the consequences.

3. How do we best demonstrate our love for God?

John 8:31 If you abide in____ ____, you are My disciples indeed.

John 14:15 If you love Me,____ My commandments.

1 John 2:4 He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His_____, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.

NOTE: The best demonstration of a person’s love for Jesus is to do His will, and the law of God is the most perfect expression of His will (Psalm 40:8).

4. According to Jesus, why did the hypocrites act religious?

Matthew 6:2 That they may have____ from men.

Matthew 6:5 That they may be____ by men.

NOTE: The Bible tells us that “man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7. A genuine Christian will be much more concerned about what God thinks of him than what the world thinks.

5. Is it generally safe to follow the crowd?

Exodus 23:2 You shall_____ ____ a crowd to do evil.

Matthew 7:13, 14 Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to _____, and there are_____ who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.

1 Peter 3:20 In the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a____, that is, eight souls, were____ through water.

NOTE: History seems to indicate that the crowd almost always makes the wrong decisions. It was the crowd that wanted to stone Joshua and Caleb and go back to the slavery of Egypt (Numbers 14:4-10). It was the crowd that cried out, “Crucify Him, crucify Him!” Luke 23:21. And it will be the majority—not the minority—who receive the mark of the beast in the last days (Revelation 13:16).

6. How does Jesus feel when we put the traditions of men before the commandments of God?

Mark 7:7, 9 “‘And in____ they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’” … He said to them, “All too well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep___ tradition.”

7. Will true Christianity be popular in the last days?

 

Matthew 24:9 You will be____ by ____ nations for My name’s sake.

2 Timothy 3:12 Yes, and all who desire to live____ in Christ Jesus will____ persecution.

Revelation 12:17 And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make____ with the____ of her offspring.

Revelation 13:15 And cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be_____.

NOTE: In the last days, Satan and his followers will wage an all-out war against God’s genuine, Bible-believing children.

8. Is it possible to serve both God and the crowd?

Matthew 6:24 No one can serve two masters; for either he will____ the one and____ the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other.

Matthew 12:30 He who is not with Me is___ Me.

NOTE: In this battle between Christ and Satan, there is no neutral territory. It is impossible to ride the fence as a spectator. If we are not cooperating with Jesus, we are in fact helping the devil.

9. Is it safe to love a friend or family member more than Jesus?

Matthew 10:37 He who loves father or____ more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter____ than Me is not worthy of Me.

Luke 14:26 If anyone comes to Me and does not hate [love less dearly] his father and mother,____  and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own_____ also, he cannot be My disciple.

Matthew 12:50 For whoever does the____ of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and____.

NOTE: Jesus indicates here that the best way to help reach and save our loved ones is to put Him first in our lives. It is always a tragic mistake to put our natural affections for family or friends before our first obligation to our Savior and Creator.

10. Is it wise to put a prosperous career or earthly treasures before Jesus?

Matthew 16:26 For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole____, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his___ ?

Luke 12:15 For one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the_____ he possesses.

NOTE: The belief that happiness and security come from a good job and nice things is a deadly deception. On the contrary, Jesus said, “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” Mark 10:25.

11. Is it safe to continue disobeying God’s will after He has shown us the truth?

Hosea 4:6 My people are___ for lack of knowledge. Because you have ___ knowledge, I also will reject you; … because you have forgotten the ___ of your God, I also will forget your children.

Hebrews 10:26 For if we sin willfully____ we have received the knowledge of the___ , there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins.

12. What will happen to those who persist in rejecting the truth?

2 Thessalonians 2:10-12 And with all unrighteous deception among those who___, because they did not receive the of the____ of the ____, that they might be saved. And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should___ the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

John 3:19 And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men____ darkness rather than light, because their deeds were____.

NOTE: The Scriptures teach that Jesus is the truth (John 14:6). To accept or reject the truth in any degree is to accept or reject Jesus.

13. Will those who persecute God’s people in the last days believe they are doing the right thing?

John 16:2 Yes, the time is coming that whoever kills you will____ that he offers God___ .

14. How did Peter describe those who have learned the truth but refuse to follow it?

2 Peter 2:21, 22 For it would have been better for them____ to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to____ _____ the holy commandment delivered to them. But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: “A dog returns to his own vomit,” and, “a sow, having washed, to her____ in the mire.”

15. Does following Jesus involve some struggle and self-denial?

Luke 9:23 If anyone desires to come after Me, let him___ himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.

16. Is it safe to procrastinate or postpone a decision to follow Jesus?

Hebrews 4:7 Today, if you will___ His voice, do not harden your hearts.

Hebrews 2:3 How shall we escape if we____ so great a salvation?

2 Corinthians 6:2 Behold,____ is the accepted  time; behold, now is the____ of salvation.

NOTE: The best time to listen to God’s voice is when you are hearing it, and the best time to do God’s will is when He is showing you His will. Satan’s favorite trap is to deceive people into thinking that they have plenty of time to make this decision. The devil knows that the convicting voice of God’s Spirit will grow quiet if ignored. Untold millions will be lost who were sincerely planning to follow Jesus someday in the future, but “someday” never came.

17. What benefits come as a result of accepting and following the truth?

Psalm 119:165 Great___ have those who love Your law, and nothing causes them to stumble.

John 8:32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you___.

1 Peter 1:22 Since you have___ your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit.

NOTE: Tremendous peace, security, and freedom come into the hearts and lives of those who receive and obey the truth.

18. What question did Jesus ask Peter three times?

John 21:17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you___ Me?”

NOTE: This is the most important question when it comes to a full and complete surrender to the will of God. Do you love Him?

YOUR RESPONSE

The truth will never be popular in this sinful world, and the crowd will almost always take the easy road. But Jesus has shown His incredible love for you by giving His life to pay the price for all your sins. The Lord has a great plan for your life. This is why He has revealed His truth to you. Will you now return that love by giving Him all your heart, by choosing to accept Him as your Lord, and by following where He leads?

ANSWER: