A Prayerless Prelude to Denial

How often do you pray when you don't feel like it?

Romans 12:2: And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

To neglect our personal prayer lives is sin. The sin of prayerlessness can creep into the life of any believer. Let’s look at a sad chapter in the life of Peter. Three statements summarize this true drama.

1. Peter was overconfident.

Matthew 26:33-35: Peter answered and said to Him, “Even if all are made to stumble because of You, I will never be made to stumble.” Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you that this night, before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” Peter said to Him, “Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!” And so said all the disciples.

In a non-threatening environment, Peter was certain of his unwavering commitment. You and I have made bold statements about our commitment to Christ in a worship service or at a Christian Retreat. It is easy to brag about what we will do when surrounded by "like minded believers." We must remember that the strength to keep our bold commitments to Christ depends on the time we spend with Him privately.

2. Peter failed to pray.

Matthew 26:36: Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to the disciples, “Sit here while I go and pray over there.”

Matthew 26:40-46: Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “What! Could you not watch with Me one hour? Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Again, a second time, He went away and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if this cup cannot pass away from Me unless I drink it, Your will be done.” And He came and found them asleep again, for their eyes were heavy. So He left them, went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words. Then He came to His disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us be going. See, My betrayer is at hand.”

While Peter made a bold statement of support for Jesus, when the time came to pray, he went to sleep. Jesus asked them to pray and they didn’t. He tried to stress the importance of prayer to them, but they were too tired. We need to pray even when we do not feel like it.

3. Peter did what he thought was impossible.

Before he knew what had happened, Peter had done what he thought was impossible:

Matthew 26:69-75: Now Peter sat outside in the courtyard. And a servant girl came to him, saying, “You also were with Jesus of Galilee.” But he denied it before them all, saying, “I do not know what you are saying.” And when he had gone out to the gateway, another girl saw him and said to those who were there, “This fellow also was with Jesus of Nazareth.” But again he denied with an oath, “I do not know the Man!” And a little later those who stood by came up and said to Peter, “Surely you also are one of them, for your speech betrays you.” Then he began to curse and swear, saying, “I do not know the Man!” Immediately a rooster crowed. And Peter remembered the word of Jesus who had said to him, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” So he went out and wept bitterly.

You and I may think “I’ll never do anything to cause harm to the ones I love.” If you don’t stay close to Jesus, you might. We may boast, “I’ll never drop out of church.” If you don’t stay close to Jesus, you probably will. You could say, “I’ll never steal from my employer.” If you neglect spending time with God, you just might. Be careful. Neglect Prayer. Neglect God.

Johnny Hunt, the current president of the Southern Baptist Convention, tells a true story about a prominent minister who was speaking to a group of ministerial students and one of the students asked a difficult question. The student asked, “If Satan was going to tempt you in an area of your life in order to destroy your ministry, what area would he attack?” The minister is reported to have said something on the line of “Well, I can’t really think of an area in which he would attack me, but I’ll tell you a sin that he could not get me to commit…adultery.” Johnny Hunt says it was just a matter of months before the man had been unfaithful in his marriage and he lost his family. Neglect prayer. Neglect God. Prayerlessness is a sin.

Jesus said, "Apart from me you can do nothing." Is there an area of your life in which you feel you are invincible? Be assured, you are not invincible. That sin you think you have kept hidden. Be assured, God knows. The strongest Christian you know can fail, if they fail to spend time with God in prayer.