By MICHAEL WILCOX

Proverbs 24:16, “For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.”

I tell our church that you can tell the difference (if you stumble) between God dealing with your failure or Satan. If you have stumbled in your spiritual walk and Satan has dealt with you it will be a put down:

“Don’t get up; you knew you couldn’t make it; you’re no good and you know it; etc…”

Then God deals with us.

Let’s take a good look at one who had stumbled bad (and I believe Satan was having a field day with him). Look at Peter, a man who fell.

Luke 22:54-62 New King James: “54 Having arrested Him, they led Him and brought Him into the high priest’s house. But Peter followed at a distance. 55 Now when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat among them. 56 And a certain servant girl, seeing him as he sat by the fire, looked intently at him and said, “This man was also with Him.” 57 But he denied Him,[a] saying, “Woman, I do not know Him.” 58 And after a little while another saw him and said, “You also are of them.” But Peter said, “Man, I am not!” 59 Then after about an hour had passed, another confidently affirmed, saying, “Surely this fellow also was with Him, for he is a Galilean.” 60 But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are saying!” Immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster[b] crowed. 61 And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had said to him, “Before the rooster crows,[c] you will deny Me three times.” 62 So Peter went out and wept bitterly.”

Peter had fallen so bad, between himself and Satan he thought there was no way back.

Then Christ rose from the grave. Christ also sends a message to the disciples.

Mark 16:7, “ But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you.”

So Satan deals with our failures as he did with Judas who finally hanged himself.

Christ, knowing how Peter would have responded if he was told of Christ, said to the disciples, “disciples and Peter.”

So, if you have fallen lately do like the lady on the commercial did.

“Help I have fallen and can’t get up.”

Push the button of God and call the repentance number.

1-800-God-forgive-me.

Then, with His help put on the full armor of Christ so it doesn’t happen again.

 

– The Rev. O. Michael Wilcox is the pastor at New Providence Church of the Nazarene.