Bible Reading: Deuteronomy 23-25; Mark 14:51-72
“And the second time the cock crew. And Peter called to mind the word that Jesus said unto him, Before the cock crow twice, thou shall deny me thrice. And when he thought thereon, he wept.” Mark 14:72(KJV)
How can this be explained; that the same Peter who drew his sword and cut off the ear of one of the servant to the High Priest and was ready to fight at the arrest point of Christ will deny the same Christ he was ready to fight and die for three times? At the heat of the battle the bible recorded in Mark 14:50 (KJV), “And they all forsook him, and fled”. The bible says in Proverbs 28:1(KJV) “The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion.” It is the Spirit of God in contact with the spirit of man that produces righteousness. As at the time in question, Peter, despite all his action, was yet a carnal Christian who was relying on the arm of flesh. He has not fully understood that Christ’s mission was more spiritual than physical. It is only when we truly receive the Holy Spirit that we are empowered to be the witnesses of Christ.
The truth remains that it takes the spirit of God for man to do the will of God. Peter who was supposed to lead the disciples of Christ failed woefully because he has not received the Spirit enablement. The question is; how many of us can face the shining edge of the machete on our neck and still boldly stand for Jesus Christ in the event of persecution? How many of us have compromised our faith in the office to get human promotion? How many of us have soiled our hands in order to win a contract and still come to the altar to give an unholy testimony? How many of us Christians today are ready to put our lives at stake for the sake of the gospel of Christ? Christianity goes beyond singing and dancing in praise and worship.
Jesus, knowing what was coming against them that believe in Him, instructed the Apostles in Luke 24:49(KJV), “And, behold, I send the promise of my father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.” It is this power that Christ promise in this scripture that John was talking about in John 1:12 (KJV), “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.” This is the power that is required for the propagation of the gospel of Christ, speaking boldly in the face of intimidation and danger. That power in reference is given through the outpouring of the Holy Spirit as stated in Acts 1:8(KJV), “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”
Power to boldly stand and witness for Christ is given by the Holy Ghost. Attesting to this was Peter’s boldness to declare Jesus as the Son of God on and after the Pentecost. Peters boldness thereafter was a marvel even to stand before the Jewish Highest Council declaring Jesus as the Son of God without a blink of the eye. Paul, the Apostle, demonstrated this Holy Spirit-induced power throughout his ministry as attested to in Acts 14:3(KJV), “Long time therefore abode they speaking boldly in the Lord, which gave testimony unto the word of his grace, and granted signs and wonders to be done by their hands.” The place of the Holy Spirit in our Christian journey cannot be overemphasized. The baptism of the Holy Spirit is immensely needed to transform us to be emboldened for Christ. It is a must-get but must be genuinely desired to get.
My dear reader, you need to move out from the realm of a carnal Christian to a Spirit filled believer empowered to live and win souls for Christ. Pray earnestly for the baptism of the Holy Spirit. If you have not given your life to Jesus this is the right time to do so, seeing that we have entered into the very last stage of the end of time. Christ is coming very soon, so make hay while the sun shines.
Prayer: Father release upon me the Spirit of boldness to declare Jesus Christ as the Lord and Saviour of humanity.
Bro. Joel Ezeugo