Acts 3:11-19 (Click on reference to read text)
I love Peter. He is so real, he often acts and speaks before he thinks, and you will almost always find him with at least part of his foot in his mouth. However, the Peter in Acts is completely different. In Acts he speaks with wisdom and elegance, he is full of grace yet bold as a lion, he is eloquent and sees thousands come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ... what happened?
Isn't it interesting that when Peter walked alongside Christ he was rash and rough, yet when he became indwelt with the Holy Spirit he speaks with wisdom and eloquence. You see, it is not good enough to simply walk alongside Christ. It is not good enough to have Christian friends, go to church and live a religious life, or try harder. In order to see real change and spiritual growth we must receive His salvation and become indwelt with Christ! It is only through the indwelling power of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit that we truly see lasting change that makes us more like Christ.
Finally, Peter allowed himself to be reinstated. He messed up... big time! He denied Christ three times in one night when hours before he swore complete allegiance to Christ unto death. He denied Jesus Christ the last night of Jesus's life. However, the story does not end there. He is one of the first to rush to Jesus's tomb when he hears of the resurrection (Luke 24:9-12) and when Jesus offers Him forgiveness and restoration, he takes it (John 21:15-19). Peter believes him and he moves on. This is where so many of us fail. We mess up, but instead of accepting Jesus's forgiveness and grace, we tell ourselves we have fallen too far, we could never be used, we have messed up beyond His grace. We refuse to believe that "when we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9).
So... which Peter are you? Are you just walking the Christian life, alongside other believers and simply trying harder, or are you indwelt with the Holy Spirit, walking in His power and accepting His forgiveness and grace? If you have never witnessed a changed life, maybe it is time to see who really lives and reigns in your heart. If you have experienced that change, go out and be bold! You have the power of Heaven on your side and God wants to use YOU to glorify His name!
Friday, October 21, 2011
Sunday, October 2, 2011
Staying the Course... Do You Even Know the Course?
Acts 20:18-24 (Please click on reference to read text)
When I read the book of Acts, I look at the lives of Peter, Paul, Luke, Timothy, Silas, Lydia and wonder how did they keep their focus? How did they make their lives count for Christ so that 2000 years later I even know their names? How did the distractions of life not make them falter? I daily fight the battle of figuring out how to be a good steward of my time, knowing when to say yes and when to say no, or even identifying what is the most important. Then I read Acts 20:24, "But I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself, so that I may finish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God," and suddenly life became a lot more clear.
In order to "Stay the Course" we must first ask ourselves, "Do I know God's calling on my life?" This is not the time to spout the Christian/Piper answer "to glorify God and enjoy Him forever." That is all well and good, but I am asking, what is God's call on your life? Can you name specific things you know He has asked you to do, to be, to take care of, etc. so that you can glorify Him? When I sat down and prayerfully asked myself this question I truly waited on God's reply. He gave me three very specific things that I know He has asked me to do. You must start here. Paul KNEW! Paul knew why God had put him on the earth. He was to "testify solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God." Go ahead and ask. Wait for His answer. Write it down!
Secondly, after knowing God's call on our specific life, we must ask ourselves what are we doing about it? How are you "finishing the course" as Paul put it in Acts 20:24. Look at each thing you know God has asked you to do, to be, to take care of... remember what God has asked of you, not the church, not your friends, but God. In each of these areas, where do you stand and how do you measure up?
Finally, we must ask our self the hardest question of all, am I choosing to love my life more than following Him? In each of the areas I identified, I saw major areas in which I was falling short. In each of those areas there was one common theme as to why... selfishness. There were things I wanted to do, things I wanted to pursue, things I thought were good and important, but that were impeding the work God was wanting to do in my life and through my life. Without fail every time I had an attitude breakdown or fell short, it was because I "considered my life more dear to myself" than finishing the course.
The "Founding Fathers" of the church had jobs, had families, had commitment and responsibilities, yet they lived lives that counted for the only thing that lasts forever. We can too. We have the same promise of the Holy Spirit and power to obey. Do you have a clear focus of what God is calling you to do? How are you doing in those areas? If things come up that are not aligned in what God is calling you to... time to say No! Let's stay the course and when we come to the end of our life may we be able to say with Paul, "But I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself, so that I may finish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus."
When I read the book of Acts, I look at the lives of Peter, Paul, Luke, Timothy, Silas, Lydia and wonder how did they keep their focus? How did they make their lives count for Christ so that 2000 years later I even know their names? How did the distractions of life not make them falter? I daily fight the battle of figuring out how to be a good steward of my time, knowing when to say yes and when to say no, or even identifying what is the most important. Then I read Acts 20:24, "But I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself, so that I may finish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God," and suddenly life became a lot more clear.
In order to "Stay the Course" we must first ask ourselves, "Do I know God's calling on my life?" This is not the time to spout the Christian/Piper answer "to glorify God and enjoy Him forever." That is all well and good, but I am asking, what is God's call on your life? Can you name specific things you know He has asked you to do, to be, to take care of, etc. so that you can glorify Him? When I sat down and prayerfully asked myself this question I truly waited on God's reply. He gave me three very specific things that I know He has asked me to do. You must start here. Paul KNEW! Paul knew why God had put him on the earth. He was to "testify solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God." Go ahead and ask. Wait for His answer. Write it down!
Secondly, after knowing God's call on our specific life, we must ask ourselves what are we doing about it? How are you "finishing the course" as Paul put it in Acts 20:24. Look at each thing you know God has asked you to do, to be, to take care of... remember what God has asked of you, not the church, not your friends, but God. In each of these areas, where do you stand and how do you measure up?
Finally, we must ask our self the hardest question of all, am I choosing to love my life more than following Him? In each of the areas I identified, I saw major areas in which I was falling short. In each of those areas there was one common theme as to why... selfishness. There were things I wanted to do, things I wanted to pursue, things I thought were good and important, but that were impeding the work God was wanting to do in my life and through my life. Without fail every time I had an attitude breakdown or fell short, it was because I "considered my life more dear to myself" than finishing the course.
The "Founding Fathers" of the church had jobs, had families, had commitment and responsibilities, yet they lived lives that counted for the only thing that lasts forever. We can too. We have the same promise of the Holy Spirit and power to obey. Do you have a clear focus of what God is calling you to do? How are you doing in those areas? If things come up that are not aligned in what God is calling you to... time to say No! Let's stay the course and when we come to the end of our life may we be able to say with Paul, "But I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself, so that I may finish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus."
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