The Spirit Empowers Us
Acts 2:14-41, John 18:15-18, 25-27, 2 Timothy 1:7
Jump! Jump!
I had talked a big game walking up to the bridge. Somehow, our cruise around the lake had turned into “who is brave enough to jump off the bridge”. I’ve never really been afraid of heights, so walking up to the bridge I was sure that I would have no problem jumping. Until I got to the top and looked down. I was terrified! Literally shaking as my friends jumped before me until I was left up there alone with my own fear. I couldn’t do it, for the record. I stood up there for a grueling 20 minutes until I did the walk of shame back down the hill.
When I read about Peter, I relate to him a lot. Peter is just like me, confident to start, and then fear gets the best of him in the moment. He steps out into the water to follow Jesus, and quickly loses faith and begins sinking (Matthew 14:22-33), or he proclaims his devotion to Jesus and then when questioned denies he ever knew him (Luke 22:54-58). How did this timid man go from giving into fear to boldly proclaiming the word of God in front of a large crowd?
The Holy Spirit.
Peter had been an unreliable leader during Jesus’ ministry, but Jesus had forgiven and restored him. This new Peter we see in this passage is humble, bold, and truly confident. It was the Spirit who gave him confidence and the Spirit who gave him power. Jesus promises that we will be given what to say at the proper time (12:12), that the word of God is sharper than any double edged sword (Hebrews 4:12), and that no one can proclaim “Jesus is Lord” apart from the Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:3).
Peter’s message was so powerful because it was God speaking to the people. His spirit had come to rest on His people, His power was available to them.
Would you live differently if you really believed that the same power that raised Jesus from the dead was available to you?
God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love and self control (2 Timothy 1:7), would you believe that to be true.
Is there something God has been asking you to do that you have been afraid to do? Give your fear over to the Lord and believe in the power freely available to you.
