Posted:
Based on “Under HIS Influence – Empowered”
by Pastor Mark Balmer; 8/22-23/09,
Message #MB386;
Daily Devotional #6 -
“What Makes the Difference?”
Preparing the Soil (Introduction):
The night air was cool, and Peter stood by the fire in the courtyard of the High Priest to warm himself. A servant girl questioned his association with Jesus. Peter denied it. Another servant girl told the others that Peter had been with Jesus. Peter denied it with an oath. A bystander accused him of being one of Jesus’ disciples. Again, Peter cursed and denied it and immediately, a rooster crowed.
Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: "Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times." And he went outside and wept bitterly. (Matthew 26:75)
Imagine how utterly defeated Peter must have felt. He was the one who told Jesus he would never deny Him.
Now he had denied him three times! Fast forward to Pentecost. The disciples were all together in one place.
Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. (Acts 2:2-4)
Peter then preached the original Pentecost sermon, which resulted in three thousand souls being saved (Acts 2:41). Later, after healing a lame man, Peter told the people who witnessed it that it was faith in Jesus, whom they had killed, that healed the man. Peter boldly told them they needed to repent.
The next day, Peter stood before the very high priests and told them there is salvation in no one other than Jesus (Acts 4:12).
What a contrast between the Peter who denied Jesus three times before lowly servants, to the one who now proclaimed salvation to the High Priests. The difference was the empowerment of the Holy Spirit.
Planting and Watering the Seed (Growth):
The empowerment of the Holy Spirit changed the Peter who denied Christ into the preacher who boldly testified to the need to repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus for the forgiveness of sin. Every Christ follower has the same Spirit to empower them to live boldly and carry out Christ’s commission to make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19-20).
Are there people in your life (relatives, co-workers, neighbors, friends) who you have been afraid to share the gospel with, for whatever reason? Imagine what God could accomplish through you, if you allowed the Holy Spirit’s power to flow through you.
Harvesting the Crop (Action/Response):
The more we know about the Holy Spirit, the more we come under His influence.
Study God’s Word to know what being under His influence involves. Allow God’s Spirit to teach you, assure you, enlighten you, and guide you. Devote yourself to prayer, and ask Him to help you yield to His power in your life. Obey the Spirit’s prompting in your heart and trust Him to lead you step by step.
