Peter’s Fire
I have heard many people say "Ah, I love Peter, because I see myself in him! I see myself in the man who kept getting it wrong, kept putting his foot in his mouth, and even denied Jesus after boldly proclaiming his faith shortly before. That's me," people say, "inconsistent and messed up. Thank God that I can be like Peter and it's ok."
I want to say, but read one book further! Pick up the book of Acts and you will see that this fumbling, inconsistent man ended up living an extraordinary life when he was filled with the FIRE of God's Spirit, and sent on a mission as Christ's representative.
I don't believe Peter in the Gospels should be our pattern for the Christian life. Perhaps we begin like that, yes, as we start to understand the Jesus message. But we've got to get into the book of Acts. We've got to get Spirit-filled. Like Peter, we've got to move beyond the fumbling and into the filled life.
Like him, we’ve got to receive the FIRE of the Holy Spirit. Peter was there, front and centre, when the Spirit came and filled the disciples: "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." (Acts 2:3-4)
From Failure and Forgiveness to Spirit-Filled Living
Up till then, Peter was hit-and-miss, failure-and-forgiveness man. After this, his life became newly empowered and bold! His pattern changed, because he began to live with the fire of the Spirit in his soul, rather than just relying on his own strength, willpower, and understanding.
Do you live a fiery Christian life? Have you received the fullness of the Spirit? Or are you still relying on your own power to try and live the Christian life?
I love these words from J. Grant Swank Jr., who wrote an article in the Herald of Holiness back in 1998 about the power of Pentecost: "If the power of the church is not of Pentecost, then it is of the flesh. If it is of the flesh, then it is useless. Further, it is detrimental to the ultimate desires of the Holy Spirit."
Flesh or Fire: Which Power Are You Relying On?
To throw another F word into the mix here, you can try to use the power of your own FLESH - that is, your own power, your own willpower, your own strength. Or you can have faith in the power of the Spirit in you. FLESH or FIRE is the choice!
Only the FIRE of the Spirit can really give you power to change. It worked for Peter. When he stopped just ploughing ahead in his own strength and understanding, and put his faith in the Spirit's leading, he began to live an extraordinary life.
Will you?
Peter's cycle of failure and forgiveness was broken when he received the fire of the Holy Spirit - and the same transformation is available to you. Ask God today to fill you afresh with His Spirit's power.