What a remarkable change has taken place in Peter! Since Luke 22:54-66, where he denied Jesus three times while following Him at a distance (after cutting of a high priest’s servant’s ear- John 18:10- in an impetuous act of bravery), he is now emboldened to declare in Acts 5:29, “We must obey God rather than men.” The secret? “God has given the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 5:32) Do I appropriate all the Holy Spirit has to offer?
In Acts 3:13, Peter preached that the men of Israel had “denied [Jesus] in the presence of Pilate.” He, too, had denied Jesus, but the Lord’s look straight at Peter had cut him to the quick, and brought immediate tears of repentance (Luke 22:61-62). Then came Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit filled Jesus’s followers and brought remarkable transformation.
“When the [Spirit] comes he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment.” John 16:8
“[The Spirit will clothe you] with power from on high.” Luke 24:49
Lord, move me to yield to your conviction, to repent, to be emptied of self-will and filled with You that I boldly live your truth.
What am I thinking and doing differently from how I used to, or distinctly from the world, because I have the indwelling Holy Spirit? How can I appropriate His enabling and power today?
