June 28 – Refined by the Spirit
This week as we continue our tour through the book of Acts, we stop to take a look at one of my favorite people in the whole bible: the Apostle Peter. I guess I like Peter so much because I can relate to him: I find myself wondering the way Peter wondered, asking the questions Peter asked, and at times stumbling the way Peter stumbled. Yet, as Pastor Mickey talked about this morning, there was a distinct difference in the Peter we see before Pentecost and the Peter we see after Pentecost. There was a boldness and a testimony to Peter’s life once he had been filled with the Holy Spirit; this same Peter who just a month and a half earlier had not once, not twice, but three times denied the Jesus that he knew and loved.
We first see this boldness through the Holy Spirit well up inside of Peter in Acts 2:14-36 as he bears witness to all the things that he saw while Jesus was still with them. Peter testifies with a power that is not of himself, and I truly believe that God has called me AND YOU to be a witness and testify everyday through our lives. You see, Jesus’ death saved us from sin and death, but his resurrection saved us to something just as important: to witness and minister with power not of ourselves, but of the Holy Spirit of God. Can you imagine what Midland/Odessa would look like if we walked in the authority and power that God has given us through the Holy Spirit? What will happen to Mid-Cities when we allow “the stream or river” of the Holy Spirit to refine away our rough edges? Today, I invite you to join in the conversation of what our lives should look like as Post Pentecost Christians who have not only been saved from sin and death by the cross, but saved to a life of power and testimony by Jesus’ resurrection and gift of the Holy Spirit.
Andrew Strand
Children’s Pastor
Last Sunday morning, Pastor Daniel described the similarities between Exodus 19 and the signs experiences at Pentecost. It is interesting also, that at Mount Sinai, 3,000 souls perished (Exodus 32:28) while at Pentecost 3,000 souls were saved—alluding to the fact that under the law we cannot be saved, and so perish, but operating under the new covenant we are redeemed (Hallelujah)!
This morning, Pastor Mickey noted the striking difference in Peter before and after Pentecost. Before Pentecost Peter denied the Lord three times, and even while Jesus was restoring Peter (John 21: 15-17) asking Peter three times if he loved Him, Peter could rise only to the level of phileo (brotherly) love when answering Jesus, and not agape (truly sacrificial) love. However, we know that after Pentecost, certainly from Peter’s death, that he did, in fact, obtain agape love for Jesus.
In Acts 2:16 Peter, addressing the crowd, was able to say: “This is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel.” When studying Peter, I think we, as a church, are most challenged to apply in our own lives, the power that he brought into the situation, as he was able to quote the scriptures to clarify the immediate circumstances. To be able, in these last days, when people begin to question what is really going on, to have spent enough time with Jesus to be able to respond in like manner, by saying: “This is that”… such that we can provide, to those who are questioning, a clear view of the circumstances in light of God’s Word.
Thanks so much for your comments, Pastor Andrew. I couldn’t agree more that our walking in the power of the Holy Spirit could bring amazing changes to the Permian Basin! Sometimes I’m not sure that we always know how to enter into that power, so I’m recommending a book by Bill Johnson, When Heaven Invades Earth. This book describes a congregation in Redding, California, where they learned as a group how to walk in the power of the Spirit, and what followed were just as Hebrews 2:4 describes: signs, wonders, and miracles–healings of all kinds. And this incredible journey was not exclusively the work of the pastor; instead, the congregation was widely involved! How exciting to consider that all of us at Mid-Cities would be walking in the Spirit, because that kind of thing is wonderfully contagious!
Ok I am very new at this and I am really jumping out of my comfort zone. I like what you wrote Pastor Andrew. I to can see myself like Peter. I totally love Jesus with my entirety, but have failed many times to admit or even show it at the most opportune time. I have prayed a number of times that the LORD would use me for His glory. Do you know how many times I have rejected what He has instructed me to do? A number of times, and it was all because of timidity, rejection, failure, and persecution. These have been my fears for far too long. Now, I know that we serve a Mighty God and that fear does not come from him. So why is so hard to stand firm in what we believe? Why are we so afraid of what the world has to say when all that matters is God? I believe Mrs. Blain answered those questions in her last paragraph. I know the Word and the that Spirit of God lives within me, but I hold back.
I know like me there are many others that continuously hide in their shell, too afraid and come out and share the love that God and given to us. So my prayer is that we can all allow the Post Pentecost to bloom. I pray that we will quit fighting the LORD and allow him to use us. I pray that we will devote ourseleves to the Word and that it will be instilled into our hearts. Thank you Jesus for the Holy Spirit that lives within us.