If you are going to ACCOMPLISH something in this Christian life or for that matter for the kingdom of God, Then you must know the right approach, the right formulae, and the right strategy.
You see Your Education, your abilities, your health, your wealth your experiences and your connections are all necessary for your advancement in this world. You definitely need those in order to compete favorably in this world.
But you must remember that as a Christian, even though you live in this world you are not of this world. You are a citizen of the kingdom of God. Your kingdom manual has instructed you in Romans section 12 and thereby the second paragraph that you should not copy the patterns, behaviors and customs of this world, instead you should allow God to change you into a new person. The manual reveals that by changing the way you think you enter into a relationship with God that allows you to know HIS WILL.
Your success in Gods kingdom will seldom be through your Education, your abilities, your health, your wealth, your experiences and your connections. Maybe you feel the need to study more, get more knowledge or get great education. I encourage you to do so especially if you want to compete in a worldly manner.
Recall that after living for three and half years with Jesus, after seeing all the miracles that Jesus performed, even then Peter’s boldness was so little that it could not find its place before a little girl.
Mark 14:72 And the second time the cock crew. And Peter called to mind the word that Jesus said unto him, Before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice. And when he thought thereon, he wept.
Peter wept after he failed to stand up for Jesus. The world Jesus brought him into exposed him, he couldn’t compete favorably.
His hidden weaknesses was brought to the surface and made bare before all. If Peter was living in our modern society what options would people advise him take in view of his weakness.
Enroll him in a two months course on how to build self confidence and self esteem.
Buy a Dale Carnegie book of his day on positive mental attitude.
Join a yoga class to practice transcendental meditation.
Take up martial art training tae-kwondo, jujitsu and Judo.
By doing this he, would have been conforming to the pattern of this world. You must learn to deal with spiritual issues in your life the right way. His problem was spiritual not worldly. Spiritual maters require spiritual solutions. The hostile world and its competitive nature was way beyond his humble and ordinary life..
Mark 14:65 And some began to spit on him, and to cover his face, and to buffet him, and to say unto him, Prophesy: and the servants did strike him with the palms of their hands.
If you love God and there is an area in your life that brings you Shame, which makes you lose confidence, if there be an area in your life that you believe disqualifies you from reaching your destiny I want you to remember that the apostle Peter was like that too.
The solution to his problem was not classes, courses and methods. it was the HOLY SPIRIT .
Act 4:31 - And when they had prayed, the place was shaken wherein they were gathered together; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spake the word of God with boldness.
Consider with me carefully Vs 31. When they were filled with the Holy Spirit they spoke the word of God boldly.
We can briefly look at the disciples’ life before this experience.
They were so weak in their conviction, they were so weak in their faith, and they could not do anything unless Jesus was with them. After living for three and half years with Jesus, after seeing all the miracles that Jesus performed, even then Peter’s boldness was so little that it could not find its place before a little girl.
But after an encounter with the HOLY SPIRIT, after experiencing the power of the Holy Spirit, he witnessed boldly through out Jerusalem.
Forget about the little girl, Peter stood before Sanhedrin, the religious ruling body of Jewish community and said, “We preach in the name of Jesus of Nazareth whom you crucified".
In order to have boldness, your life must be filled with the HOLY SPIRIT. It is the Holy Spirit who gives us boldness to stand and share the word of God with courage and conviction. When the Holy Ghost enters into your life, you will be equipped with a gift of the spirit.
I see you standing before great men and women because of the Gift of God in your life. I see you speaking into their lives. Let the HOLY SPIRIT FILL YOUR LIFE.All peter needed was a deeper experience with the Holy Spirit and suddenly he caught up with the cream of the society. But now made even more powerful than those whom he originally feared.
My Bible says “it is not by might nor by power but by the Spirit says the Lord of hosts”.
You are about to be turned from a weakling to a witness.
Pastor George H Ochieng.
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