Jesus was sleeping at the back of the boat with his head on a cushion. The disciples woke him up, shouting, “Teacher, don’t you care that we’re going to drown?” Mark 4: 38
And when Herod was about to bring him out, that night Peter was sleeping, bound with two chains between two soldiers Acts 5: 6
In the first scripture, the disciples were in a storm, about to drown, right in the face of death and Jesus was sleeping. Of course, the disciples panicked, they responded like any human would. Jesus help us!
In the second scripture, Peter was about to face trial and death just like James who had just been killed. And we see Peter’s respose has changed. In the face of death this time Peter is sleeping. He did exactly was Jesus did in the storm – Sleep.
I can’t help but ask what had changed? How did this fearful Peter become so calm in the face of death? Two things come to mind, I know there could be more.
The Holy Spirit: Jesus had the Holy Spirit when He was on that boat but Peter didn’t. In prison however, Peter had received the baptism of the Holy Spirit and so He was full of the Holy Spirt. We see that Peter could respond like Jesus because he now had what Jesus had.
The Holy Spirit, the one that gives us courage in the face on uncertainties, The Holy Ghost, the one who conquers fear on the inside of you. The Holy Ghost, the one who grants you boldness to speak the word. The Holy Ghost, our guide and teacher, comforter and counselor. The Holy Ghost, the one who causes the word to come alive. The Holy Ghost, His presence makes the difference.
Eph 5:18 NLT- Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit
He is likened to wine because when given permission He can influence behavior, change perspectives, transform mindsets. When given permission, He makes you operate above your five sense. He opens your eyes to see beyond this realm, He brings you into a dimension where you begin to act based on what He has shown you not what’s happening in your environment (We call that Faith).
When given permission, He guides and teaches you in all aspect of life, He’s the best business partner, His ideas and inspirations are next to none. He teaches you all things – in parenting, in career, in business, in ministry, in all aspects of life. Walking with Him is practical, you can hear His voice, you can trust Him to lead you!
Growth: Peter was no longer the same Peter on the boat. This Peter in prison had grown. One of the ways we measure growth is by our response to challenges. Peter had grown, his response in the face of death the second time shows that. Applying God’s word to our lives, allowing His word change our mindsets and perspective is one of the ways we grow. Peter was no longer just learning, we see that Peter had start living by the words of Jesus. He was now doing the things Jesus had taught them to do. His response in this situation was a reflection of his growth.
The Holy Spirit is the chair for our growth, when we allow Him, He prompts us to walk in obedience, convicts us to repentance when we fall short. Once granted permission, He helps us grow into mature Christians.
What challenge is before you? What help do you need? What decision is before? In what aspect do you need to grow? Whatever your need, trust me when I say the Holy Spirit can lead you to your desired end. Would you invite Him today?
It is my prayer that we all live continually full of the Holy Spirit.
