How do we live a victorious life in Christ? How do we stand in the face of evil?
Let's look at two different times in Peter's life. The first one is very familiar to many of us. It happened after Peter, in his own strength, was bold enough to cut off a man's ear to protect Jesus, yet his bravery left him, and we see here the result.
"Now Simon Peter stood and warmed himself. Therefore they said to him, "You are not also one of His disciples, are you?"
He denied it and said, "I am not!"
One of the servants of the high priest, a relative of him whose ear Peter cut off, said, "Did I not see you in the garden with Him?" Peter then denied again; and immediately a rooster crowed." John 18:25-27 (NIV)
Then there is this one, when Peter was addressing the crowd on the day of Pentecost.
"Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah."
When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?"
Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call."
With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, "Save yourselves from this corrupt generation." Acts 2:36-40 (NIV)
What we are seeing here is Peter before the crucifixion, and then Peter after the gift of the Holy Spirit had been given, just as the resurrected Jesus had promised.
"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." Acts 1:8 (NIV)
The lesson is clear, we cannot live a victorious life without the power of the the Holy Spirit in our lives. We need to pray daily for the strength to please him, the boldness to proclaim him, and the heart to love each other as we should.
