Monday May 08th, 2023
Meditate on: 2 Corinthians 5:17 NLT
« This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! »
Read: Acts 4:8-14 GNT
8 Peter, full of the Holy Spirit, answered them, “Leaders of the people and elders:
9 if we are being questioned today about the good deed done to the lame man and how he was healed,
10 then you should all know, and all the people of Israel should know, that this man stands here before you completely well through the power of the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth—whom you crucified and whom God raised from death.
11 Jesus is the one of whom the scripture says,
‘The stone that you the builders despised
turned out to be the most important of all.’
12 Salvation is to be found through Him alone; in all the world there is no one else whom God has given who can save us.”
13 The members of the Council were amazed to see how bold Peter and John were and to learn that they were ordinary men of no education. They realized then that they had been companions of Jesus.
14 But there was nothing that they could say, because they saw the man who had been healed standing there with Peter and John.
God created every human being with the potential and ability to fulfil purpose.
According to John 1:12, a very important part of God’s plan for every human being is to attain full sonship.
Now, sonship starts from being born again then growing in the Spirit. This is where being with Jesus comes in.
It is absolutely impossible for anyone to take this journey and exhibit Christ-like behavior unless the person has been with Jesus. Acts 4:13 NASB says:
« Now as they observed the confidence of Peter and John and understood that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed, and began to recognize them as having been with Jesus. »
Knowing that Peter and John were ordinary fishermen, the people marveled at their confidence, boldness and wisdom, realizing it could only be the result of a divine encounter.
A divine encounter is the special visitation of the Holy Spirit. Without an encounter with the power of the Spirit, you would live far below your potential.
To fulfil your destiny, you must partner with the Holy Spirit by seeking a divine encounter with Him.
Peter realized his potential. Although initially full of fear, after Pentecost, he became so bold that even the council’s threats could not stop him.
He had ordinarily lacked the fire, zeal, and direction because after Christ’s death, he stopped fishing for souls and returned to being an ordinary fisherman (John 21:1-3).
However, after Pentecost, he was able to perform according to Heaven’s expectations.
Like Peter, you need to encounter Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit, and everything you require to fulfill destiny will be provided in the mighty name of Jesus.
Make a habit of spending time with Jesus daily, it will determine how far you will go.
Prayer point: Father, as I commit to spending more time with You, let Your presence be evidence in my life, in the mighty name of Jesus.
Author: Bishop Enoch. A. Adeboye.
Edited by Naomie
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