Faith is the overcoming of our fears and doubts. For years, Jesus was with His disciples. He was there everything. In the upper room before his crucifixion, Jesus promised this would always be the case; that Heaven’s resources would be made available to them. But the disciples did not understand Jesus was to die for them; and us. Even after Jesus had died, and risen from the grave; those disciples closest to Him wondered how their relationship with Jesus was to be going forward? Doubt, fear, anxiety, uncertainty. All these emotions clearly engulfed the Apostles before, and shortly after the crucifixion of Jesus.
Peter appeared to abandon his call to ministry by going back to his old career of fishing; to what he knew best. It seemed to be the easier path. And why not? Peter had denied the Lord on 3 separate occasions. Feelings of weakness, guilt, and insufficiency for a part in the Kingdom of God plagued Peter. He was supposed to be a fisher of people and leave everything behind. But after 3 years, Peter had lead his fishermen friends back to fishing. This is not the leader Jesus saw in Peter; he needed to be restored.
And I think we all can find a bit of Peter within us right? Doubt, fear, seeking what we know; timid to step into the unknown. But what does Jesus repeatedly say throughout His ministry? In Luke 9:23, Jesus says, “If anyone wants to follow after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me.” Following Christ can come with a cost. It can cost your desires, ambitions; your possessions, your job, friends, career, even your family.
Jesus tells us to pick up our cross daily, follow him. We don’t know where that may lead. We don’t know the sacrifices, the trials, or the hardships. The future is uncertain and we are told it will not be easy.
But let us remember this…Let us remember how Jesus strengthened Peter in John 21. Jesus is assuring Peter that He will be with him always. Jesus is telling Peter, I am with you. Peter needed this. Peter needed to know, that despite all his doubts, fears, denial of His Lord; that next time he is in a life and death situation, Peter would NOT deny Jesus! Peter needed to hear that next time he is in a life and death situation; he would Glorify God, he would Glorify Jesus Christ.
And beloved. We are promised that very same thing. We don’t know what the future holds; doubts, fears, trials, peace, joy, goodness and love. But what we do know is that Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, is with us always.
Peter and the other apostles witnessed a power that turned them from fearful; too martyr’s. They started a new chapter in their lives, in their faith walk. They learned, they grew, they witnessed for Jesus. They were changed forever. Jesus is the Word… and it’s powerful. The transforming power of the Word was on display as the Apostles, who in fear and doubt looked to the world for safety, became open to the power of God that strengthened them to become martyr’s in the name of Jesus Christ.
Jesus promises with a Heavenly guarantee to those who believe, put their faith in, and are obedient to the Word of God, the power of The Holy Spirit, and His transformational Word. No matter where we are, no matter where the ones we love are, God is with us always when we put our complete Trust and faith in Him. We leave our doubts, and fill ourselves with the Heavenly peace and joy that Jesus gives us for any and all circumstances. Jesus fills all in all!
Pastor Jason Pauley
