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Peter Repentance

8/2/2020

So far we have looked at “Peter the Devoted Disciple of Jesus”, and “Peter Living the Life of Self.” This week we will consider Peter's Repentance.
Peter denied Jesus three times in a fashion that makes us cringe when we read the story. I am so thankful the story doesn't end there, but tells us that Jesus looked at Peter; and it was that look of love and forgiveness that broke the heart of Peter. He saw his awful sin and failure and just how far he had fallen, and "Peter went out and wept bitterly."
Can you imagine the shame during those next few hours as Peter watched Jesus be hung on a cross and buried in a tomb. I wish I could tell you that I have no idea what he went through, but I have denied my Savior so many times, and put Jesus back on that cross more times then I even want to admit. If we are honest, each of us have been there and hurt our Lord and Savior. We have had a Sabbath like Peter experienced of despair and shame; wishing it could have been different!
We have been there! "My Lord is gone, my hope is gone, and I denied my Lord. After that life of love, after that blessed fellowship of three years, I denied my Lord. God have mercy upon me!" Absolute Surrender page 53
I am not sure I can fully realize just how far Peter fell, but I have been there! The other side of this story is that this was the turning point in Peter's life. The next day on resurrection morning Peter received the news that the tomb was empty. That evening he met with the other disciples. Then by the sea Jesus asked Peter: "Do you love me?" Three times, Jesus reminded him that he had denied Him just as many times.
Even now, I am reminded how many times I have denied my Lord! The beauty is that it was at this time that Peter began his transformation. And Jesus promises that He will, and is transforming our lives so that we can say,
"Lord you know that I love you!"

Peter Living the Self Life

7/6/2020

Last week we looked into the life of Peter the Devoted Disciple of Jesus. We saw that Peter was a man of surrender - he gave up everything he had for Jesus and yet something was still missing.
You remember that right after Jesus had said to Peter; "Flesh and blood has not revealed it unto you, but your Father which is in heaven," Speaking of Peters belief that Jesus was the Son of God. Jesus then went on to speak about the suffering He would go through and Peter dared to call Jesus down: "Be it far from thee, lord; this shall not be unto thee." It was then that Jesus had to call Peter down: "Get thee behind me, Satan; for thou savorest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men."
This was Peter trusting in himself! Trusting his own wisdom and actually telling the Savior that He can't go and die. Peter was a man of absolute surrender. Peter was a man ready to obey and submit his life to Jesus. He was a man of faith to the point he trusted Jesus to step out of a boat and walk on water. Peter had spiritual insight, so that he saw Jesus as the Son of God and yet Peter trusted in himself and his wisdom. Just shortly after this we see Peter right in the middle of a squabble with the other disciples, about who would be the greatest in Jesus kingdom. He wanted to be number one! He wanted to be in control and believed that it was his right to be first and best. He desired his own honor above others. Peter's life of self was strong! He gladly left his vocation and old life, but not his old self.
When Jesus spoke of His suffering and said to Peter: "Get behind me, Satan" He went on to say: "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me." Friends we cannot follow
Jesus until we are willing to put others before ourself. Self must be utterly denied. What does that mean for you and me?
When Peter denied Jesus, we read in God's word that he did it three times; "I do not know the man" ; he was saying, "I have nothing to do with Him - He and I are not friends; I have no connection to Him." Jesus told Peter that he must deny self. Self had to be ignored, it had to be rejected. This is what true discipleship is all about; but Peter did not understand and could not obey it. And then what did we see happen? Jesus said to him, "Before the cock crows twice you will deny me three times." Do you remember peters response? "Though all should forsake you I will not. I am ready to go with you, to prison and death."
Peter meant every word of that! He intended to do just what he said; but Peter did not know himself. He did not believe he was as bad as Jesus said he was.
All of us can probably think of individual sins that come between us and Jesus, but what are we going to do with the self-life which if we are honest with ourselves is all filthy and is our very nature? What are we going to do with our flesh that is often under the power of sin? What are we going to do with our spirit to have to be in control and have it our way? What we need friends Is deliverance! Peter didn't have a clue of his true self and his self-confidence denied his Lord. It is either God's way or ours; it is either self or Jesus!
Notice that Jesus uses the word deny twice. He says to Peter the first time, "Deny self" ; then the second time, "You will deny me." It is one or the other, this is the only choice we have; we must either deny self or deny Jesus. We are in the middle of the Great Controversy - two great powers are at war! There is the self-nature which is the power of sin, and there is Jesus which is the power of God. One or the other must rule in our life.
It was self that caused the most beautiful angel in heaven to become Satan, because he wanted to exalt self. Self was the reason for the fall of man. Adam and Eve wanted something for themselves. We have inherited their nature and like them we must choose between Jesus and ourself. Are we in control or is Jesus? Does it have to be our way, or do we put others first as Jesus did?
If you took the challenge to read through the gospels this year, you are in for a great blessing! I encourage you not to shy away from this challenge just because it may be difficult. God has a wonderful blessing in store for you!

Peter the Devoted Disciple of Jesus

6/29/2020

Last week we began a study on the life of Peter and how his life relates to our surrender and walk with Jesus. This week we will look at Peter the Devoted Disciple of Jesus.
You remember that Jesus called Peter to give up his life and livelihood of fishing and follow Him. Peter never hesitated and could later say, "We have forsaken all and followed you." Peter was a man of absolute surrender; he gave up everything to follow Jesus and was ready to obey at a moments notice. When Jesus said, "Launch out into the deep, and let down the net."
Peter didn't hesitate. He knew that there were no fish there, they had been working all night and caught nothing; even so Peter said to Jesus, "At your word I will let down the net." Peter in spite of what he thought or believed submitted his will to Jesus. And Peter was a man of great faith. When he saw Jesus walking on the sea, he immediately said, "Lord, if it is you, bid me come unto you"; and when Jesus said come, he stepped out of the boat and walked on water.
Peter was also a man of great spiritual insight. When Jesus asked the disciples: "Whom do you say that I am?" Peter answered without hesitation, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." Peter couldn't see that on his own, he saw it because the Holy Spirit told him it was so. And Jesus called him the rock, having the keys of the kingdom. Peter was a splendid man and devoted disciple of Jesus. If Peter was living today,
we would say that he was an advanced Christian. And yet Peter was not even converted according to Jesus.
This gives me pause as I look at my life, and I have to ask myself: am I an advanced Christian or am I like Peter wanting and in need of a conversion? I hope each of us are willing to carefully consider the life of Peter, and like Peter allow our hearts to be broken and filled with Jesus!

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Peter

6/21/2020

We are living in uncertain times that are unprecedented in my lifetime. But I want to remind you that we are safe in the hands of a Savior who loved us so much He was willing to leave the safety and joy of Heaven so He could come to our dark world to give us direction and Hope. Regardless of what comes we are in the hands of a God who loves us and has promised He will never leave us. Keep your eyes on Jesus!
We have been looking at Surrender and how it relates to our Walk With Jesus for the last couple months and I want to continue in that vein, just with a little different focus. This week and for the next four weeks we are going to be looking at the life of Peter and how his repentance relates to Surrender and specifically to our walk with Jesus.
Let's start with a Bible passage from Luke 22:61, 62
"And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had said to him, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” So Peter went out and wept bitterly." This is where everything changed in the life of Peter. Peter was not in any condition to follow Jesus at this time, because he had not come to the end of his rope; he did not know who he really was and could not follow Jesus. It was only when his heart was broken and he wept bitterly that the change came. Jesus had told Peter: "When you are converted, strengthen your brethren." This is that crucial moment when he is converted from self to Jesus.
I praise God for the story of Peter. His story gives me more comfort than any other story in the Bible. When I consider his character with all of his
failures, and what Jesus did for Peter through the power of the Holy Spirit, it thrills my heart, because there's hope for me, and there's hope for you.
But we must remember, before Jesus could fill Peter with the Holy Spirit and make him that "new creation" that we find in 2 Corinthians 5:17, he had to go out and weep bitterly; he had to be humbled and so do we.
If we are going to understand this clearly I believe there are four points that we need to look at. Over the next four weeks we are going to look at Peter the Devoted Disciple of Jesus; next, Peter Living the Life of Self; then, Peter's Repentance; and last, Peter Transformed.
This will be an exciting study so I hope you are willing to take the time to read each part of Peter's life!

Honoring the Holy Spirit

5/26/2020

Friends, we are safe in the hands of Jesus! Nothing that is happening has escaped His notice and I’m here to assure you He has everyone of us safely in his hands.
We have been looking at surrender and most recently the Holy Spirit and how surrender to the Holy Spirit impacts our walk with Jesus! And what a wonderful blessing comes when the Holy Spirit is allowed to lead and direct our lives and our Church, and when it is expressed in our obedience to Him.
We have been reflecting on the story of Barnabas and Paul when they were sent out as missionaries. What great and miraculous power went with them as they were directed by the Holy Spirit. It was the Holy Spirit that hindered Paul from going again into Asia and led him to Europe. And the reason they had such great power; and miracles followed them everywhere they went, was because they were being led by the Holy Spirit. I am so thankful that this gift of the Holy Spirit was not just for the early church and these missionaries alone. No! We too can have this great blessing and be led step by step and see the same results in our ministry today!
The Holy Spirit has been called "the executive of the Holy Trinity." The Holy Spirit not only has power that is readily available to us, but He offers the Spirit of love for each other and a dark world that needs Jesus just as much as you and me. We may look around us and say, "why don't we see more of that love that not only loves those that love us, but loves just as passionately those that hate and abuse us?" This is what we saw in the early disciples - unwavering love for those that wanted them dead! And
why don't we see more of that kind of love? Why are we not blessed and led like these early missionaries? There can only be one answer. We have not honored the Holy Spirit as we should have done. I know these are not soft, sweet words, but can we say it's not true? Our cry should be:
"God forgive me that I have not honored the Holy Spirit as I should have done, that I have grieved Him, that I have allowed self and the flesh and my own will to work where the Holy Spirit should have been honored! May God forgive me that I have allowed self and flesh and the will actually to have the place that God wanted the Holy Spirit to have." Absolute Surrender page 48.
Friends we are weak and feeble, where God through our surrender to the Holy Spirit wants to give us love and power! That's what I want and pray for you and me. Will you pray this prayer with me?

The Holy Spirit In Our Lives

5/11/2020

We are so very blessed that our surrender to Jesus not only allows the Holy Spirit to separate us and set us apart for the glory of God, but the Holy Spirit doesn't stop there. The next work of the Holy Spirit in our lives is to make us partners!
This is where our lives really get exciting in our surrender and walk with Jesus! As partners with the Holy Spirit Heaven does the bigger part of the work and we are privileged to do our small part as well.
Going back to Acts 13; talking again of Barnabas and Paul, "So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed unto Seleucia." Oh, what fellowship! Working together with the Holy Spirit to glorify God! This is when this partnership calls us to even greater prayer and fasting. We have been called to walk with Jesus; by our surrender we have been set apart, now is when we must fall on our faces and continually call on God for leading and strength.
Here we see that it is not only in the beginning of our walk with Jesus that we are totally dependent, but every step of the way we must seek our Lord in prayer. If there is one part of God's Church that troubles my heart; if there is one part of my own life that I am ashamed; if there is one thing that we as a Church have not fully grasped. It is the wonderful power that God
wants to give us through prayer! We have barely scratched the surface of what God wants to do in our lives through prayer!
Many of us have read Bunyan's book Pilgrims Progress. In this great work of literature we find that Christian has the key that can unlock the dungeon of atheism and heartendom and it is prayer. Then there's possibly my favorite statement about prayer in Steps To Christ page 94 by Ellen White;
"Why should the sons and daughters of God be reluctant to pray, when prayer is the key in the hand of faith to unlock heaven's storehouse, where are treasured the boundless resources of Omnipotence?" But somehow we are more occupied with our work than with prayer. For some reason we are more occupied with speaking to men than we are with speaking with God.
The Holy Spirit is calling us to a new fasting and praying, to a new separation from the pleasures of this world. To a greater and more complete surrender to Jesus; and this can only come with fasting and prayer. If there was more prayer in our work for Jesus, there would be more blessing and devotion in our walk with Jesus!
Andrew Murray in his book Absolute Surrender puts it this way,
"If we felt and proved and testified to the world that our only strength lay in keeping every minute in contact with Christ, every minute allowing God to work in us - if that were our spirit, would not, by the grace of God, our lives be holier? Would not they be more abundantly fruitful?" AS page 46
Paul in chapter three of Galatians in verse three says, "Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh?"
It is very easy in our walk with Jesus to begin with much prayer, begun in the Spirit, but then over time become more and more comfortable, more and more dependent in trusting in our own intelligence and strength instead of going to Jesus for every need and desire.
Friends, this is our greatest and most important work! The Holy Spirit only comes in answer to our believing prayer.

Seperated Unto The Spirit

4/7/2020

We have been studying the part of the Holy Spirit in our surrender. Last time we looked at how fasting and prayer was essential in our receiving the Holy Spirit. This week I want to focus on what the Holy Spirit wants to do for us.
Going back to Acts 13 "Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. The work is mine, and I care for it, and I have chosen these men and called them, and I want you who represent the Church of Christ upon earth to set them apart unto me."
We see two distinct sides to these verses. These men were set apart to the Holy Spirit and the Church was to do this separating work. The Holy Spirit could trust Barnabas and Saul to do His work in a right spirit. Jesus was dwelling in their lives! And the Church was abiding in Christ; so the Holy Spirit could say to them, "Do the work of separating these men."
This is the key to our every need as Christian workers who need greater power and blessings to reach those around us who have not yet seen the beauty and the love of Jesus as their Savior. Friends, our greatest need as a Church and as followers of Jesus is to be separated unto the Holy Spirit.
But what does that mean? Paul put it this way, "We have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit that is of God." I hope and pray that is our great desire! That the things of this world becomes less and less important and the Spirit of God coming in to take possession of our lives. For me it always comes back to Galatians 2:20 "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live
in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me."
I'm sure that each of us are asking God for the Holy Spirit in our lives; to reach friends and family with Jesus. And often we see His power and receive great blessings, but God wants something more and higher. God wants us to seek for the Holy Spirit as we desire the air that we breath! Where the Holy Spirit is a power in our life to conquer self and cast out sin and fill us with Jesus! When we are separated unto the Holy Spirit our prayer will be, "Father, let the Holy Spirit have full dominion over me, in my home, in my temper, in every word of my tongue, in every thought of my heart, in every feeling toward my fellow men; let the Holy Spirit have entire possession."
I hope that this is the desire of our hearts - to be men and women separated and given completely to the Holy Spirit to fill us with Jesus!
I love you!
Brad

Fasting and Prayer

3/29/2020

As we continue our study on surrender and especially focus on the Holy Spirit; let's remember that He is a gift from our Lord and Savior Jesus, so He can live in us as we walk this life. This week I want to look at what the disciples were doing when they received guidance to witness.
"And when they fasted and prayed..." Acts13:2
These followers of Jesus were fasting and praying and the Holy Spirit came and spoke to them. God had already extended His Church to Antioch and had given rich blessings to the Early Church. Now we find them serving Jesus with prayer and fasting. They are convicted that they can not do it on their own. That they must have the Holy Spirits leading every step of the way! Andrew Murray in his book Absolute Surrender puts it this way,
"What a deep conviction they have - "It must all come direct from Heaven. We are in fellowship with the risen Lord; we must have a close union with Him, and somehow He will let us know what He wants." And they were, empty, ignorant, helpless, glad and joyful, but deeply humbled. "O Lord," they seem to say, "we are Thy servants, and in fasting and prayer we wait upon Thee. What is Thy will for us?" Absolute Surrender page 41
We see the same reaction from Peter! He is on the housetop fasting and praying and God sent the vision to go to Caesarea. He didn't know what to do; he was just waiting to see what direction God was leading, but he was fasting and praying as he waited.
You see friends, it is when our hearts are completely and entirely surrendered to Jesus; when we are separating ourselves from the the things of this world and in intense prayer seeking Jesus that God will reveal His will to us.
It is when we are willing to go into our closets and shut out the business and televisions and technology, anything that can distract and get alone with God. These disciples in Acts went even deeper and shut themselves away from the material things like food and fasted! They wanted so bad to let go of anything that would distract them from intensely seeking their Lord; anything that would separate them from Jesus that they wouldn't even eat. That's how much they desired God's will through the Holy Spirit!
I encourage you and me to truly seek the will of God in our lives and in our Church. To allow the Holy Spirit to fill us with Jesus and then send us out to reach a world that needs Jesus just as much as we do.
Have a wonderful week and remember to pray with someone else in our Church for revival and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit!

God's Direction Though the Holy Spirit

3/23/2020

Last week we began our study on the Holy Spirit's role in our surrender. We saw how we must allow the Holy Spirit to direct our plans and it is our privilege and duty as children of the King to wait for Him to show us His plan.
This week we are going to discover how God is willing and able to reveal to us His will for our lives and our walk with Jesus. In fact, we should be shouting hallelujah that we still today can receive clear direction from the Holy Spirit and never have to be wandering without purpose and direction.
The Holy Spirit will still speak to His Church and His people if we are willing to listen. So I ask you today, and I ask myself: Lord, are we ready and willing to wait for You to show us your will? Are we safe? Can You trust us with Your power and Your grace?
You see, God can only reveal His will to a heart that is humble and tender and empty! God can only open doors and give understanding for difficulties and great problems to a heart that has learned to trust Him in the little things in daily life.
Friends, we must realize and understand that hearing The Holy Spirit and being led by God always comes back to Jesus!
"I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." Galatians 2:20
True surrender is being crucified with Jesus every morning and continually throughout the day and allowing Him to fill us with the Holy Spirit and live His life in us!

The Holy Spirits Role in Our Surrender

3/8/2020

I would like to take a few weeks and discover the Holy Spirit's role in our surrender and walk with Jesus.
We will start our study in Acts 13:1-4
"Now at the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul. While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off. The two of them, sent on their way by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia and sailed from there to Cyprus."
In this story we find some wonderful direction as to what God has for us, and what God wants to do for us through the Holy Spirit. First: the Holy Spirit is our director of the work God has for us to do here on earth, and especially in our lives and in our church. Second: if we are going to have true success, and truly do the work of Jesus. We must be in a right relation to the Holy Spirit and daily give Him the place and honor that belongs to Him.
This is something we can and must do! Just like our relationship with the Father, and with Jesus our Savior; we must in our inner private life and worship, give the Holy Spirit complete and absolute surrender. Like our Father God and Jesus we must daily ask Him to come into our lives and have top billing! Let's take just a few moments to look at our text again and see what other direction we can find.
We see that God has His own plan for His Kingdom! Asia and Europe were His. He had conceived them; they were His, and He made them known to His servants in the early church. This is a lesson we must learn. It is our great Commander who organizes and instructs every campaign, and often we plan and move ahead of God the Holy Spirit when we should be waiting for His orders. It is our privilege to wait on God through the Holy Spirit to give us our orders! Our small part is to spend the time with our Lord every day, and every moment, so we don't miss His instructions.
In our text we saw the early church was worshipping God and fasting; then they herd the Holy Spirit directing them.
Some years ago in Wellington, South Africa, a Christian group under the direction of Andrew Murray opened a Mission Institute. It was a fine large building - at it's opening the principle said this,
"Last year we gathered here to lay the foundation-stone, and what was there to be seen? Nothing but rubbish, and stones, and bricks, and ruins of an old building that had been pulled down. There we laid the foundation-stone, and very few knew the building that was to rise. No one knew it perfectly in every detail except one man, the architect. In his mind it was all clear, and as the contractor and the mason and the carpenter came to their work they took their orders from him, and the humblest laborer had to be obedient to orders, and the structure rose, and this beautiful building has been completed. And just so," he added, "this building that we open today is but laying the foundation of a work of which only God knows what is to become."
Friends, God the Father has his plan clearly mapped out. It is our part to wait for His instruction. He will give us as much as we need at the time. As much as we need each day! Our part is to listen, and to faithfully carry out His commands when He gives the word through His Holy Spirit.

Pastor Brad

Pastor Brad Traxler is the pastor of the Wrangell SDA Church. Brad Traxler is the husband of forty years to Cheryl, father to Kimberly and Ryan, and grandfather to Brad, Kevin, William, Eamon, Zairhen, Seraphina, and Zeelyah. He holds a BA in Theology and has been pastoring churches for twenty years. The greatest passion of His life has been to share Jesus.

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