Hear the Rooster?
February 3, 2015
Truett Williams, Associate Pastor | Student Ministry
In this verse, Jesus is revealing a truth about Peter,
namely the fact that Peter does not have the strength to keep from denying Him.
Often what we want to do and what we are capable of doing are two different
things. Remember Peter was following Jesus, but the gift of the Holy Spirit
comes after the resurrection. He was acting on his own strength. It is the age-old
battle of Spirit versus flesh. We will never have the strength to live obedient
lives unless we are relying on the Holy Spirit. I remember a sermon Dr. Gary
Chapman preached several years ago. He illustrated the battle like this: You
have two bulldogs, one named Spirit and one named Flesh. The dog you feed the
most is the one that will win the fight! Even though all believers have access
to the strength of the Holy Spirit, if we are not feeding it and continually relying
on it, the power of the flesh will reign.
Peter did not want to disobey Christ, but he was not strong
enough on his own to keep from denying Him. We want to live obedient and holy
lives, but we cannot by relying on our own strength. We must feed the Spirit,
through prayer, Bible Study, denial of self, and constant submission to the
Holy Spirit. We must also starve the flesh. Don’t let worldliness capture you.
Guard your eyes, protect your ears, and live God’s way. Don’t let busyness keep
you from walking with God. There is power in the Spirit, power to change the
world. Vance Havner once said, “We are not going to move this world by
criticism of it nor conformity to it, but by the combustion within it of lives
ignited by the Spirit of God.”
TWEET THIS:
Recipe for strength: Feed the Spirit, Starve the Flesh, Change the World! #UpperRoom
Additional Scripture: Gal. 5:16
