Volume 5 Chapter 4 Page 5
Monday April 7, 2008
2 Nissan 5768 (Hebrew 7th Month) "Warrior under FIRE!"
The night Christ Jesus was arrested in the Garden, the Apostle Peter had surely proven his bravery to be unquestionable, but it was his loyalty to Christ that would later be tested when asked by the servant girl if he was one of Jesus' disciples, as they both stood in the courtyard outside warming themselves by the fire.
I find that God intended for this account in Peter's life to be recorded, so that I could see the Spiritual relationship with fire, not only as a means of warming myself against the cold of uncertainty, but as a picture of what I must endure as a purified Believer of Christ.
The Apostle John wrote of this incident, possibly having heard Jesus tell Peter that 3 times he would deny being known as one of HIS Disciples, yet I read later where Peter repents, standing LOYAL to Christ, boldly PROCLAIMING HIM as Lord, Savior and King.
Faith then became Peter's strength and Testimony, where before in the Garden, it had been his arrogant bravery which had brought about such testing standing by a fire, where he feared being strong.
Bravery in battle is a much desired characteristic and trait necessary for any Warrior to possess, but it is Faith in the hands of that same Warrior that Luke says Christ seeks to find when HE returns.
Faith must be found in a Believer's heart, and as Holy Spirit is described as a Holy FIRE which fell upon those Disciples at Pentecost, God must purify my heart from witless bravery, training me by HIS Spirit as a Kingdom Warrior, made ready to face every questioning of my Loyalty to Christ when HE so Gloriously returns.
