"I will never leave thee to struggle alone." No soul is ever restored without the praying Saviour, the precious Word, the pitying look and the personal message. In the last chapter of Luke's gos pel we find that the risen Lord appeared personally to Peter. We do not know where they met or even what they talked about, but that simply reminds me that our deepest experiences with the Lord are always in the secret. In the struggle and in the battle, shut the door of your closet and meet with Him alone. Pour out your heart to Him. The Psalmist reminds us, "He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most high, shall abide under the shadow of the almightly." I believe that as a result of this meeting, Peter sat down and wrote under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, "We are not redeemed with corruptible things, such as silver and gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, as a lamb without blemish and without spot." This is the final step in the restoration of Peter. He had gained a private in terview with the Saviour. Do you need to have a little talk with Jesus to make it right, my friend? Is your life lonely, bitter and hard? Remember the Lord loves you and this is unchanging. We next find Peter at Pentecost standing up to preach before the multitude. God has brought him back for a great ministry. He is now being used as a champion of the faith. He had come home and was no longer backsliding. As a result of his first sermon, three thousand people turned to Christ. If you have been away from God, come back. The Lord has some thing good for you with some
practical and valuable service. Turn to Him right now! The life of Peter after Pentecost might easily be entitled, "New Wine in Old Bottle." Previously he had been marked by defeat and disappointment. While once on the mountain-top of victory he soon sunk to the valley of de nial and despair. Yet, we see him after the resurrection being might ily used of the Lord (Acts 2:14). The difference is that the Spirit of God had taken control of his life. All had been changed. The Christ who had been on the outside now was on the inside through the Holy Spirit. Peter before Pentecost was weak and his courage failed him. There was a fear of sinking when he cried out, "Lord save me." He had taken his eyes off Christ and began to panic. Do we not all have a ten dency to do that? Then there was the fear of pain and suffering when Christ wanted him to take up his cross. There was the potential pain of self-denial. The reproach, being laughed at, might be too much to pay. Unfortunately, self-denial and self-discipline are not in line with present-day living. Peter also feared the public. The fear of sneer was a deadly weapon against him. As the disciples later gathered in the upper room we see Peter waiting for the strength he needs. He was told to tarry in Jerusalem (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4). He was looking forward to being "endued with power from on high." The Holy Spirit had not yet come. Jesus said, "If I go away I will send Him unto you" (John 7:37-39). When we believe in Christ we are indwelt by the Spirit of the living God. The Holy Spirit is the One who
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