By the power of the Holy Spirit
The night the Lord Jesus was to be handed over to His enemies and crucified, He was on the Mount of Olives when some Roman soldiers, Pharisees, and Judas approached Him. After the famous kiss of betrayal, the soldiers seized Him.
Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant’s name was Malchus. John 18.10
All that Peter could do, at that moment, was wound a soldier with his sword and, of course, be rebuked again by Jesus, who said,
…Put your sword in its place, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword. Or do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels? Matthew 26.52-53
This is the result of reacting by the impulse of the heart, led by emotion. When Peter trusted in the strength of his own arm, he wasn’t only disrupting God’s plans, but he wouldn’t be able to do anything other than injure the priest’s servant. I believe Malchus must have been amazed by what happened, because seconds after his ear was cut off and he was bleeding, Jesus made a miracle. But what else did Peter’s wrath cause at that moment in the lives of those present? NOTHING!
The same happens in the life of those who are always in a church; they are empty of the presence of the Holy Spirit. The results they achieve are always small, hardly noticeable. They fight with their swords, use their “emotional faith,” constantly say they are revolted against the situation, but their revolt is fleeting and passive. It does not change anything in their lives, nor in the lives of the “Malchus” that are around them.
This all changed when the day of Pentecost was fulfilled. The Holy Spirit descended upon the disciples like flames of fire, and look what happened to Peter, the same Peter that cut Malchus’ ear.
After receiving the Holy Spirit, he stood up and gave a simple, but anointed message, because he was filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 2).
Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ. Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do? Acts 2.36-37
Did you notice the difference? There was no fighting, no arguing, no punches, no aggression, no room for emotions, only intelligent faith. It is important to note that the empty Peter wounded only one Malchus, but the Peter filled with the Holy Spirit wounded 3,000 people. When they heard his message, they said, “What shall we do, men and brethren?”
Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them, Acts 2.41
With a simple message, Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, guided 3,000 people to repentance and a new life at one time.
Now, stop and think: what will God do through you, among your family, friends, neighbors, co-workers, when you are filled with the Holy Spirit?
Dear reader, it’s up to you!
If you are empty, resolve this problem right away and be filled with the Holy Spirit. Seek Him through fasts, prayers and supplications, emptying yourself of the pleasures of the flesh, hurt, resentment, and anything else that hinders Almighty God from being the only Lord of your life!
One thing has to remain clear: by the strength of the arm, the result is always inferior. However, by the power of the Holy Spirit, there are no limits!
God bless you!