And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, “By what power or by what name have you done this?” Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders of Israel: If we this day are judged for a good deed done to a helpless man, by what means he has been made well, let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole. This is the ‘stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.’ Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
We are all called in a specific and unique way. We aren’t called because we are perfect, but because we are willing to serve God for His pleasure and His will. Are you willing to lay down your life for His Kingdom?
When you have conceded to deny yourself, a quiet peace will flood your soul. Your stormy thoughts will bow to your inner man that is led by the Spirit — Christ within you the hope of glory. There is a sense of knowing that the course of action you have taken is right. This peace allows you more clarity of thought, word and action. It also allows you to see the riches in others more.
You will find great riches on many levels of life if you deny yourself, take up your cross and follow Jesus. There are small moments of self-denial in life that unlock spiritual riches for you.
“Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” -Philippians 2:9-11
David’s brothers and mighty men eventually finished the job of slaying the giants of their enemies. David had slayed Goliath, but he had 4 brothers. That’s why David picked up 5 smooth stones and the first hit its target. In this passage of 2 Samuel 21:15-22 we uncover some identifications of spiritual giants and the strategies to slay them.
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God. -Ephesians 2:8
What breaks your heart? Have you felt shattered lately? What feels crippled in your emotions? What part of you is maimed, wrecked or crushed?
God is near you right now to comfort and mend you with His gold to increase your value. The word of your testimony that overcomes the accuser in your life, becomes a valuable history that increases your spiritual status and in turn encourages other broken vessels to endure and follow the same process of mending by the great artisan that loves you and gave Himself for you.
Preached by Apostle Aje Pelser, content based on the Apostolic Summit Notes from 2004-5 where we were discussing the configuration of the Household of Faith.
Qualifications of God’s Bondmen.