Dr. Sarah Grace shared “private pursuit leads to public power”. To further explain, the time you spend pursuing God in private by reading your word, praising God in worship and time in His presence leads to—public power. This is an on-time word as we are in Lent season. The purpose of Lent is to draw closer to God through prayer, repentance and self-examination. The power of God will flow out of you like rivers of living water. What is in our heart (and what God places in our hearts) will be the abundance that flows from your mouth (Luke 6:45). I want us to take a look at two disciples—Peter and Judas; to see their private pursuits and the public demonstration of them.
Peter, who had taken a couple steps on water and told Jesus (Matt 16:16) He is the Christ, the Son of the living God; betrayed Jesus by denying he even “knew” Him. John 13:34 Jesus says you will not only deny me but three times! Judas, who was with Jesus and the disciples during His ministry, also betrayed Jesus to give him up to the Pharisees. Both men were with Jesus privately and both betrayed Him publicly. Judas felt remorseful in Matt 27:3-4 “Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, 4 Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that.”
The difference between these two disciples is faith. Peter had faith that Jesus would give him grace and mercy to forgive his betrayal. Judas was stricken with condemnation. The message today is that there is nothing too grievous a sin that God wouldn’t forgive. We see Jesus (Matt 26) shield Judas by not naming him at the last supper as the one who would betray him. In the garden, Jesus calls Judas friend in v50. He still extended grace and mercy by calling Judas friend in the act of betrayal. God is grace and mercy; there is nothing that can separate you from His love unless you chose not to accept Him. Don’t allow the enemy to have a foothold in your life by living in shame and condemnation. Instead, allow God to love you and help you live life abundantly through Him. He will forgive your sin and make you a new creation. Don’t delay, accept Jesus now. Your life depends on it. If you have accepted Him, find a bible-believing church. You can reach me at dk332243@hotmail.com.
