A Source For Others

“But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail. And when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.”
Luke 22:32

It is almost as if he had to go through that denial in his walk in order to really understand the depth of God’s word. He told Peter, “YOU WILL DENY ME three times.”

How deep is that, and what a complete inner condemnation and conviction one could feel. Not when they have messed up once in life but repeatedly. Not once, not twice but THREE times! Yet this was a place for Peter that in this breakdown he would reach an ultimate build up for himself. What a way to bounce back from a failure. This is where he would have a true repentant heart that said to God, “YES, now I will feed Your sheep because I know.”

In John 21:15-19, Peter receives his reinstatement. Jesus calls him back three times for every time that he denied him, he would be reinforced into the position that was created for Peter since the beginning of time.  He was renewed, restored and REBUILT! And not only for himself but that he can be an effective source for others. And oh what a victory! For on the day of Pentecost, Peter stood up and no longer denied Jesus but now PROCLAIMED salvation through Jesus and 3,000 souls were added to the kingdom on that day [Acts 2]!

It makes me refer to this little external power device. I just ordered my own charging tool that was recommended to me by my cousin Rose! We had just spent the previous weekend together at a retreat and she brought this handy gadget with her to keep all her devices charged up. The funny thing was she said that people kept coming up to her with their cords like, “HERE, plug this in!” We laughed about it because she says she was helping all these people charge their devices.

What I like about this tool, is that it reminds me of how we need to be for others. We are a tool in the hands of God. Just like Jesus instructed that Peter would be. We are a source for them too, when they need to be charged. The bible says that we shall bear such fruit, especially when the source that we have gives us the ability to stretch enough and experience healing and restoration.

He is like a tree planted by water,
    that sends out its roots by the stream,
and does not fear when heat comes,
    for its leaves remain green,
and is not anxious in the year of drought,
    for it does not cease to bear fruit.”
Jeremiah 17:8 (ESV)

We should bear this fruit. What we plant in others is what we have from being rooted in Christ. We are able to help others reach a place where we ourselves have been. It is a difficult thing to be broken, battered and near destruction from the trials of life. It feels like we will never gain the victory. But in God –there is HOPE! And He uses vessels like us that have been through a thing or two in an effort to be effective in helping the rest.

Peter comes back stronger than ever as he responded to the kingdom calling over his life. Jesus said, “When you have returned to me, strengthen your brethren.” Now Peter knows how. Now Peter is a channel for others. Now Peter is not a reproach but a resource for others. What an amazing experience for Peter and for all those that would come in contact with this REBUILT man of God. For the bible shares in Acts that even the SHADOW of Peter healed the sick! WOW! Now that is a comeback!

Jesus!!!

As a result, people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that at least Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by.
Acts 5:15

I would like my shadow to heal others! The things that look dark, unclear or an image on the ground- low! That is miraculous. That is supernatural. That is how much that God promised He would use Peter as a resource for many. In that same way, we can be a resource for others too. And I am talking about the ones that want to be helped. You can’t help someone that doesn’t want it…but you can help the ones that really desire saving and deliverance. People that want to be broken free from bondage.

And when the big battery goes down low in power–plug it back into the place where it needs to be charged again so it can continue to charge the rest. In this manner, we go to God continually through prayer, reading, fasting, worshiping and feeding on fellowship. We are filled with God’s power not only for ourselves but so that we can empower other people as well. People will notice it, they will see that you are fired up for God, faith-filled and steady in HIM! You will be a light for others to lead them to the light of God.

They will want what you have.

They will want to know how.

They will want to know where.

Show them…you have been through it so that you can walk them out of it! Of course it is uneasy, uncomfortable and unsettling. But it is not impossible to get to the place of health and restoration. We are all rebuilt so that all the things that didn’t belong can be completely dismantled from our lives and that we can be reassembled in God with all the right material!

Now we can be a source for others. There is no shame in that. We have all been to that place of repentance. We have all lived in dark places before we got to the light. Everyone needs a Savior. Show them how you met Him FOR REAL!