Courage. Fierce courage. She keeps surging like ocean tides soaring in roaring waters. Nothing stops her.

Audacious. Radically audacious. She levels spacious mountains and ascends highest fountains to touch the clouds where the rainbows shimmer the glory of God. For He is in her. The power of God.

“For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power.” 1 Corinthians‬ ‭4:20‬

God wants to elevate your power through the Holy Spirit in you.

So He takes any fear engrained in you and crucifies it. Rectifies the Spirit inside. Rebirths your heart into newness of life. Reignites courage to fly higher where nothing shakes you.

What you do reveals your courage.

A man named Peter experienced the genesis of courage marking him forever when he fell in love with the Savior of his soul. The one he fought for in the garden of Gethsamane. The one he battled for when evil was in their proximity.

Peter had courage… He fought for Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane in John 18 when the centurions came to take Jesus away. Peter would not let them encroach that easily.

“Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it, struck the high priest’s slave, and cut off his right ear..”

‭‭John‬ ‭18:10‬

Peter was ready to fight for whom he loved. But Jesus said… wait! My Kingdom wages war another way.

“Sheathe your sword! Am I not to drink the cup the Father has given Me?” John‬ ‭18:11‬

We see Peter act with bold courage. He defends Jesus. Rushes to his side when the guards tried to take Jesus away. But Jesus said no. This is not the time for retalliation. Peter did not understand this tactic of warfare. Should’nt he fight back? If Jesus is the Messiah and the King of the world, should not his disciples rush in to defend Him in this hour of need?

Yet, Peter’s boldness to stroke is snuffed by Jesus in this moment. For a reason. And for the next 24 hours, it will mark Peter with a new vulnerability of fear that he had never shown up until this point. All because Jesus told him not to fight.

Peter is a fighter.

Why would Jesus limit him in his identity?

Because this was not the right time and place to be the fighter.

Jesus said, “But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you!” Matthew 5:44

Save time and energy. Let the Holy Spirit fight your battles when needed. Some battles needed to be fought and others need to be entrusted to the Lord. Discernment tells us the difference.

“Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” 1 Corinthians 15:58

Peter needed to understand how to fight for the Kingdom of God, for life and in the way of Jesus.

Soon would come the right time and place for Peter to rise up with a fighter mentality as he would move into the regions of asia minor to tell about Jesus coming back to life and His power to save anyone who follows Him as King and Savior. He will need all the boldness and resilience of a fighter. But He will also need a soft heart for people. Now in this night where Jesus has been taken away, Peter is going to struggle with an identity crisis in this time inbetween being told “not to fight” by Jesus, and then being told “to fight” by Jesus after Jesus’ resurrection.

Jesus wanted Peter to be a fighter. But first, Jesus needed to save mankind so that Peter would have something to truly fight for: the souls of man. Jesus must set the precedent first. The precedent of fighting for the Kingdom of God with a Heaven-anchored mindset.

They take Jesus that night and Peter is rattled, along with the other disciples. They do not understand why Jesus is allowing Himself to be taken and stripped of His power. Soon others begin to ask Peter and the disciples if they are one of Him. Then Peter denies that he knows Jesus.

Why would the one who was willing to cut off a Roman centurion’s ear all the sudden experience fear of danger? To cut off a centurion’s ear would surely reap the consequences. Yet, Peter acted with courage in that moment regardless. Now if he says he knows Jesus, he feels helpless and defenseless. Why? Because Jesus told him not to be a fighter anymore. The Peter who was willing to pick up a sword is no longer there. Because Jesus told him not to. And Peter loves Jesus. He listens to Jesus. If Jesus told him not to live by the sword, then he listened. Now Peter understands the gravity of the danger at hand right now, and that he has no way to defend himself. No wonder the courageous Peter we once knew is now uncharacteristically afraid. His normal defense mechanism has been haulted.

What do you do when Jesus tells you not to fight?

“He was oppressed and afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth; He was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so He did not open His mouth.” Isaiah 53:7

We must know how Jesus says to fight in the contexts we are in.

Jesus does not want you to fight back all the time because you don’t need to. Persecution is inevitable for the man or woman of God…

“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” Matthew 5:11-12

Yet victory is also inevitable…

“Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in Me, though he die, yet shall he live.” John 11:25

We never die with Jesus Christ as our King. The soul lives forever and the body is renewed in Heaven to dwell with God forever. Death has no victory over you nor over Jesus.

Courage comes from anchoring your heart in Jesus.

“O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” 1 Corinthians 15:55

Fight God’s way.

Jesus won the victory doing it God’s way.

This was Jesus fighting. He was fighting the greatest battle of history by allowing Himself to be the spotless, sinless lamb killed for the sins of humanity.

And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” Matthew 10:28

Jesus came to wage war against the devil and defeat sin forever. To win souls and save souls. There is nothing to fear when we put our lives and hearts into the hands of our victorious King. But to deny Him is to choose our own demise. To reject Him is to give ourselves to evil and there is no room for evil in the goodness of Heaven. Eternal life is a choice. And it is a gift from God, that He wants to give all people. But every person must choose for themselves if they want God or not. God will not force anybody to choose and love Him. He wants to be loved for Him.

“For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift.” Ephesians‬ ‭2:8

But this was new to Peter. It stripped him defenseless. Made him feel like he could not fight back and so his courage turned into fear when they came looking for him too. He denied knowing Jesus.

Then Jesus came back to life.

Once Peter saw Jesus reappear, he understood what Jesus meant when He told him to put away his sword… Courage does not come from taking a life. Courage is shown by giving your life for those you love.

“Peter, do you love Me?”

John‬ ‭21:16‬ ‭

Jesus asked him three times.

“Lord, You know everything! You know I love You.”

John‬ ‭21:17‬

He is right. Jesus did know. But Jesus needed Peter to acknowledge it publically. Since he had denied he loved him publically. Now was the time for the truth to come out…  Jesus needed him to say it… if you love me say you love me, Peter.

Peter rises to the occasion. He loves Jesus… and his soul is grieved that Jesus has to ask him three times in order to reiterate this.

Verse 17 also also says, “Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?”

We grieve our own souls when we refuse to acknowledge whom we love publically.

Love is not meant to be hidden. Love is meant to be exposed.

Love always changes something for the better and even when it feels dangerous, love still prevails. Don’t hide it. Love transforms everything it touches.

Proverbs 27:5 says, “Better is open rebuke than hidden love.” Hidden love does not benefit anyone. It is like a treasure chest buried in the earth without a map to its location and without any evidence of its existence. Guard your heart but do not hide your love. Love is a light that cannot be dimmed and should not be dimmed.

Jesus said, “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:35

The world sees Jesus when you love.

“Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins.” 1 Peter 4:8

Jesus raises your courage because you love Him…

Love Jesus first.

Love enflames zeal.

the genesis of love

sent shockwaves of boldness

throughout the core

to witness Your name

now I’ll fight for you

as long as You will reign

You discover bravery inside you that you never knew existed with such power when you love someone deeply. Love is the greatest motivator. The greatest inspiration. The greatest reason to fight for someone because your love cannot be tamed. Incite your courage through love… rise with bravery for whom you love. Love is the answer.

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” Deuteronomy 31:6

Move forward resilient and on fire to see the world set free with Jesus’ light and love.

courage rises

in me

courage wires

in me

like a supernatural

energy

given by

the King of kings

fight for the King

fight for the heart

fight for the light

fight for the start

of Heaven’s art

unfurling

in eternity’s stars

of glory

where Jesus shines

in the story

of saving His Beloved

Jesus saves His Beloved

“Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them.” Joshua 1:6