From Believing to Influencing
This Pentecost Sunday at Myrtle House Community Church, Bill Chapman shared a powerful message from the life of Peter, exploring the journey from believer, to follower, to influencer.
When we think about Peter, we often jump straight to the moment Jesus stood on the shoreline and called, “Follow Me.” Yet Peter’s story began long before that invitation.
Before Peter ever left his fishing nets behind, God was already at work in his heart.
His brother Andrew first introduced him to Jesus after hearing John the Baptist declare that Jesus was the Lamb of God. Peter met Jesus, heard His words, witnessed His miracles, and experienced His power firsthand. He saw an impossible catch of fish fill his nets. He watched Jesus heal his mother-in-law. Piece by piece, faith was being built within him.
Peter believed before he followed.
This is an important truth for us today. Faith is often formed through encounters with Jesus. God reveals Himself to us, demonstrates His goodness, and establishes truth in our hearts before inviting us into deeper commitment.
Eventually, the invitation came: “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people.”
Peter responded.
He didn't have all the answers, and his character flaws didn't instantly disappear. He remained impulsive, passionate, and sometimes reckless. He stepped out of a boat in the middle of a storm. He rebuked Jesus when he didn't understand God's plan. He boldly promised never to deny Christ, only to fail when the pressure came.
Yet throughout Peter's journey, Jesus never gave up on him.
After Peter's devastating failure and denial, the resurrected Jesus lovingly restored him. In that restoration, Peter discovered a life-changing truth: even when he failed, Jesus would remain faithful.
This restoration became the foundation for everything that followed.
Then came Pentecost.
Peter had moved from believing to following, but now God was calling him into something even greater. When the Holy Spirit was poured out, Peter stood before the crowd and boldly proclaimed the Gospel. The fearful fisherman became a courageous witness. The follower became an influencer.
What changed?
The Holy Spirit.
Pentecost reminds us that Christianity is not simply about celebrating an event from the past. It is about embracing the presence and power of the Holy Spirit today. Peter's influence was not the result of natural ability or personality. It flowed from a life surrendered to God and empowered by the Spirit.
His words shaped the early Church and continue to influence believers around the world thousands of years later.
Peter's journey provides a pattern for every follower of Jesus:
First, we believe.
Then, we choose to follow.
And through the power of the Holy Spirit, we become people of influence.
God is still calling ordinary people into extraordinary lives. Like Peter, we are invited to respond to His call, trust His promises, and allow the Holy Spirit to work through us.
The question for each of us is simple: Where are we on the journey?
Are we believing? Are we following? Or is God inviting us to step into greater influence for His Kingdom?
As Peter later wrote in 2 Peter 1, God has given us everything we need for a godly life. Through His promises and the work of the Holy Spirit, we can continue to grow, mature, and become fruitful for His Kingdom.
The invitation remains the same today as it was on that shoreline all those years ago:
“Come, follow Me.”
And who knows what God might do through a life that says yes.