Afraid to Courageous

May 24, 2026

Devotional

Day 1: From Rooster’s Crow to Bitter Tears: Facing Our Failures

Peter sat by the fire, his voice trembling as he swore he didn’t know Jesus. The rooster’s crow pierced the night air, and Christ’s gaze met his. Failure isn’t final, but how we respond to it shapes our story. Peter’s tears marked the start of redemption, not the end of his purpose. True courage begins when we stop running from our weaknesses and let God meet us there. [05:05]

“But Peter said, ‘Man, I do not know what you are talking about.’ And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the saying of the Lord, how he had said to him, ‘Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.’ And he went out and wept bitterly.”
(Luke 22:60–62, ESV)

Reflection: Where have you felt the weight of failure lately? How might God be inviting you to bring those broken places to Him instead of hiding them?

Day 2: Breakfast by the Shore: Restoration After Failure

Jesus didn’t lecture Peter about his denials—He served him fish and bread. Restoration often comes through quiet grace, not grand gestures. By the shore, Jesus rekindled Peter’s calling with three simple questions. Our worst moments don’t disqualify us; they become the soil where God grows new purpose. [07:22]

“When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?’ He said to him, ‘Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.’ He said to him, ‘Feed my lambs.’”
(John 21:15, ESV)

Reflection: What shame from past failures keeps you from embracing God’s grace? How might Jesus be inviting you to trade guilt for purpose today?

Day 3: Tongues of Fire: The Catalyst of Courage

The same Peter who hid in shadows stood before thousands, declaring Christ resurrected. The Holy Spirit’s fire didn’t erase his past—it empowered him to rise above it. Courage isn’t the absence of fear but the presence of God’s Spirit turning our trembling into testimony. [11:08]

“And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.”
(Acts 2:2–4, ESV)

Reflection: Where do you need Holy Spirit boldness to replace timidity? What “locked door” in your life might God be calling you to walk through empowered by His fire?

Day 4: More Than a Seal: Asking for the Spirit’s Baptism

The Holy Spirit isn’t just a salvation receipt—He’s a daily power source. Baptism in the Spirit isn’t reserved for spiritual elites; it’s for anyone who asks. Like Peter, we’re not meant to serve in our own strength but in the wildfire of God’s presence. [16:57]

“If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”
(Luke 11:13, ESV)

Reflection: Have you settled for a “sealed” faith without pursuing the Spirit’s fullness? What would it look like to daily ask for fresh infilling of His power?

Day 5: Eternal Security in a Single Prayer: Choosing Jesus

The best decision isn’t a career move or relationship—it’s surrendering to the One who turns deniers into disciples. Salvation isn’t about cleaning yourself up first; it’s letting Christ rewrite your story from the moment you whisper, “I’m yours.” [27:53]

“Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.”
(Romans 10:9–10, ESV)

Reflection: Are you trying to fix yourself before approaching Jesus? What step could you take today to fully embrace His offer of forgiveness and new identity?

Sermon Summary

Peter stands in Scripture as the classic short walk from brave words to shaky knees. Luke 22 shows Peter swearing loyalty, then shrinking back three times in the firelight, and the rooster crows while Jesus’ eyes meet his. Shame becomes the soundtrack and tears do the talking. Restoration then becomes Jesus’ next move. John 21 has the risen Lord giving Peter grace, love, and fresh commission. Acts 2 then flips the scene. Pentecost lands, and Peter stands up, raises his voice, and proclaims what Joel promised: in the last days God pours out his Spirit, and “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Denier turns herald. Fear turns into clarity and fire.

Pentecost becomes the catalyst. The wind fills the room, the fire rests on heads, tongues are given, and the whole frightened group is changed from locked doors to open mouths. The promise Jesus made holds the center: “you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you” and then witness happens, near and far. Baptism with the Holy Spirit then sits next to salvation without collapsing into it. Salvation seals a believer with the Spirit, but baptism in the Spirit clothes a believer with power. The timeline is flexible. Sometimes it comes fast, sometimes it takes years, but the gift is for all who belong to Jesus.

Asking then becomes the posture. Luke 11 says the Father loves to give the Holy Spirit to those who ask. Hands may be laid, a body may shake, a heart may burn, a tongue may loosen, but the center is God giving Himself. Tongues often surface, but the aim is bigger than syllables. Courage, love, clarity, and witness mark the fruit. Power to speak, power to repent, power to persevere, power to lift Jesus up in the public square all show up. Refilling then stays normal. A tired saint asks again, and the Spirit refreshes again.

Salvation remains the doorway. Calling on Jesus brings forgiveness, a new heart, the Spirit’s seal, and a secured future. Then Pentecost power turns ordinary disciples into bold witnesses. The church today needs exactly that: Holy Spirit empowered courageous Christians who step out, carry grace into hard places, and trust God to save as they speak.

Key Takeaways

1. The Spirit turns fear into witness The Holy Spirit does not merely comfort; the Spirit reorders a believer’s reflexes. Where self-protection sat in the driver’s seat, courage takes the wheel, and the mouth opens to make Jesus known. Pentecost power does not erase weakness, but it overwhelms timidity with love and clarity for public faith. [11:08]
2. Baptism in the Spirit is subsequent Salvation seals a believer with the Spirit, while baptism in the Spirit clothes a believer with power for ministry. The distinction protects assurance on one hand and expectancy on the other. The sequence can be immediate or delayed, but the gift remains promised to all who belong to Jesus. [12:58]
3. Asking opens the door to fullness The Father loves to give the Holy Spirit to those who ask, so request becomes the most practical form of faith. Asking dethrones self-sufficiency and welcomes God’s presence on God’s terms. Simple prayers, humble submission, and open hands often become the runway for holy boldness. [16:57]
4. Tongues are not the only evidence A heavenly language is a common grace, but Scripture and experience also point to power, love, and courage as clear markers. A life that speaks of Jesus with wisdom and compassion may be the loudest sign of all. Gifts serve the mission, and the mission is a Spirit-empowered witness to Christ. [17:28]
5. Salvation stands as the first step Calling on the name of the Lord brings forgiveness, adoption, and the Spirit’s seal. Power for witness comes after belonging to Jesus, not before it. Grace sets the foundation, then fire fuels the mission. [09:26]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:38] - Pentecost, sunshine, and football
[02:16] - From movies to real courage
[04:10] - Luke 22: Peter denies Jesus
[07:22] - Peter restored by Jesus
[08:32] - Acts 2: Peter stands up
[10:14] - The catalyst: Holy Spirit outpouring
[11:08] - Wind, fire, and tongues
[12:10] - Promise of power to witness
[12:58] - Baptism in the Spirit explained
[15:29] - A personal story of receiving
[16:57] - Ask the Father for the Spirit
[17:28] - Not only tongues, but boldness
[18:40] - A call to courageous witness
[25:30] - Invitation to salvation and prayer

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading
Luke 22:54-62 (ESV)
Then they seized [Jesus] and led him away, bringing him into the high priest’s house, and Peter was following at a distance. And when they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat down among them. Then a servant girl, seeing him as he sat in the light of the fire and looking closely at him, said, “This man also was with him.” But he denied it, saying, “Woman, I do not know him.” And a little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.” But Peter said, “Man, I am not.” And after an interval of about an hour still another insisted, saying, “Certainly this man also was with him, for he too is a Galilean.” But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are talking about.” And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the saying of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly.

Acts 2:14-21 (ESV)
But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them: “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words. For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel: ‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams; even on my male servants and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy. And I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke; the sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day. And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.’”

Luke 11:13 (ESV)
If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!

Observation Questions

In Luke 22:54-62, what specific actions and words reveal Peter’s fear and denial of Jesus?
How does Peter’s behavior in Acts 2:14-21 contrast with his actions in Luke 22? What changed? [08:32]
According to Luke 11:13, what does Jesus say about receiving the Holy Spirit?

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think Peter’s denial of Jesus (Luke 22) was followed by such profound weeping? What does this reveal about his heart?
In Acts 2, Peter quotes Joel’s prophecy about the Holy Spirit being poured out on “all flesh.” How does this inclusiveness challenge cultural or religious assumptions about who can receive God’s power? [09:26]
The sermon mentions that baptism in the Holy Spirit is “subsequent” to salvation. How does this distinction help believers avoid confusion about assurance versus empowerment? [12:58]

Application Questions

When have you felt like Peter—full of brave words but later shrinking back in fear? What practical step could you take this week to invite the Holy Spirit’s courage into that area? [11:08]
The sermon emphasizes asking God for the Holy Spirit (Luke 11:13). What would it look like for you to daily “ask” with open hands and humility instead of relying on self-sufficiency?
The Holy Spirit’s power is meant to fuel bold witness. Where in your life (work, family, community) do you feel most hesitant to speak about Jesus? How could you pray for the Spirit’s clarity and fire there? [18:40]
The sermon says tongues are not the only evidence of the Spirit’s baptism. What “fruit” of the Spirit (courage, love, boldness) have you experienced or seen in others that marked a shift toward empowered witness? [17:28]
Salvation is described as the “doorway” to Spirit-filled living. If you’ve never consciously asked Jesus to forgive and lead you, what holds you back from doing so today? If you have, how could you help someone else take that first step? [25:30]

Sermon Clips

46s

#SealAndBaptism

“You can receive the Holy Spirit as your seal of salvation, as your mark of being saved, and you can be baptized with the Holy Spirit almost immediately. But we do believe that they are two different things. But for some people, it can take years. You can be saved and for whatever reason you're not baptized with the Holy Spirit straight away. Maybe you're resistant to it. We'll unpack that in a moment. Maybe you're in a you you were saved in a denomination where perhaps they don't even they don't embrace baptism with the Holy Spirit as much as we do as a Pentecostal denomination. But we believe we believe it is subsequent to salvation. The timeline is flexible.”

42s

#PentecostTransformation

“What a change. Peter goes from this man who could have been accused of being coward to this courageous preacher on Pentecost Sunday. He went from denier to proclaimer. He suddenly something happened. There was a catalyst in his life that changed how he approached everything. And that is what we're remembering today. That catalyst, what happened on Pentecost Sunday as we call it, is what we are remembering today. The outpouring of the Holy Spirit.”

46s

#RepentAndBelieve

“In that prayer, we acknowledge that we've messed up. We say sorry. We ask God to help us to turn away from sin. That's called repentance. Repentance means turning away. We acknowledge that God sent his son Jesus to die on the cross. That was the punishment that we deserved. That he took that punishment and paid the price for our sins. And that he defeated death and rose again three days later. And for those of us that believe that in calling his name, we can be sure that we have eternal life.”

38s

#RefilledWithHolySpirit

“And you will know if you haven't been baptized, that's what we're gonna pray for you in a moment to be baptized. If you have been, we're gonna pray for you to be refilled with the Holy Spirit. We don't believe it's a one and done moment that you can be topped up, you can be refreshed with the Holy Spirit. I know that there are times where I've just cried out to her, come and fill me afresh because I'm feeling spiritually exhausted. This world needs Christians that are filled with the Holy Spirit.”

46s

#RestoredByGrace

“But that isn't how it ends. You see, we know that Jesus defeated the death and rose again and restored Peter. We're not gonna look at the verses, but if you wanna note them down, it's John 21 verses 15 to 19. We see an encounter between Jesus and Peter where Jesus restores him out of his grace, of his love for Peter and says, you will go on to lead the church. A picture for all of us that it doesn't matter how much we think we've blown it. Jesus God loves each one of us.”

57s

#SpiritEmpoweredCourage

“You would know if you've been baptized with the Holy Spirit, but it brings that power to you, that boldness, that courageousness. As we were praying had the the prayer meeting before the service this morning and Nikki shared I know a number of you use the is it Lectio Bible app? If Barbara wasn't out on Kingdom Kids, I'm sure she would have leapt up now and she's a real advocate for the Lecto Bible. And one of the prayers at the end of that, so we spoke about being courageous. And that's what the world needs right now, isn't it? We need Holy Spirit. The world needs Holy Spirit empowered courageous Christians to step out, empowered by the Holy Spirit to bring about change.”

41s

#HolySpiritBaptismToday

“That power, baptism in the Holy Spirit is still available for each of us today. It wasn't a one time thing back then. It's still there today. I said I was gonna say still haven't moved too far. I think I've still come. I wanna unpack just a few little truths this morning. Baptism with the Holy Spirit is separate to when we receive the Holy Spirit of salvation. Everybody who has called upon the the name of the Lord, who's accepted Jesus as their Lord and savior is sealed with the Holy Spirit. Amen.”

57s

#StepOutInHolySpirit

“You need to be stepping out in the power of the Holy Spirit. The one caveat to being baptized in the Holy Spirit is that you know Jesus as your Lord and Savior. And can I tell you, as much as this may get me in trouble later, the best decision I made in my entire life was not marrying my good lady, although that is a very close second? Second is good. I didn't mention the dog. Third. So you're you're above the dog. For those of you who know, I have it. I can just love Poppy the dog. But the very best decision I made was to accept Jesus as my Lord and Savior.”

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Afraid to Courageous

Devotional

Day 1: From Rooster’s Crow to Bitter Tears: Facing Our Failures

Day 2: Breakfast by the Shore: Restoration After Failure

Day 3: Tongues of Fire: The Catalyst of Courage

Day 4: More Than a Seal: Asking for the Spirit’s Baptism

Day 5: Eternal Security in a Single Prayer: Choosing Jesus

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Afraid to Courageous

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