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Anthrakian!


I believe it is safe to say that we’ve all found ourselves in a failed situation where we franticly desired “another chance” to redeem ourselves. I’m not sure how we can get through life without facing challenging times where mistakes threatened our family, home, employment, church and our faith.
 
Peter, the Disciple, was such a man. He wasn’t shy to pledge his loyalty and devotion to Jesus during His earthly ministry. In fact, this boldness carried into the night, we know, as “the Last Supper.” Peter is quick to pledge his own life for Jesus.
 
John 13:36-38, “Simon Peter asked him, “Lord, where are you going?” Jesus replied, “Where I am going, you cannot follow now, but you will follow later.” Peter asked, “Lord, why can’t I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.” Then Jesus answered, “Will you really lay down your life for me? Very truly I tell you, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times!”
 
The man who was valiant in his devotion to Jesus failed miserably and just as Jesus had warned him. Not once, but three different occasions on the night Jesus needed him the most, is the moment Peter cursed even knowing Jesus.
 
Once the rooster crowed and after the third denial of Jesus left his mouth, he was suddenly overcome by his actions. Matthew 26:75, “Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: “Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly.”
 
Things had gotten so bad that Peter basically gave up. He quit. John 21:3, Peter said “I’m going out to fish.” Peter went back to what he was before he had met Jesus and he had zero success.
 
I think that was due to the fact that he wasn’t supposed to be a fisherman anymore. He was called to something greater than what was in his past. Jesus has called him to be a fisher of people. When Peter tried to go against the call of Jesus, he was unsuccessful. A wreck and miserable failure. 

This is where I see the beauty of how Jesus is the author of restoration and redemption. I find it in the fire. Two fires. The first fire in which Peter warmed himself the night he betrayed Christ. John 18:18, It was cold, and the servants and officials stood around a fire they had made to keep warm. Peter also was standing with them, warming himself. 

The second fire was after Jesus had risen from the dead and had fixed breakfast for a weary, unsuccessful fisherman named Peter. John 21:8-9, “The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards. When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread.” 

What’s the big deal about fire? The big deal is that the Greek word used for “fire” in both verses are not only the same word, but the only two times they appear in the entire New Testament. The word is “Anthrakian” which means “a heap of burning coals” or “fire of coals.” 

What had once become the burning fire of betrayal is now the burning fire of justification. Freedom. Forgiveness. Reconciliation. Second chance. Starting again. Jesus shows us through “anthrakian,” a simple charcoal fire, to remind us that no one is a lost cause. Nobody is ever “too far gone” or low enough to be "written off" as hopeless.

Jesus never gives up. Humans may do that to us, but not the Great Shepherd, Jesus. Jesus is strong, loving and filled with grace to use the lessons of how we failed Him to become teachable-moments to restore us back to Himself.

Matthew 18:12-14, “If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them wanders away, what will he do? Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others on the hills and go out to search for the one that is lost? And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he will rejoice over it more than over the ninety-nine that didn’t wander away! In the same way, it is not my heavenly Father’s will that even one of these little ones should perish.”
 
We all have sinned. We all have denied Jesus with our words and deeds. In the refining charcoal fire, Jesus restores us to right relationship with Him and He commissions us to live restored and renewed lives in service to Him. No situation, decision, event or living condition is ever final or the determining factor of your future. All things bow to the power of Jesus Christ (Philippians 2:9-11).
 
That is what Anthrakian is all about. This Anthrakian is about being restored to a right relationship with God. It is having victory over our past and even our “now” in what we find ourselves currently battling and struggling through.
 
Remember the word “Anthrakian” of a burning fire. It changed Peter, the Rock, whom Jesus built His Church upon (Matthew 16:18). The gates of hell cannot prevail when you are in a loving, obedient and surrendered relationship with Jesus Christ! Give your life to Jesus, today.
 
Whatever you need to surrender, let go of, or overcome, you can know that you have an open invitation to sit down alongside the restoring fire with Jesus. He will make you more than breakfast. He will make you a new person. Forgiven. Set free. Anthrakian!!  

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