When we hear the call to follow Christ, it is more than just a physical or mental decision to follow Him. In Matthew 4:19, we see that when Jesus called His disciples it was a request to come and follow a rabbi and teacher. In the Jewish culture, young men would study the law and the prophets, then periodically have interviews with rabbis to see if they had what it took to be disciples. There were several stages a young man would go through to see if he had the right stuff. If he passed the test, he would follow the rabbi and take on his yoke or teaching. If he did not pass the test, he would be encouraged to take on the trade of his father. The fisherman Jesus called on that shore in Galilee had failed the test. They were working in the trade of their fathers. So when this Rabbi came and said, “Follow Me,” they left all to follow. They realized He saw the right stuff within them. This was a physical following. Peter later would be called to an inward following.

In John 20:22, we see the resurrected Jesus talking with His disciples and giving them a blessed gift. He breathes on them and says, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” This was a down payment of what was going to happen at Pentecost. They were sealed and filled with the Holy Spirit at that moment, just as we are the moment we commit our lives to Christ. When the Holy Spirit was given to them, it was an invasion of the soul. It invaded the very core of their being. An invasion is a military offensive consisting of all, or large parts of the armed forces of one geopolitical entity aggressively entering territory controlled by another such entity, generally with the objective of conquering, liberating or reestablishing control or authority over a territory, forcing the partition of a country, altering the established government or gaining concessions from said government, or a combination thereof. An invasion can be the cause of a war, be used, as part of a larger strategy to end a war; or it can constitute an entire war in itself. Due to the large scale of the operations associated with invasions, they are usually strategic in planning and execution. This invasion ended the war between God and man. God strategically planned this invasion before the foundation of the world was created. We have been liberated from the power and bondage of sin. Our relationship has been restored.

Later Jesus restored Peter by asking him a series of questions to check Peter’s motives. Earlier in the Book of John, Peter vowed to give his life to follow Christ, but later denied him. Peter was quick to commit the flesh to something it was not capable of doing. After Peter and been broken and came to the end of himself, he realized that apart from Christ he could do nothing. Now after the Holy Spirit was given and Peter was restored, we see Jesus give a command that He also gives to us today. In John 21:19, we see Jesus command Peter saying, “Follow Me.” Apart from the Holy Spirit, we cannot truly follow Christ. We must inwardly be broken and surrender daily to the Spirit in order to fully follow Christ. We must allow ourselves to be invaded by the Holy Spirit. If you have not yet surrendered to Christ, let 2011 be the year of invasion. May Christ invade all that you endeavor in the coming year. Let the invasion begin…