Tag: Acts 10-12
Gentile Pentecost
Scripture reading for November 10th: Acts 10-12
Have you ever struggled to understand what God was doing? In this section of Acts, the Apostle Peter needed a vision from the Lord to help him overcome an area of prejudice that came from his Jewish upbringing and religion. Sometimes we have been taught bad doctrine but God knows how to straighten us out again.
A man named Cornelius had a vision of an angel of God who spoke his name plainly! (Acts 10:3) The angel told him that his prayers and gifts to the poor had come before the Lord. He was told to send for a man named Simon Peter. God also gave a vision to Peter while he was on the roof praying. In this vision he saw a sheet with all kind of animals, reptiles, and birds of the air. A voice told him to get up, kill, and eat! Peter protested to the Lord that he had never eaten anything unclean. The voice spoke a second time warning him not to call anything impure that God had made clean. This had happened three times when the men who came from Cornelius knocked on the door. The Spirit told Peter to go with them.
The next day, Peter entered the house of a Gentile, something a good Jew would never do. Cornelius told him about his vision and why he sent for him. He invited Peter to speak to them all. As Peter shared the Gospel, the Holy Spirit came upon them and they all began to speak in tongues just like on the day of Pentecost! Peter and all the Jews with him were amazed at what God had done and they baptized these new believers in water.
God knows how to reach people who are hungry for more! He will work with sincere believers to help them with truth. He recognized these Gentiles for their prayers, gifts to the poor and seeking of God. Their works came before the Lord and He acted to send them a person who could help them understand Him more fully. He gave the same Holy Spirit to the Gentiles as those on the day of Pentecost. Spend time in prayer today seeking the Lord for clarity and new direction! You can have a new Pentecost today!
Gentile Pentecost!
Scripture reading for November 8th: Acts 10-12
Have you ever struggled to understand what God is doing and wants to do? You are in good company! In this section of Acts, the Apostle Peter needed a vision from the Lord to help him overcome an area of prejudice that came from his Jewish upbringing and religion. Sometimes we learn things wrong and God knows how to work with us to get us straightened out again. Thank God for His mercy and patience!
Cornelius, a Gentile centurion, feared God and gave generously to those in need as well as praying regularly. One day Cornelius had a vision and an angel of God spoke his name plainly! (Acts 10:3) The angel told him that his prayers and gifts to the poor had come before the Lord and that he must send for a man named Simon Peter. God also gave a vision to Simon Peter at the same time. He saw a sheet with all kind of animals, reptiles, and birds of the air. A voice told him to get up, kill, and eat! Peter protested to the Lord that he had never eaten anything unclean. The voice spoke a second time warning him not to call anything impure that God had made clean. This was repeated three times before men who came from Cornelius knocked on his door. The Spirit told Peter to go with them.
The next day, Peter entered the home of Cornelius, something a good Jew would never do. Cornelius told him about his vision and invited Peter to speak to them. Peter began to preach the Gospel and the Holy Spirit came upon them. They all began to speak in tongues and praise God just like on the day of Pentecost! Peter and all the Jews with him were amazed at what God had done and they baptized them in water.
God knows how to reach people who are hungry for more! He will work with sincere believers who have prejudice to help them with truth. He recognized these Gentiles for their prayers, gifts to the poor and seeking of God. God is no respecter of persons. He gave the same Holy Spirit to the Gentiles as those in that upper room on Pentecost! What a wonderful Savior! Spend time in prayer today seeking the Lord for clarity and new direction! You can have a new Pentecost today!
Gentile Pentecost!
Scripture reading for November 10th: Acts 10-12
Peter was the head of the church at Jerusalem and leader of the original band of Apostles. He was a devout Jew before becoming a disciple of Jesus. It has been said that old habits die hard, and Peter was resistant to breaking out of the Jewish way of thinking. Acts records how God helped Peter to overcome his strict religious training.
Peter was praying about noon on the roof of a friend’s house where he was staying in Joppa. He became hungry, probably smelling the food being prepared downstairs. He fell into a trance and saw heaven opened and a something like a large sheet being let down to earth containing all kinds of four-footed animals, reptiles and birds. A voice spoke to Peter, “Get up, Peter. Kill and eat” “Surely not, Lord!” Peter replied. “I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.” “The voice spoke to him a second time, “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.” (Acts 10:13-15) This vision happened three times before the sheet disappeared back into heaven! Peter must have had a hard head!
As Peter was pondering what this meant, men were coming from Cornelius, a Roman centurion, to bring Peter to his house to share about Christ! The Spirit spoke to Peter once again, “Simon, three men are looking for you. So get up and go downstairs. Do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them.” (Acts 10:19-20) Peter was obedient and went with these men, contrary to his strict Jewish training to say away from Gentiles!
Upon arrival at the house of Cornelius, Peter found Cornelius and he gathered a number of his relatives to hear what Peter had to say. Peter preached about Jesus Christ, his miraculous life, His death on a cross, and His amazing resurrection from the dead. He called these Gentiles to faith and repentance for the forgiveness of their sins. As he preached, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message and they began to speak in tongues and praise God. (Acts 10:38-46) They were all baptized in water and Peter taught them for a few days!
God has no favorites! We must break down walls of prejudice and religious tradition to follow the Holy Spirit. God works with us and His work will be done! Like Peter, even slow learners can change!
Gentile Pentecost
Scripture reading for November 10th: Acts 10-12
Have you ever struggled to understand what God is doing and wants to do? You are in good company! In this section of Acts, the Apostle Peter needed a vision from the Lord to help him overcome an area of prejudice that came from his Jewish upbringing and religion. Sometimes we learn things wrong and God knows how to work with us to get us straightened out again. Thank God for His mercy and patience!
This story begins with a Gentile centurion named Cornelius who feared God and gave generously to those in need as well as praying regularly. One day, Cornelius had a vision and saw an angel of God who spoke his name plainly! (Acts 10:3) The angel told him that his prayers and gifts to the poor had come before the Lord and that he should send for a man named Simon Peter to come. In the meantime, God gave a vision to Simon Peter while he was on the roof praying. In this vision he saw a sheet with all kind of animals, reptiles, and birds of the air. A voice told him to get up, kill, and eat! Peter protested to the Lord that he had never eaten anything unclean. The voice spoke a second time warning him not to call anything impure that God had made clean. This had happened three times when the men who came from Cornelius knocked on the door. The Spirit spoke to Peter about them and told him to go with them. Peter heard and obeyed, inviting the men in and then going with them.
The next day, they entered the house of a Gentile, something a good Jew would never do. Cornelius told him about his vision and why he sent for him. He invited Peter to speak to them all the Lord would have him say. What an open invitation! Peter began to preach the Gospel and as he preached, the Holy Spirit came upon them and they all began to speak in tongues and praise God just like on the day of Pentecost! Peter and all the Jews with him were amazed at what God had done and they baptized these new believers in water. Peter stayed with them a few days.
What can we learn from this? First, God knows how to reach people who are hungry for more! He will work with sincere believers who have prejudice to help them with truth. He recognized these Gentiles for their prayers, gifts to the poor and seeking of God. Their works came before the Lord and He acted to send them a person who could help them understand Him more fully. God is no respecter of persons. He gave the same Holy Spirit to the Gentiles as those in that upper room on Pentecost! What a wonderful Savior! Spend time in prayer today seeking the Lord for clarity and new direction! You can have a new Pentecost today!