Tag: speak in tongues
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!
These signs will follow!
Scripture reading for October 18th: Mark 14-16
Mark’s Gospel told of Jesus Christ healing, casting out demons and preaching the Gospel to His own people. Jesus particularly sought out those who were lost and willing to listen. He gathered disciples who would be willing to leave all, follow Him and learn His ways. After sending them out, He would evaluate their work and encourage or correct them.
“He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: In My name they will drive out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.” …”Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed His word by the signs that accompanied it.” Mark 16:15-18, 20.
This Gospel’s closing words are a call to Jesus’ followers to continue the work of God. They were to wait for the gift of the Holy Spirit who would give them the power that was needed to be His witnesses. (Acts 1:8) Then they were to go and preach. As they preached, they were to act under the authority of the name of Jesus Christ. In His name supernatural signs would accompany the preaching of the Word. Demons would be cast out and sick people would be healed. People would be baptized in the Holy Spirit and would speak with new tongues. The disciples would have supernatural protection from attacks of venomous snakes or people trying to poison them.
These first disciples obeyed by going out into all the world preaching the Gospel. As they prayed for the sick and demon possessed, the promised signs of Christ followed their ministry! If you are seeking miracles, signs and wonders, the best place to find them is when you obey God’s command to go and preach! Are you willing to act in faith and experience the supernatural following your preaching and prayer? Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever!