For the past two weeks we have been discussing the supernatural peace of God we can live in even during the storms of life. In Acts 12 Peter found himself imprisoned for nothing he had done wrong but due to the fact that someone wanted to kill him because it pleased the religious people, He was about to be martyred the next morning but the church prayed and then we read this: 7 And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands.
As the body of Christ (the church) prayed, the prayers allowed an angel to be dispatched from heaven to deliver Peter from the prison which his enemies had assigned him. Many times in the Bible we read where people would pray and angels would be dispatched. I’m thankful for the angelic fighting force of heaven that God sends for the defense and deliverance of His children. Abraham prayed and an angel led Lot and his family from Sodom and Gomorrah. Jesus prayed in the garden and angels came down and minister to him. Jacob had a dream in Gen 28:12 and we read; And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it. This shows the activity in the heavenly realms, angels coming and going from this people planet but it’s all activated by believing prayers of the saints of God. I’ve always believed in angels even though I have never physically seen one but I’m thankful for so many who have literally seen the angels especially recently in our family church services. More than one person has seen four angels whom I believe have been assigned to The Bridge Family. The heavens are open and the river is flowing. God’s presence is so powerful! I believe every church has angels assigned to help each body fulfill the Kingdom purpose of each local body but they are activated by prayer. An angel showed up in the prison where Peter was being guarded; the devil cannot construct a prison which keeps God out. God got in the fiery furnace, God got in the den of lions, God got in the tomb of Lazarus, God got in the tomb of Jesus and Father God can do the same for you. The angel got in the well guarded, well secured prison and found Peter sleeping and had to hit Peter on the side and even help raise him up. I love picturing this, Peter in a peaceful sleep and felt someone tugging on him and finally helped him up and when he got up, the shackles fell off of him. Friend, the first step in getting out of your prison is getting up. Sometimes (not in Peter’s case) when we are caught in the middle of the storm and the waves are splashing and the wind is howling louder than God’s voice, that you are trying to hear, it’s easy to stay down or stay under the circumstance but you must get up. We are made to trample on the demonic forces of hell not for hell to trounce on us. Listen carefully, many times the storm comes when you are by yourself and there is no one to pick you up, it’s then that you must pick yourself up. Change your atmosphere by charging the atmosphere with the Word of God and the power of Praise & Worship. When you feel the least like reading the word and praising Father God is when you need to do it the most. Paul and Silas at midnight prayed and sang praises in the prison and God sent an earthquake to swing open every prison door and to destroy the foundation of the prison ensuring it would never imprison them again. There would have been no earthquake except for the fact that Paul and Silas got up. So Peter gets up and then we read in verse 8 And the angel said unto him, Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals. And so he did. And he saith unto him, Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me. Let me explain this verse, the angels said, “Get your clothes on, we are getting out of here and put your coat on also”. Friends, sometimes we are just not ready to get out of our pouting prison because we like the attention our prison brings to us. It’s time we get sick and tired of being sick and tired and begin to walk in the deliverance God has promised us and sent to us. What a sight! Peter bound but yet sleeping between soldiers and sleeping so soundly, he has to be awakened and told to get dressed. Can you imagine the thoughts Peter was thinking? Is this real? Go back to sleep, it’s just a dream? Regardless of what he was thinking God had shown up and listen my friend He is showing up for you in your storm also. Your best is here, revival is exploding, believe it now! Prayer Points: Father never allow me to live in the prison of doubt and unbelief, but remind me to get up in faith so You can get me out of this prison I’ve been living in.
0 Comments
Acts 12:5 Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him. 6 And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and the keepers before the door kept the prison.
I want to continue our weekly devotion on the thought of supernatural peace in the storm. We find Peter who was about to be martyred the next morning full of peace, sleeping bound between soldiers with chains. What he was facing did not keep him up at night because he knew God was up working on his behalf. As we get in full swing of the holiday season, it’s joyous, it’s exciting, it’s beautiful but if you begin to focus just on the season it can be stressful. Our bodies were not built for stress and it has been proven by medical science that stress can cause the following in our bodies; ulcers, hair loss, pain, heart problems, sleep problems, digestive problems, obesity, skin conditions, auto-immune disease and with more possibilities. The devil uses stress to steal, kill and destroy what God want us to have according to His word which is a peace that passes natural understanding according to Phil. 4:7. Once again the promise of Phil. 4:7 is boxed in with conditions to be met. In verse six, we find the conditions of prayer, presence, thanksgiving, trust while verses 8 commands us to only think on Godly things. We must learn to turn our stress into rest, relying fully on the power and presence of the Lord. Because of God’s promises we do not have to live in stress! I feel a need to go deeper, let’s talk about stress for just a moment: Stress is a normal physical response to events that make you feel threatened or that upset your balance in some way. When you sense danger—whether it’s real or imagined—the body's defenses kick into high gear in a rapid, automatic process known as the “fight-or-flight” reaction, or the stress response. The stress response is the body’s way of protecting you. When working properly, it helps you stay focused, energetic, and alert. In emergency situations, stress can save your life—giving you extra strength to defend yourself, for example, or spurring you to slam on the brakes to avoid an accident. The stress response also helps you rise to meet challenges. But beyond a certain point, stress stops being helpful and starts causing major damage to your health, your mood, your productivity, your relationships, and your quality of life. I found this chart our about stress as I studied for this devotion and felt a need to share it: Stress Warning Signs and Symptoms Cognitive Symptoms Emotional Symptoms
Stress is a killer, a robber of time, energy and life itself. Learn to destroy stress before stress destroys you and robs you of what Father God wants you to enjoy. Just as Peter slept the night before his scheduled execution and just as Jesus slept in the midst of the storm on the boat, so too can we enjoy the life God has given us despite our dilemma. Nothing or no one is greater than the God you serve but the battlefield is the mind. Over four hundred times the word peace is mentioned in God’s Word and I want you to be convinced of this truth; God is for you and His desire is that everyone of His children walk in peace regardless of the storm they are facing. Jesus even while on the cross had peace. Stephen while being stoned had peace and so can we. Prayer Points: Holy Spirit help me to control my thoughts instead of my thoughts controlling me. Help me to walk in the promises of Father God’s Word and live in supernatural divine peace in Jesus Name. Acts 12:5 Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him. 6 And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and the keepers before the door kept the prison.
I absolutely love this story because it shows the supernatural peace that Christians have available to them. Peter was about to be be-headed the next day and where do you find him? Sleeping! Most would have been so uptight and even spiritually deflated but not Peter because he knew he was about to be promoted or delivered. Whom shall we fear, since God is for us who can be against us? Peter knew either way he won this race of life. Friends, when your eyes are on the prize of seeing Jesus, death is not a threat but a reality of seeing Jesus. Peter wasn’t blaming God for his condition because Peter knew his position in Christ. When you know your position in Christ, you can laugh at the face of adversity, you can shout in the face of danger, you can worship your worry away because God is your anchor in the storms of life. Peter probably remembered when they were in a storm in Mark 4:35-41 when Jesus had told them, let’s go to the other side. Jesus was on the boat with them and on the journey to the other side (right in the middle of the perfect will of God for their lives) a great storm arose. The wind was blowing, rain was filling the boat, it got dark and stormy and the disciples (including Peter) got afraid. Even though they were professional fishermen, this storm was larger than normal. Friends, it’s the larger storms of life that allow us to testify of God’s goodness. They started looking for Jesus and they found him SLEEPING in the storm. No storm can disturb the peace of God inside of you when you learn to walk in it. They woke him up accusing him of not caring about them in their storm but he arose, rebuked the storm and the storm ceased. Peter learned this lesson in life (from his Master, his Mentor, and his Savior) that you can sleep in the storm. Before we move on, I feel a need to talk to you about Sleeping in the Storm. Even in the Old Covenant, God promised mankind peace. Isa 26:3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. Friend, Father God is saying if you will do this, then you can have my peace that never changes. Never forget this basic eternal truth, with every God given promise there is a condition to the promise. Even John 3:16 has a condition; it is to everyone that believeth that has the everlasting life God promised. To have this perfect peace you must #1 keep your mind stayed on him. When the storm hits, remember it’s a distraction to keep you from the promise. The storm is not as powerful as the promise but you must stay focused on the promise or the storm will lie to you. What we focus on we become! Secondly, we must put our complete trust in Father God, who has never failed and never will fail His chosen people. Peace is a gift to be obtained by trust (faith) and you have to speak it to have it. When the storm hits and you want to dwell on, talk about the storm it’s then you must choose your words carefully. Never praise the storm but rather praise the Promise Giver. Remember the promise is more real, more powerful than any storm. Once again Peter was about to die the next morning but yet he was sleeping because of the supernatural peace of God he had learned to walk in. The anointing is not just to heal the sick, set captives free, loose those who are bound but the anointing also removes burdens and destroys yokes. What used to destroy your peace now is destroyed by the anointing, allowing you to walk in peace. We will never live in a stress free world on this side of eternity but we can choose to live stress free because we have citizenship in another world and we trust God is every area of our life. 2 Peter 1:2 May God give you more and more grace and peace as you grow in your knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord. 3 By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. Peter is wanting the believers to walk in greater grace and greater peace and then tells them how; by growing in the knowledge of God and Jesus which comes through studying the word and spending time in His Presence. Then Peter goes on to say this, that as we grow in grace and peace we have everything we need to live a Godly life, or we have everything we need to live in His Kingdom on earth including supernatural peace. Prayer Points: Holy Spirit show me how to live in the divine peace for which I was created to live in. I want to live in supernatural peace even while I go THRU the storms of life. Acts 12: 1 About that time King Herod Agrippa began to persecute some believers in the church.
Two things you can always count on when you are working in Father God’s Kingdom; 1. there will never be a shortage of persecution; 2. Father God will always turn the persecution into promotion. Joseph was persecuted for doing good; falsely accused of attempted rape of his master’s wife, but God allowed the false accusations to position Joseph into a place which poised him for the greatest promotion of his life. You will never become all you can be for God’s kingdom without the spiritual sharpening of persecution in your life. It’s only when you are persecuted that you really find out the level of your spiritual walk and maturity. Persecutions are allowed to test our faith not to destroy our destiny. The early church was birthed in the fire of the Holy Spirit but also birthed in the fire of persecution. King Herod was having Christians whipped, imprisoned and murdered in horrific ways. The next verse tells of one of the martyrs. 2 He had the apostle James (John's brother) killed with a sword. History points out that he was probably beheaded. 3 When Herod saw how much this pleased the Jewish leaders, he arrested Peter during the Passover celebration. When you can be swayed by man, then you know you are not under the Lordship of Christ. Herod wanted to be a man pleaser instead of a God pleaser so he arrested the most famous of the disciples during one of the Jewish Feasts. 4 and imprisoned him, placing him under the guard of four squads of four soldiers each. Herod's intention was to bring Peter out for public trial after the Passover. Herod had Peter arrested and put him in a prison cell with four soldiers on each side of him. Herod had Peter surrounded to make it impossible for Peter to escape. Then after the Passover celebration Herod was going to bring Peter out for trial and take Peter’s life to further please the people. 5 But while Peter was in prison, the church prayed very earnestly for him. What a powerful verse for us today! Never in the history of mankind are so many people in prison of their own choices today. Invisible prison walls but yet walls that keep a majority of people from fulfilling their purpose in Father God’s Kingdom. But there is hope for the imprisoned; a praying church, a praying parent, a praying pastor, a praying spouse. I’m still convinced that all things are possible when believing prayer is prayed in faith with expectation. So many prisons that mankind find themselves in today: Prison of their past: many cannot live today because they never learn to let go of their past. Friends, Jesus died to redeem us from our past! Yes, we may face consequences by the decisions we made in our past but never judgment from God. When you ask Father God to forgive you, He casts your sin as far as the East is from the West never to be remembered anymore. The next time the devil tries to bring up your past, remind him of his future! Prison of a negative mindset: because of the way many are raised up with angry, harsh, words spoken to them time and time again they begin to think negatively and even live in a world full of negativity. You will never live a victorious life with a negative mindset. Negativity is a prison that will isolate you not only from your enemies but also those who really love you. A negative mindset is a prison that will keep you locked up and unfulfilled. There are so many spiritual prisons but the greatest prison is one that we all had in common and it’s called SIN. Sin: a transgression of God’s Law; disobedience to God’s Word. Sin is a destroyer. The wages of sin is death here and in eternity to come. Someone said that since the wages of sin is death, you better quit before payday. Sin will rob you, destroy you. Sin is enticing to our flesh and deceives our mind but there is a cure for sin and there is a key for every spiritual prison, the key of prayer which allows the blood of Jesus to set us free. Prayer Point: Father God help me pass the test of persecution, never to be imprisoned in prisons of my own choices which keeps me from fulfilling the purpose for which you created me. We continue our journey in the book of Acts this morning in Acts 11:19 Meanwhile, the believers who had been scattered during the persecution after Stephen's death traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch of Syria. They preached the word of God, but only to Jews. 20 However, some of the believers who went to Antioch from Cyprus and Cyrene began preaching to the Gentiles about the Lord Jesus. 21 The power of the Lord was with them, and a large number of these Gentiles believed and turned to the Lord. Notice once again the lines drawn in the sand by the divisional walls of religion but Father God always has the last say. Where some are unwilling to travel, God will raise up others to go. I love verse 20, it’s what the church is supposed to be about…believers telling the lost about the good news of Jesus and verse 21 declares that the POWER of the LORD was with them and many Gentiles got saved. We are not called to change anyone but we are all called/chosen to be a vessel that will GO and TELL. If we will GO then Father God will do His part in drawing the lost to Him, He only needs vessels to go and speak through. One of my favorite thoughts is this, if God can use a donkey and a rooster, then HE will use ME if I will be willing to go in obedience.
22 When the church at Jerusalem heard what had happened, they sent Barnabas to Antioch. 23 When he arrived and saw this evidence of God's blessing, he was filled with joy, and he encouraged the believers to stay true to the Lord. Jerusalem quickly became the hub of spiritual authority and oversight in the church Jesus had established so they sent one of their leaders (Barnabas) to give oversight to what was happening and he was filled with excitement and joy as he saw what God was doing among the Gentiles. In Hebrew, the name Barnabas means- Son of consolation or son of exhortation, son of comfort, he was gifted to encourage the believers. The church today needs more people in the body encouraging, we all need to develop the gift of being an encourager. 24 Barnabas was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and strong in faith. And many people were brought to the Lord. Friends, may we all strive to have the same report told about us but not from us. It’s important to know what others feel about us but at the same time remembering what God knows about us is of the upmost importance. If we are full of the Holy Spirit then it should be said about us, they are a good person and they are strong in faith. You can never be full of the Holy Spirit and continue to have an ugly spirit about you. The Holy Spirit changes you from the inside out. 25 Then Barnabas went on to Tarsus to look for Saul. 26 When he found him, he brought him back to Antioch. Both of them stayed there with the church for a full year, teaching large crowds of people. (It was at Antioch that the believers were first called Christians.) Discipleship takes time but Jesus told us to go make disciples not just converts. For fifty two weeks these two men of God taught the new believers and I believe they were having not just weekend meetings but meetings throughout the week as they learned more and more about Jesus. Friends, we all need to know more about the Word of God and to experience the presence of the Lord. Hunger, along with humility, is two key ingredients for personal spiritual growth. We must guard against spiritual complacency which leads to personal compromise (in our daily spiritual disciplines such as prayer, word, communion, etc.) which leads us to living a life of being spiritually cold. Fellowship and bible study with each other in the body of Christ will help keep a fire burning in our spiritual lives. 27 During this time some prophets traveled from Jerusalem to Antioch. 28 One of them named Agabus stood up in one of the meetings and predicted by the Spirit that a great famine was coming upon the entire Roman world. (This was fulfilled during the reign of Claudius.) 29 So the believers in Antioch decided to send relief to the brothers and sisters in Judea, everyone giving as much as they could. 30 This they did, entrusting their gifts to Barnabas and Saul to take to the elders of the church in Jerusalem. NLT The early church was a body of believers who relied on the supernatural power and knowledge of the Holy Spirit to lead them in their daily activities. We must all become more sensitive to the direction of the Holy Spirit in every area of our daily lives. The gifts of the Spirit are for all of us and to be in operation in our daily lives as we bring the full gospel of Jesus Christ to a lost, dying and hurting world. Prayer Points: Father, help us be led by the Holy Spirit like the early church and give us a greater desire to grow and mature in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. Last week we continued our teaching in Acts 10; Cornelius had a vision from God about Peter coming to teach them about the Messiah and when Cornelius’s messengers got to the city to talk to Peter, Peter was having a trance preparing him for God’s Purpose.
Let’s pick up the story in verse 15 And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common. 16 This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven. Peter was allowed to see the same vision three times. Seemingly Peter and the number three are always connected. Remember Peter wasn’t able to stay awake in the garden three times, then he denied Jesus three times and a few days later three times Jesus asked him, do you love me. Now the Lord has let Peter see the same vision three times to capture his attention because Peter was still trying to live by the law. The religious teachings of the law were still keeping Peter from being free under the New Covenant. Friends, a religious spirit is probably stronger than any other spirit the enemy uses because its root is in deception and the last person to know they are deceived is the person deceived. Saul, before his transformation, on the Damascus Road was religiously persecuting Christians thinking he was doing it for God’s Kingdom. Religious spirits have torn many families, many ministries and many friends apart. We have to stand for truth but we do it in love. 17 Now while Peter doubted in himself what this vision which he had seen should mean, behold, the men which were sent from Cornelius had made inquiry for Simon's house, and stood before the gate, Notice the power of the religious spirit on Peter. God has shown him this vision three times and he still doubted what it meant. We understand that the Jews eat no unclean animal as part of their religion in pleasing God but now a new way to Father God had been established, by the blood of Jesus not works. Under the Old Covenant mankind had to work out their walk with God, under the New Testament we are accepted in Father God’s family by faith not works. Now we have works because we want to serve the one who gave His life for us out of love not duty. God’s timing is always perfect, because when Peter doubted, God was sending men and they were outside the gate trying to find Peter. Father God is so amazing. I know we’ve all had divine appointments in our lives where God has orchestrated meetings for our good. 18 And called, and asked whether Simon, which was surnamed Peter, were lodged there.19 While Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee. I love it! Can’t you picture it? Peter just had a God-encounter and he’s sitting there trying to come to Godly truth and the Holy Spirit says, there are three men looking for you. 20 Arise therefore, and get thee down, and go with them, doubting nothing: for I have sent them. 21 Then Peter went down to the men which were sent unto him from Cornelius; and said, Behold, I am he whom ye seek: what is the cause wherefore ye are come? Once again Peter is being tested, knowing the messengers are Gentiles and normally he would not go with them, so the Holy Spirit said don’t doubt anything just go with them because I sent them. I believe Peter is fishing for information when he asked, why are you here and what do you want with me. He knew he would go with them, but he was trying to find out the purpose. 22 And they said, Cornelius the centurion, a just man, and one that feareth God, and of good report among all the nation of the Jews, was warned from God by an holy angel to send for thee into his house, and to hear words of thee. They report to Peter that Cornelius is a wonderful Gentile man whom the Jews even love and then they rehearse with him the vision Cornelius had with the visitation of angels. I’m sure Peter is religiously asking himself, how can angels show up in a Gentile home but Peter’s own vision keeps coming back to his memory. What God has called clean, do not call unclean. Peter was reluctant in his flesh to go but in the Spirit realm Peter knew Father God was about to do something new. 23 Then called he them in, and lodged them. And on the morrow Peter went away with them, and certain brethren from Joppa accompanied him. So now Peter gave them a place to spend the night and the journey to destiny would start the next morning taking along witnesses to testify about what was about to take place. Next week we will hear of the wonderful conversion of the Gentiles but right now let each one of us examine our own hearts to see if we have been deceived by religious spirits and they are all over this region keeping ministries and ministers from fulfilling the purpose God has for them. Prayer Points: 1. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you (about you not others) anything in your life which has become so religious that it is stopping the flow of the Holy Spirit in your life. I seen & heard about music, instruments, the way we used to do it, color of carpet, clothes, where a well should be, all kinds of crazy things hinder a move of God. Let’s get free from anything that binds us from following the Presence of the Lord. Last week Peter had seen the visions and now the men sent by Cornelius had spent the night before they were to leave early the next morning to go to Caesarea.
Acts 10:24 They arrived in Caesarea the following day. Cornelius was waiting for them and had called together his relatives and close friends. The first thing I notice is the anticipation, the excitement and the expectation that Cornelius has. They were on pins and needles anticipating the arrival of Peter and he had his relatives and close friends there with him because he wanted those he loved to hear the good news also. 25 As Peter entered his home, Cornelius fell at his feet and worshiped him. 26 But Peter pulled him up and said, "Stand up! I'm a human being just like you!" 27 So they talked together and went inside, where many others were assembled. Peter finally arrives and Cornelius fell at his feet probably not in worship but in reverence. This was an act of profound regard for him as an ambassador of God. In Oriental countries it was not unusual for persons to prostrate themselves at length on the ground before men of rank and honor. "Worshipped him" this does not mean religious homage, but civil respect, or profound regard which was due to one in honor. Then Peter does something very contrary to the law by reaching down and pulling Cornelius up because he was a Gentile. We are not given insight to the conversation here but I’m sure they are talking about the vision they both had seen which gave them an instant bond. 28 Peter told them, "You know it is against our laws for a Jewish man to enter a Gentile home like this or to associate with you. But God has shown me that I should no longer think of anyone as impure or unclean. 29 So I came without objection as soon as I was sent for. Now tell me why you sent for me." Peter was never bashful or scared to speak what was on his mind and he immediately said, if it wasn’t for the trance and vision God gave me, I would not be here because according to the law I should not even be in your house. But after the revelation God has given us, I’m thankful to be here. 30 Cornelius replied, "Four days ago I was praying in my house about this same time, three o'clock in the afternoon. Suddenly, a man in dazzling clothes was standing in front of me. 31 He told me, 'Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, and your gifts to the poor have been noticed by God! 32 Now send messengers to Joppa, and summon a man named Simon Peter. He is staying in the home of Simon, a tanner who lives near the seashore.' 33 So I sent for you at once, and it was good of you to come. Now we are all here, waiting before God to hear the message the Lord has given you." Cornelius rehearses the vision with Peter telling him, I sent for you but it was because I was simply obeying the Lord. Peter I know you have a word for us that will be life changing. What happens next is so exciting! 34 Then Peter replied, "I see very clearly that God shows no favoritism. 35 In every nation he accepts those who fear him and do what is right. 36 This is the message of Good News for the people of Israel—that there is peace with God through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. 37 You know what happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee, after John began preaching his message of baptism. 38 And you know that God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. Then Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. 39 "And we apostles are witnesses of all he did throughout Judea and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a cross, 40 but God raised him to life on the third day. Then God allowed him to appear, 41 not to the general public, but to us whom God had chosen in advance to be his witnesses. We were those who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42 And he ordered us to preach everywhere and to testify that Jesus is the one appointed by God to be the judge of all—the living and the dead. 43 He is the one all the prophets testified about, saying that everyone who believes in him will have their sins forgiven through his name." 44 Even as Peter was saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who were listening to the message. 45 The Jewish believers who came with Peter were amazed that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles, too. 46 For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God. Then Peter asked, 47 "Can anyone object to their being baptized, now that they have received the Holy Spirit just as we did?" 48 So he gave orders for them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Afterward Cornelius asked him to stay with them for several days. So Peter preaches the gospel to them and while he is preaching they receive the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues. So for the very first time, the Gentiles are baptized in the Name of Jesus. What a great day in the history of mankind. Prayer Points: Lord, help us to never think that anyone or any race of people are not included in John 3:16 but salvation is for everyone who will believe. Let’s continue to dig into one of the most important chapters to us Gentiles in the whole Bible; Acts 10. Last week we discussed how Cornelius was a man who put himself in position for Father God to use him by a lifestyle of prayer, fasting and giving and now let’s pick up the story in verse 3 One afternoon about three o'clock (time of prayer), he had a vision in which he saw an angel of God coming toward him. "Cornelius!" the angel said. 4 Cornelius stared at him in terror. "What is it, sir?" he asked the angel. And the angel replied, "Your prayers and gifts to the poor have not gone unnoticed by God!
I’m not so spiritual that I judge Cornelius for being in terror; God’s angels are amazing, powerful and intimidating. They fight on our behalf, they war in the heavenlies, they are messengers from God’s throne, and they deliver God’s promises to mankind. When the angel called him by name, Cornelius replied, “What can I do for you?” The angel was on assignment with a message from Father God and he said your lifestyle (prayers, giving, etc) are noticed by God. The way you have lived your life has caught the attention of Father God who sees all, knows all and is all in all. That’s exciting! Every time you give a drink of water, every time you help someone in private, every time you pray in secret, fast in seclusion, give to the poor or give to the Kingdom, God sees and God notices and it opens up the heavens! What a mighty God! Then God gives him instructions, prayer without obedience will not deliver the promise. 5 Now send some men down to Joppa to find a man named Simon Peter. 6 He is staying with Simon, a leatherworker who lives near the shore. Ask him to come and visit you." I love the supernatural workings of Father God. The angel told him to go get Peter and described Peter to him and told him where he was staying (near the shore) and who he was staying with (Simon who works with leather) not leaving out a detail. The only problem was this, Peter was a Jew and Cornelius was a Gentile and at that point and time the law (Old Covenant) forbade Peter to come into his house. Remember this, when God is talking to you on one end, once you obey, God will be talking to the person on the other end if we will just be obedient. Then we read in verse 7 As soon as the angel was gone, Cornelius called two of his household servants and a devout soldier, one of his personal attendants. 8 He told them what had happened and sent them off to Joppa. Before fear could set in, before the “ifs” started forming in his mind, Cornelius immediately obeyed what the angel told him. 9 The next day as Cornelius's messengers were nearing the city, Peter went up to the flat roof to pray. It was about noon, 10 and he was hungry. But while lunch was being prepared, he fell into a trance. It must have been a good distance since it took almost a day to arrive, and as they were nearing the city (in obedience) Peter was going to his closet of prayer to spend some personal time with the Lord before he ate lunch. The reason God tells His secrets to only a few is only a few spend quality time in the secret place of prayer. So while everyone else was downstairs cooking and getting ready to eat, Peter was praying and fell into a spiritual trance (having a spiritual dream but still awake) and what he saw broke all the religious traditions he had been taught and had even taught others. 11 He saw the sky open, and something like a large sheet was let down by its four corners. 12 In the sheet were all sorts of animals, reptiles, and birds. 13 Then a voice said to him, "Get up, Peter; kill and eat them." 14 "Never, Lord," Peter declared. "I have never in all my life eaten anything forbidden by our Jewish laws." Father God was about to demonstrate to Peter that salvation is now based on relationship with Him not works for Him. We do the works because we love Him and not to be accepted by Him. I’m not talking about a cheap grace where we accept grace and go do our own thing but I’m talking about an undeserved favor which impacts us to the point of living a Godly lifestyle based on God’s word to please Him. Faith pleases the Father but our works demonstrates our faith. Friend, we still can’t live wrong and die right. When the blood of Jesus is applied to our lives, something changes (old things pass away and all things become new). Prayer Points: Father, open our eyes to the supernatural realm of your Spirit. Help us not live by man’s traditions but by relationship with the Father by the Lord Jesus Christ! I’m excited because we are not only studying the book of Acts together but we are experiencing the book of Acts with the lame walking, the blind seeing, the deaf hearing, tumors disappearing and so many other supernatural miracles. You cannot study the book of Acts and your faith not be increased. God is a supernatural God who loves to show out for those who pray, obey and love His Presence. Once again we must be careful to guard His Presence and to stay focused on His Presence! It’s about who He is not what He does!
This week for our family devotion we pick up in Acts 10:1 In Caesarea there lived a Roman army officer named Cornelius, who was a captain of the Italian Regiment. 2 He was a devout man who feared the God of Israel, as did his entire household. He gave generously to charity and was a man who regularly prayed to God. Cornelius was a man of power, influence and probably wealth but he remembered there was still a God to be served and reverenced. I’m thankful for all those connected to us, connected to the church that God is raising up with power, wealth and influence but yet they remain humble and hungry for more of God’s Presence. Too many, when elevated, lose sight of the eternal because of the temporal blessing. We read in more than one Bible translation of verse 2 that Cornelius was devout which simply means, he lived a Godly life which caused him to be well respected in his community. It’s important to maintain a good reputation among those who know us best and to the community. We should be men and women of integrity. Our word should be our bond, our finances and families reflecting God’s nature. The Bible says this: Prov 22:1 Choose a good reputation over great riches, for being held in high esteem is better than having silver or gold. 2 The rich and the poor have this in common: The LORD made them both. NLT This word of wisdom is saying, if you have to steal, cut throats, cheat, do others wrong to be rich, choose a good reputation. Try to live by this saying, Treat others the way you would want to be treated or maybe you have heard it this way, do unto others as you would want them to do unto you. But for us who are saved we must do unto others as unto the Lord. No doubt Cornelius, even though he was not a Jew, loved God enough not to let his power and position go to his head. Life is so short so live it with integrity and honor as if everyday would be your last. Live judgment day ready by pleasing God in thoughts, words and actions. Not only was Cornelius a devout man but a man who lived a lifestyle of giving and prayer. Later we read he was a man who fasted. This is the vision of the church: everyone living a threefold cord lifestyle: 1. Prayer 2. Fasting 3. Giving. I’m telling you when you make these your lifestyle the heavens open up over you and your family. In the case of Cornelius, the heavens opened for all Gentiles, allowing the gospel to be sent throughout the Gentile nations even though we were not Jewish. Notice verse 3 confirms what I just said: 3 One afternoon about three o'clock (time of prayer), he had a vision in which he saw an angel of God coming toward him. "Cornelius!" the angel said. Because of his lifestyle of praying, fasting and giving Cornelius saw into the heavens and saw an angel coming toward him who called him by name. Imagine you praying at your regular prayer time and all of a sudden the heavens open up like a theatre and you see an angel flying toward you calling your name. God still allows and still sends angels on assignment in our day and time. God has not changed! Expect it! The heavens opened over Jesus also, and the Holy Spirit in the form of dove rested upon Jesus! I believe the heavens have opened over us as we see God’s power demonstrated in such a powerful way. As we come upon the first day of the month, we ask you to join with us in living the threefold cord lifestyle in prayer, fasting and giving. We dedicate the first day of the month as a first-fruits offering to the Lord as we fast and pray for a greater manifestation of Father God’s Presence. Never have we needed His Presence greater than right now. Tuesday is the first day of October, join us in prayer and fasting! Prayer Points: Father help me to be a person of integrity, devout, one that fears you, prays to you, gives to your Kingdom and fasts. I need your Presence every second I live! Last week we studied the remarkable story of Saul who was supernaturally converted and immediately started to preach the good news of Jesus Christ.
23 After a while the Jewish leaders decided to kill him. Remember everyone who was with you will not celebrate with you when you are radically transformed. His former religious companions now wanted to murder him because he had left their religious traditions and believed truth. Jesus was not accepted by the traditional religious leaders of His day and neither will you be accepted when you decide to be a carrier of His presence. Those satisfied with regular religious activity will never be comfortable with those who want a supernatural relationship with Father God and desire to live in His presence. Living in His presence really makes those who are complacent, comfortable and lukewarm, uncomfortable and we all know that misery loves company. 24 But Saul was told about their plot, and that they were watching for him day and night at the city gate so they could murder him. 25 So during the night, some of the other believers let him down in a large basket through an opening in the city wall. When the devil has a plan to take you out, God has a plan to keep you safe. They had plotted, planned, and schemed to kill Saul but God sees all and hears all. Imagine the religious priests and leaders sitting around in the sanctuary talking about assassinating Saul…but GOD! How many times have people murdered you around a table or in a living room or even in a church house but remember God always has the last word and has a plan. God is never taken by surprise and always makes a way where there seems to be no way. No temptation can overtake you that God will not make an escape! 26 When Saul arrived in Jerusalem, he tried to meet with the believers, but they were all afraid of him. They thought he was only pretending to be a believer! Now Saul was tested with the test of rejection. The believers were fearful of him because of his past and had suspicion that he was pretending to become a Christian so he could persecute them. Can I say it again, but God had a plan. 27 Then Barnabas brought him to the apostles and told them how Saul had seen the Lord on the way to Damascus. Barnabas also told them what the Lord had said to Saul and how he boldly preached in the name of Jesus in Damascus. 28 Then the apostles accepted Saul, and after that he was constantly with them in Jerusalem, preaching boldly in the name of the Lord. God always has the right person in the right place to bring about His will and this day it was Barnabas who was well respected in the early church. Barnabas was able to confirm the supernatural conversion of Saul and then the apostles accepted Saul as one of their own. Saul continued to preach Christ boldly. 29 He debated with some Greek-speaking Jews, but they plotted to murder him. 30 When the believers heard about it, however, they took him to Caesarea and sent him on to his hometown of Tarsus. 31 The church then had peace throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria, and it grew in strength and numbers. The believers were walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit. Saul wasn’t scared of the Jewish leaders and openly debated God’s Word with them to the point they plotted to murder him, but GOD! The early church grew spiritually and numerically. 32 Peter traveled from place to place to visit the believers, and in his travels he came to the Lord's people in the town of Lydda. 33 There he met a man named Aeneas, who had been paralyzed and bedridden for eight years. 34 Peter said to him, "Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you! Get up and make your bed!" And he was healed instantly. That’s the power of prayer and obedience. Peter, who was transformed on the day of Pentecost from a coward to warrior, was preaching the gospel with boldness and seeing supernatural signs, miracles and wonders. A man named Aeneas had a hopeless situation that the doctors could not help, he was paralyzed and bedridden and had been that way eight years but the power of the Name of Jesus raised him up instantly. 35 Then the whole population of Lydda and Sharon turned to the Lord when they saw Aeneas walking around. That’s the power of the gospel! That’s the power of the name of Jesus being used not only to heal a paralyzed man but also to bring a bi-city revival. It’s not enticing words that transforms people lives but rather the power of the gospel and the power of the Holy Spirit. One single miracle brought revival to two towns. Glory to God! Lord do it again! Prayer Points: Father remove all doubt and unbelief and let the power of God be demonstrated in such a way that this whole region is brought to Christ. |