Monday, September 10, 2007

30 Days - Day 22

Day 22

Acts 10:30-33 & 44-48

30 So Cornelius said, “Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing, 31 and said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, and your alms are remembered in the sight of God. 32 Send therefore to Joppa and call Simon here, whose surname is Peter. He is lodging in the house of Simon, a tanner, by the sea. When he comes, he will speak to you.’ 33 So I sent to you immediately, and you have done well to come. Now therefore, we are all present before God, to hear all the things commanded you by God.”
44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word. 45 And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. 46 For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God.
Then Peter answered, 47 “Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” 48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then they asked him to stay a few days.

This chapter is one of those times that we get an extra view into the way that God is orchestrating His will and purpose. We get to see people praying and God’s direct and careful answer to those prayers. We see Cornelius praying and being heard. He is given a command and he obeys. While already in the act of obedience then God visits Peter and prepares him for his next step just before it is needed. God removes any opposition or objection Peter might have to what He is about to ask of him. God has His “fingerprints” all over this situation.

What is so interesting about this is that both sides have been in prayer, they have both been spoken to by God, they have both been prepared for what is about to happen and yet neither side really knows why. Peter has come. He has had his objections removed, but now that he is there he asks of Cornelius “for what reason have you sent for me?” Cornelius on the other hand is in anticipation of God speaking to him. He is waiting to hear the things commanded of God through Peter. He doesn’t know what is coming though. I wonder what might have been going on in his mind. Perhaps he thought he would be asked to do some good work for Israel. Perhaps he thought he would be given some mission. Whatever the case he knew that there was a message coming from the Lord and he had in anticipation gathered his whole house to hear what God would say.

Still both were ready. Both had been brought to this place and now understanding dawns on Peter about the vision he has seen. It was not just a tool to get Peter there ... to overcome his objections. It was also the message Peter was to proclaim to these people. What God makes clean is clean! Peter knows that God cleanses through faith in Jesus and so he preaches the gospel to them. Even as Peter speaks understanding dawns in the minds and hearts of the hearers. Prepared to hear great things from God they hear the greatest thing they have ever heard. They hear that they can have their sins forgiven. The burden that has weighed them down, the understanding of what has been missing and realization of forgiveness rolls across their hearts and they believe.

What better answer to prayer could have been effected as these people prayed and listened to God? Hearts were prepared, the gospel was preached, the Spirit empowered and the people were moved to obedience and baptized. Behind it all we see God at work answering and orchestrating through prayer. We also see people acting in response to what God has revealed, taking the next step of obedience as God gives light and leading. They are not given all the answers at once but as we look at the whole we see God’s faithful and careful direction through the process to accomplish His will in their lives.

Prayer Requests Day 22

As we start another new week we ask for wisdom for the coming days, that God would order those days, and we would be obedient to His leading and make the most of opportunities in the power of His Spirit.

1) The tearing down of spiritual strongholds that keep people apathetic/closed to the gospel
2) Preparing of hearts to seek, hear and respond to the gospel of truth
3) Contact and relationships with those whose hearts God is preparing
4) Formation of Bible study groups 1. with students 2. with young families
5) Steering Meeting for Crisis Pregnancy Center & and planning meeting about possible English Camp in early November
(Tuesday, 9/11)

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

What a great reminder for this Moday morning! God orchestrates all things in His timing. Amen - Rashada