Acts 10

In Chapter 10 we see the fullness of God's Message of Salvation delivered. Through the dreams of both a Gentile, Cornelius and a Jew, Peter we find that God loves all people and desires all mankind to have the offer of reconciliation. However, often we see in the church a desire for salvation to come to people who are like us. We want to see the baptistry stirred, the seats filled, and the church overflowing with people, as long as they act, look, talk, and think like us. Through vision shown to Peter we find him grasping to width and complexities of his appointed mission. At first, he is resistant to God's charge but then the Holy Spirit guides him to confess, "You know it's forbidden for a Jewish man to associate with or visit a foreigner. But God has shown me that I must not call any person common or unclean.". Oh that God would not only show us this great truth, but that our hearts would be broken to the point of going as Peter without hesitation or doubt to share the message of hope to all people. Oh that our conviction would be as Peter when he confessed, "Now I really understand that God doesn't show favoritism, but in every nation the person who fears Him and does righteousness is acceptable to Him...Can anyone withhold water and prevent these people from being baptized, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?"

Every minister that ever speaks wants to experience what happened with Peter as we see in verse 44. The scripture says, "While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came down on all those who heard the message." Regardless of great oratory skills or charisma a speaker may or may not possess the impacting changes on people are dependent on the Holy Spirit moving in a person's heart. As a pastor who speaks three different messages per week, this is what I pray happens each time I stand before a group of people. This is the reason I have a group of people we call the Pastor's Prayer Partners. They spend time praying for me each week as I prepare the messages and as I deliver them to the respective services. I am extremely grateful for the prayer support of these men and women. They are servant minded in prayer. What a joy to know they are praying for the church, the services, and me.


Lessons we learn from this chapter:
God desires all people to come to salvation. He is not a respecter of race, gender, socio-economics, or prestige.
We cannot manipulate the church or the message in the church, we must understand all movements must be of the Holy Spirit.