4 On one occasion, WHILE HE WAS EATING WITH THEM, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptised with water, but in a few days you will be baptised with the Holy Spirit.”
Don’t limit the way God can speak with you! Jesus told His disciples about the coming baptism in the Spirit (hugely significant event) while they ate together. We may be having a tea/coffee with someone and God may use that time to say something important to us while we’re relaxed. When we’re relaxed and our defences are lowered we may be much more receptive to the soft voice of the Spirit. IT’S OFTEN WHEN WE’RE NOT THINKING ABOUT AN IMPORTANT MATTER THAT THE ANSWER WILL COME.
14 WITH ONE ACCORD (Harmony, close agreement) they all continued in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.
15 In those days Peter stood up among the believers (a group numbering about a hundred and twenty) 16 and said,
I believe we underestimate the power of agreement, the Harmony we have with those closest to us. (This was already a close-knit group after all they’d been through with the Lord. ) Yes of course waiting in prayer brings a spiritual dimension that can’t come in any other way, but close fellowship and friendship is also very significant. Peter used this platform of unity and Harmony to bring God’s word to choose another apostle.
In Acts 10 we read the account of Peter and the others visit to the house of Cornelius, initiated by the vision from the Holy Spirit. Peter had been cautious and brought six other brothers with him Acts 11:12. He used wisdom even after he’d had direct revelation from heaven.
The next day Peter started out with them, and some of the believers from Joppa went along. 24 The following day he arrived in Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and HAD CALLED TOGETHER HIS RELATIVES AND CLOSE FRIENDS. Acts 10
Those who’d gathered with Cornelius were family and close friends. GOD USED RELATIONSHIPS TO BIRTH THE FIRST CHURCH AMONG THE GENTILES. There’s wisdom in this because that group would still be together when Peter and the others left, it was already a nucleus through their existing bonds. Once again God’s purpose was outworked through a close unity.
A similar, but different delivery took place in Old Testament times with Rahab in Jericho.
23 So the young men who had done the spying went in and brought out Rahab, her father and mother, her brothers and sisters and all who belonged to her. They brought out her entire family and put them in a place outside the camp of Israel. Joshua 6
Rahab, one of the heroes of Faith in Hebrews 11, AND ALL WHO BELONGED TO HER WERE RESCUED BECAUSE OF THEIR RELATIONSHIP. That’s why it’s so important who we relate to, our futures may depend on our relationships at some point.
God bless and keep you today.