44 While Peter was still speaking these words, (In the house of Cornelius) the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. Acts 10
Times of upheaval, unrest and instability may see some of the greatest moves of the Spirit of God. Israel was under Roman occupation when the New Church was birthed in Jerusalem, but still greater change was to come. The apostle Peter had a vision and was told to go with three men to the house of Cornelius, a Roman soldier. While Peter spoke with them, the Spirit fell and the Gentile Church was birthed. A New Day (Dispensation) had come and now all men had been given access to God through the Blood of Christ. The new believers now became the Temple of the living God.
45 The circumcised believers (Believing Jews) who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on Gentiles.46 For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God.
The coming of the Spirit upon the Gentiles was accompanied by visible evidence for all to see. Peter and the six fellow believers with him knew this was the Hand of God.
Then Peter said, 47 “Surely no one can stand in the way of their being baptised with water. They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.” 48 So he ordered that they be baptised in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days. Acts 10
The Jewish believers had to rapidly come to terms with the fact that God of the Israel was now also the God of the Gentiles, a huge change of mind and position for them. The choice of Peter, the foremost apostle to affirm this huge shift was part of God’s plan for the grafting in of the Gentiles. What are the coming plans of God for His Church in our day?
The Greatest Outpouring of the Spirit came in unsettled times.
The Greatest Opposition to the Spirit came from the existing religious leaders.
The Greatest Outcome happened among people who hadn’t a clue about God.
Gamaliel’s advice to the Sanhedrin is still as relevant in our day;
38 Therefore, in the present case I advise you: leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. 39 But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.’ Acts 5
God will never be put in a box, He’ll always do things His way and it’s usually not the way we thought it should be.
‘Get ready, get ready, get ready’, words we heard a few days ago as we sat before the Lord. We too should expect change in the times we live in. God is on the move and nothing will stay His hand.
May God bless and keep you in these changing times.