“While Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him, ‘Simon, three men are looking for you. So get up and go downstairs. Do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them” Acts 10:19.
“While Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him, ‘Simon, three men are looking for you. So get up and go downstairs. Do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them” Acts 10:19.
I’m thinking about what happened to Peter in Joppa, Israel – the place where I took the above photo, when the Spirit used him to open up the gospel to Gentile people (aren’t we glad He did!) God was speaking to the righteous centurion Cornelius, and it was now timely for the Spirit to call Peter to get involved. Peter had no idea what the extent of this calling would have. In fact, the Spirit had to confront Peter’s own bias against Gentiles having the gospel – read the story. But the Lord was about to do something pivotal for the Kingdom and Peter was invited to join Him.
I love Henry Blackaby’s seminal book Experiencing God. In it, he reminds us that God is always at work building the Kingdom. He is more interested in seeing His Kingdom come than we are, so don’t worry that He won’t involve you as an earnest Christian – it’s a matter of timing. He will speak to you and me when He is about to accomplish His purposes, and He will move us into an assignment that we are ready for. Our job is to be ready and to be watching for God at work, doing things only He can do. When a spiritual component arises in our sphere of influence, we know it is God’s work, for Jesus said, “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him…” John 6:44.
I generally sense the Spirit is speaking when I have spiritual thoughts that I would never think about on my own. I also feel the Spirit at work when He encourages me to think about other people rather than myself. A while back, out of the blue, the Spirit spoke to me about someone and told me what to do – I was a bit flabbergasted, but I did it and left the results with Him. Sometimes He speaks to me in the night, and I spend time praying for someone who has not been on my mind for a long time. I take for granted that He is at work there and is choosing to include me at this time. Like Peter, I don’t know if it will be a small thing or a far reaching one – that is His business. I just respond when He says something.
So be in an attitude of readiness – earnestness to be involved in His great Kingdom work. Like someone has said – ‘keep your tools ready and God will find you work!’
Pastor Leon Throness
“Read it through – an Encounter book club”.
On May 4 before the service at 9am we will hold the first of three ‘book clubs’ for those reading through the bible in a year. 45 minutes of sharing what we are learning and what God is saying as we go through His Word. We will meet in the Coffee Connection and as you prepare to share, think about these questions:
-What am I learning about God’s character?
-How am I seeing Jesus through my reading?
-How is my reading helping me to understand the grand narrative of Scripture?
-What is my time in the Word doing in my life to change me?
