Jesus ordains connections between even the less likely of people. In Acts Chapter 10, Peter who used to be a fisherman by trade, a common Jewish man but was now was a disciple of Jesus Christ who was transformed into a Spirit-filled preacher of The Way. And Cornelius, a centurion of an Italian army regiment who was God fearing and generous towards the people of Cesarea. Both were just going about their daily prayers in different cities, both of different races, nationalities, and work backgrounds, but God’s Spirit reached and spoke to them individually by visions, and a worldly unlawful meeting between a Jew and an Italian was Kingdom mediated.
Jesus brought both of them together by their faith and obedience. Of course Peter had to be persuaded a little more than Cornelius as he was more stubborn by nature, but once Peter got locked into God’s will, he was focused, committed, and doubted nothing. Peter followed the men to Cornelius’ house and a congregation was assembled to hear what Peter had to say. At first they thought Peter was an angel or some super-spiritual being, but he confirmed he was a man just as Cornelius was. Once they realized that, all was left was to listen. I love how Peter testified to Cornelius.
- Simple!
- To the point!
- Anointed!
Then Peter opened his mouth and said: “In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him. The word which God sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ – He is Lord of all – that word you know, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, and began from Galilee after the baptism which John preached: how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him. And we are witnesses of all things which He did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem, whom they killed by hanging on a tree. Him God raised up on the third day, and showed Him openly, not to all the people, but to witnesses chosen before by God, even to us who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead. And He commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that it is He who was ordained by God to be Judge of the living and the dead. To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins.” While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word.
Acts 10:34-44 NKJV
Now Peter did not have a long introduction, go into a lengthy sermon, quote scriptures, but just simply testified. He already knew they knew God and was hungry to know Him more, and as he spoke and ended the conversation with an open door to receive Jesus, God’s presence came in. Then the Spirit fell on everyone there and they were filled and spoke in tongues, the same gift that was given to the Jewish believers. They were all were united by the same faith in the same Lord with the same gift of the Holy Spirit.
God may not give us visions and organize meetings to the extent that He did with Peter and Cornelius, but He is always arranging ways that we can testify to believers and non-believers. We don’t have to quote scripture and have a lengthy sermon, but just be real and share what God has done in our lives.
We can talk about how God has:
- healed a health issue, healed an addiction, healed a bad habit, healed wrongful or negative thinking, healed unforgiveness…
- moved in our job situation, moved in our finances, moved in our housing situation, moved in our pantries and fridges…
- given us joy as we had never experienced before. Given us peace, contentment, comforted us when storms arose, renewed our thinking, how He has transformed our lives…
- changed us to where we are not the same people that we used to be but a much better improved version through Him…
Let’s set aside time like Peter and Cornelius for prayer, and to seek and know Him more. Maybe God will put something in our Spirit, give us direction, place someone on our mind to reach out to… Then also, let’s be mindful to fill conversations with our story and personal experiences. Testify! Who knows, the Spirit may even fall, or at the least we plant some seeds into their lives of the One and only true God that we know.
Blessings!
Elder Steve Smith