THE DAILY FOUNTAIN DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE OF THE CHURCH OF NIGERIA (ANGLICAN COMMUNION)
DATE: MONDAY, 29TH MAY, 2023
TOPIC: WHILE PETER WAS STILL SPEAKING
TEXT: ACTS 10:34-48
34. Then Peter opened [his] mouth and said: "In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality.
35. "But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him.
36. "The word which [God] sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ -- He is Lord of all --
37. "that word you know, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, and began from Galilee after the baptism which John preached:
38. "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.
39. "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.
40. "Him God raised up on the third day, and showed Him openly,
41. "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.
42. "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.
43. "To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins."
44. While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word.
45. And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also.
46. For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. Then Peter answered,
47. "Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we [have?"]
48. And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then they asked him to stay a few days.
MESSAGE:
The importance of the person and ministry of the Holy Spirit cannot be overemphasized as far as the ministry of Jesus Christ is concerned (v.38). Yesterday's devotion showed us how the Holy Spirit came upon the disciples. The effect was that Peter who denied Jesus in the past, stood up fearlessly to defend the gospel of Christ. Today, our text reveals how Peter went to Cornelius' house, a Gentile, for an evangelical outreach. Ordinarily, he would have resisted the invitation as a devout Jew but the Holy Spirit intervened and he obeyed. Surely, the Holy Spirit can dismantle ethnic biases in the lives of those who obey Him. Consider his messages about Christ, who was anointed with the Holy Spirit and power (v.38). If Jesus was anointed with the Holy Spirit, shall we not also be anointed?
To prove the involvement of the Holy Spirit in Peter's message, while he was still speaking, the Holy Spirit came upon all who heard the word. They spoke in tongues proving that God is for all flesh and not only for the Jews. Have you been baptised by the Holy Spirit like the disciples? You need this baptism to function to your utmost potential but first of all, you must repent of your sins and receive Jesus as Lord in your life.
PRAYER:
Father, please baptise me with Your Holy Spirit so that I can function according to Your plan.
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