Acts 11 Power to Witness

I'm so thankful that you have joined me on this journey of praying through Acts. Some people think it is the story of the acts of the Apostles. But I am convinced it is the acts of the Holy Spirit! Oh yes, God used people. And that's how He works today,  Precious Holy Spirit fills believers so we can be more like Jesus.   We are in Acts 11. In the previous chapter Peter had just done something he never dreamed he would do, and the news traveled fast. The news that the Gentiles had received the word of God reached the apostles and Jewish believers, even before Peter got there. They couldn't believe the reports! When Peter arrived, they were concerned… Acts 11:3 and said, "You visited uncircumcised men and ate with them." Peter knew by eating with a Gentile, his brethren would be upset. He was accountable to these leaders so he needed to explain what had happened. Peter took this accountability seriously, so he brought the witnesses that had accompanied him to Cornelius' house with him to Jerusalem to verify his actions and his testimony to them.   4 But Peter began and explained to them the whole sequence of events:   He told them about his supernatural trance, the voice, repeated 3 times, 3 men that arrived as he was thinking about what God had just showed him…. Then he said   12 The Spirit told me to accompany them without hesitation. These six brothers also went with me, and we entered the man's home.    13 He told us how he had seen an angel standing in his house and saying, 'Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter.    14 He will convey to you a message by which you and all your household will be saved.'   15 As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them, just as He had fallen upon us at the beginning.    16 Then I remembered the word of the Lord, how He said, 'John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.'   17 So if God gave them the same gift He gave us who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to hinder the work of God?"   18 When they heard this, they had no further objections, and they glorified God, saying, "So then, God has granted even the Gentiles repentance unto life."   The apostles and Jewish believers had the call to spread the gospel, but they weren't the only ones. Let's look what is happening in Antioch.   19 Meanwhile those scattered by the persecution that began with Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, speaking the message only to Jews.  20 But some of them, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began speaking to the Greeks as well, proclaiming the good news about the Lord Jesus.    Antioch was a major city in the Roman Empire, known for its diverse population; it was a cultural and commercial hub.   But some of them… Ordinary men…not elders or apostles. Regular folks like me and you. Thank you Jesus, that some of them saw past tradition or maybe they were so focused on Jesus that they simply overflowed with love and naturally shared the message of Jesus with everyone they met which just happened to include Gentiles.   21 the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.   These men were living out the mandate that Jesus left them. Maybe you're thinking," If God's hand was on me like that, then I would be a better witness too!"    But wait a minute. Do you think that they felt God's hand on them before they started sharing the love of Jesus? I'm not saying God doesn't lead us to people, but sometimes we don't see God's hand until we obey the Word of God and then we see the results as God's hand was with us.   Sharing our faith is just what believers do! By obey I mean, there's a whole bunch of places where Scripture tells us "You will be my witnesses" in different wording sometimes, but with the same mandate. These verses are there to be obeyed.   The big old monster of prejudice had fallen, not that the enemy doesn't try to rebuild it again in believers throughout the generations. But we can't let the enemy do that in us and when we see it in others we must pray and use our influence.   Rom 2:11 For God does not show favoritism. 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away. Behold, the new has come! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: Father, thank you for Peter's influence that opened the eyes of leaders to recognize that God does not show favoritism. Because we have been reconciled to God through Christ, use us to walk in the ministry of reconciliation by helping people be born into your family and discipled in your Word. Make us more like You Jesus. Fill us to overflowing with your Spirit so we have the power to show and tell of Your goodness and power. In the Mighty Name of Jesus. Amen!!   Be doers of the word, and not hearers only. Otherwise, you are deceiving yourselves. —James 1:22   Want To Be Stronger?   Join me every Saturday for faith-filled encouragement, inspiring articles, and helpful resources delivered right to your inbox. I'd love to connect with you! Or subscribe to this podcast on your favorite Podcast Provider.