Acts 10:12-28

Holy Spirit Leads us in Our Lives & Ministry

Acts 10 ⁹ The next day, as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the housetop about the sixth hour to pray. ¹⁰ And he became hungry and wanted something to eat, but while they were preparing it, he fell into a trance ¹¹ and saw the heavens opened and something like a great sheet descending, being let down by its four corners upon the earth.

Acts 10¹² In it were all kinds of animals and reptiles and birds of the air. ¹³ And there came a voice to him: “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.” ¹⁴ But Peter said, “By no means, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.” ¹⁵ And the voice came to him again a second time, “What God has made clean, do not call common.” ¹⁶ This happened three times, and the thing was taken up at once to heaven.

This is a unique situation, whereby Jesus voice came to Peter to kill all kinds of animals and reptiles and birds ad eat. Of course, it’s unclean for the Jews to eat. But God had an idea to break the narrow mindset of Peter so to open his mind to reach out to the Gentiles, because so far, the church consisted completely only of the Jews. Of course, God loves all mankind, and not just the Jews. This is a really important mission with a specific goal from the Lord Jesus to his apostolic team, to open their eyes to look beyond the Jews. So Peter went to meet these gentiles as urged by the Spirit. A radical move of Peter required a radical revelation of Jesus to Peter. Not all of our lives carry that radical mission, of course, and hence not that radical out of the heaven kind of revelation at all times. However, I can share that while I was really despondent and crying to God for us to move to a good school area back in Irvine, California in 2002, as I prayed for God to open the right door, I saw a vision of me sweeping the floor of leaves and as I swept I came to a fence where I couldn’t proceed any further. It’s like blocked. I prayed and prayed and cried out to the Lord, and at that time, amazingly, a chain fence lock was broken and opened on its own, and I swept the leaves outside successfully. Soon after that, I successfully bought a house in Irvine, Orange County CA one of the best school districts in the nation to raise my kids and they all have done very well. Seeing how the Lord has blessed me and spoke to me via vision. This doesn’t happen very often at all, but I sensed that the Lord heard my cries when I am desperate especially, and visions do happen. That was supernatural.

Holy Spirit Breaks New Grounds Spiritually Supernaturally Touching Lives

Acts 10: ⁴⁴ While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. ⁴⁵ And the believers from among the circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles. ⁴⁶ For they were hearing them speaking in tongues and extolling God.

This is how powerful it is, compared to modern days baptism of the Spirit, if ever believed by the churches except the charismatics and Pentecostals. Peter was not even thinking of baptizing them and getting to be filled with the Spirit and speaking in tongues. He had no idea, let alone intention for that. It is entirely the work of the Holy Spirit. It is God’s idea. Not Peter’s. You see no one can stop the Spirit of God. Even if you don’t intend to speak in tongues, they happened anyway, if it happens, it’s the work of the Holy Spirit. The truth is, half of the churches don’t believe in tongues, the other half sort of believe, but it’s pretty much put in the back pocket now, because it is somehow unfashionable in a big modern day metropolis city like New York.

‘Charismatic‘ churches pretty much just sing Hill Songs, Bethel songs, etc., and that’s it, no tongues, no prophecy, no healing. I don’t know about you, but I believe God is wanting to restore these glory of the Spirit era. And I intend to facilitate that. But first and foremost, it’s Peter teaching the word of God, the apostle who wrote the epistle of 1 & 2 Peter, the apostle who pretty much was the leader among the twelve apostles of Jesus. He was teaching solid word of God centered on repentance and you see this is what Peter preached:

Holy Spirit flows together with the Word of God

Acts 10:3 ³⁸ how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He 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 that he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree, ⁴⁰ but God raised him on the third day and made him to appear, ⁴¹ not to all the people but to us who had been chosen by God as witnesses, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. ⁴² And he commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead. ⁴³ To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”

Peter focused on Jesus the Son of God, crucified, and raised on’t he third day, and how appeared to the selected ones including himself to be witnesses for Jesus and how Jesus been appointed to be by God to be the judge of the living and the dead. He then opened up the way for them to believe in Jesus and receive the forgiveness of their sins.

This is a strong message, no shallow stuff, that Peter brought out his best. So you can see this is a combination of the best theology, with the best speaking in tongues. They do go hand in hand. In fact, Peter took that , speaking in tongues, as a sign of having received the Holy Spirit, and hence commanded them to be baptized in water.

⁴⁶ For they were hearing them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter declared, ⁴⁷ “Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” ⁴⁸ And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to remain for some days.

The Holy Spirit fell upon the early church while Peter was preaching. He didn’t lay hands on them, and asked them to be baptized in the Spirit. They were speaking in tongues and extolling God. They responded automatically. They didn’t hesitate and wondered what’s going on? While they were listening to Peter’s teaching, they found themselves suddenly all of its own, started speaking in a strange tongue. This is so authentic and amazing! For modern days, usually, we lay hands and pray for minutes and sometimes it comes, sometimes it doesn’t happen. But for these folks, the Holy Spirit’s presence was so strong, they were filled automatically as they listened to God’s word. There is something beautiful connecting God’s words and speaking in tongues.

This again confirms the beautiful flowing together of the Spirit and the Word of God. Evangelicals must love the Word and the gifts of the Spirit. They go hand in hand.

Holy Spirit Opens Our Eyes to See His Glory

Speaking in Tongues is the Sign of Having received the Spirit of God

⁴⁶ For they were hearing them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter declared, ⁴⁷ “Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?”

We need this experience in the supernatural.

We pray it to come more in all our towns and cities. Come Holy Spirit, we need you.