S.O.A.P. 28 Day Challenge - Day #3, February 3, 2022 God Prepares People to Reach Prepared People
I’m providing the complete text so you can see and read to gain the entire picture.
10 At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was known as the Italian Regiment. 2 He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly. 3 One day at about three in the afternoon he had a vision. He distinctly saw an angel of God, who came to him and said, “Cornelius!”
4 Cornelius stared at him in fear. “What is it, Lord?” he asked.
The angel answered, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God. 5 Now send men to Joppa to bring back a man named Simon who is called Peter. 6 He is staying with Simon the tanner, whose house is by the sea.”
7 When the angel who spoke to him had gone, Cornelius called two of his servants and a devout soldier who was one of his attendants. 8 He told them everything that had happened and sent them to Joppa.
Peter’s Vision
9 About noon the following day as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray. 10 He became hungry and wanted something to eat, and while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance. 11 He saw heaven opened and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners. 12 It contained all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles and birds. 13 Then a voice told him, “Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.”
14 “Surely not, Lord!” Peter replied. “I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.”
15 The voice spoke to him a second time, “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.”
16 This happened three times, and immediately the sheet was taken back to heaven.
17 While Peter was wondering about the meaning of the vision, the men sent by Cornelius found out where Simon’s house was and stopped at the gate. 18 They called out, asking if Simon who was known as Peter was staying there.
19 While Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Simon, three[a] men are looking for you. 20 So get up and go downstairs. Do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them.”
21 Peter went down and said to the men, “I’m the one you’re looking for. Why have you come?”
22 The men replied, “We have come from Cornelius the centurion. He is a righteous and God-fearing man, who is respected by all the Jewish people. A holy angel told him to ask you to come to his house so that he could hear what you have to say.” 23 Then Peter invited the men into the house to be his guests.
Peter at Cornelius’s House
The next day Peter started out with them, and some of the believers from Joppa went along. 24 The following day he arrived in Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends. 25 As Peter entered the house, Cornelius met him and fell at his feet in reverence. 26 But Peter made him get up. “Stand up,” he said, “I am only a man myself.”
27 While talking with him, Peter went inside and found a large gathering of people. 28 He said to them: “You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with or visit a Gentile. But God has shown me that I should not call anyone impure or unclean. 29 So when I was sent for, I came without raising any objection. May I ask why you sent for me?”
30 Cornelius answered: “Three days ago I was in my house praying at this hour, at three in the afternoon. Suddenly a man in shining clothes stood before me 31 and said, ‘Cornelius, God has heard your prayer and remembered your gifts to the poor. 32 Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter. He is a guest in the home of Simon the tanner, who lives by the sea.’ 33 So I sent for you immediately, and it was good of you to come. Now we are all here in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has commanded you to tell us.”
34 Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism 35 but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right. 36 You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, announcing the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. 37 You know what has happened throughout the province of Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached— 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.
39 “We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a cross, 40 but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen. 41 He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen—by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42 He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. 43 All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”
44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. 45 The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on Gentiles. 46 For they heard them speaking in tongues[b] and praising God.
Then Peter said, 47 “Surely no one can stand in the way of their being baptized with water. They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.” 48 So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days.
**** Now for my S.O.A.P.
S. Acts 10:15 The voice spoke to him a second time, “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.”
O. God was in the process of answring the prayers of a gentile named Cornelius. Peter was hesitant to go. God provides him a vision of a sheet coming down from heaven with all kinds of animals. Peter is told to kill and eat. But Peter objects because he doesn’t want to eat (or touch) anything considered by Jewish standards as “unclean.” However God tells him that what was once unclean, He (God) is now calling clean.
I believe this revelation was to show Peter that God was now including Gentiles into His church. That though they were once considered “unclean” they are now considered “clean” by God. God was preparing Peter to reach a perpared person by the name of Cornelius and his household. God prepares people to meet and reach out to prepared people.
I also see some divine confirmation in this. The use of “3s” in this text is noteworthy. 3 in the afternoon. 3 days. 3 men were sent. Jesus raised on the 3rd day. Perhaps the 3 is a reminder of the trinity all in agreement with this new direction for Peter. This is also confirmed by the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and baptism of Cornelius and his household.
A. I will continue to move in step with the Holy Spirit’s prompting and leadings, being aware that God might be preparing me to meet up with someone He has prepared for salvation, healing, gifting, etc.
P. Thank you Father for your word today. Thank you Jesus for the divine appointments you have for us and how you often confirm it by revelation and movements by the Holy Spirit. Holy Spirit continue to fill me and guide me to many more of these divine appointments. In Jesus’ name!
S.O.A.P. 28 Day Challenge - Day #2, February 2, 2022 "Be the Voice of More"
S. Acts 9:24-27 (NIV)
24 but Saul learned of their plan. Day and night they kept close watch on the city gates in order to kill him. 25 But his followers took him by night and lowered him in a basket through an opening in the wall.
26 When he came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple. 27 But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus.
O. The disciples in Jerusalem feared Saul. However, Barnabas thought the best about Saul. He brought him to the apostles and testified to Saul’s conversion and work for the Lord.
A. Barnabas is an example of God’s grace and encouragement. He did not believe the bad reports about Saul. He was willing to be , what I call, “the voice of more” in Saul’s life. I too, desire to believe in the best about people, to speak life into people and to be that encouraging “voice of more.”
P. Thank you Father for your word today. Thank you Jesus for your love and grace, believing the best about people and laying down your life for us all. Holy Spirit fill me and guide me to be the “voice of more” to others that I come into contact with. In Jesus’ name!
