13th Sep 26 | 04:00
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God’s word is His command
📖 Acts 10:09-33
40 – Tue20Aug2024 – *God’s word is His command* - _Acts 10:09-33_ – PETER’S VISION – _Matthew 07:21-23_
_Acts 10:30-33 So Cornelius said, "Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing, (31) and said, 'Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, and your alms are remembered in the sight of God. (32) Send therefore to Joppa and call Simon here, whose surname is Peter. He is lodging in the house of Simon, a tanner, by the sea. *When he comes, he will speak to you*.' (33) So I sent to you immediately, and you have done well to come. Now therefore, *we are all present before God, to hear all the things commanded you by God*."_
The angel told Cornelius to send for Simon Peter and when he comes, he would speak to him. The angel had not told Peter what the task was for him to do at Caesarea. This meant that at the appropriate time, the Holy Spirit would reveal to him what he would need to do. That moment had now come, and Peter was hearing from Cornelius that he was to speak to him and the people gathered in his home.
We are to be led by the Holy Spirit, moment by moment. This is the life of a child of God. _Romans 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God._ The Holy Spirit will show us what we must speak at different times. _Luke 12:12 For the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say."_
Is this not an awesome privilege for us to be led by the Holy Spirit? We need to study His word and walk in His ways. He will lead and guide us, moment by moment. Peter was experiencing this work of the Holy Spirit, for Cornelius was telling him that they were all waiting to hear from him.
Peter was waiting to see the move of the Holy Spirit in this situation. The leading came through Cornelius for he said, _“…we are all present before God, *to hear all the things commanded you by God*.”_
What had the Lord commanded Peter recently? As Peter thought on this matter, he knew what the Lord had been showing him, through the vision. The Lord was preparing him for this very moment.
Peter knew what he was to speak with this audience had to be for their edification. This is the ground rule. *We do not speak to promote ourselves but to edify our hearers.* _II Timothy 4:1-2 I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: (2) Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. *Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.*_
When we hear messages, we hear so much of the ‘flesh’ being manifested. We must surrender to God that we speak only what the Holy Spirit places in our hearts to speak.
Cornelius was ready to hear the message of God from Peter for he and *all those gathered were ready to hear the command of God and they were prepared to obey.*
Yesterday, we said that the word of God comes with His grace. God does not give us a command for which He has not made the necessary provision for us to obey. His provision is His grace. We therefore have no excuse for not obeying His word.
Today, let us learn this lesson that God’s word is a command to obey. Praise God, Cornelius already understood that the word that Peter would speak would be the command of God. The command from God, through Peter, must be obeyed. Cornelius knew this very well for he served the emperor and he knew that commands needed to be obeyed.
We, on the other hand, are lackadaisical with the word of God. We pick and choose what we will obey and what we will not. The consequence of this behaviour is catastrophic. _Matthew 7:21-23 "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, *but he who does the will of My Father in heaven*. (22) Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' (23) And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'_
God’s word is the word of the King and we are in His kingdom. We cannot claim citizenship in His kingdom and then pick and choose what we will obey and what we will not.
Isn’t this where King Saul lost his place before God? _I Samuel 15:22-23 So Samuel said: "*Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, As in obeying the voice of the LORD?* Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed than the fat of rams. (23) For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, And stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, He also has rejected you from being king."_
*Disobedience to His word/command speaks rebellion. Rebellion is of the devil.*
Cornelius and his people were all ready and prepared to come into the kingdom of God. ```When we say we are born again, we must know that we have now come into His kingdom, where Jesus is King, and He has absolute authority over us.```
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