Following the Voice of the Spirit

Read Acts 10

This month’s reading is the story
of two very different men who had something in common: Cornelius the
Roman centurion and Peter the apostle each were listening to hear the
voice of God speaking through His Spirit.

As you read Acts 10, look for a few key aspects of the
Holy Spirit’s work in the events of this ancient narrative that are
present in our lives today as well. We can count on God’s being the
same yesterday, today and tomorrow (see Heb. 13:8).

The first aspect is, the Holy Spirit
spoke to both Cornelius (10:3) and Peter (10:13). All that was required
for this to happen was for both men to put themselves in a place where
they could hear God’s voice and to be willing to listen for Him.

The second critical aspect of this
passage is that the Holy Spirit really wants us to hear His voice. He
will persistently speak to us if we will allow Him to. He spoke to
Peter three times to emphasize what He was saying (see vv. 13,15,16).
The Fire Bible: Global Study Edition states it this way in the
note on verse 19 of this passage: “The Holy Spirit desires for all
people to be spiritually saved and to experience a personal and eternal
relationship with Jesus.”

The final key point of this passage is
that both Cornelius and Peter were willing to be obedient to the Holy
Spirit after He spoke to them. Cornelius sent for Peter; and Peter went
where he was called to go. The result was that “all who heard” Peter’s message were saved and filled with the Holy Spirit.

Recently a missionary assigned to Life Publishers
International told about her experience of hearing the voice of the
Holy Spirit for the first time. When she was 13, she was in prayer and
heard God telling her that he wanted her to be a missionary and serve
Him full time. At age 13, and not being from a Christian home, she felt
this would be impossible; however, she was willing and kept the call in
her heart.

Now, many years later, she tells about how God opened
the doors for her to go to Bible school, become a missionary to Latin
America, and through her testimony see her entire family commit
themselves to Jesus. What seems impossible to us (and seemed impossible
to Peter) is more than possible with God if we will be obedient when we
hear His voice.

Do you intentionally place yourself in a position to
hear the voice of the Holy Spirit? Do you really want to hear the
direction the Lord wants to give you? As you hide the Scripture in your
heart this month, are you willing to be obedient and do what the Holy
Spirit instructs? 

If you are, then God can work great things through you just as He did through Cornelius and Peter.