Unstoppable Mission: Praying, Listening, and Following
And while Peter was pondering the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are looking for you. Rise and go down and accompany them without hesitation, for I have sent them.” And Peter went down to the men and said, “I am the one you are looking for. What is the reason for your coming?” - Acts 10:19-21
Throughout the book of Acts, one thing becomes incredibly clear. God is entirely bent on getting the good news of Jesus out to the world. He will take it to unlikely places, and He will mobilize the most uncommon people. Most importantly, He does this through the consistent prayers of ordinary people. Whenever we see a significant move of God in this story, we find God's people praying. Today, we look at how God uses our consistent prayers to advance His unstoppable mission.
1. Invest in What Matters Most
Consistent prayer requires us to invest in the things of God. In the first scene of Acts 10, we meet Cornelius. He is a Roman centurion and a soldier accustomed to giving orders. Yet, the text paints a picture of a man who invests in what matters most. He leads his household with devotion, gives generously to the people, and prays continually to God.
God answers this disciplined, praying man with a vision. Even though Cornelius is not yet saved, God hears his prayers and sets a divine appointment in motion. We must ask ourselves where we are investing our time. Are we investing in our households? Are we generous with our finances? Do we carve out specific times to bring people to the Lord in prayer? When we commit to disciplined prayer, God begins to work in extraordinary ways.
2. Listen to the Most Important Voice
While Cornelius receives his instructions, we find Peter doing exactly what we would expect. He is praying. Peter goes up to the roof to pray at lunchtime, and he becomes hungry. God uses this moment to speak to him through a vision about food. God overhauls Peter's thinking about ceremonial laws so He can eventually overhaul Peter's heart regarding people.
There are many voices competing for our attention today. However, we must listen to the most important voice. Are we hungry for God's direction? We might not fall into a trance like Peter did, but God often puts specific people or situations on our minds. When God brings someone to your mind in the middle of the day or wakes you up in the night, do not ignore it. That is your prompt to listen and to pray.
3. Follow Where the Spirit Leads
When we invest in prayer and listen to God's voice, the natural next step is obedience. Peter follows the Spirit's lead and travels to Caesarea to enter the home of a Roman soldier. This was a radical step for a first-century Jew. When Peter arrives, he declares a profound truth. God showed him that he should not call any person common or unclean.
Peter realizes he has walked into a room full of image bearers. Before we categorize anyone by their background, profession, or politics, we must remember they are created in the image of God. Gospel inclusion means recognizing that everyone needs Jesus. An upright military man like Cornelius needs the Gospel just as much as anyone else. We must be willing to follow the Spirit wherever He leads, even if it takes us to people who are wildly different from us.
Closing Prayer:
Lord, we thank You that Your mission is unstoppable. Teach us to be a people of consistent prayer. Help us to invest our time and resources into what matters most. Tune our ears to hear Your voice above all the noise of this world. Give us the courage to follow where Your Spirit leads, so we can share the good news of Jesus with everyone we meet. We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen.
Throughout the book of Acts, one thing becomes incredibly clear. God is entirely bent on getting the good news of Jesus out to the world. He will take it to unlikely places, and He will mobilize the most uncommon people. Most importantly, He does this through the consistent prayers of ordinary people. Whenever we see a significant move of God in this story, we find God's people praying. Today, we look at how God uses our consistent prayers to advance His unstoppable mission.
1. Invest in What Matters Most
Consistent prayer requires us to invest in the things of God. In the first scene of Acts 10, we meet Cornelius. He is a Roman centurion and a soldier accustomed to giving orders. Yet, the text paints a picture of a man who invests in what matters most. He leads his household with devotion, gives generously to the people, and prays continually to God.
God answers this disciplined, praying man with a vision. Even though Cornelius is not yet saved, God hears his prayers and sets a divine appointment in motion. We must ask ourselves where we are investing our time. Are we investing in our households? Are we generous with our finances? Do we carve out specific times to bring people to the Lord in prayer? When we commit to disciplined prayer, God begins to work in extraordinary ways.
2. Listen to the Most Important Voice
While Cornelius receives his instructions, we find Peter doing exactly what we would expect. He is praying. Peter goes up to the roof to pray at lunchtime, and he becomes hungry. God uses this moment to speak to him through a vision about food. God overhauls Peter's thinking about ceremonial laws so He can eventually overhaul Peter's heart regarding people.
There are many voices competing for our attention today. However, we must listen to the most important voice. Are we hungry for God's direction? We might not fall into a trance like Peter did, but God often puts specific people or situations on our minds. When God brings someone to your mind in the middle of the day or wakes you up in the night, do not ignore it. That is your prompt to listen and to pray.
3. Follow Where the Spirit Leads
When we invest in prayer and listen to God's voice, the natural next step is obedience. Peter follows the Spirit's lead and travels to Caesarea to enter the home of a Roman soldier. This was a radical step for a first-century Jew. When Peter arrives, he declares a profound truth. God showed him that he should not call any person common or unclean.
Peter realizes he has walked into a room full of image bearers. Before we categorize anyone by their background, profession, or politics, we must remember they are created in the image of God. Gospel inclusion means recognizing that everyone needs Jesus. An upright military man like Cornelius needs the Gospel just as much as anyone else. We must be willing to follow the Spirit wherever He leads, even if it takes us to people who are wildly different from us.
Closing Prayer:
Lord, we thank You that Your mission is unstoppable. Teach us to be a people of consistent prayer. Help us to invest our time and resources into what matters most. Tune our ears to hear Your voice above all the noise of this world. Give us the courage to follow where Your Spirit leads, so we can share the good news of Jesus with everyone we meet. We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen.
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