SCRIPTURE: Acts (NIV) 11:12 The Spirit told me to have no hesitation about going with them. These six brothers also went with me, and we entered the man’s house.
OBSERVATION: Jesus had been with them in a physical, a seeable and feelable body. He spoke to them with a hearable voice. The Holy Spirit had no physical body, yet Peter heard Him speak so clearly that he obeyed His direction.
The early disciples had no Holy Bible, no pocket New Testament, no app on a cellular phone. Yet they heard the Spirit speak to them and recognized His “voice.”
APPLICATION: The disciples walked and talked with the Holy Spirit as they had done with Jesus. Since the same Holy Spirit dwells in me, I should expect a similar relationship. I too can walk and talk with the Holy Spirit! I need to pay attention to thoughts that come to my mind. Thoughts that cannot be linked to the progression of my thinking, thoughts that line up with the Bible, thoughts that are persistent and refuse to be ignored — those thought are quite probably the Holy Spirit speaking to me. As I step out in obeying those thoughts and see the Holy Spirit backing them up, I gain confidence in following through with other similar thoughts.
When questioning if a thought is really the Holy Spirit speaking to me, I ask myself, “If I ignore those thoughts will I later feel that I missed the Lord?” When the answer is “yes,” I push my doubts and fears aside and move ahead.
NOTE: A church short on Bibles, should be strong in teaching people to listen to the Holy Spirit! The Holy Spirit may use mature Christians to help new Christians judge what thoughts/ideas are of God.
PRAYER: Holy Spirit, you are a wonderful Treasure given to me by Jesus. You are valuable to me. Work with me to develop the same relationship you shared with the early church. Amen
Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!
On Facebook: Today’s SOAP from Pastor Leon
Pastor Andrew’s wife, Doris was unable to cash the “money order” today because the office was closed today. So, tomorrow will be Pastor Andrew’s release from the hospital. Praise the Lord! Now a good smart phone is needed. A brother generously offered an “I” phone, but it is incompatible with the system in Sierra Leone. Believe with us; it is another opportunity to trust the Lord for HIS provision.
SOAPs by Pastor Leon 