Key Ideas
Faith Fact
I will keep growing closer to God.
Faith Verse
Ephesians 6:13 (NLT)
Put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will be standing firm.
Question of the Day: How does the Holy Spirit lead us to take a stand?
Read about It
Read: Acts 10:44–48; 11:1–3, 15–18
Peter had an experience that turned his thinking upside down. All of his life, his teachers probably taught him that people who weren’t Jewish were unclean. Being Jewish, his leaders may have told him to stay away from these people, Gentiles. He probably didn’t eat with them or enter their house. So, when God gave Peter a vision that led to Cornelius, a Gentile, and his family being saved and filled with the Holy Spirit, Peter was amazed. The people he thought were unclean had now been made clean by Jesus. The Holy Spirit filled them with His power, and God transformed their lives.
When Peter returned to tell the other believers, they criticized him. But, the Holy Spirit changed their hearts when Peter took a stand and explained what God was doing. The Holy Spirit was giving them a new way of thinking. Because Peter took a stand for God’s leading, more people came to know Jesus.
As we witness and share the gospel with others, let’s always follow the Holy Spirit as He leads us. The Holy Spirit led Peter to the Gentiles, and he saw a mighty work of God. The Holy Spirit also guided him to share what had happened and strengthen the believers in Judea. Peter followed the Holy Spirit’s lead and kept his heart and mind open to what God wanted to do. As we rely on help from the Holy Spirit, our heart will be open to what God is doing. When we rely on Him, it means that we depend on the Holy Spirit to lead us. When the Holy Spirit guides us to share, we should share. God will be with us and teach us the way to go when we pay attention to the amazing things He is doing.
Talk about It
Question 1. Who was filled with the Holy Spirit in these verses?
Answer 1. The people who heard Peter’s message (Acts 10:44–45)
Question 2. How did the Jewish believers with Peter know that the other people had received the gift of the Holy Spirit?
Answer 2. “They heard them speaking in other tongues.” (Acts 10:45–46)
Question 3. What does it mean to rely on the Holy Spirit?
Answer 3. We depend on the Holy Spirit to lead us.
Question 4. Why did Peter take a stand for what he believed?
Answer 4. Answers will vary.
Question 5. How has the Holy Spirit led you or someone you know to take a stand?
Answer 5. Answers will vary.
Pray about It
Dear Jesus, help me to always be humble and allow You to do what You want to do. Thank You for changing my heart and mind to know You more and how You love the world. You are always moving and working. I depend on You and will follow You. I will rely on the Holy Spirit and take a stand for You. Amen.