Specific Details

DEVOTION

THE BOOK OF ACTS

SPECIFIC DETAILS

Acts 10:17-23

17 While Peter was wondering about the meaning of the vision, the men sent by Cornelius found out where Simon's house was and stopped at the gate. 18 They called out, asking if Simon who was known as Peter was staying there. 19 While Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him, "Simon, three men are looking for you. 20 So get up and go downstairs. Do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them." 21 Peter went down and said to the men, "I'm the one you're looking for. Why have you come?" 22 The men replied, "We have come from Cornelius the centurion. He is a righteous and God-fearing man, who is respected by all the Jewish people. A holy angel told him to have you come to his house so that he could hear what you have to say." 23 Then Peter invited the men into the house to be his guests.

NIV

It is interesting how the Spirit was so specific in his instruction to Peter. To tell Peter that three men are looking for him and not to hesitate to go with them because the Spirit sent them. Certainly the Spirit was at work in the life of Cornelius being just as specific in telling him to send men to get Peter telling him where they would find him. This should be our life lesson for not only today, but for the rest of our life. When the Spirit moves in our life there can be no confusion for the Spirit is not vague but very specific. This is certainly my testimony in every instance of change, direction or instruction. The Spirit shows us here in his working that he reveals exactly what he wants Peter to accomplish. There was a bit of interpretation needed in the sheet thing, but Peter got the message loud and clear and when the three, not two or four, but the three men, specific number revealed by the Spirit, arrived Peter knew what he was to do. Peter still verified the purpose of these men, to in some sense verify the truth revealed to him by the Spirit. Peter wanted to make absolutely certain the Spirit had revealed this truth to him and as we know, and Peter knew, the Spirit was leading and he must follow. We can see that it is permissible to verify the instructions of the Spirit, in fact, one of the gifts the Spirit brings is that of discernment. Our spirit can bear witness to the instructions of the Spirit. When we hear the voice of the Spirit leading us, we can know it is him, and we can verify it is him simply within our own spirit. But we can also know it is the Spirit because of the specific instructions, the clearness and directness of his voice. We do not have to guess, for he will tell us exactly what we are to do and what we are not to do. It is not that we live and move in our own life and hope the Spirit will bless our living and moving, but we are to live and move in the Spirit as we will see some time later in this book of Acts. If we hear anything that is vague and unclear we can be certain the Spirit is not speaking to us, but if we hear the Spirit we will hear the specific details.