June 14
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PETER EXPLAINS HIS ACTIONS
A poem by ILMA
Even as Peter was talking about Jesus, The Holy Spirit fell upon all
The Jewish believers who came with Peter were amazed
The Gentiles spoke in tongues as they were filled with the Spirit
Peter gave orders for them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.
Soon the news reached Judea that the Gentiles received God’s word
Peter arrived back in Jerusalem and the Jewish believers criticized him
He was accused of disobeying the law by entering a Gentile’s home
Peter told them that he saw a vision when he was in the town of Joppa.
Peter said that while he was praying, he went into a trance a saw a vision
Something like a large sheet was let down by its four corners from the sky
It came right down to him and when he peeped into the sheet, he saw this
He saw all sorts of tame and wild animals and was instructed to kill and eat them.
Peter explained that he has never defied the law by eating anything impure
But the voice from heaven told him that what God has made clean is now clean
When the Gentiles heard this, they stopped objecting and began praising God
They realized that God gave the Gentiles privilege of repenting of their sins.
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MEMORY VERSE
John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit. – Acts 11:16
Read: Acts 11
Visions were one way of God giving instructions to his believers. The Lord filled all the believers with God’s Spirit and enabled them to receive the word of God through Peter. They were given the privilege of repenting of their sins and receiving eternal life.
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REFLECTION
• Have you seen how the Holy Spirit equips God’s people?
• What can happen when the Holy Spirit indwells in a believer?
• What did the dream of Peter mean?
• How can you explain God’s fair treatment of the Gentiles?