Salvation has come to the Gentiles to make the Jews jealous or envious so that they will press into salvation unto the name above all names, Jesus Christ.
I know, that sounds harsh when you just state it as a fact but truth be told, I am not the author of that statement. Paul said it in Romans 11:11-14. If the Jewish people are suppose to be jealous of our salvation, what does our salvation look like that will make them jealous to the point of believing in Jesus Christ as Savior and not just a prophet or a carpenter?
Our salvation needs to be followed by signs and wonders. Period.
One of the best examples of some signs and wonders following the saved, born again people of Christ is found in Acts chapter 10.
Example 1
Cornelius has a visitation from an angel at about 3 o'clock in the afternoon. The angel says that his prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God. He then tells him that he is to look for Peter and bring him to his house.
Example 2
About noon the following day, Peter went up on a rooftop to pray and he fell into a trance. He had a vision of heaven opening up and a sheet let down to the earth a plethora of four footed beasts of the earth, wild beasts and creeping things an fowls of the air. A voice came from heaven and said, Peter kill and eat. But Peter said, Not so , Lord, for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.
The voice spoke again and said, what God hath cleaned, do not call not common.
This happened 3 times.
While Peter sat and pondered the vision, the Spirit spoke to him again and told him 3 men were seeking him and he was to go with them...THEN, doubting nothing, when he saw the 3 men, he went with them. He goes to Cornelius' house and sees that there are all manner of people gathered, Jew and Gentile. He reminds them that it is unlawful for Jews to gather with non-Jews BUT He tells them that now, God hath shown me that I should not call any man common or unclean that is a follower of Christ.
This day all of our heritage as a child of Christ, whether Jew or Gentile, was determined openly, triumphantly! Because Peter and Cornelius prayed and obeyed God, we are realized as clean because God hath cleansed us and ALL can be washed white as snow.
I want to take us back to the point of Peter having God come to him and show him something foreign. God showed him a vision and Peter doubted 3 times....because it went against what Peter knew to be reality to all he had ever been taught; Jews did not eat unclean animals. He was not about to participate in something not known as truth to him.
I am thankful that God did not give up on Peter at this point. Our inheritance depended on Peter proclaiming that what God makes clean, is clean.
The conclusion of this day is that while Peter was preaching to all that had gathered,
v44 "The Holy Spirit fell on all them which heard the word. And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, and on the Gentiles also, was poured out the gift of the Holy Spirit. For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God."
The power of the Holy Spirit; signs, wonders and miracles, came to Peter and Cornelius because of their prayer and fasting. But, at first, Peter did not want to accept it...it was unusual to him....he was perplexed!
We should not be afraid of the things of God that perplex us. If Peter had not accepted what perplexed him, circumcised and uncircumcised would not have gathered together.
If we are to believe Roman's 11:11, all that perplexes us will be that which causes envy of those around us to come to Christ to receive that which perplexes the world!!
Does speaking in tongues perplex you?
Does dancing to worship God perplex you?
Does shouting to the Lord with a voice of triumph perplex you?
Does jumping up and down perplex you?
Does laying on of hands perplex you?
Do limbs growing back, cancerous tumors disappearing before your very eyes perplex you?
Would the mortgage of your church or Christian school being paid off perplex you?
Would a supernatural deliverance from addiction perplex you?
If so, then we need to seek to be delivered from our preconceived notions about the things of God..... just as Peter was delivered.
I want God to perplex me. I am so open to being perplexed!! I want all that God has for me whether I understand it or not!! I let go of my control and submit to His ways which are so above mine.
Dear Lord,
I want to praise you because you are the Creator, you are the Redeemer, you are Salvation, joy, peace, healing, deliverance, my all in all. I worship you because you are Jehovah God. Abba Daddy. I ask Father, that you allow us all to let go of all we think and know. Let your spirit witness with our spirit to the mighty supernatural things of God that perplex us and try to confuse us. Let us be like the child that freely gives their trust to their parents. Let us freely trust that you will show us all that we need and send us the supernatural into our lives so that the world will see and know that you are the only true and living God.
Let our children see the signs and wonders of heaven all around them.
Let the parents seek you as never before so that their children will know you.
Let our hearts hunger and thirst after righteousness...not the things of this world.
Change us so we want more of you and seek you first.
Lord, as we dedicate ourselves through prayer and fasting, show us your glory. We will be quick to give you all the glory for what you have done. We will praise you in advance for all that you do. We will not limit our imaginations because we know that you are able to do abundantly above all that we could ask or think, through your spirit that is at work within us!
Father, perplex us in mighty ways!!
In Jesus name,
Amen.
Carla
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