John 10:27 My sheep hear My Voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.
When we take time and look back at the things God has done, we can’t help but stand amazed at how He has orchestrated our lives. He gives us dreams and visions to confirm what He has shown us through a sermon or song. He causes things to happen so we will meet a specific person that will play a tremendous role in our lives.
This is what happened to Peter in the 10th Chapter of the Book of Acts. God caused him to go into a trance where He showed him a Vision that was the crux of the entire New Covenant. God also spoke to Peter during that time and told him, What God has cleansed, do not call common. (Acts 10:15) In fact, God repeated this three times to Peter but he still doubted what the Lord was saying because it went against the Law that he had lived by his entire life.
The day before, God had spoken to Cornelius (a Gentile) through an Angel and told him to send some men to Joppa and find Peter. God told him exactly where Peter would be and Cornelius obeyed God. Immediately, he sent three of his servants from Caesarea to Joppa to find this man named Peter at the house of Simon the tanner. He did exactly what the Angel of the Lord told him to do.
God had it all planned. He visited both men and spoke to each of them. It’s interesting to note that Cornelius, the Gentile, was quick to obey God while Peter, the chosen Evangelist, doubted what God was saying.
Cornelius was seeking God while Peter was operating in a degree of self-righteousness because he considered himself to be not only educated in the Law but special because he was chosen by Jesus. Peter was chosen by Jesus and he was special, but he still had to listen to the Voice of God at all times. Peter was also well-versed in the Law but while education is a good thing, the Voice of God is far greater and more powerful and should never be discounted.
It was Peter who said, We must obey God rather than men. (Acts 5:29) but in this case, he was standing on the Law and all the rules of men while arguing with God! We might think Peter foolish for doing such a thing, but how much better are we? Do we put the man-made church constitution and bylaws above the Word of God? Do we insist that people dress a certain way to come to our church because that’s the rule? Do we conduct our church service exactly the same way every week because that’s the way it’s always been done? Are we really listening to God for His direction or are we doing what we think is best?
God has a Plan but we will never know what it is if we don’t stop trying to plan everything ourselves and listen to His Voice. My sheep hear My Voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. (John 10:27)
The Voice of God will……..….turn the tide
Listening for His Voice, Doreen
www.bettsministries.org
