Anointed Words

In Acts 10, Peter had a vision regarding different animals being lowered on a sheet from heaven. He heard a voice telling him to arise, kill and eat the animals. The problem with this was that, the sheet contained every kind of wild beast and animals including creeping things. The Jews were very selective about the animals that they ate. As such, Peter objected to the instruction in his vision. “But Peter said, “Not so, Lord! For I have never eaten anything common or unclean”” (Acts 10:14). God’s response to Peter was, ‘What God has cleansed, you must not call common (Acts 10:15).

While Peter was having this vision, an angel appeared to a Centurion named Cornelius. The angel instructed him to send for Peter so that he could instruct him and his household. Cornelius’s prayers and his benevolence had gone up to God as a memorial. He sent two men and a soldier to ask Peter to visit his family. The men arrived at Peter’s house and the Holy Spirit told him about their arrival. “Arise therefore, go down and go with them, doubting nothing; for I have sent them” (Acts 10:20). Peter allowed them to stay with him overnight and then accompanied them to meet Cornelius.

When Peter arrived at his house, he knelt down to worship him. Peter corrected him and spoke to him concerning his vision and instruction from God. Peter explained that ordinarily the Jews would not enter the house of a Centurion or a non Jewish person. However, God had demonstrated through a dream, his love and sanctification for all people. Cornelius also told Peter about his vision and Peter preached the word of God to his household. Cornelius’s relatives and close friends were all gathered in his house, and while Peter spoke, the Holy Spirit fell on everyone who heard the word. Peter was proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and of Jesus Christ.

I would love to have heard Peter’s sermon on that day. He spoke as the spirit gave him utterance. Prior to Peter’s vision and instruction to meet with Cornelius, he was on his roof praying and hungry and fell in a trance. Perhaps Peter was ending a season of fasting and intercession. Either way, through his quiet time in prayer and consecration, God sent him divine revelation. Through this revelation, it opened a door of opportunity for him to minister the gospel. Peter also baptised the people who were gathered on that day as they accepted Jesus Christ as Lord.

Our words are like salve, which can heal, deliver and set free. I remember as children, a few of my siblings were ill for some time. After a few hospital admissions, medication and treatment, my parents were at a loss as the illness persisted. My father took our church magazine called the White Wing Messenger, which contained the anointed words of ministers and put it in hot water, made tea and gave it to my siblings. They were healed by his faith mixed with the anointed words on that paper. Use the word of God to bring light to the darkness. “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12).

A.P.-Y.