“17 While Peter was deeply perplexed about what the vision he had seen might mean, the men who had been sent by Cornelius, having asked directions to Simons house, stood at the gate. 18 They called out, asking if Simon, who was also named Peter, was lodging there.

19 While Peter was thinking about the vision, the Spirit told him, “Three men are here looking for you. 20 Get up, go downstairs, and accompany them with no doubts at all, because I have sent them.”

21 Then Peter went down to the men and said, “Here I am, the one youre looking for. What is the reason youre here?”

22 They said, “Cornelius, a centurion, an upright and God- fearing man, who has a good reputation with the whole Jewish nation, was divinely directed by a holy angel to call you to his house and to hear a message from you.” 23 Peter then invited them in and gave them lodging.

The next day he got up and set out with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa went with him. 24 The following day he entered Caesarea. Now Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends. 25 When Peter entered, Cornelius met him, fell at his feet, and worshiped him.

26 But Peter helped him up and said, “Stand up! I myself am also a man.” 27 While talking with him, he went on in and found that many had come together there. 28 Peter said to them, “You know its forbidden for a Jewish man to associate with or visit a foreigner. But God has shown me that I must not call any person common or unclean. 29 That’s why I came without any objection when I was sent for. So I ask: Why did you send for me?”

30 Cornelius replied, “Four days ago at this hour, at three in the afternoon, I was praying in my house. Just then a man in a dazzling robe stood before me 31 and said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, and your acts of charity have been remembered in God’s sight. 32 Therefore send someone to Joppa and invite Simon here, who is also named Peter. He is lodging in Simon the tanners house by the sea.’ 33 Therefore I immediately sent for you, and you did the right thing in coming. So we are all present before God, to hear everything you have been commanded by the Lord.”

Acts 10:17-33

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It would be nice if every divine appointment ran this smoothly and had both parties desiring to come together. ‘What keeps this from happening?’ you might ask. Honestly, I think it’s our own fear and possibly even an unwilling spirit that keeps most people from seeing these type of events more often. We all say that we would like to be used in this way, God directing two parties together, but in reality, we are often too resistant or fearful to follow through with these directives from the Spirit. 

“How was it that Peter was ready to do something difficult like this?”

I think it has to do with his willingness and desire to be used before hand. From his anticipation for the Holy Spirit’s coming at Pentecost, to seeing how God then used him to heal people and empowered him to preach and resist the pressure of the authorities, Peter had grown in his trust and willingness when it came to the movement and direction of the Spirit. Most people who might say they have never felt used in this way probably say so because they haven’t grown in willingness or been open to these types of experiences. A hard-heartedness against the perceived ‘discomfort’ or lack of personal control has kept them from being effective, and this is truly sad. 

Why not trust God? Why not let Him move you to GoLove people in a way that will blow open your expectations and help you grow closer to Him in the process? Is He going to lead you into a trap? Get you somewhere, open and vulnerable and then abandon you? No, of course not! Then why not fear Him and trust Him and do what He says to do through His Spirit? Will you be uncomfortable, stretched? Sure, Peter makes it plain that he was doing something that he never would have done, but since when is that a bad thing? Since when is it bad to think something was going to be hard only to find out that it was a source of joy and a wonderous experience? Never, that’s when! 

Trusting in God, moving according to His Spirit, is never going to be something that you or I will ever regret doing, and that’s a promise.  When we trust in Him, He will teach us, show us and grow us to the point where we will see just how beneficial it is to take those leaps of faith. He will never let you down, leave you or forsake you, and this instance with Peter is proof-positive of this wonderful promise. Peter went in trusting that God was going to have him speak to one man, and found instead that his whole family had travelled in to hear what he would have to say. It was a blessing beyond measure, God exceeded his expectations and then some…

Trust God. Listen to the Holy Spirit. Grow and be stretched.

You will not regret it & God will be glorified in it all.