Thursday, April 16, 2009

Thurs. Devo. - 6.............9!

Read Acts 10
Cornelius, a Roman officer (I wonder if he has a ever lost an ear) is a devout follower of God who lives in Caesarea. He gives generously and has been fasting and praying when he is caught in a vision. It is the 9th hour and an angel comes to him with instructions: God has heard your prayer. Send men to Joppa and find Simon Peter who will further instruct you. So the next day he sends 3 men to go get Peter and bring him to Caesarea .
Peter is up on his housetop praying at the 6th hour and becomes supernaturally hungry. He is immediately taken into a trance where he sees a huge sheet coming down from heaven with all the unclean animals the law taught them not to eat. God tells him to kill these animals and eat them. Peter refuses out of conscience sake. God's voice says, that what He cleanses Peter may not call unclean. This happened 3 times. Immediately the Holy Spirit tells Peter to go down stairs because 3 men are looking for him. He is to go with them. He knows this is the answer to the dream and the 3 times meant 3 men whom God has cleansed.
Peter obeyed and went with them. Meanwhile Cornelius had gathered a group to hear what Peter had to say. Peter is realizing that God is bringing in a new covenant. Jesus didn't just come for the Jews, he came for the world. And the world is coming to Jesus. Peter preaches Jesus to these god-fearing Romans and they receive him. Then the Holy Spirit falls on them and they speak with tongues. Peter and his Jewish friends are amazed. Then Peter baptizes them in water.
It seems like this 6th hour/9th hour keeps coming up. I think you have to have the 6th hour of intercession to precipitate the 9th hour of pouring out. The number 6 is the number for man. That is what he can do....pray. The number 9 means "harvest". That is what God does.
Lord, help us do #6 to get #9.

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