Acts 10: 44-48 (NRSV)
Read Acts 10: 44-48 on biblegateway.com
Verse 44While Peter was still speaking, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who heard the word. Verse 45The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astounded that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles, Verse 46for they heard them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter said, Verse 47"Can anyone withhold the water for baptizing these people who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?" Verse 48So he ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they invited him to stay for several days.
Devotion
Wow! What a sermon Peter preached! The Holy Spirit rode on the breath of his words and "fell" right down on those who heard—even Gentiles! The many film clips of the late Billy Graham preaching, shown after his death, revealed a similar phenomenon. Even though some take issue with Billy's so-called decision theology, the Holy Spirit inhabited the Word from his mouth and fell on thousands who exhibited the signs of changed hearts. God has a way of coloring outside the lines of our limited expectations. Oh, that we might come to see God's bigger picture and rejoice at the way God uses the words we speak to color the world with the hues of the Holy Spirit.
Prayer
Holy God, let your Spirit fall upon those who hear your Word from my mouth. Amen.