I’ve often wondered what was going through Peter’s mind as he stood up to address the crowd on that amazing day of Pentecost. After all the waiting and wondering what God was going to do the disciples were suddenly presented with an unprecedented situation – the Holy Spirit was moving! Peter, the one who had denied Jesus and who had wrestled with the impact of his denial, was the one to step up to the plate. It must have been a truly daunting prospect, a fisherman standing up to address thousands of terrified people.

I’ve been reading a book recently by Joshua Mills called “Moving in Glory Realms” in which he teaches that when God speaks we have between 30 and 40 seconds to respond. If we leave it much longer than that the moment will pass, we will start analysing what God is saying, rationalising His words and talking ourselves out of the thing He’s called us to. Or we lose the moment to some other distraction. So, Mills encourages his readers to listen to God and to act in the moment. I imagine Peter being so impacted by the things that God was doing that day that he could do nothing other than act. The result was 3,000 people came to repentance and were saved in a single day and then devoted themselves to the teaching of the apostles and to fellowship (see vs.41-42).

I wonder how many opportunities have been missed because we didn’t respond to the call as Peter did, or we didn’t act in the moment? How many people might have come to faith, how many might have been healed, how many might have been released from oppression or raised from the dead because we didn’t question God’s call, or allow ourselves to be distracted or talked out of it? Please don’t think I’m trying to guilt trip you into doing crazy stuff, that’s not what this is about but isn’t it worth putting ourselves out there as Peter did to see what God might do?

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Prayer:

Lord Jesus open our spiritual ears to hear you voice and fill our hearts with an overwhelming desire to act upon Your call. Let us be Your servants, Your hands and feet bringing healing, release and peace to Your people. For the glory of Your namesake. Amen

Action:

Ask the Holy Spirit to speak to you next time you’re out somewhere. Ask Him to give you something you can act upon. Don’t think too much about it just act and see what happens. Don’t give up if your first few attempts don’t appear successful keep doing it and before you know it you’ll be performing miracles in the name of Jesus.