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Rev. Charles Oppong-Poku | June 22 2025 | Acts 11:15-18  KEY VERSE: “As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit came on them as he had come on us at the beginning." Acts 11:15 (NIV)   MESSAGE:   Sometimes God moves in a way that breaks our categories and confronts our assumptions. In Acts 11:15-17, Peter describes the shocking moment when the Holy Spirit came upon the Gentiles, just as He had on the Jews. This moment confirmed that God was not making distinctions; salvation, fellowship, and power were for all who believe. “The Holy Spirit came on them as He had come on us at the beginning.” Peter didn’t finish his sermon before the Spirit fell. God acted without waiting for human approval—a sign of full divine acceptance. The same power that birthed the Church at Pentecost was now at work in Gentile hearts.   Jesus promised His disciples that the power of the Holy Spirit would help them become witnesses to people all over the world (Acts 1:8). Luke emphasised that Jesus kept this promise and made clear His acceptance of new groups of people through the coming of the Holy Spirit. At this God-designed intersection of grace and God-seeking Gentiles, once again Jesus Christ poured out the Holy Spirit, this time on Cornelius, his relatives, and friends - all of whom were Gentiles. The Good News message included Jewish people from all over the world on Pentecost (Acts 2:5-12). Now, by showing His favour through the sending of the Holy Spirit, Jesus was leading His disciples to include non-Jews. One of the great functions of the Holy Spirit is to open new pathways for Jesus' disciples to reach people who had never been reached.    Peter interpreted what happened not by tradition, but by the words of Jesus Himself. “Then I remembered what the Lord had said…”   (v.16).   The baptism of the Holy Spirit is God’s seal of belonging - no need for cultural or legal additions. When God moves, Scripture brings clarity and confirms His will. FEET AND HANDS FOR THE MESSAGE: Do not stand in God’s way by being hesitant to accept whom God is accepting. Peter’s humility - “Who was I to stand in God’s way? – This should be the posture we need in gospel ministry today.   PRAYER: Lord, help me not to stand in the way of what You are doing.  Let me not hold on to prejudice, tradition, or fear when You are pouring out Your Spirit. May I be led by Your Word, Your Spirit, and Your love. Amen. THERE SHALL BE SHOWERS OF BLESSING. SHOWERS! BLESSINGS!! The 365 DAILY BIBLE READING Day 173:   2 Samuel 7 — God’s Covenant with David DAILY word study : CAME ON The Greek word ἐπέπεσεν (epépesen) comes from the verb epipiptō, meaning to fall upon, to come upon suddenly, or to embrace with force or intensity. In Acts 11:15, Peter says, “The Holy Spirit came on them as he had come on us at the beginning.” The word epépesen conveys more than a passive presence—it signals a decisive, powerful moment where the Holy Spirit takes initiative and fills the room. It mirrors what happened in Acts 2, confirming God’s full acceptance of the Gentiles. Reflection: Have you experienced the Spirit coming upon your life with clarity and conviction? Are you open to receiving His presence when He moves, without resistance or delay?

Rev. Charles Oppong-Poku | June 21 2025 | Acts 11:11-14 KEY VERSE: “Right then three men who had been sent to me from Caesarea stopped at the house where I was staying. The Spirit told me to have no hesitation about going with them. These six brothers also went with me, and we entered the man's house. " Acts 11:11-12 (NIV)   MESSAGE:   When God calls us to step out in obedience, He doesn’t leave the details to chance. He goes before us, preparing hearts, arranging meetings, and aligning divine timing. In Peter’s encounter with Cornelius, we see a beautiful picture of how evangelism initiated by us in obedience to God’s command is coordinated by God. God’s timing is perfect. As Peter was still wrestling with the meaning of the vision, the men sent by Cornelius arrived at his location. This shows that while God speaks to you, He is also working on the other end to fulfil His purpose. “The Spirit told me to have no hesitation…” (v. 12)   God used three messengers, visions, and messages in His plan of leading Cornelius to conversion. In addition to sending Peter the same vision three times (Acts 10:9-16).  God also directed Cornelius to send messengers to convey his desire to learn God's truth, and Cornelius sent three men (Acts 10:7-8). This combination of visions, human messengers, angelic messengers, and the leading of the Holy Spirit made clear to Peter that God was at work in what was happening with Cornelius. The sequencing and timing of these events showed the Lord's hand in orchestrating them. God's guidance and timing convinced Peter.   The combination of all these factors also proved essential in overcoming the scepticism of critics and questioners in Jerusalem. Jesus had promised that His message would be unstoppable because the Holy Spirit would empower His disciples to be His witnesses. Peter stepped into the centre of the Spirit's fulfilment of Jesus' promise in the life of Cornelius. FEET AND HANDS FOR THE MESSAGE: Are you hesitating to act on something the Spirit has already confirmed?   God’s timing and guidance will never fail. He always goes ahead so that we can follow, speak, and watch Him work.   PRAYER: Lord, thank You for going ahead of me. Let me trust that You are preparing hearts, arranging circumstances, and opening doors for Your Word. Give me boldness to speak and the faith to follow where Your Spirit leads. Amen. THERE SHALL BE SHOWERS OF BLESSING. SHOWERS! BLESSINGS!! The 365 DAILY BIBLE READING Day 172:  2 Samuel 6 — The Ark Brought to Jerusalem DAILY word study: HESITATION The Greek translation of hesitation is diakrinō (διακρίνω). The word diakrinō means "to doubt," "to waver," "to distinguish," or "to make a judgment." In Acts 11:12, it carries the sense of "not doubting" or "not making a distinction." When the Holy Spirit told Peter not to hesitate, it wasn't only about acting promptly. It was also a command not to discriminate between Jews and Gentiles in the extension of the gospel. Peter was being asked to go beyond cultural, religious, and personal boundaries without internal resistance. Reflection: God’s guidance often challenges our natural judgments. True obedience means surrendering both delay and discrimination—responding to God without wavering.

Rev. Charles Oppong-Poku | June 20 2025 | Acts 11:4-10 KEY VERSE: “⁸ I replied, ‘Surely not, Lord! Nothing impure or unclean has ever entered my mouth.’ ⁹   “The voice spoke from heaven a second time, ‘Do not call anything impure that God has made clean." Acts 11:8-9 (NIV)   MESSAGE:   In today’s passage, we see a clash between conviction and calling. Peter had strong religious convictions rooted in the Law. His obedience to dietary laws wasn’t rebellion - it was faithfulness. Yet when God called him to something new, Peter resisted. This passage captures the tension between deeply held tradition and the surprising wideness of God's grace. Evangelical mission begins when we stop calling unclean what God has declared clean. “Surely not, Lord!” (v. 8).   Peter’s reaction was honest but conflicted. He calls God “Lord,” yet says “No.” This is the contradiction many believers face: holding on to the familiar while God is calling us into the unknown. Evangelical mission requires surrender, even when the call defies our religious comfort zones.   Again, Peter said, “Nothing impure or unclean has ever entered my mouth.” Peter was clinging to religious purity, but God was after gospel clarity. His obedience to the law had become a barrier to extending the love of God to others. God’s declaration overrides human traditions and prejudices, and this is the heart of the gospel: grace makes clean what law could only condemn. True and effective evangelism calls us to embrace God’s verdict, not our cultural or religious boundaries.   “This happened three times…” (v. 10); repetition underscores importance. God was not negotiating - He was transforming Peter's worldview. Sometimes God repeats the message until our hearts are ready to hear and obey.   Peter's vision teaches that evangelism isn’t just about preaching to others—it’s about being changed ourselves. If the Church is to reach the world, we must stop labelling people as unreachable, unworthy, or unclean. We cannot share the gospel freely if we still hold on to filters that God has already torn down. FEET AND HANDS FOR THE MESSAGE: When have you said “surely not” to God? Is there a “yes” you need to give to God where you’ve been saying “no”? When God calls us to people we once avoided, it’s not just for their salvation - it’s also for our transformation.   PRAYER: Lord, forgive me for the times I’ve resisted Your will because of fear, pride, or tradition.  Teach me to say   “yes” when You speak,   so I may be part of Your great mission to bring all people to Yourself. For your dear Name’s sake, Amen. THERE SHALL BE SHOWERS OF BLESSING. SHOWERS! BLESSINGS!! The 365 DAILY BIBLE READING Day 171:   2 Samuel 5 - David Becomes King Over All Israel DAILY word study : IMPURE The word “impure” in Acts 11:8 comes from the Greek word koinon, which means “common” or “defiled.” In Jewish understanding, something koinon was ritually unclean, unsuitable for worship, and not to be consumed or touched. This could apply to food, people, or objects outside the ceremonial laws. Peter used this word to justify why he wouldn’t eat what God showed him in the vision. But God corrected him: “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.” This was a radical shift. God was declaring people previously considered “unclean” (Gentiles) as clean and accepted through Christ. God alone defines what is clean or unclean. The gospel redefines categories—those who were once far are now brought near by grace. Reflection: Is there someone you view as “impure,” “outside,” or “unlikely”? Ask God to help you see them through the lens of His redeeming love.

Rev. Charles Oppong-Poku | June 19 2025 | Acts 11:5-7  KEY VERSE: “I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision. I saw something like a large sheet being let down from heaven by its four corners, and it came down to where I was. I looked into it and saw four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, reptiles and birds." Acts 11:5-6 (NIV)   MESSAGE:   As Peter unwrapped the story of Cornelius' conversion, we realise why the involvement of visions, angels, and the Holy Spirit was so important. Peter recounts a vision that changed his worldview. As a devout Jew, he had strict categories for what was “clean” and “unclean”—not just for food, but also for people. But in this encounter, God invites Peter - and us - to see the world not through human filters of tradition or prejudice, but through His eyes of grace.   While Peter was praying in Joppa, God used a vision to interrupt his sincere spiritual moment and reveal a deeper truth. The vision of the sheet being let down from heaven symbolised God's initiative and the global scope of the gospel message. The unclean animals represented people Peter had been taught to avoid, but God was showing him that those once seen as unacceptable were now included in His plan. Through this divine interruption, Peter’s perspective was being transformed to align with God’s inclusive heart. Peter’s vision reminds us that the gospel isn’t limited by race, background, or ritual. God sees worth in people we may overlook. The Church must resist the temptation to define holiness by exclusion instead of inclusion through grace. God’s mission is bigger than our traditions. And God’s heart is wider than our comfort zones.   Real obedience begins when we stop arguing with God’s vision and start aligning with His heart.   FEET AND HANDS FOR THE MESSAGE: What are you still calling unclean? Is there a group of people, a type of person, or a community you have subconsciously excluded? Let God reshape how you see the world and the people in it. Allow the Spirit to challenge your deeply held cultural or religious biases so that you can SEE through God’s eyes.   PRAYER: Father, open my eyes to see people the way You see them. Remove the blinders of tradition, fear, and prejudice.  Use me as an instrument of inclusion and love, that I may reflect Your heart in a divided world. In Jesus’ name, Amen. THERE SHALL BE SHOWERS OF BLESSING. SHOWERS! BLESSINGS!! The 365 DAILY BIBLE READING Day 170:   2 Samuel 4 - Ish-Bosheth Murdered DAILY word study: TRANCE The Greek word used for trance is ekstasis (ἔκστασις), which literally means “a standing outside oneself.” It refers to a state of divine arrest, where the person is lifted out of normal awareness to receive a spiritual message or vision. Peter was praying when he entered this state. It wasn’t an ordinary distraction or daydreaming. God took him beyond routine into revelation. This ekstasis wasn’t just for a moment of awe—it was a reset of how Peter understood what was clean, who was included, and how wide the gospel must reach. Reflection: Sometimes God must interrupt our normal way of thinking to realign us with His heart. Are you open to the kind of spiritual clarity that begins when you step outside your own assumptions?

Rev. Charles Oppong-Poku | June 18 2025 | Acts 11:1-4  KEY VERSE: “So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers criticised him and said, ‘You went into the house of uncircumcised men and ate with them.’" Acts 11:2-3 (NIV)   MESSAGE:   The expressed objection of the Jewish Christians in this passage was not to Peter's preaching to Cornelius and other Gentiles and baptising them. Rather, they had a problem with Peter extending full fellowship to Cornelius along with his Gentile relatives and friends. The Jewish believers were shocked that Peter spent time in Cornelius' house and ate at Cornelius' table with Gentiles.   In every culture, the table holds deep meaning. To eat with someone is to welcome them, to identify with them, and to accept them. In the early Church, however, the table became a place of both division and unity. For Peter, one meal in a Gentile home sparked controversy—but also symbolised a profound gospel truth: that the love of Jesus Christ tears down walls and builds a new kind of fellowship. We can reflect on the truths that the table divides when tradition replaces the truth; the table unites when grace is the reason we sit together; and fellowship is missional.   The early Church struggled to accept Gentiles without requiring them to become Jews first. This reveals how the table can divide when traditions and personal walls are prioritised over grace. However, the table becomes a place of unity and sacred fellowship when grace—God’s unearned welcome—is the reason we gather. Jesus Christ modelled this by dining with outcasts (Matt. 9:10-11), and Peter followed by living out the gospel in shared fellowship. Our willingness to embrace those different from us reflects the true, transforming power of grace.   FEET AND HANDS FOR THE MESSAGE: Who is welcome at your table—figuratively and literally? Are there traditions, biases, or fears keeping you from embracing others? Let your fellowship reflect the radical unity of the gospel.   PRAYER: Lord Jesus, thank You that You welcomed me when I was an outsider. Forgive me for the times I’ve let culture, tradition, or pride divide what You came to unite. Help me to open my heart, my home, and my table to others, that Your love may be seen and known through me. May my fellowship reflect the truth that in You, all are welcome. In Your name I pray, Amen. THERE SHALL BE SHOWERS OF BLESSING. SHOWERS! BLESSINGS!! The 365 DAILY BIBLE READING Day 169:  2 Samuel 3 - War Between the Houses of Saul and David DAILY word study: CRITICISED The Greek word used here is diakrinō (διακρίνω), which means “to judge, dispute, or contend.” It suggests a strong act of separating or drawing lines between people, often through argument or opposition. When Peter returned to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers didn’t ask questions—they criticised. Their concern wasn’t Peter’s preaching or baptising, but his fellowship. Their criticism came from deeply held religious boundaries. The word implies they were drawing a line: who’s in, who’s out. But Peter’s actions showed that the Holy Spirit had already erased that line. Reflection: Criticism often comes when grace disrupts tradition. But when God moves, our role is not to resist—it’s to recognise and rejoice. Are you drawing lines God has already crossed?

Rev. Charles Oppong-Poku | June 17 2025 | Acts 11:1-4  KEY VERSE: “The apostles and the believers throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God." Acts 11:1(NIV)   MESSAGE:   News that Gentiles had heard the message of Jesus Christ and responded to it appropriately spread quickly. For some, Gentiles coming to faith in Jesus Christ was a welcome dawning of a new day. For others, it was puzzling, threatening, or even abhorrent. It took years for the church to appreciate the implications of Gentiles and Jews being brothers and sisters through Jesus, the Messiah, and for that fellowship to become reality. Acts 11:1 reminds us that salvation is not a cultural privilege, but a divine gift extended to the entire world. This is the divine inclusion - God’s gracious act of welcoming everyone who believes in Jesus Christ into His family. The three main lessons that we can draw from this devotional are: God’s grace knows no barriers; Inclusion is God’s initiative, not human design; and the church must reflect God’s heart.   This devotional on divine inclusion reveals that God’s grace knows no boundaries. Divine inclusion means that God does not operate with human-made categories—race, tribe, status, or background. The gospel of salvation crosses every line we draw and reaches those we least expect. Secondly, the divine inclusion is God’s own initiative, not human design. The Gentiles didn’t demand access; God opened the door through a vision (Acts 10:11-15), an angelic encounter (Acts 10:3-6), and the leading of the Spirit (Acts 10:19-20). Salvation is entirely God’s work, and His heart is for all people. Thirdly and finally, the Church must reflect God’s heart so that if God includes, we must not exclude. Our churches, ministries, and relationships should be marked by openness, love, and the radical welcome of the Lord Jesus Christ. The message for you and me today is clear: God wants all people in His family. We must be committed to making this fellowship a reality in our day and work to break down every barrier to fellowship with everyone who calls on Christ Jesus as Lord.   FEET AND HANDS FOR THE MESSAGE: Are there people you unconsciously exclude from the message or fellowship of the gospel? Pray for more grace to embody the heart of divine inclusion in your daily walk with Jesus Christ.   PRAYER: Father, thank You for the wonder of Your inclusive love. You broke down every wall through Jesus Christ and invited all of us—Jew and Gentile alike—into Your kingdom. Help me to reflect Your heart, to see people as You see them, and to welcome others as I have been accepted. Let my life and my witness proclaim that Your grace is for all. In the Name of Jesus Christ. Amen. THERE SHALL BE SHOWERS OF BLESSING. SHOWERS! BLESSINGS!! The 365 DAILY BIBLE READING Day 168:  2 Samuel 2 — David Made King in Judah DAILY word study: GENTILES The word Gentiles comes from the Greek word ethnē (ἔθνη), meaning “nations” or “people groups.” It was commonly used by Jewish writers to refer to non-Jews—those outside the covenant community of Israel. In Acts 11:1, the mention of Gentiles receiving the word of God signalled a major shift in redemptive history. The gospel was no longer confined to the Jewish people. God had now extended His saving message to those who were once considered outsiders. This moment marked the breaking of long-standing religious, cultural, and spiritual boundaries. Reflection: The gospel crosses every boundary. Like Peter, you’re called to share it with those beyond your familiar world.

Rev. Enoch Thompson | June 16 2025 | Acts 10:44-48 KEY VERSE: “Then Peter said, ⁴⁷   "Can anyone keep these people from being baptised with water? They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have." Acts 10:46b-47(NIV)   MESSAGE:   Baptism is an essential Christian ordinance, an instruction from the Lord that believers are to follow. Baptism, as an initial Christian act, takes two major forms: first, Spirit baptism (also known as the Baptism of the Holy Spirit), and then water baptism (physical baptism in water). And both baptisms are very important.   Spirit baptism is a spiritual experience that occurs when a person’s understanding and acceptance of the Gospel are acknowledged in the presence of God. It is this experience that the Apostle Paul refers to in 1 Cor 12:13 (NIV):  “ For we were all baptised by one Spirit into one body - whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free - and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.” That is, when we were converted to Christ, we were baptised by the Holy Spirit into the body of Christ. This Spirit baptism is manifested in different ways by different people in different circumstances. In the case of Cornelius and his relatives and friends, we are told that the new converts were heard speaking in tongues (other languages) and praising God. Others have experienced inexpressible joy, tears of joy, unfettered laughter, a deep sense of peace or a quiet, calm awe of God when they have received this baptism of the Holy Spirit.   Water baptism must follow Spirit baptism, in accordance with the instructions of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is an outward physical demonstration of what has taken place in the spirit of the person. If we have not been baptised by the Holy Spirit, then water baptism is only a religious exercise of getting wet ceremonially!   FEET AND HANDS FOR THE MESSAGE: Thank God for the gift of the Holy Spirit, and that Spirit baptism that makes us part of the body of Christ. Have you followed up with water baptism? If not, make plans to do this to show your submission to the rule of Christ.   PRAYER: Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for the privilege of the baptism of the Holy Spirit, and for the opportunity to show my identification with you by water baptism. Please help me to live the baptised life, now and always. For your dear Name’s sake, Amen. THERE SHALL BE SHOWERS OF BLESSING. SHOWERS! BLESSINGS!! The 365 DAILY BIBLE READING Day 167: Jun 16  – 2 Samuel 1 - David Mourns Saul and Jonathan DAILY word study: BAPTISED The Greek word βαπτίσαι (baptisai), from baptizō, means “to immerse, dip, or submerge.” It was used to describe a full immersion into water or a reality, signifying total identification with something or someone. In Acts 10:47, Peter says, “Can anyone keep these people from being baptised with water? They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.” The word baptisai here speaks of an outward sign of an inward work. These Gentile believers had already been immersed in the Spirit—baptised into Christ, so Peter calls for them also to be immersed in water, affirming what had spiritually taken place. Reflection: Have you embraced both baptisms? Spirit baptism brings you into God’s family. Water baptism declares it to the world. Don’t settle for only knowing—let your life show that you belong.

Rev. Enoch Thompson | June 15 2025 | Acts 10:34-43 KEY VERSE: “. . . ³⁸ how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him. ³⁹ . . . They killed him by hanging him on a tree, ⁴⁰ but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen." Acts 10:38-40 (NIV)   MESSAGE:   When we share the Good News of salvation, we must talk about the Lord Jesus Christ, God in human form, who died and rose again to offer Himself as the sacrifice to restore our relationship with Him and make us His children and citizens of His Kingdom. That was what was missing in the puzzle of the religion of Cornelius. That was the message that Peter was expected to deliver to Cornelius and his household.   Without Jesus, there is no salvation; without Jesus, all our religious and righteous works cannot save our eternal souls from eternal damnation in Hell. His death and resurrection ensure our redemption from the power of sin and the control of Satan. His resurrection confirms the potency of His sacrifice on the cross. It gives us victory over the power of death, physically because we shall rise like He arose to live happily forever, and spiritually because we escape the second death, Hell, and live in bliss forever with God.   Jesus Christ is the Lord of glory, the only effective link with all that is truly God. We must believe in Him and tell others of His grace. It must be said either way; NO JESUS NO LIFE. KNOW JESUS, KNOW LIFE!   FEET AND HANDS FOR THE MESSAGE: Where is the Lord Jesus in your life story? Have you believed in Him? Has He become the centre of your life? If yes, share this truth with others, for “ No Jesus, no life”   PRAYER: Dear Lord Jesus Christ, thank you for coming into my state as a human being, yet without sin. Thank you for dying for me, and in my place. Please help me keep this truth in mind, live by it and share it freely, so that many shall come to have life through you. For your dear Name’s sake,   Amen. THERE SHALL BE SHOWERS OF BLESSING. SHOWERS! BLESSINGS!! The 365 DAILY BIBLE READING Day 166:   1 Samuel 31 — The Death of Saul DAILY word study: ANOINTED The Greek word ἔχρισεν (echrisen) means “to consecrate or set apart by anointing with oil,” signifying that someone has been empowered for a divine purpose. In Acts 10:38, Peter says, “God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power.” The word echrisen points to God’s divine appointment of Jesus—He was set apart and filled with power to accomplish what no one else could: to save. This anointing wasn’t symbolic—it came with the Spirit and with power to do good, heal, and break the grip of the enemy. Reflection: If Jesus was anointed to save, how are you responding to His work? Have you believed in Him and embraced the life He gives?

Rev. Enoch Thompson | June 14 2025 | Acts 10:27-33 KEY VERSE: “So I sent for you immediately, and it was good of you to come. Now we are all here in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has commanded you to tell us." Acts 10:33 (NIV)   MESSAGE:   I tend to like Cornelius. A man of character, respected by the Jewish people, approved by God, a very religious non-Christian. I love people like that. Additionally, Cornelius was a pragmatic and adventure-seeking personality (perhaps his military training contributed to this). Whether it was his nature or nurture, his adventurous spirit was carried into the exciting spiritual events that were happening around and with him at the centre. He was not only ready to interact with the angel who appeared to him, but he was willing to risk the possibility of being rejected when he sent his delegation to Joppa to fetch Peter. He was willing to risk being laughed at when he gathered his relatives and friends, in case Peter refused to come in response to his invitation.   In our key verse, Cornelius stresses that he sent for Peter” immediately” as a demonstration of his excitement. His further excitement is in the fact that Peter had done well to respond to his invitation, and he was expectant that God had deposited something in Peter that would be worth hearing.   Cornelius shows an attitude of prompt faith, infectious excitement, enterprising effort and expectant waiting for God’s continued engagement with us.   FEET AND HANDS FOR THE MESSAGE: What is it that excites you in your life? Where does the Word of God feature in what you do, and where do your energies go? Get excited about God and His plans for you and the whole world.   PRAYER: Lord, please help me be like Cornelius. Give me the excitement of a child and give me the thrill of following your Word and your Spirit. May I fall in love with you and all that you mean. For your dear Name’s sake, Amen. THERE SHALL BE SHOWERS OF BLESSING. SHOWERS! BLESSINGS!! The 365 DAILY BIBLE READING Day 165:   1 Samuel 29-30 - David Defeats the Amalekites DAILY word study: IMMEDIATELY The Greek word translated as “immediately” in Acts 10:33 is παραχρῆμα (parachrēma), which means “at once” or “without delay,” expressing swift and purposeful action. Cornelius didn’t pause. His excitement led to immediate action. The word parachrēma in Acts 10:33 shows urgency that came from deep conviction. When something truly matters to you, delay disappears. Cornelius responded to God’s move with speed and sincerity. Reflection: Spiritual growth often begins the moment we stop hesitating. Are you holding back, or have you already made a move?

Rev. Enoch Thompson | June 13 2025 | Acts 10:19-29  KEY VERSE: “The following day he arrived in Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends." Acts 10:24 (NIV)   MESSAGE:   It appears that, as humans, we have a natural tendency to want to keep the good things of life to ourselves. Children have to be taught to share; otherwise, the default mode is often to keep their toys to themselves. While it is bad to hoard our material blessings from others who need our help to access those good things, it is a worse offence when we keep from other people the knowledge of God through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. We can learn a lot from Cornelius in Acts 10:24. In response to the exciting experience with the angel who appeared to him, in expectation that the messengers to Joppa will bring with them the man called Peter, and that this Peter will lead him to know things that will move his search for God to a higher plane that he had found, Cornelius invited his relatives and close friends to be part of this special meeting. We must be caring enough to share our knowledge of God with our relatives and friends. We have a duty to those close to us to invite them into the exciting relationship and walk with God in Christ.   FEET AND HANDS FOR THE MESSAGE: Do you see the value of your Christian faith, and has your walk with Jesus been beneficial to you? Please share Christ with those who are dear and near to you.   PRAYER: Lord, thank you for the difference you make in my life. Please forgive me for not sharing this with others, especially my relatives and friends. Please help me to turn a new leaf and share the message of redemption with those around me. For your dear Name’s sake, Amen. THERE SHALL BE SHOWERS OF BLESSING. SHOWERS! BLESSINGS!! The 365 DAILY BIBLE READING Day 164:   1 Samuel 27-28 - David Lives with the Philistines; Saul and the Medium DAILY word study: EXPECTING The Greek word translated “expecting” in Acts 10:24 is προσδοκάω (prosdokáō), meaning “to wait for, look for, or anticipate.” It conveys a sense of active readiness and purposeful waiting. Cornelius looked forward to Peter’s arrival with focus and intention. He gathered people around him because he believed something important was coming. He created space in his home for others to encounter truth. Reflection: God honours a heart that prepares for His work. When you expect Him to speak, make room for others to experience it too. Expectation opens the way for shared encounters.

Rev. Enoch Thompson | June 12 2025 | Acts 10:19-29 KEY VERSE: “Then Peter invited the men into the house to be his guests. The next day Peter started out with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa went along." Acts 10:23 (NIV)   MESSAGE:   When we receive instructions from the Lord to do something in particular, like give a gift to someone, or share the Gospel with someone or visit someone or embark on a fast or go into ministry, what is important and impressive to God is the promptness with which we respond. Peter seemed to have grasped the notion that delayed or postponed obedience may be tantamount to disobedience, and he proceeded to obey the directive that was coming forcefully from God regarding the need to embrace the Gentiles as necessary beneficiaries of the Good News of salvation through Jesus Christ.   In verse 21, Peter offers himself readily to a Gentile delegation; “Peter went down and said to the men, ' I'm the one you're looking for. Why have you come ?"(NIV). In verse 23 (a), the Jewish Peter, acting in obedience to the divine vision, invited the Gentile delegation into the house where he was staying. In verse 23 (b), Peter travels in the company of Gentiles on a common mission to a common destination. In verse 25, Peter actually enters the house of a Gentile colonial officer and admits that he is only a man, like the Gentile Cornelius. See Peter in verse 27 engaged in a chat with Cornelius as they walk together into the Gentile house of Cornelius. And in verse 28, Peter, almost with an apology, tells his Gentile audience the reason for his new attitude: “ God has shown me that I should not call any man impure or unclean .” When the word from God comes to us, we must let it begin to affect us immediately and take immediate steps to obey it. FEET AND HANDS FOR THE MESSAGE: Have you heard anything from God in the past or recently? Be quick to respond to God in ready obedience.   PRAYER: Lord, I want to be like Peter in today’s text, quick to hear and ready to obey. Lord, keep me from postponing obedience to your word to me. For your dear Name’s sake, Amen. THERE SHALL BE SHOWERS OF BLESSING. SHOWERS! BLESSINGS!! The 365 DAILY BIBLE READING Day 163:   1 Samuel 26 - David Spares Saul Again DAILY word study: INVITED The Greek word translated “invited” here is eiskaleō (εἰσκαλέω), meaning “to call or summon in.” It combines eis (into) and kaleō (to call), emphasising intentional welcome and inclusion into one’s space. Peter didn’t merely tolerate the Gentile visitors; he welcomed them into fellowship. In Jewish culture, this was a radical act of acceptance. The word eiskaleō suggests a deliberate action, not a casual offer. Peter was obeying God’s voice by crossing cultural lines and extending hospitality. Reflection: When God brings people to your door, whether physically or through life situations, do you invite them in? Your invitation may be someone’s first experience of grace.

Rev. Enoch Thompson | June 11 2025 | Acts 10:9-20  KEY VERSE: “While Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him, "Simon, three men are looking for you. So get up and go downstairs. Do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them." Acts 10:19-20 (NIV)   MESSAGE:   God is constantly revealing to us things that we need to know, but which we are ignorant of, have forgotten, or have misunderstood. From a passage in the Bible, a sermon we hear, a dream that comes to us, through visions and trances, God is still speaking to His people. And we need to engage with whatever revelation God gives us so that we may receive clarity from the One who has spoken to us. Peter’s trance in Acts 10:11-16 was not shelved aside as a possible mental effect of his empty belly (for he was hungry and waiting for his food, v. 10). Peter engaged his mind and spirit to get to the bottom of the vision.   It was “ While Peter was wondering about the meaning of the vision ,” (Acts 10:17), that the messengers from Cornelius arrived at the gate of the house where he was. It was “¹⁹ While Peter was still thinking about the vision,” that “ the Spirit said to him, ‘Simon, three men are looking for you. ²⁰ So get up and go downstairs. Do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them.’  Acts 10:19-20 (NIV).   We need to engage with the Word of God by reading it, meditating on it, singing it, discussing it, and citing it in our conversations. While we do so, God will cause the Word to be mixed into our life situations and speak more insight into the Word and from the Word to us.   FEET AND HANDS FOR THE MESSAGE: Make up your mind to engage the Word of God, and God will engage you with His wonderful blessings.   PRAYER: Lord, thank you for still speaking to hearts that are yearning to hear from you. I pray that I will not miss out on your communications, and that I will dwell on your Word and receive your interactions with me through it. For your dear Name’s sake, Amen. THERE SHALL BE SHOWERS OF BLESSING. SHOWERS! BLESSINGS!! The 365 DAILY BIBLE READING Day 162:   1 Samuel 25 - Abigail Intervenes DAILY word study : THINKING In Acts 10:19, the word translated as 'thinking' comes from the Greek verb διαενθυμέομαι (dienthumeomai), which means to ponder thoroughly, to reflect deeply, to consider inwardly. It’s more than a passing thought — it’s a form of serious mental engagement that wrestles with meaning. This word combines dia- (meaning 'through' or 'thoroughly') and enthuméomai (meaning 'to muse' or 'reflect'), suggesting a thoughtful process that cuts deep, rather than shallow speculation. Peter didn’t just experience a vision — he stayed with it. He gave it mental and spiritual space. That act of “thinking” became the platform for hearing the Spirit’s next instruction. Reflection: How often do you slow down and sit with what God is saying? Deep revelation often follows deep reflection.