Life Principle 22
To walk in the Spirit is to obey the initial promptings of the Spirit. (Acts 10:19)
To walk in the Spirit is to obey the initial promptings of the Spirit. (Acts 10:19)
Life’s Questions
Do you ever feel burned out in your walk with God? Do you wonder if you are on the right track or if there is something more that you should be experiencing? Do you wish that God’s direction were clearer to you? Then you may be trying to live the Christian life in your own strength and wisdom, rather than by following the leadership of God’s Holy Spirit. Life Principle 22 teaches, To walk in the Spirit is to obey the initial promptings of the Spirit. When you do so, you are equipped and empowered by the Holy Spirit, and have His perfect direction and guidance. The Holy Spirit may lead you in ways that you don’t expect, but as you obey Him, you see that He always directs you in the most blessed and effective path.
What the Bible Says
Read Acts 10:1-8. What sort of man was Cornelius (Acts 10:1-4))?
*** Cornelius was known as a God-fearer. This meant that he ascribed to Jewish worship and morals and believed in the One True God, but he probably wasn’t a Jewish convert in the formal sense of being circumcised and undergoing Jewish baptism.
How specific was the Lord in His instruction to Cornelius (Acts 10:5-6)?
Why do you think Cornelius was so moved by this vision (Acts 10:7-8)?
Read Acts 10:9-16. How was Peter’s response different than Cornelius’ (Acts 10:14)?
Why do you think Peter answered the way he did (Acts 10:14; also see Lev 11:4-8)? What was God’s answer to Peter (Acts 10:15)?
Why do you think this vision was repeated three times (Acts 10:16)?
Read Acts 10:17–23. How quickly did the Spirit reveal to Peter what the vision meant?
Read Acts 10:24–48. What opportunity did Peter receive because both he and Cornelius obeyed the Holy Spirit (Acts 10:33)?
How did Peter show that he had learned what God was teaching him through the vision (Acts 10:28; Acts 10:34-35)?
*** I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. (Rom 1:16 NIV)
How were the people blessed by the obedience of Peter and Cornelius (44–45; also see 11:15–18)?
What It Means
Cornelius and the others were the first Gentile believers to become part of the church without first becoming Jewish converts. Before this, it was thought that Gentile believers could not receive the Holy Spirit because it was only for the people of Israel. In other words, non-Jews were not considered full, complete Christians. Of course, this was not God’s plan. Rather, it was based on the fact that only Jewish believers had received the Holy Spirit at Pentecost (see Acts 2:2–3). But when the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word (Acts 10:44), just as He had at Pentecost, all of the Jewish believers there understood that God was extending His great gift to the Gentiles, as well.
Thankfully, neither Peter nor Cornelius ignored the promptings of the Holy Spirit because of their preconceived notions. Instead, the way was opened because of their obedience for Gentiles to receive the Holy Spirit and become part of the Body of Christ. Unless you have a Jewish background, you are directly affected by this event. You do not have to go through all of the rituals of becoming a Jew before you can accept Christ as your Savior and receive the Holy Spirit. And it’s all because two men were obedient to the promptings of the Spirit.
Life Examples
Read Acts 16:6–10. How did the Holy Spirit direct Paul and Silas (6–7)?
Why did the Holy Spirit prevent them from preaching the gospel?
When has the Holy Spirit shut a door to you that you did not understand?
How did the Holy Spirit redirect Paul and Silas (9–10)?
*** This was Paul’s second missionary journey. He may have been looking forward to visiting the churches that he’d previously planted, but God had other plans—including crossing the Aegean Sea to a new continent (Europe) with the gospel. Paul planted churches at Philippi, Thessalonica, and Berea.
Living the Principle
Have you been ignoring the Spirit’s promptings because you are unsure about where He is directing you? Has the Spirit challenged your beliefs or is He moving you to change your course? The Holy Spirit can never lead you wrong, because He guides you in doing God’s will—which is glorifying God and become everything that He created you to be. Jesus said, “The Spirit ... will guide you into all truth ... He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you” (John 16:13–14).
The Holy Spirit is your Counselor, Comforter, and Helper, and He makes sure that you have everything you need to accomplish whatever God has called you to do. Therefore, you need to stop trying to do everything by your own power. Obey what the Holy Spirit is guiding you to do right away, and then watch and enjoy the wonderful Spirit-filled life that unfolds before you.
How will you live out Life Principle 22 this week? Discuss the challenges and blessings that come with obeying the initial promptings of the Holy Spirit. Then spend time in prayer, asking God to draw you into intimate communion with Himself and to transform your life, so that you can affect the world for the sake of His kingdom.
Life Lessons to Remember
Do you ever feel burned out in your walk with God? Do you wonder if you are on the right track or if there is something more that you should be experiencing? Do you wish that God’s direction were clearer to you? Then you may be trying to live the Christian life in your own strength and wisdom, rather than by following the leadership of God’s Holy Spirit. Life Principle 22 teaches, To walk in the Spirit is to obey the initial promptings of the Spirit. When you do so, you are equipped and empowered by the Holy Spirit, and have His perfect direction and guidance. The Holy Spirit may lead you in ways that you don’t expect, but as you obey Him, you see that He always directs you in the most blessed and effective path.
What the Bible Says
Read Acts 10:1-8. What sort of man was Cornelius (Acts 10:1-4))?
*** Cornelius was known as a God-fearer. This meant that he ascribed to Jewish worship and morals and believed in the One True God, but he probably wasn’t a Jewish convert in the formal sense of being circumcised and undergoing Jewish baptism.
How specific was the Lord in His instruction to Cornelius (Acts 10:5-6)?
Why do you think Cornelius was so moved by this vision (Acts 10:7-8)?
Read Acts 10:9-16. How was Peter’s response different than Cornelius’ (Acts 10:14)?
Why do you think Peter answered the way he did (Acts 10:14; also see Lev 11:4-8)? What was God’s answer to Peter (Acts 10:15)?
Why do you think this vision was repeated three times (Acts 10:16)?
Read Acts 10:17–23. How quickly did the Spirit reveal to Peter what the vision meant?
Read Acts 10:24–48. What opportunity did Peter receive because both he and Cornelius obeyed the Holy Spirit (Acts 10:33)?
How did Peter show that he had learned what God was teaching him through the vision (Acts 10:28; Acts 10:34-35)?
*** I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. (Rom 1:16 NIV)
How were the people blessed by the obedience of Peter and Cornelius (44–45; also see 11:15–18)?
What It Means
Cornelius and the others were the first Gentile believers to become part of the church without first becoming Jewish converts. Before this, it was thought that Gentile believers could not receive the Holy Spirit because it was only for the people of Israel. In other words, non-Jews were not considered full, complete Christians. Of course, this was not God’s plan. Rather, it was based on the fact that only Jewish believers had received the Holy Spirit at Pentecost (see Acts 2:2–3). But when the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word (Acts 10:44), just as He had at Pentecost, all of the Jewish believers there understood that God was extending His great gift to the Gentiles, as well.
Thankfully, neither Peter nor Cornelius ignored the promptings of the Holy Spirit because of their preconceived notions. Instead, the way was opened because of their obedience for Gentiles to receive the Holy Spirit and become part of the Body of Christ. Unless you have a Jewish background, you are directly affected by this event. You do not have to go through all of the rituals of becoming a Jew before you can accept Christ as your Savior and receive the Holy Spirit. And it’s all because two men were obedient to the promptings of the Spirit.
Life Examples
Read Acts 16:6–10. How did the Holy Spirit direct Paul and Silas (6–7)?
Why did the Holy Spirit prevent them from preaching the gospel?
When has the Holy Spirit shut a door to you that you did not understand?
How did the Holy Spirit redirect Paul and Silas (9–10)?
*** This was Paul’s second missionary journey. He may have been looking forward to visiting the churches that he’d previously planted, but God had other plans—including crossing the Aegean Sea to a new continent (Europe) with the gospel. Paul planted churches at Philippi, Thessalonica, and Berea.
Living the Principle
Have you been ignoring the Spirit’s promptings because you are unsure about where He is directing you? Has the Spirit challenged your beliefs or is He moving you to change your course? The Holy Spirit can never lead you wrong, because He guides you in doing God’s will—which is glorifying God and become everything that He created you to be. Jesus said, “The Spirit ... will guide you into all truth ... He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you” (John 16:13–14).
The Holy Spirit is your Counselor, Comforter, and Helper, and He makes sure that you have everything you need to accomplish whatever God has called you to do. Therefore, you need to stop trying to do everything by your own power. Obey what the Holy Spirit is guiding you to do right away, and then watch and enjoy the wonderful Spirit-filled life that unfolds before you.
How will you live out Life Principle 22 this week? Discuss the challenges and blessings that come with obeying the initial promptings of the Holy Spirit. Then spend time in prayer, asking God to draw you into intimate communion with Himself and to transform your life, so that you can affect the world for the sake of His kingdom.
Life Lessons to Remember
- We must stay yielded to the Holy Spirit (see Rom. 8:13–14; Gal. 5:16–18).
- We must trust the Holy Spirit to guide us (see 1 Thes. 5:19).