Postioning Yourself

We must get in a spiritual position to hear God, to see what God is showing us, and to know what He wants us to know and do.

On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour: And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance, And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending upon him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth:Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat. But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean. And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common. This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven. Now while Peter doubted in himself what this vision which he had seen should mean, behold, the men which were sent from Cornelius had made enquiry for Simon's house, and stood before the gate, Acts 10:9-17 (KJV)

Peter went to pray. He got in a place and position of prayer. He then fell into a trance and saw heaven open. God had to get Peter in a spiritual state to show him things in a vision; in this case not to call clean things unclean and to see that God wants all people to be saved.

Peter saw a sheet descend containing all sorts of animals. God did this three times, a reference to the fact that Christ rose on the third day. Also, Peter denied Jesus three times, and Jesus restored Peter by asking him three times if He loved Him, thus calling him back into ministry.

We are told that Peter was in a trance, or a spiritual state, when he saw this vision. As we pray, we can get in a place where God will speak and show us things. However, if we don’t seek God, wait on Him, or draw near to Him (through prayer in this case), we won’t be in a position to receive from God. In Acts 10, God wanted to communicate to Peter that He wanted the Gentiles to be saved just like He wanted the Jews to be saved.

Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: Acts 10:34 (KJV)

Peter said that he perceived by what God said and showed him in the vision that God is not a respecter of persons, meaning that He loves all people.

We must position ourselves to receive from God, whether by vision or some other means. And our encounters with God are usually not just for ourselves, but for others.

God’s vision is always bigger than ours. As we align ourselves with God through prayer and seeking Him, we will perceive what God is showing us. Then, we will reach the people on God’s heart. As we hear from God, we’ll step out to find out, to reach out, to defeat doubt, and know what it’s all about.