The Acts of the Apostles 86

Subtitle:  Charged before Man

Acts 24:1-21.  This sermon was preached by Pastor Marty Bonner on November 10, 2024.

By the time we finish the book of Acts, Paul will have been put on trial before many different groups and men for the sake of the Gospel, not because of any crimes that he has committed.  Paul had gone from being a man who arrested and put people on trial, to the one that was being arrested and tried.  The tables had turned on his life.

Like anything in this world, we find that this area of arresting people and determining their guilt by trial is, first, necessary in a fallen world.  Even if we could find one very honest person and give them complete authority over what information we could receive, and even if they were able to give  us a perfect education on every topic under the sun, There would still be people who disagree and refuse to comply.  Part of this is the image of God within us.  We are not automatons.  We can think for ourselves, when we choose to do so.  Also, we tend to chafe at gatekeepers who hide all the choices from us.

However, on the negative side, we are all sinners and don’t like to be told that the thing we like is sinful.  Even a society that cast off complete restraint from the Bible and totally followed a morality designed by elite social scientists (yes, I know…an oxymoron) would find that not all people would go along with it.  Yes, we are bent towards sin, but we still like choices in our sin.

As long as humans are in this mortal state, we will need to have a monitored system that holds us accountable to truth.  However, such systems and the people in them are easily corrupted because of sin.  We might throw up our hands and say, “Damned if you don’t, and Damned if you do.”  However, this is what is on display in the book of Acts.  In the face of corrupt Jewish leaders and corrupt Roman leaders, the Spirit of God worked through lowly people to bring a greater hope to this world.

With that said, let’s get into our passage, where Paul has been kept in jail in Caesarea on the coast of Judea.

Paul is accused of causing dissension (v. 1-9)

The passage opens with the high priest and the elders arriving to make their charges against Paul.  They have also brought along a man named Tertullus.  He is most likely not Jewish.  Orators were essentially like having a lawyer.  If you think about it, the best lawyers are those who are skillful in their oratory.  We can see this on display with the opening speech of Tertullus.  He is declaring the praises of Governor Felix in order to soften him up towards their position.

The main charge is that Paul causes dissension among the Jews wherever he goes.  The colorful metaphor of being “a plague” is used of Paul, and he describes the extent of Paul’s activity as “throughout the world.”

This may not seem important to us, but Felix would pay close attention to such a charge.  Do you remember Aquila and Priscilla earlier in the book of Acts?  They had left Rome because of a decree from Caesar kicking out all of the Jews.  This banishment was due to riots among the Jews.    Many historians believe that these riots were precisely because of tension between Jews who embraced Jesus and Jews who did not.  Paul had a similar activity in Corinth and, no doubt, in other places.  Rome did not like anything that messed with the Pax Romana, the peace of Rome.  This heavy-handed peace would either land on the heads of men like Paul, or it would land upon the governors and magistrates who failed to keep their areas under control.  Thus, Tertullus points to Paul as a guy who is a threat to Rome, but also to Felix himself.

Second, they charge Paul with being a “ringleader” of  the “sect” of the Nazarenes.  In English, “ringleader” has a circus feel, as if these guys are only interested in money.  However, the word translated “ringleader” is more about the guy who is the leader of the group in question.  The refer to the group as a sect.  We would use the term cult today.  It is a smaller group that has broken off of a larger group, at least intellectually.  The Jewish religion had been recognized by Rome.  However groups that broke off from Judaism would not necessarily have that same recognition.  Tertullus presents Paul as a leader of a group that is heretical to the official views of the religion of the Jews.  Of course, the men with him hold the highest religious offices within Israel.

It is interesting that they are called the “sect of the Nazarenes.”  Jesus was from Nazareth, and those who followed him are labeled by the authorities as the sect of the Nazarenes.  Of course, most Christians were not Nazarenes.  The people of Nazareth were not very accepting of Jesus.  Still, it is a recognition that Paul is with a group that follows a man who was executed for heresy against Israel’s God and a threat to Rome.

We might ask ourselves this question.  Is Paul the ringleader of those who followed Jesus?  Paul doesn’t control the church, and he is definitely not in this for the money.  He is, however, one of the proven leaders within the group.  Regardless, Tertullus wants to give Felix the hope that this whole movement can be controlled, or ended, by simply eliminating Paul.

Lastly, they charge Paul with profaning the temple.  Rome was big on leaving the religion of the people they dominated stay in place.  As long as the people showed deference to Roman Power, they could worship their own specific gods.  They are not concerned about other gods so much as they are concerned about threats to their control.  People are very touchy about religious things, particularly shrines and temples.  The accusation that Paul was profaning the temple would be directly connected to an attempt to create a riot.

What does it mean to profane something?  To understand profaning something, we must first understand the concept of holy.  Something is holy when it has been set apart for a particular purpose by God.  Of course, in the Roman world, there were many so-called gods.  The temple was the place where Israel was to worship and sacrifice to the One True God.  It was a place set apart for those purposes prescribed and described in the Law of Moses. 

Profaning is something that a person does to something that is holy.  It happens when you use a holy thing for a purpose other than what God has prescribed.  This can be as simple as using the bowls and plates of the temple, that are only to be used for the sacrifices of Yahweh, at home for a dinner with special guests.  There is nothing wrong with serving a meal to someone.  This is a common act.  Yet, you do not use holy things for a common activity.  It would be even worse if we used the holy thing for immoral purposes.  Thus, Eli’s sons would profane God’s tabernacle (essentially a portable temple) by using it to hit on women who came to it, even sleeping with them.  Such disobedience to the stated purposes and decrees of God profanes those holy things.  We can even profane the name of our Lord when we use it without the reverence it is due.

Paul had not been doing any such thing when he went to the temple.  Everything he did there was respectful of God’s purposes for the temple.  He had done the proper purifications, brought the proper offerings, and participated in the sacrifice of the required animals for completing his vow.  If anyone was profaning the temple, it was the high priest and the elders themselves.  Do you remember Jesus turning the tables over and whipping the money lenders out of its courts?  God intended the temple to be a place of prayer for all nations, but they had turned into a place of merchandise.  To add insult to injury, this commercialization was set up in the only area that Gentiles could go.  They were mainly affecting the experience of Gentiles, rather than their own.

Though it is not stated, we saw earlier that they were accusing Paul of bringing a Gentile into the sacrificial area where Gentiles could not go (God’s decree).  If he had done this, it would be a profanity, an act of profaning the holy things of God.  However, this is completely untrue and only an assumption made by the Jews of Asia who recognized him in the temple.

We should also notice in verse 7 that they tell the story in a way that makes them look  better and Commander Lysias look worse.  They present themselves as calmly arresting Paul and preparing him for a reasonable trial.  Yet, Lysias came “with great violence” and seized Paul from them.

Paul defends himself (v. 10-21)

Paul’s defense roughly falls into three sections.  He first makes the case for his innocence at inciting dissension.  He then shares his faith, which is the true source of their charges against him.  He lastly explains the circumstances of his arrest and why the charges are therefore baseless.

Let’s look at his case.  He first emphasizes that he had only gone up to Jerusalem twelve days ago.  At this point, we should remember that Paul has been under arrest and in Roman custody for around 5 and a half days.  This would give Paul a total of 6 to 7 days to draw people to his alleged plan to stir up a riot and execute it.  If it is the contention that he hadn’t created a riot yet, but was about to do so, then the intelligence gathering skills of the Jews must be really good to catch him within such little time.

He then explains that he was not found by anyone disputing with people in the temple, especially not inciting a riot.

He then essentially says that they have no evidence and cannot prove the charges they allege against him.

We might ask ourselves exactly what was Paul doing in the temple?  He had gone with several other Jewish men to fulfill their vows.  This would have included purification rites, donation of money, and the proper sacrifices.  He was not “profaning” the temple.  He was doing exactly what the Old Testament says was to be done in the Temple.

He then turns to talk about his faith.  Paul is not focused only on getting himself off of the charges, although he surely wants to do so.  He also wants to please the Lord by seizing the opportunity to share his faith and the reason he holds it.

He rebuffs the charge that he is part of a “sect,” or cult.  Paul and his fellow believers in Jesus worship the God of Israel (“of our fathers”) and believe everything that is written in the Law and  the Prophets.  Of course, the Sadducees cannot say this, since they only followed the Law.  However, this was a strong doctrine of the Pharisees and is quite within the mainstream of the Jewish faith.  In fact, the Pharisees were much closer to biblical faith than the Sadducees ever hoped to be.

Paul mentions in verse 15 that he has hope in God, which is a fundamental teaching of Scripture.  He also accepts the teaching that God will one day resurrect the dead.  The Sadducees rejected this idea, but Pharisees and most of Israel at least gave lip-service to the idea that God would resurrect the righteous and the unrighteous one day.

Paul ends in verse 16 with describing his personal goal.  He strives to live in such a way that he would have a conscience without offense towards others.  These others would be God and his fellow humans (especially his countrymen, the Jews).  Of course, this is easier said than done.

It is hard enough to please a majority of the people, but adding God into the mix makes it impossible.  Paul will not accept displeasing God.  So, what does he do when pleasing God angers a person, Roman or Jewish?  He will always choose to please God first and then ask how he can do it in a way that doesn’t purposefully offend others (at least having a conscience that believes he tried his best).

In verse 17, Paul moves to talk about the circumstances of his arrest.  He had not gone to Jerusalem to cause dissension.  He had been absent for a long time (this would highlight his necessity to go for religious reasons).  Secondly, the guys who actually accused him in the temple of profaning it were interestingly enough absent in these proceedings.  They were the eye-witnesses and cannot be properly cross-examined, whether by Paul or Felix.

Lastly, Paul states that he hasn’t done anything wrong.  The only thing he did that could be faulted to him was to declare his faith in the resurrection when he was questioned by the Sanhedrin. 

We are going to stop at this point, but let me point out a few things.  We can be tempted to approach difficulties like this in a way that tries to avoid it.  We can be afraid of losing money, jobs, family, a marriage, church membership, etc.  Paul knows that religion and beliefs are at the root of this.  In a way, he has set up the Gospel for Felix.  I’m on trial because I believe in the resurrection.  However, deeper than this is particularly the resurrection of Jesus, who was crucified as a heretic to Israel and a rebel to Rome.

This is important because the enemy of our soul, the devil, wants you to focus on what you will lose so that you will act out of a desire to keep what you have.  What did Jesus say about this?  “He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.”  (John 12:25 NKJV).  Also, “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?”  (Mark 8:36 NKJV).

When we are in tough situations, we can think only of ourselves and not the opportunities to share Jesus.  We should beware of looking at others as being on our side or against us.  In this scenario, we give our love to people who are “on our side,” and protect ourselves from those who are “against us.”

I have entitled this sermon, “Charged before Man.”  You could end up in a court like Paul did, unjustly charged by others.  Yes, it is okay to defend yourself, but never lose sight of the opportunity to show Jesus to those involved, and anyone watching.

We even have general charges within our society against Christians.  If we focus only on avoiding those charges, then we will be an obstacle to the Gospel and our Lord Jesus.  It is not our job to convince people that we are the good guys.  Jesus was put to death as a criminal by those who claimed to be the good guys.   What is the truth?  Who knew this truth at the time of his death?

The best we can do is make sure that we are firmly entrenched on the Lord’s side.  A charge against us is a charge against us should only make us pray harder to the Lord.  “Am I guilty, Lord?  Let me hear the leading of Your Holy Spirit for this situation.” 

The enemy like to use charges against us to tie up our heart.  No righteous person wants to be called a heretic or a trouble-maker.  The fear that others will believe the accusations can trap us in all the wrong actions and all the wrong words.  Only the Spirit of Jesus can help us to navigate such troubling circumstances.

Yet, there is one more level in which we face the charges of man.  Our very own heart and mind can charge us.  “I’m a failure.  Surely, if God was with me, all of this bad stuff wouldn’t be happening.”  The only thing that can silence such charges is the truth of Jesus.  His word cuts through all the lies of our society and the lies entrenched in our heart.  Sometimes, God is using difficult circumstances to bring those lies we believe to the surface.  He then speaks to us to scrape it off and let it go.

The truth of the love of Jesus also helps us.  The love of Jesus did not come to us because we were innocent of all charges.  Rather, even while we were yet sinners, Christ Jesus died for us.  God is not willing for you to spiritually perish.  He is on your side.  The real question is this.  Am I on His side?

May God help us to keep our eyes upon Jesus, to be people of the Word of God, people of prayer and seeking the wisdom of His Holy Spirit.  And, may we be a blazing light of hope in this severely dark day!

Charged before Man audio

Sermon on the Mount XI

Subtitle:  Correcting the Righteousness of the Hypocrites II

Matthew 6:5-9.  This sermon was preached by Pastor Marty Bonner on February 18, 2024.

We continue our study of the Sermon on the Mount where Jesus exposes, or corrects, the supposed righteousness of the scribes and the Pharisees, which he calls “hypocrites” in this section.

Last week we looked at the issue of charitable giving.  We now deal with the area of prayer.

Let’s look at our passage.

The way of Righteousness in prayer:

This section is expanded compared to the section on deeds of mercy (charitable deeds) and the coming section on fasting.  In fact, it has three sections: this first one that explains the teaching of Jesus regarding prayer (5-8), a model prayer (9-13), and then a last section that gives a further explanation (14-15). 

An explanation (v. 5-8)

This section does exactly the same thing with prayer that Jesus did with the section on charitable deeds.  It contrasts how the hypocrites pray with how Jesus wants his followers to pray.  It essentially boils down to wanting to be seen and heard by people versus wanting to be heard by God.

We should take this as a challenge to us from the master not only to pray, but to pray rightly.  Today, the Spirit of God helps us to sense that original challenge that Jesus gave to the people when he taught.  Do I pray?  And, how do I pray?

Just as the hypocrites did charitable deeds only to be seen by others, so they pray in order to be seen by others.  In fact, Jesus adds the descriptive word “love.”  They love to pray in the synagogue or on the street corner because people will see them.  They love the glory that people give to them for their apparent righteousness.  Yet, they neither love God, nor love others.  In truth, they pretty much love themselves.  They for sure do not love praying in secret.

If you are the kind of person that marvels at certain people when they pray- maybe their flowery language stirs your heart, then you should be careful.  Seek to become a praying person yourself, rather than marveling at the praying abilities of others.  In fact, when are We the People going to stop being so easily stirred up by the presentations of others, both for the good or for the bad?  We should stop being so easily amazed because we are atrocious at knowing whether the image that is presented is only skin deep, or whether it goes all the way to the bone.  When we are not in tune with the Holy Spirit through prayer, we do things like help out in stoning Stephen in Acts 7.

Jesus tells us that such praying receives the reward it wants, the glory of people.  God may be offended by such praying, but He lets them have what they want, the adoration of the people (at least as much as the people will give).

God is not offended like we are as humans.  Rather, He removes the restraints would have spared you great damage.  Humans were never designed to have the adoration of crowds, the worship of them as people do for Musicians, Actors, Athletes, etc.  If you look at the lives of people who reach the top of glamor and glory, their lives collapse under the weight of such false worship.

Of course, not everyone who prays in public is fake.  In fact, we could not even have a public worship service without praying, singing, preaching in public.  However, the point is not to put more value on such public acts than they are truly worth.  If public prayer does not have a foundation of secret prayer, then it is worthless, whether people know so, or not.

Thus, Jesus tells his followers not to love to pray like that.  Instead, we are to find a secret place to pray in.  The word for “room” in verse six is a word that was used for a storage closet.  They were typically small rooms in the middle of a structure that would not have windows.  His point is not so much the exact place, but that it is a place where no one will see you.  It could actually be translated “hidden place.” 

I know, I know.  Mom’s are saying right now that there is no such thing as a hidden place!  Of course, how much glory would you expect to receive from your child seeing you pray, or knowing that you are praying?  Jesus is not creating a law of prayer.  He is doing heart surgery here, and we should not become bogged down in snarky retorts. Jesus is pointing us to the intention of our prayer.  A person who only prays in public has a heart problem.  They are not in relationship with God, but seeking satisfaction somewhere else.

Jesus emphasizes that your (singular) Father in heaven is also in the secret, or hidden, place.  This phrase would have reminded them of the same phrase in the Old Testament, like Psalm 91.  David learned that,  even though God was in heaven, He was also in those hidden places when no one was looking.  David spent tons of time praying out in the field with the sheep.  God met him there. 

Even though God is everywhere, He recognizes that prayer done when no one is watching truly has the intention of relating with Him.  This private audience with the King of the Universe happens to also be a private audience with your heavenly Father.  Have you ever thought about the reality that our minds are the original secret place?  You can be in public, but meet with God in the secret place of your mind, and those in the place would never know.

Let me just point out that God as a Father is mentioned 17 times in the Sermon on the Mount.  One time it is “our Father” (The Lord’ Prayer, Matthew 6:9).  Also, Jesus refers to God as “My Father” one time in Matthew 7:21.  The other 15 times Jesus says that He is “your Father.”  Five of these are a singular “your/you.”  The other ten are plural.  Yes, God is individually your heavenly Father, but the emphasis is on us as a group.

Again, Jesus promises that secret prayer will have its reward in the open.  He doesn’t guarantee what that will look like.  In fact, the resurrection and being with Jesus is put forth as our ultimate reward.  We must be careful of thinking that if we pray alone enough, then God will have to give us some really cool things publicly.  Pray because you want to know God, not because you want stuff from Him.  He is your reward!

Jesus gives another warning in the practice of prayer in verse 7, but this time, he looks to the religious practices of the Gentiles, instead of the hypocrites within Israel.  The word translated “vain repetition” is hard to translate without more context.  It is clear though that it has to do with praying many words.  The point has to do with lack of true heart-content.  It is more about rituals, incantations, or techniques that are supposed to help gain the attention of the “gods.”

In Gentile spirituality, the so-called gods did not care for humans, so they had to learn techniques and formulas for drawing their help.  They would even hedge their bets by worshiping many different gods.  Surely one of them would come through for them.  We should not repeat phrases like a mantra over and over.  We should not speak a certain power syllable over and over.  There really is no end to the empty techniques that false religion will conjure for its acolytes.

The One True God in heaven, your heavenly Father, is not impressed by such empty tricks.  We cannot treat God like some sort of cosmic machine that we can put in the right amount of quarters, or pull the lever just right, in order to get what we want.  Instead, we are to speak to our Father simply, and clearly.

Can you imagine speaking to your earthly dad in such ways?   He would probably call the men in white coats to come and take you away, if you did.  God wants us to approach Him as a child to a Father.  He wants to have real relationship with us as that signals.

Jesus even tells us that our heavenly Father already knows what we need before we ask.  God is omniscient.  He knows what you need way better than even you do.  He is intimately aware of your needs.  He is paying attention to your life, regardless of what it seems like to you.  You think you are cursed because of your experience of life, but Jesus tells you that you are blessed (Matthew 5:3-12).  You don’t have to employ tricks and techniques to draw His attention.  You just have to really pray to Him in the hidden place.  Don’t pray rote prayers over and over again in particular sequences while making certain signs.  This is not what Jesus wanted our prayers to become.

A Model Prayer (v. 9-10)

Let’s look at the first part of this prayer.  It starts out with the words, “In this manner, therefore, pray.”  The emphasis is that this creates a template or model that we can use in our own praying times.  Yes, we can pray it, but it is not a mantra or incantation that “always works.”  If we will pay attention to the components of this prayer, then we will be instructed in how to pray, and in what to pray about.

I will lay the prayer out to demonstrate the structure of the prayer.

“Our Father in heaven,

          Hallowed be Your name.

          Your Kingdom come.

          Your will be done.

                  On earth as it is in heaven.”

The first line is the address.  Who am I addressing when I pray?  It is interesting that Jesus has made the point that God is “your (singular) Father.”  Yet, in this model prayer, he uses the plural concept of “Our Father.”  Think of it.  You are approaching God alone in a hidden place, and yet you address Him as a part of a group. 

There is an obvious lack of the concept of “I” and “me” in this prayer. I am reminded of the prayer of the Pharisee in Luke 18:12-14.  His prayer keeps repeating “I,” and when he does mention others, it is in contempt and derision.  Yes, the tax collector also uses the first person pronoun of “me.”  However, the prayer of repentance and humility is always heard.  This is not about never using first person pronouns.  Rather, it is recognizing that Jesus is signaling something important to us by their absence.  Perhaps my prayers are far to self oriented?  Do you think?

The key is not so much never using the pronouns, “I,” “me” or “mine.”  It is about being fully aware that your heavenly Father is also your brother’s heavenly Father.  We should approach God alone, but not as ones who are alone.  Even people who are not God’s child are desired to be so by Him.  He is bringing us into a larger community, His family.  And, He wants us to care for one another, even in our secret prayers.

This address is followed by three requests that focus on God and His purpose, rather than on me and my purposes.

Israel had fourteen centuries of wavering between focus on God’s purposes and focus on their own purposes.  At some point, we must become a broken person that realizes “our purposes” generally get in the way of God’s.  Also, His purposes are more beneficial to us and others than the purposes that we come up for ourselves.

We generally even pray for God’s purposes selfishly.  You can pray for God to bring in the Kingdom, but why do you do so?  Do you want the Kingdom because then you will be bossing people around?  Are you focused more on how good your experience will be instead of the glory of God blessing all the earth?

Israel, in general, had come to a place where they couldn’t wait for God to put the Romans in their place under the boot of Israel.  Yet, Jesus showed the remnant the heart of God wanted to take the light of the Gospel to that Gentile world and invite them into the Kingdom in a good way.

Let’s look at the form of the three request first.  The form of the first one, “hallowed be Your name,” is true of them all.  The verb is first followed by the subject.  The other two would look something like this: “Come be Your Kingdom.  Done be Your will!”  These are also imperatives (commands).  However, they are in the third person singular.  This has the effect of begging the question of just who is to do these things.  Perhaps, it is both God and us.

The first request speaks of God’s name.  This is His reputation, and the way people view Him.  The prayer is that God’s name, person, and reputation be seen and treated as holy.  In fact, the most holy thing in the universe.  Holy means that something is set apart for God’s purposes.  This may seem redundant (how can God not be holy, i.e., about His own purposes).  Yet, the emphasis is on how others see Him.  God is perfect in His character and attributes.  He is not like sinful humans, nor like the sinful spiritual beings.  However, we don’t always see and treat God as such.  People have no problem slandering God, and attributing things to Him that are not true.  It is a prayer for God to be respected by all.  So, this should start with me.

The second request is that the Kingdom of heaven would be brought in, or that it would come.  This is clearly a reference to the Kingdom of Messiah.  We are praying for its full realization on earth, instead of just being in heaven.  This does involve living out the Kingdom today in our lives.  We are to be an expression now, of a coming Kingdom later when Christ returns.

Is my life an ever-clearer expression of the values of Jesus?  May God help us to give ourselves to being an expression of the coming King and His perfect Kingdom that is coming.

The third request is that God’s will would be done.  Sometimes God’s will seems to be at odds with His Kingdom.  When Jesus went to the cross, it seemed to be the opposite of bringing in the Kingdom.  Submission to God’s will as the All-Wise One is important.  We can be a person who expects God to do particular things in our life, and when He doesn’t, we can be disillusioned.  “God, you said I would be blessed, but now there is a cross in front of me!”  We don’t always understand why God does what He does.

When we pray for God’s purpose, we are praying for the greatest good to come about.  In fact, there are layers to the will of God.  God put a curse upon the earth.  Is it His will that it last forever?  No!  What I do with it is important.  Wrestling with God like Jacob did is rewarded with intimacy.  Yes, the wicked man will be judged and go to the Lake of Fire, but God wants us to resist that by telling him the Gospel, the love of God.  God wants us to plead with the man that He resist God’s will properly, that is, through repentance and seeking mercy.

All of this connects to the greatest commandment.  When you love God with all of your being, you will pray for His purposes to come first.  All of this is a desire to have the goodness of God expressed on the earth, and not just in my secret times of prayer with Him. 

For the sake of time, we will pause here and pick up on the second half of the Lord’s Prayer next week.

Correcting Righteousness II

The Acts of the Apostles 43

Subtitle: A Critical Juncture

Acts 10:17-33. This sermon was preached by Pastor Marty Bonner on June 4, 2023.

Last week, we saw that both Cornelius the Centurion of Caesarea and the Apostle Peter had a vision from the Lord.  The content of the visions are different, but they are essentially about the same thing.

This is a critical juncture in the book of Acts.  Chapters 10 through 15 portray the Lord opening a door for the Gospel to be preached among the Gentiles.  And, let's be clear.  The goal of the Gospel is not only to have it preached all over the earth, but that every person on earth would have a proper hearing of it.

Even though Saul of Tarsus, the Apostle Paul, would come to be used mainly to reach the Gentiles, it is  Peter that God uses to initiate the Gospel being preached to Gentiles.  His witness will be incredibly important in Acts 15 at a council of the Church regarding this issue.

Turmoil is always going to come to the Church simply because we are human.  Some look to good leadership as the key to protecting the Church, to which I would say, "Yes."  However, it is the leadership of Jesus through His Holy Spirit that should be leading.  There have been many people in the Church through the centuries who are very skilled at commanding others, but are they headed in the same direction as the Spirit of God?

Jesus spent time with these Apostles, teaching them and correcting them.  He also poured His Holy Spirit out upon them so that the Church would be enabled to have a strong and sure foundation on which to build.  The faith of the nations is not up to skilled leaders today.  Rather, the faith of the nations is to be put precisely upon the faith that was once and for all delivered unto the saints (Jude 1:3) in the first century.

All of this is led and helped by the Holy Spirit.  As the Holy Spirit works on the hearts of lost people, He also works to connect them with true believers in Jesus so that they can have a good hearing of the Gospel.

Let's look at our passage.

Peter is led by the Spirit (v. 17-23)

Peter has been filled with the Holy Spirit, and we see him in a daily communion with the Lord in prayer.  The filling of the Holy Spirit is not a one and done event; it is not something that you "move on" from.  He takes up residence within your heart and daily works with you to become like Jesus.  He is twice called the Spirit of Christ.  That is, when the Spirit moves upon us, He is relating the desires and commands of Jesus to His disciples.  Of course, we must never take this for granted.  We must actively cooperate with the leading of the Holy Spirit.

You may not receive great directives from the Lord every day in visions, dreams, or angelic visitations.  However, we all start our life as a believing disciple with a set of great directives, commands, from the Lord Jesus.  We are to believe on Jesus and his righteousness to remove our sins.  We are to be a people of the Word of God, prayer, and seeking the leading of the Holy Spirit through them.  We are to seek to be filled with the Holy Spirit so that we can be enabled to become more like Jesus, and to share his Good News with those who do not know him.  That can keep us all busy for a lifetime.

Several aspects of the enabling of the Holy Spirit are seen here.  Peter is given instruction, and he is given direction.

We know that this instruction has to do with the Gentiles receiving the Gospel.  However, this was not as clear to the early Jewish Christians.  For various reasons, it was easier to see preaching the Gospel throughout all of the nations as having more to do with reaching Jews, or Israelites, who had been dispersed to the nations in the prior centuries.  The Old Testament prophesied that Messiah would draw the dispersed of Israel back to the land, and he would restore true worship.  Yet, a close reading of any version of the Great Commission (see Matthew 28:18-20) will show that it is honestly impossible to restrict his commands to simply reaching Jews among the nations.

This social and cultural hurdle has to be overcome by the work of the Holy Spirit.  Notice that the Holy Spirit gives Peter clear instructions, but they do not answer every question that he might have.  The men from Cornelius are arriving.  The Holy Spirit tells Peter that they are there and that he needs to go with them because they are sent by Him.

This is a signature style of the Lord.  He is faithful to give us enough instruction and direction that we can obey, and yet, not enough that it no longer  requires faith on our part.  There will always be plenty of things that we just don't know.  Don't let yourself be frozen by questions and analysis at such times. 

Part of our humanity is that we are generally uncomfortable with not knowing the answers to our questions.  Yet, God values faith over robotic obedience, which we could never give anyways.  He is more interested in you growing to become like Him than you mimicking Him without a change of heart.

In many ways, this is a stronger teaching technique.  We are forced to move forward in faith that it will be clearer down the road.  As we are faithful to what we do know, God helps us to discover more of the truth as our questions experience the fruit of our faith. 

Jesus did this with his own identity as Messiah.  Many of the disciples had come to Jesus on the testimony of John the Baptist.  Yet, Jesus does not emphasize the disciples learning by rote a list of doctrinal teachings on his Messiahship.  Rather, they experience life with him and come to discover that Jesus is doing what Scripture says Messiah would do.  Jesus blessed Peter because "flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven."  These men had been convinced by God's Spirit and not the teaching of a human being.

Here, Peter is learning that he does not need to worry about being defiled by the company of Gentiles, as well as the fact that God was going to save and fill them with the Holy Spirit too.  He didn't have perfect understanding of these things at first.  However, following Jesus is not about being perfect.  It is about being perfected as we rely upon the Spirit of God in our life.  It is about being in the harness with God, and having Him help us along the way.

Thus, God gives us enough to believe him, but leaves room requiring us to walk forward in faith.  I know that I don't have all of the answers.  But, this one thing I do know.  Through His Spirit, God will be with me all the way.  This is what enables us to face a world that is under threat of nuclear destruction without fear.  My life is in God's hand, which doesn't mean a nuclear bomb cannot explode (remember Hiroshima and Nagasaki?).  My life is in God's hands so I know that He is leading me to that which is good.  My hope for tomorrow is not about God controlling everything so that I do not have a bad day.  Instead, it is about knowing His plan for me is good and eternal.  Even death cannot separate us from the love of God and the eternal love He wants to pour out upon us.  God has a plan for you and me.  He intends to bring us through this life to the goodness that He has reserved for us on the other side.  And, good news, there is good even now in the midst of the difficulties of this life.

Peter is also told in verse 20 to go while "doubting nothing."  This is not a categorical statement for everything for the rest of his life.  He doesn't have to answer that cell phone call from "Scam Likely" and do whatever the person on the line says.  This word is specifically about these men and the situation they will create.

When Peter goes downstairs, he is going to see that these men are Gentiles.  He will have doubts about receiving them, lodging them, and going with them to Caesarea.  And while we are at it, let's recognize that we always have doubts.  The point is not so much to get to a theoretical place where doubts never rise in our hearts and minds.  Rather, it is about not letting the doubts cause you to resist, or even rebel against, the clear command of Christ. 

When doubts pop up, you must remind yourself that God has spoken to you.  I see this with those who become Christians, but then have a nagging fear that they may have committed the unpardonable sin.  They fear that the "salvation" is not real.  The only answer to such a thing is to go back to that moment of turning to the Lord.  Most of them could point to a very real moment in which the Spirit of God convicted them of their sins and their need to believe on Jesus.  The Holy Spirit is not playing a game with people.  He would know if someone had committed and unpardonable sin or not.  It is the work of the Spirit of God that gives us confidence that we should keep walking forward in faith trusting God.

Even when we know what God wants us to do, our fleshly mind and heart can come up with doubts.  This is why it is important to have a daily communication with God in prayer, and in the Word.  This can strengthen our confidence in God's leading.  What we do for Christ will be done by faith in him, not simply by feeling and reason.

With all of this leading of Peter by the Holy Spirit, it is interesting to note that the Holy Spirit leaves some of Peter's instruction, or understanding, to come to him through other people.  Thus, we need to seek the Holy Spirit's leading within us, but also learn to hear and see it through others. God also works in and through other people. 

Of course, this is an area where it is important for us to be mature enough in the Lord to recognize when the Lord is working through another person.  In the end, I am responsible to hear what the Spirit is saying and then bring my life into conformity to it.  All of us came to Christ through the work of other people.  However, we then had to take responsibility for what God was saying and make the choice ourselves.  We will see this dynamic throughout this story.

Peter lodges the men over night, and then they head out on the 40 miles trek to Caesarea.  Verse 23 tells us that Peter takes some of the brethren from Joppa with him.  It will be important for others to be witnesses of what transpires in Caesarea.

Sometimes in questionable areas, we can try to do things in secret out of fear.  However, it is always wise to have other believers with us.  In cases where they can't go with you, you can at least talk with them about what is coming up, and ask them to be praying for you.

Peter knows that God is leading him.  He just doesn't know what all God is leading him to do.  When the council in Acts 15 convenes, there will be a large number of witnesses of what God has been doing among the Gentiles.  Each one of them were individuals who stepped out in faith with others.

Peter meets with Cornelius (v. 24-33)

The next morning the group heads out.  Though Peter is headed to see Cornelius, this is more than a meeting with a man.  God is in this meeting and has an agenda of His own.

We are told that Cornelius was waiting for them.  He wants to know what he should do, but he also wants his relatives and close friends to know as well.  We don't know the number of people who have gathered, but the number is less critical than the fact that God is using Cornelius to draw a crowd.

We are not always sure how God is going to use us as well.  A good prayer is this.  "Lord, I want to accomplish what You have for me to do, so help me to recognize it and to do it." 

May God bless those faithful people like Cornelius who have the fire of God within them to gather others to hear the Word of the Lord.  There is no idea that God told him to do this.  We generally do not need a direct word from the Lord in order to do something.  This is in keeping with the God of Israel.  He continually calls for people to hear what He has to say.

The fact that Cornelius meets Peter at the door is a sign of great respect.  This is not the normal way that a Roman centurion would deal with a Judean. 

On the other hand, an angel of God told Cornelius to send for Peter.  If God did something similar in your life, that person would go way up in your estimation.

However, Cornelius falls to the ground and worships Peter.  This word for worship does have a range of meaning.  Thus, the question is this.  Is Cornelius simply showing great respect to Peter as one of greater authority (spirit) than he, or, is he actually worshiping Peter as a divine man.  The gentiles had a mentality that the gods and demi-gods could appear as people and walk among us.  We see this in Acts 14 when Paul and Barnabas heal a man crippled from birth.  The people cry out that "the gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!"

Peter probably would have been uncomfortable with both ends of the spectrum.  He definitely would not allow someone to worship him as divine.  Yet, he also knows that he is nobody to be bowed down to.  Only Jesus deserves such honor.  At the cross, Peter had found out just how great he really was.  He was not Peter the Great, but rather, he was Just Peter the Pebble.  It was to Peter the Pebble that Christ spoke the tender words.  "Do you love me?  Feed my sheep."  Peter is not full of himself and needing a fragile ego stroked.

The Church would be in a far better place had those who served in the Church of Jesus through the centuries had the same humility that Peter came to have.   Throughout the years, powerful people within Christianity have done a great disservice to God by requiring too much undue homage to be paid to persons of authority.

Peter was not this way.  He took Cornelius by the shoulders and pulls him up.  He impresses on Cornelius that he is just a man.  Cornelius is a devout believer, but he clearly is in need of godly instruction.  This is why the Lord has enabled this meeting.

It is then that Peter discovers a whole group of Gentiles have gathered.  The elephant in the room is that this would not normally be done by a godly Jew.  Peter begins by clearing out this social issue that had become a wall between Jews and Gentiles. 

Verse 28 says, "You know how unlawful it is for a Jewish man to keep company with or go to one of another nation."  This was not so much from a specific command in the law as it was a protection that developed from the laws of ritual cleanliness.  Gentiles did not operate according to the Law of Moses, and so were generally defiled through the foods they ate and activity they did.

We should take some time to explain that the word "defiled" or "unclean" in this context has to do with a ritual (ceremonial) defilement.  A defiled person could not go before the altar of God, period.  Thus, it is more about the ability to approach God.  Of course, at the altar, a person could then offer sacrifices for their sins, which Jesus is the once-and-for-all offering for sin.  Of course, no godly Jew ever wanted to be defiled and unable to participate in festivals, or offerings.  Over time, a safe set of instructions had been built up like a wall against accidentally becoming defiled. 

This wall had then become a wall between God's people and the ones that God wanted to reach, Gentiles.  It can get so thick that we no longer have a concept that maybe God still cares about them and wants to reach them.  Yet, if you closely read the Old Testament, you will see that God's heart for reaching the Gentiles was all through it.

Peter tells the group that God has shown him not to call any man common or unclean.  Notice that Peter is making the connection that the Holy Spirit is leading him to make.  The unclean foods was representing the Gentiles.  Just as God had cleansed all foods so that they could now be eaten under the New Covenant, God had also cleansed all Gentiles so that they could now interact with Jews and directly approach God for forgiveness.

When  you run into people who ridicule Christians not following their own Bible because they eat pork or shellfish, point them to this verse.  The death of Jesus on the cross had fulfilled the law and made the foods and the Gentiles clean.  This doesn't mean Gentiles were all saved at the cross, but that they now can approach (have access to) the throne of Grace and believe on Jesus Christ!  There would be no restrictions.  This is not a whimsical change.  It is a change that is made possible through the Incarnation, death, and resurrection of Jesus!

In verses 30 through 32, Cornelius tells his story of the angel in the vision.  Back in verse 6, the angel says of Peter, "He will tell you what you must do."  In verse 33, Cornelius says that they are gathered "before God to hear all the things commanded you by God."

There is a necessary component to what God wants Cornelius to do.  He is a God-fearer, but he still needs to put his faith in Jesus as the Messiah and Savior.  The same commands given to Peter and his fellow Jews, as well as the Samaritans, are intended for these Gentiles.

This is a good picture of how we should always be when we gather to hear the word of the Lord.  Whether I am an individual in times of devotion (reading the word and praying), or a family honoring God at home, or a church gathering for weekly fellowship, we need to have an attitude that we are gathered before God in order to hear what He would have us do.

God accepts the worship of Cornelius, but He also expects him to grow in his understanding, his worship, and his obedience.  If Cornelius wants to participate in a deeper walk with God, then he will need to mix his hearing with faith.

If this was a group of Jews, Peter would not hesitate to tell them about believing in Jesus.  Yet, now he is faced with the obvious desire of God.  Who is he to tell God that He can't save Gentiles this way?  Who am I to stand in the way of people hearing the Gospel?  For Peter, it was the barrier of "unclean" Gentiles.  God tells him not to call unclean what He has cleansed.

This work of Jesus makes it possible for "whosoever" desires to come before God and ask for cleansing of sins from Jesus.  Everybody needs to hear and have the opportunity to believe.  We have our own ideas about who can possibly come to faith in Christ and deserve a hearing.  For you, it may be a person with tattoos, piercings, and colored hair.  Yet, for them, it may be a person who wears a suit for a living.  The Spirit of God wants to break down these barriers and bring us into situations where we can share the Good News about the sacrifice of Jesus, and the promise of the Holy Spirit.

Peter sees in this moment that God has broken down this wall that had developed between Jews and Gentiles.  May we be a people who are led by the Spirit and not our cultural sensibilities.  The Assemblies of God was always a missionary movement.  The founding generation sought to be filled with the Holy Spirit so that people around the world would have a Spirit-filled witness in their life.  This would give them the best possible chance to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and be saved.

God help us to desire, to hunger, for the baptism of the Holy Spirit so that we can be a powerful testimony in the lives of others.

Critical Juncture audio

The Acts of the Apostles 42

Subtitle: A Tale of Two Visions

Acts 10:1-16.  This sermon was preached by Pastor Marty Bonner on Pentecost Sunday, May 28, 2023.

Jesus in John 16:12-15 told his disciples that he had much more to say to them, but they would not be able to bear it, or handle it at that time.  However, he promised that the Spirit of Truth, the Holy Spirit, would come and teach them everything that they needed to know.  He would guide them into all truth- at least, all the truth that they would need.

These apostles are often referred to as the early leaders of the Church, but let us recognize up front that Jesus is the true leader of the Church.  The Apostles and any subsequent leaders are simply helpers, servants of the Lord, in his leadership.

In our passage today, we will be given a glimpse at what it looked like for the Spirit of Truth to lead the early Church.  The issue at hand was the status of Gentiles who would be coming to faith in Jesus.  What exactly did they need to do in order to become Christians?  Did they need to first adopt Judaism and its requirements and then believe on Jesus?

The book of Acts from chapter 10 to 15 gives a resounding, "No," to this question.  All of this features the Holy Spirit teaching the apostles.

Let's look at our passage.

The vision of a Gentile named Cornelius (v. 1-8)

As Peter continued to minister in Joppa, Luke brings our attention to a Gentile in Caesarea named Cornelius.  This city was 40 miles north on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea, and it was the headquarters for Rome's operations in the area, hence the name, Caesarea.

Cornelius is an officer in one of the Roman Legions, particularly the Italian Regiment, or Cohort.  He is a centurion, which generally means a command of 100 men or less (depending on losses in battle).  Of course, such a profession would not put Cornelius on the "nice list" with most Judeans.

Yet, verse 2 tells us that this Cornelius was a devout believer in the God of Israel.  It was not uncommon for there to be Gentiles who were sympathetic towards, and even convinced of the God of Israel as the One True God.  Most of them, however, did not want to be circumcised and officially become attached to Israel.  This created a group of people that were referred to as "God-fearers."  They were uncircumcised, but followed many of the customs and worship of Israel.

We are also told that Cornelius was very generous in alms, or charitable giving.  He had donated to particular issues that would help the people of Israel.

On this particular day, we are told that it was the ninth hour, or 3:00 pm.  Verse 30 will tell us later that he was praying and fasting.  This would be at the time of the evening sacrifice in Jerusalem.  All of this pictures a man who is worshiping God in Spirit and in truth.

Of course, prayer is a relationship with God, which begs the question.  What is his status with God?  We will talk more on this later.

As Cornelius is praying, he has a vision of an angel coming into the room.  A vision is commonly distinguished from a dream.  It is used of a person who is not asleep, and yet, sees something that may be as real as a dream, i.e., a day-dream.  It is a real spiritual interaction.  However, a vision is generally distinguished from an actual physical manifestation.  He mentally sees and hears the message of the angel.  If someone else had been there, they would not have seen or heard the angel.

Though Cornelius is startled, he addresses the angel with, "What is it, lord?"  Again in verse 30, he tells us that "a man stood before me in bright clothing."  This is common in biblical text.  Heavenly angels generally look like men when they appear to people.  However, something makes it clear that it is not an earthly messenger.  Here, the clothing of the man is glowing, he has a message that is from God, and it would not be easy for a mortal to slip into Cornelius' room.  There was no doubt it was an angel.

The angel tells Cornelius that his prayers and alms have come before God as a memorial.  That is important to note.  Whatever his status, God was taking notice of his prayers and charitable works.  The term "memorial" is a reference to a kind of sacrifice.   This can be seen in Revelation 8:4 where we see the heavenly temple.  Incense is burned before God along with "the prayers of the saints" by angels.  It is not clear exactly how this is done.  However, the truth is shown that the prayers of the saints are before God continually.

Of course, God doesn't need incense offered  with their prayers.  He sees it all.  Thus, the importance is a demonstration to the heavenly beings that humans are praying unto God, and that God is receiving their prayers.

I believe that his status was much like Abram's.  Yes, he is a gentile and is not in complete conformity to the Law of Moses.  Yet, he is approaching God in faith, and God is responding with grace.

We should note that Cornelius is not praying to see an angel.  He already has a lot of God's grace as he has heard the truth of God, and is serving near Israel.  Rather, it was in the midst of his being faithful to God in prayer that God said, "that's my man." 

The angel is not so much a response to good worship and prayer, but as a fulfillment of the purposes of God.  This was just the sort of man that the Lord would use to help the Church to understand that Gentiles were to be saved just like Judeans.  God's grace comes to us in many different ways.  It is not ours to worry about the way, but rather, it is ours to be thankful for whatever ways the grace of God materializes.

When you pray, you may feel like nothing big is happening.  However, at the least, your prayers are coming before God.  If you are discouraged in prayer because you want something specific to happen, be careful that you are not complaining about the grace of God you already have.  God has a timing for everything, and we can be guilty of overlooking the grace that He is already giving us each and every day.

Cornelius is then told to send to Joppa for a Simon Peter who was staying with Simon the Tanner.  Peter would then tell him what he "must do."

Couldn't the angel have told him what to do?  Yes, of course, the angel could have.  God Himself could do everything in the universe while we all stand on the sidelines cheering, "Go, God!"  But, God isn't looking for a cheerleader to cheer Him on.  That may stroke your ego, but God is looking for a bride who will join Him in the field of work.

It was important that an apostle of Jesus be involved in this critical juncture of Gentiles coming into the Church.  Though Paul would become the main apostle to the Gentiles, Peter would be an important link in convincing the Jerusalem Church that God was saving Gentiles too.  He would be critical in establishing what the status of Gentiles coming to Christ would be.

Though it was afternoon, Cornelius immediately calls two of his household along with a soldier who is also a devout believer from his personal detail.  He tells them the task and sends them to Joppa in order to fetch Simon Peter.

Let us note how important it is to respond to the promptings of the Lord as quickly as we can.  All of us can think of times where we were dilatory with the leading of God's Spirit.  God doesn't generally send angels to speak to us, though He can do so at any time.  Typically the Holy Spirit prompts us in our heart and mind as we pray.  The person who is devoutly praying to God will receive instruction from Him from time to time.  We need to be in a relationship with Jesus where we are seeking his leading, and responding quickly to the leading that He gives.  Don't be lazy, and don't be resistant, or rebellious.

Peter has a vision (v. 9-16)

As the men from Cornelius approach Simon the Tanner's house, Peter also has a vision around noon.  These two visions are basically the same, but they would hit those who first heard about it as a contrast.  Peter is a Jew, devout, and an apostle of Jesus.  Of course, we can picture him having a vision.  However, Cornelius is not a Jew nor a follower of Jesus.  Yet, the same God is working in them both for His singular purpose.

Peter is praying and becomes extremely hungry.  It appears that this has been made known to the house and they are fixing some food.  Meanwhile, he continues to pray on the roof of the house.  I don't know if God caused him to be hungrier than usual, but regardless, He uses Peter's hunger to emphasize a command that will be important in regards to Cornelius.

Verse 10 tells us that Peter "fell into a trance."  The difference between a trance and a vision is nothing.  They are the same thing described from two different angles.  The word "vision" focuses on the fact that he sees something.  It is the experience from the view of the person who sees it.  The word "trance" focuses on the fact that his mind is elsewhere at the time.  It is the experience from the view of a person watching the one having the vision.  In fact, in Acts 11:5, Peter will describe this event with both words.  He will say, "in a trance, I saw a vision."

The vision was of a sheet that is bound up on all the four corners creating a sling.  It is let down from heaven before him and is filled with unclean, or non-kosher, animals.  Unclean animals are such that the Law of Moses proscribed from being eaten by the people of Israel, and from being offered up as a sacrifice to Yahweh.

Of course, it is not the contents of the sheet that are the problem, but the content of the command that is given to him next.  Peter is told to rise up, kill and eat.  This picture is going to occur three times.  Peter protests that he had never eaten such animals before.  It appears that he also has no desire to do so even though he is quite hungry. 

God knew that he would respond this way, and He intends to use this to hammer home a point Peter needs to understand.  Before we get into the point, we should touch base on this whole issue of unclean and common as opposed to that which was clean and holy.

We often use unholy to mean something morally bad, but the foods themselves were not morally bad.  To be holy simply means that something, or someone, is set apart for a particular purpose of God.  To be unholy simply meant to be a thing, or one, that is not set apart for a particular purpose of God.  Israel was a holy nation.  They had been called to do a particular, special duty for God among the nations.  The other nations were unholy, or common.  Yet, within the nation of Israel, there were particular people who were called to serve as priests in the temple.  In this area, the priest would be holy, but the other Israelites would be common.  The same could be said of a temple bowl.  A common bowl could be used for any purpose you like.  It wasn't holy.  However, a bowl that had been consecrated to God's work in the temple could not be used for a common purpose.  Even among the priests, only one man could go into the Holy of Holies once a year.  None of the common priests could perform the work of the high priest.

At this point, it is important to note that the clean and unclean animals served an important purpose in Israel.  Yet, now God was directly connecting the concept of unclean animals versus clean animals with the concept of unclean peoples (i.e., Gentiles) and clean people (i.e., Israel).

Let me interject at this point that I run into people who make a big deal out of Christians changing the laws of the Old Testament.  Or, they will say something like God said it was bad and then He changed His mind and said it was good.  They underlying accusation is that God is whimsical or Christians are hypocritically changing the bible.  Neither are true.

Note what God says to Peter's protest.  "What God has cleansed you must not call common."  Do you see that.  Something has changed from the days of Moses to the vision of Peter.  God has actively "cleansed" these foods.  How did He do that?  The death and resurrection of Jesus fulfilled all the requirements of the Old Covenant.  God would now establish a New Covenant with the remnant of Israel and whosoever will of the Gentile nations.  It was no longer necessary under the New Covenant to continue a restriction on foods because the truth that they pictured was now changed.  Gentiles were no longer considered common because of the work of Jesus.

Let's be clear here.  Common and holy here have to do with the ability to approach God and have our sins dealt with.  Yes, we can speak of the holiness of one who has had their sins removed.  But, the Old Testament had an additional concept of being able to approach the altar of the Lord and offer sacrifices for your sins.  Gentiles could not do this under the Old Covenant because they were unclean.  Now, through the work of Jesus, they have been made acceptable to enter God's presence and be cleansed.  This is not a whimsical or hypocritical change.  It is a very real sacrifice done once and for all by God's Anointed One, Jesus.

Under the New Covenant, Christians can eat any food without fear of defilement.  All foods are cleansed by the work of Jesus.  However, this is also a picture of the reality that any person from any tribe, tongue, or nation, can come to God in faith and be accepted at His altar.  There is no longer any distinction between a Jewish Christian or a Gentile Christian, other than heritage.

There is a sense of warning in this command, "you must not call common."  If God makes something holy, then no one should treat it as unholy, common.  This would apply to Jewish Christians like Peter who would tend to shrink away from treating Gentiles as completely clean in Christ.  However, it would also apply to the Corinthian Christians who were taking the Gospel of Jesus and the Gifts of the Spirit, and using them in a defiled way, unholy way.  Such people often have an attitude that says, "Jesus has paid the price so all things (i.e., even sin) are clean to us now."  Such a thing must not be done.  It is important for the Church to uphold this truth in a day and age that is transgressing this on both sides.

Do you believe that God is working in your life as He was in Peter's life, or Cornelius' life?  Yes, the scope of what God is doing is greater in them.  You may not see an angel, or even have a vision.

However, we need to recognize that as we are praying and serving Jesus, there comes times when He speaks to our heart and mind.  It might be something that you are intimidated by, or afraid to do.  It might be something that you are even unsure about.

This is why God has given us His Word, His Spirit, and a body of believers with the Gifts of the Spirit distributed as He wills.  Peter had great spiritual gifts placed in his life in order to help the early Church and even us today through the word.  We may not all experience everything that Peter did, but we are all the beneficiaries of what God did through him and the other apostles.

It is not the vision, or angelic visitation, that we should be seeking.  Rather, it is the purpose and presence of the Lord Jesus Himself that is our desire.  The help of the Holy Spirit is always happening and available for those who are seeking Him.  However, it is up to God the particular ways that His grace is given to us.  Let us be a people who are used of God to further His work of saving Gentiles and Jews in these last days!

Two Visions audio