There are two common mistakes
Christians make when God opens his doors:
·
Some Christians don't wait for God - they want to crash the doors
on the run, not allowing Him to do the opening. Prayer is still a prerequisite
to action.
·
Other Christians find that God has opened a door - through which
they are not prepared to go.
This section of Scripture shows
us the right way. For that alone it is worth serious study.
(Acts 10:24-48 NIV) The following day he arrived in
Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives
and close friends. {25} As Peter entered the house, Cornelius met him and fell
at his feet in reverence. {26} But Peter made him get up. "Stand up,"
he said, "I am only a man myself." {27} Talking with him, Peter went
inside and found a large gathering of people. {28} He said to them: "You
are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with a Gentile
or visit him. But God has shown me that I should not call any man impure or
unclean. {29} So when I was sent for, I came without raising any objection. May
I ask why you sent for me?" {30} Cornelius answered: "Four days ago I
was in my house praying at this hour, at three in the afternoon. Suddenly a man
in shining clothes stood before me {31} and said, 'Cornelius, God has heard
your prayer and remembered your gifts to the poor. {32} Send to Joppa for Simon
who is called Peter. He is a guest in the home of Simon the tanner, who lives
by the sea.' {33} 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." {34} Then Peter began to speak:
"I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism {35} but
accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right. {36} You know
the message God sent to the people of Israel, telling the good news of peace
through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. {37} You know what has happened
throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached--
{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} "We are witnesses of everything he
did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. 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. {41} He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom
God had already chosen--by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the
dead. {42} He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is
the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. {43} All the
prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives
forgiveness of sins through his name." {44} While Peter was still speaking
these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. {45} The
circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of
the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles. {46} For they heard
them speaking in tongues and praising God. Then Peter said, {47} "Can
anyone keep these people from being baptized with water? They have received the
Holy Spirit just as we have." {48} So he ordered that they be baptized in
the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few
days.
The Church Divided
The church today is much more
fractured (and fractious) than the church of the First Century. This is
understandable in view of our history; but even at this time the Gentiles had
begun to hear the Gospel.
The church as whole, however, had not faced "the Great Divide." In
this passage Peter faces and conquers it, as we see. But we also need to look
at ourselves in the light of this passage.
Church Divisions Today
Most church congregations today
will tell you that all are welcome in their worship services. If this is so,
then, why do we see such divisions in our churches? It's my privilege to teach
at a large church which emphasizes outreach. Even so, we can easily see the
divisions which exist in the church today:
·
Historical institutions - the most common source of
division. There are groups of churches today whose doctrines are almost indistinguishable
- but who came from different movements at different times. It is almost a
point of pride with some that they will not speak to the others.
·
Wealth - we don't like to admit it, but when you come to a
particular congregation, you either "fit in" or you don't. Social
class, even defined indistinctly, can be a barrier. Some congregations even
take a particular pride in their social status (or lack of it). The Bible
specifically enjoins us against such prejudice, but it still keeps creeping in.
·
Ethnic background - Sometimes this is as obvious as racial
prejudice; sometimes it's as subtle as a bias against those who say,
"Y'all." What is so interesting about it is this: those who
practice it often honestly believe that they don't. It is a lesson to us that
we need to examine ourselves.
·
Language - Sometimes this seems an insurmountable barrier
(after all, not all of us can speak in tongues). But we see an encouraging
sign now in that many churches sponsor a foreign language congregation, meeting
in the church building.
True Common Ground
The plain fact of the matter is
this: most "professional experts" in church growth will tell you
that these divisions are perfectly normal, quite acceptable and the only way to
mount an evangelism effort. I disagree. These things are simply "common
ground" divisions. The issue is not whether or not human beings will
gather together on the basis of common ground; they will. The issue is, which
common ground? There is only one common ground in the church.
·
First, we are all sinners. Not one of us is righteous.
·
Therefore, we are all in need of salvation. We all need Christ -
who is our "common ground" - or, as the Scripture puts it, our
foundation.
·
Therefore, we need to see the "different" not as those
who do not belong in our building but rather as an opportunity.
Much of our attitude in this
regard comes from our attitude towards the church itself (by which I mean the
church universal). If we view the church as primarily an institution which is
there to bless us, then the "different" are an impediment. If we
view the church as an opportunity to serve our Lord, the different are just
another opportunity, aren't they?
Barrier Busters
Brick walls, for people like me,
are the necessary obstacles of life. We see here, however, the kind of people
who are capable of breaking down the barriers in the compartments of the faith:
·
Humility - Peter clearly tells Cornelius that he is only a
man himself, not to be worshiped (an interesting comparison may be made with
the Pope in that regard). This is humility: knowing who is man and who is
God.
·
Obedience - despite the strangeness of the request, Peter
is obedient.
·
Prayer and good works - it is no accident that God has
selected Cornelius - who combines the inner faith with the outer works.
·
Readiness - Cornelius does not know what Peter will
say. But he is ready to listen.
God Opens Doors
Isn't it amazing how God opens
doors? This is the crack in the door that will open wide to the Gentiles, but
it comes in God's own time. Even Christ had very little to do with the
Gentiles; in most instances in which he met one, they came to him. But now
things change. We need to be alert for the timing of God.
God's Timing
There is a key phrase in the
text: "While Peter was still speaking these words…" In other words,
God interrupted Peter. He did not let him finish before the Spirit came upon
these people. Why?
·
First, to show it is not Peter who saves - it is Jesus Christ.
All authority resides in him.
·
Next, to show that it is not baptism that saves. Normally the
gift of the Spirit is presumed to come at baptism. The Spirit comes and goes
as he wills. It is the Spirit, not baptism, which gives life.
·
Finally, because they are speaking in tongues - the first gift
given to the Apostles themselves - no one could miss the conclusion that the
Gentiles had an equal share in the Gospel.
God's Door
God opens doors for his people in
two ways, as seen here:
·
He opens them with his providence. Why was Peter nearby? Was it
not a chain of "coincidences?" God will lead the obedient to the
place of service.
·
He also will deal with us miraculously, as he did here with Peter
and Cornelius.
The Work of the Spirit
In this passage we can see three
of the primary tasks of the Holy Spirit:
·
First, there is the "indefectibility" of the church.
This is a long word which means simply that the Spirit will not allow the
church to continue in error. The Spirit corrects the church; not always
immediately, but in God's own time. The church was commanded to reach to the
world at the Great Commission. She had not really done so. So the Spirit
provides a correction.
·
The Spirit provides revelation to the church, in this instance
directly, in our lives through the inspiration of the Scripture. To allow the
Spirit to work in our lives this way, we must read the Scripture - and listen
to the Spirit speaking.
·
One Spirit, One Lord, One Church - baptism is the sign of entry
into the church. By the oneness of God we are kept one in the Spirit.
God's Method
The simple truth is that God
wants the Gospel spread person to person. We may see the value in mass
advertising, but God sees the value of person to person communication - the
function of the church. We are to make disciples, not sway mass opinion.
Indeed, one of the most striking
things about this passage is the simplicity of Peter's message to the
Gentiles. We might do well to hear its main points:
·
First, that we are witnesses to Jesus, the Christ. That which we
have seen in our own lives, we must testify to.
·
Next, he recounts the miracles and actions of Christ. As history
alone we need to immerse ourselves in the Gospels.
·
Get to the point: Peter speaks of the death, burial and
resurrection of Christ, and the power it has for all who believe.
·
He proclaims the truth that Jesus is returning to judge the
living and the dead.
·
He tells them that all the prophets point to the Christ - as the
one who is able to forgive sins.
That's not a bad message. It has
lost nothing in the telling over the years.
The Challenge to Us
May I leave you with three things
today? Three challenges in your life?
·
Are you able to present a "ready defense" of the
faith? Peter was not given a message here by the Holy Spirit - because he
already had one.
·
Are you a witness to the power of the Resurrection in your own
life? Has Christ made a difference to you? If so, be ready to testify to that
difference. If not, ask yourself why not.
·
Are your habits subject to the lordship of Jesus Christ? Are you
the humble, obedient, ready person of prayer and good works? When he calls for
a change, will you respond, "Yes, Lord."