“The Message and the Call”

Scripture: Acts 10:34-43

The early church knew that they were to carry the word of God to others, but who that was and how far they were to go with the word was, for the most part, an unknown. Jesus had told them that they would do, by faith in him, all that he had done, and that they would do even greater things! (John 14:12-14) That was not only unbelievable, it was also a little frightening!

But the book of Acts would bear out that prophecy, and the word of God would spread throughout both the Jewish and Gentile worlds like a wildfire. For the most part, we think of Acts as an account of Paul’s ministry and those that branched from him. But the first few chapters included many more examples of ministry than just that of Paul the converted. In this chapter, we read of Peter’s encounter with Cornelius – an officer in the Roman Army. Prior to this event, gentiles were avoided by Jews at all cost. Of course, we read of several instances when Jesus ministered to gentiles, and each time, the disciples were apparently shocked at his seemingly acceptance of these outcast people.

Now it is Peter’s turn to not only see his Lord reach out to those considered as unworthy, but for him personally to discover that these “sinners” were actually to be included in God’s plan of salvation. But what would he say? How would he truly know? How far would he be willing and able to go?

Read Acts 10:27-29

Peter goes into the gentile home, and he discovers that the house is full of people – all waiting to hear what he has to tell them about Jesus. He readily admits that he – a Jew – is traditionally forbidden to have any kind of relationship with non-Jews. He isn’t to speak to them, he isn’t to enter their home, and he is absolutely forbidden to eat with them. If he does, he will be judged to be unclean. But the Lord has given him a new commandment in verse 28b – “God has shown me that I should not call any man impure or unclean.”

Peter had experienced a vision in which a sheet, filled with all kinds of animals, was lowered down from heaven. He was to eat them – clean and unclean alike – and he objected. But the Lord places a new thought within him, that God and God alone determines what is clean and unclean - not Peter and not any mortal being.

In Matthew 7:1-6, Jesus cautions us that if we presume to judge others, then we will be judged in the same way and to the same degree. I don’t know about you, but I would rather know the Lord’s mercy instead of his judgment! So Peter has learned this valuable lesson – that it is the worldly actions that we experience that are to be considered unclean, or sinful. In Matthew 15:16-20, Jesus offers a list of acts that make us unclean, and in Galatians 5:19-21, we are offered an additional list of those that are of the sinful nature. We are to be discerning of all forms of sin, but are never to judge the impact that those sins may have on the potential salvation, or lack thereof, of any person. Jesus Himself showed compassion and love for sinners, but never for their sin. And we, too, are to detest and avoid the sin of this world, while loving and embracing the sinful people within it.

And Peter does.

Read Acts 10:34-38

Peter now realizes that the lesson he has learned is more about God and far less about his mission. This is one of those “Keep the main thing the main thing” lessons. We are all called to mission in the name of Jesus Christ, but until we come to an appreciation and understanding of the heart of God, ministry will always fail. Of course, that isn’t just a single lesson that we have to learn – it is a continuous part of our Christian growth. If any of us ever comes to the point when we believe that we have it all figured out, it is then that we will be in deep trouble!

Peter’s lesson, and ours as well, is that “God does not show favoritism”. He will welcome anyone – everyone – who comes in love of Jesus Christ. That, by the way, wasn’t a lesson that Israel followed – it is one that is solely of the Lord! And many in Israel, and many in the Church of today, miss this point. Peter points out that Jesus’ initial ministry was to the people of Israel, but that this, in no way, implied that it would be limited to them. He tells Cornelius and his friends that “Jesus Christ ... is Lord of all” (v. 36). It may have all begun with the Jews, but it was in no way restricted to them.
Consider those who received his healing lessons – the Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well (John 4:1-42), the man infested with a legion of demons (Mark 5:1-20), a Canaanite woman who came to him on behalf of her demon possessed daughter (Matthew 15:21-28) – it was all of these, as well as many Jews. Peter now understands that Jesus was always there for all who were in need and had come under the power of Satan.

And he was there for Cornelius and his household, and he will be there for each of us.

Read Acts 10:39-43

First the teaching and healing ministry, then the ministry of salvation. His ministry was for all who would come and receive. His sacrifice on Calvary was offered to all who will come to him and seek him. But the experience and presence of Christ is only available to work through those who believe. In John 15:26-27, Jesus reveals that the Holy Spirit will soon come to enable believers in ministry. He says that the Spirit will teach the believers more about Christ, and when He does, those who receive this knowledge must carry that message to the world.

Peter is beginning to understand what this will mean for his life. He is to be as bold as Jesus when it comes to the truth of God. He is to be as indiscriminating as Jesus when it comes to the message of salvation. He is to depend solely on the Lord’s words and teaching and ways in ministry, and to never depend on his own understanding. Peter would be faithful to what the Lord called him to do, even though he was pretty uncomfortable in doing it. After all, it went against everything that he had been taught throughout his Jewish life, but now he was focused more on what God needed of him, and not on what the world expected.

And as he spoke the truth of God, the Holy Spirit came upon everyone who was in the house. And Peter baptized the entire household and all who were in it that day.

What is our church being called to do in the name of Jesus Christ? What are each of us being called to do in that Precious Name? Several months ago, our son who lived in the Seattle, Washington area, felt that the Lord was calling them to move to, of all places, Cincinnati, Ohio. But he was very comfortable in his job and church and community, so he hesitated. They had a number of problems come up during those three years of delay, and a few months ago, he was relating the most recent issue to my wife and me – one of black mold in a house that they were planning to purchase near their Washington home. When he finished telling us about the situation, I simply asked him “So when are you moving to Cincinnati?”
He has since moved to Ohio, and when we visited him and his family last week, he was relating the conversation to his new pastor, and he added, with a smile, “He didn’t offer me any compassion whatsoever!” It wasn’t that I hadn’t felt compassion for him, it’s just that these were the words that came into my mind at the time, and I think they were the Lord’s words. Nate didn’t need compassion – he needed a reminder, as well as a little prodding!

Our response to God’s call on our lives has little or nothing to do with compassion or healing or teaching or salvation or anything else for that matter. It is all about doing what he tells us to do at that time and in that place. It isn’t even about understanding the significance of what we are to do – it is about our obedience to whatever God is telling us.

Where is God telling you to go? Who does he want you to go to? Don’t worry about the task – we are to just go and do as we are told. It may not be comfortable for us, the instruction may seem to be incomplete, and it may not even be “smart” from the world’s perspective. But when it is the Lord’s will, that will always be enough.

It was for Peter, and it will be for us.