Peter Preaches to the Gentiles courtesy Google Search |
Today
I present gleanings from Pastor Jerry’s sermon.
He was reading from Acts 11:1-8 where Peter received a Vision three
times.
The bottom line was - - Do not
call anyone unclean if God has made them clean.
Peter
had been preaching to the choir so to speak.
The new Christians were encouraging one another, studying God’s word,
and sharing the Gospel with other Jews many who received Christ as Lord.
God
was ready to do a new thing, and to break “out of the box.” A Centurion man named Cornelius received a
visit from an angel, and was instructed to find Peter and bring him to his home.
Meanwhile
Peter had his own visitation where God made it clear that he was to go with the
men who waited downstairs and share the gospel with a group of Gentiles.
Peter
obeyed and as he spoke, the Holy Spirit fell on the Gentile congregation and
they began to speak in other tongues as did the Jews on the day of Pentecost.
Peter
was amazed and recognized that God is no respecter of persons, and who ever
believes in Jesus will be saved. He then
called for them to be baptized in water.
When
Peter returned home, he had some explaining to do. Up until now, the Jews had been able to
decide who was IN and who was OUT.
Others
of the Jews wanted the new Gentile Christians to abide by all the strict,
ridged Jewish laws and customs including the fact that they should be
circumcised.
Peter
had a word from the Lord and that was the commandment that Jesus gave us to
Love the Lord God and to Love One another.
The Jewish brethren agreed to write a letter to the Gentiles advising them to keep the simple law of Love,
with four admonitions that are still good for us to consider even today.
Shun
anything that has to do with false gods.
Shun
all sexual sins
Shun
eating meat that has been killed by strangling
Shun eating or drinking blood
Acts
15:20 Yet let us send them written instructions to abstain from things polluted
by connection with idolatry, from fornication, from meat killed by strangling,
and from blood.
Today
there are many Denominations and splinter groups. Many have their own man made laws, rules and
regulations. They decide who “is IN and
who is OUT.”
Pastor
reminded us that many churches will not allow woman to preach. It is
interesting that recently a woman was ordained into the Priesthood by a radical
Catholic group.
Other churches shut out those who are recovering from
addictions, or are not dressed according to a certain code.
May we always follow the Law of Love given to us by Jesus
and allow Him to decide who is IN and who is OUT.
John 1:12
But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of
God, even to them that believe on his name:
3 comments:
Thanks for this reminder. We must see others through God's eyes.
Fascinating how the world likes to make up rules that Christ came to demolish. The world, and I guess all of us still to a degree, tend to want to judge a book by its cover... thinking we have the gift of God and can know a heart... silly isn't it? Good one, Hazel.
I think satan has done a great job of getting Christians to fight among ourselves instead of reaching the world in Love.
Why would the world want our brand of love when all we do is judge each other, disagree and point fingers?
We are called to love. There is one judge.
Great post!
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