Acts 11:1-18

Jesus leads, and we follow. That’s how it should be. But our sin, work, peer pressure, culture wars, politics, and doubt - all get in the way. Ah, the joys of the human condition!

Peter had a habit of threes with Jesus. I guess we all have our number. I suspect Peter is quicker on the uptake than the rest of us! Peter denied Jesus three times. Jesus asked Peter three times if Peter loved him. And three times, Peter replied that the Lord Jesus knew he did. And He did. Jesus knows all of our hearts.

God’s pattern with the Jews illustrates his pattern with each person. You can see God and his character on the one hand; on the other, you see man’s character. And we see the character now, today, of God’s holy people, the Church. God is consistent. He never changes. He doesn’t move from who He is. We don’t get to claim ignorance. We have God’s Word, nature, and personal experience to reveal God’s creative power, uniqueness, standards, and expectations. On God’s side of the ledger, we see God gives us instructions, does miracles, provides for us, and is faithful to us. It was the same for Israel. And we, like Israel, are stubborn, rebellious, and unfaithful. We constantly test God, demand stuff, and speak against God. I’m thankful for God’s plan. His purpose and his Providence. I don’t pretend to understand it all, but I see the apostles overcoming through faith and obedience to Jesus in this passage. And I ask God to help you and me to do the same. I know this generation, our time, is no different. We, too, have the responsibility to respond to God. Make no mistake. God sees. He answers and rewards. He can and will act with any of His arsenal, including dispatching bands of destroying angels (Psalm 78:49). And He cares for us with a true heart and leads us with skillful hands.

So, it’s time for the Church to get real. Just like the apostles in this Acts 11 passage did. We can obey God. Or, we can continue to test God’s patience and provoke the Holy One. Scripture makes it clear that God will reject those that turn their backs on Him. To our eternal peril, we forget God’s anger, fury, rage, and hostility at those that do so. Don’t mock God. Don’t pay him lip service. I see hypocrisy all over the modern Church. Don’t think for a moment that God is not just. He will do as he pleases to bring justice.

There comes the point where every person will repent. At some point, every knee will bow before Jesus. I pray for revival now. Everywhere, but starting with each of our hearts. At some point, people finally realize - and trust God. In Israel’s example, it took a significant life change. And that’s often the case for us. Famine, disease, death. What will it take?

The modern Church gives God lip service. We lie with our tongues. The pastors claim they adhere to God’s inerrant Word, yet these selfish tyrants’ actions and the governance of the churches show they have no fear of God nor reverence for His way. The modern Church is not loyal to God. And we do not obey his commands. In this passage of Scripture, you’ll see a holy reverence for the Holy Spirit - the apostles did not dare act against God. On the other hand, we pale in our righteous fear of God.  We are lukewarm, at best.

You see the modern Church’s character by her priorities. Honestly, we love money above all else. We make idols of pastors, influencers, and connected politicians. We covet degrees (many of our false prophets claim they are “Doctors” when they know nothing of academic excellence, loving God with their whole minds). What an embarrassment. What an indictment of these men. They have no honor.

We steal from the poor - we justify it by saying it is ok as long as it helps the “ministry.” It allows the “pastors” to fly in style on the latest private aircraft. We give lip service to marriage and the treasure of a wife - yet our so-called leaders join swingers clubs and give the green light to a bit of porn on the side - after all, a little extra on the side is ok with a loving and forgiving God, right?

And we pray for peace while we fund those that hate the name of Jesus Christ. And we hate our political adversaries and fail to pray for our enemies as God demands we do. And while we claim to be pro-marriage, we know very well that our men seem to learn more about college football statistics than topics of eternal significance, including the needs of our precious wives and children - the treasures from God wasted and ignored in exchange for useless, mindless, devilish activities. We’re easily fooled. 

And, of course, we are pro-life. Yet our pastors hand out vasectomies like condoms at a truck stop. We see kids as a liability, not an asset. If kids were an asset, we’d treat them as such. We don’t.

And we claim to be for “Christian education.” Yet we care little for what we watch and read. Many of us are busy binge-watching crap and have no clue about history, church history, and the genuine need to be educated and guided by God.

We pray for prosperity while we prey on God’s mercy and forgiveness.

So yes, that’s a bit of a rant on the modern Church. But we seriously need to look at the Bible’s example from the Acts Church and the importance of getting honest with God. Peter did. The apostles did. And so shall we.

Word travels fast. Even before Peter was back in Jerusalem, the believers and apostles there heard the alarming news that the Gentiles had received the Word of God. Peter faced severe criticism. What would he do? Cave to peer pressure and tradition? Or would he speak the truth?

God made it crystal clear to Peter through the vision of the unclean animals that the “unclean” label on the Gentiles was forever eliminated. It was a declaration from the Holy Spirit. Peter would have staked his life on it. And he did.

You see, Jesus had previously explained to the disciples that he would do this, but they didn’t understand. Now, via the Holy Spirit and miraculous signs, Jesus first made it clear to the leader of the apostles, Peter. Then to the rest. Peter didn’t instantly fully understand what the vision meant. But after meeting with Cornelius, it became clear. And yet, to a degree, Peter continued to wrestle with his human understanding of the love of God for all people and the fulfillment of all the law in Jesus Christ (and the division of clean vs. unclean) for the rest of his life. Yes, the Holy Spirit lovingly reminded Peter through God’s unmistakable acts and the counsel of other apostles and believers, including Paul. Likewise, God is patient with our doubts.

We are often lost in the self-serving illusion that God shows favoritism. He does not (Acts 10:34)!  God loves all people. From all nations. He does not say you Italians are unclean and you Jews are clean. Nor, you of this nation preferred, and that nation cursed.

Do not fall into the devil’s trap of arrogance. It’s a more deceptive trap than you think.

God tore down the divisions. He ordered Peter to go into the house of the Italians. And he instructs us as believers in Jesus Christ to go without favoring any nation or person. Almighty God forever eliminates the divisions between Jews versus Gentiles.

There is peace with God through Jesus Christ alone.

Notice in this passage how Peter shows courage and servant leadership. He knows it will be impossible (ish) for his friends, his Jewish brothers in Christ, to understand why he went to the Gentiles. So he speaks plainly and points to Jesus. That’s what servant leaders do. Let’s not lean on our understanding and wisdom. Let’s point to Jesus and His way. Peter explained what Jesus said to him and that the Holy Spirit told him to share the message he received in his vision with Cornelius. And not to worry that they were Gentiles (v. 11). Notice that Peter took six brothers in Christ from Joppa to go to Cornelius. There was tremendous value in the team, both in terms of the effectiveness of the ministry, but also in the later testimony of the truth of the events. Don’t act solo. Act as a team. Peter recounted the Lord’s words about baptism (“John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit”) as he explained to the apostles what happened. Undoubtedly they too would have understood as they would have recalled Jesus’ prophesy. Peter made it clear that God’s gift to all Jewish believers, a grant given when they believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, is the same gift God gave to Cornelius and all who believed the message.

All people have the privilege of repenting their sins and receiving eternal life (v. 18).

Lord Jesus, thank you for your love for me. And thank you for your love for all people. Help us, Lord Jesus, as your Church, your people, to know you and have a holy reverence for your power and rewards. And may many more people accept your gift of eternal life today. Amen.