The Open Door To The Gentiles

The Open Door To The Gentiles Acts 11.1-18 This was a tremendous turning point in the history of the church. God so loved the world… the human family John 3. 16 For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. If this event and the ones in the rest of this chapter had not occurred then we would not be here today. This enlarged the church’s vision and field beyond the Jews, the lost sheep of the House of Israel, to the whole world. Part of what Jesus meant when in John 16, He said, “12 “I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. 13 But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth.He will not speak on His own; He will speak only what He hears, and He will tell you what is yet to come. They could not have borne the thought of the Gentiles coming to faith at that point. That would be too much with all that Jesus had just told them about His death. They would have had many questions which He would not time to answer. They were on their way to the Garden of Gethsemane. They needed to see what was happening to Jesus in that moment. The Holy Spirit worked through Peter and Cornelius. The LORD was weaving events and people together. People can try (and they do) what only God can do. It was His grace and beauty, producing wonderful lasting fruit. He uses individuals and involves them in His plan for the accomplishments of His purposes and their spiritual growth in the faith. If you try and make things happen they will fall apart eventually. Let God do it. Don’t try to orchestrate or manipulate people. It backfires. I was encouraging Pastor Humphrey not to fund raise for future projects. We can learn how to receive funds through prayer. It gives God the glory. It depends upon Him completely. It comes in His timing. Faith Missions is exciting. Trusting in the LORD to speak to hearts is what the Scriptures direct us to do. Photos of roofing materials Give room for God to work. Allow grace poured out in your life. Be patient with one another. Be humble. Notice the criticism. Do something unusual and you will be criticized. Obey the LORD and someone will find fault… the circumcised followers in the church at Jerusalem, The only way to avoid this kind of criticism is to do nothing. God help us. If people are coming to know Jesus and we are critical because they broke some traditions or didn’t do it as we would have. I have seen that firsthand. So at this point Peter is traveling. We do not know what brought him down to Joppa, to stay with Simon, the Tanner. He was there by Divine Appointment. We never know what God might do, where He may have us. Maybe Peter was there for a break, on the coast, to relax for a few days. God is the Divine Interrupter. Thursday Morning 6am Pastor Daniel on a mountain in Kenya with a group of men. Will you tell them about Jesus? So I did. And souls were added to the church. He is adding daily there. So often we are going about our duty and then He shows us something. Bernie and I at Bagel Boss. Diddi and I at the Bagel place in Valley Stream… recently God is working through bagel shops. John Tocci at Bagel Boss So God interrupts Peter’s prayer time. * Peter’s Prejudices and Preconceived Ideas Had To Be Changed. vs.1-10 I love the way God works. He knows what needs to change in us. He knows how to bring about such change. The sheet came down three times. He knew Peter would need this. Everything is established in the mouth of two or three witnesses. II Corinthians 13.1 As the LORD works in our lives He directs our paths. He disintegrates our prejudices. He began with Samaria. Luke 9. 51 Now it came to pass, when the time had come for Him to be received up, that He steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem, 52 and sent messengers before His face. And as they went, they entered a village of the Samaritans, to prepare for Him. 53 But they did not receive Him, because His face was set for the journey to Jerusalem. 54 And when His disciples James and John saw this, they said, “LORD, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them, just as Elijah did?” 55 But He turned and rebuked them, and said, “You do not know what manner of spirit you are of. 56 For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives but to save them.” And they went to another village. By the time we get to Acts 8. 4 Those who had been scattered preached the Word wherever they went. 5 Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed Christ there. 6 When the crowds heard Philip and saw the signs he performed, they all paid close attention to what he said. 7 For with shrieks, impure spirits came out of many, and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed. 8 So there was great joy in that city. And with that the Samaritans were in! He accomplishes His purposes. Now onto the uttermost parts of the world. The Goyim. The word "goyim" (singular "goy") is a Hebrew word that literally means "nations". It is used in Jewish tradition and texts to refer to non-Jewish people.  Ethnos in Matthew 28.19 Peter struggled. This was not easy for Peter. Change never is, especially when it has been part of our lives since we were born. Food restrictions suddenly lifted were revolutionary for the apostle. This was going to have to happen if the Gentiles would be reached. Businessman from Bangladesh, “First you drink our tea. Then we do business.” In my travels I have always eaten the food of the people with the utensils provided. The impact of Chop Sticks in China and when I eat with my Asian friends. “He knows how to eat with our utensils!” It draws you close to the people of that land. Same here where the nations have come to live. I believe one of the reasons I was taught Spanish in elementary school was to prepare me for this time. I believe one of the reasons I took German in Junior High and High School was to talk to John Tocci’s wife this week. She is from Germany. When I spoke to her she looked at him and said, “He speaks German!” Peter submitted. Peter finally got it. He went to Cornelius’ house. He explained that this was not something he ever did and why. God was broadening his vision. He was bring Peter closer to His view (the whole world). The teachings of Jesus and Jesus Himself taking over Peter’s heart and mind. Could this be what he was referring to when he wrote, “In your hearts set apart Christ Jesus as LORD.” I Peter 3.15 ? Peter was being used by God to open up the way for the Gentiles, the non Jewish people to come into the Church. Then he was preparing the way for Paul to be an Apostle to them. Oh that we would see the Kingdom of God in world events. He is working. * The Spirit leads us into new territory. vs.11-14 God leads us into new ventures of faith, to move with Him to reach others. He opens our hearts to His heart. Peter said that the Spirit told him not to have any hesitation to go with these men. It sounds as if he heard these words in his ears or within his heart or both. I love it when the Spirit leads, when He speaks to our hearts. For me most of the time it is in the early morning as I read the Word. Most of my livestreams throughout the week are from that reading. He speak to my heart and then I share. When I moved back to Long Island and to this church in 1984 it was through the Spirit. I used to get the map of Long Island out before I moved. Look over that page in my Rand McNally Atlas and feel a pull back here. Then the LORD began to give me an uneasy feeling about where I was. Then a letter and after a phone call came from Dr. Dallas Mucci. He was very gracious. I was recalling that trip from Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada to Bay Shore, to the church, to meet with the board. All but one person on that board are still alive now 40 years later. The rest are in Heaven. Time moves on. I never looked back, even when the church I left asked me to return after being here for a number of years. I had heard from God coming here and I was not hearing Him when they asked me to come back. Our venture into other places now. Photos from Kenya and Bangladesh. Roof materials and feeding. How is this happening? It is the LORD. There is a mystery sometimes of how we got to a certain place on our journey. When they questioned Peter he told them what happened. Basically he was saying, “I just did what God told me. I didn’t do anything. I was just was telling them what I knew and heard. The Holy Spirit just came upon them.” Are you sensing a pull in your heart? Is something up in your life? Wait. Pray with me over “the new Bay Shore”. We tried to start something down near Main Street… we fished but came up with empty nets. Maybe God is speaking to someone here to reach out to this growing community. * The Spirit Brings New Life. vs.15-18 He brought new life to Cornelius, his family and friends. How wonderful! He knew God was up to something and he didn’t want anyone he loved to miss it. Their lives were transformed by the LORD. They all received the Spirit. The Church was never to be the same! Pork Chops and Shell Fish! The Beauty of the Nations. What a wonderful sight! Serving the LORD together Choirs singing Children singing Pastors Humphrey and Daniel in Kenya Photos Liton The beauty of Bangladesh, Kenya (Pastor Humphrey’s daughters) Is there a group of people you are avoiding? People you don’t associate with? Could God be calling you to them?