Acts 12:6-19

6 The night before Peter was to be placed on trial, he was asleep, fastened with two chains between two soldiers. Others stood guard at the prison gate. 7 Suddenly, there was a bright light in the cell, and an angel of the Lord stood before Peter. The angel struck him on the side to awaken him and said, “Quick! Get up!” And the chains fell off his wrists. 8 Then the angel told him, “Get dressed and put on your sandals.” And he did. “Now put on your coat and follow me,” the angel ordered.
9 So Peter left the cell, following the angel. But all the time he thought it was a vision. He didn’t realize it was actually happening. 10 They passed the first and second guard posts and came to the iron gate leading to the city, and this opened for them all by itself. So they passed through and started walking down the street, and then the angel suddenly left him.
11 Peter finally came to his senses. “It’s really true!” he said. “The Lord has sent his angel and saved me from Herod and from what the Jewish leaders* had planned to do to me!”
12 When he realized this, he went to the home of Mary, the mother of John Mark, where many were gathered for prayer. 13 He knocked at the door in the gate, and a servant girl named Rhoda came to open it. 14 When she recognized Peter’s voice, she was so overjoyed that, instead of opening the door, she ran back inside and told everyone, “Peter is standing at the door!”
15 “You’re out of your mind!” they said. When she insisted, they decided, “It must be his angel.”
16 Meanwhile, Peter continued knocking. When they finally opened the door and saw him, they were amazed. 17 He motioned for them to quiet down and told them how the Lord had led him out of prison. “Tell James and the other brothers what happened,” he said. And then he went to another place.
18 At dawn there was a great commotion among the soldiers about what had happened to Peter. 19 Herod Agrippa ordered a thorough search for him. When he couldn’t be found, Herod interrogated the guards and sentenced them to death. Afterward Herod left Judea to stay in Caesarea for a while.

Peter probably sat in that jail cell between those guards knowing the fate of James awaited Him.  He was well aware of what Herod had done to John the Baptist and had probably watched as James lost his life.  There could only be one outcome to this situation and I am sure Peter was convinced he would not see life beyond a day or two.  Yet, he was able to trust God even though it did not look good for him.  He trusted Him so much that he was able to sleep soundly between two guards, naked and in chains.   How did he do that faced with inevitable death?  The answer is he knew his life was in God’s hands and he was totally convinced he could trust God even though he was probably going to die!   I know he believed he was going to die because He was so totally surprised when he woke up from what he thought was a dream only to realize God had truly set him free.  He really wasn’t expecting this!  I don’t know what your situation is today or what you may be facing in life that looks inescapable.   But like Peter, the only way to find peace in the midst of turmoil is to trust God to accomplish His will in you, no matter what the outcome.  It’s easy to trust when things look good.  But this is the question of the day:  Can you trust Him when it doesn’t look good for you? 

Acts 12:1-5

1 About that time King Herod Agrippa* began to persecute some believers in the church. 2 He had the apostle James (John’s brother) killed with a sword. 3 When Herod saw how much this pleased the Jewish people, he also arrested Peter. (This took place during the Passover celebration.*) 4 Then he imprisoned him, placing him under the guard of four squads of four soldiers each. Herod intended to bring Peter out for public trial after the Passover. 5 But while Peter was in prison, the church prayed very earnestly for him.

Not much is really said about James here other than he was killed for his faith.  It wasn’t all miracles and everything working out for the early church.  They had to take stands and present the gospel to people who were not happy with their ideas.  Often it ended with the loss of life or imprisonment and torture.  Every week I get emails from “Voices of the Martyrs” and I am asked to pray about various situations in our modern world where my Christian brothers or sisters are imprisoned, beaten or even murdered for their faith in Christ.  There are a lot of unhappy endings in life.  This past week we learned of a young women brutally killed when she went to a home to check out a possible nanny position that was supposedly available.  We wonder why when we find out she was a person of faith and conviction?  It doesn’t always end the way we’d like it to end!   The events of this passage could have discouraged the Church and Peter, but it did not.  They stayed focused on their God and earnestly continued to pray for Peter.  They did not let the loss of a friend turn them away from their own faith.  Let that be an example to us as we go through the unexpected in life.  Let that be an example as we struggle through what seems to be the unaswered prayers of our days.  We don’t follow the Lord because everything works out the way we’d like it to work out.  We follow Jesus because He has bought and paid for our lives with His very own.  We can’t get discouraged with life’s outcomes.  They pail in light of what awaits us because of what He did for us on that cross.  So hang in there (no pun intended), even when things don’t go the way you would have liked. 

Matthew 19:16-26

10-28-07

 Acts 11:25-30

 25 Then Barnabas went on to Tarsus to look for Saul. 26 When he found him, he brought him back to Antioch. Both of them stayed there with the church for a full year, teaching large crowds of people. (It was at Antioch that the believers* were first called Christians.)
27 During this time some prophets traveled from Jerusalem to Antioch. 28 One of them named Agabus stood up in one of the meetings and predicted by the Spirit that a great famine was coming upon the entire Roman world. (This was fulfilled during the reign of Claudius.) 29 So the believers in Antioch decided to send relief to the brothers and sisters* in Judea, everyone giving as much as they could. 30 This they did, entrusting their gifts to Barnabas and Saul to take to the elders of the church in Jerusalem.
We were not always called “Christians”.  As a matter of fact, it was assumed by those primarily Jewish followers that they were adherants to Judaism who had identified the Messiah promised in the Old Testament.  But there was no identifying name for the followers of Jesus, at least until Paul and Barnabus brought the gospel to Antioch.  It was there that the people of Antioch labeled these followers of Christ.  By adding the suffix “ian” to the word “Christ” (meaning the annointed one),  the people of Antioch were complimenting these followers of Christ.  What does ”ian” mean?  It means they recognized them as an extension of Jesus Christ.  They saw Jesus in these believers, in what they did, in how they conducted themselves.  There could be no greater compliment in life than to be told you are a reflection of the image of Jesus.  After all, isn’t that what we truly live for; to be conformed into His image;  to demonstrate the truth of what He did for us on that cross?   Obviously the name stuck!  So lets make sure we live up to its significance as we live our lives in and around people who need to know Jesus before its too late!  And Remember, it’s still a compliment to be called a “Christian!”

Acts 11:19-24

19 Meanwhile, the believers who had been scattered during the persecution after Stephen’s death traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch of Syria. They preached the word of God, but only to Jews. 20 However, some of the believers who went to Antioch from Cyprus and Cyrene began preaching to the Gentiles* about the Lord Jesus. 21 The power of the Lord was with them, and a large number of these Gentiles believed and turned to the Lord.
22 When the church at Jerusalem heard what had happened, they sent Barnabas to Antioch. 23 When he arrived and saw this evidence of God’s blessing, he was filled with joy, and he encouraged the believers to stay true to the Lord. 24 Barnabas was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and strong in faith. And many people were brought to the Lord.

When the believers in Jerusalem heard about the revival amongst the Gentiles in Antioch they wanted to know if it really was a God thing, so they sent Barnabas.  Why Barnabas?  I think there were 4 reasons.  First, He was discerning about things of God and so the text tells us “he arrived and saw this evidence of God’s blessing.”  The Church at Jerusalem trusted Barnabas would get it right.  Second, He was an encourager of those who were new to the faith and so they knew he would put them on the right path towards a deeper walk and thus we are told “he encouraged the believers to stay true to the Lord.”  Third, He walked in the fullness of the Spirit and was very strong in the faith.  He was a perfect example for young Christians to look up to.  Fourth, He loved telling his story!  We don’t know what that story had been, but we do know he led many people to the Lord telling them about Jesus.  Put into a summary, Barnabas was very astute about the things of God, an encourager of the faith, who himself was an example of what God can do when he gets a hold of you, who loved to talk about Jesus to those who did not personally know Him.  God make us more like Barnabas.  Discerning the presence of God, Building up the body through encouragement, living daily in the fullness of the Spirit and able to lead others to Christ.  AMEN!  

Acts 11:1-18

1 Soon the news reached the apostles and other believers* in Judea that the Gentiles had received the word of God. 2 But when Peter arrived back in Jerusalem, the Jewish believers* criticized him. 3 “You entered the home of Gentiles* and even ate with them!” they said.
4 Then Peter told them exactly what had happened. 5 “I was in the town of Joppa,” he said, “and while I was praying, I went into a trance and saw a vision. Something like a large sheet was let down by its four corners from the sky. And it came right down to me. 6 When I looked inside the sheet, I saw all sorts of small animals, wild animals, reptiles, and birds. 7 And I heard a voice say, ‘Get up, Peter; kill and eat them.’
8 “‘No, Lord,’ I replied. ‘I have never eaten anything that our Jewish laws have declared impure or unclean.*’
9 “But the voice from heaven spoke again: ‘Do not call something unclean if God has made it clean.’ 10 This happened three times before the sheet and all it contained was pulled back up to heaven.
11 “Just then three men who had been sent from Caesarea arrived at the house where we were staying. 12 The Holy Spirit told me to go with them and not to worry that they were Gentiles. These six brothers here accompanied me, and we soon entered the home of the man who had sent for us. 13 He told us how an angel had appeared to him in his home and had told him, ‘Send messengers to Joppa, and summon a man named Simon Peter. 14 He will tell you how you and everyone in your household can be saved!’
15 “As I began to speak,” Peter continued, “the Holy Spirit fell on them, just as he fell on us at the beginning. 16 Then I thought of the Lord’s words when he said, ‘John baptized with* water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ 17 And since God gave these Gentiles the same gift he gave us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to stand in God’s way?”
18 When the others heard this, they stopped objecting and began praising God. They said, “We can see that God has also given the Gentiles the privilege of repenting of their sins and receiving eternal life.”

I have been in ministry a long time and have seen a lot of concerned individuals get in the way of what God was doing.  When Peter got back to Jerusalem their were a lot of Jewish converts to Christianity that were concerned that Peter had violated Jewish Laws of purification.  They were not joyful that Gentiles were responding to the Gospel nor were they excited that the Spirit was available to all who called on the Lord.  They were concerned about their ways and their place as the people of God.  Instead of being amazed at what God was doing they were concerned that the chosen were being compromised by gentile infiltrators.  I remember back in the 70’s when those who were in the counter-culture started coming to Christ on California’s beaches and then assimilating into churches.  Many people were outraged that they came in shorts and sandal’s and long hair.  Instead of rejoicing that a revival amongst our youth had broken out, they fought for social conformity to old standards that kept those kind of people out of our churches.  Thank God for people like  Chuck Smith who saw a movement of God and opened Churches that welcomed the counter-culture and their music.  Our churches today have since settled in and recognized the worship and the intimacy with God that grew out of those early days of the Jesus People Movement.  Be careful not to overlook what God is doing around your life.  You don’t want to be like those in Peter’s day or those in California in the 70’s that missed the point because of their own comforts and concerns. 

Acts 10:44-48

44 Even as Peter was saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who were listening to the message. 45 The Jewish believers* who came with Peter were amazed that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles, too. 46 For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God.
Then Peter asked, 47 “Can anyone object to their being baptized, now that they have received the Holy Spirit just as we did?” 48 So he gave orders for them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Afterward Cornelius asked him to stay with them for several days.

It was amazing to the Jewish believers who came with Peter that the same Holy Spirit that came at Pentecost on those in the upper room came upon those Gentiles who just heard the message of Jesus.  Why?  Because they thought the messiah was for the jews!  This episode literally blew them out of the water and left them with a busted theology.  The sign here was not so much for the gentiles, although it was a confirmation that they were included in the good news for mankind.  The sign was for the (believing) Jews and for Peter and it coincided with the message God was trying to get across to Peter in the vision he had about unclean things.  God was not exclusive for the Jews!  He was for all who feared Him and called upon Him for salvation.  They had seen this in part is Samaria when the Spirit fell on Samaritans who were half Jewish.  They could accommadate that phenomenon because they were at least half Jewish.  But these were Gentiles, outsiders and the ones responsible for carrying out the crucifiction of Christ.  Could it be that God was for the Gentile and forgiveness was for them as well?  Absolutely!  The fact that Peter even had to say to them ( ”can anyone object to their being baptized, now that they have received the Holy Spirit just as we did?”) evidences the surprise that was his.    This became a sign to them that the Gentiles heard the message and responded in their hearts to God and God heard them!  God is for the lowest of the low and the highest of the high if their hearts truly seek His favor.   Remember that today when you see the worst of the worst.  They are not so far from God that he cannot save them too!  

Acts 10:34-43

34 Then Peter replied, “I see very clearly that God shows no favoritism. 35 In every nation he accepts those who fear him and do what is right. 36 This is the message of Good News for the people of Israel—that there is peace with God through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. 37 You know what happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee, after John began preaching his message of baptism. 38 And you know that God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. Then Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.
39 “And we apostles are witnesses of all he did throughout Judea and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a cross,* 40 but God raised him to life on the third day. Then God allowed him to appear, 41 not to the general public,* but to us whom God had chosen in advance to be his witnesses. We were those who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42 And he ordered us to preach everywhere and to testify that Jesus is the one appointed by God to be the judge of all—the living and the dead. 43 He is the one all the prophets testified about, saying that everyone who believes in him will have their sins forgiven through his name.”

Why did God send Peter to Cornelius?  Because He was doing all he could in life to please God through his good works, and it was not good enough!  We should love to read passages like these where the emphasis is on what Jesus did for us rather than on the righteous works of men.  Cornelius feared God and wanted salvation for himself and his family, but he had been taught that it was all about him by his Jewish friends.  Just as God had to change some pretty significant things about the way Peter thought, He also had to change the way Cornelius thought about salvation.  We are reminded over and over again in the Scriptures that it is not about what we do, but what God has done on our behalf.  The message from Peter was simple;  “the Good news is….there is peace with God through Jesus Christ who is Lord of all!”  He also added, “He is the one appointed by God……that everyone who believes in him will have their sins forgiven through his name.”  Isn’t it good to know that it is not about our failures but His successes on our behalf that really make the differance for our eternity?

Acts 10:19-33

19 Meanwhile, as Peter was puzzling over the vision, the Holy Spirit said to him, “Three men have come looking for you. 20 Get up, go downstairs, and go with them without hesitation. Don’t worry, for I have sent them.”
21 So Peter went down and said, “I’m the man you are looking for. Why have you come?”
22 They said, “We were sent by Cornelius, a Roman officer. He is a devout and God-fearing man, well respected by all the Jews. A holy angel instructed him to summon you to his house so that he can hear your message.” 23 So Peter invited the men to stay for the night. The next day he went with them, accompanied by some of the brothers from Joppa.
24 They arrived in Caesarea the following day. Cornelius was waiting for them and had called together his relatives and close friends. 25 As Peter entered his home, Cornelius fell at his feet and worshiped him. 26 But Peter pulled him up and said, “Stand up! I’m a human being just like you!” 27 So they talked together and went inside, where many others were assembled.
28 Peter told them, “You know it is against our laws for a Jewish man to enter a Gentile home like this or to associate with you. But God has shown me that I should no longer think of anyone as impure or unclean. 29 So I came without objection as soon as I was sent for. Now tell me why you sent for me.”
30 Cornelius replied, “Four days ago I was praying in my house about this same time, three o’clock in the afternoon. Suddenly, a man in dazzling clothes was standing in front of me. 31 He told me, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, and your gifts to the poor have been noticed by God! 32 Now send messengers to Joppa, and summon a man named Simon Peter. He is staying in the home of Simon, a tanner who lives near the seashore.’ 33 So I sent for you at once, and it was good of you to come. Now we are all here, waiting before God to hear the message the Lord has given you.”

Peter was brought up in a very separatist culture where good Jews never entered the home of gentiles.   It was thought that such a move would leave one impure or unclean and therefore not able to enter into the presence of God.   God had to break this down in Peter if he was going to use Peter to bring the message of Christ to everyone who would listen, especially the non-Jew.  Under the current circumstances Peter would not have gone to Cornelius’ home.  The Vision on Simon’s roof prepared him for the things God was about to do through him.  But keep in mind Peter had to be in a place where God could get through to him about areas of his life that would hinder minister rather than encourage it.  He had to be open about things God wanted to remove from his life to enable him to do more instead of less.   As you start this new week are you in a place where God can point out to you things that stand in the way of what God wants to do in and through you.  Maybe you’ve made up your mind about someone you don’t think is capable of repentance and following Jesus.  Maybe you have a mindset that keeps you from responding correctly to the word of God.  Maybe you thing you are in pretty good shape when it comes to doing the things God has for you to do.  I am sure Peter had no idea what God was about to show him.   But He was sincerely looking to the Lord for direction and to be used.  That was the context of Peter’s call to Cornelius’ home.  It ended up with many new followers of Jesus.  Let’s look to Him for any change in direction we need to make.   

Acts 10:9-17

9 The next day as Cornelius’s messengers were nearing the town, Peter went up on the flat roof to pray. It was about noon, 10 and he was hungry. But while a meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance. 11 He saw the sky open, and something like a large sheet was let down by its four corners. 12 In the sheet were all sorts of animals, reptiles, and birds. 13 Then a voice said to him, “Get up, Peter; kill and eat them.”
14 “No, Lord,” Peter declared. “I have never eaten anything that our Jewish laws have declared impure and unclean.*”
15 But the voice spoke again: “Do not call something unclean if God has made it clean.” 16 The same vision was repeated three times. Then the sheet was suddenly pulled up to heaven.
17 Peter was very perplexed. What could the vision mean? Just then the men sent by Cornelius found Simon’s house. Standing outside the gate, 18 they asked if a man named Simon Peter was staying there.

When I talk to people about whether they pray or not in the morning quite often I get an answer that they try but it is hard to do every morning.  They are right about that.  I do not always pray in the morning.  It may seem trite to point this out, but it seems Peter wasn’t to worried about the time he prayed each day either.  I could comment on this passage about the vision, but I think whats more important here is the fact that Peter took the time to pray when he had time to pray.  We are told a meal was being prepared so instead of standing around and talking about the day, Peter slipped up onto the roof and spent the time in prayer.  What about you?  When do you pray?  Is it always in the morning or do you take the time during the day or evening when the opportunity presents itself.  Just think of what could have happed if Peter hadn’t gone up on the roof to pray?  He would not have heard from God, so he would not be questioning the meaning of the vision, so he would not be excited about going to a Roman Soldier’s house for the sake of keeping himself clean.  But God had spoken to him in prayer and he obeyed once again and agreed to go with the men to a house considered unclean by the Jews.  The point here is it’s always appropriate to pray no mater what time it is during the day.  You may take some time at lunch to go to a park, or the opportunity to soak in a hot bath alone while you lift your heart to the Lord.  You never know when God will speak into those moments clearly and concisely.  As Paul said to the Thessalonians, “Always Pray!”