6/20/2021 - Paradigm Shift - Acts 10

"What God has cleansed you must not call common!” Acts 10:15

There’s a moment in church history that makes the sound of a thunderclap. It’s found in Acts chapter 10. Peter has been given the keys to unlocking the future of the church. God’s picture of the future is not something Peter anticipated. In fact God had to prepare him for it. Peter had many prejudices that needed to be torn down. God begins this process with a dream that includes unkosher animals. “Arise and eat!” he’s told. He says, “Never!” In his mind the animals before him are dirty, unclean and forbidden. It will take the consistent voice of God to convince Peter, and yet this vision is preparation for something bigger. 

Gentiles should not be regarded as dirty, unclean and forbidden.

Gentiles and Jews did not mix. They had genuine hatred for each other. One viewed the other as nothing more than slave material and the other was perceived as immoral and profane. Could God really be uniting these two into one family? Yes and the proof comes when God tells Peter to visit a Gentile named Cornelius. Cornelius has questions about God and Peter is answering by telling him of Jesus. And then it happens. Cornelius believes and the Holy Spirit comes upon this Gentile and all who are with him. It cannot be denied. God’s family is all-inclusive.

God could have used an angel to bring the message to Cornelius but he didn’t. He used one of his own. Why do you think God does it this way? My dad was a mechanic and auto body repair guy. That’s what he did for a living. When I was little and he was working on a car I would look over his shoulder and wait for him to give me instructions. “Okay Jason, grab the pliers” or, “Hand me the screwdriver.” I remember feeling like a big kid because my dad and I were working together. So I did the same with my kids when they were little. At times there would be a bolt that was so tight I couldn't loosen it on my own. I needed the help of a strong four year old. So I would grab the wrench and then place that little hand on top of mine and together we would move the bolt. “We did it!” That little face would light up and so would mine. This is the joy that God gets when one of his children works alongside him. God had done all the preparation and Peter simply spoke the words. Let’s enter into joy of partnering with God by relying on the power he supplies!