My friend Peter and some of his friends and colleagues are facing a dilemma. They are Jews and they have been in the Tel Aviv area, formerly Joppa, and they receive a very specific call from a Roman Army Officer, Cornelius, to travel north to Caesarea, and visit him at his garrison headquarters.
In Acts Chapter 10 verse 23, we read of Peter and six fellow disciples of Jesus making their way the 20 miles or so from Joppa to Caesarea. Cornelius is waiting for Peter's arrival. He has gathered together all his relatives and friends. He is expecting something to happen. He believed that God is going to move and speak through Peter. Now quite a lot has happened leading up to this point in the story.
Are people still looking for that and expecting that today?
As Peter goes into Cornelius's house Cornelius falls at Peter's feet. But Peter would NOT be worshipped, and he says, "Stand up. I am only a man."
We are NOT to worship men - or bow down before men nor idolise men. We are to worship only the Living God.
When Peter goes inside, he finds this group of people waiting for him, and he says, "You realise that what I am doing is against the laws of my denomination, but the Living God has shown me that I must no longer regard anyone as impure, unclean or common.
I came as soon as I was sent for - but WHY did you send for me?" Cornelius replies. "Four days ago, I was praying", and he goes on to explain his vision. This has all happened fairly speedily. There are times when God moves fast.
"Now we are all here, present before God, to hear all the things that God has commanded you to speak." That is quite something to say.
Peter is a man who has been commanded to speak the words which God gave him, and so are all preachers and Bible teachers. We are under orders to proclaim what Jesus Christ has commanded us to proclaim.
I have no other message. I have not been called by God to entertain you - nor interest you in some fascinating theory - but to speak the words which Jesus Christ has commanded that I speak. We are all given that responsibility.
Peter, and some brother disciples of Jesus are in the home of this Roman Centurion, Cornelius. God was dealing with both of these men, in different ways, to achieve different goals. They are about to become very close friends. Friendship is so vitally important.
God was preparing two men who were poles apart, to come together. Cornelius had had a very real spiritual experience, and soon he is to have a mightier experience.
Cornelius and Peter each received a vision from The Lord Jesus Christ, and they both obeyed what God the Lord had said through that vision. For both, it was a hard thing Jesus was asking them to do.
Cornelius had sent three men to Caesarea, and in verse 23, we read of Peter inviting in three men who were neither Jews nor believers in Jesus. They were neither Jews, nor disciples of Jesus, and Peter was both. Separating them were walls and barriers of prejudice. God was beginning to break down this wall of division.
When Jesus Christ moves, barriers can be broken down, if we are open to God and if we are prepared to obey Him.
The Gospel of Jesus Christ - the Love and Mercy of God - was not going to be limited to any one people - not restricted to certain nations or denominations.
Jesus Christ - His Mercy and Love - Forgiveness and Healing and Power - are to be made available to all who will come to Him and who are willing to receive all that He can give. And this is how it all began to happen - in the most remarkable manner. I do not think we would planned to do this work this way, but God did, and He is always right.
In which ways does Jesus wants you to make His Grace and Mercy and Blessings available to those around you? There are many many people who are totally unaware of how much God loves them - of what God has done through Jesus Christ - and of what Jesus offers.
It is our task to make all that known, and it is a massive challenge, but what a mighty cause to which we can devote our life knowing that everything we require will be provided.
Sandy Shaw
Sandy Shaw is Pastor of Nairn Christian Fellowship, Chaplain at Inverness Prison, and Nairn Academy, and serves on The Children's Panel in Scotland, and has travelled extensively over these past years teaching, speaking, in America, Canada, South Africa, Australia, making 12 visits to Israel conducting Tours and Pilgrimages, and most recently in Uganda and Kenya, ministering at Pastors and Leaders Seminars, in the poor areas surrounding Kampala, Nairobi, Mombasa and Kisumu.
He broadcasts regularly on WSHO radio out of New Orleans, and writes a weekly commentary at http://www.studylight.org entitled "Word from Scotland" on various biblical themes, as well as a weekly newspaper column.
His M.A. and B.D. degrees are from The University of Edinburgh, and he continues to run and exercise regularly to maintain a level of physical fitness.
Sandy Shaw sandyshaw63@yahoo.com
Why should I pay any attention to this? Well it is significant and it has been significant for thousands of people over these past two and a half thousand years.
On the occasion of the death of King Uzziah,
"So tell me then - how can a very real and serious problem be turned and transformed into an opportunity? Is this not just some clever psychological trick?"
That was the challenging and almost cynical question posed to me.
Come
On this occasion, which is quite unique, the division between two leaders resulted in the doubling of the work, and not the hindering and hampering of any progress.
At the end of Acts Chapter 15 in the New Testament, we
Paul and Barnabas, these two pioneers, have been preaching and teaching, and when it was geographically easier to go on home, they re-trace their steps in order to visit the new Christian Fellowships which have been birthed and founded
Produce a serious article on leadership and the numbers of those who at least have a look at it are quite amazing!
Now here is real dynamic powerful pioneering leadership of the highest quality. You will not find better