5pmstudy.comLifting Jesus HigherThe Vision The Purpose The Destiny The Action |
| Notes for Weds Aug 11. Jot down any
questions, even some of my "short hand notes" like a (?) would indicate
for us to pause and question a phrase or term that in time we may be
fully educated. EARLY RISING? WHAT ABOUT IT? THE BIBLE SAYS THE LORD ROSE EARLY TO PRAY. WHAT'S THAT ABOUT PUTTING TH LORD FIRST? PASTOR WATCHMAN NEE'S SPECIAL HABIT? I'll explain more when we meet. Acts 10: There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment, a devout man and one who feared God with all his household, who gave alms generously to the people, and prayed to God always. Caes-ar-e-a was a predominately Roman city on the shores of the Mediterranean in Judea. It was the headquarters of the Roman governor of the province of Judea. Archaeologists have discovered a stone from a building in Caesarea inscribed with the name Pontus Pilate. Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment: Cornelius was an officer in the Roman Army. The patriotic Jews of that day would naturally dislike or even hate him. BUT CITE THE GOSPEL REFERENCES TO ONE CENTURION WHO LOVED THE JEWS AND EVEN BUILT THEM A SYNAGOG? “Thirty-two such Italians made up "cohorts" or groups usually 480 were stationed in the different provinces of the empire. They were made up of Italian volunteers and were considered the most loyal Roman troops.” (Lenski) Because he was such a loyal servant of the oppressors of Israel, most every patriotic Jewish person of that day would naturally be prejudiced against Cornelius. Yet, Cornelius was a devout man; a man who feared God, who prayed to God always and who gave alms generously to those who were in need. “As a typical Roman he had been exposed to the Roman gods – Jupiter, Augustus, (WHO?) Mars, Venus, etc. – but found they had been exposed to the "enlightened concepts of Judaism" (?) and had become devoutly monotheistic.” (Hughes) PHRASE: THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD? Cornelius was in the category of what the Jews called God-fearers (one who feared God). These were Gentiles who loved the God of Israel; they were "sympathetic to and supportive of" the Jewish faith. Yet they stopped short of becoming full Jews in lifestyle and in circumcision. THE CUTTING IN OF IDENTITY, LIKE A TATOO OR A SLAVE'S EAR RING, CIRCUMCISION IS NOT REVERSABLE. Jewish people of that time respected and appreciated these God-fearing Gentiles, but they could not really share their life and homes and food with them, because they were still in fact Gentiles and not full Jewish converts. Remember Matt 8:11 The Centurions great faith, not even found in Israel. had a real relationship with God. At the same time, he was not a part of the mainstream of Jewish life. ? About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God coming in and saying to him, “Cornelius!” And then he observed him, he was afraid, and said, “What is it, lord?” So he said to him, “Your prayers and your alms have come up for a memorial before God. Now send men to Joppa, and send for Simon whose surname is Peter. He is lodging with Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea. "He will tell you what you must do.” WHAT IS MY JOB IN LIFE? ZERO IN ON THE 9TH HOUR. So it was the ninth hour (3:00 in the afternoon). This was a "customary time of prayer for Jews". Also, as Cornelius related the incident to Peter in Acts 10:30, he specifically said he was praying (at the ninth hour I prayed in my house). He saw clearly in a vision an angel of God: This was not a dream, nor did it actually happen. This was a vision that came in the “mind’s eye” of Cornelius. At the same time, it was so vivid that Cornelius would later say, a man stood beside me in bright clothing (Acts 10:30). Cornelius! It is significant that God spoke to Cornelius directly, even calling him by name. It is also significant that Cornelius responded with a healthy fear of the heavenly and holy (Bible says he was afraid). This shows that Cornelius had a real relationship with God. I HAVE NEVER HAD A VISION LIKE THAT, RATHER WE ALL HAVE HAD IMAGININGS THAT HAVE DIRECTED OUR ACTIONS? YOUR COMMENTS? Cornelius didn’t even know who Peter was. But he knew that he should do what God told him to do, and he could trust that God was speaking to this one named Peter also (He will tell you what you must do). And when the angel who spoke to him had departed, Cornelius called two of his household servants and a devout soldier from among those who waited on him continually. So when he had explained all these things to them, he sent them to Joppa. Cornelius called two of his household servants and a devout soldier: Apparently, the faith of Cornelius "was contagious" ? and there were those of his household and under his command who also honored the God of Israel. Peter’s vision of the great sheet. 1. (Act 10:9-10) Peter on Simon the Tanner’s housetop. A Tanner kosher?? The next day, as they went on their journey and drew near the city, Peter went up on the housetop to pray, about the sixth hour. Then he became very hungry and wanted to eat; but while they made ready, he fell into a trance. a. As they went on their journey and drew near the city, Peter went up on the housetop to pray: As God spoke to Cornelius, and as Cornelius sent the messengers to call Peter, God also spoke to Peter himself. THIS REMINDS YOU OF ANANIAS WHO CONNECTED WITH PAUL TO PRAY FOR HIM. DID YOU EVER HAVE THE URGE TO PRAY FOR AN INDIVIDUAL, AND MAYBE YOU GIVE HIM A TELEPHONE CALL? Typically, this is how God operates. He speaks to several people about a matter, not just one. (2 or more?),Then confirmation is provided, and out of the mouth of two or three witnesses a word is established. “Two men are thirty miles apart. They must be brought together. In order that they may meet, while Joppa is busy with its trade, and Caesarea with its great shipping interests, and will know nothing of what is going on; God within the shadows is keeping watch above His own, sending the angel to Caesarea, and grants the ecstatic trance in Joppa. They were thus brought together.” (Morgan) Peter went up on the housetop to pray: In that culture, the housetop was normally used as a sort of patio. (Club Med sea breezes) There was nothing strange about Peter going up on the housetop to pray. FLAT ROOFS, SLIGHT SLOPE TO CATCH RAIN WATER. Then he became very hungry: This often happens during prayer; distractions in our body come as we try to direct ourselves to God. However, God used these very distractions to speak to Peter, as he fell into a trance. 2. (Act 10:11-16) Peter’s vision. And saw heaven open and an object like a great sheet bound at the four corners, descending to him and let down to the earth. In it were all kinds of four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, creeping things, and birds of the air. And a voice came to him, “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.” But Peter said, “Not so, Lord! For I have never eaten anything common or unclean.” And a voice spoke to him again the second time, “What God has cleansed you must not call common.” This was done three times. And the object was taken up into heaven again. Peter saw all sorts of kosher and non-kosher animals prominently displayed on a sheet-like background (a great sheet bound at the four corners). Then, Peter heard a command: Rise, Peter, kill and eat. When Peter became very hungry and wanted to eat during prayer, he no doubt regarded it as a distraction. Yet, God used it by speaking to him through a vision regarding food. His hunger perhaps made him pay more attention! A voice came to him: We don’t know exactly what this was like for Peter. It is rare for God to speak in an audible voice. More often, God speaks to our inner man. As a vision can be “seen” by the “mind’s eye,”(?) even so we can “hear” the voice of God with the “mind’s ear.” i. “God does not need sound waves to fall on an ear drum to speak to a man. When it pleases him to do so, he can speak directly to one’s mind where all sound waves are finally interpreted.” (Lovett) c. Rise, Peter, kill and eat: This obviously went against Peter’s commitment as a Jew, which was to never eat anything except kosher foods. Certainly, among the all kinds of four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, creeping things, and birds of the air there were non-kosher animals included. d. Not so, Lord! Peter’s response was both absurd and yet typical of us. He said “no” to his Lord. The only legitimate answer to a request from our Lord is “yes.” i. Peter had a bad habit of telling Jesus “no” (Matthew 16:22, John 13:8). Compare Peter’s response to God (Not so, Lord!) with Cornelius’ response to God (What is it, Lord?). On that day, it seemed that Cornelius was more responsive to God than Peter was. RECALL: YOU SHALL NEVER WASH MY FEET. I SHALL GO WITH YOU TO THE DEATH. THIS DESTINY IN JERUSALEM BE FAR FROM YOU. GET THEE BEHIND ME SATAN. PETER HAD THAT HABIT, SO MUCH LIKE US. WE ARE NATURALLY STUBBORN TO DO WHAT GOD WOULD WANT? HERE THE BIBLE PATTERN REALLY TEACHES US A LESSON: Peter had pretty much put God in a box of limitations, and now God was going to shake Peter up to change his thinking. He can do the same for us. “Shake yourself up a little, my brother. If you are too precise may the Lord set you on fire, and consume your bonds of red tape! If you have become so improperly proper that you cannot commit a proper impropriety, then pray God to help you be less proper, for there are many who will never be saved by your instrumentality while you study propriety.” (Spurgeon) Peter was saved, Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit, and Peter had been greatly used by God. At the same time, Peter was still Peter. God didn’t use him because he was perfect, but because he was in the right direction and he was available. We often fall into the trap of thinking that we must be perfected until God can really use us. WHAT DO YOU THINK? God responded clearly to Peter. What God has cleansed (declared clean) you must not call common (impure, unholy, unacceptable to God). i. In Old Testament thinking, there was the holy and the common. The holy was made common when it came into contact with something common, and could only be made holy again through a ritual cleansing. When something was made holy it was called consecration; when it was made common it was called desecration. At this point, Peter believed that God spoke only about food. But shortly, God showed Peter that He was really getting at another point. This was done three times: For deep emphasis, God repeated this vision three times. Peter was to regard this as important. WHY THE THREE TIMES? THE DENIAL? Now while Peter wondered within himself what this vision which he had seen meant, behold, the men who had been sent from Cornelius had made inquiry for Simon’s house, and stood before the gate. And they called and asked whether Simon, whose surname was Peter, was lodging there. While Peter thought about the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are seeking you. Arise therefore, go down and go with them, doubting nothing; for I have sent them.” Peter did not have it all figured out. That came in time, and it came as God spoke to Peter through the visitors just arriving at his door. JEWISH ROOTS RUN DEEP (FUNDAMENTAL) CONCERNING GENTILES. WHERE ELSE DO WE SEE IT? (REMEMBER WHEN PAUL GOES BACK TO JERUSALEM) Go with them, doubting nothing, for I have sent them: At this point, God has not told Peter that his visitors were Gentiles. Normally, a godly Jew like Peter would not associate in this manner with Gentiles. (REMEMBER JOHN 4) Knowing this, and knowing Peter’s previous resistance (Not so, Lord!), God simply surprised Peter with the knowledge that these men were Gentiles. All Peter needed to know was that the Spirit said, “I have sent them.” WHAT A RELIEF Peter must have been shocked when he opened the door and saw two servants and a soldier (Acts 10:7) at his door. He would have known immediately that they were not Jews, and he would have wondered why God told him to go with them and why God had sent them. i. The idea that God could send and use Gentiles was entirely new to Peter. God was expanding Peter’s mind and heart. The messengers from Cornelius come with an invitation. Peter was to go to the house of Cornelius, who wants to hear words from you. Of course, this was an invitation Peter couldn’t pass up – or could he? i. A Gentile – worse yet, an officer in the Roman army – wanted to hear the gospel from Peter. Peter never did anything like this before! How will he respond? SOMEBODY WANTING TO HEAR ABOUT THE LORD JESUS?? THIS WAS KINDA RARE. BUT THEN I AM REMINDED OF LARRY'S VISION OF THE "CORNERS OF THE FIELD" MANY REFERENCING OF THIS IN THE O.T. he invited them in and lodged them. Lodged them is literally “to entertain as a guest.” Peter didn’t just coldly give these Gentiles visitors a room; he entertained them as welcomed guests, and he did this against every custom of the Jewish people of that day. i. “Normally a Jew would have said, ‘Well, it is nice to meet you, but we need to stay out here in the street. You can’t come inside.’ Or he might have said, ‘If you go down the street a little way, I think you’ll find an inn where you can stay.’ No orthodox Jew would have invited Gentiles into his house. GOING BACK TO MATT 8:11 ABOUT SITTING DOWN AT THE TABLE WITH ABRAHAM, ISAAC, JACOB ? SO PETER WENT WITH THEM. REMEMBER ONE OT PROPHET WHO DID NOT...Jonah ran from God’s call, thinking he could get away from the Lord, and he did not share God’s heart for the lost. Peter was willing to re-examine his traditions and prejudices in light of God’s word, and he shared God’s heart for a lost world. Some are more like Peter, some more like Jonah. (SO IN BIBLICAL ED., WE LIKE TO DO COMPARISONS) And the following day they entered Caesarea. Now Cornelius was waiting for them, and had called together his relatives and close friends. As Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshiped him. But Peter lifted him up, saying, “Stand up; I myself am also a man.” I WAS TAUGHT HE WAS THE "FIRST POPE". (?) HELPS TO DO AWAY WITH BISHOP RING KISSING. CORRUPT POPES IN HISTORY. AND TODAY. MALACHI MARTIN'S EXPOSE. HOW HARD IS IT FOR CATHOLICS TO EMBRACE THE WORD OF GOD, THE BIBLE? BUT WHAT A VICTORY WHEN THEY DO. Whenever in the Bible, worship is offered to men or to angels (as in Revelation 19:10), it is refused. But Jesus received such worship freely (Matthew 8:2; 9:18; 14:33; 15:25; 28:9). This proves that Jesus is more than a man, and greater than any angel (Luke 4:8). In the great St. Peter’s Cathedral in Rome, there is a huge statue of Peter, where people come and kiss the toe of the statue. This is undue and inappropriate reverence towards any man or angel. We might almost wish that Peter would visit the cathedral named after him and kindly correct such people. (CHECK OUT MY VIDEO CALLED "The Penitents" linked here. ) AGAIN THE EMBRYO OF CHURCH where Jew and Gentile see their common ground. Peter honored Cornelius by coming all the way from Joppa to see him. Cornelius honored Peter by bowing low before him. They did just as Paul would later write, in honor giving preference to one another (Romans 12:10). Commentator Stott noted: “Peter refused both to be treated by Cornelius as if he were a god, and in turn would not treat Cornelius as if he were a dog.” (Stott) Children's bread unto dogs?? “The principle subject of this chapter is not so much the conversion of Cornelius as the conversion of Peter.” (Stott) So, he explained the message he received in the vision, and realizing that God wasn’t only (or even primarily) talking about food in the vision saying...(I should not call any man common or unclean). Again, I hear one guy who used to teach here say, I pay attention to Jesus, not to Paul, and Paul was against too many things, but really they were on the same page. Jesus spoke of this principle: Do you not perceive that whatever enters a man from outside cannot defile him, because it does not enter his heart, but his stomach, and is eliminated, thus purifying all foods? (Mark 7:19). It is rather what comes out of a man. And Therefore let no one judge you in food or in drink…which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is rather of Christ (Colossians 2:16-17). We have a thing hanging on with some new Christians who do not see the idea of separateness or the concept of holy. They say, well Jesus hung out with drunkards and prostitutes, why can't I? What's wrong with this picture? What is your answer to young Christians?? I know an old biker who is still hung on this. (Act 10:30-33) Cornelius explains why he sent for Peter. So Cornelius said, “Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing. Bible says he was fasting. So food became less important. He sought God diligently and God revealed Himself to Cornelius. I know people who go expecting and fasting. No matter who preaches the Word. I know some who stay away from group when their favorite speaker has a day off. Remember God is no respecter of persons. Cornelius was prepping. He knew what a lot of seasoned Christians have not learned. Simply that most times God communicates on that "parallel strata component" that we often speak of. Which is: Simply that while we are hearing with our ears, God is usually speaking volumes into our inner man, spirit, new creature, inside our saved man inside spiritually, or some say our heart... Act 10:34-43) Peter’s short sermon to the Gentiles. Then Peter opened his mouth and said: “In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him... This statement goes completely against the prevailing Jewish thought at that time that God certainly did show partiality, towards the Jews and against the Gentiles. According to William Barclay, it was common for a Jewish man to begin the day with a prayer thanking God that he was not a slave, a Gentile, or a woman. A basic part of the Jewish religion in the days of the New Testament was an oath that promised that one would never help a Gentile under any circumstances, such as giving directions if they were asked. But it went even as far as refusing to help a Gentile woman at the time of her greatest need – when she was giving birth – because the result would only be to bring another Gentile into the world. So this Talmudic stuff that later intensified worked to cause anti-semitism among most of Europe, even Martin Luther, but even he did not completly understand what was going on with these Jews who were so afflicted and beaten up by their own religion. Thank God today that prison gate of Talmudic Judaism is lessening. I think the Holocaust and the new generation of young people who are curious why the Rabbis kept the door to the outside so closed for so many years. The Jewish Ghettos. (NOT LIKE THE ORIGINAL DEFINITION) I like that YouTube channel, "One For Israel" that indicates that Messianic Judaism is spreading like wildfire. When the Jews showed this kind of partiality they were not being faithful to God’s heart as revealed in the Old Testament. The idea that God shows no partiality is also stated in Deuteronomy 10:17 and 2 Chronicles 19:7: For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality nor takes a bribe (Deuteronomy 10:17). b. But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him: Peter’s point was not to imply that men like Cornelius were already right with God and don’t need to become Christians. Instead, the point is that they need not feel excluded from God because of their national background. EVERY CHURCH THAT HAS BEEN ACTIVE AND ALIVE WITH PEOPLE ALWAYS GETTING SAVED HAS BEEN ONE WITH CHRISTIANS BEING MANY DIFFERENT COLORS AND NATIONS OF PEOPLES. THIS IS JUST MY OWN PERSONAL EXPERIENCE. He is Lord of all: This is a powerful phrase, showing the deity of Jesus. Peter’s preaching to the Gentiles was essentially the same as his preaching to the Jews. He presented the person and work of Jesus Christ, with an emphasis on the resurrection of Jesus and our responsibility before God in light of these things. He didn’t have one sermon for one group and another sermon for another. All people needed to be saved by coming to a living faith in a living Jesus Christ. Points Peter covered: · Jesus was baptized in identification with humanity · Jesus was anointed with the Holy Spirit and with power · Jesus went about doing good and healing, delivering those oppressed by the devil · Jesus did this with the power of God, for God was with Him · Jesus did these things in the presence of eyewitnesses · Jesus was crucified · Jesus was raised from the dead, resurrected in view of many witnesses · Jesus commanded His followers to preach the message of who He is and what He did · Jesus is ordained by God to be Judge of the entire world · Jesus is the one foretold by the prophets And we should go and look up scriptures fo each and all of these points. I can even think of a few. And then he says: Even to us who ate and drank with Him "after He arose from the dead": “Peter stresses eating and drinking with Christ because that is a way of saying that Christ’s was a real resurrection.” Also it to put to rest the first century heresy that taught that Jesus was a spirit (And even Christ himself said: "See a spirit does not have flesh and bones as I have...") He commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that it is He who was ordained by God to be Judge of the living and the dead: “The apostle was not long in his address before he came to the doctrine of the judgment of all men by Jesus Christ. He says that he was commanded to preach it, and therefore he did preach it.” (Spurgeon) e. Whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins: The brief sermon concluded with an understanding of the broadness of God’s promise of salvation. Note it carefully: Whoever believes! Jew or Gentile; slave or free; white or black; good or wicked; rich or poor – whoever believes. While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word. And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. Then Peter answered, “Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?”And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then they asked him to stay a few days. a. While Peter was still speaking these words: Salvation came when each one of these Gentiles responded to Peter’s message with believing faith in their hearts, so that they were actually born again as they listened and believed. “Oh that the Spirit of God would in the same manner interrupt us!” (Spurgeon) While listening to Peter, these people made a secret and invisible transaction in their hearts with God, by setting their faith on Jesus Christ. The moment of a person’s salvation isn’t necessarily when they raise a hand or come forward at an evangelistic invitation. It is more likely at the moment they surrender to God and embrace with trust Jesus in the sincerity of their hearts. These were likely not the first Gentiles to trust in Jesus and be born again. Gentiles had probably received salvation in the eight years since Pentecost (Acts 2). But those Gentiles were saved as they embraced Judaism as well as Christianity. Gentiles may have received salvation before this, but they were saved as Jews, not as Gentiles. The Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word…they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God: Their filling with the Holy Spirit was accompanied by the demonstration of spiritual gifts. This was a filling with the Holy Spirit in two senses: First, in the sense that He indwells and abides in every believer; second, in the sense of a special empowering, with gifts and graces from the Holy Spirit. When they spoke with tongues, it was to magnify God, not to teach men. The audience was God, not man, as is consistent with the principle of 1 Corinthians 14:2. ii. This was unique. It was not common in the Book of Acts or in subsequent Christian experience for those who were not previously converted (born again) to instantly be born again and receive such evident spiritual gifts. Yet it was good and even necessary on this occasion, to show that they received the exact same Spirit, the exact same blessing as the apostles and first followers of Jesus did on the morning of Pentecost (Acts 2). iii. “The Gentiles are brought into an exactly parallel position, not merely with normal Jews (or even Samaritans) who had believed on Jesus, but with the apostles themselves.” (Boice) c. Those of the circumcision who believed were astonished: The Jewish Christians present were amazed. They may have understood that God was now starting to love the Gentiles, but who would have thought God would fill Gentiles with the Holy Spirit in the same manner and degree as the Jews? i. Peter made the point clearly when he noted that they received the Holy Spirit just as we have. It wasn’t just that God loved or blessed the Gentiles that astonished them. It was that God loved and blessed the Gentiles just as He loved and blessed the Jews, and He did it while they were still Gentiles. d. He commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord: This showed their full acceptance into the community of those who followed Jesus. Their baptism showed they were accepted as Gentile followers of Jesus. i. This entrance of Gentiles into the church was not a new plan, but something promised long before. The Old Testament looked for the day when a light would shine in the darkness of the Gentile world: Arise, shine; for your light has come! And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you. For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and deep darkness the people; but the Lord will arise over you, and His glory will be seen upon you. The Gentiles shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising. (Isaiah 60:1-3) God promised Abraham and his descendants that the blessing that came through him would extend to all nations (Genesis 12:1-4). Here, we see Jesus – the greatest blessing from Abraham – extended to the nations. Remember Jesus’ promise of other sheep, not of this fold in John 10:16. Jesus also promised, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself (John 12:32). The first Gentile Jesus dealt with in His public ministry was a Roman centurion from Capernaum. When Jesus healed that centurion’s servant, He declared that many will come from east and west, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 8:5-13). We should also see that Cornelius was an undoubtedly good man; yet he needed Jesus. Even good people, who are respectful towards God, still need to come to Jesus as their Lord and Savior, and put all their trust in who Jesus is and what He did for them. © 2012 David Guzik – Notes in ALL CAPS are by Bill C. No distribution beyond personal use without permission |