Peter - and the Paradigm Shift: Part 2 (Post 19)

As we continue to explore this remarkable event, today read ...

Acts 10: 9 - 23

Peter was a changed man ... Peter was the same man.  Isn't that true of all of us?  

Peter was still Peter and we see that in the way he responded at first to the vision with the animals.  The voice in the vision told Peter to eat.  His response is very revealing.  He said, "No".  Peter is still correcting God.  Do you remember when Jesus was telling His disciples about His coming death and cross?  Peter's response was, "No way!"  Hmm ... Peter hasn't lost his personality, his style, his markers.  Neither will you.  

However, his language gives us a great wake-up call.  Peter said, "Surely not, Lord!"  I am interested in the name he used for the voice in the vision ... he responded with "Lord".  

In the Enhanced Strong's Lexicon we learn the following about that name, Lord:

"he to whom a person or thing belongs, about which he has power of deciding; master, lord. 1A the possessor and disposer of a thing. 1A1 the owner; one who has control of the person, the master. 1A2 in the state: the sovereign, prince, chief, the Roman emperor. 1B is a title of honour expressive of respect and reverence, with which servants salute their master. 1C this title is given to: God, the Messiah." 

Do you see it?  Peter called him "Master" and then said, "no".  A slave doesn't correct his master and tell him, no.  Peter is still learning what it means to truly be surrendered to his Lord.  It's a process, isn't it.  We surrender to our "Lord" and then we spend a lifetime learning what that means.  Jesus knew that.  That's why we hear Him say in Luke 6:46

Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord, and do not do what I say?  

If you and I have chosen to call Jesus, "Lord" ... then we are committed to a lifetime of doing what He says.  Peter is "in process" ... I am "in process" ... what about you?

While Peter is still Peter, we observe the dramatic ways he has changed in these verses.  When the Gentile servants appear at his door, he "invited the men into the house to be his guests." (verse 23)  Unheard of.  Jews didn't do that.  But Peter did.  Why?  Because the Spirit told him to.  And so he did.  He obeyed - even when the behavior was so foreign to his background and training.

Let's close with two general observations from these verses.

First - when God has a work to do, He prepares both sides.  God was communicating with Cornelius - God was communicating with Peter.  And they did not know it about the other.  God can be trusted with His work!

Second - growing into a faithful disciple of our Lord, Jesus Christ, will be marked with times of great success and some dramatic failures.  There will exist a struggle within our own spirits.  And that is good.  So - embrace the struggle!  It means that God is at work in you.

Lord, we worship You. We pray that each of us will be able to truly hear Your voice today.  And as we hear, Lord, strengthen us to obey You.  That is our desire.

Peter - and the Paradigm Shift: Part 1 (Post 18)

One of the most remarkable stories in all of scripture is recorded in Acts 10 - 11.  It is revolutionary.  It presents a paradigm shift of cosmic proportions.  I pray that familiarity with the story will not blind us to the miraculous event that took place in the hearts of two men ... indeed, two cultures.  Let's plan to spend some time here.  Today ...

Read Acts 10: 1 - 8

Caesarea - built on the Mediterranean Sea by Herod the Great in 22 BC.  From the ruins it is not hard to see and imagine the vibrant center of Roman culture that existed in the first century.  The city boasted a beautiful arena and a large, active theater.  Herod built the first ever artificial harbor here and Caesarea became a major seaport on the Mediterranean.  Herod also built his summer palace here. Caesarea was the capital of the Roman government in Palestine and was named n honor of Caesar Augustus.  And Cornelius was stationed in this important city.  He was an important man - a soldier - a commander - in charge of 100.   I wonder if he ever went to the arena to enjoy whatever games or entertainment was provided.  I wonder if his regiment was ever stationed there.  We can't know.  But we can know that this was his city - his station.  And we can know that Cornelius was not a Jew.  We have no indication that he was a proselyte Jew either.  He was a Roman man - a good man - but a Roman man.  

Some observations from these verses:

First, God makes Himself known to all who want to know Him.  Paul reminds us of this fact when he writes to the Romans in Romans 1:19 - 20

"... since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them.  For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities - His eternal power and divine nature - have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse."

This passage gives us confirmation that when a heart is God-seeking, God sends a messenger.  There is not a standard operating procedure with God.  His methods of communication with those seeking and honoring Him is as varied as creation itself.  Sometimes, just sometimes, we get the privilege of participating in God's message.  Obviously, we can decline - it's not convenient, I don't have time, I'm not comfortable, someone else is better equipped - yada, yada, yada.  And when we do, the loss is ours.  God will provide a messenger for a heart seeking Him.  So next time God taps your shoulder with an opportunity - don't decline.  With Cornelius?  God first sent an angel in a vision.  

Second, good people come in all shapes and sizes and cultures and religions.  Cornelius was a devout man. He feared God.  He prayed.  He led his household well.  He helped those in need.  He was a good man. Have you ever been tempted to doubt someone's authenticity or devotion to 'goodness' because they were so different from you?  This encounter with God should be a huge wake-up call for us when faced with that temptation!

Third, when God sends you a message ... respond!  Verse 7 tells us "As soon as the angel left ...", Cornelius acted.  He didn't seem to wait and weigh the pros and cons of the action.  He was not foolish.  He sent trusted people to carry out the summons ... but he sent them immediately.  Has God been showing you something to "do" lately?  Why are you waiting?  Are you waiting for it to "make sense" to you?  God told this Roman commander to send for a Jew.  So he did.

Lastly, the angel told Cornelius that his generosity to the poor had been received by God as an offering to God!  Don't miss that phrase!  At its core - his help to those in need was an offering to God.  Did the recipient benefit?  Of course.  Did Cornelius probably feel good about the gift?  I would think so.  But the beauty of the benevolence was that it was as if it was laid on an altar in worship to God.

I am reminded of Jesus' words in Matthew 25: 34 - 40

Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world.  For I was hungry, and you fed me.  I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink.  I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home.  I was naked, and you gave me clothing.  I was sick, and you cared for me.  I was in prison and you visited me.'

 Then these righteous ones will reply, 'Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you?  Or thirsty and give you something to drink?  Or a stranger and show you hospitality?  Or naked and give you clothing?  When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?'

 And the King will say, 'I tell you thee truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!'

An offering to God ...

Peter, the Persecuted (Post 17)

I have loved watching Peter become the "man of the hour"!  He has learned so much from his master, Jesus, and he was living out the life of Jesus among the crowds - the receptive, the skeptical and the openly hostile.  He was teaching - as Jesus had done.  He was healing the sick, the demon-possessed, the lame - as Jesus had done.  He was giving the glory to God - as Jesus has done.  Therefore, we should not be surprised that he began receiving the same kind of opposition and persecution that Jesus had received.

Read Acts 4: 18 - 22 and Acts 5: 17 - 32, 40 - 42

As you formulate your own observations, allow me to make three.  

First, the message about Jesus - His identity, His work, His sacrificial death and miraculous resurrection - will not be received joyfully by everyone.  That seems so obvious, but it still is a pill hard for us to swallow.   We so want everyone to like us and think we're terrific!  We still want to "tuck and run" when confronted with hostility and opposition.  Peter didn't.  

There are places in our world today where the Jesus message still garners physical persecution.  Pray for those who must, like Peter, face it with courage and determination and the conviction that "we must obey God rather than men."  (5:29)  There is also the subtle persecution of ridicule, of being made to feel just a bit ignorant and un-enlightened.  And perhaps it is the most difficult when its source is people you dearly love. Will you stand with Peter?  Will I?

Second, persecution is painful.  Again, a ridiculously obvious statement, and yet one we do not like to think about or consider for ourselves.  Peter (with his co-apostles) was put into a public jail. (5:18).  He was required to stand in a trial under the scrutiny of very powerful people.  (5:27).  He was flogged.  Translate - beaten.  (5:40).  All these things were meant of humiliate - to intimidate - to threaten.  Yet Peter did not yield.  Jesus had said to Peter, "Follow me."  And Peter faithfully followed - regardless of where those footprints led.  Are you a "follower" of Jesus?  Am I?

Third, how did Peter stand up under such persecution?  How did he keep going?  Of course, he was filled with God's Spirit.  We read of that miraculous coming of the Holy Spirit in Acts 2.  Jesus had promised the Spirit's coming to live "in" believers.  As Jesus was explaining about the coming Spirit to His apostles, He had said:

"But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you."  John 14:26

As Peter sat in that public jail ... as Peter felt the brutality of the whip cutting into his skin - I think he must have been reminded by the Holy Spirit in him of the words of Jesus.  I think he must have heard ...

Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  Bless are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.  Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you."   Matthew 5: 10 - 12

With those words resonating in his spirit, Peter could leave those horrific circumstances "rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name."  (5:41)

Where is your place of 'suffering for the Name'?  Is it physical?  Is it in your spirit or in your mind?  Is it psychological warfare from someone you love?  Is it based in your secret places of doubt?  It will come ... it will be painful and often fierce ... it can be overcome!

Faithfulness ... like Peter ... Lord, strengthen us!