1/8/23 Sermon Acts 10:34-43 "Available To All" 14 Minutes

Acts 10:34-43

This morning I'll be reading Acts chapter 10 verses 34 through 43. And I'll be reading from the Holman Christian Standard Bible. Acts 10:34-43 Peter has had a vision from God while staying in Joppa. Prior to his vision,,, Cornelius,,, a centurion in Caesarea,,, had a vision as well. During this vision,,, the angel asked Cornelius to send for Peter,,, this is found in Acts 10:1-8. These verses start when Peter begins to give them the message that God has prepared for them,,, and,,, Peters vision can be seen in Acts 10:9-20. Acts 10:34–43 (HCSB) — 34 Then Peter began to speak: “Now I really understand that God doesn’t show favoritism, 35 but in every nation the person who fears Him and does righteousness is acceptable to Him. 36 He sent the message to the Israelites, proclaiming the good news of peace through Jesus Christ—He is Lord of all. 37 You know the events that took place throughout Judea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism that John preached: 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how He went about doing good and healing all who were under the tyranny of the Devil, because God was with Him. 39 We ourselves are witnesses of everything He did in both the Judean country and in Jerusalem, yet they killed Him by hanging Him on a tree. 40 God raised up this man on the third day and permitted Him to be seen, 41 not by all the people, but by us, witnesses appointed beforehand by God, who ate and drank with Him after He rose from the dead. 42 He commanded us to preach to the people and to solemnly testify that He is the One appointed by God to be the Judge of the living and the dead. 43 All the prophets testify about Him that through His name everyone who believes in Him will receive forgiveness of sins.” The word of God for the people of God,,, thanks be to God! God bless the reading and the hearing of your word this morning. Let us pray: Dear Lord,,, as we begin this morning,,, with everyone here today and all that are listening and watching by video,,, we ask that you open our ears to hear and our hearts and minds to receive the message that you have for us today,,, In Jesus' name I pray,,, Amen. ___________________________________ Last Sunday we looked at Ecclesiastes 3:1-13 and we learned from these words of Solomon that nothing in “this world” can give us true peace and satisfaction!

Only God is capable of that,,, and we can have that peace,,, when we truly trust God in every part of our life,,, from the time that we wake up,,, to the time that we lay down at night!

And I urged you to remember as you set your goals for this New Year,,, to put God first in your life!

Because,,, as Solomon discovered,,, this world gives us nothing that we take with us when we die,,, but God has provided for eternity with Him,,, and peace in our hearts today,,, if,,, we turn to Him,,, as we should,,, instead of striving to gain whatever we can,,, in this world.

God loves us,,, and watches over us,,, even while we make mistake after mistake.

So we set our goal of keeping God first in our life,,, and everything after that,,, will be so much easier to deal with while we are here,,, dealing with the problems we are facing,,, in the world today!

This morning we will look at these verses in Acts and see how they help us in our walk with God this week.

___________________________________

Verses 34-35 say: 34 Then Peter began to speak: “Now I really understand that God doesn’t show favoritism, 35 but in every nation the person who fears Him and does righteousness is acceptable to Him.

In verses 30-33,,, Cornelius had told Peter about his vision,,, and how he was to send for him so that they could hear the words that God has prepared for them,,, and now he has everyone gathered there,,, ready to hear what Peter has for them.

And now he truly understands the vision that he had,,, and the meaning behind it.

Peters vision,,, during his normal time of prayer,,, came about after he had became hungry and he was waiting for his meal to be prepared.

He fell into a trance and an object that resembled a sheet was lowered by its four corners of the earth,,, and inside,,, were all types of four footed animals,,, reptiles,,, and birds.

God told him,,, “Get up Peter,,, kill and eat!”

But Peter refused,,, saying,,, “I have never eaten anything common and ritually unclean!”

This was repeated 3 times,,, then the object was taken up into heaven.

While Peter was thinking about this vision,,, the men that Cornelius had sent,,, arrived to ask him to return with them,,, and he went because of God’s words to him before he went down.

So we understand that Peter has never eaten anything unclean,,, or common,,, and we also know that Peter never ate with Gentiles either,,, but he is beginning to understand what God was trying to tell him.

Peter’s words were unheard of during this time.

God had chosen the Israelites as His chosen people,,, but they apparently didn’t understand,,, or remember,,, that it was through them,,, that the rest of the world would be saved.

And now the time has come for all to understand this!

The Israelites must understand their purpose,,, and duty,,, to the rest of the world.

___________________________________ Verses 36-38 say: 36 He sent the message to the Israelites, proclaiming the good news of peace through Jesus Christ—He is Lord of all. 37 You know the events that took place throughout Judea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism that John preached: 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how He went about doing good and healing all who were under the tyranny of the Devil, because God was with Him.

These verses speak of the job that Jesus was sent here to do,,, and the fact that Jesus was the Messiah is implied when he said,,, God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power ,,, because the word Messiah means “Anointed One”.

This declaration occurred at the Lord’s baptism (cf. Matt. 3:16–17; Mark 1:9–11; Luke 3:21–22; John 1:32–34).

Isaiah spoke of the Anointed One performing great deeds,,, (found in Isaiah 61:1–3),,, and as Peter declared,,, He went about doing good and healing all who were under the tyranny of the Devil, because God was with Him.

___________________________________ Verses 39-41 say: 39 We ourselves are witnesses of everything He did in both the Judean country and in Jerusalem, yet they killed Him by hanging Him on a tree. 40 God raised up this man on the third day and permitted Him to be seen, 41 not by all the people, but by us, witnesses appointed beforehand by God, who ate and drank with Him after He rose from the dead.

Peter tells them that,,, himself,,, along with all that followed Jesus,,, were witnesses of everything that Jesus accomplished during His days on earth,,, before His death and resurrection.

And that after Jesus’ resurrection,,, those chosen by God,,, ate and drank with Him after He rose from the dead.

My commentary says,,, As far as we know,,, Jesus was not seen by any unbelievers after His resurrection.

But the apostles not only saw Him; they ate and drank with Him.

This,,, of course,,, shows that the Savior’s resurrection body was real,,, it was something that could be touched,,, felt,,, and wasn’t a vision,,, but a true physical body,,, a body different from ours of course,,, but definitely real.

___________________________________ Verses 42-43 say: 42 He commanded us to preach to the people and to solemnly testify that He is the One appointed by God to be the Judge of the living and the dead. 43 All the prophets testify about Him that through His name everyone who believes in Him will receive forgiveness of sins.”

Peter made it clear in these 2 verses,,, that Christ’s ministry results either in judgment (v. 42),,, or,,, salvation (v. 43).

The key phrase is,,, Everyone who believes in Him,,, because it is only through our belief and faith in Jesus Christ,,, that we are saved!

I also say that these last two verses,,, speak to us as well.

Those of us that are Christians,,, we are tasked with the job of continuing the message of the gospel!

That means that all,,, every person,,, every where,,, regardless of social status,,, economic status,,, denomination,,, people in our communities,,, work,,, people on drugs,,, alcohol addiction,,, homeless,,, etc.,,, you pick any type of person,,, it doesn’t matter,,, all need the saving grace of Jesus Christ!

And it’s up to us,,, to tell them about Jesus Christ and His saving grace!

There is no reason that anyone,,, anywhere,,, should be rejected from the church,,, because God’s love is available to all!

And we show that love through our actions,,, more than our words!

___________________________________ So as we begin another week,,, let’s make sure that we remember these words from Peter to the Gentiles that day!

Remember that Christ is available to all,,, and we are responsible for getting that message to them!

And we do that,,, by showing them,,, God’s love,,, that shines out from us,,, whenever we obey the words of Christ,,, as found in John 13:34 that says: “I give you a new command: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, you must also love one another.”!

And we know from these words today,,, that the love we are commanded to share,,, are supposed to be available,,, to all!

So make an honest effort,,, to share God’s love,,, wherever we are,,, and with whoever,,, we see!

___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ Hymn: 337 - Oakdale Hymn: 337 - Seminary Benediction -----------------------------------------------------------