Resistance

Undivided, by First Call

Psalm 131 NIV

A song of ascents. Of David. 1 My heart is not proud, Lord, my eyes are not haughty; I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me. 2 But I have calmed and quieted myself, I am like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child I am content. 3 Israel, put your hope in the Lord both now and forevermore.

Prayer

Worship Set

Prayer

Worship Through the Word

Resistance

10,000 Sermon Illustrations Forces of Change

Everything continues in a state of rest unless it is compelled to change by forces impressed upon it.

Issac Newton, First Law of Motion

The same is true of the routines we fall into. We feel most comfortable with routines because we know what to expect. We are at rest and become comfortable because we know what is coming.

Sometimes this is good. In a job for example. I worked for a lot of years in bookkeeping. I had paperwork/checks that needed collected and prepared for data entry. When I had all the data entered into a computer, there were various processing steps that had to be taken and balanced for accuracy. I would create a routine that would help me develop a pattern so I worked quickly and accurately without missing a step. However, periodically we would get new computer systems and we had to learn a different way of doing things. This was uncomfortable and created tension. We had more of a tendency to have errors since we were new to the process and did not yet understand it well enough to develop a routine or pattern for accomplishing the tasks. Even though the new system may be faster and offer some better reports or processes. We all hated it and wanted to go back to what we knew. Eventually, we would adjust and sometimes, even decided it was worth the change.

This tends to be human nature in most things. We hang on to the way we are used to doing things because we do not have to think so hard. We are at a state of rest knowing what is expected and what happens next.

However, change still always comes. Most of the time, resistance is short lived and we fall into line. But at other times, resistance can cause us to loose out on something wonderful.

The last three weeks we have been looking at one specific event. An angel tells a Roman Centurion (Cornelius) who is trying to worship God, to send for Peter. Meanwhile, Peter has a vision about a sheet that comes down three times with unclean foods. As he is pondering what this all means, God says three Gentiles have arrived and are looking to speak with him. He is to go with them. The Jews believe the Gentiles to be unclean and Peter now understands that this is what the vision is referring to. Peter travels with these 3 men back to Caesarea where he finds Cornelius has gathered many friends and family to hear from Peter about God. Peter then shares the good news of salvation through Jesus Christ but before he is even through, the Holy Spirit comes on these Gentiles the same way He came on the Jews at Pentecost.

Today’s passage continues from here and will wrap up this event.

Acts 11:1–18 NIV

1 The apostles and the believers throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God. 2 So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers criticized him 3 and said, “You went into the house of uncircumcised men and ate with them.” 4 Starting from the beginning, Peter told them the whole story: 5 “I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision. I saw something like a large sheet being let down from heaven by its four corners, and it came down to where I was. 6 I looked into it and saw four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, reptiles and birds. 7 Then I heard a voice telling me, ‘Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.’ 8 “I replied, ‘Surely not, Lord! Nothing impure or unclean has ever entered my mouth.’ 9 “The voice spoke from heaven a second time, ‘Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.’ 10 This happened three times, and then it was all pulled up to heaven again. 11 “Right then three men who had been sent to me from Caesarea stopped at the house where I was staying. 12 The Spirit told me to have no hesitation about going with them. These six brothers also went with me, and we entered the man’s house. 13 He told us how he had seen an angel appear in his house and say, ‘Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter. 14 He will bring you a message through which you and all your household will be saved.’ 15 “As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit came on them as he had come on us at the beginning. 16 Then I remembered what the Lord had said: ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ 17 So if God gave them the same gift he gave us who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to think that I could stand in God’s way?” 18 When they heard this, they had no further objections and praised God, saying, “So then, even to Gentiles God has granted repentance that leads to life.”

The Word of God for the people of God. Thanks be to God!

With Jesus Christ’s first coming, changes began to take place. You see, the things that took place in the Old Testament were only a beginning. God was establishing a foundation through which He could bring about His true purpose.

We need to look for a moment at these changes in order to help us understand why the Jews were so confused about the things taking place. So let us look at...

A. New Testament Changes

1. Law vs Grace

2. Jew vs Gentile

3. Israel vs Church

The concept of the law, Jew, and people of Israel were all that these Jews understood. It was a slow process for them to understand that with Jesus’ advent, a change had taken place. All that they knew was important foundation, but it was never meant to be the final product. It was only a beginning point. For this reason, the things taking place were difficult to swallow. So, this wonderful event that took place in Caesarea met...

B. Resistance in Judea

Acts 11:1–3 NIV

1 The apostles and the believers throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God. 2 So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers criticized him 3 and said, “You went into the house of uncircumcised men and ate with them.”

Have you ever had a great day in the Lord, and suddenly something just blows it all up in your face? Satan loves to make us miserable. He tries to discourage us and make us feel deflated over special God moments.

Peter had a wonderful time in Caesarea. The Spirit of God was genuine. He was amazed at what God was doing and he is beginning to understand more of what Jesus had been teaching him. You can just imagine that he was excited to get back to Jerusalem and share what has taken place. Unfortunately, the news had traveled ahead of him and the others are not so pleased.

He walks in the door elated to tell them and it hits him. A fellow brother comes up and says, “Peter, what were you thinking? He know you should never have been there!” I can just imagine Peter feeling crushed. He had something exciting to share and before he can even begin, he is being chewed out! However, Peter is...

C. Discouraged but not Deterred

Here is where we see the difference between a follower and a leader. Peter does not cower and apologize. Neither does he lash out in anger. I am sure he is hurt that they do not trust his judgement, yet at the same time, he is ready to stick by what he has done. He follows God’s voice, not these others.

Besides, if it had not been for the vision from God, and God’s clear direction, Peter may have responded just as they had and not gone.

Peter is not deterred but shares his story from the beginning and we find that he gives

1. Evidence of God’s Will

You see, it is not about what he chose to do. It is about what was God’s will and God had made it clear this was His will. So, Peter lays forth his evidence.

Too often we are fast to react to situations and slow about listening first. I learned a very valuable lesson as I worked as a supervisor in a corporate office. I found that sometimes things looked to have been done wrong but after I listened I found my assumption was wrong. We had routines for doing certain tasks. However, every now and again, something unusual would occur that demanded different means of fixing them. When I went to someone and accused them of doing something wrong, I would be embarrassed when they shared the situation and I realized I was wrong.

Over time I learned to go to people and say, can you explain what was happening with this? They would explain and I would commend them for their creative handling of the situation. Sometimes I may suggest a better way of fixing it may be to do such and such. In either case, it was handled without prejudging which causes hurt or anger.

Sometimes we see something or hear something that concerns us. It is always better to walk in gently questioning then to make snap judgments. It can save us from embarrassment and it also helps us to share concerns in a way that will can better be received.

So, Peter now lays forth his evidence of God’s part in this.

a. The Vision

Acts 11:5–11 NIV

5 “I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision. I saw something like a large sheet being let down from heaven by its four corners, and it came down to where I was. 6 I looked into it and saw four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, reptiles and birds. 7 Then I heard a voice telling me, ‘Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.’ 8 “I replied, ‘Surely not, Lord! Nothing impure or unclean has ever entered my mouth.’ 9 “The voice spoke from heaven a second time, ‘Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.’ 10 This happened three times, and then it was all pulled up to heaven again. 11 “Right then three men who had been sent to me from Caesarea stopped at the house where I was staying.

Peter did not just have a vision. Peter’s vision had an immediate answer. No sooner did Peter have that vision when 3 men considered unclean showed up. Coincidence? No, God was at work in this vision and there was not doubt it was from God.

b. The Witness of the Spirit

Acts 11:12–15 NIV

12 The Spirit told me to have no hesitation about going with them. These six brothers also went with me, and we entered the man’s house. 13 He told us how he had seen an angel appear in his house and say, ‘Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter. 14 He will bring you a message through which you and all your household will be saved.’ 15 “As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit came on them as he had come on us at the beginning.

Acts 11:17 NIV

17 So if God gave them the same gift he gave us who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to think that I could stand in God’s way?”

The Holy Spirit lives within us. We should be able to start recognizing His voice. We each sense this in different ways. It is only through practice that we begin to start noticing His voice. I often hear a gentle voice in my mind. It usually is pretty succinct.

I remember traveling in my Trailblazer one day. I was thinking about something to do with my camping trailer. Then I heard a voice in my mind say, “It is time to sell your trailer.” Now, this was my baby. I was not excited about getting rid of it. But I had no doubt it was the Spirit directing me.

There have been other times when I have sensed the Spirit speaking to me. I hear it, but not so much with my ears but with my mind. With time you begin to recognize it without wondering if it really is the Spirit speaking to you.

c. The Witness of the Word

Acts 11:16 NIV

16 Then I remembered what the Lord had said: ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’

God never goes against His Word. If there is any doubt that it is the Spirit speaking, you should always test it against God’s Word. Peter is here testifying that he knew this message was from God because God reminded him of Jesus saying this would happen. This is further proof.

Peter has supplied three pieces of evidence that what has taken place was from God. The Jewish law called for 3 pieces of proof. However, Peter had a further one.

d. The Witness of Others

The confirmation of others is always a plus. Typically, apostles or disciples would travel in pairs. This time, however, Peter takes 6 Jews with him to Caesarea. This is never explained in the scripture, but it becomes important in this moment as Peter stands before his fellow apostles and other disciples. They become eye witnesses to what has occurred. God poured out the Spirit upon the Gentiles, just as He had done on the Jews.

And this brings us to our next point.

D. Who Can Argue With God

Acts 11:17–18 NIV

17 So if God gave them the same gift he gave us who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to think that I could stand in God’s way?” 18 When they heard this, they had no further objections and praised God, saying, “So then, even to Gentiles God has granted repentance that leads to life.”

If this had not been God’s will, nothing would have happened. But something did happen. The Spirit came upon the Gentiles just as He had with the Jews. There were enough witnesses to exonerate Peter of any wrong doing here.

The Jews are beginning to understand, but it will still be some time for them to fully take it to heart. Even Peter later struggles over the issue of circumcision once again. Should Gentiles be circumcised like the Jews? Paul will fight the battle against Peter on that one and Paul will win. Circumcision was for the Jew and did not have anything with being Christian.

Christian and Jew are not the same thing even though it took awhile for this to be understood. Jews needed to become Christian, but Christians did not need to become Jews.

Conclusion:

This is not just a struggle between the Jews and the Gentiles of Bible days. We also get caught up in traditions and practices that are man-made yet we try to attach God’s sanctity on them.

The recent movie “Jesus Revolution” depicts this same kind of crisis. A spiritual awakening was taking place among young people, but because they did not dress in accordance with church tradition of the day, they were often rejected.

They were more enthusiastic and this also brought criticism. Wasn’t worship suppose to be sedate and respectful. Could someone whoop and holler and be truly worshiping?

The answer is “yes.” Even in the history of the Nazarene church there are stories of men and women running up and down the aisles waving hankies in the overwhelming joy of worship. They were dressed in dresses and suits, but they displayed no less excitement and passion in their worship than those in the 1970’s.

Even King David was scorned for his display of enthusiasm of worship.

2 Samuel 6:12–16 NIV

12 Now King David was told, “The Lord has blessed the household of Obed-Edom and everything he has, because of the ark of God.” So David went to bring up the ark of God from the house of Obed-Edom to the City of David with rejoicing. 13 When those who were carrying the ark of the Lord had taken six steps, he sacrificed a bull and a fattened calf. 14 Wearing a linen ephod, David was dancing before the Lord with all his might, 15 while he and all Israel were bringing up the ark of the Lord with shouts and the sound of trumpets. 16 As the ark of the Lord was entering the City of David, Michal daughter of Saul watched from a window. And when she saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord, she despised him in her heart.

King David’s wife felt his actions brought disgrace. However, David was moved by genuine, passionate worship.

There are revivals starting up all over our nation. How would you react if someone entered our church, whooping and hollering praises to God. They may be dressed like a homeless person and smell, but they are overwhelmed with pure joy for what God has done in their life. Will we welcome them? Will we fuss at them for their behavior or their appearance or their smell? (Linda)

Keith Green was a product of the Jesus movement of the 70’s. He wrote songs that are still sung today. He started a commune in his home and he welcomed anyone who had no where else to live. More and more came to the Lord and he bought more and more property to house more and more people. They lived and ate together. They served the Lord wherever they went.

I do not know when or how, revival will come to our community. I hope we want it bad enough that it starts with us. But if it does, it will attract people. All kinds of people. Are we ready? Do we want it bad enough? I hope so. When Jesus comes, I want to know I have been faithful to His calling to spread the Word. I want to have worked diligently to draw as close to Him as I possibly can here and now.

What about you? Are you ready?

Pray