Part of the Plan

Part of the Plan: Acts 10:24-48

Introduction

Last week, we heard a great message from Josh Hebebrand on the evidences that support our faith. I personally appreciate that message and I think that the theme of this brief interlude in our journey through Acts actually reinforces themes within the narrative quite nicely.

What we see throughout the narrative of Acts is not a case of people hearing about “an invisible man in the sky with a stick” to quote Josh’s apt illustration,

but rather a series of testimonies and evidences provided in the presence of witnesses,

making a convincing case for faith in Jesus Christ.

I would here reiterate a key point from Peter’s first sermon on the day of Pentecost, in which the supernatural events of scripture are a way in which God fulfills a definite plan made by him from the beginning of Creation:

Acts 2:22–23 (ESV)

“Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know— this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men.

I think it is of crucial importance that we remember these aspects of the Gospel narrative as we progress further into Acts

POINT 1: God has had a definite plan for the redemption of ALL HUMANITY that’s been in place since the moment of creation

in fact, creation itself came through Jesus (the Word) and was for him, from the beginning. John 1:1-3

John 1:1–3 (ESV)

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.

God’s plan, from the beginning, has been to use chosen messengers to convey his truths to humanity with the intent that all people would be blessed.

POINT 2: The supernatural events of Acts, and the supernatural providences of God’s power throughout all scripture are means to that end.

Miracles don’t occur for the sake of miracles. Miracles don’t occur because we blow out all the candles in one breath

or because we see a shooting star

or because it’s 11:11.

Miracles don’t occur because we pray super hard and really mean it.

Miracles occur for the glorification of God and the fulfillment of his will for creation.

I am in no way saying that miracles don’t still occur, and I am in no way saying that we shouldn’t pray for things that we think would require a miracle to be fulfilled. I’m saying that we should pray that the will of God be done in our lives, accepting that sometimes this means we won’t get what we want. “Thy will be done”

These first two aspects of God’s perfect plan for creation can be frustrating and they can leave us with big questions.

“Why isn’t it a part of God’s plan that insert thing happens for me?”

I’d like to be the first to inform you that I THINK THAT WAY TOO!

I struggle with aspects of God’s plan daily and I get frustrated with the fact that details of that plan don’t align with my desires almost hourly!

But these questions/doubts/fears lead us to a crossroad in our relationship with God, one where we must daily answer some simple questions:

Do I believe that God has the master plan? Do I believe that big things happen when they need to for God’s plan to be fulfilled?

Am I going to trust that God is good, even when I can’t understand the plan?

Today, we are going to watch God work through several people who very apparently don’t understand the plan

But we are going to see that the details handle themselves when God’s people faithfully follow his directives. Which leads me to:

POINT 3: Our part in God’s great plan is defined by our faith.

Not our righteousness

Not our intelligence

Not our devilish good looks, our wealth, our charisma...

As Josh clarified last week, and as the entire narrative of Acts generously clarifies, we have great reason to trust in God’s plan for creation and God’s plan for our lives.

But each of us will have to be willing to accept circumstances and situations and people that we can’t imagine are a part of God’s plan for us.

Let’s pray, and let’s get into it!

Peter Meets Cornelius

Just to briefly recap what Noble covered from the beginning of Acts 10, A centurion named Cornelius, who is notable for his devotion to God, receives a message from God to seek out Peter. He faithfully sends servants to seek out this man who is a stranger to him.

As the servants are on their way, Peter receives his own vision from God, one in which God apparently rescinds the traditional Hebrew dietary restrictions against eating food deemed to be common or unclean.

As Peter is still struggling to get his head around the meaning of this message from God, Cornelius’ servants arrive at his door.

Peter invites them in as guests, and then they (Peter and his disciples/ Cornelius’ servants) all head back to Cornelius.

Let’s begin reading here at Acts 10:24

Acts 10:24 ESV

And on the following day they entered Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends.

Can I just start out by saying this: How cool is Cornelius?!

He is devoted to God even though he is almost certainly viewed as a second-rate human and believer by the ethnic Jews that he is tasked with keeping in line. He’s a proselyte, or “God-fearer”

He has no way of knowing what sort of message Peter is bringing to him, and I think he could very reasonably expect that he isn’t going to be treated as a spiritual equal by Peter...

And he invites his relatives and friends to come see the show?

The social dynamics of this scene are complex, as the Romans are in power over the Jews and yet they are viewed as spiritually unclean by them. Cornelius is showing great faith and humility in exposing himself like this!

Cornelius’ invitation of his family will prove to be of great importance as we move forward, so keep in mind:

God has a plan, all the details are working themselves out...

Acts 10:25–29 (ESV)

When Peter entered, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshiped him. But Peter lifted him up, saying, “Stand up; I too am a man.” And as he talked with him, he went in and found many persons gathered. And he said to them, “You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a Jew to associate with or to visit anyone of another nation, but God has shown me that I should not call any person common or unclean. So when I was sent for, I came without objection. I ask then why you sent for me.”

Did you notice what Peter works out when he sees the people gathered at Cornelius’ home?

Let’s recap: God gives Peter a vision (Curtain comes down from heaven, etc.)

that he immediately interprets as referring to the Hebrew dietary restrictions

But when he sees the people gathered, something clicks for our boy Pete

He realizes that God is concerned with the treatment of Gentiles, that he shouldn’t consider ANY PERSON common or unclean.

Noble briefly mentioned how Hebrew tradition instructed the Jews to avoid the company of people who were considered to be ritually impure,

Like Tanners (who handled dead animals)

And Gentiles (who ate ‘impure’ foods/worshipped false gods, ect.)

And I think we can see from details from the story so far (like the fact that Peter is in the company of a tanner)

that he is already on the right track when God steps in and helps him broaden his parameters.

Now, this is a HUGE THEOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT for the context, and certainly one that I think we can be proud of ole Petey for taking in stride...

But is it really a surprise?

Doesn’t Jesus kind of hint to this eventuality in Acts 1:7-8?

Acts 1:7–8 (ESV)

He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

I mean… hasn’t God always had a heart for the sojourner/the foreigner/the exile?

Deuteronomy 10:18–19 (ESV)

He executes justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the sojourner, giving him food and clothing. Love the sojourner, therefore, for you were sojourners in the land of Egypt.

Hasn’t God’s plan always involved Gentiles?

Joshua 6:25 (ESV)

But Rahab the prostitute and her father’s household and all who belonged to her, Joshua saved alive. And she has lived in Israel to this day, because she hid the messengers whom Joshua sent to spy out Jericho.

Ruth 4:13–14 (ESV)

So Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife. And he went in to her, and the Lord gave her conception, and she bore a son. Then the women said to Naomi, “Blessed be the Lord, who has not left you this day without a redeemer, and may his name be renowned in Israel!

God always, from the very beginning had a plan for all nations...

Genesis 12:3 (ESV)

I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

So why is it that something that seems so obvious in the whole context of scripture and something that seems so obvious to us today (as gentiles) is such a HUGE DEVELOPMENT in the lives of the individuals in this scene?

Because God’s definite plan STILL ELUDES US WHEN WE ARE CAUGHT UP IN THE DETAILS OF OUR DAILY LIVES!

This is why it’s actually good of God to ask us to let go of the details and give them over to him

BECAUSE WE CAN’T EVEN KEEP UP WITH THE DETAILS WHEN WE WANT TO!

Peter still doesn’t even know why he’s here yet!

He’s still asking why they sent for him!

Let’s read on:

Acts 10:30–33 (ESV)

And Cornelius said, “Four days ago, about this hour, I was praying in my house at the ninth hour, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing and said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your alms have been remembered before God. Send therefore to Joppa and ask for Simon who is called Peter. He is lodging in the house of Simon, a tanner, by the sea.’ So I sent for you at once, and you have been kind enough to come. Now therefore we are all here in the presence of God to hear all that you have been commanded by the Lord.”

This is the third time that we (as readers) have heard the vision given to Cornelius recounted, which should indicate some importance to us.

So what’s the big deal?

Luke is trying to make it VERY APPARENT that this meeting has been ordained by God

He is trying to reassure us that this has always been a part of the plan!

And now we hear why Cornelius has invited his relatives to this meeting:

He, and all of his dirty Gentile family & friends, are just stoked to hear what God has to say!

Notice how our three main points are made apparent through everything we’ve read so far:

POINT 1: The unfolding plan of God is established upon the redemption of all the nations of Earth. This theme has been reinforced time and time again through scripture: No one who puts their faith in God is considered unclean/less-than/common!

POINT 2: The supernatural occurences we’ve witnessed so far have all served God’s purposes to get Peter into this house with these Gentiles

POINT 3: Peter, Cornelius, and the gathered audience all are included in this historic moment because they are willing to trust God’s plan!

Everyone in this picture is flawed, broken, making mistakes even as we read, and yet GOD IS USING THEM FOR SOMETHING GREAT.

But now that we’re all here, can you imagine this scene?

Cornelius has literally bowed at the feet of Peter and invited him into his home

Peter walks into a room crowded with an audience..

Everyone is leaning forward in their seats...

Cornelius says “we’re all here to hear what God told you to tell us!”

Can you imagine the smoke coming out of Peter’s ears??… “ uhhh...did God tell me to say something to them?!”

It’s moments like these that confirm for me that God has a great sense of humor!

He throws ‘foot-in-mouth’, ‘deny-me-thrice’ Peter in front a crowd of strange people who are expecting a divine message...

and he doesn’t even give him a script!

Fortunately enough for all of us, Peter does know what the message is in this moment. Again, God has worked out the details

All Peter has to do now… Is give the Gospel

Peter Gives the Gospel

Acts 10:34–43 (ESV)

So Peter opened his mouth and said: “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. As for the word that he sent to Israel, preaching good news of peace through Jesus Christ (he is Lord of all), you yourselves know what happened throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism that John proclaimed: how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. And we are witnesses of all that he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree, but God raised him on the third day and made him to appear, not to all the people but to us who had been chosen by God as witnesses, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. And he commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead. To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”

Now this audience, being composed of Gentiles who already believe in God, receives a Gospel message that is unique among the other sermons that we hear from Peter and Paul across the narrative of Acts.

Notice how Peter describes Jesus’ baptism and his anointing with the Holy Spirit:

In this presentation of the Gospel, Peter less-explicitly describes a connection between Jesus and David, who was himself anointed by the Holy Spirit for his role as King (1 Sam. 16:12-13), without making explicit references to the scriptures (as he did in his sermon back in Chapter 2)

But he still makes mention of Jesus’ anointing for the role of Prophet, Priest, and King

We can see a development occurring in the way that the Gospel is presented so that it is better understood by Gentile audiences

We will see this process develop even further when Paul addresses the Gentiles at Lystra (Chapter 14) and at Athens (Chapter 17)

This development should provide crucial information to how we (as modern American Christians) should view our role in presenting the Gospel.

We should be MOST CONCERNED with presenting the Good News of Jesus in terms that the people we intend to reach can understand.

We should be most concerned with pointing people to God in efficacious terms that are true to the Gospel message.

We should understand that God’s plan involves ANYONE who is willing to put their faith in him

We should understand that God has/can/will work miracles in the propagation of his Good News

We should understand that all we have to bring to the table is our Faith in Jesus!

Peter is walking out this process before us in this scene, and we are about to witness some unexpected consequences of his willingness to follow God’s plan!

Pentecost 2.0

Acts 10:44–48 (ESV)

While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. And the believers from among the circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles. For they were hearing them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter declared, “Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to remain for some days.

Had anyone else here forgotten about Peter’s followers???

These ‘believers among the circumcised’, who’ve been witness to all these events, are a part of a growing contingent of early Christians that will be termed the ‘party of the circumcision’ or the ‘Judaizers’

Let me be the first to tell you, they end up on the wrong side of the Gospel quite a bit in our narrative as we move forward

But note here that they are on the right side! Even among the Judaizers (whom Paul will really, really not get along with) there are those who quickly accept the providence of the Holy Spirit when they encounter it here at Cornelius’ house.

This should impress upon us a reality of the complexity of human interactions within the body of Christ today:

Should we be divided by our personal politics, theological opinions, cultural differences, etc.?.....NO!

Are we still very often divided by our personal politics, theological opinions, cultural opinions?..... YUP!

The problems that we still face as a church today are apparent from the very start, which could be discouraging if you stopped the sentence right there...

BUT GOD, in his immeasurable goodness makes a way for the Gospel to spread in spite of all the baggage we bring to church with us!

We should be charged up by this reality!

This moment, like all the moments we read about in the narrative of Acts have direct implications for us as believers,

and we should be able to glean pertinent, practical information for how we walk as Christians today from these moments!

Side note on the symbolic importance of Baptism by water as it relates to baptism by the Spirit (if time allows)

Conclusions

So what do we take from this moment in Church history?

What’s the big deal to us?

When we look around at the world we live in today, and at the broken people that we share this life with, we should be viewing every person as a potential big player in God’s plan!

If the narrative of the Acts of the Apostles and the narrative of scripture as a whole can teach us anything, It’s that God delights in choosing unexpected ambassadors for his kingdom!

We can’t possibly know what God can do with the hearts of the people we deem to be evil, undesirable, impure…

God has, from the very beginning, had a plan in place to redeem his people from every nation across the whole face of the Earth

We are living testimony to that fact!

God has, from the very beginning worked miraculous deeds for the purpose of making a way for all people to see his goodness

We are still very much capable of seeing God do miraculous things in our lives to reach the hearts of the lost around us!

We still have a part to play!

We have each been crafted by God with a unique role in his coming kingdom, we are, everyone of us, custom-made for God to do great things through us!

We all bring our problems with us, we all have the artifacts of a broken creation, but GOD is capable of taking our weakness and making his great power known to the lost, the hurt, and the deceived people who know us for our weaknesses!

The very thing that the Enemy has tried to use to keep you from your great purpose, GOD can/will use to save lives!

This is exactly what we see God do in this scene in Acts

this is exactly what we see Jesus do in his life, death, and resurrection

This is exactly what we see God do from Chapter 3 of Genesis to this very moment today!

THIS IS GOOD NEWS!

If you think that you’re still too screwed up for God to use you, just keep reading...

Our boy Pete is going to (spoiler alert) mess up again, on this exact point, and guess what...

GOD STILL USED HIM! GOD IS STILL USING HIM!

God will keep using screw ups like you, me, and Pete until the end of time

IF we will just put our faith in him