Paradigm Shift part 2

Introduction

Last week we began to look at something we called a paradigm shift for the first century church. A paradigm shift is a major change in attitude and behavior that results in a significant change within a group. In the case of the first century church, the major change was God was about to show the apostles that the Gentiles were also a part of His salvation plan. This will pave the way for the ministry of the Apostle Paul, but even more so, for the fulfillment of the Gospel going out to the ends of the earth, as Jesus promised at the beginning of the book of Acts.

Last week we asked the question, “How can we know if a major change is part of a godly paradigm shift?” We saw two answers to that question in our text: 1) Godly paradigm shifts happen when God’s people leave what’s comfortable. 2) Godly paradigm shifts happen when God’s people make their lives and ministry Jesus-centric, meaning Jesus focused and Jesus exalting.

This morning we are going to look at Acts 10 and see a third answer to that question, but most importantly, the true goal of any godly paradigm shift.

Because we have a lot of text to read, we are going to jump right into it.

Body: Acts 10:1-48

Verses 1-8

North of Joppa was the very important city of Caesarea. It was a Roman stronghold throughout Scripture, the place where many of the Roman leaders in Palestine lived.

The suggestion that a Roman centurion would be a devout believer of God, who gave alms and prayed to God would have been a foreign concept to most Jews.

To begin, this centurion was a Gentile. For the Jews, Gentiles were the enemies, particularly the occupying Romans!

Additionally, most Roman leaders believed in the Greek/Roman pantheon (multiple gods).

Plus, they were conquerors and in many instances brutal to the Jews.

In fact, Cornelius was in charge of 60 to 100 men, the equivalent of an army captain...thus, he was a man of power, influence and status within the Roman culture.

For the Jews, this is the last person they would expect to be seeking God.

However, here is one who is honestly seeking God.

Never lose sight of this truth: God often reveals Himself to flawed people who honestly seek Him…

God gives him this vision of an angel telling him to get a man named Simon Peter. So he immediately sends them to find this man.

What was it about Cornelius that God would send Peter to him?

In part, we see that he:

Feared God...(meaning he recognized that the God of Israel was the One True God...)

Lead his household to fear God...

Was generous with his wealth...

Was a man of prayer...

Additionally, God is about to open Peter’s eyes and heart to something paradigm shifting. See, Cornelius knew the practical aspects of knowing and loving God. Now, he needed to know how to be saved from his sins and become a follow of Jesus.

Pre-paradigm shift Peter would have said, “No way! Become a Jew first, then we will talk...maybe...” But now, Peter’s theology is going to be shifted and the Christian church will forever be changed.

Verses 9-23a

Peter’s vision would have been both confusing and frustrating to him.

As a Jew he did all the things that a good Jewish man would do. Yes, he believed in the Messiah, but still lived as a Jewish man in most ways.

The idea that God would tell him to eat something that was unclean would have been unheard of to him.

Then God further confuses him by saying not to make things unclean that He has made clean.

God is beginning to show Peter that through Jesus He has put aside some of the OT laws, especially about ritual cleanliness.

This would happen three times then Peter was left there, still confused…until…three men show up looking for him.

What does the vision have to do with the coming of these men?

The primary objection for Jews fellowshipping with Gentiles had to do with Jewish food laws.

The Gentiles didn’t observe the Kosher food laws, and thus their food and they were were considered unclean.

Peter is probably beginning to piece things together now.

God uses his Jewish food laws to illustrate something to him that Jesus had already set the ground work for (Mark 7:14-19).

Mark 7:14–19 “And he called the people to him again and said to them, “Hear me, all of you, and understand: There is nothing outside a person that by going into him can defile him, but the things that come out of a person are what defile him.” And when he had entered the house and left the people, his disciples asked him about the parable. And he said to them, “Then are you also without understanding? Do you not see that whatever goes into a person from outside cannot defile him, since it enters not his heart but his stomach, and is expelled?” (Thus he declared all foods clean.)”

So, good news men, verse 13 can be your favorite Bible verse!

Verses 23b-33

First, Peter has other believers from Joppa accompany him to Caesarea to serve as witnesses to what he is about to do.

By going to Cornelius, Peter would potentially “rock-the-boat” for Jewish Christians in Jerusalem. These people would go as witnesses to what would happen.

Notice Cornelius’s reaction. He knew there was something special about Peter, but his response to his coming at first was all wrong. He falls down as an act of worship to him.

Peter quickly rebukes him, as he ought to. Men never deserve worship.

Which, once again is a reminder that Jesus was more than just a man, because when people fell down and worshipped him, he never stopped them.

When Peter says it unlawful for a Jew to associate with a Gentile, he’s not pointing to anything in particular in the OT, but a Jewish custom.

See, Jewish Christians believed that God had a plan for the Gentiles, but not that it concerned them at this point. They were wrong.

Peter recognizes that God was beginning to work on some of his prejudices, and had in fact told him that he could go to this Gentile.

Notice who took the initiative here. Peter? Cornelius? Nope, God.

We need to be about the Lord’s business (loving God completely everyday of our lives, and loving other correctly) and allow Him to work in hearts. Live, pray and be open to the Spirit’s moving.

Notice also: who is too far outside of God’s saving grace? Is anyone too dirty, too unclean, too sinful, too messed up? NO WAY!!!

And I absolutely love it that Cornelius called everyone he knew to come listen to Peter, even though he had no idea who Peter was or what he was going to say! He just knew that God sent him.

Man, imagine if we had more Cornelius’ today!

Verses 34-43

Before this Peter believed that this was Good News for the Jews alone. Now his perspective has been radically transformed!

The Good News is Good News for all; race, gender, or background do not matter as much as the Good News that Jesus died to save sinners and that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins!

Today, some need the same perspective change that Peter did.

His view of his ‘religion’ and God’s views were sometimes different...(sometimes we can fall into this trap as well...it’s why we always point to God’s Word, not what we think God’s Word says or should say...)

Another change we might have to wrestle with is “our church” must become “God’s church,” which is less about my wants and desires and more about what God wants for us!

So Peter, essentially, preaches the Gospel to these people. And what happens?

Verses 44-48

God interrupts a nice little sermons by showing up in a big way!

His Holy Spirit falls on these new believers, just as He did on the Jews on Pentecost.

The most amazing thing to these Jews was not simply that the Gentiles would believe, but that they would be indwelled with the same HS that they themselves had been indwelled with.

What about tongues here?

The focus isn’t the presence of tongues, but the fact that these Gentiles received the same measure of the HS as the Jews had. In fact, this will play a major importance next week…

So really, the key phrase in this section is: “Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit just was we have?”

The answer is no! It was vital that the Jews saw the Gentiles experience exactly what they did.

Throughout Scripture, baptism follows belief.

And we are baptized in the name of Jesus Christ because he is the who has made forgiveness available.

So What?

How can we know if a major change is part of a godly paradigm shift?

The goal of a godly paradigm shift is people coming to saving faith in Christ Jesus.

Whenever we judge a movement, it is wise for us to ask the question: what is the goal of this movement? What is the stated goal? But, just as importantly, what is the practical goal? We can learn the practical goal by what those involved in the movement invest their time, talent and treasure in.

The goal of the church has always be to bring the Gospel to people so that they can come to confess Jesus as Savior and Lord.

This is why we exist. We are not a fraternal organization bent on simply doing good in our community; we are not a club with great potlucks and secret handshakes; we are not a gathering of religious fans of Jesus who come for a weekly adrenaline shot. We our a Gospel proclaiming body of Christ and family of faith. We do good because Jesus did good and commanded it. We also understand that the greatest good we can do is tell others about Jesus, and the worst thing we could do is to be indifferent to people dying eternally separated from God.

Thus, we are Gospel proclaimers.

So, as we look at our own paradigm shifts, we always must discern if the goal is Gospel proclamation, or something else. Both the stated goal and the practical goal.

Just as Peter was willing to go way outside of his comfort zone, we too must be willing in the coming months to do what it takes to reach people in our community with the Gospel.

For example:

“Field of Dreams” outreach isn’t as effective as engagement & infiltration...thus, we need to embrace a paradigm shift...

Even the role of the pastor has changed...I’ve been impressed how many have actually embraced and celebrated this paradigm shift here (that doesn’t always happen)...

Sometimes, it is a calling to one person who we show godly affection towards...

I believe we are on the precipice of an exciting time in the life of FBCR. But, it is a time we must be willing to move out of our comfort zones, make our lives and ministry Jesus-centric, and make it our goal that people will come to know Jesus as their Savior and Lord. When we do this, we are going to see God raise up many more men like Cornelius!