Us vs Them (Enemies)

Title:  Us vs Them (Enemies)

Focus Statement:  

God didn’t choose Israel to exclude the nations—He chose Israel to reach them. And through Jesus, what was once divided is now one.

Humanity naturally divides what God intends to unite.

Function Statement:  

Who is the gentiles in your life? How is God calling you to find common ground and reconcile?

Tweetable Phrase:  

The same cross that reconciled you to God calls you to be reconciled to others.

Main Text:  

Acts 10:9-11:18

Supporting Text:  

Psalm 109 / Psalm 58 / Psalm 68 / Genesis 1:27 / Genesis 12:1-3 / Isaiah 49:6 / Exodus 19:5-6 / John 4

Redemptive Closure (point to Jesus):  

Matthew 5:43-48 / Matthew 7:1-5 / Matthew 18:21-35 / Matthew 28:19 / Ephesians 2:14-16 / Romans 10:12 / Romans 12:16-21 / Romans 11:17-24 / Ephesians 2:11-22

Benediction:  

Revelation 7:9-10

WELCOME

Good morning!!! My name is Ryan Hanson, and I have the honor of serving here at The Light KC as the lead pastor. I’m so glad you’re here with us.

‌Welcome to those joining us online. We hope you're doing well and hope to see you in person in the coming weeks.

And a special welcome to those joining us for the first time. We’re so glad you chose to be here.

ME/INTRO - Tension

How many of you have had one person in your life you just can’t seem to get along with?

I had one such person back in Michigan when I worked as a sales leader. My job, as Sales Leader, was to be the bridge between the customer and the business. I needed to lead my team in such a way that they would always keep the business’ best interest in mind, but at the same time advocate the customer’s needs, wants, and feedback to the business. Many times non-customer facing roles like engineering and production loose sight of the true customer’s needs, so part of sales’ job is to ensure that as a company we are all aligned and truly providing value to the customer.

When I first took the role of Sales Leader the business was setup so the division I was in was led by a team. They called it a BGT (Business Growth Team). It functioned in such a way that the division was co-led by the engineering leader, production leader and sales leader. This worked very well as it gave each department an equal voice and made sure that all relevant issues were heard and dealt with. During those years the business did very well and we grew significantly.

Post COVID the business changed it’s leadership philosophy and they hired a “business leader”, an outside person to bring in fresh ideas. The person they hired was heavily operations focused.

Instead of collaborating with

sales to see what the customer truly needed and when they needed it;

engineering to see what could realistically be done from a design and parts lead-time perspective;

and with production to make sure we had the manpower and build slots to accomplish the work...

...this leader focused exclusively on mirroring our small shop of 100 technicians after huge production operations.

Production process management tools were put in place, which would have made sense when making millions of the same item, but we were a custom shop that made 1 off large air conditioning units for our customers.

To make this system work, this leader wanted to eliminate custom 1-off requests (literally our whole business), narrow the options we offered down to a just a few, and raise prices significantly to cover the additional overhead of his production management processes.

Needless to say, this caused huge issues with my ability to do my job, and the customer’s ability to get what they needed.

As the Sales Leader it fell on me to advocate for the customers...which I did....and he did not take the feedback well.

I tried to be smart about how I approached it. I had:

data showing the diversity of custom products the customer’s needed and how his proposed smaller offering would not meet the customer’s need

data comparing our costs to our competitors costs for similar jobs, and showing that we were 50% higher (or more) at his requested pricing levels with his additional overhead

customer testimonials that said they appreciated our quality, but that they find it hard to work with us as we are growing less flexible and more expensive, and that they can only justify paying 20% above the competition for the difference in quality

Needless to say, even though I tried to be very data driven and solution oriented about this conversation it split the division.

Instead of accepting my proposal to work together to find a solution that worked for the customer and the business, I was

screamed at

threatened that if I didn’t just do as I was told I would be fired

put on a PIP (performance improvement plan)

The PIP was interesting because the reasons given were completely made up and when I called HR to talk it through, they said it wasn’t real and he was just doing it to scare me and stop me from questioning his decisions.

From then on, every day was a battle and the lines were drawn.

Engineering and Sales were trying to balance what the customer needed, what was physically possible, and the needs of the business.

The new business leader and production were trying model themselves after a massive production operation that drove prices up and reduced our flexibility and ability to meet customer requests.

It was US VS THEM

And since I didn’t really care about being fired, and had HR on my side, it was ME against the BUSINESS LEADER, fighting for for the future of our division, the customers, and the 150 employees who relied on their job to support their families.

WE - Tension

Do you have someone in your life that you just can’t seem to get along with?

Do you have someone that you would consider an enemy?

Have you ever prayed DAVID style prayers like we find in Psalms?

Like Psalm 109 where David tells God that...

People are wicked

with lying tongues

that speak words of hate

that attack without cause

that repay evil for good

and return hatred for friendship

Then David asks God to...

Condemn his enemies

Make their days few

Make their children fatherless

Make their wives widows

Make their children wandering beggars

Make creditors seize everything they have

Make sure that no one shows them kindness

And that’s one of David’s nicer prayers

In Psalm 58 David prays that God...

would break his enemies teeth

and make them like stillborn children that never see the sun

Or Psalm 68 where David asks God to...

crush the heads of his enemies

and let his feet wade in the blood of his foes

Have you ever prayed prayers like these?

The sad truth is that it is easy to see differences and view others as enemies or less than us in some way.

We all make quick judgments about people, generalizations about people groups, and when hurt by a specific person we hold grudges far too easily.

With all that in mind, this week, as we continue our Lent series focusing on the things that God wants us to “GIVE UP” as we prepare our hearts for Resurrection Sunday...

...I want to take a look Jesus’ disciple Peter, who was challenged directly by God to “GIVE UP” his “US VS THEM” thinking and reconsider the Israelite’s long held view of the Gentiles as Israel's ENEMIES.

If you missed the previous messages, please feel free go to our website, TheLightKC.org, to catch up.

As we begin, please turn with me to [Acts 10: Sanctuary Bible Page # 891]

We’ll have the scripture on the screen, but if you have a Bible with you, or Bible app on your phone, I’d encourage you to turn to the passage and follow along. There is nothing that replaces having God’s word in your hand.

AND... if you don’t have a Bible, we have Bibles under the seats. If you don’t have a bible and would like one, please come see me after the service and I’ll get you one you can keep.

Let's dive in.

GOD - Text - HEAD

History of Israelites and Gentiles

I want to start by giving some history on the tension between the Israelites and the Gentiles.

To do that we need to start all the way at the beginning.

God created us to be one people

In the beginning, before there were Israelites and Gentiles, when God created mankind, we read in Genesis 1:27 that:

Genesis 1:27 “27 So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.”

He didn’t create the Israelites and Gentiles separately.

He created one people.

He created all people in His image.

Israel was the chosen people, but to bless the rest of the world - not divide it

Later on God did choose one people to be HOLY - SET APART from the rest of people groups on Earth.

You may recall in Genesis 12:1-3 when God called Abram:

Genesis 12:1–3 “1 The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you. 2 “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.””

Abraham was chosen as the man with whom God would use to build the nation of Isreal.

Isreal would be a HOLY NATION - a NATION SET APART from everyone else

BUT...They would be set apart for a purpose

They would be set apart so they could be a BLESSING to the rest of the world.

This message is echoed throughout scripture.

Isaiah 49:6 “6 he says: “It is too small a thing for you to be my servant to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back those of Israel I have kept. I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.””

To keep Israel “set apart” God established boundaries

To ensure that Isreal was a HOLY PEOPLE that could BLESS ALL PEOPLE GROUPS ON EARTH, God made them into a HOLY NATION.

Exodus 19:5–6 “5 Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, 6 you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.””

But, when you become a nation, you start to develop nationalism.

Isreal started to become distinct from other nations (and a lot of that can be good)

God gave them the:

Torah (God’s law)

Circumcision (one of God’s covenants)

Dietary Laws (God’s protection)

Worship practices (A way of Giving God thanks)

But with these new distinctions, new boundaries developed

Israel - God’s covenant people

Everyone else became known as the Gentiles

What started as a plan to use Israel to bless ALL PEOPLE on the earth, and unite all people together, bringing them all to faith in God...

...turned Holy Separation into nationalistic exclusion

...turned Holiness into open Hostility

Tensions peaked during Jesus’ time

By the 1st Century, the time of Jesus, the divide had grown significantly.

Jews and Gentiles were separated based on

Culture

Religion

and Social Norms

And these divides were deeply emotional.

Listen to what the Samaritan woman said to Jesus when He spoke to her at the well.

John 4:9 “9 The Samaritan woman said to him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.)”

At this point in History Jews and Gentiles wouldn’t even talk to each other.

Even outside of the bible, the tension is easy to find.

Josephus (Jewish historian, 1st century AD):

“We do not willingly mix with others, nor do we share in their customs.”

(Against Apion, 2.210)

Tacitus (Roman historian, 1st century AD) wrote:

“The Jews regard as profane all that we hold sacred; on the other hand, they permit all that we abhor.”

(Histories, 5.4)

By the time of Jesus, the Israelites and Gentiles were entrenched in an US vs THEM confrontation.

Neither side agreeing with the other

Neither side trying to see the other’s viewpoints

Both sides seeing the other as second class citizens, best to be avoided altogether

Peter and Cornelius

This is the political climate that Peter, and the rest of Jesus’ disciples, had grown up with.

They lived in a world where there were two main groups, Jews and Gentiles, and they hated each other.

They spent their whole lives actively working to avoid each other.

Cornelius’ Vision

And yet...God has a better idea.

God gives a vision to a Roman Centurion, a Gentile, but also a person who believes in and fears God.

Acts 10:1–6 “1 At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was known as the Italian Regiment. 2 He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly. 3 One day at about three in the afternoon he had a vision. He distinctly saw an angel of God, who came to him and said, “Cornelius!” 4 Cornelius stared at him in fear. “What is it, Lord?” he asked. The angel answered, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God. 5 Now send men to Joppa to bring back a man named Simon who is called Peter. 6 He is staying with Simon the tanner, whose house is by the sea.””

Peter’s Vision

At the same time, God gives Peter, the leader of the early church, a vision of his own.

Acts 10:9–12 “9 About noon the following day as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray. 10 He became hungry and wanted something to eat, and while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance. 11 He saw heaven opened and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners. 12 It contained all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles and birds.”

Peter’s vision is significant because it goes directly against everything a good Jewish person would have been taught growing up.

The Old Testament Law, or the Torah, was very specific on which animals were clean and could be eaten and which animals were unclean and could not be eaten.

This is one of the most obvious divides between Jews and Gentiles, as food is not only something everyone needs, but a meal is something that people share as they build relationships.

God is removing an obstacles for the Jews and Gentiles to start rebuilding their very broken relationship.

And in one of my favorite bible verses, God directly tells Peter to...

Acts 10:13 “13 Then a voice told him, “Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.””

God removes all dietary laws from the Jewish people.

This was a huge change, as these dietary laws have been a huge part of their everyday life, and a huge part of what kept Israel set spart from the Gentiles.

And as we would expect after getting to know Peter throughout the Gospels, Peter doesn’t take this well.

Acts 10:14 “14 “Surely not, Lord!” Peter replied. “I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.”

But in the next verse, we find that God is not having it.

Acts 10:15 15 The voice spoke to him a second time, “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.””

In fact, God shows Peter the vision three times to ensure He knows it is real, fulfilling the requirements of Deuteronomy 9:15 requiring 2-3 witnesses to establish testimony.

And isn’t this true for all of us?

We don’t like being told that we are doing something wrong.

We don’t like being told that we need to change.

Especially for us adults.

I’ve heard it said that Adults only change when we absolutely have to.

Looking at my own life, I find this to be depressingly true.

What would you have done if you were Peter?

If you were asked to give up on something you had believed for your entire life and start building relationships with people you have been taught to avoid at all costs, could you obey?

Peter Shares the Gospel with Cornelius

Peter does obey God. He travels to meet with Cornelius and his family.

Acts 10:27–29 “27 While talking with him, Peter went inside and found a large gathering of people. 28 He said to them: “You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with or visit a Gentile. But God has shown me that I should not call anyone impure or unclean. 29 So when I was sent for, I came without raising any objection.

I think this should challenge all of us to take a step back and evaluate our own hearts.

Who in our lives do we actively avoid associating with?

Like Peter, is God calling us to put those prejudices aside and take steps toward repairing those broken relationships?

But Peter didn’t just go begrudgingly.

Peter did something that flew right in the face of the lifetime of tradition he grew up with.

He shared the Gospel with Gentiles.

Acts 10:34–43 “34 Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism 35 but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right. 36 You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, announcing the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. 37 You know what has happened throughout the province of Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached—38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him. 39 “We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a cross, 40 but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen. 41 He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen—by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42 He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. 43 All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.””

Peter invited them into a lifesaving relationship with Jesus Christ.

He no longer considered them outsiders, but co-heirs to the gift of salvation through Jesus Christ.

To Peter there was no longer 2 groups of people, one group that was IN and another group that was OUT

To Peter, everyone could be saved through belief in the sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross.

And God blessed Peter’s obedience.

Acts 10:44–48 “44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. 45 The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on Gentiles. 46 For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God. Then Peter said, 47 “Surely no one can stand in the way of their being baptized with water. They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.” 48 So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days.”

Cornelius and his household believed, they received the Holy Spirit, and were baptised.

Peter was called to lay down a lifetime of prejudice and hate for the gentiles so that he could share the Good News of Jesus with them.

YOU - Takeaway - HEART

Who are the gentiles in your life?

Who do you naturally avoid?

If you were honest, what “US VS THEM” distinctions do you maintain within your worldview?

Cultural

Political

Social

Economic

something else

Like Peter, how is God calling you to lay these down so He can work through you to bless those people?

WE / JESUS - Redemptive Close - Call to Action - HANDS

Jesus came to re-unite us

Because that is the reason that Jesus came to earth, to do what Isreal failed to do.

To unite everyone into one people.

Jesus was consistent throughout His ministry on this topic.

Matthew 5:44 “44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,”

Matthew 7:1–2 “1 “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

Matthew 18:21–22 “21 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” 22 Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.”

Matthew 28:19 “19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,”

This is what Jesus not only called the early Church to do, but what Jesus calls each and every one of us to do today.

Unity is hard - Peter challenged by the “circumcision group”

But Jesus doesn’t say it will be easy.

Peter obeyed God’s call to share the gospel with Gentiles, and some members of the Jerusalem church did not appreciate that.

Acts 11:1–3 “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.””

Peter was accused of breaking the Old Testament law, of not only eating with Gentiles, but eating unclean food.

Peter explained the vision he saw from God and told the story of the Gentiles’ conversion and how they received the Holy Spirit.

Acts 11:18 “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.””

When you obey God’s call to build bridges where division is the expectation, you may be questioned by your friends / family / acquaintances just like Peter was.

That doesn’t mean it is wrong.

Our job is to obey God’s calling on our lives and seek God’s will before our own for the other people in our lives.

It can be done - we are called to give up our “US VS THEM” thinking

But we can’t do it alone.

I butted heads with my boss for years. The carnage was everywhere.

Nearly 2/3 of all salary employees quite after the business model changed

We were getting sales, but because of all the process red tape and division within the division we were failing to meet customer expectations right and left

My team was doing all we could, but felt like we were failing both the customers and the business

I tried to work with my boss, but ended up having an enemy I couldn’t reconcile with

And isn’t that true for all of us?

On our own, we can’t fix the messes we’ve created.

Only one person can do that.

We need to pray, asking Jesus to intervene where we fall woefully short.

Jesus is the great Uniter...

...Paul writes it clearly in Ephesians 2:14-16 which reads

Ephesians 2:14–16 “14 For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15 by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, 16 and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility.”

But I believe we’re not just called to pray and wait.

We are called to take an active role, empowered by Jesus and the Holy Spirit in reconciling what has been divided.

Paul gives us a very actionable list in Romans 12:16-21. He writes.

Romans 12:16–21

“16 Live in harmony with one another.

Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position.

Do not be conceited.

17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil.

Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone.

18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.

19 Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.

20 On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”

21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

God created distinction for the sake of mission - Setting Israel apart to bless all people of the earth

Over time, humanity turned those distinctions into division

Let’s follow Jesus’ call look past the things that divide us and find common ground to unite us

And that is something we all need.

We all fall short.

We are all equally incapable of earning our salvation.

We all need a savior.

And Jesus came to save everyone, even the people you don’t get along with.

We just need to look past our differences, prejudices, and past experiences

We need to GIVE UP the idea that it’s okay to have ENEMIES and extend a loving hand of friendship to everyone.

We need to follow Peter’s example, and when asked to do so by the Holy Spirit, share the only message that truly matters, the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

PRAYER 

Will you join me in prayer...

SONG 

As we enter into our final song, I want to open the steps up front as an altar to anyone who needs God this week. The steps are open for you to pray to the God who is with you, who loves you, you wants to give you His peace.

‌

You may feel a hand on your shoulder as I or one of the elders join you in prayer.

BENEDICTION 

Revelation 7:9–10 “9 After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. 10 And they cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.””

This week...

Let’s stop dividing people into groups - those who are in, and those who we want to keep out

Let’s stop thinking that it is okay to have enemies

Let’s instead see all people for what they are

Lost

Hurting

Incapable of doing enough to earn salvation

Let’s open our hearts and follow Peter’s example

Share a meal with someone you think of as an enemy

Get to know them and look for areas of commonality

Share the one thing that we all need, a relationship with Jesus Christ

Because, we all need to realize that

God’s Grace is for all people

Salvation is available to everyone

Holiness is not a reason to divide, but a path to a new unified community, a community of faith in Jesus Christ

Quick reminder...

Digging Deeper Bible Study - Wednesday at 6:30 PM - Programming for all ages

Good Friday Service - Friday April 3rd from 4-6 PM - Self guided - come at a time that works for your family

Easter - Sunday 9 AM (community celebration) - 10 AM service - invite those who God places on your heart - all are welcome

If you’re new, please fill out the card in the seat back and stop by our info desk, or see me. We’d love to say “hi” and get you know you a bit better.

If you’d like to get more information about taking your next step of faith, fill out the card in the seat back and give it to me or turn it in to the info desk.

I hope you have a great week.

Go in peace.

You are dismissed.

DISCIPLESHIP QUESTIONS (download into APP)

In what ways can you identify a 'Gentile' in your life, as described in the sermon?

How does Peter’s experience challenge your own views on reaching out to those you consider outsiders?

What obstacles do you face in reconciling relationships with those you disagree with?

How can you practically apply the lesson of unity from Acts 10 in your daily interactions?

In what ways has God called you to extend love and kindness to your enemies?

Do you have someone at school, work, or in your life that you struggle to connect with? How can you take the first step towards reconciliation?

How can the message of loving your enemies change the way you interact with others who hurt you?

What specific actions can you take this week to reach out to someone you’ve distanced yourself from?

How can you apply the idea of finding common ground with someone you disagree with?

What does it mean to you that Jesus calls us to make peace with others, even those we see as enemies?