Never Too Unclean
Notes
Transcript
I am calling this week bonus week in our Encounters series we are we are going to look at multiple encounters in our story
We begin with a man, a Roman centurion, named Cornelius
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.
Cornelius is one who, though not a jew, was devoted to God!
He gave generously and prayed to God!
God decides to visit this man!
Last week we talked about Manoah and his wife that had an encounter with God and to us, it seemed quite random.
This week we well see encounters to God fearing people!
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.
This angel visits Cornelius and, as with many times that angels visit people, he was afraid!
The angel tells him his prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God!
Last week, we talked about when the angel of the Lord visited Monoah’s wife how God basically told her that He sees her, He knows that she was unable to have children
Similarly, the angel acknowledges that Cornelius had prayed to God and given to the poor!
So if you didn’t hear this last week, maybe you need to hear it this week:
God sees you and knows what is going on in your life!
God sees you and knows what is going on in your life!
Whether you’re in time of need or you are heavily devoted to God, He knows!
Also, to note this morning, what we do matters to God!
The works that we do for God, do not earn our salvation or place in our family, but they do honor God!
In fact, we are commanded to do good works! At least for Cornelius, and likely for us, this served as an offering to God!
And now we receive the direction from the angel:
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.”
What is interesting about these instructions is they are not super specific.
Cornelius knows to find a man named Simon staying with another Simon - his house is by the sea
Joppa wasn’t a huge city, but would be roughly 5-10k people - that is between the size of Colby and half of Hays - or the size of Lansing, where the Moshiers are going :(
So, find these Simons, by the sea in a port city
Have you ever had the thought that when God calls you to do something that He will tell you every detail that you need to know?
Or, how many times do we feel like God wants us to do something, but we wait until we have everything figured out?
Even in an encounter with an angel, they don’t have much to go on!
I would have had more questions! Ummm when am I supposed to send these men? Do you have a more specific address? Do they know that I am coming?
What does Cornelius do with the information that he has?
7 When the angel who spoke to him had gone, Cornelius called two of his servants and a devout soldier who was one of his attendants. 8 He told them everything that had happened and sent them to Joppa.
Cornelius doesn’t get much information, but he is obedient!
Cornelius doesn’t get much information, but he is obedient!
Sometimes our encounters with God may not yield much information, but will we be obedient?
Now, in our encounters, we switch to Peter
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.
Peter is praying - Cornelius is a man who prayed especially noted
Last week we didn’t specifically know much about Monoah and his wife, but we get the impression that they were close to God. When Manoah heard from his wife that an angel visited her (which she knew was an angel, or at least a man of God) he prayed!
Before last week, we talked about pentecost and they were together in the upper room doing what? Praying!
Notice that just in these few stories we get the idea that they encountered God when they were devoted to prayer!
There seems to be a direct correlation between prayer and encountering God!
I know at least in my life, the people that I know that are devoted to prayer, not just a routine, but truly devoted themselves to prayer seem to have more joy in the life.
They seem to have stronger faith, and they have incredible stories about how awesome God is!
If we want to have an encounter with God, we should be devoted to prayer!
If we want to have an encounter with God, we should be devoted to prayer!
Peter is praying and becomes hungry, and the Lord uses this moment to reach Peter
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. 13 Then a voice told him, “Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.”
Peter has this trance which basically means a vision and he sees this sheet coming down, which is probably like a table cloth? At least some scholars think that is what it represents and God tells him to eat!
Notice that the vision that Peter has comes in the context that Peter is in!
Peter is hungry and God uses food as a means to communicate something to him!
Often times, God communicates with us in our context!
I don’t know if anyone has done a lot of studying on dreams, my wife has studied them a lot as God communicated with her a lot through them. She’s in a class right now learning about them.
One of the things that you learn when you study dreams is that a lot of times, God will speak using your direct context - people, places, events that you know in order to communicate
Peter has this vision of this sheet coming down with animals on it and a voice tells him to kill and eat
14 “Surely not, Lord!” Peter replied. “I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.” 15 The voice spoke to him a second time, “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.”
Peter sees unclean animals and tells the voice that he hasn’t eaten anything unclean and then we get the mic drop “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean”
Maybe Peter didn’t get it or wanted to argue with, Idk
Notice the contract between Cornelius’ immediate obedience and Peter’s stubbornness.
16 This happened three times, and immediately the sheet was taken back to heaven.
What God has to say here actually has a double-meaning!
God tends to do this! It can mean something on the surface and then something else a little deeper.
So, the first meaning, on the surface, is:
1. No animals are unclean anymore!
1. No animals are unclean anymore!
Those of us who like eating pork - we will next week!
We now can eat it in good faith!
The second, and deeper meaning is that
2. Gentiles are no longer unclean!
2. Gentiles are no longer unclean!
And this is important! Because, if this were not the case, unless you and I are Jewish, we would not have been a part of God’s family!
But now, the Gospel is for everyone! - more on this in a minute!
17 While Peter was wondering about the meaning of the vision, the men sent by Cornelius found out where Simon’s house was and stopped at the gate. 18 They called out, asking if Simon who was known as Peter was staying there.
So, the guys show up! Asking for Peter - not knowing what just happened for Peter
19 While Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Simon, three men are looking for you. 20 So get up and go downstairs. Do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them.”
It is repeated that Peter was still wondering or thinking about the vision!
Pretty common when we hear from God! It often leaves us in a place of trying to figure it out!
Notice here another encounter, this time from the HS!
What the HS says here is pretty clear!
So, we God speaking through this vision that is unclear and then we have the voice of the HS who is much clearer!
This is so important for us! Some believe that when God speaks, it is always “thus saith the Lord” clear.
But, in this encounter the vision was not clear.
Sometimes, when God communicates, it is clear and sometimes it is unclear!
21 Peter went down and said to the men, “I’m the one you’re looking for. Why have you come?” 22 The men replied, “We have come from Cornelius the centurion. He is a righteous and God-fearing man, who is respected by all the Jewish people. A holy angel told him to ask you to come to his house so that he could hear what you have to say.” 23 Then Peter invited the men into the house to be his guests. The next day Peter started out with them, and some of the believers from Joppa went along.
Peter just has this vision and then these guys show up saying a Roman Centurion sent them because he had encountered and angel…I probably would go with them too!
24 The following day he arrived in Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends. 25 As Peter entered the house, Cornelius met him and fell at his feet in reverence. 26 But Peter made him get up. “Stand up,” he said, “I am only a man myself.”
Notice there are people at Cornelius’ house! So, they are not alone, in fact:
27 While talking with him, Peter went inside and found a large gathering of people.
We don’t know the number, but there is a large amount 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.
So, probably on the 12-13 hour walk from Joppa to Caesarea, Peter understood the vision
Peter now understands that no one is considered unclean!
29 So when I was sent for, I came without raising any objection. May I ask why you sent for me?” 30 Cornelius answered: “Three days ago I was in my house praying at this hour, at three in the afternoon. Suddenly a man in shining clothes stood before me 31 and said, ‘Cornelius, God has heard your prayer and remembered your gifts to the poor. 32 Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter. He is a guest in the home of Simon the tanner, who lives by the sea.’
33 So I sent for you immediately, and it was good of you to come. Now we are all here in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has commanded you to tell us.”
Nothing like being put on the spot!
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.”
So, Peter shares the gospel with them and testifies to it!
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,
And here we have the 4th encounter
Angel visits Cornelius
Peter’s Vision
Voice of HS to Peter
HS came upon gentiles - speaking in tongues
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.
Wow! What encounters today!
As we wrap up, there are a few points for us!
God sees you and knows what is going on in your life!
Encounters with God often happen when devoted to prayer!
God reveals Himself in multiple ways!
No one is too dirty for Jesus!
Maybe you have felt unclean, and you need an encounter with Jesus!
Maybe you have been a christian a long time, but haven’t had an encounter in a while. Maybe even since you were saved!
