There's a Wideness in God's Mercy

Two Acts chapter 9 Acts chapter 9 and where to be continuing the series that we've been going through looking at the book of Acts and talking about how it is that Jesus. The one who died for the sins of the world the one who Rose to life in the one who ascended into heaven how he still acting through his people how we still engaged in the world, even though he's no longer personally present or physically present. He is still personally present and that is through his church through his church in I have you been with us through this series, you know that one of the keys to understanding acts as looking at Acts chapter 1 where were told that the church are going to be Jesus's Witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the Earth right after the the kind of the program if you will for the book of Acts we talked about how that really forms. They kind of outline for what we see in this book is Jesus continues his ministry of advanced. the good news of the kingdom of God It starts in Jerusalem, and we saw the church there really take off right the spirit descends and power at Pentecost. And then the gospel is proclaimed and you have thousands who are saved thousands. Who join this new group who sang Jesus is King is the one we were waiting for. He's the one that tells us and shows us how to live. And they begin to proclaim the gospel in Jerusalem. So if you if you have it a mental check box, right? Do you said you'll be my Witnesses in Jerusalem? We can check that one off and then we see as we've looked at the last several weeks. We've seen how the gospel leaves Jerusalem with the followers who were scattered through persecution and how it goes into Judea and Samaria and how they began to preach the gospel. And we looked at Philip in Samaria. And in the proclamation, we looked at a couple of the Apostles coming and joining him in that proclamation in thousands again receiving the gospel. And so we've got a little mental checklist and we say Judea and Samaria check. So we got Jerusalem in Judea and Samaria folks this to-do list. Is about to be at the done list. There's just one more left, right? To the ends of the Earth has two pretty big pretty big item on the to-do list, but you could imagine the excitement as the apostles begin to realize what Jesus has been doing through his people you can imagine their enthusiasm. Wow.

At this point in the development of God's people they're still thinking this is just about the Jews. They're still thinking this is just about the people of got right from the Old Testament that you will be this chosen Nation. So they're thinking all right. We just got to start going to the synagogues. throughout the Roman Empire and even Beyond but we see today. Is it even as they're thinking? Hey, look we're making progress even as they think. Hey, look Jesus is doing what he said he was going to do they had to rethink something because they missed a fundamental truth of the Gospel that I'm afraid. We still miss today. They miss just how wide the mercy of God. Is there thinking this is for the people of God. This is for those who already worship Yahweh. Now, we just need to tell him their Messiah they've been waiting for has come. Forgot about to reveal to him know this is about so much more. Then reaching one ethnic group is about so much more than reaching one political entity. This is about so much more than that. He's about to redefine. Their understanding of his mercy. So we looked in at Acts chapter 9 and we're going to go today through its captor 11 verse 18 it just to set your minds at ease. I'm not going to read all of that at once. However, the reason why we see emails out in the week with the sermon text on them. And the reason why I tell you where we're going to be at is because here's what I would encourage you to start doing make this a habit. When you get that email, and if you don't get that email, there's information in your bulletin about how you can start getting that email when you get that email take some time before Sunday morning to read through the passage.

For one thing that will be helpful to me to know that I'm not alone in this for nothing to understand your detail. Then I can bring out here and so I asked chapter 9 and we're looking in verse 32 and I want to read this first section here together don't want you to be looking at ax32 30X 9:30 to 2:35 with me. Now as Peter Wentz here and there among them all he came down also to the Saints who lived at lydda there. He found a man named Aeneas bedridden for eight years who was paralyzed and Peter said to him and he is Jesus Christ heals, you rise and make your bed and immediately Heroes and all the residents of litter and Sharon saw him and they turned to the Lord.

Now this is utterly unremarkable. Not hear me out. This is this is nothing new at this point in the book of Acts. If you were just reading it, you know kind of starts to this point. You would say another guy got healed right? That's not the amazing thing here because we see Jesus doing these kind of Miracles so much. So when we read the gospels, it's kind of like Angie did another miracle. Okay, we get much too used to the power of God at work in this world. Can I just say that we get much too used to seeing what God is doing. But the point that I think is being highlighted here. Is it God has Mercy? Even on individuals not radical thinking in our day and age this is not radical thinking but it was Radical thinking in that day and age the fact that God himself would concern himself with one person. God was big like he was all about, you know, working and kingdoms and and and the people of Israel versus the Gentiles in and really so many of the wars that you read about in the ancient near East history. They were really Wars between you know, deities one person said no Our God they were fighting it out right now was it but it was concerned with big stuff and the little Everyday People. We're just kind of caught up in this Grand historical drama. They were bit players in their own lines. People didn't conceive of the world in terms that centered on themselves. It was very much understood that God was just interested in the big things. And now I'm sitting at Jesus showing up and he's concerned with the little things. He's concerned with individuals and then you have Jesus leave and you have his people still concerned with individuals. This was Radical in its day NH. I think we missed how radical it is in our day and age because we have a tendency as recipients of a culture that has been formed by this focused on the individual as recipients of that culture. We have a tendency to overlook it. for example If I told you hey, you know, I know this guy and he has his Rich uncle and is is Rich Uncle Cinema million dollars. Can you believe that? you be like so

what to do for me how different would it be if I said hey, I've got this Rich uncle and he asked me for your address cuz he wants to send you a check for $1000000. What's the difference in your recipient reception of that new?

I see some eyebrows raised. I don't see anybody dancing in the aisles, but I'm pretty sure that would take place as well. Right that makes all the difference when you hear about Mercy or a gift given to one individual some dude out there versus if you receive it yourself. To receive that gift. I will submit heightens your appreciation for it. Doesn't it? Just say the gift is one thing to receive the gift is a whole other thing and I don't want us to miss this because we talked about Jesus died for your sins. We talked about Jesus invites you into his kingdom. We talk about God offers you eternal life. We talked about that. But we miss something if we just go that's for some dude over there. That's for for India slayin there paralyzed. Good job God. Now I've got problems, but I don't want to overlook. This God's mercy. Is extended to each one of us God's Mercy is extended to you. God's Mercy is this gift that he holds out to you. I don't want you to miss that to think we'll God only works in that person's life org. I can only do this for them know God offer salvation, freely to any who would confess Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead. And if you're sitting here and you're thinking man, this is great that you know, these was doing all this stuff for people in the book of Acts. No, Jesus can do that for you.

Doesn't necessarily mean physical healing but those physical acts of feeling a pulling us to the spiritual reality that Jesus can heal us he can heal what is broken deep inside of us that keeps us apart from him that Causes Chaos in our relationships with the people around us. He can fix that he extends that mercy and I tell you what that Mercy is better than a million dollar check any day and if you don't understand that the mercy of God is for you. I really really really really don't want you to leave today. Without an opportunity to ask a question about that you're going to want to do I want you if you're in the audience and you know, the mercy of God you've received the mercy of God and you would be happy to tell somebody about it. Would you raise your hand?

Right now on everybody look around no keeping hands up. Everybody. Look around look around.

Too often we get locked into this thinking that you have to go to the pastor. Oh, yeah, you can put your hands down. Brian are the only ones that still up. Sorry, man. Every go talk to Brian we we we take it in this in our minds like we got to be a pastor to know if you've received the mercy of God, you can give the mercy of God, if you know the gospel to be true in your own life. You can share that with somebody else and here's the thing if you were here this morning and you do not know the mercy of God to you as an individual you can go and talk to any one of those people that have their hands raised you can go and talk to them and say I tell me more about this cuz that sounds pretty good. God offering forgiveness to me God offering to heal with broken and me got offering to fix my relationships. I want to know more about that. You can talk to me you can talk to me too. I don't want to you know, say I'm not available but Just saying you got options is what I'm saying right to God's Mercy is given to individuals. It's important for the disciples in the book of Acts understand. It's important for us to understand right we can get so caught up in the fact that God's mission is about Jerusalem Judea Samaria and the ends of the Earth when we get so wrapped up in in missions over there that we forget God's mercy matters right here God's mercy doesn't just matter to the person who's never heard the gospel God's mercy matters to the person who lives across the street from me. God's mercy extends to each individual God's Mercy is held up and offered to all without cost. Like live like that's true. But that's where she does not stop with the individual. Yes, it reaches the individual but it didn't stop there. And then the next section we see God extending Mercy to one of his churches. Extending Mercy to a particular Gathering of the Saints. Look at verse 36 with me. Now, there wasn't Joppa of disciple name Tabitha, which translated means Dorcas. She was full of good works and acts of Charity in those days. She became ill and died and when they had washed her they laid her in an upper room since Lydia was here job of the disciples hearing the Peter was there sent two men to emerging and please come to us without delay. So Peter Rosen with them and when he arrived, they took him to the upper room all the windows to all the widows Stood Beside him weeping and showing tunics and other garments that George has had made while she was with them. But Peter put them all outside in Nelson prayed and turning to the body. He said Tabitha arise and she opened her eyes and when she stopped Peter she sat up and he gave her his hands and raised her up. Then calling the same as he presented her alive. It became known all throughout Joppa and many believed in the Lord and he stayed in Joppa for many days with one Simon a Tanner now. This is Mercy. To church, right. They hear that Peters nearby they send for me. They say come over here because we just lost Tabitha. We just lost this one who is so influential in our community who was constantly giving herself and acts of Charity and good works. I want you understand this Tabitha's Resurrection is not Mercy to Tabitha. You get that? There's a reason why we don't get Tabitha's full reaction here.

What am I doing back here? Wait time out. Turn it back. I don't want no. We have the confidence that for those who are in Christ to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. Tabitha new the rest that God had promised his people to the joy of her Lord. And God says yeah, you're going to have to go back. This is another thing that I think we missed today. We think that God's worked in us and through us is about us. It's not like it was a mercy to Tabitha. For her to be raised from the dead. But it was Mercy to those around her mercy to that Circle of saints who she ministered to who received her back. Right. She lost apps. But they games. often times God's mercy to his people comes at significant personal cost to one of his people I want to miss this. I want to miss this. Jesus said If any man would follow me must take up his cross. He must deny himself. Do you think Tabitha ever in the Days to Come As She's sewing tunics as she's hearing yet again a problem in her Church community and she's giving wisdom and dispensing spiritual counsel to someone do you ever think she said man? Sure liked it when I was with Jesus. Man, that sure was good for those two days. I think she probably did. But do you think she regretted God's mercy to the church based on the life. She lived before I'm going to go with no. She was willing to personally sacrifice. He was willing to give up what she wanted for the sake of God's people God's Mercy is given to all of us sometimes end up being an instrument of that mercy, and I mentioned and Monica earlier and since Dan's not here. I feel perfectly within my rights to talk behind his back. Oh wait, this is being recorded.

No, but let me just tell you I believe that Dan and Monica, Mariana. Are evidence of God's mercy to Red Hills? They are evidence of God's mercy the Red Hills Dan and Monica have served tirelessly. Anybody who's serving tirelessly in faith. Leave the sand spits. Oh, well, he's just naming them. You know, I recognize their they're just one of my many who serve this Fellowship so Faithfully, but they do exemplify this They took a temporary assignment to lead our youth. And proceeded to do so well. For a lot longer than I initially asked them to do it. And he just did it Faithfully selflessly. Were there some days? Where they said you don't have enough going on in our own life. We got enough irons in the fire with all of the other things that we've got ourselves involved in like we really don't need one more thing. I guarantee.

But I never heard it. They just said yes Lord. Here's a need we can meet it. Church my question to you is are you looking for God's mercy to this church. Are you looking for those indicators cuz you can walk in here and you can we can see all sorts of problems. in our gathering or we can look and we can see all sorts of evidence of God's mercy to us together through the sacrifice of individuals through the sacrifice of couples and my question to you if this is home for you, I know that not everybody here is it is is a member of redhill not everybody says as my home jerk I get that but if you if you're here and you're a member in this is your home. me ask you has God. Asked you to be an instrument of his Mercy, even if it cost you something has got asked you to serve. This Fellowship. But you said no no, thanks will let others be the instruments of mercy God Reveals His Mercy to individuals but God gives Mercy through individuals to his church as well. Each of us. Each of us have that an invitation to be instruments of God's mercy to his people now. This point we've talked about Aeneas. He was a Christ follower. We talked about Tabitha Christ follower. Talk about the church God's mercy. Getting down to the nitty-gritty of individual lives. Yes, extending to the places the local Kingdom Outpost where Jesus as hell to be king extending to churches. Yes, but God's mercy extends even farther than that. God's mercy extends even to The Outsiders and now in chapter 10 in this is where I'm going to have to ask you guys to do some reading outside of this time not going to read all 48 vs of chapter 10 what you need to understand what is happening here. So I'm just going to try to go over it with Broad brushstrokes and ask you to go in and fill in the details later so we can deduce this guy named Cornelius in Cornelius is not a Jew. He's actually a Roman not just a Roman. He is a commanding officer of they're occupying Army.

Now to get this you really got to go back a little bit. You got to understand what the atmosphere was like in the first century.

You American citizens in here. You think we got problems in our country. You think we've got political fights and disunity. You should have seen first-century Israel. There you had not a government of the People by the people for the people or whatever that is there. You had a government of oppressors against the oppressed for the good of a bunch of Rich guys back in Rome. That was it.

And the Israelites we're stuck under the weight of the Roman occupying army. They had been forcibly assimilated into this Empire.

They were a little upset. Do you like this situation? And you had not just the whole history of Israel was led them to think. We're the chosen ones. We're the special ones. God loves us more than he loves anyone else. Now you had the people that God loves more than anybody else in their own eyes. You had them under control by a pagan King in a pagan Army. They were a little ticked about this and they did not like the Gentiles they did not like them. They thought they were unworthy a good Jew would not even enter the home. Of somebody who is not Jewish, they would not have a conversation in the street unless it was forced upon them. They would never even dream of forming friendships with Romans. These people were completely other. These people were the them for the Jews. They know what I mean. When I say them almost everybody's got of them those people them use those words catch yourself when you do that. Just just catch yourself. But for the Jews this was this was wrong. They they didn't like any of the Gentiles most of them and they especially didn't like Rome. And now we're introduced to a man who was the Centurian not just any Century, but he was an Italian. He was from the enemy State itself.

But he wasn't about Manny feared God.

And even so I think that's there for a reason. I think we're introduced this guy like he's yes, he's a dreaded room before you love God. And yes, he he he was part of his Pagan Empire, but he had come to see the truth of Who You Are

Why do we why we went to see that? Because of what comes next Peter.

Peter make it like the guy that Jesus said right blessed. Are you? Simon bar Jonah Peter was the first one to confess. Jesus is the messiah. Peter was the one who it was really interested with the leadership of the early church. Peter was the one who stands up and preaches and Acts chapter two and three thousand people gets AIDS at Peter. Staying at the home of Simon the Tanner and he's hungry. He's hungry. And so they're preparing food downstairs and he falls asleep in like most of us men when we fall asleep and we're hungry. What do we dream about food? He has his vision and and there's this sheet that comes down in all of these animals on it that are unclean for Peter as a Jew to eat in his voice say kill and eat.

I could shoot you accuse me. No, I'm not going to violate the law of the Old Testament not going to violate. Yahweh's code of ethics and eat these things. I've never done such a thing. While he's remembering that vision. There's a knock at the gate. The spirit says go down there. There's three men who were looking for you wherever they go. Say go go with them for I have sent them to you. So Peter goes down and you could look your I'm you're looking for me. And you can imagine him still kind of brain fog with this really weird dream about killing a bunch of unclean animals and eating them. And they say hey, we're from a Centurian. We're from this guy named Cornelius. He's a Roman. He's a gentile.

And God spoke to him. And said to come find you.

Peter gets what's going on? Invites men to spend the night. They spend the night next day. He goes with them to the house of Cornelius.

And he preaches the gospel. But first he says verse 28, you yourself know how unlawful it is for a Jew to associate with or visit anyone of another Nation. But God has shown me that I should not call any person common or unclean Peter who received the mercy of God right? This is the same Peter the night that Jesus was betrayed did what denied Jesus how many times not just one not two, but three times Peter denied him when Jesus rose from the dead. What did he do? He comes to Peter's is Peter. Do you love me? Yes, Lord, you know I love you. How many times do they say it three times three times. You remind me three times yet. I've got that much mercy and beyond for you Peter. And now Peter begins to understand that Mercy to him as an individual that Mercy given to the Jewish Church. Was about to break the floodgates wide open because it was wider than he had ever imagined and it extended even to the Gentiles. That Mercy extended to the Gentiles if you are walking around first-century Israel. These are the kinds of terms you would have heard for the Gentiles dogs.

filthy usurpers oppressors unworthy

unclean

and Peter says I've learned not to call any person common or unclean because the wideness of God's mercy leads me to see. It is not just for me and it's not just for the people like me. It's for the people who are oppressing a fits for our enemies know that the fact that Cornelius was enough to convince Peter before and he's still even though Cornelius was devout and even though he worship Yahweh that wasn't enough for Peter because he wasn't a Jew and if you wanted to you or anybody. But God has to jump in there and say no.

This man is not defined by his ethnicity. This man is not defined by his race. This man is not defined by any other characteristic. Other than my Mercy is available to him go and take it Peter.

You can walk around today.

And here terms thrown around.

You can walk around a day and hear terms like liberal. terms like cow head

terms like those people with the little eye roll that you guys can't see cuz you're too far away.

You walk around and hear those terms you might even hear them here, but that is not a compliment to us. We like Peter are called to recognize the wideness of God's mercy.

I've heard Christians say regarding Muslims. Just turn the whole desert to Glass and let God sort them out.

Church no

The mercy of God is wider than you can fathom Peter's eyes are open and he realizes this Cornelius is not a usurper. He's not an oppressor. He's a brother in Christ. Did you know Christian one estimate says that in the last 20 years over 10 million Muslims have turned to Christ. The same people that many of you regard as your enemies. Are not your enemies. They are your brothers and sisters in Christ. Can you fathom what it would be like to get to heaven and to see Jesus and the second person you see is not your mom or your brother your dad. But it's some dude. In a flowing robe.

With a turban on his head saying welcome brother. Welcome sister. God's Mercy is wider than you can fathom do not call anyone, nor unclean. Do you see how why does mercy Izzy's are no longer your enemies. These are your brothers and sisters or potential brothers and sisters. Do you understand the people that don't share your politics are not your enemies. They are your brothers and sisters are they are potential brothers and sisters. Do you understand that God's mercy mean every single person has worth and dignity. Do you understand Christ follower that there can be no division between us there is now no longer slave nor free Jew nor Greek male nor female black or white Republican or Democrat, but all are one in Christ. Jesus God's mercy means did those who used to be outside of our Circle?

Are now inside by the grace of God God's Mercy is wider than you can believe God's mercy extends to the Gentiles and Peter eyes are open and he realizes wait. We're not just checking off Jerusalem. We're not just checking off Judea and Samaria. We're not just checking off the synagogue's at the end of the Earth. We're checking off every tribe tongue and Nation. Revelation chapter 5 chapter 7 verse 9 to be continually in front of us. Consummation of history at the end of all things there's this great multitude who no one could number from every tribe and every tongue and every nation declaring Worthy is the Lamb.

Do not hate today whom God has decreed you a worship alongside forever. Do not limit the mercy of God to the people that look like you think like you act like you. Recognize how wide his Mercy is and recognized it that is further evidence of God's mercy. We see the mercy extending to individuals. We see God's mercy extending to the church. We see God's mercy extending to those who are outside of our traditional boundaries.

We say God's mercy extending to us. Who would try to draw artificial lines? We study God's mercy extending to be we racist. Pee-Wee sexist whatever else we see God's mercy and showing us your wrong. You need to draw a bigger Circle. You need to see how wide the mercy of God is this is this is one of the evidences of God's mercy that he would open our eyes to our blind spot.

But he would open our hearts.

Scrape Away The Sins inside scrape away the way we look down on that person because of the color of their skin way. We look down on that person because of the fact that they currently hold the way. We look down on that person. Because of whatever. Is is Mini? Different ways of subdividing humanity, we've invented them. We've come up with him will come up with more. I feel Superior to this group. I feel Superior to this group as a Boise State fan. I feel superior to the Utah State fans today.

For God's Mercy is much broader than that. God's Mercy is so much bigger, and he opened their eyes. Look what happens in chapter 11. I'm going to ask I'm going to read this Acts chapter 11 verse 1 now the apostles were brothers who were throughout gd2 heard that the Gentiles have received the word of God. So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcision party, this would be those to say you have to be a Jew to be a Christian criticize him saying you went to uncircumcised men and ate with them. Write these are the Insiders. They're drawing those lines pretty tights. But Peter began to explain to them in order, I was in the city of Joppa praying and in a trance, I saw a vision something like a great sheet descending being let down from heaven by his four corners and it came down to me and looking at it closely observed animals and beasts of prey and reptiles and birds of the air and I Heard a Voice say to me rise Peter kill and eat but I said by no means Lord For Nothing common or unclean is ever answered my mouth. But the voice answer the second timer said what God has made clean do not call common. This happened three times and it was all drawn up again to heaven and that behold it that very minute three men of rides at the house in which we were sent to me from cestria and the spirit told me to go with them know this making no distinction V6 Brothers also accompany me we entered the man's house and he told us how it seen an angel stand in this house and say send a job, but bring Simon who's called Peter he will declare to you a message by which you will be saved you and all your household as I began to speak the Holy Spirit fell on them just as on us at the beginning. And I remembered the word of the Lord how he said John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit. Yes, then God gave the same gift to them as he gave to us when we believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. Who was I that I should stand in God's way when they heard these things they fell silent and then they glorified God saying then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life.

UCC Church Do you see it's not about you drawing your lines. It's not about you determining who's in and who's out it's about you holding out the gospel the invitation of Mercy to everyone without distinction. Thank God offers you life and when God gives you life. He gives you a new family and that new family doesn't care. Doesn't care. About any sort of human distinction so long as Christ is King Nothing Else Matters. That's enough for us to gather around and God's mercy has seen the church. Here's this and they realize

God really is doing this God really is making this available to the people that we thought were our enemies the people that we thought were outside of Grace God's given them the same get these given us Church.

Do you believe that?

Do you believe that God can save even those that you think are your enemies? Do you believe that God can save those that you disparage those that you look down on believe it receive the mercy of God today to open your eyes to those blind spots in your own heart. Some of us need to frankly confess. Our blind spots of us having our eyes open to the fact that Mercy is available. So widely we need to repent of sin.

Some of us need to commit a new to proclaiming this Mercy to all without distinction. Some of us need to receive that Mercy some of us need to be healed from Hearts broken by the lines. We've drawn God's Mercy is available for all this week. As I was studying is pathogen that end in usually what I do in preparing is it is I'll just read the passage over and over through the week and I and I like to say I like I like to let it percolate. I hate drinking percolated coffee, but I like percolated Bible percolated coffee. It's like you take the coffee and you just keep pouring it back over the grounds right as nasty.

Good way to ruin a perfectly good coffee.

Percolated Bible is fantastic. For changing your mind about something to just continually let it bubble back up and pour down and bubble back up and pour down and as I was reading this passage this week. The phrase that just was sticking in my mind is the wideness of God's Mercy by the mercy of God is yes. It's specific is given to the individual. Yes. It's given to the church. But look how wide it is to the Gentiles to the Jews. To the ends of the Earth the wideness of God's mercy and still being a good biblical scholar. I went to that invaluable sermon prep tool Google. And I typed in the wideness of God's mercy, and I've discovered this him that I've never heard before. And what I want us to do is I want us to finish our time today marveling at the mercy of God and I'm going to invite you to read the words of this him with me. Now. This is like 13 verse him when I going to read all 13 verses but I want you to consider these words and then I'm going to pray and invite the worship team to come and will respond anything but read these within if I read these with me, I mean, I want you to read them out loud. I want to hear you guys worshipping. as we see these there's a wideness in God's mercy like the wideness of the sea. There's a kindness in his Justice, which is more than Liberty there is welcome for the Sinner and we're Grace's for the good. There is Mercy with the Savior there is healing in his blood for the love of God is broader than the measure of our minds and the hearts of the Eternal is most wonderfully kind there is plentiful redemption in the blood that has been shed. There is joy for all the members in the Sorrows of the head, but we make his love too narrow by false limits of our own and we magnify his strictness with a Zeal he will not own was there ever kind of Shepherd half so gentle half so sweet as the Savior who would have us come and gather at his feet. Would you play with me?