WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.200 Good morning. Today's scripture reading is from Acts chapter 10, the whole chapter. 00:00:07.080 --> 00:00:22.600 ! Hena and I will share the reading. Hena is Filipino and I'm Indonesian. Please follow along in your Bible or the church Bible, which you can get from near the stage or near the entrance. 00:00:22.600 --> 00:00:32.939 Our passage can be found on page 864 in the church Bible. Let's listen to God's word to us today, starting in verse 1. 00:00:33.859 --> 00:00:49.439 At Caesarea, there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of what was known as the Italian cohort, a devout man who feared God with all his household, gave alms generously to the people and prayed continually to God. 00:00:49.439 --> 00:00:57.699 About the ninth hour of the day, he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God come in and say to him, Cornelius. 00:00:58.199 --> 00:01:01.739 And he stared at him in terror and said, What is it, Lord? 00:01:02.320 --> 00:01:07.700 And he said to him, Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God. 00:01:08.259 --> 00:01:12.799 And now send men to Joppa and bring one Simon, who is called Peter. 00:01:13.439 --> 00:01:17.400 He is lodging with one Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea. 00:01:17.400 --> 00:01:27.160 When the angel who spoke to him had departed, he called two of his servants and a devout soldier from among those who attended him. 00:01:27.680 --> 00:01:30.960 And having related everything to them, he sent them to Joppa. 00:01:31.820 --> 00:01:39.060 The next day, as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the housetop about the sixth hour to pray. 00:01:39.060 --> 00:01:42.420 And he became hungry and wanted something to eat. 00:01:42.920 --> 00:01:53.659 But while they were preparing it, he fell into a trance and saw the heavens opened and something like a great sheet descending, being let down by its four corners upon the earth. 00:01:54.379 --> 00:01:58.620 In it were all kinds of animals and reptiles and birds of the air. 00:01:59.200 --> 00:02:03.780 And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter, kill and eat. 00:02:03.780 --> 00:02:10.340 But Peter said, By no means, Lord, for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean. 00:02:11.020 --> 00:02:17.520 And the voice came to him again a second time, What God has made clean, do not call common. 00:02:18.319 --> 00:02:22.659 This happened three times, and the thing was taken up at once to heaven. 00:02:22.659 --> 00:02:40.780 Now, while Peter was inwardly perplexed as to what the vision that he had seen might mean, behold, the men who were sent by Cornelius, having made inquiry for Simon's house, stood at a gate and called out to ask whether Simon, who was called Peter, was lodging there. 00:02:40.780 --> 00:02:48.300 And while Peter was pondering the vision, the spirit said to him, Behold, three men are looking for you. 00:02:48.979 --> 00:02:53.900 Rise and go down and accompany them without hesitation, for I have sent them. 00:02:54.780 --> 00:02:59.039 And Peter went down to the men and said, I'm the one you're looking for. 00:02:59.479 --> 00:03:01.020 What is the reason for your coming? 00:03:01.020 --> 00:03:16.719 And they said, Cornelius, a centurion, an upright and God-fearing man who is well-spoken of by the whole Jewish nation, was directed by a holy angel to send for you to come to his house and to hear what you have to say. 00:03:17.180 --> 00:03:20.100 So he invited them in to be his guests. 00:03:20.660 --> 00:03:27.340 The next day he rose and went away with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa accompanied him. 00:03:27.340 --> 00:03:30.420 And on the following day they entered Caesarea. 00:03:31.120 --> 00:03:37.319 Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends. 00:03:37.719 --> 00:03:43.939 When Peter entered, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshipped him. 00:03:44.360 --> 00:03:49.180 But Peter lifted him up, saying, Stand up, I too am a man. 00:03:49.420 --> 00:03:50.819 And he talked with him. 00:03:51.159 --> 00:03:53.699 He went in and found many persons gathered. 00:03:53.699 --> 00:04:03.780 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. 00:04:04.099 --> 00:04:09.780 But God has shown me that I should not call any person common or unclean. 00:04:10.120 --> 00:04:13.939 So when I was sent for, I came without objection. 00:04:14.479 --> 00:04:17.099 I asked then why you sent for me. 00:04:17.100 --> 00:04:24.780 And Cornelius said, Four days ago, about this hour, I was praying in my house at the ninth hour. 00:04:25.260 --> 00:04:36.020 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. 00:04:36.720 --> 00:04:41.240 Send therefore to Joppa and ask for Simon, who is called Peter. 00:04:41.240 --> 00:04:45.500 He is lodging in the house of Simon, a tanner by the sea. 00:04:46.079 --> 00:04:51.280 And so I sent for you at once, and you have been kind enough to come. 00:04:51.780 --> 00:04:58.759 Now, therefore, we are all here in the presence of God to hear all that you have been commanded by the Lord. 00:04:58.759 --> 00:05:04.759 So Peter opened his mouth and said, Truly, I understand that God shows no partiality. 00:05:05.819 --> 00:05:11.719 But in every nation, anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable for him. 00:05:14.139 --> 00:05:21.800 As for the word that he said to Israel, preaching good news of peace through Jesus Christ, he is Lord of all. 00:05:21.800 --> 00:05:34.680 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. 00:05:35.100 --> 00:05:39.560 He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil. 00:05:40.100 --> 00:05:47.300 For God was with him, and we are witnesses of all that he did, both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. 00:05:47.300 --> 00:05:50.920 They put him to death by hanging him on a tree. 00:05:51.379 --> 00:06:00.780 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, 00:06:01.139 --> 00:06:04.660 who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 00:06:05.199 --> 00:06:13.780 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. 00:06:13.779 --> 00:06:21.939 To him, all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name. 00:06:22.459 --> 00:06:27.679 While Peter was saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. 00:06:28.119 --> 00:06:37.959 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. 00:06:38.119 --> 00:06:42.679 For they were hearing them speaking in tongues and extolling God. 00:06:42.680 --> 00:06:51.980 Then Peter declared, can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have? 00:06:52.180 --> 00:06:56.300 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. 00:06:56.519 --> 00:06:59.540 Then they asked him to remain for some days. 00:07:00.040 --> 00:07:03.579 Let us believe and respond to God's true and living word. 00:07:04.920 --> 00:07:06.519 Great. Thank you so much. 00:07:06.720 --> 00:07:08.280 And you can put that down there with Kristen. 00:07:08.800 --> 00:07:09.699 Thank you for reading. 00:07:09.819 --> 00:07:10.639 Well, good morning, everybody. 00:07:10.639 --> 00:07:13.079 Once again, if you don't know me, my name is Kevin. 00:07:14.060 --> 00:07:15.279 Great to have you with us. 00:07:15.399 --> 00:07:16.279 Why don't we pray together? 00:07:16.439 --> 00:07:18.219 And then we're going to look at the scripture. 00:07:18.360 --> 00:07:23.479 Lord Jesus, your word is living and active, powerful and real. 00:07:24.319 --> 00:07:27.259 As Hannah just said, these are the words of the true and living God. 00:07:27.379 --> 00:07:28.379 Help us to respond. 00:07:28.879 --> 00:07:30.259 Would you write these words in our hearts? 00:07:30.360 --> 00:07:33.860 Help us to understand what you have to say and how you want us to live. 00:07:34.279 --> 00:07:35.240 In your name we pray. 00:07:35.800 --> 00:07:36.079 Amen. 00:07:37.079 --> 00:07:37.379 Amen. 00:07:37.379 --> 00:07:43.319 Let me tell you about a man called Laxello Quintana. 00:07:44.879 --> 00:07:48.480 Many of you will know that our family is from Cape Town in South Africa. 00:07:49.159 --> 00:07:53.079 And I used to pastor a small church in Cape Town. 00:07:53.920 --> 00:07:57.079 And in Cape Town, crime is something that we have to live with. 00:07:57.079 --> 00:08:02.699 And one of the things that happens is every year at Christmas time and at Easter time, there is a whole lot of pickpocketing. 00:08:03.079 --> 00:08:06.740 So what will happen is you come to church and you put your bag down somewhere. 00:08:06.979 --> 00:08:10.680 And then you go and you talk to a friend or get coffee or go to the washroom. 00:08:10.680 --> 00:08:16.199 And you come back and either your phone or your wallet or the entire bag has been taken. 00:08:16.199 --> 00:08:19.039 And this always happens at Christmas and Easter every year. 00:08:19.599 --> 00:08:25.740 And so in the church that we were pastoring, it's about Easter time one year, April, about 10, 12 years ago. 00:08:26.379 --> 00:08:30.219 And we'd had a whole bunch of pickpockets and things going missing during the church service. 00:08:30.699 --> 00:08:32.779 And so I think I'm going to get on to these guys. 00:08:32.860 --> 00:08:34.200 I'm going to find out who they are. 00:08:34.939 --> 00:08:36.139 And so it's one Sunday night. 00:08:36.259 --> 00:08:37.340 It's dark outside. 00:08:37.759 --> 00:08:38.980 It's kind of dark inside. 00:08:39.740 --> 00:08:47.540 And there's a young black guy sitting towards the back with a low peak cap over his eyes, like low over his eyes. 00:08:47.580 --> 00:08:49.800 And I think this guy looks suspicious. 00:08:51.180 --> 00:08:53.480 He looks very sus, as my daughters would say. 00:08:53.480 --> 00:08:57.320 And so I decide I'm going to go up and talk to him. 00:08:58.019 --> 00:09:00.879 And I think I can't go to him and say, what are you doing here? 00:09:00.920 --> 00:09:01.840 You're going to steal phones. 00:09:01.940 --> 00:09:03.000 That's a little bit too bold. 00:09:03.080 --> 00:09:05.879 But what I can do is I can ask a lot of questions. 00:09:05.879 --> 00:09:06.840 I can get to know him. 00:09:06.840 --> 00:09:09.940 I can make sure that he knows that he's been seen. 00:09:10.100 --> 00:09:11.100 He's not anonymous. 00:09:11.379 --> 00:09:12.580 He's not flying under the radar. 00:09:13.300 --> 00:09:14.240 And so I go up to him. 00:09:14.620 --> 00:09:18.019 And I'm like, and he's got this ridiculous rapper accent. 00:09:18.220 --> 00:09:19.600 He's like, what's up, bro? 00:09:20.080 --> 00:09:21.720 And I'm thinking, don't WhatsApp bro me. 00:09:21.820 --> 00:09:22.519 I know who you are. 00:09:22.560 --> 00:09:23.480 And I know what you're on to. 00:09:24.420 --> 00:09:25.560 But anyway, I don't say that. 00:09:25.620 --> 00:09:26.100 I think that. 00:09:26.259 --> 00:09:29.800 And I spend the next 10 minutes kind of asking him a ton of questions. 00:09:30.460 --> 00:09:31.360 Where are you from? 00:09:31.460 --> 00:09:32.040 What are you up to? 00:09:32.080 --> 00:09:35.240 And I'm being friendly, but not too friendly because I want him to know that I'm on to him. 00:09:35.240 --> 00:09:38.060 Anyway, the service is about to start. 00:09:38.519 --> 00:09:41.480 And so I eventually say, hey, bro, good to meet you. 00:09:41.659 --> 00:09:42.279 See you around. 00:09:42.500 --> 00:09:45.100 And I think to myself, I'm never seeing this guy again. 00:09:45.220 --> 00:09:46.700 I've done my job, right? 00:09:48.399 --> 00:09:51.799 But to my surprise, the next week he rocks up again. 00:09:52.340 --> 00:09:53.799 And he comes back to church. 00:09:53.799 --> 00:09:55.579 And the next week. 00:09:56.179 --> 00:09:57.379 And the next week. 00:09:57.779 --> 00:09:58.899 And the following week. 00:09:58.939 --> 00:09:59.620 He's still there. 00:10:00.500 --> 00:10:03.639 And so by now, I'm starting to question the narrative in my own mind. 00:10:03.839 --> 00:10:06.179 And I eventually say, hey, let's go get some coffee. 00:10:06.319 --> 00:10:07.679 And so we meet up one day. 00:10:08.519 --> 00:10:14.419 And Lux tells me what it's like to be a black man in Cape Town, South Africa. 00:10:14.659 --> 00:10:16.799 You know, South Africa had apartheid, this racial segregation. 00:10:16.799 --> 00:10:19.039 That ended in the 1990s. 00:10:19.559 --> 00:10:22.179 But Cape Town City is built for segregation. 00:10:22.379 --> 00:10:26.839 The highways, the sewerage systems, everything is built to separate black people from white people. 00:10:26.939 --> 00:10:28.219 And the white people live in the nice areas. 00:10:28.659 --> 00:10:30.240 And the black people in the not so nice areas. 00:10:30.539 --> 00:10:35.379 And the culture and the structure, the infrastructure of the city is built along racial lines. 00:10:36.139 --> 00:10:39.799 And Lux tells me his story of growing up in a home where his dad was constantly, 00:10:40.819 --> 00:10:43.839 his dad was a pastor but constantly oppressed by the white police. 00:10:43.840 --> 00:10:48.800 And he tells me what it's like to walk into a church that's 95% white, 00:10:49.139 --> 00:10:52.300 listening to a white preacher singing white people's songs, 00:10:52.580 --> 00:11:00.740 and what it feels like to be in a church where he feels unwelcome, unwanted, not good enough, not understood. 00:11:02.000 --> 00:11:04.100 We're going to come back to Lux a little bit later. 00:11:04.560 --> 00:11:07.500 Now, as a church, we are going through the book of Acts. 00:11:07.780 --> 00:11:11.600 And the book of Acts is this wonderful account of how the gospel spreads 00:11:11.600 --> 00:11:16.340 from this small group of people in Jerusalem to the ends of the known world 00:11:16.340 --> 00:11:18.700 and within one generation and then beyond that. 00:11:19.259 --> 00:11:21.000 And the book of Acts is this amazing book. 00:11:21.100 --> 00:11:23.500 It continues in our day as the gospel spreads. 00:11:23.600 --> 00:11:25.960 It's the story of how God is at work. 00:11:26.220 --> 00:11:29.320 This is not the work of humanity or human beings. 00:11:29.779 --> 00:11:35.700 This is God by the work of his spirit and the power of Jesus changing the world upside down. 00:11:35.700 --> 00:11:39.520 But Acts chapter 10, which Chris and Hannah read to us, 00:11:39.520 --> 00:11:47.180 shows us the deep sinful tendency of the human heart to treat people who are different from us 00:11:47.180 --> 00:11:50.759 as not just being different, but as being undesirable. 00:11:51.460 --> 00:11:56.400 As those who are unlike us are not just unlike us, but they are unacceptable to us, 00:11:56.960 --> 00:12:00.759 unwanted by us, sometimes seen as unworthy by us. 00:12:00.759 --> 00:12:05.220 But in Acts chapter 10, we see how God goes about dismantling the prejudice 00:12:05.220 --> 00:12:07.439 and the discrimination that lies in our hearts. 00:12:08.159 --> 00:12:10.259 And so in this passage we're going to look at today, 00:12:10.679 --> 00:12:14.580 we're going to see that God is going to use this man called Peter, the great apostle Peter. 00:12:14.980 --> 00:12:18.779 But while God is using Peter, he's also going to change Peter. 00:12:19.200 --> 00:12:22.519 While God is going to use Peter to take the gospel to the ends of the earth, 00:12:22.600 --> 00:12:26.059 to this other person, this Gentile unbeliever called Cornelius, 00:12:26.159 --> 00:12:30.679 at the same time, God wants the gospel to get into Peter and change Peter himself. 00:12:31.340 --> 00:12:34.960 And so the gospel's got these two frontiers, the people out there that don't know Jesus, 00:12:35.220 --> 00:12:39.019 but also the hearts of those that do know Jesus himself. 00:12:39.779 --> 00:12:45.039 And friends, if this is true of Peter, how much more of it is true of me and maybe of us. 00:12:45.519 --> 00:12:49.559 Okay, so in this chapter, there are four kind of scenes to the story. 00:12:49.659 --> 00:12:51.519 And so let's run through them together. 00:12:51.679 --> 00:12:54.559 Okay, the first one will be quite quick and then we'll get into it. 00:12:54.559 --> 00:12:57.720 Scene one, Cornelius and the divine encounter. 00:12:57.720 --> 00:13:01.600 So the passage starts off, we meet this man called Cornelius. 00:13:01.720 --> 00:13:03.480 Cornelius is a Roman centurion. 00:13:03.840 --> 00:13:05.660 That means he's a ranking Roman soldier. 00:13:05.940 --> 00:13:07.840 He oversees about a hundred soldiers. 00:13:08.259 --> 00:13:10.500 It means he is wealthy and somewhat powerful. 00:13:10.700 --> 00:13:13.720 He is paid five times more, the average Roman soldier. 00:13:13.720 --> 00:13:17.420 But it also means he's an enemy to the Israelites. 00:13:17.720 --> 00:13:19.340 He is part of the occupying force. 00:13:19.500 --> 00:13:22.940 Those, the Romans, remember, they're the ones that crucified Jesus. 00:13:23.160 --> 00:13:25.960 They're the ones that are oppressing the Jews in Israel. 00:13:26.220 --> 00:13:28.800 He's part of the occupying force. 00:13:29.420 --> 00:13:34.879 He lives in Caesarea, which is the seat of the Roman government in this area, in the province of Judea. 00:13:35.100 --> 00:13:37.300 He's an enforcer of Roman law. 00:13:37.299 --> 00:13:41.899 But the story also tells us that he is a devout man. 00:13:42.179 --> 00:13:43.259 He's a God-fearing man. 00:13:43.339 --> 00:13:44.399 He's a man who prays. 00:13:44.799 --> 00:13:45.839 He's not a Jew. 00:13:46.259 --> 00:13:49.699 He's not welcome in the synagogue, but he's a spiritual seeker. 00:13:49.959 --> 00:13:53.639 He's got questions and he's seeking spiritual answers to his questions. 00:13:54.179 --> 00:13:59.179 He may be trying on faith, thinking, what does this look like and feel like to be a person of faith, 00:13:59.240 --> 00:14:01.740 a person who prays, a person who gives money to the poor. 00:14:02.079 --> 00:14:03.539 But he's a spiritual seeker. 00:14:03.539 --> 00:14:07.579 But one day, while he's praying, he sees a vision and an angel tells him, 00:14:07.959 --> 00:14:10.039 send a delegation to this place called Joppa. 00:14:10.159 --> 00:14:11.379 You'll find a man called Peter. 00:14:11.620 --> 00:14:12.219 Call him. 00:14:12.319 --> 00:14:13.419 He's got a message for you. 00:14:13.819 --> 00:14:14.740 And so he does. 00:14:15.699 --> 00:14:18.219 Scene two, Peter and the puzzling vision. 00:14:18.679 --> 00:14:25.620 While this is going on in Caesarea up north, down, God is also speaking to another man, Peter. 00:14:26.159 --> 00:14:29.500 Peter, the apostle Peter, is the representative of Jesus. 00:14:30.019 --> 00:14:31.299 He's also the disciple. 00:14:31.299 --> 00:14:36.740 Remember the guy who denied Jesus and always puts his foot in it and says stupid things. 00:14:37.039 --> 00:14:39.019 But Peter now is filled with the spirit. 00:14:39.139 --> 00:14:40.059 He's used by God. 00:14:40.179 --> 00:14:42.240 He preaches the great sermon and Pentecost. 00:14:42.639 --> 00:14:43.759 He's a powerful man. 00:14:43.959 --> 00:14:46.339 But notice, where is Peter? 00:14:47.079 --> 00:14:48.000 What town is he in? 00:14:48.919 --> 00:14:49.559 He's in Joppa. 00:14:50.279 --> 00:14:52.799 Anybody remember where we've come across Joppa recently? 00:14:53.919 --> 00:14:55.120 The book of Jonah. 00:14:55.279 --> 00:14:55.699 Do you remember? 00:14:56.120 --> 00:14:58.419 Remember in January, we looked at the story of Jonah. 00:14:58.419 --> 00:15:12.839 In the book of Jonah, God sends this prodigal prophet, this man called Jonah, to Nineveh, which is a city full of Gentiles, non-Jewish people, to tell them about the gospel, how God wants to save them from their sins and call them from repentance. 00:15:13.379 --> 00:15:18.679 But Jonah doesn't think that these Ninevites, these Assyrian Gentiles, deserve God's grace. 00:15:19.059 --> 00:15:20.379 He doesn't want them to be forgiven. 00:15:20.379 --> 00:15:23.740 They are unworthy, unliked, undesirable. 00:15:24.200 --> 00:15:25.259 And so what does Jonah do? 00:15:25.740 --> 00:15:26.559 He runs away. 00:15:27.019 --> 00:15:28.360 But where does Jonah go to? 00:15:29.179 --> 00:15:34.379 He goes down to Joppa, the port city on the coast, to board a ship to Tarshish. 00:15:35.179 --> 00:15:39.379 Jonah is running away because he doesn't want the Gentiles to hear about God and be forgiven. 00:15:39.379 --> 00:15:50.779 And so in the background, the story of Jonah, the prodigal prophet, who's on the run from God because he despised the Gentiles, because he considered them unworthy, is going on in the background. 00:15:51.580 --> 00:15:55.779 And Luke, who writes the book of Acts, is just dropping this question in for us. 00:15:56.240 --> 00:15:58.679 Is Peter in Joppa going to be like Jonah? 00:15:59.340 --> 00:16:03.279 Is he going to run away from the Gentiles because he thinks that they don't deserve God's grace? 00:16:03.279 --> 00:16:06.860 So while he's in the city of Joppa, Peter has this vision. 00:16:07.360 --> 00:16:14.159 And in this vision, a sheath comes down and there's full of animals, animals and reptiles and birds of prey, all sorts of animals. 00:16:14.240 --> 00:16:18.379 And he hears a voice saying, Peter, feast yourself. 00:16:18.879 --> 00:16:20.120 Eat what's in front of you. 00:16:20.860 --> 00:16:22.939 But for Peter, this is a problem. 00:16:23.439 --> 00:16:29.279 Because the animals that he sees in this vision in front of him are all what are ceremonially and religiously unclean. 00:16:30.220 --> 00:16:31.220 They are defiled. 00:16:31.220 --> 00:16:34.220 They're the kind of things that no Jew would ever eat in his life. 00:16:34.320 --> 00:16:35.879 Peter says, never, Lord. 00:16:35.980 --> 00:16:36.920 You've got to be joking. 00:16:37.540 --> 00:16:38.620 Now, why is this? 00:16:39.240 --> 00:16:48.660 In the Old Testament, God had given his people all sorts of rules and regulations around food and clothing to wear and household articles and activities. 00:16:49.320 --> 00:16:51.120 Things that he said, these are outlawed. 00:16:51.160 --> 00:16:52.379 These are off limits for you. 00:16:52.720 --> 00:16:55.360 These things, if you engage with them, will make you unclean. 00:16:55.820 --> 00:16:57.080 Now, why does God do that? 00:16:57.519 --> 00:17:00.160 Well, partly it's for hygiene reasons and health. 00:17:00.159 --> 00:17:01.939 Remember, they're traveling through the wilderness. 00:17:02.439 --> 00:17:05.180 God doesn't want them to eat unhealthy food. 00:17:05.659 --> 00:17:05.759 Right? 00:17:06.319 --> 00:17:12.039 I'm sure we've all eaten off sushi or food that is not properly cooked. 00:17:12.359 --> 00:17:13.180 What's going to happen? 00:17:13.240 --> 00:17:14.139 You're going to get very sick. 00:17:14.539 --> 00:17:14.659 Okay? 00:17:14.680 --> 00:17:17.119 In those days, they don't have refrigerators and preservatives. 00:17:17.119 --> 00:17:19.459 So, part of this is hygiene and health. 00:17:19.539 --> 00:17:22.299 As they're traveling through the wilderness, God wants his people to be safe. 00:17:23.099 --> 00:17:30.819 But also, these are the kinds of things that the nations that are around them, the non-Jewish people, engage in and eat and practice. 00:17:31.500 --> 00:17:34.819 And God's plan was that his people were always to be set apart. 00:17:35.099 --> 00:17:35.399 Different. 00:17:35.699 --> 00:17:36.099 Distinctive. 00:17:36.599 --> 00:17:38.879 They are not to be like the nations around them. 00:17:38.939 --> 00:17:40.019 Not to eat what they eat. 00:17:40.139 --> 00:17:40.899 Do what they do. 00:17:41.199 --> 00:17:42.299 Practice what they practice. 00:17:42.299 --> 00:17:44.419 They are God's people and they're set apart. 00:17:45.159 --> 00:17:46.799 And so, God gives them rules saying, 00:17:47.220 --> 00:17:50.099 My people who belong to me, eat these foods. 00:17:50.259 --> 00:17:51.000 Do these things. 00:17:51.139 --> 00:17:53.079 Don't do the things that the nations around you. 00:17:53.319 --> 00:17:54.879 So, listen to Leviticus 11. 00:17:55.000 --> 00:17:55.839 This is what God says. 00:17:56.379 --> 00:18:00.500 This is my law about beasts and birds and living creatures that move on the earth. 00:18:00.879 --> 00:18:04.200 You are to make a distinction between unclean and the clean. 00:18:04.619 --> 00:18:08.980 Between living creatures that may be eaten and living creatures that may not be eaten. 00:18:08.980 --> 00:18:10.500 I am the Lord your God. 00:18:10.819 --> 00:18:11.839 Consecrate yourself therefore. 00:18:12.000 --> 00:18:13.640 Be holy for I am holy. 00:18:13.880 --> 00:18:17.460 I am the Lord who brought you up out of Egypt to be your God. 00:18:17.860 --> 00:18:19.920 You shall therefore be holy as I am holy. 00:18:20.339 --> 00:18:24.579 So, all these laws are a way of demonstrating we are God's set apart people. 00:18:24.720 --> 00:18:25.420 We belong to him. 00:18:25.480 --> 00:18:27.099 We're not like the nations around us. 00:18:27.779 --> 00:18:30.740 And we don't engage in things that make us unclean or defiled. 00:18:31.400 --> 00:18:37.539 And Peter sees this vision and God tells him to go and eat these foods which for him are ceremonially unclean. 00:18:37.620 --> 00:18:38.460 They're religiously unclean. 00:18:38.460 --> 00:18:39.480 They'll make him unclean. 00:18:39.819 --> 00:18:40.860 And Peter says, never Lord. 00:18:40.900 --> 00:18:42.000 I've never done that. 00:18:42.539 --> 00:18:47.779 But God responds and says, do not call common or vulgar what I have made clean. 00:18:49.539 --> 00:18:56.340 While Peter's processing all this strange vision, trying to make sense of it, the contingent from Cornelius comes downstairs. 00:18:56.680 --> 00:18:58.539 And the Holy Spirit tells Peter, go downstairs. 00:18:58.740 --> 00:19:00.279 There are people that are waiting for you. 00:19:01.440 --> 00:19:02.160 Scene three. 00:19:02.799 --> 00:19:04.279 When opponents meet. 00:19:04.279 --> 00:19:07.879 So, Peter is contemplating this vision. 00:19:08.019 --> 00:19:09.839 He goes downstairs and there's this contingent. 00:19:09.940 --> 00:19:10.799 And he welcomes them. 00:19:11.440 --> 00:19:16.019 And the next day, they go to Cornelius' house up in Caesarea. 00:19:16.299 --> 00:19:18.119 And it takes two days journey to get there. 00:19:18.539 --> 00:19:19.660 But they eventually get there. 00:19:19.759 --> 00:19:24.119 And while they're there, Cornelius has called all his friends and family to come to the house. 00:19:24.200 --> 00:19:25.319 It's a big Roman house. 00:19:25.319 --> 00:19:27.740 Maybe 40 or 50 people could stay there. 00:19:28.279 --> 00:19:30.240 And it's packed to the brim. 00:19:30.740 --> 00:19:31.799 Everybody's anticipating. 00:19:31.960 --> 00:19:34.439 Who is the special person that Cornelius has called? 00:19:34.759 --> 00:19:35.899 He had a vision from an angel. 00:19:36.059 --> 00:19:37.139 Must be someone special. 00:19:37.539 --> 00:19:38.819 And they're all anticipating. 00:19:39.539 --> 00:19:41.079 And Peter walks in. 00:19:41.579 --> 00:19:42.480 And look what happens. 00:19:42.579 --> 00:19:44.519 Cornelius falls down and worships him. 00:19:44.599 --> 00:19:45.379 But Peter says, hang on. 00:19:45.439 --> 00:19:46.460 I'm nobody special. 00:19:46.619 --> 00:19:47.079 Get up. 00:19:47.079 --> 00:19:50.639 And then verse 28, Peter says this. 00:19:51.220 --> 00:19:57.259 You yourself know how unlawful it is for me, a Jew, to associate or visit anyone of another nation. 00:19:57.980 --> 00:20:02.279 But God has shown me not to call any person common or unclean. 00:20:03.059 --> 00:20:05.179 The penny is starting to drop for Peter. 00:20:06.019 --> 00:20:08.319 The vision wasn't about food. 00:20:08.480 --> 00:20:09.480 It was about people. 00:20:10.379 --> 00:20:15.059 God wasn't telling Peter to eat whatever food Cornelius puts in front of him. 00:20:15.059 --> 00:20:18.460 But to welcome whatever people God puts in front of him. 00:20:19.419 --> 00:20:20.960 And Peter is starting to see. 00:20:21.700 --> 00:20:25.279 If God declares something clean, who am I to say it's unclean? 00:20:25.919 --> 00:20:33.279 If God, the maker of heaven and earth, says someone is good, who am I to rubbish it or belittle it or reject it? 00:20:33.700 --> 00:20:41.779 If God, the one who knows all things and owns all things, the king of all creation, says something that's pleasing and acceptable to him, 00:20:41.779 --> 00:20:45.319 who am I to decide that it's unacceptable or beneath me? 00:20:46.539 --> 00:20:51.180 And what Peter has known in theory his whole life is starting, the penny is starting to drop. 00:20:51.539 --> 00:21:00.399 That what is most important about any human being is not what people say about them or culture says about them or the church says about them, 00:21:00.480 --> 00:21:02.259 but what God says about them. 00:21:02.259 --> 00:21:09.079 And God says to Peter, don't you dare call common that what is precious to me. 00:21:10.420 --> 00:21:12.079 And so Peter started to see things. 00:21:12.160 --> 00:21:15.740 And so he says to Cornelius, okay, why have you sent me? 00:21:16.079 --> 00:21:16.299 Right? 00:21:16.859 --> 00:21:17.539 I'm here. 00:21:17.879 --> 00:21:18.960 What do you want me to say? 00:21:19.579 --> 00:21:23.940 And Cornelius tells his side of the story, how an angel stood before him and called him. 00:21:24.019 --> 00:21:25.879 And then he says, so here we are. 00:21:26.220 --> 00:21:27.660 Well, to hear what you have to say. 00:21:28.099 --> 00:21:29.359 So Peter says, okay, I'm ready. 00:21:29.359 --> 00:21:31.219 Why have you called me? 00:21:31.339 --> 00:21:33.259 And they say, okay, we're ready. 00:21:33.379 --> 00:21:34.099 What do you have to say? 00:21:34.159 --> 00:21:38.399 And they're kind of looking at each other, both waiting for the other to speak. 00:21:39.659 --> 00:21:43.179 Scene four, the healing of discrimination and prejudice. 00:21:44.039 --> 00:21:47.939 So they're both looking at each other wondering, it's like a blind date, right? 00:21:48.019 --> 00:21:53.099 They're kind of not, no one's too sure what to say, except Peter does have something to say. 00:21:53.839 --> 00:21:57.439 Because the Holy Spirit has no doubt been working in Peter's heart this whole time. 00:21:57.439 --> 00:21:58.359 So look what he says. 00:21:58.359 --> 00:22:02.599 For the third time in this passage, Peter says, truly I understand. 00:22:03.099 --> 00:22:03.919 This is verse 34. 00:22:04.179 --> 00:22:05.819 God shows no partiality. 00:22:06.399 --> 00:22:11.000 But in every nation, anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. 00:22:11.119 --> 00:22:12.859 God shows no partiality. 00:22:13.399 --> 00:22:15.199 In some ways that's the crux of the message, isn't it? 00:22:16.079 --> 00:22:26.199 But now, just by the way, what Peter is not saying here is that anybody is saved or justified or acceptable to God by just doing good works, right? 00:22:26.200 --> 00:22:27.980 Cornelius gives money to the poor. 00:22:28.140 --> 00:22:29.680 Anyone that does that, justified. 00:22:29.680 --> 00:22:32.420 Actually, John Stott explains it like this. 00:22:32.420 --> 00:22:39.680 He says, the emphasis is that Cornelius' Roman nationality was acceptable, so he had no need to become a Jew. 00:22:39.680 --> 00:22:45.440 Not that his righteousness was adequate, so that he had no need to become a follower of Jesus. 00:22:46.140 --> 00:22:49.019 Peter's not saying, listen, Cornelius, you seem like a good guy. 00:22:49.100 --> 00:22:49.880 You don't need Jesus. 00:22:50.039 --> 00:22:51.060 God loves you as you are. 00:22:51.519 --> 00:22:52.460 That's not his point. 00:22:52.560 --> 00:22:55.420 His point is, Cornelius, you don't need to become a Jew. 00:22:55.560 --> 00:22:58.700 You don't need to become circumcised and go to the synagogue for God to love you. 00:22:58.700 --> 00:23:00.940 All you need is Jesus. 00:23:01.900 --> 00:23:09.539 Peter's point is not that God is indifferent to what we believe, but indifferent to where we come from, our culture, our nationality, our background. 00:23:10.299 --> 00:23:13.279 And so, what does Peter say to Cornelius here? 00:23:14.019 --> 00:23:21.519 Well, if this was me, or if this was the United Nations, it would be tempted to draw up this kind of, the Caesarea declaration on, you know, race relations. 00:23:21.700 --> 00:23:26.380 Or a 20-point peace plan on how to make things work between Jews and Gentiles. 00:23:26.380 --> 00:23:30.660 Or this five-year vision on cooperation between Jews and non-Jews. 00:23:30.720 --> 00:23:32.520 But Peter doesn't do any of that. 00:23:33.220 --> 00:23:34.240 What does Peter do? 00:23:34.920 --> 00:23:38.580 Look at verse 34, all the way down to 42 with me. 00:23:39.500 --> 00:23:46.140 In that passage, in 10 verses, Peter tells Cornelius and his household about Jesus. 00:23:47.080 --> 00:23:53.380 And in these 10 verses, Peter talks about Jesus Christ, or references, 18 times. 00:23:53.380 --> 00:23:56.300 Almost 20 times, in a few short sentences. 00:23:56.480 --> 00:24:00.800 In his short speech, Peter, almost 20 times, tells him about Jesus. 00:24:00.920 --> 00:24:01.460 Who he is. 00:24:01.880 --> 00:24:02.560 What he did. 00:24:03.080 --> 00:24:03.900 What he was about. 00:24:04.320 --> 00:24:05.360 Why God sent him. 00:24:05.700 --> 00:24:06.500 What he accomplished. 00:24:07.020 --> 00:24:08.780 And how that changes the world. 00:24:09.880 --> 00:24:13.380 Friends, why is it that these two people, a wealthy Roman centurion. 00:24:14.020 --> 00:24:17.500 Remember, centurions are the people that crucified Jesus and put him on the cross. 00:24:17.500 --> 00:24:19.960 A wealthy Roman centurion. 00:24:20.220 --> 00:24:22.819 And a poor fisherman turned preacher. 00:24:23.440 --> 00:24:27.700 How is it that these two people, a Gentile and a Jew, can welcome each other. 00:24:28.079 --> 00:24:29.240 Accept each other. 00:24:29.660 --> 00:24:30.799 And honor each other. 00:24:32.880 --> 00:24:36.140 Friends, how is it that the prejudice in our heart. 00:24:36.220 --> 00:24:37.680 And the discrimination in our heart. 00:24:37.940 --> 00:24:39.279 Can be broken down. 00:24:39.279 --> 00:24:43.539 Because Jesus Christ makes polluted things clean again. 00:24:44.180 --> 00:24:47.599 Because Jesus makes undesirable things acceptable. 00:24:48.440 --> 00:24:51.839 Because Jesus makes unsanctified things sanctified. 00:24:52.519 --> 00:24:55.279 Because Jesus makes ugly things beautiful. 00:24:56.139 --> 00:25:00.119 Because Jesus welcomes unwelcome things and unwelcome people. 00:25:01.000 --> 00:25:02.599 Because Jesus washes sinners. 00:25:02.740 --> 00:25:04.200 Both religious sinners like Peter. 00:25:04.839 --> 00:25:06.619 And unreligious sinners like Cornelius. 00:25:06.619 --> 00:25:09.439 Both pious sinners and people like me. 00:25:09.799 --> 00:25:13.379 And unpious sinners like, I don't know. 00:25:13.699 --> 00:25:14.439 Also me, maybe. 00:25:15.219 --> 00:25:17.419 Jesus gives new value to people's lives. 00:25:17.519 --> 00:25:20.079 That is not defined by culture or ethnicity. 00:25:20.699 --> 00:25:22.379 Language, wealth or education. 00:25:22.939 --> 00:25:24.839 Because Jesus changes us. 00:25:25.779 --> 00:25:28.199 And that's what Cornelius is starting to see. 00:25:28.779 --> 00:25:30.419 And Cornelius says, okay, we're here. 00:25:30.500 --> 00:25:31.619 Well, what do you have to say? 00:25:31.819 --> 00:25:34.399 Cornelius falls down on his knees before Peter. 00:25:34.500 --> 00:25:35.219 Which is amazing. 00:25:35.220 --> 00:25:36.940 And Peter says, get up. 00:25:37.039 --> 00:25:38.000 I'm nobody special. 00:25:38.360 --> 00:25:39.480 Don't come and honor me. 00:25:39.720 --> 00:25:41.360 Don't try and become like me. 00:25:41.460 --> 00:25:43.019 There's someone else you need to become like. 00:25:43.640 --> 00:25:45.880 You need to fall down on your knees before Jesus. 00:25:47.100 --> 00:25:48.620 Peter tells him about Jesus. 00:25:49.140 --> 00:25:49.920 Who he is. 00:25:50.380 --> 00:25:51.160 And what he's done. 00:25:52.039 --> 00:25:53.519 Now, just a side comment here. 00:25:54.360 --> 00:25:58.059 This passage is talking about the immense welcome of Jesus. 00:25:58.180 --> 00:25:59.539 To all sorts of people, right? 00:25:59.539 --> 00:26:05.339 But you may say, but actually, Jesus is often drawing a line in the sand and discriminating. 00:26:05.480 --> 00:26:06.960 Jesus is often separating people. 00:26:07.379 --> 00:26:10.000 You might think of the famous Matthew 25. 00:26:10.259 --> 00:26:11.339 Jesus tells this parable. 00:26:11.720 --> 00:26:12.819 And he says, all people come. 00:26:12.960 --> 00:26:14.079 All sorts of people come. 00:26:14.139 --> 00:26:15.420 And I say, you go over there. 00:26:15.639 --> 00:26:16.440 You go over there. 00:26:16.539 --> 00:26:17.240 You to the right. 00:26:17.319 --> 00:26:18.099 And you to the left. 00:26:18.359 --> 00:26:19.779 And he says, these people on the right. 00:26:19.859 --> 00:26:21.559 My sheep are welcome in the kingdom. 00:26:21.559 --> 00:26:24.799 And these people on the left will go to eternal destruction. 00:26:25.559 --> 00:26:27.740 Or think about how Jesus welcomes children. 00:26:27.980 --> 00:26:30.379 But the rich young ruler, he sends them away. 00:26:30.819 --> 00:26:34.539 Or he welcomes sinners and tax collectors and prostitutes. 00:26:34.659 --> 00:26:36.179 But the Pharisees, he says, no, no. 00:26:36.240 --> 00:26:37.579 You have no part of my kingdom. 00:26:38.179 --> 00:26:40.059 So Jesus does make a distinction. 00:26:40.980 --> 00:26:42.299 So how does that work? 00:26:43.240 --> 00:26:46.339 Friends, in the scripture, the answer is that in God's kingdom, 00:26:46.339 --> 00:26:56.720 what separates and divides is not culture or wealth or status or ethnicity or language, but faith. 00:26:57.619 --> 00:27:01.659 Faith and repentance is the dividing line that divides. 00:27:02.299 --> 00:27:09.019 And Jesus has no problem saying there is a dividing line between those who trust me and believe me 00:27:09.019 --> 00:27:14.199 and come to me in faith and repentance and those who reject me and reject the offer of grace. 00:27:14.699 --> 00:27:15.839 There is a dividing line. 00:27:16.339 --> 00:27:17.939 But it's not the line that we draw. 00:27:18.579 --> 00:27:24.399 We like to draw the dividing line of culture and race and ethnicity and work and career and socioeconomic status. 00:27:24.980 --> 00:27:30.879 Jesus says it's those who come to him in faith and repentance, which is why it all comes down to Jesus. 00:27:31.500 --> 00:27:33.980 And so Peter tells us here about Jesus. 00:27:34.079 --> 00:27:34.859 And what does he say? 00:27:34.919 --> 00:27:37.339 Well, he says three things in particular. 00:27:37.559 --> 00:27:38.299 Look at what he says here. 00:27:38.399 --> 00:27:41.079 Firstly, he says, Jesus is Lord of all. 00:27:41.699 --> 00:27:42.539 Jesus is Lord of all. 00:27:42.579 --> 00:27:45.039 Look at verse 36 it is. 00:27:45.039 --> 00:27:46.000 Peter says this. 00:27:46.399 --> 00:27:51.359 As for the word that God sent to Israel, preaching the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, 00:27:51.440 --> 00:27:53.099 then our Bibles, he has brackets. 00:27:53.500 --> 00:27:54.500 He is Lord of all. 00:27:54.700 --> 00:27:56.379 That's in some ways the main point. 00:27:56.779 --> 00:27:58.460 Jesus is Lord of all. 00:27:58.859 --> 00:28:00.779 He is Lord of all people. 00:28:00.779 --> 00:28:02.019 Jesus is Lord of all. 00:28:02.019 --> 00:28:05.660 Jesus is Lord of the people that we find hard to accept and welcome. 00:28:06.779 --> 00:28:09.720 Jesus is Lord of the beggar that lives under the bridge. 00:28:10.940 --> 00:28:15.980 Jesus is Lord of the frustrating neighbor who lives upstairs, keeps you awake at night. 00:28:15.980 --> 00:28:21.019 Jesus is Lord of every political leader, every business leader. 00:28:21.819 --> 00:28:25.599 Jesus is Lord of the family member who makes life difficult for us. 00:28:26.120 --> 00:28:31.759 Friends, Jesus is Lord of the colleague who scolded you this week and told you that you're rubbish. 00:28:32.759 --> 00:28:38.319 Jesus is Lord of the person who didn't reciprocate your romantic intentions. 00:28:38.319 --> 00:28:44.059 Friends, Jesus is Lord of the world's wealthiest people and the world's poorest people. 00:28:44.839 --> 00:28:48.960 Jesus is Lord of that young lady who was trafficked into sex work in Wan Chai, 00:28:49.559 --> 00:28:54.379 who was used and abused and treated as nothing but a tool for some men's distorted pleasure. 00:28:55.279 --> 00:28:57.319 Friends, Jesus is Lord of your life. 00:28:58.159 --> 00:28:58.899 He's Lord of you. 00:28:59.019 --> 00:28:59.899 He's Lord of me. 00:28:59.900 --> 00:29:02.080 Jesus is Lord of all. 00:29:02.180 --> 00:29:07.820 And because he is Lord of all, he gets to determine a person's value and wealth, 00:29:07.880 --> 00:29:12.860 not culture, not media, not our bank accounts, not the things that we look to. 00:29:13.759 --> 00:29:19.220 Peter also tells Cornelius that Jesus is the justifier of all, the vindicator of all. 00:29:19.860 --> 00:29:22.400 Look at verse 43 with me at the end. 00:29:22.900 --> 00:29:23.280 He says, 00:29:23.279 --> 00:29:38.000 In verse 28, Peter says to Cornelius, 00:29:38.359 --> 00:29:42.799 Now why is that? 00:29:43.440 --> 00:29:45.940 Why is it that Peter should not judge anyone? 00:29:45.940 --> 00:29:50.019 Is it because this new religion called Christianity is so very woke, 00:29:50.440 --> 00:29:52.799 so very welcoming and tolerant of everyone? 00:29:52.799 --> 00:29:54.220 We don't judge anyone. 00:29:54.720 --> 00:29:55.599 Well, that's not the reason. 00:29:56.159 --> 00:29:59.519 The reason is, no friends, because Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all, 00:30:00.000 --> 00:30:06.579 also died on the cross for all and was raised for all who will trust in him and believe in him. 00:30:07.019 --> 00:30:12.419 Jesus Christ was made the ultimate outsider so that anyone can become the insider. 00:30:12.859 --> 00:30:20.460 Jesus Christ was the one who was rejected so that anyone who trusts in him can be welcomed and accepted. 00:30:20.460 --> 00:30:22.920 As the apostle Paul would later write, 00:30:22.920 --> 00:30:31.120 For God made him who knew no sin to become sin for us so that in him we who trust in him, 00:30:31.259 --> 00:30:34.720 anyone might become the righteousness of God. 00:30:34.799 --> 00:30:36.380 Jesus Christ is Lord of all. 00:30:37.100 --> 00:30:41.440 And Jesus is the vindicator, the justifier, the welcomer of all. 00:30:41.440 --> 00:30:44.259 But then look at what he also says, verse 42. 00:30:44.580 --> 00:30:46.299 Jesus is judge of all. 00:30:47.059 --> 00:30:47.900 Verse 42 says, 00:30:48.400 --> 00:30:50.480 And God commanded us to preach to the people, 00:30:51.059 --> 00:30:57.120 to testify that he, Jesus, is the one appointed by God to be the judge of the living and the dead. 00:30:57.980 --> 00:31:01.320 Neil showed me this week that usually we get that the other way around. 00:31:01.440 --> 00:31:03.840 We think the Old Testament prophets talk about judgment, 00:31:04.279 --> 00:31:06.720 and Jesus is here just to talk about grace and mercy. 00:31:06.720 --> 00:31:11.339 This passage actually tells us that the Old Testament prophets spoke about his forgiveness of sins, 00:31:11.460 --> 00:31:15.039 and Jesus is the judge of the living and the dead. 00:31:15.600 --> 00:31:18.819 Friends, our assessment of people is always warped. 00:31:19.380 --> 00:31:23.160 Even with the very best intentions, we've always got mixed motives, 00:31:23.860 --> 00:31:26.740 self-justifying pride, sinful attitudes. 00:31:27.299 --> 00:31:29.980 But there is one whose judgment is perfect. 00:31:30.380 --> 00:31:33.079 One who can look into the very intentions of the heart, 00:31:33.160 --> 00:31:34.920 who knows everybody perfectly. 00:31:34.920 --> 00:31:36.779 His judgment is just. 00:31:37.279 --> 00:31:38.500 His judgment is true. 00:31:40.279 --> 00:31:43.640 About a year after I had coffee with my friend Lux, 00:31:43.960 --> 00:31:48.200 I got to know him, and we started a bit of a friendship. 00:31:48.980 --> 00:31:50.620 And we had coffee about a year later, 00:31:50.800 --> 00:31:54.259 downtown Cape Town at a coffee bar called Deluxe Coffee Works. 00:31:54.900 --> 00:31:56.820 And there at the coffee bar, 00:31:57.640 --> 00:32:01.160 I told Lux what I was thinking the first time I met him. 00:32:01.160 --> 00:32:04.560 And I told him the story of how I had judged him, 00:32:05.279 --> 00:32:09.440 and how I told him that in my mind, 00:32:09.820 --> 00:32:12.320 being a person of black skin, dark skin, 00:32:12.420 --> 00:32:14.040 made him more suspicious in my mind. 00:32:14.100 --> 00:32:15.580 I remember looking him in the eye and saying, 00:32:15.720 --> 00:32:18.560 Lux, I judged you because of the color of your skin. 00:32:19.420 --> 00:32:22.040 And with tears streaming, I think, down both of our faces, 00:32:22.700 --> 00:32:24.820 I apologized and I asked for his forgiveness. 00:32:24.819 --> 00:32:26.819 Yes, I was a pastor, 00:32:27.439 --> 00:32:30.919 but yes, I still had a lot of discrimination and prejudice in my heart. 00:32:31.599 --> 00:32:34.700 Yes, I needed the grace of the Lord Jesus to work in me, 00:32:35.139 --> 00:32:37.299 and forgive me, and change me. 00:32:38.039 --> 00:32:40.419 That day, Lux became more than just a friend. 00:32:40.859 --> 00:32:41.779 He became a brother. 00:32:42.539 --> 00:32:43.659 I think we still are today. 00:32:44.439 --> 00:32:46.639 Friends, the deep work of God needs to reach, 00:32:46.939 --> 00:32:49.039 not just the outer corners of the world, 00:32:49.039 --> 00:32:54.539 not just to Cornelius and Caesarea and China and Mongolia and North Korea and Iran 00:32:54.539 --> 00:32:56.240 and the outermost ends of the earth. 00:32:56.680 --> 00:32:59.940 The gospel also needs to work in the innermost parts of our hearts. 00:33:00.440 --> 00:33:03.819 It needs to get to the place where we struggle to let it in. 00:33:04.180 --> 00:33:07.740 The same Lord Jesus that's going to save Cornelius and his household 00:33:07.740 --> 00:33:08.879 from the judgment to come 00:33:08.879 --> 00:33:11.720 is the same Lord Jesus that's going to change Peter, 00:33:12.220 --> 00:33:14.119 the apostle, the representative of Christ, 00:33:14.119 --> 00:33:16.539 and drive out the discrimination in his heart 00:33:16.539 --> 00:33:20.679 to change him from a man of judgment to a man of welcome. 00:33:21.199 --> 00:33:23.899 Friends, that same Lord Jesus, that same grace 00:33:23.899 --> 00:33:29.219 is what needs to change us, change me, change you, change our city. 00:33:29.979 --> 00:33:31.659 So what are we going to do with this message? 00:33:31.799 --> 00:33:33.639 How can we live differently this week? 00:33:34.099 --> 00:33:38.000 How might the Lord Jesus, the judge of all, the justifier of all, the Lord of all, 00:33:38.319 --> 00:33:40.659 how might he want us to live differently this week? 00:33:40.759 --> 00:33:43.179 And so here are just three questions for us to think about. 00:33:43.180 --> 00:33:45.759 Friends, who do you find it hard to accept? 00:33:46.580 --> 00:33:48.120 Who do you find it hard to welcome? 00:33:48.840 --> 00:33:51.400 Are there any people groups, any ethnicities, 00:33:51.960 --> 00:33:55.840 any job types that you think are below you, beneath you, 00:33:57.200 --> 00:33:59.660 below your status, your station in life? 00:34:00.640 --> 00:34:02.860 Friends, what do your circle of friends look like? 00:34:03.440 --> 00:34:04.960 Who are the people that you hang out with? 00:34:05.420 --> 00:34:06.980 The people you socialize with? 00:34:07.480 --> 00:34:08.900 Are they all just like you? 00:34:09.539 --> 00:34:10.760 The same economic bracket? 00:34:10.760 --> 00:34:14.100 Are there people with the same education, same backgrounds, 00:34:14.400 --> 00:34:17.460 same career trajectories, going to make them the same path? 00:34:18.160 --> 00:34:21.140 Or are there any people that will never match your social status, 00:34:21.240 --> 00:34:23.400 never match your socioeconomic status, 00:34:23.760 --> 00:34:25.400 that are part of your circle of friends, 00:34:25.560 --> 00:34:26.620 people that you can welcome? 00:34:27.340 --> 00:34:29.500 Because the gospel has equalized relationships. 00:34:30.580 --> 00:34:32.080 Thirdly, friends, when we come to church, 00:34:32.200 --> 00:34:33.160 when we join a CG, 00:34:33.700 --> 00:34:35.720 do we just sit with people that are just like us? 00:34:36.120 --> 00:34:38.460 Do we join a CG of people that are just like us? 00:34:38.460 --> 00:34:42.860 Or can we maybe be those that find people that are unlike us, 00:34:43.000 --> 00:34:44.260 and yet one with us, 00:34:44.679 --> 00:34:45.720 because of Jesus? 00:34:46.880 --> 00:34:50.119 The book of Acts is the story of God's remarkable power. 00:34:50.619 --> 00:34:53.860 How his gospel message spread from a small band of followers in Jerusalem 00:34:53.860 --> 00:34:55.300 to the ends of the earth. 00:34:55.340 --> 00:34:57.900 And it's the story of how the gospel is still going out, 00:34:58.159 --> 00:34:59.980 all over the world. 00:35:00.119 --> 00:35:01.280 This was God's doing. 00:35:01.400 --> 00:35:02.480 No strategic planning, 00:35:02.659 --> 00:35:03.579 no vision statements, 00:35:03.639 --> 00:35:04.980 or 10-year plans. 00:35:04.980 --> 00:35:08.260 Friends, this was nothing less than the power of the living God, 00:35:08.619 --> 00:35:10.340 through the power of the living Holy Spirit, 00:35:10.780 --> 00:35:11.920 through the church, 00:35:12.119 --> 00:35:13.199 changing people's lives. 00:35:13.619 --> 00:35:15.820 But the gospel that was so powerfully at work 00:35:15.820 --> 00:35:17.420 in the cities and the nations of the world 00:35:17.420 --> 00:35:19.960 was also at work in the people of God. 00:35:20.440 --> 00:35:22.159 It needed to be at work in them as well. 00:35:22.659 --> 00:35:23.980 If Peter, the great apostle, 00:35:24.679 --> 00:35:26.059 and Jesus Christ only represented, 00:35:26.199 --> 00:35:27.699 needed the gospel to change him, 00:35:28.199 --> 00:35:30.659 friends, how much more does it need to change us as well? 00:35:31.039 --> 00:35:32.300 Let's come to him now in prayer, 00:35:32.699 --> 00:35:33.659 and ask him to do that. 00:35:34.980 --> 00:35:37.000 Lord Jesus, 00:35:37.240 --> 00:35:39.800 we confess, God, 00:35:40.119 --> 00:35:41.920 that there is more of Peter inside of us 00:35:41.920 --> 00:35:42.800 than we like to admit. 00:35:44.760 --> 00:35:46.480 Living God, we need you. 00:35:47.400 --> 00:35:48.699 Have mercy upon us. 00:35:49.659 --> 00:35:50.380 Forgive us. 00:35:51.639 --> 00:35:53.480 God, sin is so deceptive, 00:35:53.539 --> 00:35:54.219 it's so deep, 00:35:54.840 --> 00:35:58.240 that it often blinds us to its role in our life. 00:35:58.300 --> 00:35:59.360 We often think we are fine, 00:35:59.500 --> 00:36:00.820 we're not as bad as we used to be, 00:36:00.840 --> 00:36:01.820 and we think we are fine. 00:36:02.320 --> 00:36:04.740 But God, your gospel wants to keep on going deeper. 00:36:05.340 --> 00:36:06.500 And so I pray, Lord Jesus, 00:36:07.539 --> 00:36:09.099 the gospel that changed Cornelius, 00:36:09.199 --> 00:36:10.420 the gospel that changed Saul, 00:36:11.380 --> 00:36:12.800 the gospel that changed Peter, 00:36:13.400 --> 00:36:15.059 let that gospel come and change us. 00:36:15.699 --> 00:36:16.780 Make us a community 00:36:16.780 --> 00:36:19.599 that is like what heaven's going to be like one day, 00:36:20.079 --> 00:36:21.199 full of diverse people, 00:36:21.320 --> 00:36:22.380 welcome, accepted, 00:36:23.260 --> 00:36:23.599 loved, 00:36:24.119 --> 00:36:24.940 not judged, 00:36:25.300 --> 00:36:26.099 because you, God, 00:36:26.159 --> 00:36:27.039 are at work in our hearts. 00:36:27.039 --> 00:36:29.219 We pray this in your almighty name. 00:36:30.000 --> 00:36:30.259 Amen.