"Spiritual Power" (Acts 10:44-46)

 

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 1/23/2018 9:26 AM

My Worship Time                                                                              Focus: Spiritual Power

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                 Reference:  Acts 10:44-46a

            Message of the verses:  “44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who were listening to the message. 45 All the circumcised believers who came with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. 46 For they were hearing them speaking with tongues and exalting God.”

            This passage kind of reminds me of what happened to Daniel when in the ninth chapter of his book, while he was praying and asking the Lord what was going to happen to the nation of Israel that Gabriel came and interrupted his prayer to give him the answer.  In verse 43 of Acts 10 Peter was preaching and telling Cornelius and his family how they could be saved, and it must have been at that exact moment that they all accepted the forgiveness offered to them by the Lord and so “the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who were listening to the message.”  We have mentioned “sign gifts” that happened to a believer once they became a believer in the early church.  One of these sign gifts was that people spoke in tongues.  When the apostles preached on Pentecost believers began to speak in tongues, then the same with the Samaritans, and then later on when a group of believers who had only heard of John the Baptist hear the whole gospel they too began to speak in tongues.  Now that the Gentiles became believers they too began to speak in tongues.  Later on this would not be necessary, but everyone who becomes a believer is given an effectual call by the Holy Spirit, and once they accept Christ as their Savior they are baptized in the Holy Spirit at that exact moment as they are taken out of the world’s system and brought into the body of Christ, the church.  Believers are to continually be filled with the Holy Spirit in order for power to live the Christian life, and they are also sealed with the Holy Spirit as a down payment from God, a promissory note from God that they will end up in heaven to be with the Lord forever.  New believers do not understand all that happens to them when they become a believer and so they have to study the Word to understand all of these things that happen to them.  I have to say that it took me many years to understand all of these truths, but the Lord was and still is patient with me as He teaches me from His Word each day.

            John MacArthur writes “Acts 8 does not establish the norm for receiving the Spirit.  If believers were always to be saved and then later to receive the Spirit, why did Cornelius and the others receive the Spirit the moment they were saved?  The view of some that they were already saved and this was simply the occasion of their receiving the Spirit, why did Peter preach the gospel?  Why did he not instead give them teaching on how to receive the Spirit?  The Spirit’s coming required no petition, no confession, no water baptism, and no laying on of hands.  He came as they listened and believed.  That is clear from Peter’s inspired testimony in Acts 11:17 that God had given them the Holy Spirit, ‘after believing in the Lord Jesus Christ.’

            “There can be so such thing as a Christian without the Holy Spirit, since He is essential to the Christian life.  The Holy Spirit grants power to witness (Acts 1:8) and pray (Rom. 8:26).  Through His ministry comes assurance of salvation (Rom. 8:16), since by Him believers are ‘sealed for the day of redemption’ (Eph 4:30; cf. Eph. 1:13).  He is the ‘pledge of our inheritance’ (Eph. 1:14) and also our teacher (1 John 2:27).”

            As we look at verses 45-46a we see that Peter was amazed that this happened to the Gentiles.  It is a good thing that Peter brought six brethren from Joppa with him as they too witnessed what happened to these Gentiles after hearing the message of salvation. 

            This passage does not show that speaking in tongues is normally to be expected with the coming of the Holy Spirit.  There are those who believe this today and have caused a great deal of trouble for believers today.  Believers today have the entire Bible and can read and be taught in good Bible believing churches and so there is no need for these “sign gifts” to be used any more.  While vacationing in Florida a few years ago my wife and I ended up in a “Charismatic” church and witnessed people walking barefoot up the isles playing tambourines and chanting.  This went on for about 45 minutes and then there was a sermon that lasted less than 20 minutes.  It was all about feelings. 

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  Thirty-nine years ago today my wife, son and I were on a long journey together.  Our son was born 39 years ago today and was born with a hole in his heart and tightness in a valve.  We all went through a lot together with him as six months later he had the first of two operations on his heart the last came in early May of 1981 where the Lord used doctors to care for his heart.  God was with us every step of the way and taught us much as we went through this difficult path.  He and his wife now have three children of their own, the middle one just got baptized last Sunday, and the younger one has just accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as his Savior and Lord.  God is so good to our family and I am so thankful for His goodness.

My Steps of Faith for Today:  Trust the Lord that the circle will not be broken as there is one more grand-child and one daughter to be saved in our family.

Memory verse:  Psalm 143:10 “Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God; let Your good Spirit lead me on level ground.”

Answer to yesterday’s Bible question:  “a letter.”

Today’s Bible question:  “Why was Moses not allowed to go into the land of Canaan?”

Answer in our next SD.

1/23/2018 10:18 AM 

PT-2 "Salvation Presented" (Acts 10:34-43)

 

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 1/22/2018 9:50 AM

My Worship Time                                                                    Focus:  PT-2 “Salvation Presented”

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                 Reference:  Acts 10:34-43

            Message of the verses:  “34 Opening his mouth, Peter said: "I most certainly understand now that God is not one to show partiality, 35 but in every nation the man who fears Him and does what is right is welcome to Him. 36 “The word which He sent to the sons of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ (He is Lord of all) - 37 you yourselves know the thing which took place throughout all Judea, starting from Galilee, after the baptism which John proclaimed. 38 "You know of Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him. 39 “We are witnesses of all the things He did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They also put Him to death by hanging Him on a cross. 40 "God raised Him up on the third day and granted that He become visible, 41 not to all the people, but to witnesses who were chosen beforehand by God, that is, to us who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead. 42 “And He ordered us to preach to the people, and solemnly to testify that this is the One who has been appointed by God as Judge of the living and the dead. 43 “Of Him all the prophets bear witness that through His name everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins.’”

            Whenever Paul would go into a Gentile town he first looked to give the message of salvation to the Jews who were there “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.”  When Jesus was about to leave in a cloud to go back to heaven He told His disciples “6 So when they had come together, they were asking Him, saying, "Lord, is it at this time You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?" 7 He said to them, "It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority; 8 but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.’”  You see the order of who was to first receive the message of the gospel, and now Peter understands that it is time for the Gentiles to receive the gospel as we mentioned earlier that both he and Cornelius were made ready through the power of the Holy Spirit, Peter to give out the gospel, and Cornelius to receive it.  The gospel is the same for all who have heard and received it no matter where they are from.

            Caesarea was the seat of the Roman government in Judea and so when Peter tells Cornelius all that happened to Jesus Christ while in Jerusalem, how He suffered and died and then raised again this was not something that was not new to him.  Peter begins with the baptism of John, the forerunner of Jesus Christ and then goes on to speak about the things that Jesus did those three years that Peter was with Him.  Peter was affirming that all the things that the people of Caesarea had heard about Jesus was true, especially the raising of the dead after three days in the grave.

            Peter wanted to make sure that Cornelius herd that the resurrection of Jesus from the dead was true as there were some during that time who did not believe this to be true, similar to some who do not believe it in this day.  Paul points out this truth and the need to hear this truth in the 15^th chapter of 1 Corinthians.  Peter points out that no all had the privilege of witnessing the resurrected Christ, but he had and now he is passing on this truth to Cornelius and those who were with him.  

            “42 “And He ordered us to preach to the people, and solemnly to testify that this is the One who has been appointed by God as Judge of the living and the dead.”  Peter points out the marching orders of those who were apostolic witnesses, that is to tell others about Jesus Christ and the way of salvation through Him.  Peter then ends by talking about the prophets who had written about what was going to happen to Jesus Christ before it actually happened.  As a part of my devotions this morning I read over the 22^nd Psalm and in this Psalm you see that David wrote about crucifixion years before it was even invented as a form of capital punishment. 

            Peter gives out the gospel to Cornelius in these verses and in our next SD we will begin to look at the response to what Peter spoke to them. 

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  “but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence; (1 Peter 3:15).”

My Steps of Faith for Today:  Trust the Lord to continue to get me back on my feet after having a tough time with the flue for a few days.

Answer to yesterday’s Bible question:  “Priscilla” (Acts 18:2).

Today’s Bible question:  “What does “epistle” mean?”

Answer in our next SD.

1/22/2018 10:22 AM

PT-1 "Salvation Presented" (Acts 10:34-43)

 

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 1/21/2018 10:05 AM

My Worship Time                                                                  Focus: PT-1 Salvation Presented

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                 Reference:  Acts 10:34-43

            Message of the verses:  “34 Opening his mouth, Peter said: "I most certainly understand now that God is not one to show partiality, 35  but in every nation the man who fears Him and does what is right is welcome to Him. 36 “The word which He sent to the sons of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ (He is Lord of all) - 37 you yourselves know the thing which took place throughout all Judea, starting from Galilee, after the baptism which John proclaimed. 38  "You know of Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him. 39 “We are witnesses of all the things He did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They also put Him to death by hanging Him on a cross. 40  "God raised Him up on the third day and granted that He become visible, 41 not to all the people, but to witnesses who were chosen beforehand by God, that is, to us who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead. 42 “And He ordered us to preach to the people, and solemnly to testify that this is the One who has been appointed by God as Judge of the living and the dead. 43 “Of Him all the prophets bear witness that through His name everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins.’”

            The sermons that Peter had given in other areas of the book of Acts that we have already looked at earlier in our study of Acts are very different than what he tells to Cornelius and those who were with him.  The ground had been plowed and was ready to be planted and so Peter gives the details of what is necessary to become a believer. 

            When we see the words “Opening his mouth” it is a colloquial Greek expression that makes what follows something very important, and I suppose that there could be nothing more important to follow than understanding the truth of the Gospel.  1/21/2018 10:16 AM  1/21/2018 11:29 AM

            In opening his mouth Peter began by shattering what still remained of the barrier separating the two groups with his fresh insight:  “: "I most certainly understand now that God is not one to show partiality, 35  but in every nation the man who fears Him and does what is right is welcome to Him.’”  God does not show partiality as perhaps the Jews were thinking.  God brought forth the nation of Israel not to hide His truth as found in His Word, but for the people of Israel to tell others of it, something that they failed miserably, and now Peter surely understands this truth about God.  As believers we cannot and must not put God into a box.  Perhaps Peter was thinking back to what Jesus was saying in John 10:16 “"I have other sheep, which are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will hear My voice; and they will become one flock with one shepherd.”

            We know that Paul elaborated on this truth “29 Or is God the God of Jews only? Is He not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, 30 since indeed God who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith is one (Rom. 3:29-30).”  11 For there is no partiality with God (Rom. 2:11).”  “9  And masters, do the same things to them, and give up threatening, knowing that both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no partiality with Him (Eph. 6:9).” 

            Peter goes on to say “in every nation the man who fears Him and does what is right is welcome to Him.”  John MacArthur writes:  “Some have misunderstood this verse to be teaching universalism, that God accepts all who are sincere on the basis of their works.  That view is obviously inconsistent with biblical teaching and absurd.  If Cornelius and the others were already saved, what was Peter doing there preaching that only through the name of Jesus can souls be saved (v. 43)?  Further, that they were not yet saved is clearly stated in Acts 11:14.  There are some who would deny that there is any pre-salvation work on the part of the sinner, leading to salvation.  This, too, is absurd, since the text clearly states that salvation comes to those who fear God and do what is right.  Is this salvation by works?  Of course not.  Peter is simply expressing the reality that there is a Spirit work in the heart of the sinner (cf. John 16:8-11; Acts 11:18; 2 Tim. 2:25).  That work produces a person ‘who fears’ or reverences God ‘and does what is right,’ and who ‘is welcome or acceptable (dektos) to God.  That word means ‘marked by a favorable manifestation of the divine pleasure,’ as used in 2 Corinthians 6:2, ‘At the acceptable time I listened to you, and on the day of salvation I helped you; behold, now is ‘the acceptable time’, behold, now is the ‘day of salvation.’’  This text shows that the welcome or acceptable time is the time of salvation.  No matter what the age, race, sex, or social strata, when the heart hungers for God and for righteousness (Matt. 5:6), it is the welcome time for salvation.  Commenting on this verse, Evert Harrison remarks, ‘The meaning is not that such persons are thereby saved (cf. Acts. 11:14) but rather that they are suitable candidates for salvation.  Such preparation betokens a spiritual earnestness that will result in faith as the gospel is heard and received.’”

            Cornelius responded to the work of God in his soul; however we cannot think that he did that on his own, apart from the grace of God.  It was some time later on in my walk with the Lord that I understood this truth, that I know that I wanted the Savior on that January day in Florida in 1974, but at that time did not realize that it was the Spirit of God who drew me to the Savior so that He could save me.  I accepted because I was drawn to the Savior by His Spirit using His Word.  My heart was prepared through the working of the Holy Spirit and Peter introduced his message to Cornelius and his friends assuring them that salvation was available to the prepared heart.  MacArthur adds “Yet it was not enough for them merely to know of its availability; they needed to know how to appropriate the forgiveness of sin and deliverance from judgment.  Peter turns, then to the main theme of the gospel, namely that salvation comes through Jesus Christ to anyone from any nation.”  MacArthur then goes on to quote a portion of a verse from “The Church’s One Foundation,” the church is

Elect from ev’ry nation,

Yet one o’er all the earth.

            We will continue looking at this section in our next SD.

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  I have written about “divine appointments” and many of my SD’s and there probably is not a better example of this term that what is found in this 10^th chapter of the book of Acts. 

My Steps of Faith for Today:  I trust that the Lord will give me many more divine appointments as I go through my life here on planet earth.

Answer to yesterday’s Bible question:  “Egypt” (Genesis 16:1).

Today’s Bible question:  “Who was the wife of Aquila?”

Answer in our next SD.

1/21/2018 12:07 PM

PT-2 "Submissive Will" (Acts 10:23b-33)

 

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 1/20/2018 10:32 AM

My Worship Time                                                                             Focus:  PT-2 Submissive Will

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                 Reference:  Acts 10:23b-33

            Message of the verses:  “And on the next day he got up and went away with them, and some of the brethren from Joppa accompanied him. 24 On the following day he entered Caesarea. Now Cornelius was waiting for them and had called together his relatives and close friends. 25 When Peter entered, Cornelius met him, and fell at his feet and worshiped him. 26 But Peter raised him up, saying, "Stand up; I too am just a man." 27 As he talked with him, he entered and found many people assembled. 28 And he said to them, "You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a man who is a Jew to associate with a foreigner or to visit him; and yet God has shown me that I should not call any man unholy or unclean. 29 “That is why I came without even raising any objection when I was sent for. So I ask for what reason you have sent for me." 30 Cornelius said, "Four days ago to this hour, I was praying in my house during the ninth hour; and behold, a man stood before me in shining garments, 31 and he said, ’Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your alms have been remembered before God. 32 ’Therefore send to Joppa and invite Simon, who is also called Peter, to come to you; he is staying at the house of Simon the tanner by the sea.’ 33 “So I sent for you immediately, and you have been kind enough to come. Now then, we are all here present before God to hear all that you have been commanded by the Lord.’”

            When Peter was preaching his sermon on the Day of Pentecost a portion of it was from the prophet Joel and Joel spoke of young men seeing visions, which is what happened to Peter the day before, and so because of that vision Peter had no trouble in following these men.  This may seem like an insignificant decision of Peter’s part but it will become important later in the story.

            John MacArthur writes “After spending the night en route, ‘on the following day’ they ‘entered Caesarea.’  Two worlds were about to collide, as seven devout, orthodox Jews were about to meet a houseful of eager Gentiles.  A milestone in the history of the church had been reached.”  Perhaps as one reads over this for the umpteenth time you don’t take the time to stop and realize the significance of this is, but just think if this had not happened and then perhaps you will better understand how great this was.

            Cornelius was eagerly waiting for the men to return, and I suppose that this seemed like years to him as he awaited word from a man whom he had never met.  Cornelius decides to bow before Peter who quickly explains that he was just a man and only God is to be worshiped.  John did similar things to angels as found in the book of Revelation and was told by them that He was only to worship the Lord.

            I am not sure how many people Peter thought he would find, but there were quite a few people at the house of Cornelius to hear what he had to say.  Peter begins by telling those there that it was not lawful for him to be in that house of any Gentile.  I suppose that those there probably knew this truth, but they did not care at this point they just wanted to hear him speak. 

            Cornelius’ reaction was to repeat the vision that he had seen four days earlier “"Four days ago to this hour, I was praying in my house during the ninth hour; and behold, a man stood before me in shining garments, 31 and he said, ’Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your alms have been remembered before God. 32 ’Therefore send to Joppa and invite Simon, who is also called Peter, to come to you; he is staying at the house of Simon the tanner by the sea.’ 33 “So I sent for you immediately, and you have been kind enough to come. Now then, we are all here present before God to hear all that you have been commanded by the Lord.’”  John MacArthur writes “The soldier uses a military term prostasso (commanded), referring to a military order.  He understood that when the Lord spoke it was a command demanding obedience.  He was ready to receive his orders from the Lord.”

            We conclude this SD as we understand that both Peter and Cornelius were sovereignly prepared by God and had responded obediently to His directions.  Everyone was ready for Peter’s presentation of the gospel which we will look at in our next SD.

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  I think back at what was happening to me almost 44 years ago as I study this portion of the book of Acts.  God through His Spirit had prepared me to hear the gospel message for which I am every thankful.

My Steps of Faith for Today:  My prayer is that the Lord will continue to give me opportunities to tell others the good news of the gospel.

Answer to yesterday’s Bible question:  “Herod” (Matthew 2:8).

Today’s Bible question:  “From what country did Sarah’s maid, Hager, come?”

Answer in our next SD.

1/20/2018 11:02 AM   

PT-1 "Submissive Will" (Acts 10:11-33)

 

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 1/19/2018 9:28 AM

My Worship Time                                                                              Focus:  PT-1 "Submissive Will"

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                 Reference:  Acts 10:11-33

            Message of the verses:  “11 and he saw the sky opened up, and an object like a great sheet coming down, lowered by four corners to the ground, 12 and there were in it all kinds of four-footed animals and crawling creatures of the earth and birds of the air. 13 A voice came to him, "Get up, Peter, kill and eat!" 14 But Peter said, "By no means, Lord, for I have never eaten anything unholy and unclean." 15 Again a voice came to him a second time, "What God has cleansed, no longer consider unholy." 16 This happened three times, and immediately the object was taken up into the sky. 17  Now while Peter was greatly perplexed in mind as to what the vision which he had seen might be, behold, the men who had been sent by Cornelius, having asked directions for Simon’s house, appeared at the gate; 18  and calling out, they were asking whether Simon, who was also called Peter, was staying there.  19 While Peter was reflecting on the vision, the Spirit said to him, "Behold, three men are looking for you. 20 “But get up, go downstairs and accompany them without misgivings, for I have sent them Myself." 21 Peter went down to the men and said, "Behold, I am the one you are looking for; what is the reason for which you have come?" 22 They said, "Cornelius, a centurion, a righteous and God-fearing man well spoken of by the entire nation of the Jews, was divinely directed by a holy angel to send for you to come to his house and hear a message from you." 23 So he invited them in and gave them lodging. And on the next day he got up and went away with them, and some of the brethren from Joppa accompanied him. 24 On the following day he entered Caesarea. Now Cornelius was waiting for them and had called together his relatives and close friends. 25 When Peter entered, Cornelius met him, and fell at his feet and worshiped him. 26 But Peter raised him up, saying, "Stand up; I too am just a man." 27 As he talked with him, he entered and found many people assembled. 28 And he said to them, "You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a man who is a Jew to associate with a foreigner or to visit him; and yet God has shown me that I should not call any man unholy or unclean. 29 “That is why I came without even raising any objection when I was sent for. So I ask for what reason you have sent for me." 30 Cornelius said, "Four days ago to this hour, I was praying in my house during the ninth hour; and behold, a man stood before me in shining garments, 31 and he said, ’Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your alms have been remembered before God. 32 ’Therefore send to Joppa and invite Simon, who is also called Peter, to come to you; he is staying at the house of Simon the tanner by the sea.’ 33 “So I sent for you immediately, and you have been kind enough to come. Now then, we are all here present before God to hear all that you have been commanded by the Lord.’”

            We have been looking into the lives of Peter and also Cornelius as we study this 10^th chapter of the book of Acts and what we have been seeing is that both of these men are modeling the obedience that God demands.  Cornelius models it by listening to the angel who God sent to him in order to have Peter come and speak to him.  Peter, even though it was against the OT Law of entering the house of a Gentile, because of the vision that he saw comes to speak to Cornelius.  John MacArthur teaches us that “The Bible repeatedly teaches that obedience accompanies true faith.”  He then sites many examples where this can be found, but I will not take the time to list all of them, but will look at a few to help us understand the principle of his point.  14 What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and be filled," and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that? (James 2:14-16).”  “3 By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments. 4 The one who says, "I have come to know Him," and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him;”  “19 They went out from us, but they were not really of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but they went out, so that it would be shown that they all are not of us (1 John 2:3-4; 19).”

            Probably Peter still did not have total understanding why he did what he did, yet he did have faith in the Spirit’s leading and so he came to see what was going on, and perhaps became a bit surprised at what he is seeing.  One surprising thing Peter did before they left in the morning was offer lodging for these men overnight.  It was too late for them to head back to Joppa, and so Peter invited them to stay where he was staying.  Peter was offering lodging to the dreaded Roman soldiers, something that Jews did not do.  The crack is widening a bit more.  John MacArthur states that “lodging’ is from ‘xenizo,’ which means ‘to entertain as a guest.’  It was used in Hebrews 13:2 to speak of entertaining angels.  Peter gave his unexpected guests the red carpet treatment, showing the work of God in his heart had broken down the typical Jewish prejudice.  Because of that, he knew the difference between the Old Testament law, which was binding, and the human traditions, which was not.  He had a hard time letting the dietary law go but had no animosity in his heart toward Gentiles, so the hospitality was easy.”

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  Last night I caught a good portion of an older movie entitled “Twelve Angry Men.”  These men were in a jury trying to understand if a black man had killed his father.  At one point one of the men went on a rage, giving his true feelings which were full of predigests against the so called killer’s ethnic background.  When you are predigested you become blinded and therefore cannot see the truth.  Peter was losing this as we find is a difficult thing to do, only accomplish through the Spirit of God.

My Steps of Faith for Today:  Always be ready to have my heart open before the Spirit of God as He searches it.

Answer to yesterday’s Bible question:  “Jesus selected the twelve disciples” (Luke12-20).

Today’s Bible question:  “Who said ‘God and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again’?”

Answer in our next SD.

1/19/2018 10:16 AM

           

PT-2 "The Preparation of Peter" (Acts 10:9-20)

 

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 1/18/2018 10:09 AM

My Worship Time                                                            Focus:  PT-2 “The Preparation of Peter”

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                 Reference:  Acts 10:9-20

            Message of the verses:  “9 On the next day, as they were on their way and approaching the city, Peter went up on the housetop about the sixth hour to pray. 10 But he became hungry and was desiring to eat; but while they were making preparations, he fell into a trance; 11 and he saw the sky opened up, and an object like a great sheet coming down, lowered by four corners to the ground, 12  and there were in it all kinds of four-footed animals and crawling creatures of the earth and birds of the air. 13 A voice came to him, "Get up, Peter, kill and eat!" 14 But Peter said, "By no means, Lord, for I have never eaten anything unholy and unclean." 15 Again a voice came to him a second time, "What God has cleansed, no longer consider unholy." 16 This happened three times, and immediately the object was taken up into the sky. 17  Now while Peter was greatly perplexed in mind as to what the vision which he had seen might be, behold, the men who had been sent by Cornelius, having asked directions for Simon’s house, appeared at the gate; 18  and calling out, they were asking whether Simon, who was also called Peter, was staying there. 19 While Peter was reflecting on the vision, the Spirit said to him, "Behold, three men are looking for you. 20 “But get up, go downstairs and accompany them without misgivings, for I have sent them Myself."”

            One of the reasons for the dietary laws that were given by the Lord to the children of Israel was to keep them different from the Gentiles who lived around them.  Eating such foods did not keep them holy, but by not eating certain foods the children of Israel we seen as being different, which was the plan that God had for them.  When the curtain between the holy place and the Holy of holies was torn into from the top to the bottom when Christ died on the cross it signaled the end of the age of the Law and so when the church age began some 40 days later the age of grace was ushered in.  At first it seemed that only the Jews were going to be involved, and yet we remember that the last thing that Jesus said before returning to heaven is found in Acts 1:8 “but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth."”   Now as we come to chapter ten we will see that God was preparing the first Gentile to become a part of the church, something that had been planned from eternity past.

            Peter was resisting what he was told to do as he thought by doing so meant he was a faithful Jew, but in the past Peter had resisted things that the Lord wanted him to do, but once he learned that he was wrong he went and did the right things.  Even after resisting the vision Peter was greatly perplexed in his mind as to exactly what this vision meant.

            John MacArthur writes “That meaning was twofold.  On the negative side, it signified the abolishing of the Old Testament dietary restrictions (cf. Mark 7:14-23; Rom. 14:1-3; Col. 2:16-17; 1 Tim. 4:1-5).  Such separating features were now counterproductive, since God was bringing Jews and Gentiles together in the church, not keeping them apart.  On the positive side, the vision pictured the inclusion of both the Gentiles, symbolized by the unclean animals, and the Jews, symbolized by the clean ones, into one body.”

            Peter did not have much time to think about the vision as soon as it was over Peter was told by the Spirit of God that some men from the house of Cornelius had come to speak to him and that he should go with them because the Spirit of God had sent them to him.  MacArthur concludes “God not only sovereignly prepared Cornelius and Peter but also sovereignly determined and arranged the timing of bringing them together.”

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  I can remember how the Lord did a very similar thing to me and the anniversary of that blessed event is coming up in eight days.

My Steps of Faith for Today:  Pray that the Lord will continue to use things that are written in these Spiritual Diaries to bring others to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.

Answer to yesterday’s Bible question:  “A Pharisee” (Acts 23:6).

Today’s Bible question:  “What took place just before the sermon on the mount?”

Answer in our next SD.

1/18/2018 10:42 AM

PT-1 "The Preparation of Peter" (Acts 10:9-20)

 

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 1/17/2018 11:06 AM

My Worship Time                                                                 Focus: PT-1 The Preparation of Peter

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                 Reference:  Acts 10:9-20

            Message of the verses:  “9 On the next day, as they were on their way and approaching the city, Peter went up on the housetop about the sixth hour to pray. 10 But he became hungry and was desiring to eat; but while they were making preparations, he fell into a trance; 11 and he saw the sky opened up, and an object like a great sheet coming down, lowered by four corners to the ground, 12  and there were in it all kinds of four-footed animals and crawling creatures of the earth and birds of the air. 13 A voice came to him, "Get up, Peter, kill and eat!" 14 But Peter said, "By no means, Lord, for I have never eaten anything unholy and unclean." 15 Again a voice came to him a second time, "What God has cleansed, no longer consider unholy." 16 This happened three times, and immediately the object was taken up into the sky. 17 Now while Peter was greatly perplexed in mind as to what the vision which he had seen might be, behold, the men who had been sent by Cornelius, having asked directions for Simon’s house, appeared at the gate; 18  and calling out, they were asking whether Simon, who was also called Peter, was staying there.  19 While Peter was reflecting on the vision, the Spirit said to him, "Behold, three men are looking for you. 20 “But get up, go downstairs and accompany them without misgivings, for I have sent them Myself."”

            There is a lot of drama in this story as now we see that the scene shifts to Joppa where Peter is and before the men come to see Peter and we see that Peter also has a vision of his own.  Peter becomes hungry as he goes up onto the rooftop to pray.  This would have been around noon as the text says the sixth hour.  Being hungry was something that was useful for the vision that the Spirit of God was going to give to Peter.  We see that Peter falls into a trance while up on the rooftop.  John MacArthur writes “God not only sovereignly called Cornelius to salvation but also prepared Peter as the means, humanly speaking, to accomplish that.  God’s sovereign call of individuals for special service is well-documented in Scripture (Isa. 49:1; Jer. 1:5; John 15:16; Gal. 1:1).”

            Peter is now in a trance up on the rooftop and while in this trance he is also hungry and so he sees “the sky opened up, and a certain object like a great sheet coming down, lowered by four corners to the ground, and there were in it all kinds of four-footer animals and crawling creatures on the earth and birds of the air.”  Now since Peter was hungry his vision involves eating, however that this sheet contained both clean and unclean animals this reflects the Old Testament instruction in which God had given certain dietary restrictions for the nation of Israel.  In the book of Leviticus 20:25-26 God gives His reason for giving those restrictions:  “25 ’You are therefore to make a distinction between the clean animal and the unclean, and between the unclean bird and the clean; and you shall not make yourselves detestable by animal or by bird or by anything that creeps on the ground, which I have separated for you as unclean. 26  ’Thus you are to be holy to Me, for I the LORD am holy; and I have set you apart from the peoples to be Mine.”  The book of Leviticus is the book about being holy as the word holy is seen 76 times in that book.

            MacArthur concludes his thoughts by writing “It was imperative that Israel be kept separate from her idolatrous neighbors, and such restrictions would hinder social intercourse with them.”   We will conclude this section concerning the preparation of Peter in our next SD.

Answer to yesterday’s Bible question:  “Judah” (1 Kings 12:20).

Today’s Bible question:  “Was Paul a Sadducee or a Pharisee?”

Answer in our next SD.

1/17/2018 11:36 AM

 

PT-2 "Preparation of Cornelius" (Acts 10:1-8)

 

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 1/16/2018 2:41 PM

My Worship Time                                                                Focus:  PT-2 Preparation of Cornelius

Bible Reading & Meditation                                     Reference:  Acts 10:1-8

            Message of the verses:  “1 Now there was a man at Caesarea named Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian cohort, 2 a devout man and one who feared God with all his household, and gave many alms to the Jewish people and prayed to God continually. 3 About the ninth hour of the day he clearly saw in a vision an angel of God who had just come in and said to him, "Cornelius!" 4 And fixing his gaze on him and being much alarmed, he said, "What is it, Lord?" And he said to him, "Your prayers and alms have ascended as a memorial before God. 5 “Now dispatch some men to Joppa and send for a man named Simon, who is also called Peter; 6 he is staying with a tanner named Simon, whose house is by the sea." 7 When the angel who was speaking to him had left, he summoned two of his servants and a devout soldier of those who were his personal attendants, 8 and after he had explained everything to them, he sent them to Joppa.”

            As we continue looking at Cornelius we see that he was not only a good soldier, but he was a God fearer.  We can see that the Holy Spirit was doing a work in his life as He had moved on his dark side in order that he abandoned this pagan religion and began to worship the Lord.  We can say this for certainty because he was expressing himself as he began to give alms to the Jewish people and also by the fact that he continued to pray to God.  He did fall short of becoming a full convert to Judaism through circumcision.

            John MacArthur writes:  “Because of His sovereign election of Cornelius, and in response to his seeking heart, God moved to prepare him.  ‘About the ninth hour (3:00 p. m.) of the day he clearly saw a vision an angel of God who had just come in to him, and said to him, ‘Cornelius!’  The ‘ninth hour’ was the most important time of prayer in the Jewish day (Acts 3:1).  God responded to his prayer by sending the angelic messenger.”

            I think sometimes when I read stories of angels coming to meet people in the Word of God that I don’t understand the fear that is involved when this happens, but there has to be fear to see another being.  “Fixing his gaze upon the angel and being much alarmed, he said, ‘What is it, it “lord?”

            In a similar case when the angel came to talk to Mary this angel brought calmness to Cornelius as he said to him “Your prayers and alms have ascended as a memorial before God.”  As we continue to read through this passage we see that the angel gave him orders to go to Joppa, and send for a man named Simon who was also called Peter.

            After hearing this Cornelius immediately sent the men to find Peter.  In the book of Revelation we see in one of the scenes recorded in it that there will be an angel who will be giving out the gospel message, but not in this case.

Answer to yesterday’s Bible question:  “Jesus Christ.”

Today’s Bible question:  “What tribe of Israel followed Rehoboam?”

 Answer in our next SD.

1/16/2018 3:06 PM

PT-1 "Sovereign Preparation" (Acts 10:1-8)

 

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 1/15/2018 11:09 AM

My Worship Time                                                                              Focus: Sovereign Preparation

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                          Reference:  Acts10-1-8

            Message of the verses:  “1 Now there was a man at Caesarea named Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian cohort, 2 a devout man and one who feared God with all his household, and gave many alms to the Jewish people and prayed to God continually. 3 About the ninth hour of the day he clearly saw in a vision an angel of God who had just come in and said to him, "Cornelius!" 4 And fixing his gaze on him and being much alarmed, he said, "What is it, Lord?" And he said to him, "Your prayers and alms have ascended as a memorial before God. 5 “Now dispatch some men to Joppa and send for a man named Simon, who is also called Peter; 6 he is staying with a tanner named Simon, whose house is by the sea." 7 When the angel who was speaking to him had left, he summoned two of his servants and a devout soldier of those who were his personal attendants, 8 and after he had explained everything to them, he sent them to Joppa.”

            Before we begin looking at these eight verses I want to say that the reason there was no SD from yesterday was because I have been under the weather, and for the first time in I don’t know how long was unable to do the things in my devotions that I usually do.  Things are a bit better this morning and I have an appointment to go to the doctors at 1:00PM to hopefully get some help.  Another thing that I want to mention is that these verses we are looking at this morning are from a main point entitled “Sovereign Preparation.” Which covers the first twenty verses of Acts 10, and John MacArthur writes “The momentous events of Gentile inclusion in the church and Cornelius’s salvation required sovereign preparation.  Both the convert, Cornelius, and the preacher, Peter, received visions from God preparing them for what was to follow.”

            I have written many times in different SD’s that after Adam and Eve fell into sin that all of their offspring, [with the exception of Jesus Christ who was born of a virgin] are born spiritually dead, which means that the only way for a person to become a believer is to have God through His Holy Spirit do a work in their life.  We see that Cornelius had been doing good things as he was a devout man, and yet there still had to be a vision come into his mind in order from him to understand the truth of how a person can be saved.

            We see that not only was Cornelius was a good soldier, but he was a good man who feared God along with all of his household, and because of that he gave alms to the Jewish people, and continually prayed to God.  Cornelius had a seeking heart and was living up to the light he had, and God was about to give him more.  MacArthur writes that “This is the necessary balance to divine election, that God responds to the seeking, willing heart (cf. Isa. 55:6-7; Jer. 29:13; John 7:17).  Divine election and human responsibility are by God and commanded of sinners.  Although our limited comprehension does not allow us to harmonize them, there is no conflict in the mind of God.”

            This is about all I am able to do this morning and hopefully will do more tomorrow.

Answer to our last Bible Question:  “Nun” (Joshua 1:1).

Today’s Bible question:  “Who is described as King of Kings and Lord of Lords?”

Answer in our next SD.

1/15/2018 11:34 AM

"Intro to Acts 10:1-48"

 

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 1/13/2018 9:01 AM

My Worship Time                                                                              Focus: Intro to Acts 10:1-48

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                 Reference:  Acts 10:1-48

            Message of the verses:  We will look at the verses (10:1-48) as we move through them in this different SD’s as I do not want to put that many verses on this introductory SD.

            I have been giving the names of the different chapters in John MacArthur’s commentaries as we begin looking at the verses that go along with each chapter.  He entitles this chapter “Salvation Reaches Out.” 

            I have to quote the first paragraph from MacArthur’s commentary from what he writes when he quotes Mark Twain’s classic novel Adventures of Tom Sawyer certainly gives us some insight into the things that were going on in the early church as the Holy Spirit was about to bring the first gentile converts into the it.  The quote is an exchange between Tom and his friend Huck Fin, as Tom has just informed Huck that he cannot be a part of his gang any longer.  “Now Tom, hain’t you always been friendly to me?  You wouldn’t shut me out, would you Tom?”  Tom replies, “Huck, I wouldn’t want to, and I don’t want to—but what would people say?  Why they’d say, ‘Mph!  Tom Sawyer’s Gang!  Pretty low characters in it!’  They’d mean you, Huck, You wouldn’t like that, and I wouldn’t.”  

            It is true that children are not the only ones to play such harsh and hurtful games as adults are prone to do it too.  The problem is that these kinds of things actually can be a part of local churches as I have experienced this in the past.  It is sad when it does happen in a church as on many occasions believers will not want to have people of different color or ethnic backgrounds in their church and this causes problems.  It is the goal of the church that I attend to have it look like the city that it is in and that means that we are reaching out to people from different ethnic backgrounds, praying that they will feel comfortable in worshiping with us so we can all worship the Lord together.

            When we see this kind of thing happen we know that it grieves the Lord and certainly does not bring glory to His holy name.  Jesus prayed in John 17:21 “that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me.”  Paul wrote in Galatians 3:28 “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”

            It was a long time ago that I was listening to some sermons by MacArthur on the book of Ephesians and I remember that he spoke about the deep seated conflict that was between Jews and Gentiles, things that were so bad that it would not seem that anyone could heal this problem, but God can and He does.  People from one country seem to have self-conceived opinions about people from another country and in many cases it is Satan who fuels this fire that causes divisions, and in this 10^th chapter of Acts we will see that there is a large problem between the believing Jews and the new Gentile believers that the Holy Spirit is about to bring into the church.

            We know that the Jews hated the Samaritans, and the same was true with the Samaritans hating the Jews, but this paled in comparison to the Jews hating the Gentiles.  We only have to look at the short book of Jonah to see this truth as at the end of the book Jonah still was upset with God because He had compassion for the people of Nineveh.  We recently had a Missions Conference at our church and the theme was reaching out to Muslims and just before this conference I had the opportunity to talk to a Muslim man from Iran who is a doctor and was giving a series of tests to my wife.  He saw that I was reading my commentaries from the book of Revelation and asked me about that book.  He continued to ask me question after question about my faith and about prophecy and I was able to give him answers that I pray will cause him to become a believer.  I have cards made up with my blog address on them and I gave him one of them so he could read what I have been writing for many years and put them onto my blogs.  I had no trouble talking to him one on one, and certainly desired for him to become a believer.

            Peter is the man who has been involved in being the point man when different ethnic groups have come to know Christ as their Savior and it would be Peter who will once again talk to the dreaded Gentiles to lead them to Christ.  Remember that Peter was staying with a tanner whose trade was despised by the devout Jews, however accepting Gentiles as equals before the Lord was an entirely different matter as strict Jews would have nothing to do with Gentiles, not even allowed to go into their homes.

            I will conclude with two paragraphs from John MacArthur’s commentary:

“The theological foundation for the unity of Jews and Gentiles in the church had already been laid.  In Ephesians 2:11-12, Paul pointed out that through Christ’s one, comprehensive sacrificial death He ‘mad both groups into one, and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall’ (Eph. 2:14).  Luke here chronicles the historical realization of that spiritual truth.

“But this chapter is more than just the story of the introduction of Gentiles into the church; it is also the account of one man’s salvation.  The sequence of events leading to Cornelius’ salvation presents a timeless pattern of how salvation unfolds.  From the text six elements may be discerned; sovereign preparation, submissive will, salvation presentation, spiritual power, symbolic confession, and sweet fellowship.”

Answer to yesterday’s Bible question:   “Sodom” (Genesis 18:26-28).

Today’s Bible question:  “Who was the father of Joshua?” 

Answer in our next SD.

1/13/2018 9:42 AM

"Peter was being freed from Prejudice" (Acts 9:43)

 

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 1/12/2018 10:17 AM

My Worship Time                                                     Focus:  Peter was being freed from Prejudice

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                 Reference:  Acts 9:43

            Message of the verses:  “43 And Peter stayed many days in Joppa with a tanner named Simon.”

            When we begin to look at chapter ten we will see that this last verse in chapter nine serves as a bridge between this passage and the following account of Cornelius’s conversation.  When we get to chapter ten we will see that this time period for Peter was a very difficult time for him as he was raised in the Jewish faith which make him prejudice against any gentiles and it was going to be a difficult time for him to realize that the gospel was for all peoples, not just for the Jews.  There is a section in the letter that Paul wrote to the Galatians that showed later on in Peter’s life that this problem with the Gentile believers:  “11 But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. 12 For prior to the coming of certain men from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he began to withdraw and hold himself aloof, fearing the party of the circumcision. 13 The rest of the Jews joined him in hypocrisy, with the result that even Barnabas was carried away by their hypocrisy. 14 But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in the presence of all, "If you, being a Jew, live like the Gentiles and not like the Jews, how is it that you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews?”  I have to believe that Peter repented of this sin as perhaps he remembered what happened to him with the events we will see from chapter ten.

            When we look at who Peter was living with, as the man was a tanner, we see some differences there in his life, for Tanners were despised in first-century Jewish society, since the dealt with the skins of dead animals.  Now because of that tanners were actually unclean in the eyes of the Jews.

            John MacArthur writes “Prejudice is devastating to any ministry.  In far too many Christian circles, those who do not fit the mold are rejected.  Any bigotry is a blight on the cause of God, who ‘is not one to show partiality’ (Acts 10:34).  There is no place in an effective personal ministry for prejudice.  The zealous Jewish nationalist Paul learned that lesson.  To the Corinthians he wrote:

‘19 For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a slave to all, so that I may win more. 20 To the Jews I became as a Jew, so that I might win Jews; to those who are under the Law, as under the Law though not being myself under the Law, so that I might win those who are under the Law; 21 to those who are without law, as without law, though not being without the law of God but under the law of Christ, so that I might win those who are without law. 22 To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak; I have become all things to all men, so that I may by all means save some.’”

            Whatever problems Peter had in this area he overcame them through the Spirit of God and also through the Word of God, and we know that God blessed his ministry and in the end Peter was killed for the cause of Christ.

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  Peter like the rest of Jesus’ apostles were not young children when they came to know the Lord.  This makes a difference in a person’s life as to when they become a believer.  I was almost 27 years old when I became a believer and had thus gone through some times in my early life that caused me to have some bad habits and so even after I became a believer there were and still are things that I struggle with, and so I can understand what Peter was going through.

My Steps of Faith for Today:  Trust the Lord to continue to work in my life to overcome some habits from the path, so that I can live to the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Memory verse:  Psalm 143:10 “Teach me to do Your will, For You are my God; Let your good Spirit lead me on level ground.”

Answer to yesterday’s Bible question:  “Samson” (Judges 15:16).

Today’s Bible question:  “Abraham pleaded with God not to destroy what city?”

Answer in our next SD.

1/12/2018 10:45 AM

"Peter Was Fruitful" (Acts 9:42)

 

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 1/11/2018 9:45 AM

My Worship Time                                                                              Focus:  Peter Was Fruitful

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                 Reference:  Acts 9:42

            Message of the verse:   “42 It became known all over Joppa, and many believed in the Lord.”

            This will be a very short SD, but everything in the Word of God is important to read and study.

            When we look at the miracles in the Word of God we know that God has a greater purpose than just doing the miracle itself.  One of the problems with what is going on in the church today is what is called the “health and wealth gospel.”  This is not the gospel that is taught in the Word of God, for in the Word of God I read things like Mt 10:35  ‘For I have come to ‘set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.’”  Many believers throughout the church age have died for the cause of Christ, and so this shows me that those who teach the health and wealth gospel, demanding that God give us health and wealth are not those who have taken much time studying their Bibles.  I am not saying that God does not want us to be healthy, but God can use illness and poorness for His purpose in our lives to draw us closer to the Lord, to grow in His grace and in the knowledge of Christ.  So when I read a passage like Acts 9:42 I see that there was a great purpose in the healing of Dorcas as we read that because of this miracle many believed in the Lord.

            We have mentioned earlier in our study of Acts that at the beginning of the church God used miracles as confirming signs that the gospel is true.  Not only that but He also used them to authenticate that the apostles were His messengers, and so as we look at verse 42 we see that God used the raising of Dorcas as the spark for the salvation throughout the city she lived in.

            As we look at this last part of the 9^th chapter of Acts, the part that goes back and focuses on Peter, we see two miracles that he did and we see many coming to a saving faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.  John MacArthur writes “There is no saving faith without conversion, no true belief without repentance and transformation.”  This is what happened to those spoken of in the last part of the 9^th chapter of Acts, and by the way we saw that in the first part as Saul became a believer.

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  I have to trust the Lord when things that are going on in my life are difficult, knowing that God works all things out for my good and for His glory in my life. 

My Steps of Faith for Today:  Continue to trust the Lord in my preparation for teaching on the church at Philadelphia in our Sunday School class.

Memory verse:  Psalm 143:10 “Teach me to do Your will, For You are my God; Let Your good Spirit lead me on level ground.”

Answer to yesterday’s Bible question:  “Save that which was lost.”

Today’s Bible question:  “Who said ‘With the jaw of an ass have I slain a thousand men’?”

Answer in our next SD.

1/11/2018 10:08 AM