Messages
Listen to sermons and classes online, download messages to your computer, or subscribe to our Podcasts.
Podcasts
Find out about podcasts, and subscribing to receive new messages automatically.
Class Notes
Download class notes in PDF format to go along with downloaded messages.
Daily eMail Devotional
Wednesday, March 03, 2010
Acts 10:34-43 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him. The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:) That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached; How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him. And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree: Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly; Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead. And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead. To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.When we look at the entire chapter of our passage we see Peter going beyond his culture and beyond his comfort zone by having contact with Gentiles. He writes in verse 28, “Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean” I’m sure Peter probably had a hard time with this. A few verses before we find the Lord coming to Peter in a dream offering him what was to Peter unclean but before God clean. Three times Peter had to be taught the lesson of, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common. It was looked down upon by the Jews to have dealings with the Gentiles and we see it also in John 4 with Jesus and the Samaritan woman. God wants us to see past a person’s skin color, culture, etc…….and to see the person’s soul.
In verse 34 Peter says, “Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons.” Indeed the foot of the cross is level. In our lives as we share the Gospel may we be like Christ and see past the skin and into the soul. May we share the Gospel with everyone around us. Here in Hawaii there are many different ethnic groups; you have the Micronesians and even within that it is diverse, Filipinos, Japanese, Haoles, and the list goes on and on. Because of this, if we are to be witnesses for Christ and to fulfill the Great Commission we too are to have no respecter of persons.
Do we sometimes judge people by their social status or by how much money they have? Do you frown upon going into different parts of Hawaii because of the type of people you know you will find or dislike going into wealthy areas because you feel intimidated? When visitors are not dressed in what we would consider appropriate for church do we shy away from them and head towards the visitors with the nice suit or dress on? James rebuked of this behavior in James 2:2-3, “For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment; And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool.” I believe this practice is very common in our churches today. Can this be said of you? Remember Peter’s Words, “God is no respecter of persons” and neither should we be.
Love you all!!!
Pastor Mike
Don't Forget -
