“Peter went up on the roof to pray…He became hungry and…he fell into a trance. He saw heaven opened and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners. It contained all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles and birds. Than a voice told him, ‘Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.’
“Surely not, Lord!” Peter replied. “I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.”
The voice spoke to him a second time, “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.” Acts 10:9-15
In Caesarea, there was a centurion of the Italian cohort named Cornelius. He had come up through the ranks, proven himself to be courageous in battle, won the respect of his men, and was awarded the rank of centurion, who was in command of one hundred Roman soldiers.
But deep in his heart of hearts, it was not the Roman Emperor that held sway over his soul, but an unknown God. It was to this unknown God that he prayed and offered alms of sacrifice. He had his fill of man-made gods of gold and silver, “ gods that must be carried, that cannot move. Even though someone cries out to it, it cannot answer; it cannot save.”(See Isa.46)
He remembered a rabbi’s wise counsel :”You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart, I will found by you,” (Jer.29:13-14) It was when his mind was permeated with such thoughts that he had a vision—an angel of God called him by name “Cornelius!” Cornelius stared at him in fear, “What is it, Lord?’ The angel answered, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial before God. Now send men to Joppa to bring back a man named Simon who is called Peter.”
Two servants and one Roman soldier were dispatched to Joppa. They were used to obeying orders and no mention of what they should say to Peter as they made their way along the thirty-some dusty miles to Caesarea. Little did they know that God was doing a monumental work in Peter’s life in preparation for this mission.
Peter had gone up to the roof to pray. He became hungry and as he waited for his food, he fell into a trance. “ He saw heaven opened and something like a large sheet was being let down to earth by its four corners. It contained all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles and birds. Then a voice told him “Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.”
Peter could not believe that the Lord was advocating him to eat these non-Kosher foods! “Surely not, Lord.” “No, I won’t” and “Lord” do not belong in the same sentence.
The voice spoke to him a second time, “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.”
This happened three times to underline its importance.
While Peter was wondering about the meaning of the vision, the men sent by Cornelius arrived.
Peter was impressed by Cornelius’ testimony but not nearly so much as —“A holy angel told him to ask you to come to his house so that he could hear what you have to say.”
As Peter entered the house, Cornelius fell at Peter feet in reverence. But Peter made him stand up—“I am only a man myself.”
Peter then went on to say: “ You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with or visit a Gentile. But God has shown me that I should not call anyone impure or unclean”
The stage was set for Peter to preach the Gospel to Cornelius. Both Peter and Cornelius were ready for the dividing of hostility to be destroyed, and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which He put to death their hostility. He himself is our peace. (Eph. 2: 14, 16).
( To be continued.…)
Questions to Think About ;
“Surely not, Lord!” Peter replied. “I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.”
The voice spoke to him a second time, “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.” Acts 10:9-15
In Caesarea, there was a centurion of the Italian cohort named Cornelius. He had come up through the ranks, proven himself to be courageous in battle, won the respect of his men, and was awarded the rank of centurion, who was in command of one hundred Roman soldiers.
But deep in his heart of hearts, it was not the Roman Emperor that held sway over his soul, but an unknown God. It was to this unknown God that he prayed and offered alms of sacrifice. He had his fill of man-made gods of gold and silver, “ gods that must be carried, that cannot move. Even though someone cries out to it, it cannot answer; it cannot save.”(See Isa.46)
He remembered a rabbi’s wise counsel :”You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart, I will found by you,” (Jer.29:13-14) It was when his mind was permeated with such thoughts that he had a vision—an angel of God called him by name “Cornelius!” Cornelius stared at him in fear, “What is it, Lord?’ The angel answered, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial before God. Now send men to Joppa to bring back a man named Simon who is called Peter.”
Two servants and one Roman soldier were dispatched to Joppa. They were used to obeying orders and no mention of what they should say to Peter as they made their way along the thirty-some dusty miles to Caesarea. Little did they know that God was doing a monumental work in Peter’s life in preparation for this mission.
Peter had gone up to the roof to pray. He became hungry and as he waited for his food, he fell into a trance. “ He saw heaven opened and something like a large sheet was being let down to earth by its four corners. It contained all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles and birds. Then a voice told him “Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.”
Peter could not believe that the Lord was advocating him to eat these non-Kosher foods! “Surely not, Lord.” “No, I won’t” and “Lord” do not belong in the same sentence.
The voice spoke to him a second time, “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.”
This happened three times to underline its importance.
While Peter was wondering about the meaning of the vision, the men sent by Cornelius arrived.
Peter was impressed by Cornelius’ testimony but not nearly so much as —“A holy angel told him to ask you to come to his house so that he could hear what you have to say.”
As Peter entered the house, Cornelius fell at Peter feet in reverence. But Peter made him stand up—“I am only a man myself.”
Peter then went on to say: “ You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with or visit a Gentile. But God has shown me that I should not call anyone impure or unclean”
The stage was set for Peter to preach the Gospel to Cornelius. Both Peter and Cornelius were ready for the dividing of hostility to be destroyed, and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which He put to death their hostility. He himself is our peace. (Eph. 2: 14, 16).
( To be continued.…)
Questions to Think About ;
- The Ultimate Contradiction: “Surely not” and “Lord” do not belong in the same sentence. In what area of your life right now are you trying to say “No” and “Lord” at the same time?
- Peter had to let go of what he always thought was right (religious tradition) to obey God. What personal preferences or deeply ingrained habits is God asking you to surrender right now?
- If someone invited you into their home today to hear about your faith, are you ready to share the Gospel clearly?
- Christ put hostility to death through the cross. Where do you see hostility or division in your family, workplace, or church that desperately needs the peace of Jesus to heal it?
Posted in The Last Battle Pt. 1