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One Of Life’s Hard Lessons
There is nothing more difficult for most of us than change. For instance, I don’t like changing diapers—of course that is not the kind of change I am speaking of! But most of us just don’t like change. It typically goes against our nature.
It is interesting to see that most students will sit in the same place every class. Many of you sit in the same seat at church if you can. We just get into certain habits and anything that changes that we don’t like. Change often takes us out of our comfort zone.
Now when it comes to church, many of feel as if any change we make is some sort of sin or compromise. In reality change is not always compromise but wise! The key is that we don’t change anything which is a biblical principle. So it is important to distinguish between what is tradition and what is mandated by Scripture.
This morning we are going to see two men who needed to make some changes in the way they thought and lived.
Peter was going through a change in the way he thought about gentiles. He was staying with a tanner. Now that sounds rather insignificant until we understand Peter’s belief system. Being a Jew, Peter had always been taught not to be around any dead animals. Now he is staying with a guy who tans the hides of dead animals!
Now God does not always prepare the heart of the person He is drawing to Himself in the same way. Here we see what we might call an extraordinary draw. God could still do this today in parts of the world that do not have the gospel readily available. In fact I spoke to one missionary this week who said that in one part of the world God often gives people visions which is followed up by a missionary sharing the gospel with people. This is exactly what we see in this case.
Acts 10:1-4
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. About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God come in and say to him, "Cornelius." And he stared at him in terror and said, "What is it, Lord?" And he said to him, "Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God.
This is an interesting verse since Cornelius is not actually saved yet. Does God hear the prayers of unbelievers? Some say this proves that He hears the prayers of all unbelievers. Others say this is a rare occurrence and that God hears only the prayers of believers since the prayers must come through the one mediator—Christ. So who is correct? Well, I think the best way to see it is that God hears the prayers of believers and also, at least on occasion, hears the prayers of those whom He is drawing.
Acts 10:5-8
And now send men to Joppa and bring one Simon who is called Peter. He is lodging with one Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the seaside." 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, and having related everything to them, he sent them to Joppa.
This story is also a good illustration that Natural Revelation will only take a person so far, they need the Super Natural or Special Revelation of the Scriptures is needed for salvation (cf. Romans 10:17). But it is also true that God will get that Special Revelation to that person who genuinely desires it.
Now what bearing should this have on our evangelism? A lot! We need to understand that our responsibility is to get the gospel out and God will prepare the hearts. We can never change a heart—only God can do that!
The Jews had the idea that no one could be saved without being a Jewish proselyte. In their mind one was unclean if they were not a Jewish proselyte. They would not even allow a gentile into their house. God is about to change Peter’s thinking on that issue. Peter is going to learn that God does not play favorites!
Acts 10:9
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.
Peter was on a flat roof to pray in privacy. Many homes in that day had an outside staircase leading to the roof. Peter probably followed other Jews in his day by having three different times of prayers.
Acts 10:10-14
And he became hungry and wanted something to eat, 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. In it were all kinds of animals and reptiles and birds of the air. And there came a voice to him: "Rise, Peter; kill and eat." But Peter said, "By no means, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean."
Now was Peter in direct disobedience to God? Well, yes, but he probably saw this as a test of his faith. He knew that Leviticus 11, forbid the eating of anything unclean. Also, Peter uses a very polite term when he says “Not so, Lord!” So, again he probably did not mean any disrespect at all, but saw this as a test.
Now most of us say “Not so, Lord,” and we don’t have an Old Testament verse that might make us say that. We just simply say, “no.” We have no excuses. God has clearly revealed what He wants us to do.
Sometimes God wants us to change something and that takes us out of our comfort zone.
Acts 10:15-16
And the voice came to him again a second time, "What God has made clean, do not call common." This happened three times, and the thing was taken up at once to heaven.
Three times Peter had to be told to eat what he had formerly been taught were unclean animals. But, of course, the point that God is making here is much bigger than food. God is showing Peter that the gentiles are not unclean. God is making it clear that a gentile does not have to become a Jewish proselyte before becoming saved.
Peter had some presuppositions that were not correct. These barriers had to be torn down before Peter could do what God was calling him to do.
I want to ask you: “are there any barriers in your life that are keeping you from doing what God wants you to do?” Has God been prodding you to do something, but you are being stubborn about it? I know that God has been working on me.
Well, let’s see what Peter does here.
Acts 10:17-23
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 the gate and called out to ask whether Simon who was called Peter was lodging there. And while Peter was pondering the vision, the Spirit said to him, "Behold, three men are looking for you. Rise and go down and accompany them without hesitation, for I have sent them." And Peter went down to the men and said, "I am the one you are looking for. What is the reason for your coming?" 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." So he invited them in to be his guests. The next day he rose and went away with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa accompanied him.
So Peter had some time to contemplate things. These men had about a three days journey.
Acts 10:24
And on the following day they entered Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends.
This is a picture of a man who was desiring God. He was so sure that God was going to do what He said He would do, that he invited family members and friends to hear this important message. I hope we are inviting people to church! This man isn’t even saved yet and he is being used of God to bring people to a place to hear the gospel.
Now I have said before that I am not a numbers man. But I do believe that numbers count. But the only number that counts is how many people we have shared the gospel with and invited to church. I have decided that as long as I am pastor here we will get into the community. Now the church may not grow numerically but it won’t be because we didn’t invite the community in.
Acts 10:25-26
When Peter entered, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshiped him. But Peter lifted him up, saying, "Stand up; I too am a man."
Peter was quick not to accept any type of worship which is to be reserved for Christ alone. Now I have heard stories from missionaries of similar happenings; where people are so joyous to receive the gospel message that they will attempt to bow down before the missionaries.
Acts 10:27-28
And as he talked with him, he went in and found many persons gathered. 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, but God has shown me that I should not call any person common or unclean.
We see here that Peter understood the message that God was teaching him. Peter had done the difficult thing and changed the way he thought. In fact, Peter was going into a gentiles house which just didn’t happen back then.
Acts 10:29
So when I was sent for, I came without objection. I ask then why you sent for me."
I don’t want us to lose sight of this great faith displayed by Peter. He did not even know exactly why he was to go there, but he went because God said go. Are we like that?
Acts 10:30-33
And Cornelius said, "Four days ago, about this hour, I was praying in my house at the ninth hour, 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. Send therefore to Joppa and ask for Simon who is called Peter. He is lodging in the house of Simon, a tanner, by the sea.' So I sent for you at once, and you have been kind enough to come. Now therefore we are all here in the presence of God to hear all that you have been commanded by the Lord."
Do you get the sense that Cornelius is anxious to hear what God has to say to them! Oh, if only we could be so hungry for the word of God!
Acts 10:34-35
So Peter opened his mouth and said: "Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.
Now we understand fearing God, but what does Peter mean by “works righteousness.”? I mean we can’t work our way to heaven-right? And God says that the righteousness of man is like a filthy rag to Him. So what does this expression mean? Well, in this context it appears to mean that as God is drawing a person to Himself, God’s work in that person’s heart may already begin to manifest itself in one’s lifestyle.
Acts 10:36-43
As for the word that he sent to Israel, preaching good news of peace through Jesus Christ (he is Lord of all), 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. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. And we are witnesses of all that he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree, 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, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 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. To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name."
So Peter preaches a gospel message. Now we see clearly what happens when the gospel message is preached to a heart which is prepared by God. Notice again the emphasis on the post-Resurrection appearances of Christ. God chose who would see the risen Christ.
Now you get the point, don’t you? Some of us are not progressing in our Christian lives because we won’t run the right play. We are saying, “Not so, Lord.”
I believe that that saying is basically what Paul had in mind. He was willing to blend in with the culture but never at the expense of biblical truth. Paul was not, however, a man who was caught up in traditions.
Change as applied to Peter:
Peter had to change his thinking regarding the gospel and gentiles.
Change as applied Cornelius:
Cornelius had to change the way he thought about God and Himself. He did not know the true nature of God. He also did not know that He could not work his way to heaven.
Change as applied to God:
The Bible is clear that God does not change. But what changes is the way in which God interacts with His people. In fact, in theology we speak of dispensations. A dispensation is a period of time in which God interacts with His people in a particular way.
Change as applied to us:
Only you can answer what type of changes you have to make. Perhaps your spiritual life is stuck in neutral. You may need to change your schedule to be sure that you are spending enough time with God.
Perhaps your marriage is not what it should be. Well, it will continue in that direction until you change something.
Change applied to us corporately:
We need to be wise when it comes to change. But we have to change. Now we don’t want to change just to change. But when a change makes sense, then do it. We just have to be sure that any change we make does not violate a principle. Now it may violate a preference that you have. But remember a preference is not a principle.
How many of you have ever heard of Chuck Smith? He was a man who was willing to step out of his comfort zone. He went to the beaches of California and shared the gospel. Many of the churches at that time did not welcome these new believers in. This was what is known as the Jesus movement. Many had long hair and were unshaved. They were not clean shaven and did not wear a shirt a tie to church. So many churches missed out, so to speak, because they wouldn’t change their mindset.
There are many churches today which are dying out, in my opinion because they won’t allow for any changes. They see any change as some sort of compromise. Change is not always compromise.
When an idea is floated around and the response is “Well, we have always done it this way,” I cringe. This is especially true of churches that seem to have no life. They won’t change anything even though something is broken.
I mean all of us resist change by nature, don’t we? Someone has said that takes four people to change a light bulb. One to change the light-bulb, and three to reminiscent about how good the old light bulb was.
(I remember when I was on a bus with my baseball team in High School and we were going to play the team that always seemed to be in first place. Our coach made sure that each game we all dressed the same way for uniformity. So we either all wore undershirts or none of us did. Many of us, including myself, were complaining on the way to the game because we had to wear long undershirts.
The coach turned around to us and said this is why you guys are not as good as Northeast. He said they are thinking about how they are going to beat us and you guys are complaining about wearing undershirts!)
Now let’s apply this to a church. Show me a church that is unwilling to change traditions and I will show you a church that is most likely having a hard time growing. You know music is one of the most debated ministries of a church. Some churches would never allow Tim’s drums.
Listen to me. I don’t care what type of music we sing as long as it does not violate any biblical principles. Are the lyrics God honoring? Then sing it. Is the instrumentation God honoring? Then sing it.
Show me a church where the choir or praise members refuse to change anything and complain about every new idea and I’ll show you a church that is not growing. Show me a church that complains about a new format for the bulletin and I’ll show you a church that is not growing. Show me a church that is not willing to change traditions and I’ll show you a church that is not growing.
You know some churches refuse to use power point projectors. That is just stupid. Now I am not saying you have to use one, but to claim that it is wrong to use one is foolish. Why don’t they just do away with the microphones too!
Now I want to commend most of you, because we have made some changes over the last year and you have responded well to it. And it seems to me that the Lord has blessed that. I can assure that more changes will come slowly as the leadership sees the need. We will never change anything that is a biblical principle.
Let me give you an example. Some churches change their music. I have no problem with that as long as it is God honoring and worshipful. Some churches have chairs instead of pews. That is not a problem biblically. Some churches have small groups. That is what we see in Acts, don’t we? But some churches have Saturday night services in lieu of Sunday services. Now that is a problem. Why? Because it goes against the biblical principle of meeting on the Lord’s Day. So you see my point.
Perhaps the biggest regret of the conservative evangelicals in recent history has to do with what is known as the “Jesus movement.” Out in California in the 60’s & 70’s, many long haired unshaven people were searching for peace and truth. A man named Chuck Smith dared to witness to them.
Many others were waiting for them to get a hair cut and shave before they would speak to them. God saved many of these men and women. Then there was a problem. The local churches were not welcoming these long haired believers. So Chuck Smith began the Calvary Chapel movement. Unfortunately, many believers in that day were stuck on tradition and would not get out of their comfort zone.
Now I don’t think that our church is like that. But I will tell you what our church is not known for. We are not known for being a church that reaches out to the community either. The community has seen our new sign. Now, there waiting to see if a new attitude comes with the new sign. We have been trying to update the building and make it a more comfortable and welcoming place. Now we will be reaching out to the community.
I pray that you are on board with that. As I said before we will be handing out many fliers for VBS. This means we better be ready for many children. The results are up to God, but our privilege is to invite people to the gospel. So I want each of you to take an active role in VBS.
