This blows the whole thing wide open

God is infinitely wise. He is outside of time and space as we know it. God. is. limitless. Why, the same Peter who had such a profound affect on the rise and spread of Christianity wrote, Dear friends, don’t overlook this one fact: With the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day.1 Implication?

While God is orchestrating something in someone's life in one part of the world, he is also doing it many times over throughout the world in countless numbers of people--which confounds our finite minds. Also, God may be speaking to one person in a particular location, and also speaking to another about a related matter at the same time, bringing about something for his good. This is what happens in the 10th chapter of Acts.

Our story opens at a magnificent, picturesque seaport city built by Herod the Great in honor of Caesar Augustus in 22 BC.  It was here in Caesarea that God orchestrated events opening the door for the Gospel to go to the Gentiles. Before this time, before this military officer, the only believers in Jesus were Jews.

[note: what we looked at in last Morning Briefing, including the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, people believing in Jesus Christ by the thousand, the start of the early church, miracles in their midst - from Acts 1-9 - in these first 10 years, all the new believers in Jesus were Jews]

But then, God blows this thing wide open! You can listen to Acts 10 - Acts 11.18: https://www.biblegateway.com/audio/audio/csb/Acts.10.1-Acts.11.18

In summary, here is what we have: God speaks to Cornelius, a centurion in the Italian regiment in Caesarea (and of course, a Gentile), 'tells him to send for Simon Peter (who he does not know) in the town of Joppa down the coast about 40 miles. Cornelius, used to giving orders, obeys this one given to him, sends three of his men to fetch Peter. Acts 10.1-8

While the men are on the way, God speaks to Peter, telling him not to refrain from eating 'unclean' animals and 'not to call anything impure that God has made clean'. You gotta read it because God speaks to him in a vision - three different times! Point made. Acts 10.9-23 'Purity, Peter? I will be the judge of such matters', quoth the Lord.

Hang. with. me. here. please.

In Joppa, pictured below, the men tell Peter that Cornelius was visited by an angel, (verse 22), who told Cornelius to go get Peter so he could tell him something important; Peter believes them and goes back to Caesarea with them. 

In Acts 10.24-48, we read that Captain Cornelius has gathered a house full of folks in anticipation that Peter is going to willingly come back to Caesarea to impart an important message. Peter arrives and does not disappoint. Yes, Sir, Brother Peter testifies ... he witnesses, simply telling what he had experienced, and what he knew of God's heart - not just for the Jew but for the Gentile. v. 34

 'God does not show favoritism but accepts [those] from every nation ...'

And. Then. God. Moved. The Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message; 

after, they were baptized - must have been in those Mediterranean waters!

The first Gentiles become Christians! Cornelius and his family were the first little Gentile Christian community in Caesarea. God is the master architect of timing. This blows Christianity wide open!

Several things to note: another religious man, Cornelius, (after Saul and the Ethiopian on the highway) comes to know the truth of the gospel:

Jesus Christ came to live the perfect life we could not and as the perfect Lamb of God, be the sacrifice for our sins, so that we could be made right with God,

forgiven and redeemed.

In addition, we see how God communicated to Cornelius and Peter in a vision. God speaks to us today when we are seeking to follow Him.

God speaks today

>through his Word

>in the still, small voice

>through open and closed doors

>other believers

>in dreams and visions - did you know Jesus is coming to Muslims just this way?

1 1/2 minute clip: http://www.youtube.com/shorts/4BLReHv9fS0

Are you waiting for God to 'come through' in some way in your life?

Been praying for a while about this person or that thing, 

thinking that God has not seemed to hear your prayer?  

Could be that he is working things out behind the scenes in his timing to

     bring about his perfect plan in your life?

This could be no more obvious than in this spreading of Christianity to the Gentiles. It is crystal clear: the Christian message - salvation through Jesus Christ - is for all people. Oh, this is so good. So timely as well. At a time when many are trying to divide people on every level, Christianity draws them together. As for the prayers you have prayed for your hard-hearted agnostic mate, "the Lord isn't slow about keeping his promises, as some people think he is. In fact, God is patient, because he wants everyone to turn from sin and no one to be lost."2

Indeed, this blows the whole thing wide open!

And this is what it's all about. I'm not sure anyone ever sang it better than Alan Jackson: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-JS9P8d2iOc&list=RD-JS9P8d2iOc&a...

Jesus is for All Y'all!3

Christine

PastorWoman.net

1 - 2 Peter 3.8

2 - 2 Peter 3.9

3 - Now that I'm a Southern girl, I'm told I will say 'y'all' - this is about as close as I can get, 'all y'all' because it makes me smile, but it also fits here!