Preserving Unity

1 A FELLA OWNED A BUNCHA LAND • BUT HE HAD SOME VERY QUARRELSOME SONS • ALWAYS JEALOUS OF ONE ANOTHER • AND ALWAYS FIGHT’N AMONG THEM­SELVES…. • ON HIS DEATHBED HE CALLED HIS SONS IN • AND DIVIDED HIS PROPERTY AMONG THEM…. • THEN HE CALLED FOR SOME STICKS TO BE BROUGHT, • ALL TIED INTO A BUNDLE, • AND ASKED HIS SONS ONE BY ONE, • BEGINNING AT THE ELDEST, TO BREAK THE BUNDLE. • SO LONG AS THEY WERE CLOSELY BOUND TOGETHER, • THEY COULD NOT BREAK ANY OF THE STICKS. • NOW,' HE SAID TO THE ELDEST, 'UNTIE THE BUNDLE, • AND TRY TO BREAK THE STICKS… ONE BY ONE. • THIS WAS NOT DIFFICULT, AND SOON EACH OF THE STICKS, • BROKEN ONE BY ONE, LAY BEFORE THEM IN TWO PIECES. • THE FATHER SAID “THIS IS HOW IT IS GONNA BE WITH YOU BOYS • IF YOU STAY BOUND TOGETHER, YOU’LL NEVER END UP BROKE • IF YOU BREAK THAT TIE THAT BINDS • YOU WILL END UP SCATTERED AND SHATTERED…. • THE CHURCH IS THE FAMILY OF GOD • ALL WHO HAVE TRUSTED IN CHRIST ARE GOD’S CHILDREN • WHEN WE BREAK THE TIE THAT BINDS US • WHEN WE REJECT THE UNITY THAT GOD CALLS US TO HAVE • WE CAN END UP SCATTERED AND SHATTERED • JUST LIKE BROKEN STICKS ON THE GROUND • IN THE CHRISTIAN LIFE WE ARE CALLED TO LIVE IN UNITY • TO WORK WITH THE SAME GOALS IN MIND • TO STRIVE TOGETHER TO DO GOD’S WORK • WE NEED TO KNOW THAT EVEN WHEN • PEOPLE DISAGREE ABOUT SERVING GOD • ABOUT WHO TO SERVE…. OR HOW TO SERVE • WE CAN STILL COME TO A PLACE OF UNITY • IF WE WILL TAKE THE TIME TO COMMUNICATE • ABOUT OUR SERVICE… • HOW GOD IS WORKING IN OUR MINISTRY… • ABOUT HOW GOD’S WORD HAS CALLED US TO SERVE • WE NEED TO PUT FORTH THE EFFORT TO KEEP THE UNITY • SO THAT WE CAN ENCOURAGE ONE ANOTHER • AS WE SERVE GOD • TODAY WE ARE GOING TO RESUME • OUR STUDY OF THE BOOK OF ACTS • TURN TO ACTS 11:1 • WHEN WE WRAPPED UP CHAPTER 10 LAST YEAR • WE SAW HOW PETER AND CORNELIUS HAD EACH HAD A VISION • NOW IF YOU DON’T REMEMBER THIS FROM LAST YEAR • DON’T WORRY, GOD IS A GOOD GOD • HE IS GONNA GIVE US A RECAP SO WE CAN CATCH UP ACTS 11:1–3 NOW THE APOSTLES AND THE BRETHREN WHO WERE THROUGHOUT JUDEA HEARD THAT THE GENTILES ALSO HAD RECEIVED THE WORD OF GOD. AND WHEN PETER CAME UP TO JERUSALEM, THOSE WHO WERE CIRCUMCISED TOOK ISSUE WITH HIM, SAYING, “YOU WENT TO UNCIRCUMCISED MEN AND ATE WITH THEM.” NEWS TRAVELS FAST • EVEN BEFORE FACEBOOK AND TWITTER • PEOPLE KEPT TRACK OF WHAT OTHERS WERE DOIN • NOW THE APOSTLES AND THE BRETHREN WHO WERE THROUGHOUT JUDEA HEARD THAT THE GENTILES ALSO HAD RECEIVED THE WORD OF GOD. • THIS MEANS THAT ALL THE BELIEVERS IN JUDEA • HEARD WHAT HAPPENED WITH PETER AND CORNELIUS • JUDEA IS NOT A VERY BIG AREA • AND WE DON’T REALLY KNOW HOW LONG • IT TOOK FOR THIS NEWS TO SPREAD • BUT YOU CAN SEE WHY PEOPLE WOULD TALK ABOUT THIS…. • UP TO THIS POINT EVERYONE WHO HAD TRUSTED CHRIST • HAD COME THROUGH JUDAISM IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER • THE ETHIOPIAN EUNUCH WAS • A PROSELYTE OF THE JEWISH FAITH • EVEN THE SAMARIANS HAD A CONNECTION • TO THE JEWISH BELIEFS • BUT THE NEWS THAT GENTILES • HAD RECEIVED THE WORD OF GOD • HAD COME TO SAVING FAITH • WITHOUT GOING THROUGH THE JEWISH FAITH • WOULD BE BIG NEWS OF A BIG CHANGE… AND CHANGE BRINGS CHALLENGES • NO MATTER WHAT CHANGES • THERE WILL ALWAYS BE SOMEONE • THAT DOES NOT LIKE THE CHANGE • AND WHEN PEOPLE DON’T LIKE SOMETHING • VERY RARELY KEEP IT TO THEMSELVES • AT SOME POINT AFTER THESE GENTILES • COMING TO SALVATION • PETER CAME UP TO JERUSALEM, • AND RAN INTO SOME FOLKS • THAT DID NOT LIKE WHAT HE HAD DONE • THE TEXT SAYS; • THOSE WHO WERE CIRCUMCISED TOOK ISSUE WITH HIM, • THIS IS TALKING ABOUT CHRISTIANS • WHO WERE STILL HOLDING ON TO THE • JEWISH LAW… THE JEWISH TRADITIONS… • AND WHEN IT SAYS THEY TOOK ISSUE WITH HIM • THAT IS A NICE WAY OF SAYING • THEY ARGUED WITH… OR CRITICIZED HIM… • AND THE WAY IT IS WRITTEN MEANS • THEY DID IT OVER AND OVER • THIS WAS NOT A ONE TIME THING… • SO, THESE FOLKS THAT HAD TRUSTED CHRIST AS SAVIOR • BUT WHO WERE STILL HANGING ON TO THE LAW • WERE UPSET WITH PETER • BUT WHAT EXACTLY WERE THEY UPSET ABOUT • WERE THEY MAD BECAUSE HE TOLD GENTILES THE GOSPEL? • WERE THEY MAD BECAUSE THESE GENTILES BELIEVED?.... • THESE PEOPLE WHO WERE “OF THE CIRCUMCISION” TELL PETER; • “YOU WENT TO UNCIRCUMCISED MEN AND ATE WITH THEM.” • THIS SEEMS TO BE WHAT THEY ARE UPSET ABOUT • THE FACT THAT PETER WENT INTO THE HOME • OF THESE GENTILES AND ATE WITH THEM • IT IS AMAZING WHAT PEOPLE WILL COMPLAIN ABOUT • YOU WILL FIND THAT, AS A RULE, • THOSE WHO COMPLAIN ABOUT THE WAY THE BALL BOUNCES • ARE FREQUENTLY THE ONES WHO DROPPED IT. • JESUS HAD TOLD THE APOSTLES MATTHEW 28:19 “GO THEREFORE AND MAKE DISCIPLES OF ALL THE NATIONS, BAPTIZING THEM IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND THE SON AND THE HOLY SPIRIT, • THESE PEOPLE THAT HAD A PROBLEM WITH PETER • KINDA DROPPED THE BALL ON THIS ONE. • THEY FAILED TO UNDERSTAND THAT ALL THE NATIONS • MEANT GENTILES TOO • AND THAT GOING TO THEM AND EATING WITH THEM • WERE PART OF THE DEAL • WHEN WE GO AND DO GOD’S WORK • WE NEED TO KNOW THAT PEOPLE ARE GONNA HEAR ABOUT WHAT WE DO • MANY PEOPLE WILL BE EXCITED • MANY PEOPLE WILL BE ENCOURAGED BY WHAT WE DO • BUT WE CAN BE SURE… • SOMEONE IS GONNA TAKE ISSUE WITH WHAT WE DO • THERE IS GONNA BE SOMEBODY SOMEPLACE • THAT DOES NOT LIKE WHO WE SERVED • OR HOW WE SERVE… THE MUSIC WE SING • OR THE CLOTHES WE WEAR… OR • JUST TRUST ME THEY WILL FIND SOMETHING WRONG • AND I THINK WE CAN REALLY LEARN A LOT • ABOUT HOW TO HANDLE THIS • BY LOOKING AT HOW PETER HANDLES IT ACTS 11:4–16 BUT PETER BEGAN SPEAKING AND PROCEEDED TO EXPLAIN TO THEM IN ORDERLY SEQUENCE, SAYING, “I WAS IN THE CITY OF JOPPA PRAYING; AND IN A TRANCE I SAW A VISION, AN OBJECT COMING DOWN LIKE A GREAT SHEET LOWERED BY FOUR CORNERS FROM THE SKY; AND IT CAME RIGHT DOWN TO ME, • AND WHEN I HAD FIXED MY GAZE ON IT AND WAS OBSERVING IT I SAW THE FOUR-FOOTED ANIMALS OF THE EARTH AND THE WILD BEASTS AND THE CRAWLING CREATURES AND THE BIRDS OF THE AIR. “I ALSO HEARD A VOICE SAYING TO ME, ‘GET UP, PETER; KILL AND EAT.’ “BUT I SAID, ‘BY NO MEANS, LORD, FOR NOTHING UNHOLY OR UNCLEAN HAS EVER ENTERED MY MOUTH.’ “BUT A VOICE FROM HEAVEN ANSWERED A SECOND TIME, ‘WHAT GOD HAS CLEANSED, NO LONGER CONSIDER UNHOLY.’ “THIS HAPPENED THREE TIMES, AND EVERYTHING WAS DRAWN BACK UP INTO THE SKY. “AND BEHOLD, AT THAT MOMENT THREE MEN APPEARED AT THE HOUSE IN WHICH WE WERE STAYING, HAVING BEEN SENT TO ME FROM CAESAREA. “THE SPIRIT TOLD ME TO GO WITH THEM WITHOUT MISGIVINGS. THESE SIX BRETHREN ALSO WENT WITH ME AND WE ENTERED THE MAN’S HOUSE. “AND HE REPORTED TO US HOW HE HAD SEEN THE ANGEL STANDING IN HIS HOUSE, AND SAYING, ‘SEND TO JOPPA AND HAVE SIMON, WHO IS ALSO CALLED PETER, BROUGHT HERE; AND HE WILL SPEAK WORDS TO YOU BY WHICH YOU WILL BE SAVED, YOU AND ALL YOUR HOUSEHOLD.’ “AND AS I BEGAN TO SPEAK, THE HOLY SPIRIT FELL UPON THEM JUST AS HE DID UPON US AT THE BEGINNING. “AND I REMEMBERED THE WORD OF THE LORD, HOW HE USED TO SAY, ‘JOHN BAPTIZED WITH WATER, BUT YOU WILL BE BAPTIZED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT.’ EXPLAIN THE CIRCUMSTANCES • THE FIRST THING WE SEE PETER DO • IS EXPLAIN WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED • HE DID SO IN ORDERLY SEQUENCE • NOW WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT PETER • AND THE THINGS HE SAID AND DID AS HE WALKED WITH CHRIST • THIS IS ACTUALLY PRETTY AMAZING • PETER IS NOT KNOWN FOR HIS CALM ORDERLY EXPLANATIONS • BUT HERE WE SEE THAT HE DOES NOT ARGUE • HE DOES NOT GET ANGRY • HE DOES NOT START TELLING THESE PEOPLE HOW WRONG THEY ARE • HE BEGINS BY CALMLY EXPLAINING WHAT HAPPENED • HE TELLS THEM OF THE VISION HE SAW • OF THE INSTRUCTION TO TAKE AND EAT • OF HIS OBJECTION TO THE INSTRUCTION • AND THE CLARIFICATION HE RECEIVED • “WHAT GOD HAS CLEANSED, NO LONGER CONSIDER UNHOLY” • PETER IS HELPING THE FOLKS THAT HAVE OBJECTED TO • HIM EATING WITH GENTILES TO UNDERSTAND • WHY HE DID WHAT HE DID • HE IS WALKING THEM THROUGH THE WHY • HE IS HELPING THEM TO GO THROUGH • THE SAME PROCESS HE WENT THROUGH WHEN THESE THINGS HAPPENED • THESE ARE FELLOW BELIEVERS • PETER IS PATIENTLY AND LOVINGLY • BRING THEM FROM WHERE THEY ARE TO WHERE HE IS • FIRST, HE EXPLAINS WHAT HAPPENED • THEN HE TELLS THEM ABOUT GOD’S PRESENCE IN THE SITUATION EXPLAIN GOD’S WORK IN OUR MINISTRY • PETER SHOWS HOW GOD’S PROVIDENCE WAS THERE • WHEN HE SAYS THE THREE MEN CAME TO THE DOOR AT THE RIGHT TIME • PETER EXPLAINS HOW HE WAS LED BY THE SPIRIT • TO GO WITH THESE MEN FROM CAESAREA • PETER TELLS THE OBJECTORS HOW • CORNELIUS HAD BEEN INSTRUCTED BY AN ANGEL FROM GOD • TO SEND FOR PETER AND HOW THE ANGEL TOLD CORNELIUS • PETER WOULD SPEAK THE WORDS THAT WOULD LEAD • TO HIS WHOLE HOUSEHOLD BEING SAVED… • PETER TOLD THEM HOW THE HOLY SPIRIT FELL • UPON THE GENTILES IN THE EXACT SAME WAY • THAT HE CAME UPON THE JEWISH BELIEVERS • IN JERUSALEM ON THE DAY OF PENTECOST… • WE NEED TO PAY ATTENTION • TO THE FACT THAT LUKE REPEATS THIS ENTIRE ACCOUNT • HE NOT ONLY REPEATS IT.. HE REPEATS IT RIGHT AFTER HE SAID IT • REPEATING SOMETHING IN THE BIBLE IS A BIG DEAL • REPEATING IT RIGHT AFTER YOU JUST SAID IT IS A HUGE DEAL • THIS IS SUCH A BIG DEAL BECAUSE • IT IS A CLEAR DESCRIPTION OF GOD AT WORK • IN THE SALVATION OF THESE GENTILES • PETER IS TRYING TO HELP PEOPLE WHO ARE • OF THE CIRCUMCISION UNDERSTAND • THAT HIS MINISTRY IS DOING GOD’S WORK…. • WHEN PEOPLE HAVE A PROBLEM WITH OUR MINISTRY • IT CAN SOMETIMES BE HELPFUL • IF WE SHOW THEM WHERE GOD IS WORKING IN WHAT WE ARE DOING • NOW, CHANCES ARE WE WILL NOT BE ABLE • TO SAY THE SAME KINDA THINGS PETER SAID • BUT WE CAN SHOW HOW LIVES ARE TOUCHED BY OUR MINISTRY • HOW GOD’S WORD IS PREACHED • HOW LOVE IS SHOWN TO OUR NEIGHBORS • AND MAYBE THIS WILL HELP THEM UNDERSTAND • WHY WE ARE DOING WHAT WE ARE DOING • BUT PETER DOES NOT STOP HERE HE ALSO EXPLAINS HOW GOD’S WORD IS DIRECTING HIS SERVICE. • WHEN PETER SAW THE HOLY SPIRIT COMING UPON • THESE NEW GENTILE BELIEVERS AND REALIZED • IT WAS HAPPENING JUST LIKE IT HAPPENED ON PENTECOST • HE REMEMBERED SOMETHING CHRIST HAD SAID • JOHN BAPTIZED WITH WATER, BUT YOU WILL BE BAPTIZED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT.’ • FROM THESE WORDS OF JESUS • HE UNDERSTOOD SOMETHING VITALLY IMPORTANT • HE UNDERSTOOD GOD WAS GIVING THE EXACT SAME • SALVATION TO THESE GENTILES • THAT HE HAD GIVEN TO THE JEWS • THEY DID NOT NEED TO COME TO THE JEWISH RELIGION FIRST • THEY DID NOT NEED CIRCUMCISION… • THEY DID NOT NEED TO BE PROSELYTES… • PETER IS COMMUNICATING TO THESE OBJECTORS • THAT THE ACTIONS HE TOOK IN HIS MINISTRY • WERE DIRECTED BY THE VERY WORDS OF JESUS CHRIST… • PETER WHO THROUGHOUT THE GOSPELS • IS A HOT HEAD WHO REACTS EMOTIONALLY • HAS GROWN AND MATURED TO THE POINT • WHERE HE DOES NOT ARGUE WITH THOSE • OBJECTING TO HIS EATING WITH GENTILES • HE DOES NOT TELL THEM OFF OR INSULT THEM • HE CALMLY EXPLAINS THE CIRCUMSTANCES THAT OCCURRED • HE TELLS THEM HOW GOD HAS WORKED IN THIS SITUATION • AND HE SHOWS THEM HOW GOD’S WORD DIRECTED HIS ACTIONS • NOW LUKE WILL DESCRIBE THE RESULTS OF PETER’S WORDS ACTS 11:17–18 “THEREFORE IF GOD GAVE TO THEM THE SAME GIFT AS HE GAVE TO US ALSO AFTER BELIEVING IN THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, WHO WAS I THAT I COULD STAND IN GOD’S WAY?” WHEN THEY HEARD THIS, THEY QUIETED DOWN AND GLORIFIED GOD, SAYING, “WELL THEN, GOD HAS GRANTED TO THE GENTILES ALSO THE REPENTANCE THAT LEADS TO LIFE.” DON’T GET IN THE WAY OF GOD’S WORK • PETER CONCLUDES HIS RESPONSE TO THE OBJECTORS • WITH A POWERFUL QUESTION • WHO WAS I THAT I COULD STAND IN GOD’S WAY?” • ONE OF THE THINGS WE NEED TO SEE IN THIS QUESTION • IS THAT PETER ACTUALLY UNDERSTANDS • WHAT THESE PEOPLE ARE OBJECTING ABOUT • HE ACTUALLY HAD THE SAME OBJECTION • WHEN HE SAYS; WHO WAS I THAT I COULD STAND IN GOD’S WAY?” • HE IS ADMITTING THAT HE TRIED TO STAND IN THE WAY • I THINK HE IS TALKING ABOUT HIS OBJECTION • WHEN GOD TOLD HIM TO TAKE AND EAT • “BY NO MEANS, LORD, FOR NOTHING UNHOLY OR UNCLEAN HAS EVER ENTERED MY MOUTH.” • BUT AFTER THE HOLY SPIRIT CAME UPON • CORNELIUS AND HIS FAMILY • PETER UNDERSTOOD THAT GOD’S COMMAND • TO TAKE AND EAT WAS REALLY ABOUT • TAKING THE GOSPEL TO THE GENTILES • AND HOW COULD HE OBJECT TO THAT? • IN A VERY SUBTLE WAY PETER IS ASKING • THESE PEOPLE THAT HAD OBJECTED TO HIM • EATING WITH THE GENTILES • THIS SAME QUESTION….. • HOW CAN YOU OBJECT TO ME EATING WITH THESE PEOPLE • WHEN GOD HIMSELF COMMANDED IT? • AND THEN WE SEE THE RESPONSE TO THIS QUESTION GIVING GOD THE GLORY • SO FAR, WE HAVE BEEN FOCUSED ON • HOW PETER HAS ADDRESSED THE OBJECTORS • BUT IN THE LAST VERSE WE SEE THE RESPONSE • OF THE OBJECTORS TO WHAT PETER HAS SAID • THEY QUIETED DOWN AND GLORIFIED GOD, SAYING, “WELL THEN, GOD HAS GRANTED TO THE GENTILES ALSO THE REPENTANCE THAT LEADS TO LIFE.” • THERE ARE REALLY TWO PARTS TO THEIR RESPONSE • FIRST, THEY STOP TALKING, THEY QUIETED DOWN • THEY KNEW THEY HAD BEEN WRONG • THEY DID NOT EVEN TRY TO ARGUE • SECOND, THEY GLORIFIED GOD • THIS MEANS THEY GAVE GOD THE GLORY • AND THE HONOR FOR WHAT HE HAD DONE • THAT HE HAD EXTENDED SALVATION TO THE GENTILES • WE ALL COULD LEARN FROM HOW BOTH SIDES • HANDLE THIS DISAGREEMENT • PETER HANDLED IT BY EXPLAINING HIS CIRCUMSTANCES • HOW GOD HAD WORKED IN HIS MINISTRY • HOW HIS MINISTRY HAD BEEN DIRECTED BY GOD’S WORD • AND THESE OBJECTORS HANDLED IT • BY CALMING DOWN AND QUIETING DOWN • THEY LISTENED AND LEARNED • ABOUT PETER’S MINISTRY TO THE GENTILES • AND WHEN THEY HEARD WHAT HE SAID • THEY GAVE GLORY TO GOD • THEY DID NOT ESCALATE THE ARGUMENT • THEY DID NOT GO TALK ABOUT PETER BEHIND HIS BACK • THEY DID NOT POST ON FACEBOOK ABOUT IT… • WHEN PEOPLE HAVE A PROBLEM WITH OUR MINISTRY • WE NEED TO TAKE THE TIME • WE NEED TO SIT DOWN WITH THEM • AND EXPLAIN WHAT WE ARE DOING • AND WHY… WE NEED TO SHOW THEM • HOW GOD IS WORKING IN WHAT WE ARE DOING • WE NEED TO SHOW THEM HOW • OUR MINISTRY IS BUILT ON GOD’S WORD • ON THE FLIP SIDE OF THIS • WHEN WE HAVE A PROBLEM • WITH SOMEONE ELSE’S MINISTRY • AND THEY EXPLAIN THE CIRCUMSTANCES • AND HOW GOD IS WORKING IN THEIR MINISTRY • AND HOW THEIR MINISTRY IS BUILT ON GOD’S WORD • WE NEED TO QUIET DOWN… AND GIVE GOD THE GLORY • AND MAYBE EVEN HELP THEM IN THEIR MINISTRY ALL CHRISTIANS… ALL WHO HAVE TRUSTED IN CHRIST • AS THEIR SAVIOR • ARE CHILDREN OF GOD • AND JUST LIKE CHILDREN IN ANY FAMILY • WE ARE GONNA DISAGREE ABOUT HOW TO DO THINGS SOMETIMES…. • IF WE ARE NOT CAREFUL ABOUT • HOW WE HANDLE THESE DISAGREEMENTS • WE CAN END UP BREAKING THE TIES THAT BIND US • WE CAN END UP BEING A LOSE PILE OF STICKS • AND NOT A BOUND-UP BUNDLE • AND LOSE STICKS BREAK FAR EASIER THAN BUNDLES. • GOD CALLS THE CHURCH TO LIVE IN UNITY • LOVING ONE ANOTHER • CARING FOR ONE ANOTHER • BEARING EACH OTHERS’ BURDENS • BEING OF ONE MIND • WITH THE SAME GOALS…. • GOD CALLS US TO THIS UNITY • BECAUSE HE LOVES US AND • WANTS AN ETERNAL RELATIONSHIP WITH US • BUT WE ALL SIN…… 89