Acts 10:9-16
About noon the following day as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray. He became hungry and wanted something to eat, and while the meal was being prepared, 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 of the earth and birds of the air. Then 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."
This happened three times, and immediately the sheet was taken back to heaven.
Even the early apostles faced a siege of their own making! They believed that the only people "clean" enough to hear the Gospel of Jesus were those already in the Jewish faith. God expands Peter's understanding through this vision of clean and unclean food. [I'll try to come back the role of "vision" in breaking out.]
Immediately thereafter, God presents Peter with a perfect opportunity to break out of the siege.
Acts 10:19-20
While Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him, "Simon, three men are looking for you. So get up and go downstairs. Do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them."
Peter went with them. Peter went where he wasn't supposed to go! Peter went to the house of someone outside the faith! Peter defied Jewish law. Peter broke out!
Acts 10:44-48
While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles. For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God.
Then Peter said, "Can anyone keep these people from being baptized with water? They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have." So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days.
Peter defied the rules that maintained the siege. The Holy Spirit moved. And, the siege was broken.
What's maintaining your siege?
Lon
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
1 comment:
Lon... Sorry I've been silent on this topic. I've been both busy and contemplative, but thank you for your continuing posts on the subject.
Here is one thought I've had a couple times about the self-siege effecting many of our churches today:
Change needs to start with individuals. As long as I am preventing a personal siege in my life by seeking an unshakable love for Jesus Christ and helping others do the same on a personal level (not another program to do so), I think that my church has a shot. The more individuals that by into working on their relationship with Christ first and foremost above EVERYTHING else, the better chance we have of preventing self-starvation.
Not much, but I wanted to make sure you knew I was still listening and trying to be part of the conversation.
Post a Comment