God is always doing something new!

The challenge is whether or not we are going to recognize it

Too many times our inability to see the BIG-ness of God, God’s love, God’s will, God’s plan keeps us from great opportunities to be a transformative power for good and for God in the world. Instead, we sit around saying “God can’t be doing that” or “God would never do that” or “God doesn’t seem to be doing anything at all”

Thankfully, the Holy Spirit goes on ahead of us despite our inability to comprehend and despite our often nay-saying attitudes.

For Thousands of years the Jews were taught, convinced, and convicted that they were God’s chosen people, exclusively. Their Law, their worship, their temple, their culture all favored ‘insiders’…   the Jewish people.

When Christ came, he preached and taught as a Jewish rabbi, but he drew the circle of acceptance really wide. Jesus reflected a God of mercy, love, grace, acceptance and salvation. Naturally, his first followers (all Jews) ASSUMED that this mercy, love, grace, acceptance and salvation was for the Jews exclusively.

But, when God speaks to Peter in a vision and sends him to the household of Cornelius, a Roman Centurion, there starts the complete upending of the exclusivist worldview that God is God for the Jews alone. Cornelius is not a Jew, but yet he is faithful and God-fearing and generous in giving to help people. He receives a vision too… that God has heard his prayers and accepted him…   and instructed Cornelius to seek out Peter.

When the two meet…  it’s an awkward moment. Peter is unsure of why he’s there, but he is trusting God without objection. Cornelius, on the other hand, is thrilled because Peter’s appearance has confirmed the work of God in Cornelius’ life.

What Peter says next marks the opening of the floodgates of the Holy Spirit…   one Spirit not for the Jews alone, but one Spirit for ALL people:

³⁴ Then Peter began to speak to them: “I truly understand that God shows no partiality, ³⁵ but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. ³⁶ You know the message he sent to the people of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ—he is Lord of all. ³⁷ That message spread throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John announced: ³⁸ how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; how he went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. ³⁹ We are witnesses to all that he did both in Judea and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree; ⁴⁰ but God raised him on the third day and allowed him to appear, ⁴¹ not to all the people but to us who were chosen by God as witnesses, and who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. ⁴² He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one ordained by God as judge of the living and the dead. ⁴³ All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”⁴⁴ While Peter was still speaking, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who heard the word. ⁴⁵ The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astounded that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles, ⁴⁶ for they heard them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter said, ⁴⁷ “Can anyone withhold the water for baptizing these people who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” ⁴⁸ So he ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they invited him to stay for several days. (Acts 10:34-48)

To this very day we, as Christians, live out this legacy: one Spirit for ALL people.

In these days of such diversity and such divisiveness we would do well to remember this legacy: Jesus reflected a God of mercy, love, grace, acceptance and salvation for all people.

The power of the Holy Spirit is promised to, and poured out upon, faithful people of all backgrounds.

Let’s look around with open eyes and see what new thing God will be doing in our midst here today!

 

Pastor Erik