Prelude
Call to Worship Jeremiah 33:3
Hymn JBC # 320 Shine and Live
The Lord’s Prayer
Hymn JBC #493 God sent His Son
The Lord’s Supper
Offering
Scripture Acts 10:9~23a
Prayer
Sermon “Peter’s Vision”
Prayer
Hymn JBC# 544 Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!
Doxology JBC # 671
Benediction
At the beginning of today’s bible passage is written that three men were travelling on their journey.
These three men were sent by a man named Cornelius who was a centurion captain of the Roman army, two were his servants and one who was his immediate aide attendant and a devout soldier.
Cornelius, while praying received what was spoken by the angel of God, is written in the earlier passage of today (passage of last week’s message)
The angel appeared to Cornelius who was praying and said [Send men to Joppa and bring to your place Simon called Peter]
Cornelius was not a Jew, but a Gentile (foreigner) from the Jews' perspective. And he was a centurion commander who was stationed in the town of Caesarea.
Even though he was a gentile, Cornelius believed the God of Israel, did many charities to people, etc., and even in that way of life he was a man who practiced faith to the Lord God.
Cornelius obeyed what the angel had commanded him. In obedience to God’s message that was given to him through prayer, he sent the three, his two servants and an attendant soldier to Joppa (to the house where Peter was).
The encounter of Cornelius and Peter was one of the most significant events in the process where the gospel of God spreads out surpassing the Jews.
At that time, even the three attendants that were used by Cornelius carried out a very important role in realizing that precious encounter of Cornelius and Peter.
We can say that the Lord did not let Cornelius and Peter meet directly from the beginning but has made the three as the so called “mediator” between them for them to meet.
Even when we meet new people, I believe that there are many instances where one introduces that person or someone carries out as the intermediary between our encounters.
As such, God gives us new encounters among each other through various people.
I believe that God desires that His gospel spreads out through such an encounter.
To my idea, even the first time we come to church, often we are led through connection with people like being invited by someone, having an acquaintance or because we have a friend at church, etc.
In that way, let us cherish and be grateful for the blessing of opportunity of new encounter that is given us and the gospel to spread out through such an encounter.
It is written that when the three men were on their journey, Peter who was in the town called Joppa went up the roof to pray. It was 12:00 in the daytime (noon). That period was one of the prayer times that was made 3 times a day.
Praying on the roof top is to pray in a place where one could be alone as possible. By being alone in a place and praying at a definite time, we can meditate on our prayer to God.
For a prayer to be fruitful (intimate time with God), praying at a definite time and in a place where we could be alone as possible is effective.
By deciding our prayer time in a place where we can meditate alone even for a short period, by spending even a short moment of prayer through God’s word of the bible, we can set prayer in the center of our living.
Moreover, even the worship service where we gather every Sunday as this, we come together at a definite time.
By setting the time and gathering at the same place, also even abiding by the pre-determined program, we become aware and prepare beforehand if we set worship service the center of our life of faith.
And because there is determined time and place, we meet up with each other this way and can personally worship together.
Let us cherish gathering regularly to worship God and praying together even from now on.
At that moment, Peter felt hungry. It is written, [then Peter fell into a trance and saw a vision]
Let me read verses 11～12.
11 He saw heaven opened and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners. 12 It contained all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles and birds.
Then a voice told him [Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.]
That was astonishing to Peter. It’s because the living things that were in the sheet were those kinds that should never be eaten by the Jews as taught according to the laws of the Bible up to that point.
In chapter 11 of [the book of Leviticus] of the Old Testament is written rules concerning various living things that were specified as clean and good to eat, and as unclean things that must not eat.
Even at present, there are also those who strictly practice Judaism who keep that rule.
The living things that Peter saw in his vision were all those that were taught [must not eat] until then.
Therefore, Peter said [Surely not, Lord! I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.]
That Peter’s remark [I have never eaten anything impure or unclean] seems to have the feeling of being proud himself.
It’s a self-awareness of [I have firmly upheld what I should observe]
In my opinion, at that time Peter must have sensed within him the thought, I adhere properly by my own will and strength God’s ordained decree.
However, the Law given from God is primarily to protect and guide man. It’s a grace given to us freely to make man come closer to God.
The Law is not given to take pride in oneself by adhering to it.
God always try to shatter such feelings of ours, the pride in us.
To us, the important thing is not to take pride in our self by depending on our own strength but plainly receive with gratefulness God’s grace that is given us and depend on that blessing.
Our true encounter with God changes our way of life from the thought of taking pride in our self, trying to depend on our own, to the way of life to live depending on God, plainly believing His grace and strength.
The living things that Peter saw in the sheet were certainly those that were ordained “must not eat” from God until then.
However, at that time God was intending to do a new thing.
When Jesus Christ was on earth with His disciples, Jesus said as follows.
[Anything that goes into your mouth goes into your stomach and then on out of your body. But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these are the things that make you ritually unclean.] (Matthew 15:17-18)
those words of Jesus, God had already mentioned “what truly makes a person unclean?”, it’s the evil thoughts that come out from man’s evil heart.
At that time, God had planned to do a new great occurrence. Therefore, God told Peter.
Verse 15 “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.”
It is written in today’s passage that that happened three times. We can see how firm his belief until then on the matter [Absolutely, you must not eat these things.]
And we are taught of God’s grace in how patiently and repeatedly (even three times) He spoke to Peter to change such thoughts.
Peter was lost in thoughts by himself about what that vision could mean. Then the people who were sent from Cornelius arrived at Peter’s place.
The “Spirit” told Peter.
“three men are looking for you. 20 So get up and go downstairs. Do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them.” (vs. 19-20)
“Do not hesitate to go with them”. Having received encouragement of the Spirit (God’s Spirit), it is written [Peter invited the men into the house to be his guests.]
Peter invited those people and made them his guests into his house. In here, Peter had already made a great step.
It is clearly written in the later passage that back then, as prohibited in the law, the Jews never associated with foreigners, even visiting them.
However, God intended to demonstrate His new plan to Peter through vision and the guidance of the Spirit. God tried to make Peter take step to a new way by the encouragement of the Holy Spirit.
The food rule until then is abolished, the event in which the grace of the true God is proclaimed to all people surpassing the Jews, people all over the world believe the true God is about to happen right now.
What could be a new transition the Lord prepares for us, for our church presently? God’s plan, the Lord’s will is truly unfathomable, it’s vast and far surpassing our imagination.
We can believe that the Lord has a wonderful plan that is more than what we envision and hope even for our church.
Let us together listen to and receive the Lord’s revelation giving importance to prayer, God’s word of the Bible and the worship service where we gather.
And should it be necessary, if God’s Spirit leads us in such way, let us not fear even the things about us (ourselves) that can be changed until then.
It is my desire that we face new encounters, various events, new challenges, not fearing even changes in ourselves from now on, being obedient to the Lord’s will that is revealed to us.
