Breaking Barriers

Text: Acts 10

Title: Building Bridges... Breaking Barriers...

Subject: How did God overcome barriers to reach the gentiles?

Complement: by extraordinary means – including the “conversion” of Peter!

Big idea: “God calls us to partner with him in breaking barriers and building bridges.”

I want to ask you a question ...What kind of people make you uncomfortable? What kind of people do you avoid?

Every one of us knows someone like that… we may tend to avoid or ignore people who…

? People who swear a lot

? People who smoke

? People who smell

? People who complain

? People who do weird things with their hair

? People who place strange objects in their noses…ears…tongues…

? Bikers

? Authority figures

? Poor people…or rich people

? Educated people

? Computer geeks

Some of us even have memorized bible verses that justify us in avoiding such people: like don’t cast your pearls before swine…come out from among them and be separate …touch not the unclean thing.

When we avoid people …we say to them, “you’re not important to me”

One of the ways we justify our attitude toward these people is by sticking a label on them. Once the label is on, our mind is made up. Case closed.

In the NT era Jews had a big label on all non-Jews – “unclean”!

Read passage... Acts 10:1-8

1. Situation – Cornelius Knows About God – But Doesn’t Know The Gospel.

God reaches out to Cornelius in a vision...

Acts 10 At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was known as the Italian Regiment.2 He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly.

3 One day at about three in the afternoon he had a vision. He distinctly saw an angel of God, who came to him and said, “Cornelius!”4 Cornelius stared at him in fear. “What is it, Lord?” he asked. The angel answered, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God. 5 Now send men to Joppa to bring back a man named Simon who is called Peter. 6 He is staying with Simon the tanner, whose house is by the sea.”7 When the angel who spoke to him had gone, Cornelius called two of his servants and a devout soldier who was one of his attendants. 8 He told them everything that had happened and sent them to Joppa.

Caesarea – capital of the Roman province of Judea

It's on the coast of the Mediterranean sea.

Much like St. John’s!

But unlike St. Johns - Caesarea didn’t have a harbour ... so Herod the Great built one!

Herod built two huge breakwaters that could shelter ships from Mediterranean storms.

And with a harbor...Caesarea served as the major seaport during the Roman Empire.

A centurion in the Roman Regiment.

Though Cornelius is a high-ranking Army man - he is also a devout man of faith.

– not normal!!!

The stereo-type soldier he is not!

• Cornelius accepted monotheism – and was able to see through the empty paganism of his day.

• He seems to have accepted the ethics of Judaism – generosity/ kindness to the poor

We also know he is a man of prayer...

He has a strong spiritual interest – he’s a Seeker of God...

*** perhaps there Is A Cornelius In Your Neighborhood/workplace...

Complication – Now the narrative shifts to Joppa... (50 kms south along the coast)

There in the house of Simon the Tanner - Peter also has a vision.

We pick up the story in verse 9.

9 About noon the following day as they (Cornelius’ messengers) were on their journey and approaching the city (of Joppa), Peter went up on the roof to pray. 10 He became hungry and wanted something to eat, and while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance. 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. 13 Then a voice told him, “Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.”

14 “Surely not, Lord!” Peter replied. “I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.”

15 The voice spoke to him a second time,

***(Deeper voice...) “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.”

16 This happened three times (!), and immediately the sheet was taken back to heaven.

( I think that means it's very important...)

** Have you ever said to the Lord – “Surely not Lord!”

17 While Peter was wondering about the meaning of the vision, the men sent by Cornelius found out where Simon’s house was and stopped at the gate. 18 They called out, ...asking if Simon who was known as Peter was staying there.