By Faith Alone Series

The first sermon I gave was over 40 years ago at a Young Life gathering. I’m glad there is no audio or video evidence of that sermon! Over the last twenty years, I’ve been preaching multiple services nearly every weekend. You’d think I’d get the hang of it by now. I’ve been invigorated by preaching to eager congregations and have almost put myself to sleep a few times.

I also remember a few sermons where interruptions occurred. For instance, when I was an associate pastor, I found it very distracting when a man who sat near the front, would choose to clip his nails every week as soon as the sermon started. Other interruptions have included mics not working or times people had to be helped out of a service because of a health issue.

I’m getting more comfortable with cell phones going off and have learned to appreciate all the different and sometimes embarrassing ringtones. One of the more challenging interruptions occurred at our previous church when truckers would drive down 1-55 and our sound system would sometimes pick up their CB radios – “Breaker, Breaker, 1-9” is hard to ignore. At least it woke up those who were sleeping.

In Acts 10:34-48 we’re going to hear a sermon that was preached to a very enthusiastic and eager congregation. Just as Peter the preacher was getting into the meat of his message, the sermon was not only interrupted, it came to a screeching halt.

I like the insight of Charles Spurgeon, “Oh that our sermons were incomplete for the same cause that Peter’s was, for the Holy Spirit, who speaks better by Himself than by the most earnest voice, caused a divinely joyful interruption…Surely a sermon produced under such circumstances, leading up to such results, and interrupted so divinely, deserves to be reverently studied.”

Before we reverently study this sermon, let’s put the text into context. Our main idea last weekend was God is always at work…and sometimes we get to see it. When we don’t see it…remember God is always at work. We learned the Holy Spirit wants to adjust our attitudes and align our actions. We celebrated how God worked in two individuals, who were separated by 30 miles and by cultural and religious distances, and were brought together by God’s sovereign timing. Both Cornelius and Peter received divinely synchronized visions while praying. These visions prepared Cornelius for the gospel and prepared Peter to let go of his prejudices.

Since most of the first Christians had a Jewish background, it was natural for them to think that any non-Jewish person (Gentile) had to come to Christianity through Judaism. The thought of a Gentile getting saved without coming through the door of Judaism was a foreign thought to them. God made it clear both Jew and Gentile can come to Christ by faith alone, without having to be circumcised or by celebrating certain ceremonies or following strict food rules.

After learning it’s OK to eat “pigs in a blanket” (come on, that’s funny), Peter headed to the house of a Roman military officer named Cornelius in order to share the good news of the gospel with him. In Acts 10:33 we see how eager Cornelius was to hear the glories of the gospel: “Now therefore we are all here in the presence of God to hear all that you have been commanded by the Lord.” The phrase, “in the presence of God,” is the idea of being “before the face of God.” No preacher could have asked for a more eager or attentive congregation!

Peter’s Sermon Introduction

Listen to Peter’s sermon introduction in verse 34-35: “So Peter opened his mouth and said: ‘Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears Him and does what is right is acceptable to Him.’” The phrase “opened his mouth” was a solemn formula used to introduce something really important. It was commonly used to describe opening a door to some treasure. Because Peter’s attitude had been adjusted and his actions aligned, he was now ready to preach the grace gospel.

This is huge because Jews believed they were God’s favorites. However, God always intended to extend His favor to everyone who put faith in Him. This goes all the way back to what God said to Abraham in Genesis 12:3: “In you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” Romans 2:11 says, “For God shows no partiality.” Listen to what the enemies of Jesus said about Him in Luke 20:21, “Teacher, we know that you speak and teach rightly, and show no partiality.”

God is drawn to those who show reverence for Him. I like the summary statement found at the end of Solomon’s journal in Ecclesiastes 12:13: “The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.”