Plastic Bubbles Series

This instruction was dangerous. Cornelius was a Roman military captain. So, not only were there racial and cultural barriers crossed by Peter, he also literally goes into enemy territory. He enters the home of the very group of people that were occupying, oppressing and dominating his homeland.

However, all of these very real and, yes even, legitimate excuses were cast aside in obedience.

You will never bust any bubbles if you don't come to the place where your response to the command of Christ is always Yes! We call Him "Master" and yet we tend to disobey. If we disobey, then He isn't Master we are. He may be savior, but without absolute obedience He isn’t Master! We all have legitimate reasons why we can't obey. Disobedience will keep us bubbled.

Bubbles will be busted by fighting!

You fight your way into a bubble. You will have to fight your way out of the bubble.

Let's stop for a second and review Peter's recent history. He was with Jesus in the garden while Jesus prayed. Remember that scene? Remember that it was Roman soldiers that came to arrest Jesus. Do you remember Peter's response? He is a fighter by nature! "Lend me an ear" had entirely different meaning to Peter. This was the guy that cut the ear off of a Roman soldier who tries to arrest Jesus. That isn't the response of someone who trusts Romans! I have this feeling that Peter was probably a little more than afraid as they walk the neighborhood to approach this Roman's house. I think he had suspicions that he was being set up for revenge. And yet, Peter is invited to a Roman home, in a Roman community, by a Roman military Captain and the passage says he went to them. He goes to their territory on their terms. He fights his way out of the bubble of fear! He fights through his suspicion. He fights through his prejudice. He fights through his hate. He fights through his anger - don't forget these are the folks who just killed his Master and his dreams. But Peter fights out of his bubble.

You, like Peter, will have to Fight your way out of the bubble of fear!

You will have to be willing to go to people you are afraid to approach, been taught not to approach and you will have to meet them in their territory (house). May I remind you that our Master has commanded us to go! He commanded us to gather yes. However, we aren't supposed to stay gathered until we never fulfill His command to go. Gather is only half of the equation. Gather. Gain strength. Gather get blessed. Gather get healed. Gather get prayed for. Gather get loved on. Gather get your needs met. We gather so that we can go! The second half of the equation is go. Go in the strength and the power of His might. Go in the power of the blessing that you have received while gathered. Go and spread the healing you experienced while gathered. Go! Go into places that are scary, different, where you are an outsider. To do this we must listen to God more than fear. Fear will keep us bubbled.