PREACHER: Pr. Erik Zingelman
Acts
10:44-48, 1 John 5:1–6, John 15:9–17
New ground was again being broken in
the apostle's ministry. The apostle
Peter had had a vision that told him to not be afraid to welcome believing
Gentiles into the kingdom. At the same
time (a day earlier), a God-fearing Gentile named Cornelius had an angelic
visitor who told him to send for Peter and have him come to his home. A divine
connection was being made in the heavens to bring about our text today. Cornelius obeyed the angel; Peter listened to
God, and the group from Joppa met Cornelius and friends in Caesarea
and another Pentecost happened!
"While he (Peter) was still
speaking"(v. 44), the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. This was the same preacher God had used on
Pentecost, and the Spirit had the same effect: speaking in tongues in praise of
God. This visit by the Holy Spirit brought
faith and belief in Jesus as their savior.
They became Christians that day and were baptized soon afterwards.
I wonder if Peter was surprised that
all these Gentiles believed so readily. Are
we astonished when people become Christians, especially unlikely candidates as
far as we are concerned? Maybe that is
our problem. Our estimation is too low
of what God can and wants to do. Could
it be that his plans go far beyond ours?
God desires all to be saved. The Holy Spirit's most important work is
wooing people to show them their sin and their Savior. Jesus paid the price to set all free from sin
and the devil, and no one can change that fact.
No wonder people like football/baseball star Deion Sanders or the son of
the famous atheist Madalyn Murray O'Hair have become Christians. We shouldn't be surprised. God never gives up. He keeps on knocking!
A nurse on the pediatric ward, before
listening to the little ones' chests, would put the stethoscope into their ears
and let them listen to their own hearts.
Their eyes would always light up with awe. But she never got a response equal to
four-year-old David's. Gently she tucked
the stethoscope in his ears and placed the disk over his heart. "Listen," she said, "what do
you suppose that is?"
He drew his eyebrows together in a
puzzled line and looked up as if lost in the mystery of the strange
tap-tap-tapping in this chest. Then his
face broke out in a wondrous grin.
"Is that Jesus knocking?" he asked.
God never gives up. Neither should we!
You and I have been claimed by God as
his children. He has blessed us to be a
blessing to those around us. He calls us
to share his good news – to allow his spirit to work through us to bring others
to his love and forgiveness. This we do
through both word and example.
No one can say Jesus is Lord, except
by the Holy Spirit. You use your tongue
to speak that wonderful truth! When we
remember our baptism and how Jesus changed us there, we know the message to
speak.
How adept are we at using our voices
as the Acts 10 people did? "For
they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God!" Do we continually praise God by what we say,
by how we build up those made in the image of God, and by what we say behind
the backs of those made in the image of God? Is your tongue a new creation each
day or dangerous, like an old acidic, corrupt, and dead battery?
There once was a Roman Catholic
priest, an Episcopalian rector, a Presbyterian minister, and a Lutheran pastor
who met together for lunch on a regular basis.
One afternoon they got in a confessional mood and the minister suggested
that they talk about their personal problems.
The priest confessed that he was a
compulsive gambler. The rector admitted
that he had an obsession about attractive women. The minister hesitated, but then admitted
that he was an alcoholic. Then all three
turned to the Lutheran pastor and asked him what his problem was. "Well," he confessed, "I'm a
compulsive gossip, and I can't wait to get out of here!"
Does God bring a gossiping tongue
under the control of the Holy Spirit?
Why do we say so much that is untrue and that damages reputations and
churches and families? We rarely seem to think it's wrong. An unknown author has written this about the
evil of the tongue:
I have no respect for justice. I maim
without killing. I break hearts and ruin lives. I am cunning and malicious and
gather strength with age. The more I am
quoted, the more I am believed. I flourish at every level of society. My victims are helpless. They cannot protect themselves against me,
for I have no face or no name. To track
me down is impossible. The harder you
try, the more elusive I become.
I am nobody's friend. Once I tarnish a reputation, it is never
quite the same. I topple governments and
wreck marriages. I ruin careers, cause
sleepless nights, heartaches, and grief.
I make innocent people cry into their pillow. I make headlines and heartaches.
I am called gossip. The next time you want to tell a story about
someone ... think. Is it true? Is it
necessary? Is it kind? If not, please don't say it!
Your wayward tongue not only hurts
others, but it will eventually hurt you, too.
An elderly grandfather was growing deaf, so he decided to buy a hearing
aid. Two weeks later he stopped at the
store where he had bought it and told the manager he could now pick up
conversation quite easily, even in the next room. "Your relatives must be happy to know
that you can hear so much better," beamed the delighted storeowner. "Oh, I haven't told them yet," the
man chuckled. "I've just been
sitting around listening -- and you know what? I changed my will twice!"
How do we best draw others to our Lord and
Savior through our words and deeds?
First, we receive strength from Jesus, the One who kept his mouth shut
and didn't even defend himself when accused at his trial. Our hope is in the cross and the open tomb of
this Easter season and the One who conquered both. He forgives our harsh and
judgmental tongues and empowers us to speak the truth in love. Our hope is to hear Jesus' say, "Father,
forgive them for they know not what they do," and our response is,
"Forgive me, Jesus, and make me more like you!"
The second thing we need to do after
admitting our need and receiving forgiveness is to be patient and let God
refine our lives. It's a process from
birth to death to become more like Jesus.
We're not finished products yet.
We keep on learning and growing.
Be patient and let your prayer be, "Lord, may the words of my mouth
and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and
my Redeemer!"
Amen
No comments:
Post a Comment