Accepting Everyone

Acts 10:15 And the voice came to him again a second time, “What God has made clean, do not call common.”

This vision to Peter is a very important doctrine and an emphasis to Christianity where God does not clean Cornelius alone because of his prayers and alms, but God has already cleaned everything. We should also understand that this vision is not just a metaphor but a straight forward instruction to Peter that nothing is common or defiled in the world. The same word is used by Christ earlier in Mathew 15:11 where Jesus says that things that go inside does not defile a person. The reason is because He has delivered us out of this world. We are expected to have standards more that these laws. We should see this in line with Hebrews 9 :23.

The understanding of the new covenant is that this world is no longer an inheritance or destiny. As per Hebrews 8:5, the old covenant and the things that the OT had defined is only a shadow. This means our life is an illusion and there is an original in heaven. The new covenant is better than the old one and is called as a better and more excellent ministry according to Hebrews 8:5 and 6. We have to note that the new covenant is based on better promises than the older ones.

The importance of this teaching is that we should not consider any person unworthy in Christ’s kingdom. Even if we do not understand the doctrine completely, we should follow this without hesitation as The Holy Spirit tell Peter who did not eat even one animal after three attempts from heaven, to go without hesitation in verse 20. We do not reject people based on religion or social statuses, but most churches do not attempt to preach to some men who are completely immersed in sin. We should understand that every person is removed of defilement and God has given opportunities to be cleansed. In Leviticus 11:11, we read that God wanted us not only to not eat these animals but to hate them. Jesus has clearly instructed us not to hate any person.

We should note that Peter called the animals unclean and common, but God instructed Peter not to call them common only. This is exactly repeated in Chapter 11 also. But God has cleansed everything. The difference between these two words is that being unclean is at our perspective and being common or defiled is at His perspective. God is so clear to us that we should not reject any person or thing believing at God’s rejection. God has declared everybody clean but we have to come forward and declare ourselves and others clean which is another process altogether. We have to grow to this process.

There is another message here in Acts 11:18, where repentance or the opportunity to become good again is a gift from God and contrary to our thoughts that if we wish to be good, we can easily come back to Christ. God has allowed this and permitted a new method of coming to Him which is by believing Jesus and not by any kind of law. Our presence here itself is a great favor God has given to us and so, we have to receive everybody else equally.

Again, Peter had to carry the gospel to Cornelius’ place and Cornelius did not come to Jerusalem or even Joppa. This shows how wide and distributed the Church is to every corner of the earth. God wants ministers to follow this method of carrying the gospel as servants. This is because Jesus wants the time to come where we can worship God everywhere according to John 4:21. God does not see where we worship Him but how we come to worship. This understanding is very important that the Church is not a place of worship but a place of discipline, corporate prayer, remembering the Lord’s sacrifice and fellowship as per Acts 2:42.

In Acts 10:33, Cornelius says that we are all here in the presence of God. This presence we feel should be understood really well. There is no place which is consecrated and always filled with the presence of God. But any place where we join together to learn about Jesus is perfectly filled with the presence of God. Personally the Holy Spirit is with us “Forever” as per John 14:16. But when any two people come together He comes and walks among us.

Amen.

Importance of Prayer

Acts 10:4 And he stared at him in terror and said, “What is it, Lord?” And he said to him, “Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God.”

In the earlier verses, we read when Cornelius was devout and his family feared God. These things please God but when we pray, these come to God’s immediate attention and He responds. We should know the effect of praying well. Cornelius was in a time where the Gospel was not opened up to the gentiles yet. Paul’s ministry has not started in full swing yet and the current leader Peter has issues with gentiles as we know how Paul had to confront Peter in Galatians 1. But because Cornelius prayed constantly and gave alms, he became the first gentile convert. It is important for us to understand that our prayers are powerful and God is listening.

According to His will

1 John 5:14 says that we can ask anything to God which are according to His will and He hears us. This confidence, we have with God. Asking things according to His will is very hard as we should understand what His will is. Bible says that His will is Holiness as in 1 Thes 4:3. For this will to happen He had to send His own begotten Son to the world. For this will, He had given us the Holy Spirit, the most precious gift of all times. If need anything that is in-line with His will, that is our pursuit of holiness, we can confidently ask God. We have to understand that Cornelius had no idea about Jesus as he was a gentile. But He gets to hear the gospel earlier than most others.

Luke 18:10-14 has a parable about two men who were praying. One was self-sufficient in righteousness and had no scope for further rectification. But the other’s prayer was very simple and pleaded God to work. It is not the Pharisee’s sin to be in that stage but his prayer was not right. Our prayers can cause our righteousness to fail if we do not pray in the right sense. Jesus said that Justification was the reason why both of them came to pray, but only one of the two received.

There is another thing to note here that God did not want Cornelius to go meet Peter, but rather Peter had to come visit him as per the angel’s instruction. This the expectation God has upon His servants. God knew Peter would not agree to Go, actually if we further read, we can see that Peter did not eat any of the animals shown in the vision and God had to convince him three times before the meeting. God sees such prayers as powerful and is shaken.

Wicked Intentions

Psalms 66:18, 1 Peter 3:12, James 4:3 and many other verses point to the fact that God does not answer prayers because of wicked intentions. Just like we know that God can hear people when they are righteous, we also know that God can completely ignore prayers from men who have evil intentions. If they are answered, then there is somebody else answering prayers. It is important for the Church to measure everything in terms of holiness. Even the devil can provide material wealth for his own plans, but God gives everything to us according to His riches in glory (Philippians 4:9).

In the same chapter verses 1 – 9 we read about persistent prayers to God so that we would receive justice. Jesus says that if we cry to God, He will surely hear and bring justice without delay. In the end Christ questions if He will find faith in earth even after living so well with this support from God. According to verse 1, losing heart is lack of faith. God has been answering our prayers in His time and we should understand that He is really doing this speedily. But still we somehow manage to complain. We can also see that the widow is asking for something that she legally owns and the enemy is trying to encroach. This prayer is important to all Christians as Jesus the husband has purchased something for us like freedom from anxiety which most of us have lost it. We need to legally own these things.

Corporate Prayers

Corporate prayer has more power as Jesus wanted us to agree in asking (Mat 18:19), like if we together agree God would answer. This has to happen especially in families where disagreement is seen the most. God does not answer our prayers about our children because of this reason. There is power in two people joining together in prayer as we see that if we gather in Jesus’ name like this church, Jesus is already here. He has given the Church authority to decide in what we want as in the same context Jesus mentions whatever you bind in earth shall be bound in heaven.

Prayer is not optional as Jesus wants us to pray continually. But not as a ritual but as a constant communication chain with God.

Amen.

Sound Doctrine : Church

Mathew 16:18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 

Just as the whole purpose of the arrival of Jesus is illustrated in Mathew 1:21 (Redemption from Sins),  the purpose of the Church is given in this verse, that is, the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. This means that the gates of hell/hades are constantly trying to bring us down, but the Church does not have the authority but the strength to prevail against the gates which try to consume.

The authority is explained in Ep 1:21-23 where Jesus elevates Himself far above all dominions and rules and keeps everything under His feet. But the Church is His own body which is elevated alongside. Now we should understand that the person who fills all in all (the creator of things and their sources) is willing to come and fill the body (Church) with Himself. When Christ has filled the Church, it should understand that everything that belongs to the world including money and properties are below its feet.

When we see ourselves as the body of Jesus, in once incident (1 Timothy 3:15) Paul calls the Church as the household of God (Family) where the Church has to be seen with reverence. The Church should stand as a pillar and support of the Truth. This means that the Church may lose anything of the world but the Truth should be held tightly or otherwise, the divine plan and will of God cannot be executed in this world.

Church vs Temple

The Temple had an entirely different purpose than a Church. The purpose of the temple is seen in Exodus 25:8,9 where God wants to live among them. We can understand that our places are so unclean that God cannot come and live inside us. So, God wanted us to create a sanctuary which is consecrated so that He could come and live among us.

The Church is something that God built for us so that we could survive the earth. The beneficiary of the temple is God as we offer sacrifices and surrender ourselves there. In the Church we are being built up. In Ephesians 5:23, we read that Christ is the savior of the body. In 1 Corinthians 12:13, we read that the Spirit has constructed the body.

The temple collected taxes whereas the Church did not. The Church collected offerings as one wills and desires. 2 Corinthians 9:5,6,7 explains how the offerings should be given to the Church and Saints. 1 Corinthians 16:1-3 we read how the Corinthian church would collect for the Saints/Church in Jerusalem which was under persecution.

The Bible says that we are the temple of God in Ephesians 2:19-22. When more than one temples come together we become a Church. We have to revere both the Temple and the Church in this time keeping our bodies clean and the Church productive.

Purpose of the Church

The Church is not a place of worship or a place of prayer but a place of Edification. A place where a person is being built up as per Ephesians 4:11,12,13. Contrary to today’s standards there is no ministry of prayer or ministry of worship which is a mandatory part of everybody’s lives. The following verses (15) say that the Church should grow up into the Head. Verse 16 says that love should grow and so it will build the person up into Christ.

Responsibilities in the Church

The church does not appoint priests, but elders, Overseers and Deacons. The designation of an Elder is to shepherd the flock. The Elder should not dominate but be an example as per 1 Peter 5:1-5. Overseers and Deacons are instructed in 1 Timothy 3. None of these designations are given based on talents or inheritance but based on their lives.

Priests perform rituals but these people lead others towards Christlikeness. There is a major difference and we should not look at our elders as priests.

Unity

According to 1 Cor 10:17 we all partake of the one bread, Jesus.  This makes us all equal and according to Ephesians 3:6, no castes, races or nationality brings any difference in the Church.

Edify Together: 1 Cor 14:26 says that all the gifts should be used to build one another.

Communion:  1 Cor 11:23-26.

Sings together: Ephesians 5:18-21

Disciplines Together: Mathew 18:17.

Authority of the Church

                Just as it is hard for hades to overcome the Church, it is very easy for the Church to enter heaven as it has the keys. The key is the Holy Spirit as per Ephesians 1:13. So, living a Holy life for us and edifying ourselves to perfection should be as easy as holding and using a key with the strength of the Holy Spirit. But Satan has deceived us in seeing Jesus, His Church and His Eternal Gift differently. Let us have a sound understanding of the Church.

Sound Doctrine: God

Titus 2:1 But as for you, speak the things which are fitting for sound doctrine.

Introduction:

The gospel is the truth that makes us worthier candidates for the Kingdom of God and gives us authority to become sons of God. It is like a door which is opened up for us so that we can go inside the Kingdom of God without being worthy in any way. But we cannot stay unworthy and the Bible expects us to become pure and holy as we mature. For this we need a sound doctrine to understand and follow. This doctrine keeps us from confusion and deviation. The word “sound” or “healthy” shows that the new born person has be become healthier spiritually.

Definition

1 Timothy 6:3 and 4 defines what a sound doctrine is. It is a doctrine which transforms us into godliness that is the image of God. Every teaching in the church should have this sole purpose. We can transcribe Sound Doctrine as “God, teaching about God, to bring us towards God”. 2 John 1:9 excludes everybody who do not abide in this teaching from being with any relationship with God.  

Why?

In Luke 1:4, the author explains why this gospel was written: that the reader will be certain of things he was taught. 2 Timothy 4:3 shows how the current generation will want teachings to be made in the Church. A sound doctrine or understanding of the scriptures in very much required for the church in this time. Titus 1:9 explains that a sound doctrine keeps the church away from confusion.

Doctrine about Trinity

The Trinity is the most misunderstood teaching in Christianity. We think God as a human being who cannot be in three persons. We have to understand Him not as 1 + 1 + 1 = 3 but rather 1 x  1 x 1 = 1. This means that Jesus is fully a product of the Father and so is the Holy Spirit. With this understanding, if we look at our Lord, our reverence will increase to the highest.

God the Father is “God in Heaven”, Jesus is “God with us” and the Holy Spirit is “God in us” as per Ephesians 4:6. We read the Trinity during the baptism of Jesus where Jesus was baptized, the Holy Spirit came upon Him and the Father was pleased in heaven. We also read the Trinity in Ephesians 2:22 where we are being built on Jesus by the Holy Spirit for God the Father to come and dwell.

The more important understanding of the Trinity is that we cannot understand Him fully in our minds. If we can, then we are limiting Him and are seeing that He has boundaries. He is God because He is beyond my understanding.

Doctrine about God, the Father

The first thing we should understand about God is in Rev 4:8 which says that the Almighty God was, is and will come as Holy, Holy and Holy. The emphasis here is that He is holy and clean than every person or thing ever is and He is almighty to stay Holy and to come in Holiness. Unless we revere Him in this attitude we are worshipping a false God who just helps us in times of trouble or just is a super-powerful magician. 

We do not know all the attributes of God as our mind is very limited to understand Him. But the Bible reveals some as He is Spirit (John 4:24), Light (1 John 1:5), Love (1 John 4:8), Peace (Judges 6:24), Perfect (Mathew 5:48), etc. If God is a spirit, He has no flesh in Him that connects Him to sin. Purity in its highest form is the image we should have about God.

Doctrine on Christ

Jesus is the only begotten Son of God. Many of us see Jesus only as 100% divine and having powers and a solution provider. This is true and has to be accepted. Jesus accepted worship according to many verses like Mathew 14:33. Angels and humans should not be worshipped but Jesus did. We should understand that Jesus is God Himself but is addressed as the Son of God because of his arrival here. We read that in Luke 1:35.

But primarily Jesus addressed Himself as Son of Man because He wants us to see him as 100% human. More than Jesus wants us to worship, He wants us to follow Him. To become human, we read that Jesus emptied Himself (Phil 2:6,7). We also read that He grew in wisdom (Luke 2:40,52). Jesus conquered Sin and death completely and thus Satan’s head was crushed. We got saved by this one single victory. We cannot attain life unless we believe in this victory. This is why Jesus said I am the way, the truth and the life. We may understand that Jesus could not sin because He is the Son of God, but we read in John 6:38 that Jesus had a will different than that of the Father, but chose to do the Father’s because of His love towards us. We see that will when Jesus pleads to the Father at Gethsemane.

Doctrine about the Holy Spirit

We should understand that God is Spirit meaning, the Holy Spirit is God Himself coming to live inside us. He deserves this honor and that’s why in Mathew 12:31, Jesus speaks how unpardonable it is to speak against the Holy Spirit. He is not just a power or feeling, but a person living inside us encouraging, comforting, disciplining and bringing to remembrance as per John 16:13-14.

We should not look at the Spirit for or in signs as Jesus never did. He wanted us to see the Holy Spirit as a most precious and the highest gift (Luke 11:13) that God has given mankind so that we can live. If we do not honor or listen to Him, we are wasting our lives in unwanted things.

Being a Disciple

Acts 9:10 Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.”

The term disciple is defined as “one who learns from his master”. A disciple is much more than a believer who believes or trusts his master or a follower who may bluntly follow. But a disciple learns skills and is educated and wants to become as successful and talented as his master. A disciple is different from a believer who has the right to become sons of God. But a disciple is different who follows Jesus with intentions to learn from Him. All believers are not disciples as they might live their life but just believe in Jesus as per Luke 14:26,27. All disciples are not believers as Judas did not trust in Jesus but was a disciple as per John 12:4.

All believers have the assurance of heaven as per many verses like John 3:16. But we should understand from John 8:31,32 that a believer has to become a disciple in order to be freed. According to Mathew 18:18, there will be bound souls in heaven and Mathew 6:19,20 where we can go to heaven without treasures. We have to understand that we can go to heaven but inheriting heaven is another thing as per Mathew 5:3 and 10.

In Chapter 9, we read about three persons who were identified as disciples: Ananias (v 10), Paul (v 26) and Tabitha (v 36). There is another person in Acts 16:1 who is Timothy. This meditation gives us a study on these disciples as the term disciple has changed a lot since the resurrection of Christ. Before that, there was a disciple who wanted to go bury his father in Mathew 8:21 and Judas Iscariot was called a disciple in John 12:4. But after the Holy Spirit was given, these four men had displayed wonderful signs in their lives so that they are named as disciples.

Looking at Ananias, we learn that he responded “Here I am, Lord” which shows how available he was to Christ. The Greek original says “Behold me, Lord” which shows a disciple who in his sub-consciousness is eager that the master might use him. We can see this term in 1 Samuel 3 where Samuel would omit the word “Lord” when responding to God but when he addresses Eli, who he sees as his boss, he would say “Here I am”. Ananias is the only person we read in the New Testament who uses this term.

When Paul refers to Ananias in Acts 22:12, he mentions that Ananias is a devout man according to the law and had very good reputation among Jews who were against Christ. Paul uses this quality as a defense in his trail in Acts 22. In Verse 14 we see Ananias who is a good Jew also using his faith in elevating Jesus. This is a true student’s attitude in loving his new faith through all his knowledge. When Jesus answers Ananias about his doubt on Paul’s conversion, Jesus does not mention that Paul is a good convert now, but He mentions His plans about Paul and that excites Ananias who when immediately and baptized Paul.

In verse 26, we read Saul (Paul)’s enthusiasm in showing off his new faith amount Hellenists. This was not useful to the Church but we should understand How Paul has received the gospel. In short we read about Paul’s thirst in Philippians 3:10 where Paul wants to share in Christ’s sufferings and even death so that he could live.

Verse 36 speaks about Tabitha who was full of good works and charity. This is a sign of a disciple who learns from the Lord. Being full of a good works explains that she wanted to share at every given opportunity. We read in the following verses that widows were showing Peter clothes which the woman had made with them. This shows that she was teaching widows skills for them to learn. This person wanted to be useful and that’s why the other disciples after she died came and prayed that she might live now. We do not often see such useful people in our congregation now.

In Acts 16:1, we read about Timothy who was a disciple and had good reputation among the brothers in Lystra and Iconium. That’s why Paul wanted Timothy to accompany him. We also read that despite Paul’s strong teaching and understanding about circumcision not being mandatory, we still have timothy circumcised because it was easy to speak with Jews that way. A disciple is willing to lose anything for his principles.

When Jesus gave the great commission in Mathew 28:19,20, we see that Jesus wants us to make others as disciples. This is in-line with Acts 1:8 where we live as testimonies. This means that our life should influence others to come to Jesus for learning not salvation alone. Let us understand that a disciple is not a complete person, but a person who is willing to submit himself to learn life from Christ.

Amen.

Fear and Comfort

Acts 9:31 So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied.

A church after edification, gives the first signs of walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit. Since the term walking is used here, we should understand that it progressed or lived with these characteristics. But here, “walking” is attributed to the Church and so, we have to understand that the Church, the whole body was walking. It should be understood that even if one person is not walking or progressing, the whole body is stuck and the Church is not edified properly. We should all remember that the whole body is progressing together. When we speak about walking, it means about following Jesus Christ as in Mathew 4:19. But we have to be in pace with Jesus or otherwise the distance between Him and us will be very far away.

The fear of the Lord is very much necessary as a person grows. This should be seen in families where children may not fear when they are very young but as they grow, the respect grows. If there is no fear or respect, the children are obviously spoilt. As in Psalms 111:10, wisdom starts with fear and a good understanding shows obedience very clearly. If we still are disobedient in any way, the Bible clearly says that we are fools as in Proverbs 1:7. When a person understands God or is edified or has grown well, clearly he would never show off or hurt others. Humbleness is a clear sign of grown up person. As in Proverbs 14:26, confidence on God increases and the Children are in a safe refuge when the leader or pastor fears God. The verse says that fear brings forth life as a fountain. We read a similar verse in Job 4:6.

The magnificence of God has to be understood clearly by the Church and it should understand how glorious its position with God is. As per Psalms 33:8, the world should stand in awe looking at the Lord. Psalms 47:2 says that the Lord is a great king over all the earth and is to be feared. Is 12:6 wants us to shout with joy because of the Lord who is with us.

As in Col 3:22, we should express our fear of the Lord in every work that we do and not just in ministry. The verse says that true fear of the Lord will remove iniquity from the heart and not just from our actions. When we fear the Lord more and as we mature, iniquity from our heart would disappear like a servant who obeys his master wholeheartedly.

Comfort from the Holy Spirit is mostly understood that He comforts us because of our sin and guilt. But the verses John 14:15,16 and 26 if we read slowly, the comforted leads us into obedience. Looking at the radiance of His Glory (Jesus Christ), we should have feared the Lord and understood that we cannot attain righteousness without strength from the Lord. The comforter would come and guide us slowly and steadily into righteousness and not just a comforter who consoles us. We cannot understand comfort from the Lord unless we fear Him. Even in 2 Corinthians 1:3,4,5 we read that the comfort is given to us as we share in Christ’s sufferings.

In John 16:7,8 the Holy Spirit is a comforter who disciplines us. Verses 12 and 13 give us more clarity that we cannot handle the word of the Lord, but the Holy Spirit would guide and reveal them to us. This is the comfort God gives us. That is why in John 14:27, Jesus says that Peace I leave with you and not as the world gives. This peace comes from disciplining. The church was more disciplined and was sharing in the sufferings of the Lord and so was comforted by the Lord.

In John 14 and 16, we read clearly that Jesus expects us to love Him and if we love Him, we shall not be in fear.  This is the balance we need in Christian walking. Satan would try to make us think ourselves either as very holy and perfect or very unworthy. The Church needs to be clearly in this balance. In Ephesians 5:2,8,15 when we walk we walk in love, light and wisdom.

Amen.