Acts Chapter 10:7-23

With the next chapter to God using Peter to reach out to the Jewish people within acts chapter 8 God using Peter to reach out to the people of Samaria that was an accepted him God using Peter to reach out multiple the world because that is what you're supposed to not just Peter were supposed verse by verse. They Monday for the heart welcome to cross the bridge with David McGee. David is a senior pastor of the bridge in Kernersville, North Carolina.

What does God call his people to do. For one, the body of Christ should not be fighting against one another. If anything, we should work together to reach the world with the gospel today pastor David explains the importance of the church. Working together, as he continues the book of acts chapter 10. Now here's David McGee part two of his teaching away to live.

Turn with me to the book of acts acts chapter 10 verse seven is when the angel who spoke to him. Cornelius had departed. Cornelius called two of his household servant and a devout soldier from among those who waited on him continually. So when he had explained all these things to them. He sent them to Joppa the next day as they went on their journey and drew near the city. Peter went up on the house top to pray about the sixth hour. Then he became very hungry and wanted to eat while they made ready, he fell into a trance and saw heaven opened an object like a great sheet bounded the four corners, descending to him and went down to the earth and it will all kinds of four-footed animals of the erstwhile beast, creeping things and birds of the air, and a voice came to him last Peter Kelly. But Peter said not so bored. I have never eaten anything common or unclean. That verse needs a little explanation.

There in the Hebrew Scriptures.

What we refer to as Old Testament we call the Hebrew Scriptures here for obvious reasons.

It talks about the fact that the Jewish people were to eat certain foods and they were not to eat certain foods, some of the things that it speaks of her. One would be someone would be shellfish oyster shrimp, crab, lobster with sorts of things in my like all I love those things well there, tasty but here's the reality bottom feeders. They hang out at the bottom of the ocean and they eat whatever is at the bottom of the ocean so you know they may carry diseases and bacteria, and they also spoil quickly.

That's what occasionally pick up the paper and somatic remaining oysters.

That's an indicator is perhaps not good for you that this bacteria would build up in that I try to eat healthy and I'll tell you why it's not just so you know I get to hang around Earth longer. I just and go see Jesus today but the reason I do that is because I've noticed that when i.e. healthy.

I have more stamina and I have a lot to do in the days are long and that sort of thing. I have more stamina to do what I do and so the Bible talks about the temple of the Lord. And so I try to eat try to eat well. Another one is pork that it discusses that we shouldn't eat pork. Now, I occasionally eat pork. I don't need a lot of it and again, not necessarily just physically but you need and don't just take my word for this, you can go out and you can explore these things. You can research the things, but there was a reason for these things. So can you eat whatever sure you should use them some wisdom, I got to tell her some heavy you were dealing with food and start my food retirement. Look at verse 15 and the voice spoke to him again the second time what God is cleansed, you must not call, was studying and reading and I read this verse several times, a smile, came over my face because those of us here this morning you've asked Jesus to forgive us of her sin. We been cleanse were no longer unclean.

I know that sometimes I refer to us as sinners, but because, well, in fact, after we asked Jesus to forgive us ever since we we still mess up, but God sees us the same. Once you asked Jesus to forgive you of your sins, God sees you as clean as pure as forgive any see some of the people that are seated around you right now is clean as pure. So what God has called clean. Be careful that you don't called unclean or impure. Chapter 10 again is this pivotal political point and I don't think we can even appreciate the significance of that.

Imagine imagine if you were in Jerusalem overlooking the Temple, he thought, man. I would like to go into that holy of holies to worship God is understand that's where the presence of the Lord your signature and with a friend, a friend of one highwayman is going there got a Jewish okay.

I wish I was Jewish, so I could go in there to the holy, holy way said about his Jewish yet but it's more than the other Jewish tribe of Levi. Okay so I wish I was Jewish, and I wish I was a probably box so that I could go in there I met why we gotta be Jewish to be of the tribe of Levi Miller family of Aaron to go in there okay so I wish I was Jewish, was so strongly about our chosen family man talking on claimant is increasing going when any operation going there okay so wish I was Jewish, which is probably not chosen family of Aaron shows how pre-sucking on it what what what what you're going to want to hear younger pork. David okay so I wish I was Jewish, which was probably not chosen family man wish I was high priest and I wish it was that one day you're going. We might not. Did any of us think of any of these things as we walked in the door. This was probably not probably not. But this is what's been provided to us. We been grafted in, and I don't think we really stop and ponder the significance of that often enough.

We owe a debt to the Jewish people in the Bible has a lot to say about this Jewishness of our faith in God, we have to understand the Jewish people look at two thirds of the same Bible that we do. They speak of the same.how we get to that maybe plain how we get to that God is very different. They most to the most part the day rejected Jesus as the Messiah Yeshua not all we have some in this very fellowship. I received your shoe as their Messiah Jesus. Jesus is his Greek name Joshua was the name they called him a neighbor. We need to understand this because you know as I discover these things. I felt like I'd been ripped off as the Bible really came alive to me and I discover these things. I was like why didn't anybody ever tell me.

Well, there's a lot of reasons for that local talk about them a little bit this morning but God foresaw a time when he would reach out to Gentiles may explain the Gentiles we now define that word as non-Jewish people. Okay, in the Bible that were Gentile literally means out of worship that was our background to understand Abraham before God calling came from a family that made also. That's not that bizarre but God knew Isaiah 55 classes.

Surely you shall call a nation you do not know, and nations do not know.

You shall run the because of the Lord your God in the holy one of Israel, for he has glorified God in this passage a lot of other passages look for it and Saul that he was going to open to the Gentiles to the worshipers the opportunity for us to have a relationship with him. But understand the way that it comes about, wrote in the book of Romans pulses say, then, has God cast away his people. Certainly not for I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham of the tribe of Benjamin. God has not cast away his people whom he for new reason I read that real slow is you will find Christians that will tell you God is completely finished with that is not what the Bible says.

I mean it. It's hard to misunderstand that it that's what the Bible says he's not finished. He's not cast them away and I've had discussions with people in and they border on bizarre because it will okay what they were God's people. But then lately acted poorly. Now they're not God's people anymore. That's the relationship you won't God that anytime you act poorly.

Maybe you missed service renowned artist John that's not the relationship I have with fall. Romans 1118 says this, do not boast against the branches. But if you do boast.

Remember that you do not support the route but the root support you in the back and read this whole chapter 1 of the problems in the church that was wrong as they were distancing themselves from managers, root also don't know it, the same Paul that said, you don't have to in a ghostly circumcising.

You don't have to go through eating the right foods and all these other things but all don't walk away from your Jewish roots completely don't miss the point that Jesus was a Jew. The disciples were Jewish men that most of this book set up a short passage from Nebuchadnezzar, and in the gospel of Luke in the book of acts, which was written by Luke as are the only Gentiles non-Jewish people that wrote any part of the Bible, and yet historically the biggest enemy of the Jewish people has been the church bazaar amended claims of they kill Jesus. What actually kill Jesus. Our sins kill Jesus where the Jewish leadership were they involved absolutely where the Romans, yes, the Romans were Gentiles, Hebrews, both involved.

We need to understand these things can see something happen.

Historically that you probably need to be made aware of in Rome as under Constantine the persecution lifted Christianity not become the state religion are constant hear people say that that's not historically corrected, came the state religion under Theodosius. It was another but one of the things they intentionally set out to do with distance Christianity from his Jewish roots. That is the time up until that time.

The fees for still celebrate after that time, the feast Christianity separated the 7 feet they show so much about Jesus and the again they tie Scripture. The Scripture and is just an interesting study to see the picture of Jesus and all the space but then what they did is a second, we don't have the seven Jewish feast anymore will will want to do some of her own and introduce some some that we consider Christian help please. What I'm about to say requires about okay so I'll try to put it in a balanced way.

Christmas is not necessarily it doesn't necessarily have have its roots in Christianity has its roots in Roman paganism and they combined this Roman pagan holiday with some Christian talents, the feast of Saturnalia. They used to get drunk needs to give gifts sound familiar. That's reality.

Okay now we use as an opportunity celebrate the birth of Christ. That's awesome. I think at that time.

We also need to remember that not only did he come and he was born but he also died.

He was also resurrected its roots? I still celebrate Christmas. I'm always going celebrate what is going be about Jesus not about the gifts about the parties and we have Easter right. While certainly at a Christian holiday. Not in it roots and again.

Don't just take my word for it, then do a little research.

It's pagan in its origin. Even the name Easter is from the Babylonian word Ishtar okay and it was eight.

It was a fertility right they went through in other words, at that time about what they would do is have all this wife swapping and in them nine months later, the big-budget kids run around here wonder where the bunny came from what that whole thing is about. You make the connection.

If you don't get it. Asked somebody else I'm not bunnies make lots of money so and in the attic wondered about that which the newness of life.

Well remember the roots are pagan fertility holiday is that mean were not going celebrate Easter here that were in some ways. Remember the resurrection of Jesus.

That's why you'll hear the phrase a lot of times here. Resurrection Sunday that her name than Easter. This is direct fruit of us: our roots and cut our roots from Jerusalem and attaching them that the Greek mindset the Greek philosophy. These pagan holidays that don't get mad at me just try to ruin two of your best times a year.

Don't I'm just giving you information that you should have and understand the danger of distancing ourselves from the Jewish roots of Christianity. Now I am not talking about adopting a system of legalism whereby we earn our way to God. That's not biblical not talking about I'm talking about recognizing the Christianity has Jewish roots you're listening to Pastor David McGee on cross the bridge will be right back with more just a moment, but I want to remind you of the free resources available to you on cross the bridge.com there's a team of hundreds of people that will pray for somebody to be saved. You have a loved one that needs to know Jesus as Savior.

You need people to preform. You need someone to present God's word to them every day were present in God's virtual here on cross the bridge with Pastor David McGee. We can play for them as well. Just by simply going to cross the bridge.com and click on the pray for the lost button. All you need to do is put in the first names of the people you love, that need to know Jesus as Savior. Click on submit and immediately hundreds of people begin praying for your lost loved ones. What an awesome way to bring your loved ones to Jesus. Here's a word from associate pastor DA Brown want to take just a minute to pray for some cities in our listening audience. Specifically, York, Pennsylvania and Bluffton, Charleston, Columbia, Conway, Florence and Greenville, South Carolina, Lord, thank you for the people living in the cities or thank you for what you're doing there.

We prayed that your Holy Spirit would pour out and draw many people until personal, intimate relationship with Jesus father that people would put their trust in you receive your forgiveness and get plugged into local Bible teaching church give the pastor's discernment and wisdom on how to bless and leave these people father or we pray that we walk in unity we pray for the city leaders that you would bless and give them wisdom. The mayor, the fire chiefs. The police chief father Lord, that we would being admirable servants of you, so that people might see our unity and want a relationship with you. Also, only love.

We thank you for these people and us in Jesus name we pray. Amen, amen.

Thank you brother and now get back to David McGee as he continues teaching verse by verse. Verse 16 says this was done three times in the object was taken up in the heaven again three times you know when you read things like this and and maybe before you started coming here, you were a normal, well-adjusted Christian that everything like that. Go with me but it's interesting that God wanted him to get in. It took three times watch this again were going to do the whole sheet whole animal thing again so that you begin the encourages me.

The fact that God will and he is willing to sit and show you something 3󬱜90. I'm grateful for the got is that patient statistics suggest that the average American before he receives Jesus as a singer. Here's the gospel. Seven.

7.aren't you glad God's patient and I know for many of us it was the first time we heard it.

That will received it. God loves us. One of the other reasons they got said three times is God was breaking down the walls of mission. There were well-established in life. God loves to break down walls of tradition. I don't have any problem with tradition and a sense I can enjoy a traditional service I can enjoy a pipe organ in a week victory in Jesus somewhat of traditional him alone. The problem I have is when tradition gets in the way of people having a relationship with the Lord.

I think far too often the church is overdosed on tradition at the sake of not presenting the gospel in loving people. We need to be careful a lot of traditions that we create people from the Lord. We need to be careful about verse 17 N. Peter wondered within himself what this vision which he had seen men the whole man who had been sent from Cornelius and made inquiry for Simon's house and stood before the gate just a refresher. Peter is in Joppa it's a city outside of Tel Aviv. Cornelius is in Syria now will computers toothless areas in Scripture, Sarah Phillippi, which is in the hills and then Syria merit team where it doesn't say for Sarah Phillippi. It insinuates it's a serif merit team of horses are about to see so this is necessary merit team and this is cesarean and and there's another historical unit for Sarah a lot of stuff Paul talked there Peter was there. Paul goes before leadership fair-haired was there. It's a real place. These places are in the Bible are just made up the real place you can walk around them. You can see there's something about understanding that they really exist. It's very powerful verse 18 and they called and asked whether Simon, whose surname was Peter was watching the and while Peter thought about the vision the spirits. I have said to him, hold three men are seeking allies therefore go down and go with them doubting nothing for have sent them. Then Peter went down to the men who had been sent to him from Cornelius and said yes I am. He whom you see. For what reason have you cup this is not something you see the confirming work of God is speaking to Conejos speaking of Peter. At the same time, yes, and that's all the Lord the Holy Spirit operate and be real careful, sometimes because people will come up. You know, say hey you know what I think you need to go do this and you never felt that you've never heard that and I can become really dangerous. You may think will that's where that never happens. It happens all the time people label prophecy. They go pray for so many good brother you're supposed to do this you're supposed to have X number of characters was to live in this house and do all kinds of bizarre stuff. Here's the problem if you're bringing it to that person for the first time is probably what short version, prayerfully considered, especially you know the person they seem like a mature person, but more often it's a confirming word alone, though story the guy comes to an old preacher and he goes pastor last night so I pray for me and they set them first to go to Africa to be mission pastor said well you feel like you're supposed to go Africa before a break for it is no is what should go faster so well if you go to Africa. He undertaken with you to know it was time to go. You know when it's time to come home sooner taken when was 22 and they said, Cornelius the centurion, a just man, one who fears God has a good reputation among all the nations of the Jews was divinely instructed by a holy angel to summon you to his house and hear words from you. Then he invited the men and lodge them on the next day Peter went away with them in some brother and from Joppa accompanied him you don't read it slowly you miss something Peter invited them to stay that may not have significance and you know why because you're not aware, some of the Jewishness of the Bible Jewish people were not supposed to hang out with Gentiles now understand there's a reason for that will discuss the next week, but they were supposed to hang out with both politically and romantically. Nelly took it way too far. Understand this is the deal if you were Jewish merchant you're walking down the street you see sunlight.

It's not yours coming toward you. You would go across the street to the very edge to avoid them thank you didn't want to eat any food that traveled on a wagon that went through Gentile dirt was then considered unclean and if you walking on the street and you touch that person was a Gentile, you immediately went home and your close and took a bath and until you did those things you unclean Peter invited him to stay. Why did Peter do that.

Peter love the Lord.

We see in acts chapter 2 God using Peter to reach out to the Jewish people we see in acts chapter 8 God using Peter to reach out to the people of Samaria that we see in acts chapter 10 God using Peter to reach out ultimately the world because that is what you're supposed to do, not just Peter were supposed to do somehow works can't be good enough to come to God.

Nobody can be that good. Peter wasn't good enough to come to God to come to Jesus based on his own merit his own work. Paul was not good enough to come to God based on his own work. Peter and Paul.

You and friend don't stand a chance except Jesus died that we could be forgiven. Friend, you know for sure that your sins have been forgiven. You can know right now own Legion. A short simple prayer simply telling God you're sorry and asking him to help you to live for him. Please pray this prayer with me out loud right now. Dear Jesus, I believe you died for me that I could be forgiven and I believe you were raised from the dead that I can have a new life not done wrong things I have sent and I'm sorry. Please forgive me of all those things.

Please give me the power to live for you. All of my days in Jesus name, amen it friend of you prayed that prayer according to the Bible you've been forgiven you've been born again, so congratulations for you just made the greatest decision that you will ever make.

God bless you, if you prayed that prayer with David for the first time we'd love to hear from you visit, cross the bridge.com and click on God's plan for new life to receive our first steps package with helpful resources to help you begin your walk with Christ. God wants to bless you and encourage your relationships today. Whether you are married, considering marriage or engaged to be married. We have a resource for you pastor David wants to send you his four part video series allies stay friends. Allow God to minister to your marriage through his word today. This was an unforgettable weekend that encouraged many marriages and you and your spouse can be encouraged to allies stay friends is our thanks for your generous gift today to help more people here God's truth on this station and beyond, so they can cross the bridge from death to life.

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David McGee those are terrific and it's easy and it's free so folks sign up today, cross the bridge.com. Thanks again for listening and join us next time.

As David McGee continues teaching verse by verse through the book of acts