Acts Chapter 10:24-29

Our life should be built around the things the love and serve God to love and serve others. The show and tell others about Jesus now included in this is coming into a relationship with God worshiping God and in learning about God, but you know Jesus himself said all the law things on these two things love God and love others as yourself. If we did this as a believer we would be impacting the world in a much more significant way than real welcome to cross the bridge with David McGee. David is a senior pastor of the bridge in Kernersville, North Carolina. As Christians we live in action faith, not one that's just sitting around, one that impacting the world today pastor David explains what this faith looks like. As he continues teaching the book of acts chapter 10.

Now here's David McGee with his teaching church expand in the book of acts and what's happening at this point it's a very historic chapter acts chapter 10 is historic in the sense that until now. Those who wanted to trust in Jesus have been Jewish and there were some told Hebrew speaking Jews and there was Hellenized or Greek speaking Jews, but only Jewish people in the church.

Up to this point and something more important to us, but they were proselytizer they converted to Judaism and then join the church but again, chapter 10 changes everything, because what happens is Cornelius, a man up in this area which is a very real town, you can visit there today he has his vision any send some friends down the talk to Peter who Peter at the same time as having this vision about opening the church up opening in and telling others about Jesus Christ and again. It's hard for us to comprehend what the Jewish people thought about the Gentile may make. They thought they were unclean. They thought they were horrible. They would hang out with Emily when touchingly walking others on the street and the Gentiles thought that the Jewish people were just religious elitists to work glorifying God in their lives and and so that's kind of the set up so there's a lot of walls that need to be broken down and and so were really pickup is verse 24 where these men from Cornelius have gone the Peter Peter has joined with them and now they're going to back to see Cornelius verse 24 is in the following day they entered to Syria.

Cornelius was waiting for them and it called together his relatives and close friends and I like this analyte Cornelius.

Cornelius and I were told in early in this chapter is a devout man.

He was a good man is prayerful. Manny helped out the poor and yet will work in a C in Chapter 11 that he was not saved. He did not have a relationship with Jesus. He had not yet asked for the forgiveness of sins now and again these are real places that drop this area and still exist to this day. But look, Cornelius says have called together his relatives and close friends truly cool and it was really awesome is to see that happen in here and and we don't expect you to get your friends all cleaned up or get your family acting right before you get a mere mean that it happened with any of us that it mean we got here and then got started changing our lives into the church isn't somewhere you go when you have it all figured out, and you're doing everything right. It's when you go when you don't have everything figured out and things aren't going well. That's the very place you want to.

I came across an interesting statistic that suggests that 40% of people who don't believe in Jesus are open to having conversations about Jesus and about 40%. 4/10 now when you hear that statistic using all no way I think there is a way you know I'm surea lot had a lot of conversations with people and it's been by far the rare exception that somebody will turn means that you and I absolutely do not want to talk about any of there's an openness that what we do without openness is the question. See, because if there's 40% that are open to having that conversation and were not pursuing those conversations were not doing what Jesus told us to do.

We need to be busy about his business. The key verse in the book of acts, and will refer back to a lot. Acts chapter 1 verse eight says that you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon and you shall be witnesses to me in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the end of the earth. We should be making a difference.

Now, according to the Bible. Our life should be making a difference, not, not just as a church. Corporately, that's true, but also as individuals we should be making a difference. Maybe sitting there while I'm kinda overwhelmed that we tell your story was down, it is North Myrtle Beach shows that some beat and some storm. It happened in May between a biologist or somebody could explain this a little more, but there were grasshoppers on the server and and they were drowned they were died so I went around picking up the grasshoppers and put them back in the seagrass M looking down the beach and there's just I don't know there's thousands of but Grab annulment and put them in the and you know, nor was like what you know and I said well you know saving these grasshoppers and maybe you shouldn't go pastor David is the most idiotic thing I've ever you're going all unit will was not an important thing to do. I can only tell you that the grasshopper that I picked up. It was very important. It was very important.

Some your friends and family are waiting for an invitation to come to church with and there certain things you will come with church women will go out to lunch or come to church when I meet you outside or I'll come pick you up those little things I can make a huge difference they can make a huge difference and we want to consciously reach out to people that there is a life lesson we are supposed to impact the world with our faith and again we try to do as we try to teach you how to do that, we try to walk with you that your down that road. We want to make sure on Sunday morning to let you know. You're sure that there's going to be an effective presentation of the gospel every Sunday morning so that you can bring these people. That's what we have these cards in these Evite's and all these things and together we can build an environment to love these people in the Senate. Jesus is very concerned about two things about us reaching people and what we do with them when they come.

How we respond to them how we treat and how we love that's very important you know in and so you know we got the greeters and that the parking lot attendants and in the guest services want to level the people when you bring them because work will represent and Jesus ago remember that next time there and meet and greet will represent Jesus look around the room fingers not being greeted.

She's got a standoff to themselves and make it a point to go to them and say amen. I'm so glad you're here just can make all the difference.

Verse 25. As Peter was coming in Cornelius management fell down at his feet and worshiped Peter listed in Moxie and stand up.

I myself am also a man now when it says he worshiped them. It's a word in the Greek that could in fact mean, worship, and it might also mean reverence and in in Roman practices. You often would now yourself before somebody that was of a higher authority than you.

That could have been the case and in Peter being a Jewish person may not of been familiar with that but notice what he says. He says get out, don't do this, don't do this now need to understand our spiritual leaders are people they eat they sleep.

They need time to do those things they mess up sometimes they the real people need to understand that in Cornelius. I'm not sure he understands you know oftentimes we put I think unrealistic expectations on people in ministry and not speaking to myself. Specifically, I'm just saying in general and be careful that be careful putting people on a pedestal is God's only when it needs to be worshiped and elevated and stuff like that and obviously it's interesting. Cornelius does this to Peter Peterson's don't do but look what one section of the church is done the Peter St. Peter name elevated elevating to the point that you know St. Peter's Basilica in Rome as people come by the kisses big toe and so many people kisses big toe that it's worn off. You think Peter would be okay with that as I read this I don't think he would be in and let me be honest. I got no desire to kiss Peter's big time.

I mean he's obviously an awesome brother. I look forward to meeting him when we all get there but to some his big toe is weird, but that's part of the thing. Roman Catholicism also says that Peter was the first pope got interesting as Peter was married, Peter was married. I mean, did God know Peter was married when he made info. I don't know I'm kidding God's. God knew he was married I give you the reference in case you ever need it. Luke chapter 4 verse 38 is now. He arose from the synagogue and entered Simon's house, Simon Peter, but Simon's wives mother was sick with a high fever and they made request of him concerning you got a mother-in-law you know what that means major married manger married his wife's mother and I heard the nonsense that that's not what it means. But that is what it means. And so Peter was married 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 pray for 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 needs 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 love once 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, in Greenville, South Carolina, Lord, thank you for the people living in the cities, Lord, 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 a local Bible teaching church get the pastor's discernment and wisdom on how to bless and lead these people father or we pray that we walk in unity we pray for the city leaders that you would bless them 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 27, and as he talked with him. He went out and found many who would come together again Cornelius, gathered up his friends got them all together. Verse 28 then he said to them, you know how unlawful it is for a Jewish man to keep company with a go to one of another nation. But God assured me that I should not call any man common or unclean previously in this chapter Peter has this vision when he is hungry on the rooftop of looking at all these animals that were unclean in God is saying you know what the they're not unclean. Don't call anything common that what God is cleanse you must not call common is version 15. And so Peter's being taught this lesson so he shows up and he's been taught this but notice the parallel he makes. He says in this verse I should not call any man, or unclean. We went over this last week, but there were animals that you weren't supposed to eat in the Hebrew Scriptures and there were animals that it was okay that eat and we talked about the fact that it goes into great detail in the book of Leviticus is, to the question of how far back does clean and unclean animals.

It goes past the book of Leviticus past Abraham all the way back to know because there's a person there. Genesis chapter 7 verse two says this is God speaking to Noah and he says you shall take with you. Seven.

Each of every clean animal, a male and his female to each of animals that are unclean, a male and his female seven of the clean to clean how did Noah know God told way back then, God revealed to Noah was clean and what was unclean, so it's not only part of the Levitical law book of Leviticus goes into more details about this, but it goes back to know now let's understand that this issue of separation to because there's something that we can we can learn from this.

Why did God tell the Jewish people to be separated from the Gentile. What was go back remember what Gentile means literally which we interpret it now. Is anybody this non-Jewish what it literally meant was out of worshipers, those who worship and God said, I don't want you hanging out with these idol worship is thinking that there's kind of a play on words there in as you think out a worshiper. DOL out of worshipers, those who worship out of what if you spell out the LD worshipers who were out of who are active in their faith in the Lord think we should be either I don't think we should be idol worshipers don't think we should be idol worshipers not doing anything but this was a stumbling block and as you go through the Hebrew Scriptures as you go through the Old Testament. You know what you see time and time again, the Jewish people are stumbled by these idol and they take part in the sermons I got no business taking part of an and their stumbled bodies out of worshipers, so there was a concept and there is a practical application of that concept for us this morning. The life lessons don't hang out with people who stumble you don't hang out with people who stumble you will gotta reach out to them and give them the good news if you're struggling with alcohol and you go to somebody that drinks and you and that drinking with him what news is it that you're sharing how different are you then hand you know what give it a rest. Take it season you make sure that you grow in this area and then at some point you can go back and begin sharing the good news is go back in your stumble in and floundered right in front of less not doing anybody any so be careful with this weather's drugs or alcohol, or idolatry, or are gossip we care for that one, because you can stumble people there someone you know. You may need to change relationships for a season until you grow in these areas so the concept was a good one.

Don't hang out. Here's what happened.

The Jewish people began looking at the practices of the Gentiles, and instead of understanding that the practices were unclean.

They started looking at the people as if they were unclean. Do we ever do that we do it all the time we do it all the time. There are people that are doing their doing things that God says not to do in another slogan to snort the shooting, though, homosexuality and lesbians and all these things and what we need to remember God died for each and every person on this planet in his hand of redemption wants to reach out to them now. Let me let me make sure were clear. Those things are wrong.

The Bible says the wrong but they can be forgiven. People can be.

They can be restored and they can be healed of those things as long as we understand that what they're doing is wrong, but they themselves God is warning us to reach out to them and what happened is that he got into this such a religious polling looking Peter's opening statement to this group. In verse 20. You know how unlawful it is for Jewish man. Keep company with other go to one of another nation. He saying you know what you guys are unclean to gather. One way to start a message. I guess it's kind of a is kind of an interesting thing and a strong statement to them and and what's interesting is it really and we talked last week, Levitical law is contained in the book of Leviticus and other parts of the first five books of the Bible. Rabbinical law is stuff they added later really want Peter talk about here is a little about because they were told not to go anybody of other nations. There were certain people groups. They weren't supposed to marry, but it wasn't said it wasn't expressed that they should never go to one of another nation. So what happened religion incorrect in before we start throwing stones at the Jewish people for religion creep in and you don't have to look very far today to see how religion has crept in to Christianity in America we actually develop their own language male Christian. These makes it very difficult in a religiosity for people to understand what you can go up to a nonbeliever go hey brother of you been saved. Think about anointed you washed in the blood of the Lamb.

What that means nothing to somebody that doesn't know the Bible now may mean a lot to you but what good is it if it doesn't mean anything in the ears of the listener to that's why you often.

When I say things on the final like when I use the word grace again I say grace the great grace grace known. Some of them I think will that's what you savor the meal you know but grace is God's unmerited favor or just unearned favor George is an and you make a great sign of grace that comes from where we were there people all around us don't understand grace of your talking about grace this amount you probably ought to explain it because people outside the church have no idea what grace me.

Grace is like something the way a ballerina moves there, filled with grace. Now that's not our definition is so you should explain the six verse 29.

Therefore, I came without objection. As soon as I was sent were. I asked them for what reason, have you sent for me this is a weird question Peter shows up to this group and goes here. I mean, that is a weird question. I mean, certainly, and I came out on a sunny morning and said why am I here you got should be fairly concerned because you think it will go nowhere yesterday but I was gonna open. Peter knew what he was going to do, but he has to question one here for woman doing good question.

While there. Women don't wear either what you good question. Good question.

These are answers that you really need to know we need you need to have here because you know got saved or need to get saved or need to be forgiven or whatever but let's remember that the moment we asked Jesus to forgive our sins, you know it doesn't happen. We talked about this before here, but you know what doesn't happen the moment you asked Jesus to forgive you ever send it's not like your God, you disappear. That would make all the calls very strange event happened there. People of all people probably wouldn't come forward with God leaves you want.

Good question SingTel other people, not just with your words but with your actions with your life and we should be asking ourselves what is it all about it.

If you think life is about a 40 hour workweek man you are being ripped off. If you think it's about money. You've been lied to and bought into 111 for what your passion you about just about your whole life and for a little while on Sunday morning, you let God invade your life is that it certainly Jesus meant more than this when he said I came to give you life more abundantly in second to give you life more abundantly.

On Sunday morning, checking to give you life more abundantly. Are you living that life is a thing the life lessons we should be asking ourselves the questions why am I here and we should be able to come up with three real quick answers to love and serve God to love and serve others to show and tell others about Jesus.

Our lives should be built around these things to love and serve God to love and serve others to show and tell others about Jesus now included in this is coming into a relationship with God worshiping God and in learning about, but you know Jesus himself said all the law things on these two things love God and love others as yourself and guys. If we did this as a believer we would be impacting the world in a much more significant way than we are. But we have to ask yourself what's because these answers will motivate what we do in the way we express ourselves if your answer in a while my ears just well you just big cosmic accident that happens the be here and I'm just moseying through until it's about time the diving gear going to live your life like that. But if you understand the concept of these answers, you will live your life like that in any know if you're living just as a cosmic accident. You know what they're so much more to life than what your experience you have asked Jesus to forgive you of your sins but you're not a loving God and loving and serving others know what still not experiencing the fullness that God intended for you to have you being in you being ripped off friend. You know for sure that your sins have been forgiven. You can know right now only 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 could 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 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.

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Allow God to minister to your marriage through his word today.

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