You Wish

I was recently watching / listening to Carlton Pearson video.  I say watching and listening because with him it is very important to hear every word he says so they might be examined according to Scripture.   As I watched/listened to  the video I actually became angry. Pearson was spouting off so much nonsense until it literally angered me to the point that I started debating with him via my computer screen.  He is quoting Albert Einstein, misinterpreting Hebrews 6 saying that the writer was somehow urging his readers to a “higher consciousness” and making up words like “metacostal”…whatever that means! 

His blatant disrespect for God, Scripture, Jesus and everything else that Christianity stands for was appalling.  As you can hear in the video he refers to the Bible as old, outdated and he thinks that the whole idea of Christianity is obsolete.  He uses these arguments to clear the way for his new thought metaphysical doctrine.  Pearson has been a charlatan for a long time and his entire transformation is seemingly based on an emotional attachment to his grandparents.  His grandparents passed away and I don't know if they were saved, and he did not know if they were saved according to an NBC interview [Is Hell Real?].  That led him to adopt the mentality/doctrine of universalism which says that everyone goes to heaven regardless of whether or not they are Christian or have confessed Jesus Christ as their Savior. That alone speaks volumes about a man who was in the faith for many years and preached the gospel for many years.  Did one event cause them to doubt everything that he knew?  Did he really know anything at all?

As the video played, I heard him say something quite shocking.  In an almost condescending manner he compared Joel Olsteen’s preaching to that of Jesus.  I had to listen to that again because it was just so unbelievable.  His comparison of Osteen and Jesus Christ really holds no water whatsoever.  His reasoning for the comparison where stated in the video that Joel Osteen does not use much scripture , he preaches in “beatitudes” similar to the sermon on the mount and that he preaches more like Jesus that many preachers today.  Seemingly Pearson has a problem with preaching Jesus vs preaching like Jesus.  I contend that a preacher must do both, he must preach Jesus because Jesus is the heart of the gospel!  Paul says plainly that when I came to you I resolved to know nothing except Jesus Christ and Him crucified [1 Cor 2:2].  He says again in another place that he only preaches Jesus Christ and Him crucified [1 Cor 1:23].  A casual search of the BibleHub website lists at least 10 scriptures written by the apostles where they “preach Christ” [Preach Christ Links].  Not only must we preach Jesus for there is no other Savior or source of salvation, we must also preach like Jesus.  What I mean by that is that our sermons need to be direct, truthful, and insightful, loving and honest enough to call sin what it is!

To say that Osteen preaches like Jesus is an insult to Jesus!  Osteen calls for us to live our best life now, Jesus warns us that in this world we will have tribulation and also to take up our cross and follow him.  Osteen teaches health wealth and prosperity Jesus taught foxes have holes birds have nests but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head!  Osteen teaches mansions cars and positive thinking but Jesus teaches unless a man be born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.  For Pearson to say that Jesus did not use much scripture is a bold face lie. Jesus began his ministry in the fourth chapter of Luke reading from the scroll of Isaiah.  He quoted the prophets often.  “Rightly did the Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, “This people honors Me with their lips but their heart is far away from Me.”   The Sermon on the Mount was based on the Scripture. Whenever Jesus says “You have heard it said” he is quoting interpretations of scripture!  Whenever he says “but I tell you the truth” he is giving the true meaning of that scripture!  He instructed the religious leaders that if anyone would be quiet upon His entrance to Jerusalem, “the rocks would cry out”.  He also instructed them from the Psalms that out of the mouths of babes “You have prepared praise for yourself…” [Matthew 21:16; Psalm 8:2]]. How can Pearson say that Jesus did not use much scripture when he argued from the Scriptures weekly in the Synagogue?

Either Pearson has forgotten the Jesus of the Bible or he is deliberately seeking to blot the true Jesus in favor of the Jesus of his own imagination. Many have a view of Jesus that is totally incorrect because it is based on what they feel and not what Scripture says. I would even venture to say that Joel Osteen knows less about Jesus then a baby.  I have never once heard him preach repentance, I have never once heard him preach about the coming judgment of Jesus Christ, I have never once heard him preach about being born again, I have never once heard him preach that Jesus is the Way the Truth and the Life, I have never heard him once refer to Jesus as the Savior of the world, I have never heard him once call Jesus Lord, I have never heard him once ask anyone in the congregation to submit their lives to Jesus Christ. What I have heard on multiple occasions are silly stories about people who do not exist, about events that have not happened and scenarios that is so far-fetched that he doesn't even believe them.

Jesus is more than just a figment of our imagination or some historical figure. He is God, he is the second person  of the Trinity, he is the Son of God who came to us to show us what God was like.  He is the Son of God who came to us to fulfill the prophecy in Leviticus 26:12, “'I will also walk among you and be your God, and you shall be My people.”  Pearson and the other false teachers of his ilk are sadly mistaken and I pray that God will open their eyes before it is too late.  Whenever we start looking for something sexier or better or more exciting than Jesus the devil will use that as a trap and he will present you with something sexier or better or more contemporary- man has a way that seems right but in the end it leads to death.  In the end, it is all rubbish.   

I would only say to Pearson you wish that Jesus preached like Osteen!  If that was the case, there would be far less consequences for sin, no discipline for the disciples of Jesus Christ and no judgment for the wicked!  Many seek a kinder gentler Jesus and honestly he is kind and gentle to those who are humble in spirit and lowly in heart.  He is kind and gentle to those who come to him not trying to fit him into a box but are willing to allow him to be Lord of their life.  Grace and peace to you my brothers and sisters.

Relative Truth

6÷2(1+2)

I was recently on Facebook and a friend of mine put this problem up.  It seems harmless.  The answer that I gave is 1 and I will show you how I derived it:

2(1+2) = 2(3) = 6

6÷6 = 1

The reason that I solved it this way is because the parentheses have to be dealt with first.  The multiplication of the term outside of the parentheses with the term inside (distribution) has to happen next.  Division is last (even though this goes counter to the PEMDAS protocol).  According to Purple Math, here is what they have to say: "The order of operations was settled on in order to prevent miscommunication, but PEMDAS can generate its own confusion; some students sometimes tend to apply the hierarchy as though all the operations in a problem are on the same "level", but often those operations are not "equal". Many times it helps to work problems from the inside out, rather than left-to-right, because often some parts of the problem are "deeper down" than other parts."[1] The reason I did it this way is very simple, the division symbol indicates that there is a numerator and a denominator as shown and the parentheses indicate that the two terms on the left must be dealt with first:

                                                                                                                                                       

There is another camp that says that the equation can be solved in the following way: 6/2*(1+2) which discounts the division sign as separating the numerator and denominator.

 x (2+1)  = 3x3 = 9

Surprisingly, there are numerous videos on YouTube describing how to solve this problem!  It is a simple problem but it is made less simple because the terms are not clearly defined.   The answer can be 9 only if the first two terms are grouped together otherwise, the first method takes precedence.

It is funny that there is such debate over this.  Mathematics is a beautiful art and it is also very concrete.  There is one answer to any given problem.  What this problem introduces is the idea that there are two ways to solve the problem and therefore we get two different answers.  The only reason this is possible is because the problem is left open to the interpretation of the one reading it because of the way that it is written.

This is where I was sort of peeved because the problem is more than a math problem.  It actually subtly introduces the concept of relative truth.  Mathematics is not a relative art.  Arts are usually subjective and left open to the interpreter but mathematics doesn't fall into that classification.  It is absolute.  This problem introduces relativism because of the poorly defined terms.

What does relativism have to do with anything?  It is a way to rationalize anything down to what “I” believe as opposed to what is the truth.  Relativism says that your truth is your truth and my truth is my truth and there are no absolutes. 

I beg to differ here.  There are absolutes!  Jesus Christ is absolute.  There are no two answers, there are no two ways to get to Him, there are no relatives…He IS the truth!  The world that we live in tries to muddy up the waters by making everything relative.  Truth is presented with spin to ensure maximum confusion.  Don’t be swayed.  When you know the truth, do the truth!  When you know what is right, do what is right.  There is no “my truth” or “your truth” but THE truth!  God bless you and keep you.

Purple Penguins??

The following was taken from an article on LGBT Weekly.  I will not put a link to it here because I do not endorse the website or what it stands for.  A simple Google search for "purple penguins" will have this particular article toward the top of the search list.


"The National Review posted a story Oct. 8 on the Lincoln, Nebraska School District (referred to as Lincoln Public Schools and abbreviated LPS) headlined “School told to call kids ‘purple penguins’ because ‘boys and girls’ is not inclusive to transgender” with the subhead of the story being “Nebraska teachers are instructed to ask students what their preferred pronouns are.” According to the story, the school district “instructed its teachers to stop referring to students by ‘“gendered expressions’ such as ‘boys and girls,’ and use ‘gender inclusive ones such as ‘purple penguins’ instead.” The story focused on a document by the organization Gender Spectrum entitled “12 easy steps on the way to gender inclusiveness.”


Here is my main issue with the LGBT community...they just do not know when to sit down and shut up!  They are masters at muddying up the waters to the point that NO ONE knows WHAT they are anymore.  Transgender, Transsexual, Queer...blah, blah, blah, blah.  Let me also say this: while I disagree with the lifestyle choices of this particular community, it's their business and if that's what they choose, so be it.  There are many in the world who have rejected God and desire to live on their own terms. A man or woman who chooses to be homosexual, regardless of their concept of being born that way, has a "human" right to live how they please.  With so much rationalization of "Why I am gay or why I am like this" and all the foolish arguments for gender identity crises, I don't have time to wade through the muck and wage an unwinnable war of words.  So, to each his/her own.  I will speak the truth and if it is accepted, bless you.  If not, the dust will promptly be shaken off.


All sin is detestable in the eyes of God.  Homosexuality is just another sin. It carries no more weight than lying or adultery or murder. The issue is refusing to see it as sin. When that is the case, the door is open for deception and for agenda pushing. If people believe that it is normal behavior then they will expect to be treated as if it is normal. I contend that it is not normal for it goes against the entire reason that God made men and women sexual creatures.  First and foremost, sex is intended for procreation and for pleasure.  However, as the Bible says in Romans 1:24 that God will give them over to their lusts, the LGBT community can do as they please until they have to answer for their deeds.


If we examine the article and the concept that is presented above we see a dangerous precedent being set and a dangerous agenda being pushed.  The LGBT community believes that they must erase gender and in doing so, create an environment in which homosexuality can proliferate!  It is clear that not everyone is homosexual.  It is also clear that everyone is not in agreement with this way of life. Why do they continually seek to blur the gender lines?  Men are men and women are women. Why do they continually resort to arguing that there is no gender when everytime we undress we see that there clearly is a difference in genders?   There are no PURPLE PENGUINS, THERE IS NO GENDER SPECTRUM, THERE ARE BOYS AND GIRLS THAT GROW UP INTO MEN AND WOMEN!  The only things that this community is good at is spreading confusion, paranoia and bullying people into accepting their way of life.  Live your life the way you choose and the way you please but don't try to erase what God has already instituted!  Don't try to remove the differences that God inherently set up between by separating male from female. Not only is it confusing to our younger generation it is an insidious agenda hidden behind the veil of equality.


They have tried to hide behind the civil rights movement, they have tried to hide behind the anti- bullying movement, they have tried and succeeded in rewriting the history books in California, they have sought to push the God created concept of marriage, as every ancient culture has known it for millennia, into obsolescence.  They have sued shop owners who refused to endorse their foolishness [http://www.latimes.com/nation/nationnow/la-na-nn-gay-wedding-florist-lawsuit-20150107-story.html] and have even bullied many states into legalizing gay marriage.  In an effort to make the climate more comfortable for themselves, at the expense of everyone else's own comfort, they want to erase gender so that we no longer see male nor female. That is categorically false and deceptively destructive to the fabric of the family, the generations of children who are being brought up in this confusing mess and those who legitimately seek an out from this way of life but are being told that it is ok.


Erasing gender in terms of practical functionality i.e. women doing the same jobs as men in a male dominated society, women being able to do the same things as men is a good thing [Consequently, I think that female UFC matches are detestable and for the record, I do not like the idea od UFC period.  It is savagery.]  Even the Bible says that God is not partial to gender...in Christ.  But the most basic Bible readers would know that the scripture in reference to Galatians chapter 3 verse 23 has no bearing on sexuality! 


My request is simple, be who you are and do not try to make others be who they are not. Live how you live but respect the fact that we have a right to disagree with you. Do what you do in the privacy from your own home. Don't try to tell us that there are no genders.  Instead, you embrace that delusion but don't force it on those of us who know better.  You can chop, cut and everything else but at the end of the day, if God made you a man...you're a man.  It doesn't matter how short you cut your hair or how much you try to hide your breasts or how baggy you try to wear your clothes, at the end of the day if God made you a woman, you're a woman.  There are no purple penguins...male and female, He created them.

Favor Without the Labor

This video clip was taken from the Facebook page of the Potter’s House where Bishop T.D. Jakes is the Pastor.  Although pixelated to conceal the identity of the speaker [I have no beef with them as they are only speaking what they are being taught] as well as other information that was on my feed at the time, I can attest that the video was not altered in any way, shape or form other than repeating the last phrase for emphasis only.

Here is a prime example of the destructive teaching that is happening under the leadership of Bishop Jakes.  He is always looking for the next best thing and the next ear-tickling message to feed his sheep.  What sort of asinine doctrine is this and where is it presented in the Bible?  The speaker made reference to Jakes using Joseph David as examples of favor without labor…which does neither of these Biblical heroes justice.  Joseph went through MANY trials!  He was beaten and sold into slavery by his own brothers.  He was imprisoned after being falsely accused of rape.  He stayed in prison even after those whom he asked to deliver messages to the king forgot about him.  Yet, he was triumphant in that God used his labors and brought good out of them.  The same holds true for David.  Although God’s anointed, David’s family life was destroyed after his affair with Bathsheba.   He lived a life of turmoil as he watched the fabric disintegrate that held his family together.  His son raped his daughter.  One of his sons wanted to kill him and he did not have a peaceful life.  Yet, from this troubled king, God still considered him a man after His own heart and from his lineage, Jesus descended.

The point is simple.  There is no such thing as “favor without the labor”.  Labor is a part of the Christian walk.  This is not the Christian cake walk but the narrow gate that we’re talking about!  The whole idea of favor without labor is exactly what is wrong with Christianity today.  We desire the gifts over the Giver.  We desire the cushy, comfortable life totally ignoring the Apostle Paul’s declaration in Acts 14:22 “Through many tribulations we must enter the Kingdom of God!”

There is no such thing as “favor without the labor”.  We, as Christians, are favored in God’s sight because we are in Christ.  We are a royal priesthood (1 Peter 2:9), a chosen generation, we are lights in darkness (Matthew 5:16, Philippians 2:15), we are the children of God (John 1:12), we are heirs to the promises of God (Romans 8:17) we are the brethren of Jesus Christ (Romans 8:29) being conformed to His image!  With all of that being said, we are also TARGETS of Satan.  He roams about seeking whom he may devour.  He accuses us daily (Zech 3:1, Revelation 12:10).  I would argue that God’s favor brings with it a certain amount of difficulty BECAUSE our adversary, the devil, hates God and His people!

As Christians, we are called to pick up our cross and follow Jesus.  How is that for favor without labor?  As Christians, we are sifted as wheat (Luke 22:31).  We are hard pressed but not crushed, persuceted but not forsaken, cast down but not destroyed!  If there were no labor involved in the walk of a Christian, why would our Master Jesus Christ warn us that in THIS world we will have trouble?  Why would HE have labored through so much difficulty if it could be done another way?

If anyone suffers as a Christian, let them not be ashamed (1 Peter 4:16)!  We will suffer loss, persecution and various trials but we KNOW that the testing of our faith develops perseverance!  The tribulations that we encounter, cancer, death, illness, loss, anxiety and any other external pressure creates patience which develops proven character which GIVES US HOPE!  Hope does not disappoint.

The idea of God’s favor being some happy-go-luck state of being is at best naïve and at worst a deceptive and destructive lie used to get people to believe in a God of their own creation.  Jakes has another popular teaching, “favor ain’t fair” in which those with numerous material possessions boast as if they did something to earn them!  Every possession is not necessarily a gift from God.  Some of them are idols.  Furthermore, God’s favor is undeserved so not only do we NOT have any special claim to it, we are only favored because of what the SON has done!  I thank God that the bible tells no such lies but tells us the truth.  This life, the condition of the world and the groaning that happens as a result are all realities but will soon give way to a better reality: the rule and reign of Jesus Christ!  Grace and peace my brothers and sisters.

Fat Chance

Many have sought to silence the gospel of Jesus Christ.  Throughout history, from the religious leaders to Roman emperors, many have tried to keep the disciples of Jesus Christ quiet.  .  There are many reasons why the gospel has enemies.  Satan wishes for men to remain blind (2 Cor 4:4) and not see the light of the glory of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  Many men and women who rail against the gospel are tools of the enemy (2 Tim 2:26).  Many have made a considerable amount of money writing best-selling books that seek to discredit God and Jesus.  Finally and the most telling reason is that men and women shy away from the gospel because it is antithetical to the accepted worldview.  The gospel reminds us that we are sinner saved by grace and not the masters of our own fate.  It reminds us that we are broken and only Jesus can fix us.  I say to all who seek to silence the gospel of Jesus Christ, fat chance!


One story in particular comes to mind in the bible.  That is the story in Acts 5 when the apostles were on trial for a second time regarding preaching Jesus in the temple.  The first time (Acts 4:1-22), Peter and John were apprehended and brought to trial because of the furor over the healing of the lame beggar at the Beautiful gate.  There was so much fuss over this man that the religious leaders began to get nervous.  Therefore, they imprisoned them briefly, tried them (I know that is backward-- whatever happened to due process?) but they eventually had to let them go- only with a stern warning.




In the second instance, the entire cohort of apostles were arrested (Acts 5:17-19) but God sent an angel to free them during the night.  That angel also emboldened the apostles by giving them instructions to "Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this Life."  How awesome is God?  Can you imagine going to prison for something that you did not do and an angel coming in and opening the doors to let you out?  God's word cannot be contained!  The bible says that God's word cannot return to Him void but will accomplish that which it was set forth to do (Is 55:11).  The book of Acts is really the chronology of the birth of the church and documents the seminal moments in Christian history.  the Gospel of Jesus Christ was going forth and men and women were being saved by the thousands!  There was nothing that could stop this.




It is interesting that in the second trial, a leader of the Pharisees, Gamaliel, stood up and asked them council to send the apostles outside.  His remarks were as follows in Acts 5:38,39 "So in the present case I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or undertaking is of man, it will be overthrown; but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them.  You might even be found opposing God."




Gamaliel was well respected, he had a higher pedigree that the rest of the council, he was a doctor of the Law and they listened to him.  He used two historical figures as a reference for his argument.  Theudas, a messianic imposter who led a revolt against Rome (There is some debate here.  It is possible that there are two men with this name, one who lived and revolted around 40 AD and the man who is mentioned in Acts 5).  Gamaliel also referenced Judas of Galilee who was referred to by Josephus as the "Terror or Rome".  There is much historical documentation on Judas of Galilee. 


Their movements resembled the movement of Jesus in three ways: 1. They all had followers 2. They were both martyred and 3. Their followers all dispersed after their deaths.  This is where the comparisons end!  There is one other thing said of them; both of their movements "came to nothing". 


Because of the comparison of these men we can draw a clear distinction regarding Jesus and the gospel.  The only thing that Jesus has in common with these men is that He was killed as, what the Jews considered, an enemy of the state.  We know that His death was necessary to atone for our sins but we can also look at it historically.  Because the leader of Christianity is Jesus Christ himself, there is NO chance that the gospel will ever be silenced!  Fat chance!  There are three reasons why the gospel will never be silenced- especially when compared to other movements:




1. Although the apostles were scattered after the crucifixion, it did not diminish the fire of the Christian movement.  Gamaliel made mention of the fact that once the Theudas and Judas of Galilee were killed, their followers were scattered.  This is parallel to what happened with the followers of Jesus but the disciples of Christ were scattered for a different reason.  They were scattered to increase the impact and the spread of the message of the gospel!  Jesus says in Acts 1:8 "you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and even to the ends of the earth."  The scattering did not stop the movement of the gospel but it had the opposite effect...it proliferated the gospel!




2. Jesus was not an impostor "claiming to be someone".  Galamiel says in verse 36 that Theudas was "claiming to be someone".  Jesus claimed to be many things: the Way, the Truth, The Life, The Bread of Life, The Good Shepherd, the Light of the world...and HE IS ALL OF THESE THINGS!  He was validated by the Father when He was resurrected.  It validated His identity as the Messiah and it fulfilled the prophecies about Him.  His claims were not bogus, they were legitimate and those who crucified Him knew it!




3. The originator of the gospel message is the Eternal God Himself.  The gospel message cannot be snuffed out because Jesus lives by the power of an indestructible life!  He is the One who John called the Word and He was with God in the beginning.  Peter's sermon reminded the Council that they were indeed fighting against God! 




Acts 5:30-32 " The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you had put to death by hanging Him on a cross. "He is the one whom God exalted to His right hand as a Prince and a Savior, to grant repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.  And we are witnesses of these things; and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him"




Peter says that Jesus is the One whom God raised up.  The rejected stone has become the Chief cornerstone.  He says that Jesus IS (present tense) exalted and is now at the right hand of God holding two titles: A. Prince (Greek, Archegos) which indicates that Jesus is the pioneer of a movement.  That movement is Christianity itself.  He is the chief leader of believers and we are constantly being conformed to His image.  B. Savior (Greek, Sotera) which indicates, together with Prince, that Jesus is the pioneer of Christianity, the originator of the movement that we follow and is the savior who is able to deliver us from sin!




That is why the gospel will never be silenced!  The leader of the gospel, the originator of the gospel is not a fly by night revolutionary...He is God Himself!  Jesus is the originator of what we now call Christianity.  He is the paver of what was historically called "the Way".  We follow that Way and we are His witnesses in the world.  We are the ones who are charged with making disciples, witnessing to those who do not know Jesus and carrying the gospel message everywhere that we go!  Fat chance to those who want us to be quiet.  Fat chance to those who charge a tax or evict those in Iraq who serve the living God.  Fat chance to the atheists who spend so much time trying to disprove the One who does not have to prove anything!  Fat chance to every demonic force that seeks to silence what Jesus has set in motion!  IT WILL NEVER HAPPEN!  Grace and peace to you all. 

Follow Me

The Bible is God's progressive revelation of Himself to mankind.  The reason that the Bible is such an important book is because God shows His attributes, His character, His love and His wisdom throughout.  Anyone who reads the Bible understands at least two things: 1. We can never fully understand everything in it and 2. The more we read it, the more we learn about who God actually is.  One of the themes that has become apparent to me in my studies is the theme of God's redemptive purpose continually being played out in historical context. 


If we begin with Adam and Eve, they were in Eden and had complete freedom.  They also had a relationship with God that was quite amiable.  When they sinned, this relationship and the fellowship that went along with it  was fractured.  They were removed from Eden and cherubim and a flaming sword which moved in all directions was placed at the gate to guard it and to keep them from coming back (Genesis 3:24).  It is from this point that we see the redemptive interaction between God and man begin to take place.


We can see it with Abraham (Genesis 11).  He was led away from Ur and into Canaan.  The same Canaan that the next great leader, Moses would begin to lead Abraham's descendants into.  Seeing this and hearing God's promise "I will give this land to your offspring" paints a beautiful picture and creates an analogy that we can draw from.  God bringing the Israelites into Canaan is His way of saying, I will bring my people home.


When the Exodus occurred, Moses led the people and God led Moses.  God used a pillar of fire by night and a pillar of cloud by day to lead His people where He would have them to go.  He was leading them out of the darkness of slavery into the light of His goodness and blessings.  Again we see God leading from a bad situation into a better situation.  We see the same thing with Joshua, who was commissioned to lead the people into the Promised Land when Moses was not allowed to because of his disobedience (See Numbers 20:12)


One thing we can see from the time in the wilderness to the time that the Israelites actually spent in Canaan, they were never satisfied.  Therefore, the need for a more permanent solution was evident.  Not only was God's solution permanent, it IS eternal.  What the first Adam seemingly ruined the Second Adam, Jesus Christ rectified.  Jesus is the permanent redemptive solution and it is His blood that reconciles sinners back to God.  Jesus promised eternal life to all who believe in Him.  If we look at this promise through the lens of history, we see that Jesus is the bridge back to Eden.  He is the one who can quench the flaming sword and give us entrance into the paradise that God intended for us from the beginning.  In John 14:3, Jesus says "If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also."  Jesus also says in John 8:12 "I am the light of the world.  Whoever follows me shall not walk in darkness but shall have the light of life."  Jesus is our Redeemer, Deliverer and the Prince (Author) of Life!


Can you see the parallel?  Can you see Jesus as the "Prince" or leader who is guiding his followers through this dark world back to the place where God initially intended for us to be?  The redemption and reconciliation came through His blood and we are now able to enter paradise!  Jesus is saying to those who are still longing for Egypt, FOLLOW ME!  If you are reading this and you are not saved, Jesus Christ wants to lead you out of darkness.  He wants to save your soul.  All He asks is that we follow Him. 

A World Apart

You have heard the song…Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world, red or yellow, black or white, they’re all precious in his sight, Jesus loves the little children of the world!  It’s funny how sometimes, we don’t realize that he still loves them even when they are grown!  We live on a small planet; we live in proximity with our neighbors and yet we are often times worlds apart from one another.  We have built in prejudices; pre-conceived notions about one group or another; stereotypes about how certain folks are supposed to act; preferences for folks of a different race, educational background, socioeconomic status—yet, this is not the way that God intends for it to be! 

The bible says in psalm 24:1 that the earth is the lord’s and the fullness thereof, the world and all those who dwell in it!  That means that every single human being on the face of the planet belongs to God who created us all!  In God’s eyes, there is no such thing as race, color, denomination, or social cliques—no, God views us as his creation.

In Acts 10, Luke describes two men who could not be more different: Cornelius, a Roman soldier and Peter, the apostle/disciple of Jesus Christ.  They are a world apart but one day, their worlds collided.  Their meeting was unavoidable because God had work to do!  God had a message to spread- he wanted the whole world to know that Jesus Christ is the only way to salvation!

Cornelius

Cornelius was a good man by all accounts.  The beginning of the chapter notes that he was a soldier in the Italian regiment, stationed at Caesarea.  He was a man who feared God!  Imagine that, being a soldier trained to kill, working around godless men, here is one lone bright light who feared God and was compassionate.  Cornelius was what the ancients called a “God-fearer” – he was not Jewish but he accepted the Jewish customs, he accepted monotheism (one God) and he gave charity to the poor.

He was a good father also because the bible says that he feared God with his whole household!  Every father in America needs to read about this man.  He was a rough and tumble guy who still loved God!  He was a man who made sure that his children knew who God was!  There is nothing more powerful in a family than for a man (a daddy) to stand up and say, for God I live and for God I will die! There is nothing more important to a family than for a man to be a man of God and not simply a TV dad. 

A man is supposed to be the priest of his home; he is supposed to have those spiritual talks with his children; he is supposed to bring them up in the fear of the lord and that is what Cornelius did.  Cornelius, as great of a man as he was, lacked something.  There was an element of his life that was missing.  Although he loved God, he prayed to God continually but he could not get to God because he did not know Jesus!  

Jesus said, I am the way, the truth and the life and no man comes to the father but by me!  There is no other pathway to experience a true relationship with God except through Jesus Christ!  There is one God, and one mediator between man and God, the man Christ Jesus!

So, God, in his infinite wisdom put this man on a collision course with someone from a totally different world than his.  He put Cornelius on a path to meet a man who, unless God had intervened, probably would have viewed Cornelius with contempt!  He set him up to meet with the apostle Peter (Acts 10:3-7).  There could be an implication here that we are saved by our works considering that the angel references Simon’s deeds coning before God as a memorial.  This is not saying that we are saved by works but that his works did not go unrecognized by God—and this man was a Roman.  How much more will our good works stand out before God as Christians!  Galatians 6:9 says that we should not get weary in well doing for in due season we will reap if we faint not!

Peter

We know Peter as the hotheaded disciple who was always putting his foot into his mouth.  He was a staunch Jew.  Peter was the disciple that denied Jesus 3 times.    He was a tough guy.  He was also tested!  Luke 22:31 Jesus said to Peter that Satan has asked permission to sift you as wheat…but I have prayed for you that your faith will not fail!  (Anyone know) that sometimes you will have to be tested to prepare you for God’s work?!  We will face trials and obstacles that will bring us into a state of submission and humility before God. 

Because of Jesus, Peter was a changed man.  He was a more humble man and he was a man who was full of the Holy Spirit.  He healed the beggar at the beautiful gate.  He had just healed a paralyzed man in Lydda.  He had been to prison for the name of Jesus.  He was so full of the spirit of God that his shadow could heal the sick!

Peter shows God’s grace!  Here is a man who had messed up about as much as you could mess up and yet God still used him.  Don’t you think that God can do the same thing for us?!  Our mess ups are opportunities for God to teach us more about himself!   

The Vision and God’s Master Plan

So Peter is in Joppa.  He is holding the piece to the puzzle that is missing for Cornelius.  While he was in Joppa and while the servants and the soldier who were sent by Cornelius were on their way, God blew Peter’s mind.  At noon, Peter goes up on the rooftop to pray.  During his prayer, Peter falls into a trance while he was waiting on his food [Verse 11-14].  This vision was God saying that he was getting ready to bring folks who were worlds apart together under Jesus Christ.  Peter had been raised in a strict Jewish background and viewed foreigners with contempt.  He did not consider the Gentiles worthy of his time.   Obviously Peter struggled with this after this encounter because he and Paul engaged in a debate regarding showing partiality to Gentiles [see Galatians  2:14].

There is only one way to bring men and women together with a singular heart and mind and that is if we have the mind of Christ.  Ephesians 2:14 says that Jesus broke down the dividing wall that separated Jews and gentiles; he made the two into one man!  He is the source of all reconciliation!  Jesus is a bridge.  He is the bridge between God and man.  He is the bridge between man and fellow man and he is a bridge over troubled waters!  Jesus is the way that we can come together and reconcile any differences that we may have.  

We can argue and we can debate but if we agree that Jesus Christ is lord, if we agree that there is no other name under heaven by which men must be saved, if we agree that Jesus died for your sins and my sins, if we agree that he got up on the 3rd day…you are alright with me!

Peter’s vision concludes with a wonderful message [verse 11-15]… no matter what our differences are, no matter where you come from…the blood of Jesus makes us clean!  The blood of Jesus covers up all of our imperfections and makes us righteous in God’s sight and no man has a monopoly on Jesus!  No one has the market cornered on holiness.  No one can say: "Jesus only belongs to me!"

When the men that Cornelius sent got there, the Holy Spirit says to Peter, go with them without delay.  Peter invited these foreigners into his home.  He gave them lodging, they were not Jewish!  This was his first step toward accepting those who were “foreigners” to him.

The Message and the Linking of Two Worlds

By all accounts, Peter and Cornelius were from two different worlds.  They existed in the same plane of time, in the same vicinity but were in two separate spheres.  God moved and God brought these two together.  Peter and Cornelius were both missing pieces to their spiritual lives!  Cornelius was missing Jesus [Acts 10:33]!  Peter  was missing the fact that God was impartial and did not regard any man (regardless of background) as more worthy that the other and that God was extending his grace to include the Gentiles! [Acts 10:28; 10:34]

Do you see how God put this together?  Do you see how God’s hand ordered these two men to this appointed time?  Do you see the fingerprints of the Holy Spirit all over this situation?  Don’t you know that God is still in the business of ordering our steps!  Psalm 37:23 says “the steps of a good man are ordered by the lord.”  God is still bringing folks from different worlds together through the blood of Jesus Christ and under the cross of Jesus Christ!  When we stand under the cross of Jesus Christ, we stand in the shadow of the cross – it is hard to see differences in the shadow all we know is that there is someone standing next to us who is just as much in need of Jesus as we are!

The Message [verse 34-43]

1. God does not show partiality to any man but welcomes every man who fears him and does what is right!

2. We are welcomed through Jesus Christ who is our peace with God!  Colossians 1:20 says that Jesus Christ made peace with God for us through his blood!  1 john 2:2 says that Jesus is the propitiation- he is the one who appeased God on our behalf because we could not do it in our own righteousness.

3. Jesus Christ was anointed of God to do good and heal the oppressed!

4. Jesus Christ was put to death on a cross!  While we were yet sinners Christ died for us.

5. Jesus Christ got up from the dead and showed himself to witnesses who could later proclaim the message of the gospel and the resurrection!

6. Jesus Christ was appointed as the judge of the living and the dead!  One day the clouds are going to part, Jesus Christ will sit in judgment of those who are alive when he comes and those who have died.  Some will be glad to see Him; others will not be because as the Judge, Jesus will decide who goes to heaven and who goes to hell.  I don’t know about you, but I want to be in the number where he says “well done good and faithful servant, you’ve been faithful over a few things now I will make you ruler over many!”

7. The prophets bore witness to him that he is the one whom God sent to save those who believe in his name from sin!  Here is the most powerful part of this message!  Jesus is the only one who can grant forgiveness of sins!  When Jesus forgives you, you are forgiven forever!  There is no condemnation!  Jesus is able to forgive because he paid for our sins at Calvary!  He did for us what we were unable to do for ourselves!  Here is what salvation means, that Jesus Christ paid our debt for sin, forgives us of our sins, and has now made peace with God through his shed blood!  All who accept his payment no longer have the penalty of sin hanging over their heads!

To show Peter that this was legitimate, that salvation had indeed come to the Gentiles, the Holy Spirit fell upon Cornelius and all of those who were listening to the message!

The messages within this text are numerous.  There is someone in your vicinity who God is preparing to meet you and preparing you to meet- there is nothing that you can do to get ready for this meeting, but when it happens, be obedient to the unctioning of the Holy Spirit.  We cannot afford to be hung up on prejudices and stereotypes- nothing that God has made clean can be called unclean!  It is Jesus who is able to break down the barriers of race, denomination, personal prejudice or any other obstacle and bring men and women together for the glory of God!