Missions Paul

Who is your Cornelius?

Acts 10:1
“At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was known as the Italian Regiment.”

There was a man who lived in a prominent Roman city, Caesarea, on the Judean coast.
His name was Cornelius and he was an officer in the Roman army.
The Roman army were the oppressors of the Jews and Cornelius was a key officer in that task.

So in effect the verse should read: At Caesarea there was a man hated by the majority of Gods people.
We are going to find out what happens to him. But today remind yourself that there are people caught up in a system, in an organisation, political and religious and who may carry out injustices and unethical practice who are doing their jobs. But at the end of the day they are a man and a woman with a family just like you and me. Real people with real feelings. Just because they are within a framework which you may hate doesn’t mean they are a man or woman who should be hated.
Choose love not hate.

Prejudice
Acts 9:43
“Peter stayed in Joppa for some time with a tanner named Simon.”

A most interesting verse!
The number one preventative and killer of cross cultural mission is prejudice by people who can give evidence that they are not prejudiced.
Acts 10 gives the reason why the apostles had not gone to the world even though Jesus had asked them to do so 14 years previously: they were prejudiced.
Peter would be reprimanded by God over his thoughts of the Gentiles and the subsequent family conversion of the Italian family changed all that.
The reason why this was so shocking to Peter was that he didn’t think he was prejudiced. This verse shows how he stayed in the home of a tanner named Simon. The tanner worked with the skin of dead animals making him ceremonially unclean and Peter is with him. If anyone asked Peter if he was prejudiced he would say NO. And so would many people. Not many admit to being prejudiced. But many prejudge others without knowing their story first.

The big event

Acts 9: 42
“This became known all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord.”

Can you imagine one event that is known all over a city? A lot easier than in the days of Philip within Joppa. Today through social media we have statuses, uploads and downloads within seconds and even as the action is happening. Live now in Joppa, woman raised from the dead speaks!

Can you imagine one event leading to many new believers?
Lord let an event take place today that will shake our villages, towns, cities and nations.
One global event can send tremors throughout the world.
Can you imagine the Spirit doing such a global event?
Lord let such a global event take place today!

Will you pray for such events?
Will you participate?
Will you GO?

Mission is not compicated

Acts 9: 41
“He took her by the hand and helped her to her feet. Then he called the believers and the widows and presented her to them alive.”

The process of mission:

1. Offer your hand to someone. Be a friend.

2. Help them up. Give them dignity.

3. Call the Church. Introduce similar journeys to your friend.

4. Call those who weep. Showing with God anything is possible.

5. Present the greatest miracle statement:
I was dead but now I am alive!

The process of change.
Acts 9: 40

“Peter sent them all out of the room; then he got down on his knees and prayed. Turning towards the dead woman, he said, “Tabitha, get up.” She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter she sat up.”

Copying Jesus who would send people out of the room before he healed them, Peter does exactly the same thing.
When you have an idea of something good happening then the last thing you need is a room full of weepers whose only thought is negative. So get rid of the distraction.

Peter then shows his reliance on Jesus and not himself by kneeling and praying. We don’t know what he prayed. But sometimes a person’s position is more important than what is prayed. Peter was on his knees of surrender.

Them Peter tells Tabitha to do what she could not do, because she was dead. Leaders have to reverse the trend. They have to stand up and declare the opposite. When people say it cannot be done, sometimes leaders have to say it can.

When it’s over
Acts 9: 39
“Peter went with them, and when he arrived he was taken upstairs to the room. All the widows stood around him, crying and showing him the robes and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them.”

When your life is over what will you have left behind?
For Dorcas, it was the things she had made with her hands, robes and other clothing.
For Dorcas, it was a group of crying widows. Most likely the women she was good to and perhaps the poor she had helped.
What have you made? What have you produced in your life? Go on, look around, be thankful for the abilities God has given you that you have used for the good. Keep on using your gifts and skills for one day you will leave them.
Who have you invested in? Who will stand crying because they grieve for you? Go on, name them, people you have spent time with, encouraged, strengthened, given to. Keep on pouring into these people for one day you will leave them and they will be there reflecting on your life.

Call
Acts 9: 38

“Lydda was near Joppa; so when the disciples heard that Peter was in Lydda, they sent two men to him and urged him, “Please come at once!”

Recently a film has been released that was popular in my youth.
“If there’s something strange in your neighbourhood
Who you gonna call? (ghostbusters)”

Do you have someone you can call?
Would you call them if you had?
Dorcas is dead, the disciples hear Peter is close by, so they send 2 men, presumably 2 are more convincing than one.
Some people won’t look to anyone for help.
Some people don’t have anyone they can turn to.
Pride. Hurt. Ignorance. Don’t let anything stop you calling out for help.
Some circumstances are bigger than you can handle yourself.
It is not a sign of weakness that you have called for someone.
So today, do it, maybe a Pastor/leader, family member, friend, call them. “I need you. Today.”
So who you gonna call?

Acts 9: 37
“About that time she became sick and died, and her body was washed and placed in an upstairs room.”

Sometimes the good people who do good have bad things happen to them, as did Dorcas.
She died. She was ceremonially washed. She was placed aside.
The important 3 words in this verse are the first three.
A really good person and servant of the Church died during that time. What time? The time of seeing Peter on mission.
The missionary often comes across bad things happening to people.
The missionary sees sickness and death.
The missionary lives in a groaning world.
But if it all goes wrong for you then rather it be when it is time for mission. If you are a Dorcas then look around for your Peter.
Today you may be on mission wherever that may be, in your neighbourhood or further afield, friend, Dorcas will be there. It is about that time.

Acts 9: 36

“In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which, when translated, is Dorcas), who was always doing good and helping the poor.”

Joppa famously known for the place where you run away from God’s mission (ie Jonah!) is where the ‘gazelle’ lived (meaning of Tabitha/Dorcas).
This lady wasn’t running from God’s call but was following Him, a disciple of Christ known for always doing good and helping the poor.
We will find out a little more soon but what does this verse tell us of her?
She had vision. Clearly living amongst the disadvantaged she wasn’t blind to the needs of her community.
She had compassion. Stirred by the needs she had to do something.
She was motivated. She didn’t just do this once, she was always doing good.
Today may God open your eyes to see.
Today may your heart be broken for the broken.
Today may you not give up until those around you are helped.
Don’t run from the mission God has called you to, but be the follower of Christ in the mission to people.

Acts 9:35
“All those who lived in Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord.”

Give them something to see.
If all you have is words well, frankly, that just isn’t enough.
If all you have is the ability to create a spiritual atmosphere, then again it is just not enough.
The world needs to see Jesus.
All living in Lydda and Sharon saw the paralytic not being paralysed anymore because Jesus had healed him.
Whatever the world sees, it may be a healing, or it could be your love, compassion, forgiveness and kindness or many other things, they need to see that it clearly comes from Jesus to influence and impact people that are loved by God. They need to see this.
Sadly, some only see the opposite of these things. They see politics, divisions and religious duty that is devoid of power.
They need to see Jesus.
What will you do today that will demonstrate Jesus?