Dear brothers and sisters,
Loving greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus
Christ. Today let us see and study from the word of God the importance
of preserving the peace among the brothers. The lord Jesus Christ
also told in Mat 5:9, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for
they will be called sons of God.” Though Apostle Peter did
the ministry among the gentiles with clear guidance of the lord
the Jewish people who heard about it could not understand it and
they started debating and arguing why Apostle Peter has to go
and spend time with them. In any church or ministry similar arguments
and questions can raise among its members. The best way to deal
and solve it is clearly written in this place. So, let us see
it to learn some spiritual truth for our ministry as in Acts 11:1
to 18.
First of all, he did not ignore the heart felt feelings of his
brothers in the congregation so he gave them time to explain every
thing by taking time for them as in Acts 11:4, “But Peter
rehearsed the matter from the beginning, and expounded it by order
unto them, saying,”
Secondly, he did not try to say that he is only responsible to
the lord who has called him and try to avoid speaking to the people.
Because we need one another in the lord Jesus Christ on this earth
to escape from all the cunning plans of the Devil.
Thirdly, he takes extra pain and time to explain every thing
in detail so that all misunderstanding and false opinion about
him will be cleared from their mind as in Acts 11:4 to 18.
• First, he was praying – [Acts 11:5, “I was
in the city of Joppa praying:]
• Secondly, he saw a day dream – [Acts 11:5, and in
a trance I saw a vision, A certain vessel descends, as it had
been a great sheet, let down from heaven by four corners; and
it came even to me:
• He heard a voice of God speaking to him – [Acts
11:7 And I heard a voice saying unto me, Arise, Peter; slay and
eat.
• I refused to eat – [Acts 11:8 But I said, Not so,
Lord:]
• The voice answered – [Acts 11:9 But the voice answered
me again from heaven,]
• The vision got repeated three times. – [Acts 11:10
And this was done three times:]
• Three visitors came to call – [Acts 11:11, And,
behold, immediately there were three men already came unto the
house where I was, sent from Caesarea unto me.]
• The Holy Spirit commanded me to go with them – [Acts
11:12 And the Spirit bade me go with them, nothing doubting.]
• I went with our brothers – [Moreover these six brethren
accompanied me,]
• The man explained about the visions what God gave him
to call peter there. – [Acts 11:13 And he showed us how
he had seen an angel in his house, which stood and said unto him,
Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon, whose surname is Peter;]
• The Holy Spirit came upon them – [Acts 11:15, “And
as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at
the beginning.”]
• So, we gave the water baptism to all – [Acts 11:16,
“Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said,
John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with
the Holy Ghost.]
Fifthly, we must learn from Apostle Peter that we are accountable
to one another. So, we must give value to one another’s
feelings.
May the lord help us to have the humility of the Spirit so that
we can adjust with all and win each one for the lord Jesus Christ.
We must promote peace and harmony among the brothers so that they
can properly praise and worship God without any murmuring as in
Acts 11:18, “When they heard these things, they held their
peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles
granted repentance unto life.” Amen.
Your Web-Site Pastor,
Rev.
Dr. T. Marcus Devasahayam
Web-site: www.barodabibleclub.org
e-mail: marcusbbc@yahoo.com
Mobile: 91-9327243600 ,Church 3096882 / 5540651.
Res : 3, 2nd floor, Arpita Complex, Priyalaxmi Mills Road, Vadodara
– 390003, Gujarat, India, Phone:91-265-2335651.
