Century Christian Church
(Disciples of Christ)

1301 Tamarack Road, Owensboro, KY 42301, (270) 684-0286, Pastor:  Rev. Jim Westmoreland

Explosion Power
Acts 11:1-18
By Jim Westmoreland

When you think of explosion power, what comes to mind? If you've ever witnessed a large explosion, I'm sure that would make an indelible imprint in your mind. Thankfully, I've never witnessed a large, powerful explosion. My personal experience is limited to firecrackers, when I was younger. But, I learned that explosion power was not an easy, gentle force, but a sudden explosive surge that could break things apart or throw them into the air.

Do we believe that the power of God can be dramatic in its power? Do we believe that God can be at work in exploding the barriers and walls that prevent us from doing all that he wants? That's right, there are walls, barriers and blinders that interfere with us responding to do God's will. And, I believe he wants to explode them apart. Link2Lead, a Christian research organization, reveals that in our 42301and 42303 zip codes that 26% of the households claim no faith involvement of any kind. ⁽¹⁾ The population of these two zip codes is more than 76,000 people. On average, one out of every four people, which is 19,760 people who live and work all around us, makes no claim or effort to express any faith of any kind. Why do we not see them? Why do we not reach out to them? There must be some kind of barrier that prevents us from doing more.

One kind of barrier, or wall, that we must be vigilant against is the kind of wall that keeps us from relating to others because of some perceived difference. That could be race, color, language, culture, or socioeconomic status. "Socioeconomic status," that's our politically correct euphemism for "class." It is tempting to think to ourselves, "There is no use to waste any time or ministry with those kinds of people, because we don't really want them to come to our church." Whatever the walls or barriers are, I believe that God wants to break them apart.

In our scripture reading from Acts the 11^th chapter today, "The church finds itself on strange ground. A Roman, a Gentile, an army officer, part of the occupation forces in Jerusalem, has been converted and baptized as a Christian. How on earth did this happen?" ⁽²⁾ Peter was involved and he tells the council of church leaders meeting in Jerusalem what happened.

The early church had trouble getting on the Lord's agenda. What Peter had done was not Kosher in going to Cornelius' home, and the early church continued the practices of Judaism in respect to food, to things that were unclean and to people that were unclean; and Gentiles were unclean. Jesus had told Simon Peter that he would build his church on the faith the Spirit had given him. The breakthrough had to happen in Peter before the Lord could use him to convince the Church. ⁽³⁾ Major changes don't happen to the church all at once. It starts with a few and others listen and the Spirit confirms God's vision with them.

Simon Peter's ministry had brought him to Joppa on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. Along the way God had used him in the healing of Aeneas in Lydda, and in the raising of Dorcas from death while in Joppa. God must have been softening up his narrow Hebrew attitudes about ritual cleanness because he was willing to stay with Simon the tanner, who was a believer. Now, that slides by us, but a tanner was an unclean person because they handled dead animals. Peter didn't mention that in his speech to the council.

But he does tell them about his dream. While praying on Simon's rooftop, he had a vision of a sheet being lowered by its four corners. What he saw revolted him. It contained all kinds of animals, clean and unclean. Some were strictly forbidden for Hebrew consumption in the Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 14, which is where the Kosher guidelines are found. Directly and indirectly, Jesus challenges many of the rules learned from childhood found in Leviticus and Deuteronomy. The barriers and walls that keep the Gospel going to all people are being challenged. Peter's interpretation of his dream was that he should not call any person common or unclean.

It wasn't long before those sent by Cornelius arrived at Simon's house. Peter is beginning to respond to God's agenda, and he goes with them without objection to the home of Cornelius who has assembled his whole household to hear Peter. Peter had taken six men with him who could be witnesses to what happened. Peter didn't barge in and start preaching. No, he graciously asked Cornelius why he had wanted him to come. Peter's question communicated respect and sensitivity for one who had been treated without either by most Jews. Cornelius tells Peter of his vision and expresses his willingness to hear all that the Lord led Peter to say.

Peter preached Christ, that God sent him as a gift of love, that he went about doing good, healing and liberating people, that God's own people rejected him and pressured for his crucifixion, that God's response to man's worst was to raise Jesus from the dead, that Jesus is judge of all men, and that forgiveness is offered to everyone who believes in him. Jesus is Lord of all, and forgiveness is offered to everyone.

Listen, the explosion is about to hit. The ground is rumbling, so dramatic as what is going on in Cornelius' house that day. The scripture says that as Peter spoke, "the Holy Spirit fell upon them just as it had upon us at the beginning." Wait! That can't happen yet, if ever. They haven't made their confession yet. They haven't joined the church, and they haven't even been baptized. This isn't proper that they should receive the gift of the Holy Spirit and be engaging in ecstatic speech. But wait! The Holy Spirit chooses its own order and Peter was the observer.

Peter continued his story to the council, "And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he ad said, 'John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.' If then God gave them the same gift that he gave us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could hinder God?"

What are the walls that God wants to come down. His Spirit has the explosive power to bring them all down. Who are the people that we are not wanting to see? Who are we not comfortable with, for whatever the reason? God gives us no list of who to exclude. He sends us to everyone. Here is the confirmation. When people experience the Good News of Jesus, their lives shows the signs of the activity of God's spirit. When that happens, who are we that we can hinder God? Thankfully, the Jerusalem council's criticisms were silenced and they praised God for the news that the Gentiles had received the Gospel, too.

A little boy wanted to meet God. He knew it was a long trip to where God lived, so he packed his suitcase with a bag of potato chips and a six-pack of root beer and started his journey. When he had gone about three blocks, he met an old woman. She was sitting in the park, just staring at some pigeons.

The boy sat down next to her and opened his suitcase. He was about to take a drink from his root beer when he noticed that the old lady looked hungry, so he offered her some chips. She gratefully accepted it and smiled at him. Her smile was so pretty that the boy wanted to see it again, so he offered her a root beer. Again, she smiled at him. The boy was delighted!

They sat there all afternoon eating and smiling, but they never said a word. As twilight approached, the boy realized how tired he was and he got up to leave; but before he had gone more than a few steps, he turned around, ran back to the old woman, and gave her a hug. She gave him her biggest smile ever.

When the boy opened the door to his own house a short time later, his mother was surprised by the look of joy on his face. She asked him, "What did you do today that made you so happy?"

He replied, "I had lunch with God." But before his mother could respond, he added, "You know what? She's got the most beautiful smile I've ever seen!"

Meanwhile, the old woman, also radiant with joy, returned to her home. Her son was stunned by the look of peace on her face and he asked, "Mother, what did you do today that made you so happy?"

She replied, "I ate potato chips in the park with God." However, before her son responded, she added, "You know, he's much younger than I expected."

Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around. People come into our lives for a reason, a season, or a lifetime.

God's word for is to embrace all equally! Let all the walls that keep us from sharing ourselves and our faith come down. Let the explosion power of the Holy Spirit rock us out of any ruts into which we may have settled. And, let the walls which keep us from being open to new visions and dreams from God come down so that we can meet the people that God wants us to meet! Have lunch with God........bring chips, and like Peter and the early church, be prepared to do some new things and to meet some new people.

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1.  "10 Basic Facts” about Owensboro, KY, from Link2lead.com, a program of Percept Group, Inc.

2.  William H. Willimon in Pulpit Resource, May , 2004, p. 30.