John 15: 9 – 15. Acts 10; 44 End

‘Facebook’ is a website where friendships are sought and friends are united. Some people have friendships that started at school and last a life time. Friends are those who know us and accept us for who we are.

Friends in the Bible.  We shared some of the accounts in the Bible were people had a friendship; Abraham’s friendship with God. Elijah with Elisha, Naomi and Ruth, John the Baptist and his disciples, Jesus and his disciples. etc

Whether we’re at school or in the work place, “A true friend is someone who reaches for your hand and touches your heart.” Friendships can last a life time. In Proverbs 27: 10 it says, “Never abandon a friend . . either yours or your Father’s.”

Jesus called his disciples ‘friends,’ they believed in him, and he was teaching them to live, abiding, one with Him and putting into practice God’s love and word.

We’ve received the Spirit of love and the word through faith in Jesus.

An example of faith: The new Bank of England bank notes still have on them, “I promise to pay the bearer on demand five pounds.” With the chief cashiers name on it.

We believe the promised word on the bank-note. It comes with the knowledge that the Bank of England has the resources to cover that promise,

so when God says “Ask and you shall receive the Holy Spirit” we can have faith in God’s word, it is backed up with all of creation. 

We have the example of faith receiving the Holy Spirit through believing the word about Jesus in our Acts reading.

Gentile Cornelius and his family and friends heard about Jesus from Peter.

Peter was staying for a few days at his friend Simon’s home at Joppa by the sea-side. There he had a vision from God.

It was of a sheet with creatures on it descending from heaven.

We placed on a sheet toy animals and birds etc We then held the corners of the sheet and raised it up and down three times.

The story continued: Peter was given a word in the vision from God , “Rise, Peter, kill and eat.” Peter responded, “No Lord for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.” While Peter was thinking about what this meant, three men came to the door asking for him. They told him about Cornelius’ vision and Peter knew that this was in connection with his vision, so he went with them.  Cornelius in anticipation of Peter’s arrival had gathered his family and close friends.

Verse 27 “And as he talked with him, he went in and found many persons gathered; 28 and he said to them, “You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a Jew to associate with or to visit any one of another nation; but God has shown me that I should not call any man common or unclean. 29 So when I was sent for, I came without objection. I ask then why you sent for me.”

The Messiah’s Secret Revealed.   During Jesus’ ministry he had bestowed on Peter the keys of the kingdom of heaven/God  At Pentecost Peter with a key opened the door of the kingdom to Israel, “Men of Judea,” “Men of Israel,” Acts 2: 14, 22.   Here in Acts 10 with a key he opened the door of the kingdom to the Gentiles. 

The vision that he had from God signified the removal of the barrier of the law that forbid a Jew to associate with a Gentile.   

We are especially thankful for Peter’s ministry to the Centurion Cornelius and his family and friends. We tend to think only of Paul’s ministry to the Gentiles                                                                                           

Cornelius told Peter about his vision, “Send therefore to Joppa and ask for Simon who is called Peter; he is lodging in the house of Simon, a tanner, by the seaside.’ 33 So I sent to you at once, and you have been kind enough to come. Now therefore we are all here present in the sight of God, to hear all that you have been commanded by the Lord.”

Peter then began to tell everyone about Jesus, “You know the word which he sent to Israel, preaching good news of peace by Jesus Christ (he is Lord of all), 37 the word which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism which John preached: 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; how he went about doing good and healing all that were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. 39 And we are witnesses to all that he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree; 40 but God raised him on the third day and made him manifest; 41 not to all the people but to us who were chosen by God as witnesses, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42 And he commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that he is the one ordained by God to be judge of the living and the dead. 43 To him all the prophets bear witness that every one who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.” 44 While Peter was still saying this, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word.

Verse 43 “To him the prophets had borne witness too that everyone who believes in him receive forgiveness of their sins through his name.” Up till them the message was to the Jews and Proselytes (Gentile converts to Judaism)  Acts 2: 10, 14, 22, 29.

Everyone who believes and turns to Jesus receives forgiveness of sin and is saved and it’s not restricted to adults, children are included.

We can have faith in God’s word because Jesus word is truth and he has faithful fulfilled his word to us.

“I do not pray for these only (disciples) but also for those who believe in me through their word, that they may all be one; even as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.” Jesus’ prayer John 17: 20, 21

The Trinity are One God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, they are three separate persons in their own right that are united in Spirit and Word.

Jesus’ prayer was  answered  Cornelius and his family and friends had heard the word from Peter and believed on their word about him. So for us we receive through the recorded word in the Gospels the Spirit of God’s love that abiding love and word that is our oneness with Jesus and unites the friends of Jesus.

“Beloved let us love one another; for love is of God. He who does not love does not know God; for God is love.” 1 John 4: 1

God’s love: is the Spirit of God and his love is all-embracing.

His love constantly reaching out to seeking the lost. The Lord has given to us his love to bring the lost to faith.

• Love that gives freedom

God’s love has no boundaries it’s free from the law kept by rules. God writes His commandments in the heart. It is abhorrent to steal, to lie, etc sometimes we do fall into sin,  John says, “If we confess our sin, he is faithful and just and Jesus will forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1: 9

• Love that is fearless

Love has no fear of death through Jesus conquering death. Many people including Christians suffer the effects of fear: they won’t leave the house, the anxiety of being in crowds, fear of rejection all kinds of fear.

Perfect love casts out fear, God’s Love disarms fear.

• Abiding in God’s love.

God will act on his abiding  presence our oneness  with Jesus and his word. Jesus working in us, when we pray in the Spirit of God’s love, the things we ask for in prayer will come into being, materialise, like healing those fears.

God’s purpose in loving us is to share his love with our friends and part of that is like Peter telling them about Jesus.

God’s word

• Jesus is the word of God revealed in the flesh. John wrote, “In the beginning was the Word, the Word was with God and the Word was God.” John 1: 1 He also wrote in his first letter, “We have seen with our eyes which we have looked upon and touched with our hands, concerning the word of life.”  1 John 1: 1                               Jesus’ is the word of God clothed in the flesh. Jesus said, “If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you.”
• Abiding in Jesus, How do we abide? We read the scriptures and think about what it is saying to us, often the Lord will speak to us through his word, and the Holy Spirit will direct us how to act on the word.

Recently I read in Luke 8: 40 on-wards, the reading is about where the people had to wait for Jesus and as soon as he arrived Jairus asked Jesus to go with him and heal his seriously ill daughter, then a lady caused a delay, she had touched his garment and Jesus wanted to know who had touched him? The news came that Jairus’ daughter had died. But Jesus went just the same and he raised the little girl from the dead. What Jesus was saying to me through this word was about time management    I needed to re-organise my time, to have one day, ‘not preparing’ for the next days’ tasks, and it’s worked..

In our friendship with God our Father, Jesus and the Holy Spirit we have the assurance of belonging to the family of  God.

John wrote at the end of his third letter, “Peace be to you, the friends greet you, greet the friends, every one of them.

 Prayer

Lord we pray for your perfect love, releasing anyone here this morning from any aspect of fear. And for anyone who needs assurance that they belong to Jesus in Spirit one with Him. We ask that they would receive assurance. In Jesus’ name Amen