Opening Scripture: Acts 10: 27-29

And as he talked with him, he went in and found many who had come together. 28 Then he said to them, “You know how unlawful it is for a Jewish man to keep company with or go to one of another nation. But God has shown me that I should not call any man common or unclean. 29 Therefore I came without objection as soon as I was sent for. I ask, then, for what reason have you sent for me?”

• The “operating system” of our body, soul and spirit runs on truth.
• It is not God’s fault that truth often brings pain. Don’t get mad at God!
• There is an uncomfortable love hate relationship a Follower of Jesus has with pain. It is much better when you don’t go through this pain alone!

Psalms 103:7 He made known His ways to Moses, His acts to the children of Israel.

• The fact that breakthrough comes to us on the other side of pain is in fact a way of the Kingdom of God.

Hebrews 5:8 though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered.

• Jesus suffered more than any of us and learned obedience through it.
• Peter and Cornelius Acts 10:1 – 29
• Peter knew that by meeting with Cornelius (a gentile) was against Jewish law. Why was Peter so prepared to take the risk of breaking this law?
• I propose to you that Peter’s willingness to meet with Cornelius was connected to the pain Peter experienced while Jesus was on the cross and in the tomb.
• Imagine the agony Peter went through as Jesus hung on the cross and laid in the tomb. No hope for forgiveness, not opportunity to explain. Jesus was dead. All of Peter’s hopes for the future laid in the tomb with Jesus.

Peter realized he may be judged only by his greatest failure.

• We will rarely be willing to change a deeply held belief or habit without experiencing pain. The pain of where we are must be greater than the pain of making a change.
• But the grave was not the end of Peter’s story. It is not the end of your story!

Mark 16:7 But he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid Him. 7 But go, tell His disciples—and Peter

Jesus knew Peter was in pain, and He specifically instructed the angel to tell Peter Jesus is risen.

Peter’s overcoming his pain qualified him to be used by God to bring forth the truth that salvation was for everyone, not just the Jews.

Conclusion:

What is the Holy Spirit saying to you through this message?