The Book of Acts ~ Study Thirty-Nine

"God Has Broken Through"


Acts 11:18 (MSG) The news traveled fast and in no time the leaders and friends back in Jerusalem heard about it—heard that the non-Jewish "outsiders" were now "in." When Peter got back to Jerusalem, some of his old associates, concerned about circumcision, called him on the carpet: "What do you think you're doing rubbing shoulders with that crowd, eating what is prohibited and ruining our good name?"
   So Peter, starting from the beginning, laid it out for them step-by-step: "Recently I was in the town of Joppa praying. I fell into a trance and saw a vision: Something like a huge blanket, lowered by ropes at its four corners, came down out of heaven and settled on the ground in front of me. Milling around on the blanket were farm animals, wild animals, reptiles, birds—you name it, it was there. Fascinated, I took it all in.
   "Then I heard a voice: 'Go to it, Peter—kill and eat.' I said, 'Oh, no, Master. I've never so much as tasted food that wasn't kosher.' The voice spoke again: 'If God says it's okay, it's okay.' This happened three times, and then the blanket was pulled back up into the sky.
   "Just then three men showed up at the house where I was staying, sent from Caesarea to get me. The Spirit told me to go with them, no questions asked. So I went with them, I and six friends, to the man who had sent for me. He told us how he had seen an angel right in his own house, real as his next-door neighbor, saying, 'Send to Joppa and get Simon, the one they call Peter. He'll tell you something that will save your life—in fact, you and everyone you care for.'

   "So I started in, talking. Before I'd spoken half a dozen sentences, the Holy Spirit fell on them just as he did on us the first time. I remembered Jesus' words: 'John baptized with water; you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.' So I ask you: If God gave the same exact gift to them as to us when we believed in the Master Jesus Christ, how could I object to God?"
   Hearing it all laid out like that, they quieted down. And then, as it sank in, they started praising God. "It's really happened! God has broken through to the other nations, opened them up to Life!"


I love the words the Message Bible uses. The title the Message uses is "God Has Broken Through." Indeed, God had broken through the barrier between Jew and Gentile. He has brought those of us, not born into His Holy People ~ Israel, into His family because of our belief in His Son. We are now part of the Chosen. Praise God for this fact.

Romans 11:11-18 (NLT) Did God’s people stumble and fall beyond recovery? Of course not! They were disobedient, so God made salvation available to the Gentiles. But he wanted his own people to become jealous and claim it for themselves. Now if the Gentiles were enriched because the people of Israel turned down God’s offer of salvation, think how much greater a blessing the world will share when they finally accept it.
   I am saying all this especially for you Gentiles. God has appointed me as the apostle to the Gentiles. I stress this, for I want somehow to make the people of Israel jealous of what you Gentiles have, so I might save some of them. For since their rejection meant that God offered salvation to the rest of the world, their acceptance will be even more wonderful. It will be life for those who were dead! And since Abraham and the other patriarchs were holy, their descendants will also be holy—just as the entire batch of dough is holy because the portion given as an offering is holy. For if the roots of the tree are holy, the branches will be, too.
   But some of these branches from Abraham’s tree—some of the people of Israel—have been broken off. And you Gentiles, who were branches from a wild olive tree, have been grafted in. So now you also receive the blessing God has promised Abraham and his children, sharing in the rich nourishment from the root of God’s special olive tree. But you must not brag about being grafted in to replace the branches that were broken off. You are just a branch, not the root.


Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Bible states this about Romans 11: 

   The Gentiles were grafted into this tree in their room; being admitted into the church of God. Multitudes were made heirs of Abraham's faith, holiness and blessedness. It is the natural state of every one of us, to be wild by nature. Conversion is as the grafting in of wild branches into the good olive. The wild olive was often ingrafted into the fruitful one when it began to decay, and this not only brought forth fruit, but caused the decaying olive to revive and flourish. The Gentiles, of free grace, had been grafted in to share advantages. They ought therefore to beware of self-confidence, and every kind of pride or ambition; lest, having only a dead faith, and an empty profession, they should turn from God, and forfeit their privileges. If we stand at all, it is by faith; we are guilty and helpless in ourselves, and are to be humble, watchful, afraid of self-deception, or of being overcome by temptation. Not only are we at first justified by faith, but kept to the end in that justified state by faith only; yet, by a faith which is not alone, but which worketh by love to God and man. 


Because of the rejection of Jesus the Messiah by many of the Israelites, the Lord allowed those of us who were not born as Jews to be grafted in. This is not to say the Lord quit loving His chosen ones. He continues to love them and will restore anyone who has not believed when they do see  and believe that Jesus is Messiah. The Jews that objected to Peter associating with Gentiles didn't understand why he would meet with Gentiles. But, when he explained what happened they were happy, praised God and said, "It's really happened! God has broken through to the other nations, opened them up to Life!"


What do you do when you learn something from God's Word that is contrary to what you thought you knew? Are you willing to accept it or are you focused on what you've always known? At the same time how do you know that what someone is preaching or teaching is true?


Colossians 2:2-4 (NLT) My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments.


The Apostle Paul stated that all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge or found in Christ Jesus. Therefore, to know if what is said to you is true, it must line up with the Bible and what it says about Jesus and the Good News. Because you are filled with the Holy Spirit, you have the ability to discern what is true and what is false when you allow Him to direct you. Remember He is our true Teacher and Guide. What is preached and taught in our churches must line up with what the Bible says is true. It's ok to question something that doesn't sit right with your spirit. This is why it is so important to study the Bible and pray continually so you aren't deceived.


Those that questioned Peter were right to do so. However, when they heard from Peter that he had heard and seen from God, it aligned with what the Holy Spirit had placed within them. In other words, theirs spirits recognized Truth!


Jesus taught the disciples about the Holy Spirit when He said this in John 14:25-27 (NLT) 
    "I am telling you these things now while I am still with you.  But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you.
   I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid."


The Holy Spirit is our peace and we find peace when we seek to know the will of God through Him. It is through the Holy Spirit and faith in Him, that we have true discernment. When we do hear from Him, and we know what we hear is true or not true, we can truly rejoice that we are directed by Him. 


Listen, pray, study and wait on what God through His Holy Spirit. He is willing to teach all of those who have Him dwelling in their hearts. Stand firm in His truth and trust what He tells you. Rejoice that He will never lead you astray and remember that ~ God has broken through.