Welcome to week 3 (Our Part in God’s Mission in the Present) on ON MISSION with God, fellow Israel lovers!  In only a few days our actual mission begins, and we will see clearly where God is at work.  Will we be prepared to join Him there? 

Early in our study together, we focused on Genesis 12:1-3, God’s covenant with Abraham.  Filled with promises, God also defined the unique purpose for which He called Abraham and his descendants.

Study tips:

• Re-read Genesis 12:1-3.
• According to the final phrase of verse 3, what is God’s mission for Abraham and his descendants?

Indeed, God has called Abraham and his descendants to be the vehicle of world redemption.  They gave us the Word of God, the prophets, the apostles and most importantly, the Messiah.  Those are gifts we cannot earn and do not deserve. 

The Bible teaches us that salvation is of the Jews (John 4:22), and is to the Jews first (Romans 1:16).  So, how did we, as Gentiles, enter into the equation?  Perhaps you have heard the term “grafted in.” That is an accurate, Biblical idea, but where did it come from?

There is a wonderful passage of Scripture that brings tears to my eyes every time I share it on the Mediterranean shores of Caesarea in Israel.  To jump into the narrative, we will spend time in the book of Acts, so open your Bible there!

Study tips:

• Read Acts 13:46-47. In context of chapter 13, Paul and Barnabas are barnstorming through Jewish synagogues preaching the Gospel, and they share their motive for doing so in these verses.
• According to verse 46, to whom was it necessary to speak the Word of God to first? (Hint: they are in the synagogue!)
• What was the response of the Jews?
• To whom did Paul and Barnabas then turn?
• Per verse 47, what was God’s intention for the Jews, and who was to receive that blessing?

Just as in Genesis 12:3, the Bible is making it clear what God’s purpose was for the Jewish people. Yet, they rejected the message of the Gospel, so where did it go? To the Gentiles…you and me! Just like that, we were invited into God’s plan!

But let’s find out more about that!  Back up to Acts 10.  Read the entire chapter, but pay particular attention to verses 23-33.

Devotional moments:

• Peter “just happened” to be in Joppa, and Cornelius “just happened” to send his men to Joppa to summon Peter?  I don’t think so!  God had a specific mission and his hand was all over that.  Has God ever called you to go do something you didn’t have all the details or knowledge of?  Is He calling you to that right now?
• It was unlawful for a Jew to associate with or visit a foreigner, yet God went to great lengths to show Peter in a dream that he was not to call any man unholy or unclean.  God relieved a Jew of certain Jewish laws in order to fellowship with Gentiles.
• When Peter arrived to the place where Cornelius was, Cornelius said, “Hey Pete!  We’re all here and present before God. Please give us the Gospel!”  (He begged to be witnessed to!)  Do you believe there are people today longing to hear and to see the life of Jesus in us?  How does that motivate you?

Acts 10:34 says, “Peter opened his mouth…,” and a miraculous thing happened!  Read Acts 10:34-48.

Study tips:

• What did Peter preach, according to verses 36-38?
• In verses 39-41, Peter preaches Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection.  What do we call that?
• According to verses 44-46, what happened to the Gentiles?

Dear friends, this is the first time the Gospel was preached to the Gentiles!  The first time Gentiles were invited into the plan of redemption!  Right there in Caesarea, God swung wide the doors of salvation to you and me…and the rest of the world!  It is the gift we cannot earn! I don’t know about you, but this passage brings me to my knees in thanksgiving to our holy, righteous God who made a way of salvation for us all. 

Many believed and were baptized that day.  Why?  Because God gave Abraham and his descendants a unique calling (to be the vehicle of world redemption), Jewish men like Peter were obedient to God rather than Jewish law and were bold enough to preach to Gentiles!  Amazingly, the Holy Spirit showed up!  (If you are thinking back to our diagram in week 2, yes, this was the beginning of the Church Age.)

If Acts 10 doesn’t light your fire as a believer in Jesus, your wick is missing!  By this we clearly see what God ordained first for the Jews, became available to us through the Jewish Messiah!  Praise God for the Jewish roots of our Christian faith.  God is ON MISSION, and now we have a part to play as well! Sleep on that for the night and we’ll come back tomorrow to further understand our mission.