Learning
to bury the hatchet
Acts 10:1-48
“Everyone
is a prisoner of his own experiences. No one can eliminate prejudices - just
recognize them” (Edward R. Murrow, US broadcast journalist &
newscaster)
Central
theme: Although man is inclined to
prejudice and bitterness, God shows no form of partiality and views all mankind
as equals created with “one blood”. Inasmuch, He calls all true followers to
adopt a lifestyle in keeping with such a statement. (vv. 15, 34-35; 17:26)
The
phrase “bury the hatchet” is a American idiom meaning to make peace. It was a
Native American Custom to bury their weapons during times of peace. The phrase is an allusion
to the figurative or literal practice of putting away the tomahawk at the cessation of
hostilities among or by Native Americans in the Eastern United
States, specifically concerning the formation of the Iroquois Confederacy and in Iroquois custom in general.
Weapons were to be buried or otherwise cached in time of peace.
The truth is that everyone has
certain prejudices. Whether it’s a child who won’t let someone play with them
or join their club or adults who view other families, people groups, and
individuals with contempt. Truth be told, there are many prejudices which are
unique to geographical or cultural areas. These prejudices are passed down from
generation to generation and tend to result in heated conflict. Certainly the
most familiar prejudice between families is the contention between the
Hatfield’s and the McCoy’s.
There are families within every community and those
connected to many churches who have hatchets to bury. There are those who have caused very public injury to other
brothers and sisters in the past and that hostility has not been buried. We
can’t run from the hurt in our past we must face it. If you’re sitting in
church and you know of someone you have offended in the past you must go to
them and bury the hatchet. And if that hostility has caused “public” damage
both parties ought to remove those “images” of hostility.
In Christ there
are no greater or lesser ministries or disciples. In Him all are one. God does
not hold one person, group or family over another. God does not inspire racism,
prejudice, and pride. Rather, Christ calls us to resolution of past hurts and
to avoid exclusiveness. We are called to bury the hatchet. Children are not the only ones who push
people away. Many adults refuse to associate themselves with those who they
view undesirable, opposite to their personality, or whom they disagree with.
In today’s passage we will look at what God
has to say about prejudice and bitterness. Also we see how God prepared Peter
to overcome his pride and prejudice and bury his hatchet.
I.
Divine
Preparation and Intervention (VV. 1-20)
a.
Reliance on the
Holy Spirit to soften hearts. vv 1-9.
i.
In light of the hardness of man’s heart and
the ingrained nature bent toward prejudice it is vital to lean upon the leading
of the Holy Spirit to break certain prejudices
ii.
In order to reach the gentile community God
had to prepare the heart of His preacher Peter and the seeker Cornelius.
1.
In the same way, in order to fulfill the great
commission we must.
a.
Seek God’s direction
b.
Pray that god prepares the way
c.
Pray for softened hearts
d.
Be willing to do and say the hard things.
2.
We must recognize, Salvation begins and ends
with God.
a.
God calls
“No one can come to
me [Jesus] unless the Father draws him (John 6:44)
b.
God chooses:
Many are called, but few are chosen
(Matt 22:14)
c.
God saves
Everyone who calls on the name of the
Lord shall be saved (Rom 10:13)
d.
God seals
In Him you also…were sealed with the
promise of the Holy Spirit (Eph 1:13)
e.
God sends
Go Therefore… preach the gospel…
baptize… make disciples. (Matt 28:19-20)
b.
Willingness to
adjust beliefs and lifestyle. vv 9-20
i.
God calls believers to prayer and
communion in order to draw us closer to his pre-revealed plan.
1.
All that God reveals has been
revealed. Therefore it is not about something new God seeks to reveal to us.
2.
Rather about us opening our eyes to
what has been laid in place since the dawn of time.
ii.
Responding to God’s leading is not
always easy. This is especially true when what God demands is far beyond our
comfortably and reasoning.
II.
Abandonment
of Pride and Prejudice (vv. 21-25)
a.
Serving God
requires humility and thick skin. vv. 20-22
i.
Based upon the context and the Greek words, God
literally told Peter, travel with them (gentile soldiers and servants) and do
not judge or treat them with prejudice, for I have sent them. Accept them as
brothers.
ii.
In the same manner, God calls us to live in
harmony with those outside our sphere of comfort.
1. God calls us to do the hard things in
order to reach the hard to reach.
2. Are we willing to do the hard things.
b.
God does not always act “rationally” vv. 23-25
i.
He invited them in… What God was
asking of peter was to defy tradition which had been in place for more than
1,000 years.
1.
“Good Jews” would never invite (on their own
free will) any gentile into their home. Certainly they would not invite a roman
solider in.
2.
Peter’s actions clearly indicate a significant
heart change. This drastic of a change can only result from divine preparation.
ii.
Some brethren… these were six
of the believers from Joppa.
1.
Very likely newly converted believers as a
result of Peter’s ongoing ministry.
2.
Peter is clearly disciplining converts in
Joppa
3.
Go is using the ministry of Peter to proclaim
His larger message. “ I am for all people!”
iii.
Cornelius was waiting [with] his relatives and
close friends… If we will simply be willing and obedient,
God has prepared hearts to hear the gospel. The timing and circumstances may
not seem “appropriate” but the outcome will be unexpected.
III.
Consequences
of Obedient Faith. (vv. 26-33)
a.
God receives worship
and glory. vv. 26
i.
When we respond in faith in brings glory to
God.
ii.
We must be cautious not to take the credit or
praise for our actions.
·
For every good and perfect gift comes
from God (James 1:17).
·
Without Him we are truly nothing
(John 15:5).
iii.
Only the triune God deserves worship. Rev
22:8,9
b.
Deeper insight
and understanding are given. vv. 27-28
i.
God opened Peter’s
eyes to the failings of the law.
1. Peter was among
the most devout followers of the Jewish laws. Perhaps the reason God called
Peter to take part in this event was His influence.
2. His response
reveals that God had changed His heart. He now viewed all as equals in the eyes
of God. He came to view all humanity as lost, fallen, and in need of salvation.
ii.
Peter still was
uncertain of the reason he was sent. vv. 29-33
1. Peter’s
willingness to follow God despite not understanding His purpose should serve as
a strong sign to us.
2. One does not need
to fully understand the details or to rationally explain the call. Simply, we
must be willing to radically abandon our pride and prejudice and answer the
call.
3. God does not need
to explain himself.
iii.
God’s will is
revealed while Peter is listening and obeying vv. 34-35
1. After all these
events transpire peter comes to a deeper understanding.
2. He understands “NOW”
that God is “no respecter of persons.”
3. The
man who fears the Lord and does what is right (Eccl 4:10) is welcome to Him.
a. The
word translated “welcomed” means to be “marked with a favorable manifestation
of divine pleasure.”
b. God
welcomes all of those who call on Him. He is a loving Father.
iv.
God’s offers
salvation and companionship to all vv. 36-43
1.
It is God’s will that all mankind be
reached.
2.
The truth of God’s existence and love
are self-evident (Rom 1:19)
3.
Mankind is without excuse.
4.
God will bring all the earth under judgment
in Christ.
5.
Jesus Christ is the Judge
of the living and the dead… everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness
of sins.
IV.
Reassurance
Of the Holy Spirit. (vv. 44-48)
a.
Many souls are
saved
i.
The Holy Spirit
seals effective, godly, living.
1.
We need not live to impress others; neither
should we be burdened down by fear of failure, rejection or hurt.
2.
If we are truly living directed by the
Spirit, our future is secure.
ii.
The Holy Spirit
is the one who draws every man, woman, and child.
1.
No act of man could equal a genuine
move of God.
2.
Only God could orchestrate
the events that resulted in the salvation of all those in Cornelius’ house.
b.
The scope of
ministry is broadened.
As
a result of these events:
i.
The gospel was preached to thousands of
seeking individuals.
ii.
The Nature of God was made known to man once
again.
1.
God revealed
Himself to every person.
2.
God was not just
the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
a.
He is the God of
all people
b.
In Him there is
no division
iii.
The condition of man was revealed
1.
All of Humanity
are brought under one law
a.
Galatians 3:8
There is neither Jew
nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for
you are all one in Christ Jesus.
Therefore, we have nothing to hold
to. There is not a thread of hope which we can draw upon in our own strength. The
only thing which is of any value with you and I is Jesus. It would be foolish
to boast in ourselves. The only thing upon which any of us can ever hope to
stand upon is the name of Jesus. We have lost the right to hold anything over
another. All hostility, pride, and prejudice against another human being must
be relinquished at the foot of the cross.
Will you let it go this morning?
What hatchet is God calling on you to bury? It may not be easy, nor seem
rational to you. However if you will take God at His word He will work in ways
you could not expect, imagine or explain. Won’t you let God heal you today?
