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Acts 2:22-24, 32-39; 10:1-48; 11:1-18; Galatians 2:1-16; Acts 15:1-20; II Peter 3:1-18

God is in the people business. As God’s people, we get involved with our churches and its activities, however we are not to forget the great commission which is to take the gospel into the four corners of the earth.

As we grow spiritually and learn to be meek, God will be able to show us things about ourselves we may not like, but we should always be open to hear from Him so we can continue to grow. Peter experienced this. He was perhaps the most unlikely candidate to bring the Word to the Gentiles.

On Pentecost, Peter delivered the message God gave him, but did not yet fully understand it himself. He declared that the promise of God was unto Israel and all those who were "afar off" which would mean the Gentiles. In Acts 3, we read of the healing of the man at the temple gate Beautiful and of Peter’s boldness to declare he could only speak the things of God.

One would think all the religion had gone from his life, but was it? Eight to ten years later, he was still zealous for the Mosaic law. Even though God had revealed to him that the law was just a forerunner to Christ and once spirit had come the invitation was open to ALL who believed, Peter was still bound by religion. When God gave Peter the vision regarding eating the unclean animals, Peter strongly declared he would never do so. Yet God was preparing him for the arrival of Cornelius. Peter preached the gospel to the household of Cornelius and was astonished that "God was no respecter of persons." When he saw the Gentiles also speak with tongues, he knew they too had received the gift of holy spirit as he had on Pentecost.

One would think he was finally delivered from all the religiosity. Yet in Acts 15, there was a council held because certain of the believers were zealous of the law, insisting that new believers be circumcised. Galatians speaks of Paul’s confrontation to Peter because he would fellowship with the believing Gentiles but when the Israelites came around, he disassociated himself with the Gentiles. Peter was meek and humble to receive Paul’s confrontation before the church.

Peter may have been the most unlikely candidate, but at that time he was meek, humble and obedient to the Father. For that reason, the door was opened to the Gentiles.
Much later in Peter’s life, we read of how he still had to wrestle with religion. II Peter speaks of how he acknowledged that some of what Paul said was difficult. Yet his desire was for the believers to "grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ."God chose this most unlikely candidate to write two of the Epistles.

We might also be unlikely candidates to carry out what God calls us to do. As we keep a mind set of expecting the unexpected, then God can reveal His will to us. When we obey, we and others will be blessed.


#279 A Most Unlikely Candidate -- August 11, 2002 ©2002 / Steven A. Michels 64:52 minutes
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"A Most Unlikely Candidate" - Rev. Steven A. Michels Acts 2:22-24, 32-39; 10:1-48; 11:1-18; Galatians 2:1-16; Acts 15:1-20; II Peter 3:1-18 God is in the people business. As God’s people, we get involved with our churches and its activities, however we are not to forget the great commission which is to take the gospel into the four corners of the earth. As we grow spiritually and learn to be meek, God will be able to show us things about ourselves we may not like, but we should always be open to hear from Him so we can continue to grow. Peter experienced this. He was perhaps the most unlikely candidate to bring the Word to the Gentiles. On Pentecost, Peter delivered the message God gave him, but did not yet fully understand it himself. He declared that the promise of God was unto Israel and all those who were "afar off" which would mean the Gentiles. In Acts 3, we read of the healing of the man at the temple gate Beautiful and of Peter’s boldness to declare he could only speak the things of God. One would think all the religion had gone from his life, but was it? Eight to ten years later, he was still zealous for the Mosaic law. Even though God had revealed to him that the law was just a forerunner to Christ and once spirit had come the invitation was open to ALL who believed, Peter was still bound by religion. When God gave Peter the vision regarding eating the unclean animals, Peter strongly declared he would never do so. Yet God was preparing him for the arrival of Cornelius. Peter preached the gospel to the household of Cornelius and was astonished that "God was no respecter of persons." When he saw the Gentiles also speak with tongues, he knew they too had received the gift of holy spirit as he had on Pentecost. One would think he was finally delivered from all the religiosity. Yet in Acts 15, there was a council held because certain of the believers were zealous of the law, insisting that new believers be circumcised. Galatians speaks of Paul’s confrontation to Peter because he would fellowship with the believing Gentiles but when the Israelites came around, he disassociated himself with the Gentiles. Peter was meek and humble to receive Paul’s confrontation before the church. Peter may have been the most unlikely candidate, but at that time he was meek, humble and obedient to the Father. For that reason, the door was opened to the Gentiles. Much later in Peter’s life, we read of how he still had to wrestle with religion. II Peter speaks of how he acknowledged that some of what Paul said was difficult. Yet his desire was for the believers to "grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ."God chose this most unlikely candidate to write two of the Epistles. We might also be unlikely candidates to carry out what God calls us to do. As we keep a mind set of expecting the unexpected, then God can reveal His will to us. When we obey, we and others will be blessed.