Surprise, Surprise!!!
Reflection: Sometimes we hear the phrase “the best surprise is no surprise!” We like to have things in order and our general nature is to be controlling. We like patterns and order because they give a sense of security and being in control. But as we read through the book of Acts we see that it is full of surprises. Today is no exception, as the Holy Spirit is poured out even on the Gentiles. The circumcised believers have a major paradigm shift. As the leader of the movement Peter has tried to prepare them through the vision he had to not declare unclean what God had declared as clean (meaning the Gentiles who were not steeped in the Jewish rituals for purity which came from the Torah/Pentateuch).
As evidence that God’s favor had rested on these Gentiles, was the power of the Holy Spirit, which manifested itself by the new believers speaking in tongues and praising God in new languages. While this was the way God manifested the power of the Holy Spirit in the new believers it was not meant to be normative for each and every conversion experience like some denominations have taught.
The bottom line is that when we come to faith in Jesus Christ and are baptized as a sign of our conversion, we are given the gift of the Holy Spirit. As one is led by the Spirit (see Galatians 5 and 1 Corinthians 12-14 for the gifts and fruits of the Spirit) one’s life comes under new management. As the Spirit leads and guides us, we can be sure to have surprises in our lives as we are open to the Holy Spirit’s leading and guidance. And while there is spontaneous nature of the Holy Spirit’s leading and guidance, the Holy Spirit will never lead or guide outside of the principals God has given us in the bible.
Under the Spirit’s guidance we will experience some great surprises as we are open to, hear and obey God’s voice to bring in His Kingdom here on earth as it is in heaven. This is the joy and the adventure of the Christian life that the disciples experienced in Acts and God still intends for us today!
Psalm 7:10-17
10 My shield is God Most High,
who saves the upright in heart.
11 God is a righteous judge,
a God who displays his wrath every day.
12 If he does not relent,
he will sharpen his sword;
he will bend and string his bow.
13 He has prepared his deadly weapons;
he makes ready his flaming arrows.
14 Whoever is pregnant with evil
conceives trouble and gives birth to disillusionment.
15 Whoever digs a hole and scoops it out
falls into the pit they have made.
16 The trouble they cause recoils on them;
their violence comes down on their own heads.
17 I will give thanks to the Lord because of his righteousness;
I will sing the praises of the name of the Lord Most High.
1 Chronicles 8
The Genealogy of Saul the Benjamite 8 Benjamin was the father of Bela his firstborn, Ashbel the second son, Aharah the third, 2 Nohah the fourth and Rapha the fifth. 3 The sons of Bela were: Addar, Gera, Abihud, 4 Abishua, Naaman, Ahoah, 5 Gera, Shephuphan and Huram. 6 These were the descendants of Ehud, who were heads of families of those living in Geba and were deported to Manahath:7 Naaman, Ahijah, and Gera, who deported them and who was the father of Uzza and Ahihud. 8 Sons were born to Shaharaim in Moab after he had divorced his wives Hushim and Baara. 9 By his wife Hodesh he had Jobab, Zibia, Mesha, Malkam, 10 Jeuz, Sakia and Mirmah. These were his sons, heads of families. 11 By Hushim he had Abitub and Elpaal. 12 The sons of Elpaal: Eber, Misham, Shemed (who built Ono and Lod with its surrounding villages), 13 and Beriah and Shema, who were heads of families of those living in Aijalon and who drove out the inhabitants of Gath. 14 Ahio, Shashak, Jeremoth, 15 Zebadiah, Arad, Eder, 16 Michael, Ishpah and Joha were the sons of Beriah.17 Zebadiah, Meshullam, Hizki, Heber, 18 Ishmerai, Izliah and Jobab were the sons of Elpaal. 19 Jakim, Zikri, Zabdi, 20 Elienai, Zillethai, Eliel, 21 Adaiah, Beraiah and Shimrath were the sons of Shimei. 22 Ishpan, Eber, Eliel, 23 Abdon, Zikri, Hanan, 24 Hananiah, Elam, Anthothijah, 25 Iphdeiah and Penuel were the sons of Shashak. 26 Shamsherai, Shehariah, Athaliah, 27 Jaareshiah, Elijah and Zikri were the sons of Jeroham. 28 All these were heads of families, chiefs as listed in their genealogy, and they lived in Jerusalem. 29 Jeiel the father of Gibeon lived in Gibeon. His wife’s name was Maakah, 30 and his firstborn son was Abdon, followed by Zur, Kish, Baal, Ner, Nadab, 31 Gedor, Ahio, Zeker 32 and Mikloth, who was the father of Shimeah. They too lived near their relatives in Jerusalem. 33 Ner was the father of Kish, Kish the father of Saul, and Saul the father of Jonathan, Malki-Shua, Abinadab and Esh-Baal. 34 The son of Jonathan: Merib-Baal, who was the father of Micah. 35 The sons of Micah: Pithon, Melek, Tarea and Ahaz. 36 Ahaz was the father of Jehoaddah, Jehoaddah was the father of Alemeth, Azmaveth and Zimri, and Zimri was the father of Moza. 37 Moza was the father of Binea; Raphah was his son, Eleasah his son and Azel his son. 38 Azel had six sons, and these were their names: Azrikam, Bokeru, Ishmael, Sheariah, Obadiah and Hanan. All these were the sons of Azel. 39 The sons of his brother Eshek: Ulam his firstborn, Jeush the second son and Eliphelet the third. 40 The sons of Ulam were brave warriors who could handle the bow. They had many sons and grandsons—150 in all.
All these were the descendants of Benjamin.
Acts 10:44-11:10
44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. 45 The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on Gentiles. 46 For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God. Then Peter said, 47 “Surely no one can stand in the way of their being baptized with water. They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.” 48 So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days.
Peter Explains His Actions
11 The apostles and the believers throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God. 2 So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers criticized him 3 and said, “You went into the house of uncircumcised men and ate with them.” 4 Starting from the beginning, Peter told them the whole story: 5 “I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision. I saw something like a large sheet being let down from heaven by its four corners, and it came down to where I was. 6 I looked into it and saw four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, reptiles and birds. 7 Then I heard a voice telling me, ‘Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.’ 8 “I replied, ‘Surely not, Lord! Nothing impure or unclean has ever entered my mouth.’ 9 “The voice spoke from heaven a second time, ‘Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.’ 10 This happened three times, and then it was all pulled up to heaven again.
In my wrath I struck you down, but in my favor I have had mercy on you. Isaiah 60:10
Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:16
Savior, thank you for your grace and mercy. We intercede today on behalf of all nations asking that this year we will surrender ourselves to you that you may melt and mold us into your likeness. In your name. Amen.
As evidence that God’s favor had rested on these Gentiles, was the power of the Holy Spirit, which manifested itself by the new believers speaking in tongues and praising God in new languages. While this was the way God manifested the power of the Holy Spirit in the new believers it was not meant to be normative for each and every conversion experience like some denominations have taught.
The bottom line is that when we come to faith in Jesus Christ and are baptized as a sign of our conversion, we are given the gift of the Holy Spirit. As one is led by the Spirit (see Galatians 5 and 1 Corinthians 12-14 for the gifts and fruits of the Spirit) one’s life comes under new management. As the Spirit leads and guides us, we can be sure to have surprises in our lives as we are open to the Holy Spirit’s leading and guidance. And while there is spontaneous nature of the Holy Spirit’s leading and guidance, the Holy Spirit will never lead or guide outside of the principals God has given us in the bible.
Under the Spirit’s guidance we will experience some great surprises as we are open to, hear and obey God’s voice to bring in His Kingdom here on earth as it is in heaven. This is the joy and the adventure of the Christian life that the disciples experienced in Acts and God still intends for us today!
Psalm 7:10-17
10 My shield is God Most High,
who saves the upright in heart.
11 God is a righteous judge,
a God who displays his wrath every day.
12 If he does not relent,
he will sharpen his sword;
he will bend and string his bow.
13 He has prepared his deadly weapons;
he makes ready his flaming arrows.
14 Whoever is pregnant with evil
conceives trouble and gives birth to disillusionment.
15 Whoever digs a hole and scoops it out
falls into the pit they have made.
16 The trouble they cause recoils on them;
their violence comes down on their own heads.
17 I will give thanks to the Lord because of his righteousness;
I will sing the praises of the name of the Lord Most High.
1 Chronicles 8
The Genealogy of Saul the Benjamite 8 Benjamin was the father of Bela his firstborn, Ashbel the second son, Aharah the third, 2 Nohah the fourth and Rapha the fifth. 3 The sons of Bela were: Addar, Gera, Abihud, 4 Abishua, Naaman, Ahoah, 5 Gera, Shephuphan and Huram. 6 These were the descendants of Ehud, who were heads of families of those living in Geba and were deported to Manahath:7 Naaman, Ahijah, and Gera, who deported them and who was the father of Uzza and Ahihud. 8 Sons were born to Shaharaim in Moab after he had divorced his wives Hushim and Baara. 9 By his wife Hodesh he had Jobab, Zibia, Mesha, Malkam, 10 Jeuz, Sakia and Mirmah. These were his sons, heads of families. 11 By Hushim he had Abitub and Elpaal. 12 The sons of Elpaal: Eber, Misham, Shemed (who built Ono and Lod with its surrounding villages), 13 and Beriah and Shema, who were heads of families of those living in Aijalon and who drove out the inhabitants of Gath. 14 Ahio, Shashak, Jeremoth, 15 Zebadiah, Arad, Eder, 16 Michael, Ishpah and Joha were the sons of Beriah.17 Zebadiah, Meshullam, Hizki, Heber, 18 Ishmerai, Izliah and Jobab were the sons of Elpaal. 19 Jakim, Zikri, Zabdi, 20 Elienai, Zillethai, Eliel, 21 Adaiah, Beraiah and Shimrath were the sons of Shimei. 22 Ishpan, Eber, Eliel, 23 Abdon, Zikri, Hanan, 24 Hananiah, Elam, Anthothijah, 25 Iphdeiah and Penuel were the sons of Shashak. 26 Shamsherai, Shehariah, Athaliah, 27 Jaareshiah, Elijah and Zikri were the sons of Jeroham. 28 All these were heads of families, chiefs as listed in their genealogy, and they lived in Jerusalem. 29 Jeiel the father of Gibeon lived in Gibeon. His wife’s name was Maakah, 30 and his firstborn son was Abdon, followed by Zur, Kish, Baal, Ner, Nadab, 31 Gedor, Ahio, Zeker 32 and Mikloth, who was the father of Shimeah. They too lived near their relatives in Jerusalem. 33 Ner was the father of Kish, Kish the father of Saul, and Saul the father of Jonathan, Malki-Shua, Abinadab and Esh-Baal. 34 The son of Jonathan: Merib-Baal, who was the father of Micah. 35 The sons of Micah: Pithon, Melek, Tarea and Ahaz. 36 Ahaz was the father of Jehoaddah, Jehoaddah was the father of Alemeth, Azmaveth and Zimri, and Zimri was the father of Moza. 37 Moza was the father of Binea; Raphah was his son, Eleasah his son and Azel his son. 38 Azel had six sons, and these were their names: Azrikam, Bokeru, Ishmael, Sheariah, Obadiah and Hanan. All these were the sons of Azel. 39 The sons of his brother Eshek: Ulam his firstborn, Jeush the second son and Eliphelet the third. 40 The sons of Ulam were brave warriors who could handle the bow. They had many sons and grandsons—150 in all.
All these were the descendants of Benjamin.
Acts 10:44-11:10
44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. 45 The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on Gentiles. 46 For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God. Then Peter said, 47 “Surely no one can stand in the way of their being baptized with water. They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.” 48 So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days.
Peter Explains His Actions
11 The apostles and the believers throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God. 2 So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers criticized him 3 and said, “You went into the house of uncircumcised men and ate with them.” 4 Starting from the beginning, Peter told them the whole story: 5 “I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision. I saw something like a large sheet being let down from heaven by its four corners, and it came down to where I was. 6 I looked into it and saw four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, reptiles and birds. 7 Then I heard a voice telling me, ‘Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.’ 8 “I replied, ‘Surely not, Lord! Nothing impure or unclean has ever entered my mouth.’ 9 “The voice spoke from heaven a second time, ‘Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.’ 10 This happened three times, and then it was all pulled up to heaven again.
In my wrath I struck you down, but in my favor I have had mercy on you. Isaiah 60:10
Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:16
Savior, thank you for your grace and mercy. We intercede today on behalf of all nations asking that this year we will surrender ourselves to you that you may melt and mold us into your likeness. In your name. Amen.
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