NO DISCRIMINATION IN THE CHURCH OF GOD

THE DAILY FOUNTAIN DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE OF THE CHURCH OF NIGERIA (ANGLICAN COMMUNION)

DATE: MONDAY, 6TH JUNE, 2022 

TOPIC: NO DISCRIMINATION IN THE CHURCH OF GOD

TEXT: ACTS 10:34-48 

34.  Then Peter opened [his] mouth and said: "In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality.

35.  "But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him.

36.  "The word which [God] sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ -- He is Lord of all --

37.  "that word you know, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, and began from Galilee after the baptism which John preached:

38.  "how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.

39.  "And we are witnesses of all things which He did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem, whom they killed by hanging on a tree.

40.  "Him God raised up on the third day, and showed Him openly,

41.  "not to all the people, but to witnesses chosen before by God, [even] to us who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead.

42.  "And He commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that it is He who was ordained by God [to be] Judge of the living and the dead.

43.  "To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins."

44.  While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word.

45.  And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also.

46.  For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. Then Peter answered,

47.  "Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we [have?"]

48.  And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then they asked him to stay a few days.

MESSAGE: 

Peter, like any other Jew, had many problems, relating with the Gentiles (Gal. 2:11-14). God had to encounter Peter directly in a unique and radical way to deal with that problem (Acts. 10:9-23ff; 45-47) In yesterday’s reading, we saw the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost to empower the disciples to preach the good news of the kingdom of God. 

After the personal encounter Peter had with the Holy Spirit, Peter became emboldened, and led by the Holy Spirit, visited the house of a notable gentile, Cornelius. Peter began to testify, “I now realise how true it is that God does not show favouritism, but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right.” This shows that Peter had read about this loving nature of God to all mankind regardless of race, but did not believe or practise it in practical terms. 

The church is filled today with all forms of segregation or class distinction between the poor and rich, male and female, educated and illiterate, between races, tribes, caste systems, etc. This ought not to be so. There should be a difference between the Church and the world in these matters. Genuine experience of salvation and infilling of the Holy Spirit breaks all social barriers. Are you born again?

PRAYER: 

Pray against all forms of social barriers in the church.