We Are Magnificent
Acts 10:9–16 “On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour: And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance, And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending upon him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth: Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat. But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean. And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common. This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven.”
Beloved,
He is worthy of His Name, Jesus the Word that became flesh. Isn’t it marvelous that the spoken word, God’s breathed wisdom and teaching had been in the hands of the Rabbis for thousands of years prior to Christ’s arrival in Bethlehem. Can you imagine holding life in your hands, that would reveal itself as the redemption of all mankind? Is there not one among us that would endeavor to know this promise, and to hold the very breath of God in our hands? He is faithful and true, that His mercy will triumph over judgement every time. When we read the Word of God aloud, our breath takes on a different consistency, empowered by the authority of Heaven and His Throne. From the bottom of your feet to the crown on your head, your body becomes the embodied Temple of the Living God.
Trust the one who is named Faithful and True. Peter proved the favor of the Lord, when Jesus restored his position and mission in life. To feed the sheep, the children of Israel, that were still waiting on the breath that would set them free. They met many that had not received the baptism of the Holy Ghost, but only the water baptism. In the midst of obeying God, Peter’s breath changed lives because of that Word that became life in a lonely stable on the outskirts of a small town, known as Bethlehem. It was in His last breath (Christ) on the Cross that Jesus exclaimed, “Into your hands I commend my spirit.” What a horrendous finish to his purpose on earth, to set the captives free, and with a shout, “It is finished!” The Lord knows your pain, and your struggles. Every aspect of your life and that of the millions more that have lived upon this earth, is known by the Son of God, Jesus.
His instructions are God breathed. His life enabled by the blood that poured out of Him on the Cross. His breath, a continuum of Heaven. His cry for the Kingdom to react, was heard and the earth shook as the Man of God died that day. He gave His mother to the disciple standing beside her as He died. Which in fact represented the giving of all mankind to the covering of those that know the Truth, that know He was and is the Son of God. This is the will of the Father, that all would know who His son was and is, and then repent, being reconciled to the Father through the blood on the ground and the body on the cross. We leave all our burdens and cares at the Cross, where each nail and stripe and injury that was inflicted upon a human body, matched the struggle of every man and woman, leaving no room for error. This was the work of the Cross, the perfection of mankind allowed through mercy and judgement becomes a thing of the past.
Beloved, you are sold out for the King that became a man and suffered and died because of your sin and need. Be desperate in the days ahead, know the fullness of the Lord in your life. Break off old traditions, let the new take over every morning as you immerse yourself in living words. The Word of God was spoken through the breath of Christ, and we are humbled by the death He endured. But we are magnificent in His eyes, because of the Resurrection. Go to the ends of the earth, step onto foreign soil, and like St. Peter’s legend of old in Ireland, the snakes will leave the land before you, and God will be preached, and lives will be saved.
Peter was restored to bringing life to the sheep, through the living Word of God. He knew not to call anything impure, that God has called pure.
