Acts 11 reminds me of our need for water. I remember football practice in the heat of August, at a time when coaches believed withholding water would toughen up young men. Water breaks had to be earned. For players the water was a rejuvenating experience. Everyone drank deeply and then passed to the next person. Today’s lesson is about passing on the refreshment. We begin with Peter being questioned in Jerusalem about his unprecedented decision to teach salvation to the Gentiles. “The circumcised believers criticized him… You went into the house of uncircumcised men and ate with them”. The early church leaders believed they should limit access. They likely believed the Gentiles had not earned God’s grace. Peter used the opportunity to retell the story of how God showed him the picnic blanket full of unclean animals, and God’s command to “Kill and eat”. Peter explained that God can make every unclean thing fit for His service. When Peter taught the Gentiles, “the Holy Spirit came on them as he had come on us at the beginning”. The drier you are, the greater the joy. Peter recalled Jesus teaching, “John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit”. I know many that have been baptized with water, but have not yet received God’s Holy Spirit. Water alone will not make you a football player, or a Christian. A willing “coach” must first take a step of faith to give “the same gift He gave us who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ”. Forgiveness is a gift, “God has granted repentance that leads to life”. Do you believe some have not yet earned access?
The gospel of grace spread from Jerusalem by those “who had been scattered by the persecution… spreading the Word only among Jews”. Eventually they “began to speak to Greeks also, telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus”. Those that had personally experienced God’s forgiveness could not hold back from freely giving it to others, “and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord”. The church leaders in Jerusalem sent Barnabas to investigate. He “saw what the grace of God had done” to these rag-tag Gentiles, and he “encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts”. He offered the Word to all, knowing the supply was endless.
Today the football culture has changed; as all coaches have learned that dehydration and heatstroke can kill big strong people. Coaches now look for ways to get players even more access to water. We read that “Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul” to help give out more of God’s refreshment to even more people. Together they traveled to Antioch, a second-string city out of the spotlight. These two men invested their lives into the people “for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people”. It was here that “The disciples were called Christians” for the first time, and the Apostle Paul began his second missionary journey from Antioch. We also read that this little port city was warned that a “severe famine would spread over the entire Roman world”. The disciples there “decided to provide help for the brothers and sisters living in Judea”. The chapter ends with a wonderful role reversal, noting that they did just that; “sending their gift to the elders by Barnabas and Saul”. Unselfish giving so often comes back to us in unexpected ways. My friend, is there someone in your life that needs the renewal that comes from the Word of God? Perhaps this is what Jesus was talking about when he told His disciples, “And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is My disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward” (Matthew 10:42). Friend, are you thirsty?